A Highwayman Came Riding Read Online Free Page A

think not. It is still the shank of the night. He is off to rob someone else. He would hardly take them with him, in case he is apprehended. No, he has certainly concealed them here in the cottage, and we must discover where. If you feel your charms are not up to the task of sweet-talking the captain, you will have to search the place after everyone has gone to sleep. It is true he displayed not one iota of interest in you.”
    “It is too dangerous, Your Grace! There will still be two men here. Miguel won’t go out again. He has wounded his arm. He might kill me.”
    “Rubbish. They have had ample opportunity to kill us all if they wished. They would not dare to kill me or any of my employees. I have no patience with these missish quibbles. One would think you were the old invalid. You will feel better after you have finished your wine and eaten a bite. I am feeling peckish myself. Tell the horse doctor the old gray mare is ready for her oats now. Keep your eyes and ears open and see what you can discover while you are about it.”
    The duchess settled in as comfortably as if she were in her own mansion or a fine hotel. And it was not costing her a penny.
    When Marianne went to the parlor, she saw the captain was at the door, just leaving. He stopped and leveled a scowl at her from those dark, dangerous eyes. He was not wearing his mask, but he was carrying it in his hand. His expression was wary, watchful. She felt as if he were looking right through her. She could no more sweet-talk this man than she could trade quips with an archbishop.
    “Is there some trouble, Miss Harkness?” he asked. “Has Her Grace taken a turn for the worse?”
    “No, she is fine,” she said in a breathless voice.
    “What is her trouble, exactly?”
    “It is her heart. She had an attack a year ago. It bothers her still, especially when she is upset.”
    “You know how to deal with her problem?”
    “I can handle it, as long as it is not a serious attack. I would feel better if she could see a doctor.”
    “If you run into trouble, call Ned. He has considerable experience with more than horses. If she is not unwell, why have you left her?”
    “She is hungry.”
    “Ah, just so. You will find Ned in the kitchen,” he said. He tipped his hat and turned to leave. Before stepping out, he stopped and turned back. His face had assumed a sneer.“By the by, your groom is fine. Tom’s wound was not serious. Ned patched him up. No doubt you are concerned about him, though you did not bother to inquire.” Then he left without molesting her.
    Marianne drew a deep sigh of relief, both for Tom’s safety and the highwayman’s departure. In her nervous state, she had been too upset to think of the grooms. She wanted only to get away from the captain as quickly as possible.
    She found her way to the kitchen with no difficulty. Ned was there, already busy at the stove. He looked up and smiled reassuringly. “Hungry, miss?” he asked.
    Some sense of normalcy returned as she watched this ordinary-looking man stirring a pan of eggs in an ordinary kitchen, with a deal table and four chairs on one side, a blazing grate on the other, and the stove at the far end. The tension began to seep out of her stiff joints.
    “Yes, I am. We didn’t stop for dinner this evening,” she replied. “Her Grace would like something as well, if it is not too much trouble.”
    “No trouble, miss. Captain Jack pays us well. Sit you down by the fire whilst I rustle up a bite.”
    The name Jack didn’t suit him. He should have some more dangerous name, like Genghis Khan or Napoleon. She went to the grate but did not sit down. “Was Captain Jack in the army?” she asked, wondering why he was called captain. It occurred to her that he did have a military bearing and an officer’s easy way with a command.
    Ned laughed and began cracking more eggs into the pan. “Oh no, miss. It’s what you might call an honorary title. Many of the scamps called themselves captain in