Authors: Gloria Harchar
"But, ah, Miss Did—I mean, Miss Moore, can I make an honest observation?"
Various pastel lights
emitted frenzied blinking from Allegro.
"Why do I have the feeling I'm not going to like this?"
"Because you probably won't. But my conscience won't allow me
not
to say it.
But I saw your reaction to ah, the Earl's affections, and I could sense your attraction, which makes me think you could give him a cha—"
"No, that is
not
possible."
"
Y
ou
don
'
t have to listen to him
, lass,
"
Glissando
inserted, giving
Allegro a
frown, "
because I happen to disagree. Coercion is no way to win a lass
'
s heart. The Black Falcon needs to slow down, court our
Nicola
more. Of course that's what you will tell him. In the meantime, I will fly to London in this balloon
and deliver your missive so that Ramsey can depart for the Continent.
"
"
In
that?"
She arched her brows as she untied and slipped off her bonnet.
"
I hate to dampen your enthusiasm,
Glissando
, but a toy won
'
t work like the true
hot
-
air balloon
.
"
She set her hat inside the wardrobe then turned to give the
pixie
a sympathetic smile.
Glissando
stroked the side of the woven gondola.
"
It will for me. When I touch a toy, it performs in the manner for which it was designed.
"
Nicola
frowned at the toy. It was a beautiful replica of the
real
balloon
that had been
designed for the Prince Regent the
ye
ar before, but the narrow sticks that held the fragile basket in place looked as if they would snap in a puff of wind.
Glissando
drew in his breath and threw back his shoulders. The motion only emphasized his sagging belly, the bulk of it hanging over the waistband of his breeches.
"
I will deliver
your
missive to Mr. Hamilton,
"
he vowed.
Nicola
opened her mouth to protest.
Glissando
gestured to the balloon.
"
Behold the flying machine that will someday revolutionize the coach postal service as
you
know it today. I
'
ll arrive at London in record time.
"
She stared at the colorful toy.
"
I don
'
t know about this,
Glissando
. Why not use your wings?
"
Allegro snorted.
"
He
'
s too
lazy
.
"
"
And proud of it, too.
"
Glissando smiled,
seemingly
not at all offended
.
"
It takes a lot of work to be lazy
.
Besides, t
here is another benefit to my
having stolen the balloon. I
guarantee that when the child saw
h
is toy
as it sailed
off through the trees, he forgot all about the Falcon
'
s fawning over you
.
"
A chuckle rolled
out of him, the sliding notes
filling the room
in beautiful harmony
.
"
You
should have seen the
lad's
eyes
. They were as big as
guineas.
"
He gave her a reassuring pat on the nose.
"
D
on
'
t worry. Those boys won
'
t say a word about that kiss
on your temple
.
Or his fondling of your hair and hand.
"
"
That's a relief
,
"
Nicola
said with a sigh
. Perhaps the Callers were good for something after all. She must remember to keep up her guard whenever she was around the Falcon and not fall into any more of his traps.
The air filled with a cacophony of notes, the sounds meshing together in an odd, but lovely melody. She realized the pixies were arguing again.
"..
. don't trust... Fix
..
." She realized if she listened carefully she could pick out some of the words. Then
Allegro
'
s golden halo flickered,
and
disappeared completely, him with it.
Glissando
'
s green aura dimmed once more, allowing
Nicola
to see his features more clearly.
"
Now, las
s. Let
'
s begin.
I
'
m at
your
service.
"
Doubt rippled through
Nicola
. She didn
'
t have much faith in the Caller,
but what else could she do?
"
I
'
ve already written a missive to Mr. Hamilton. I suppose it wouldn
'
t hurt to send it with you.
"
"
Indeed it won't hurt because
I
'
m much faster. In fact, I
'
ll wave to the mail coach as I sail by.
"
She found her message, hoping she wasn
'
t making a mistake. Folding the foolscap, she started to hand it to him and realized he was much too small.
"
You will have to fold it several times and place it in the balloon
'
s basket.
"
As s
he did his biddin
g, she decided she would write another missive just in case Glissando was up to his shenanigans.
"
I
'
m off.
"
Glissando
flapped his win
gs twice and landed inside with ease. He settled down on the foolscap and then
screwed up his
face
.
Tension suddenly surrounded her.
Glissando
'
s figure
frayed
around the edges,
and then
fizzled into vapor.
Nicola
rubbed her
eyes
, feeling as if she were living a dream. A billowy emerald miasma surrounded the balloon. It glittered,
and then
seemed to come to life. She watched in wonder as the sticks holding it upright metamorphosed into tiny ropes. The balloon floated above the basket on its own. The miniature flying machine lifted into the air.
"
Thunderation
!
"
She gazed at the balloon, amazed.
Glissando
materialized once again, leaning his elbows on the edge of the basket. Her skin
prickled
with
her
a
stonishment
.
Despite her mistrust, she smiled.
"
You are truly amazing,
Glissando
.
"
"
Thank
you
.
"
His cheeks glowed at her praise.
"
Good luck
.
"
"
Fare thee well!
"
He screwed up his brows again and the balloon suddenly sailed across the room and through window as if the glass pane weren
'
t there.
Racing forward,
Nicola
ran her hand over the cool, smooth glass through which
Glissando
had just traversed. It was whole. She threw open the sash and gazed after the contraption. It hovered about a yard away, dipping toward the ground and almost crashing upon a grassy knoll.
"
Thunder and turf
,
"
she muttered, realizing it would be a miracle if the Caller made it to the end of her street.
Perhaps
she should consider other methods of saving her cousin. Smuggling him in a mail
coach...
Glissando
and his hot-air balloon abruptly floated back to the window.
"
Don
'
t worry, lass. I
'
ll return with time to spare.
"