A Highwayman Came Riding Read Online Free
come up with a plan, or at least discover what cave or shack he calls home. He will not sell them to a fence right away. He knows I shall report the theft as soon as we reach civilization. The necklace will be too hot to unload for a month or two. Hush! He is coming back. We’ll lay our plan later.”
The tread of the highwayman’s footfalls sounded like a death knell to Marianne.
Chapter Three
When the captain returned, the duchess lolled back against the pillows as if too weak to sit up. He was carrying a tray holding her brandy, along with a bottle of wine and one glass. Marianne assumed the wine was for himself, and was surprised when he passed the glass to her.
She felt in need of liquid courage and accepted it with an automatic “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, Miss Harkness,” he replied punctiliously. “Shall I send Ned in to see you?” he asked Her Grace.
The duchess gave him a sneering look. “What is he, a horse doctor?” she asked.
“Yes, a very good one. He cured my Juno of the heaves,” the captain said blandly.
She emitted a cackle of appreciation. “You are a cheeky rogue for one in your position. I shall not require your horse doctor’s assistance. I am feeling stouter now.”
“It is yourself who is in a vulnerable position, Your Grace,” he pointed out. His tone was perfectly polite, but the firm timbre of his voice left no doubt who was in charge of the situation.
“Your high friends will be no help to you here,” he continued, “and I fear I must detain you for the present. I shall undertake to see no harm comes to you so long as you do not leave the house. You may stay here a day or two until your carriage is repaired and you are well enough to continue on your way. If you are hungry, Ned can rustle you up some gammon and eggs. And now, if there is nothing else you require, I must leave.”
“What about my companion and my servants?”
“They will be Ned’s guests as well.”
“Where is Miss Harkness to sleep? What assurance do I have that you will not be slipping into her room? A pretty young girl will be a strong temptation to you. She is under my protection.”
The captain gave Marianne a brief, dismissing glance that displayed not an iota of interest in her charms. She might have been an old shoe or a bone. “I assure you I am no menace to your charge’s virtue. She will have to sleep here with you in any case. The cottage has only the one bedchamber.”
Marianne felt thoroughly embarrassed by both the question and his quick, dismissing answer. The captain bowed to them and left. The duchess took a sip of her brandy and said pensively, “He is well spoken for a common criminal, is he not?”
“He makes my flesh crawl.”
“What you felt was a quiver of anticipation, Marianne, a shiver of romantic interest,” she said with a naughty twinkle in her rheumy old eyes. “Naturally a well-bred young lady would not recognize it for that. The man reeks of animal magnetism. Those low, mongrel types often do. I once had a chair man— But that is of no account now. You must be on your guard against his lowborn charms, especially when he has drunk too much. These fellows all have a taste for hard liquor, loose women, and gambling, and a distaste for work. I mention it, as you will be seeing something of the fellow.”
“No more than I can help.”
“Don’t be a Bath miss, Marianne. If I were half a century younger, I would do it myself. As I am too old, I must count on your wiles to discover where he has hidden my diamonds.”
Marianne stared in disbelief. It was the first time she had ever been accused of possessing wiles. As to using them against this formidable captain, she would as lief try to ride a tiger.
The duchess continued unconcernedly, “The diamonds are not in his pocket. I gave it a jiggle as he handed me this brandy. They are still somewhere in this little cottage.”
“He said he is going out. He’ll take them with him.”
“I
The tread of the highwayman’s footfalls sounded like a death knell to Marianne.
Chapter Three
When the captain returned, the duchess lolled back against the pillows as if too weak to sit up. He was carrying a tray holding her brandy, along with a bottle of wine and one glass. Marianne assumed the wine was for himself, and was surprised when he passed the glass to her.
She felt in need of liquid courage and accepted it with an automatic “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, Miss Harkness,” he replied punctiliously. “Shall I send Ned in to see you?” he asked Her Grace.
The duchess gave him a sneering look. “What is he, a horse doctor?” she asked.
“Yes, a very good one. He cured my Juno of the heaves,” the captain said blandly.
She emitted a cackle of appreciation. “You are a cheeky rogue for one in your position. I shall not require your horse doctor’s assistance. I am feeling stouter now.”
“It is yourself who is in a vulnerable position, Your Grace,” he pointed out. His tone was perfectly polite, but the firm timbre of his voice left no doubt who was in charge of the situation.
“Your high friends will be no help to you here,” he continued, “and I fear I must detain you for the present. I shall undertake to see no harm comes to you so long as you do not leave the house. You may stay here a day or two until your carriage is repaired and you are well enough to continue on your way. If you are hungry, Ned can rustle you up some gammon and eggs. And now, if there is nothing else you require, I must leave.”
“What about my companion and my servants?”
“They will be Ned’s guests as well.”
“Where is Miss Harkness to sleep? What assurance do I have that you will not be slipping into her room? A pretty young girl will be a strong temptation to you. She is under my protection.”
The captain gave Marianne a brief, dismissing glance that displayed not an iota of interest in her charms. She might have been an old shoe or a bone. “I assure you I am no menace to your charge’s virtue. She will have to sleep here with you in any case. The cottage has only the one bedchamber.”
Marianne felt thoroughly embarrassed by both the question and his quick, dismissing answer. The captain bowed to them and left. The duchess took a sip of her brandy and said pensively, “He is well spoken for a common criminal, is he not?”
“He makes my flesh crawl.”
“What you felt was a quiver of anticipation, Marianne, a shiver of romantic interest,” she said with a naughty twinkle in her rheumy old eyes. “Naturally a well-bred young lady would not recognize it for that. The man reeks of animal magnetism. Those low, mongrel types often do. I once had a chair man— But that is of no account now. You must be on your guard against his lowborn charms, especially when he has drunk too much. These fellows all have a taste for hard liquor, loose women, and gambling, and a distaste for work. I mention it, as you will be seeing something of the fellow.”
“No more than I can help.”
“Don’t be a Bath miss, Marianne. If I were half a century younger, I would do it myself. As I am too old, I must count on your wiles to discover where he has hidden my diamonds.”
Marianne stared in disbelief. It was the first time she had ever been accused of possessing wiles. As to using them against this formidable captain, she would as lief try to ride a tiger.
The duchess continued unconcernedly, “The diamonds are not in his pocket. I gave it a jiggle as he handed me this brandy. They are still somewhere in this little cottage.”
“He said he is going out. He’ll take them with him.”
“I