We weren’t the only ones who felt the touring life agreed with us. BuzzFeed wrote an entire listicle called “Here’s Forty-Five Photos of Nick and Bex Eye-Banging All Over Canada,” while People’s website went with the more delicate euphemism “The Look of Love.” When the tour moved west to Vancouver, even British Columbia’s lieutenant governor noted with a wink that we seemed “awfully inspired” by the Great White North. You can see my blush in the photos. Nick had been right: Taking the Duke and Duchess of Clarence Show on the road was a fresh start for our marriage and our jobs.

Our last stop in Canada was at Whistler, which included a trip on the famed gondola that stretches more than two miles between the resort’s peaks. Nick and I had been allowed to ride totally alone in one of the twenty-five-person glass-enclosed pods, gliding a mile high above a perfect canopy of evergreens sparkling in the sun. Below to the left, I saw a bear edging toward a river that snaked down the slope.

“Eleven minutes of heaven,” I said. “This is incredible. A private gondola, this view to ourselves. We are the luckiest people.”

Nick intertwined our fingers. “I have never felt luckier,” he said. Then he scooted so we were touching and nipped at my ear. “On many levels.”

“We shouldn’t miss a second of this view,” I teased. “What if there’s a quiz?”

“Seen one tree, you’ve seen them all,” he said. “But I’ve never fooled around with my wife while dangling from a pod over the earth, and I don’t mind telling you, the danger is very alluring.”

I pretended to pat myself down. “Where is that schedule? I didn’t see a visit to the Mile-High Club on it.”

“Tell me, madam, are they letting anyone else ride this in either direction while we’re here?”

“I don’t believe they are, sir,” I said. “Besides, it sure would be hard to tell what we’re doing in here, if we’re in the right place.”

“So we can investigate the blind spots.” His hand drifted. “For eleven minutes.”

“I dare you,” I purred.

Nick whistled, low and under his breath. “You’re on.”

*  *  *