Montague gave a whistle and from the darkness, a gentleman emerged, dressed in a soot-blackened coat.
"My dear," Rob said gamely, "I would like you to meet Mr Charles Green."
"Honoured," Julia replied stupidly, as Mr Green gave a flourishing bow before her.
"Mr Green is going to make us fly," Rob supplied, his face wreathed in pride.
Fly?
Julia blinked, as she recalled her silly declaration that if Montague made her fly, she would believe in love. She had thought that he had given up on the idea—she certainly had. But, no, the marquess was far more tenacious than she had given him credit for.
"This way," Mr Green said, waving an arm toward the right of the field, where Julia could make out a large mass, and men bustling about.
"My Lord," Julia whispered, as Montague took her hand and began to lead her away, "What on earth?"
"We are leaving earth," Montague scolded, "As you requested. Just trust me, my lady."
They trampled across the field, until they reached a large wooden basket, where inside a stove was bellowing smoke into a half-inflated balloon.
The thing was monstrous, Julia thought; made from what appeared to be silk, it twitched and moved upon the grass as the smoke filled it, rising ever higher.
Men stood about, holding ropes attached to the balloon, and Mr Green waved to them to reassure Julia.
"It is merely an ascension," he said, as though that made it better, "You will still be held to earth by these strapping lads. Mr. Gye and Mr. Hughes, Vauxhall's proprietors, merely wish us to make a brief appearance above The Temple of Comus, so they might have a spectacular sight when they make their big announcement."
"And what announcement is that?" Julia asked, wondering at how she could make polite conversation when her heart felt as though it were about to leap from her throat onto the ground before her.
"They are announcing the beginning of The Royal Vauxhall Balloon Project ," Mr Green boomed, "We shall design a balloon twice the size of this, and offer passage to anyone with the right coin. We'll show those Frenchies how it's done."
"Professional balloonists are terribly patriotic," Montague whispered in Julia's ear, as Mr Green disappeared to instruct his men to ready themselves, "Don't mention the exhibition at theJardin des Tuileries, whatever you do, once we're up there."
Up there. Julia looked up at the sky, then down at her feet, which were safely planted upon the ground.
"I cannot," she protested, but Montague shook his head.
"I'm afraid you already must," he shrugged, not looking one bit sorry, "For you are acting as a counter-weight, while I shall help stoke the fire."
This was absurd, Julia thought, though her fear was soon beginning to give way to excitement. The balloon was now nearly inflated, and the gondola was threatening to lift itself off the ground.
"All aboard," Mr Green called cheerfully, vaulting the side with ease.
Montague swept Julia into his arms, a thing she had oft dreamed of, but his embrace was short lived. He deposited her inside the basket, hopped the side himself, and soon the trio were lifting slowly off the ground.
"You might both admire the view, whilst I stoke the fire," Mr Green called, as he stuffed coal into the roaring stove.
"How kind of you," Julia called back, over the din.
"Er, yes," Mr Green was momentarily distracted, "I say, Montague, did you say all my owed vowels will be forgiven for this?"
"All of them," Montague assured him, and he turned happily back to his task.
Julia started, as the men on the ground untied the ropes which tethered them to earth, though she was slightly assured that they were holding fast to the ropes which were attached to the balloon itself.
"Oh, my," she whispered, forgetting even Montague, as the earth fell away beneath them. She could see the gardens below them, and people walking about—tiny like figurines—and beyond that the rooftops of London.
"Just look at the view," she breathed, turning her eyes to Montague, "Have you ever seen anything so breath-taking ?"
"Never in my whole life," he replied, but he was not looking out at the London sky, but at Julia herself.
