The Highwayman of Tanglewood Read Online Free Page A

fortune—had been laboring far away managing his father’s affairs. It was nigh unto two years since the young heir had quit Loch Loland at his father’s bidding, yet Lady Rockrimmon begged his chambers be kept in readiness of his eventual return. At times, Faris thought her efforts to keep the young master’s room futile. Yet each time Lady Rockrimmon would thank Faris for her efforts, Faris’s heart would swell with contentment at having pleased her lovely benefactress.
    “Shall I tidy your chambers today, young master of the manor?” Faris said aloud to herself as she looked about the lifeless chamber. “Has yesterday’s dust settled as yet?” Running one index finger across the water basin table nearby, she smiled. “Ah!” she said. “I see dusting is, indeed, in order.”
    “Faris! Faris!”
    Faris startled only slightly at the sound of Lillias calling her name. It was quite a common thing—Miss Lillias scurrying through Loch Loland Castle in search of Faris. Faris smiled, happy in knowing the young miss often sought her advice and assistance.
    “Oh, there you are, darling!” Lillias exclaimed, bursting into the chamber, eyes bright with excitement.
    “Yes, Lady Kendrick,” Faris greeted, sending Lillias’s eyes to even brighter illumination.
    “Oh, how I love that you call me that, Faris!” Lillias giggled, green eyes lit pure with delight. “But you must not let father hear it. It does upset him so.”
    “Because he loves his only daughter and is already missing her,” Faris said. She smiled.
    Lillias Rockrimmon was the perfect image of youthful beauty. Eyes like soft green opal, hair as nut-brown as any chestnut, rosied cheeks, rubied lips. In short, Lillias Rockrimmon was the loveliest young woman Faris had ever seen. Her heart was good and kind as well. Lord Kendrick could count himself very fortunate indeed. Faris’s smile faded slightly—a wish flitting through her mind that she were such a beauty.
    “Hush, Faris,” Lillias said. “You’ll well my eyes with tears, and I shall look a fright.” Lillias paused, looking about the room. “I do not know why mother insists you keep Lochlan’s rooms at the ready. It is yet two months before the wedding. He will not return until the very last possible moment.” Lillias smiled at Faris, reached out, and clasped her hands in her own. “But it is not Lochlan’s room that concerns we two at this moment.” Lillias looked about the room as if expectant upon finding they were not alone. Lowering her voice, she said, “The Highwayman of Tanglewood has been seen! Only an hour ago—in the broad light of day!”
    “What?” Faris exclaimed in a whisper. Her heart increased the pace of its rhythm, for indeed it was an unprecedented event. “Surely not, miss!” Faris added. “He has never been seen in daylight before! Surely it would be too perilous for him to appear so!”
    “Indeed! Yet it is true! Graybeau saw the Highwayman himself, as did two of Lord Tremeshton’s stablemen,” Lillias explained in an excited whisper.
    “Lord Tremeshton’s men?” Faris asked.
    Lillias laughed, her opal-green eyes flashing. “Yes! He’s done it again, Faris! Our beloved Highwayman has bested Lord Tremeshton once more. And in the bright light of day.”
    Faris giggled, covering her mouth with one hand to stifle the delighted sound.
    The arrogant Kade Tremeshton had fallen prey to the tricks of the Highwayman of Tanglewood once before. Bested at swords and fists, Kade Tremeshton had known the humiliation of being beaten by the Highwayman some months earlier. Lord Tremeshton had fallen ill and died only months after Faris had left Tremeshton Manor. His arrogant son, Kade, had inherited his title and wealth, as well as his greed. In his ravenous gluttony, Kade had more than doubled the rent he demanded from his tenants and had even begun to tax their livestock. How Faris had delighted in listening to the telling of the Highwayman of Tanglewood’s