Read A Highwayman Came Riding for Free Online

What happened? You didn’t have that bruise the last time I saw you. Did he beat you?”
    “He’s a fair fighter,” Beeton allowed grudgingly. “We had a few rounds last night. When he came back from wherever he went, he caught me peeking in the windows of the cottage. I wanted to make sure you and Her Grace were safe. That’s all, but the captain took the notion I was spying on him.”
    “He robbed another carriage. I overheard him and Miguel discussing it last night. They got away with thousands of pounds of gold. They had it right in the kitchen. Did you see where he put the gold?”
    “Nay, but he left early this morning carrying a heavy bag. He rode off down the lane. No knowing which way he went. Two robberies in one night! He’s ambitious then, isn’t he? Before he left last night he told me and Tom not to leave the stable. He had a dog guarding the door, but I always had a way with dogs. He took the hound this morning. I’m thinking he thought I was looking for the diamonds. If we find that hound, we might find the sparklers, eh?”
    “Yes, that’s an idea. He was going to hide the diamonds and the gold separately.”
    “I’ve tried to get out, but Ned keeps a sharp eye from the kitchen. They have our guns. We’re as good as prisoners here, miss. Are you and the old lady all right?”
    “They haven’t harmed us, but we must get away, Beeton. Where is Tom? How is his arm?”
    “It’s recovering. The captain dressed his wound and fixed him up with a bandage. Tom is giving Miguel a hand with the horses.”
    “The duchess insists she won’t leave without her diamonds.”
    “Better to leave without them than not to leave at all. Tell her that. We could come back with a couple of Bow Street Runners to search the place.”
    “Do you think we could overpower them? Is Tom able to wield a stick?”
    “He’s not much of a scrapper at the best of times. If we could get hold of a pistol. . .”
    “Yes, you’re right. We need a gun. I’ll try to get one. You said Ned has one in the kitchen. I daresay that is why the captain forbade me to help out there.”
    “Very likely.”
    “I shall insist. And if he won’t let me, then I’ll be there ten times a day, demanding hot water and food and tea and anything I can think of. Ned is bound to be off his guard sooner or later.”
    “The captain—” Beeton came to a sudden stop.
    “Devil take the captain! Bad enough to be under the duchess’s paw from dawn till dark, but to be ordered about by an upstart thief—”
    As she spoke, she noticed Beeton was making strange faces, drawing his eyebrows, and frowning. She thought it was disapproval of her plans and wondered why he didn’t speak. Then it occurred to her that someone was listening. She turned around and saw Captain Jack not a yard behind her, staring at her with those dark eyes and a disparaging grin on his face. He had not bothered with a blanket. Raindrops speckled his head and shoulders as he stood, arms akimbo, as if he owned the world and everything in it. Such arrogance from a highwayman made her blood boil.
    “You may catch Ned off guard. But you will find the upstart thief eternally on the qui vive, Miss Harkness,” he said. “You have seen your coachman is well. You may return to the house now.”
    She turned on him in a fury that was half embarrassment. “Beeton is not well! You have beaten him. As an experienced highwayman, I trust you know the law is harsh on those felons who abuse their victims, Captain.”
    “Only if the felon is caught, miss,” he said. “I have no intention of being caught, by you or anyone else. Carry on, Beeton.”
    He clamped his fingers on her elbow and led her back to the house at such a brisk gait she could hardly keep up with him. He stopped at the back door before entering and turned to face her, still holding on to her arm.
    “You are not to leave the house again,” he said. He spoke grimly, with a menacing frown.
    She noticed, then, that he had