A Highwayman Came Riding Read Online Free Page B

olden times.”
    “He walks like a soldier,” she said, hoping to learn more about the man. “An officer, I mean.”
    “He’s no officer, but he is, or was, a gentleman, to judge by his ways. I don’t ask questions. It might be best if you don’t either, miss. The captain’s very shy about his past,” he said.
    Ned began slicing bread. As he was busy, and as Marianne was accustomed to making herself useful, she offered to help him. He suggested she toast the bread at the grate with the long-handled fork kept there for the purpose. Ned busied himself with gammon and tea and setting up the tray. As they worked, they chatted.
    “Are you a woodcutter by trade, Ned?” she asked.
    “That I am, miss. I work for His Lordship. That’s Lord Kerrigan. He owns this tract of land and several others hereabouts. I clear away the dead lumber for him and take down the trees he tells me to.”
    “The captain says you are a horse doctor as well.”
    “That is the captain’s little joke, like. I know something about horses. I used to work at a breeding stable, but I was let go. His lordship wanted his nag to win a certain match. He gave me a bottle of medicine to give the horse before the race. The Jockey Club found out about it. One of us had to take the blame. For payment, his lordship lets me live here and look after this bit of forest.”
    “But that’s horrid!”
    “ ‘Tis the way of the world, miss. The high and mighty look after themselves and let the devil take the hindmost.” He handed her a tray holding the plates of gammon and eggs and tea. “There’s a nice bit of supper for the old malkin and another for yourself. Sleep tight.”
    “Thank you, Ned.”
    She took the tray and returned to the duchess to relate what she had learned.
    “The captain was leaving, you say? Where was he going?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “You should have found out. He must live hereabouts.”
    “They would never tell us, Your Grace. Ned warned me about asking questions. The only name I heard was from Ned. It is a Lord Kerrigan who owns this forest.”
    “I know the man. He is a scoundrel. Did the captain have my diamonds on him?”
    “I don’t know—but he was carrying his mask.”
    “Ah, then he is out attacking another innocent traveler, as I thought. Excellent. My diamonds are safe here.”
    The duchess had a hundred questions and complaints as she ate her supper. She wanted to know how Beeton and Tom were faring, how her horses were doing, who was going to repair her carriage, where was the closest constable’s office, and why wasn’t the tea hot.
    When she had tired herself out, she handed Marianne one of the four pillows on her bed and told her to find herself a blanket and curl up by the grate.
    Marianne did as she was told. It was preferable to sharing a bed with the termagant. She did not bother to undress, nor did she fall asleep easily. The duchess’s stertorous snores shook the timbers. She lay awake for some hours, reliving the strange, horrible evening just past. She knew her mistress well enough to know she would not leave without her diamonds. And she had a sinking feeling that Captain Jack was not about to give them up. What would happen? What would become of her, of them all?
    At length, she dozed off. When she awoke, the fire in the grate had died to a few glowing embers. The room was cold, but that was not what had awakened her. She had heard something, some sound within the cottage. The duchess? No, her snoring had subsided to a gentle rumble. The noise came again. Not in the cottage, but from outside. A horse—and presumably a rider. Had the captain returned? Who else could it be at this hour?
    She sat up, every sense alive and alert, and went to open the bedroom door. In the darkness beyond, she heard the back door of the cottage open and stealthy footsteps enter. Someone went to meet the captain. She listened, but the sounds had ceased. The men were in the kitchen, talking. If she could get up and