He put his hands on her shoulders, ran them down her arms, her torso, her legs. Her frantic gasps for air began to even out. She moved carefully, which suggested no spinal injury, although he couldn’t be sure. If there were broken bones, though, they would be in her legs. She stayed relatively stationary, placing a hand on his shoulder for balance, until he reached her left ankle and she cried out in pain.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “Oliver, Oliver, I am so sorry! I couldn’t . . . I didn’t know where he was taking us . . . I just acted so quickly . . .” Her words came in a torrent, and she sounded much as he had, as though there were a million things to say and no way to express them coherently.
He took a deep breath and sat on the ground next to her, energy stores depleted.
“I am so dreadfully sorry, Oliver. Why on earth did you follow me? I hoped to be gone before you realized . . . You are terrified of heights, and you followed me—Oliver, blast you to Hades, why did you follow me?” She cried hoarsely, her hand clutching his shoulder. “I knew you could handle the captain, and I don’t have time to be abducted,” she babbled. “You were safe. I knew you could manage . . .”
He closed his eyes wearily and wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her onto his lap. Her tears continued in earnest, and she put her arms tightly around his neck, sobbing.
“Who hates me so much?” she cried. “Why is someone working so hard to destroy one simple visit to a gathering? I am—” Her voice broke. “I am kind. I am a kind person. Who would be so hateful to someone who wants the best of life for everyone?”
His heart cracked, and his own eyes burned. He held her close to his chest and grasped the back of her head and neck, placing a kiss on her tangled hair. “Hush,” he finally managed. “There, now, you’ll make yourself sick.” He rocked slightly and continued to murmur in quiet tones, tapping into a well of patience he didn’t know he possessed. His own feelings were still a mass of anger and fear, but some of the frustration dissipated as he realized she was in agony over the fact he’d followed her out of the airship.
“As if I would let you jump to your death alone,” he said quietly. He rested his cheek against her forehead as she sniffed and her breath hitched. “You should know by now that nothing would stop me from following you.” He paused and closed his eyes. “Emmeline, tonight exceeds even what I’ve come to expect from you.”
Her breathing slowed, but her tears continued to fall onto his neck and roll into the hollow of his throat. “Oh, Oliver. I am so sorry. I will never be able to apologize enough. I just—I was so angry. I knew in my bones that if I didn’t get off that ship, I would never arrive in Edinburgh.
“It is my life—” Her voice broke again. “I have given all that I am to this thing, and that someone wishes to sabotage such a good purpose . . . I do not understand the evil of the hearts of some. It baffles me. It makes no sense. I will die defying somebody’s despicable attempts to destroy me and what I aim to do, but—” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I did not intend for you to make that same choice.”
She sniffled. “Job responsibilities or no, you are not obligated to risk yourself for me.” She lifted her head. “Truly. It is enough. Everything about my life is a jumbled mass of craziness, and if your life is forfeit because of it, because of me . . . I cannot have that.”
He shook his head and placed his hands on either side of her face. “I will not stand aside as the most vibrant, passionate person I know is in danger from those who are not worthy to spend time in her company. Whoever is behind this is foul, and I’ll not see you destroyed at their hands. I will not allow it to happen.”
Her brow wrinkled, and her eyes were glossy with tears. “You need not maintain such fierce devotion to a job.”
He shook his head again. “You cannot possibly believe I’m sitting here with you right now simply because of fealty to my work.”
She grasped his wrist and closed her eyes, causing tears to spill over. “I’m sorry,” she whispered again. She opened her eyes, wide and vulnerable, as though begging him to understand her reasons for her desperate behavior. “I had to do it. I didn’t have time to negotiate with the captain because we were nearly over the water.”
“I know.”
She turned her lips into his palm and kissed it softly, closing her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered against his skin.
“Emme, I understand why you did it. Don’t apologize anymore. I forgive you.” He meant the last as an attempt at levity, hoping for a smile.
She opened her eyes, and the sad regret there gave him pause. She was so different from the woman he thought he’d known. Far from the entitled person he’d decided she was, her passion for others ruled her head and her heart. Her biggest regret from her insane airship bail was for him.
He wiped her tears with his thumbs, reluctant to lower his hands. Her eyes flickered from his to his mouth, and she inhaled deeply, slowly. It was going to happen, inevitable, really, he decided. Perhaps on some level he figured he’d known from the very first time he’d thrown her over his shoulder that
