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Charlotte dabbed her nose with a handkerchief and finished setting the final pearl into place. “Are you certain you wish for him to escort you without me? This cold is dreadful—otherwise I would leap at the chance to attend with you.”

“You need your rest, and yet you insist on doing my hair.”

“No one can manage your hair as well as I.” Charlotte patted the plait. “But if you make an appearance with him, there will not be the ability for you to retrench in the future. All will know you tried to deceive them. Your name will be tainted.”

“That is only if we are found out. And I, for one, will never tell this secret to anyone besides Grandmother Larkby, who will not give me away.”

Charlotte fetched the citrines. “Are you certain?”

Vivienne nodded, setting the citrine eardrops in place, admiring them in the dressing table’s mirror. “It will be my grand adventure that I shall look back upon in my golden years …”

“Like the highwayman?” Charlotte grinned. “You haven’t mentioned him in a while.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have gushed so about him when you first arrived.

I was only dying to tell someone in person what had occurred.

I should have known that you would’ve seen through my story to my attraction.

” Vivienne sighed and fixed the necklace in place.

“Yes, I had my doubts that any man could take Bash’s place …

but I have to admit that Sir Sebastian’s character is outshining the appeal of a thief. ”

“Oh good. You are at last seeing that bit of reason.” Charlotte laughed, handing Vivienne her gloves. “It is time you and your knight see what you are made of.”

“Pardon?”

“If he is what you imagine a husband should be, let your guard down and see if this is what God has planned for you. If not, it’s time for this ruse to come to light and for you both to take the consequences, whatever they may be.”

What had been intended as a charade of mercy for his grandmother was quickly swelling out of control, and attending this evening’s party at the Sydney Hotel as Sir Sebastian and Lady Larkby was evidence of that fact.

But as usual, he could never refuse his grandmother, and she was well aware of his weakness to please her.

Bash felt as if every eye was upon them as he entered the hotel gardens with the ravishing beauty on his arm and looked about for a free dining booth.

Such a gamble he had never taken before, lying to the whole of society as a knight.

If they were caught, he had the license and would marry her in an instant to save her reputation.

It would hardly be a burden to wed her—but their futures would change forever.

Thankfully, the grounds were packed with hundreds of guests, and he prayed that numbers would aid them with hiding in plain sight. “I’m afraid there are not any booths available, but I will fetch us some cold ham and rolls with our drinks.”

“I’m not hungry yet, but feel free to fetch yourself something if you would like a repast.” She rested a hand over her stomach.

“Sebastian, I fear we are reaching the point of no return. We cannot continue on like this—the lying to your grandmother is keeping me awake at night and stealing into my thoughts every time I sit down to write. I do not think it is God’s will for us to deceive her for the sake of her health when she has made such a miraculous recovery.

” She shook her head. “I doubt He would have blessed the idea if we had stopped long enough to ask Him. Lord knows my vicar would have an opinion on the matter. It is one thing to lie during a war to save lives, but it is another to actively deceive a whole town.”

He reached for two glasses of apricot-strawberry punch and handed one to her. “I agree. However, I wish to honor our agreement.”

“I would never wish to entrap you.”

Was that his imagination, or did a flash of longing cross her expression that matched his heart?

It was why he had conveniently forgotten to speak of the plan when they were alone in the carriage, wishing to hold on to the farce for a few moments longer so that he would have an excuse to be near her all evening—to dance with her under the stars.

“Then we are in unity, for I do not wish to entrap you either.” He bowed over her hand.

“Excuse me, Lady Larkby?” A footman approached in an emerald-and-black livery. “Lady Jennings conveyed to me that you and Sir Sebastian were to be the first to enjoy tonight’s balloon as her honored guests.”

So much for staying hidden in the numbers. Bash tamped down his rising anxiety. He had found that when thrust into such situations while undercover, a cool head was the best way to avoid being found out in a lie.

“The balloon?” Her voice piqued with interest.

“Yes, my lady. The marchioness has provided only the best of entertainment for tonight’s party.”

She turned to Bash, her hands clasped to her throat.

“Do you think we could? I know we should probably keep to ourselves, but as we are already the guests of honor, this would be a chance in a lifetime, and think of how much fun it will be to tell Grandmother Larkby before … before …” She dipped her head.

He leaned into her, whispering, “One last bit of fun before we confess all to Grandmother. I am confident she would want us to do this for her.” He motioned the footman forward and trailed him into the gardens, where a bright balloon of crimson and gold stood above a large wicker basket anchored by four staked ropes and guarded by four men in the same emerald-and-black livery.

He led her to the steps at the back of the basket. When her fingertips brushed his, her eyes met his and a spark traveled up his arm and settled into his heart. “Shall we, my lady?”

She climbed inside, modestly guarding the hem of her gown. He joined her, and the balloon’s engineer signaled to the footmen to release the anchors as he turned up the flame.

She gasped at the rocking of the basket and threw her arms about his waist as they rose.

She lifted her lashes to him and started to draw back, but he stopped her.

At the question in her mien, he grinned.

“I’ve never been in a balloon before either.

Perhaps I am frightened as well and require a bit of courage. ”

She leaned into him as the balloon lifted into the sky.

The crowd beneath them pointed and waved to them, and Evie smiled and waved back.

The higher they rose into the sky, the more the merriment in the gardens dampened and the more she tightened her grip about him.

She rested her head on his chest and released a sigh of contentment.

He loved her. Of that he was certain. He had not ceased thinking of their days on the road together.

But if he confessed such duplicity, would she reject him, no matter what society would say over the scandal of her turning him away?

Besides, he had made vows to the Crown. No matter the pain it caused him, he could not—would not—confess his mission for the Crown, even if meant that he could never share this part of himself with the woman he loved.

It was ridiculous, really, that he was so close to having this new dream and so far away.

She caught him staring down at her and offered him a sad smile as she whispered, “I am quite determined to make the most of these final moments alone with you. For whatever happens, I want you to know that I am glad to have known you, Sir Sebastian.”

Whatever happens … He knew what he wanted to happen. He glanced over his shoulder to the aeronaut and decided that to hold Evie would be enough for now.