Free Isabella’s Airman by Sofia Grey

cloakroom mirror, trying my hair this way and that. No matter what I did, it fell forward with a mind of its own. Laughing, she shoved a handful of little bent clips into it and bullied the unruly locks into submission, my yellow ribbon incapable of holding it back on its own. She smiled at my reflection. “Gorgeous. He won’t know what’s hit him.”
    My familiar golden-brown eyes stared back at me, framed by ginger eyebrows and lashes a lighter shade of my coppery curls. I looked different, and not just because of the way I’d done my hair. Excitement coursed through me, painting spots of color in my cheeks and lending a brightness to my eyes.
    Juliet hugged me. “Teddy’s here, I have to go.”
    I watched as they roared off together on his motorbike, her skirt hitched high around her thighs as she cuddled against his back. Minutes later, Davy arrived.
    With a huge grin on his face, he swept off his cap and bowed low with a flourish before holding out his hand to me. “My lady, Isabella. Your carriage awaits.” I stepped out into the bright sunlight.
    He’d done exactly as promised and procured a horse and cart for our afternoon’s excursion. The wooden bench seat had been made more comfortable with a blanket and two pillows. A small wicker basket nestled beneath the overhang. It was perfect.
    Clip clopping along the country lanes, my mind skirted back over the horrors of the night before. I hadn’t slept well. I was scared of closing my eyes and finding myself back there. In the darkness.
    I mentally shook myself. Today was too nice to spoil fretting over something I couldn’t change. It had happened. It was over. I peeked at Davy while pretending to refasten my hair back.
    Even though he’d been bright and funny when he collected me, something was wrong with him too. His jaw looked tight, and his shoulders hunched. He gripped the reins fiercely, yet the horse seemed placid enough. If I were Juliet, I’d engage him in brilliant, witty conversation. Where should I begin?
    I glanced up, startled, when the cart stopped. Davy turned to me, swiveling on the bench seat and offering me a smile. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit preoccupied, and I’ve been neglecting you.” Holding his arms out to me, I couldn’t resist. I snuggled into his embrace, and a sigh escaped from him.
    I took a deep breath and summoned all my courage. “Davy, is something wrong?”
    “Our wireless operator, Jock, is unwell. Suspected appendicitis. So if we have ops tomorrow, he won’t be able to fly.”
    Surely that was good news. “Does that mean you’ll be grounded?”
    “God, no.” He nuzzled against my ear. “It means we fly with a substitute. And I hate doing that.” He eased back to look me in the face. I took the opportunity to caress his cheek, loving the way he pushed back into my hand, cat-like. “We spend months getting to know each other, working as a single unit. If one of us is missing, it’s like, well, wearing someone else’s shoes. It just doesn’t feel comfortable. It’s worse for Teddy. He’s the backup wireless op, and the new guy will be his responsibility.”
    He brushed a gentle kiss across my lips, pulling away far too soon. “Let me tether Rosie, and we’ll go and have our picnic. We’ve only got a few hours, and I don’t want to waste a minute of it.”
    An hour later, we lay sprawled across the blanket, the pillows by our side, Davy’s uniform jacket abandoned, and his shirtsleeves rolled up. True to his plans, we’d picked the bright pink cherry blossoms, and he’d showed me how to make a daisy chain for Rosie’s harness. The stream had been bitterly cold when we trailed our feet in the running water, but we’d seen the kingfisher—a vibrant flash of electric blue as it dived for a tiny fish. We’d feasted on freshly baked bread, strong cheese, and crisp sweet apples. There was more beer too, kept cool by immersing the bottles in the stream. Sensory overload again.
    Davy leaned over