Page 61 of An Unlikely Debutante

‘We’re slowing,’ Lina said when they’d been travelling for nearly an hour. It should still be another hour at least until they reached Whitemore House, probably more in these conditions.

Alex leaned forward, peering out of the window into the darkness, trying to see if there was a fallen tree or something similar blocking the way.

‘There are men on horses, my lord.’ The groom’s voice carried down to them on the wind.

Time seemed to slow as Alex’s senses heightened. Men on horses blocking the road on a night like this meant nothing but bad news. Highwaymen and robbers had become less of a problem over the past few years, but they did still exist and an encounter could be deadly.

‘Don’t get out of the carriage unless absolutely necessary,’ Alex instructed Lina, squeezing her hand to try to convey the importance of his words. Most highwaymen were ruthless men without any scruples when it came to killing. The punishment for highway robbery was death, so they were already risking everything. It didn’t concern them if their victims were left alive or dead.

There was a chance these men in the road ahead weren’t highwaymen, but Alex couldn’t think of another reason to be stopping carriages on a night like this.

‘Can we push through them?’ Alex shouted as he leaned out of the window. The horses had slowed to a walk and he peered into the darkness, trying to make out the forms in the road ahead.

‘The road’s too narrow,’ the coachman answered after considering for a few seconds. ‘They’ve got guns, my lord. If they fire, it’ll spook the horses and who knows where we’ll end up.’

‘Be ready,’ Alex instructed, referring to the pistol the coachman kept in a small box up next to his seat. ‘Stop the carriage, I’ll get out. If you see an opportunity to break through, then go. It is most important to get Miss Lock to safety.’

‘But, my lord—’ the coachman began to protest.

‘That’s a direct order,’ Alex said, pulling his head back into the carriage as it slowed to a stop.

‘Be careful,’ Lina said, her face pale and her expression worried.

Alex gave her a reassuring smile and had just flung open the door when he felt her arms around his neck. Before he knew what was happening, Lina’s lips met his and she was kissing him deeply, almost frantically. She had an irresistible pull over him and Alex nearly forgot the line of men on horses waiting outside and the danger they presented. Only when Lina pulled away did he regain his senses and manage to push himself from the carriage.

‘Is there a problem, gentlemen?’ Alex shouted to be heard above the wind. Six pairs of eyes regarded him from the darkness, all sitting confidently on their horses.

‘Don’t move,’ one of the men shouted.

Alex froze, knowing it would be foolish to get himself shot before the men had even dismounted.

‘Remove any weapons you are carrying and place them on the ground.’

‘I’m not in the habit of carrying a gun around the countryside,’ Alex said. He knew it was best not to antagonise the men in front of him, but he wasn’t going to start stuttering and stammering in fear, either.

‘Is there anyone else in the carriage?’

Alex hesitated. There was no point lying, but he would much prefer they left Lina alone.

‘Just a young woman. She has no money or valuables upon her person.’

Two of the men conferred quietly, appearing to argue over their next course of action. Alex shivered as the rain began to soak through his jacket and shirt; he’d only been outside for a couple of minutes and already he was soaked to the skin.

‘Stay where you are. No sudden moves or we shoot. That goes for you, too.’ This last instruction was directed towards the coachman and groom, who remained hunched over at the front of the carriage.

One of the horsemen dismounted, giving the reins of his horse to his closest companion, then crossed slowly to the carriage. Alex took the opportunity to study the men in front of him. It was strange to have so many; often highwaymen worked alone or in pairs, but it was uncommon to have six mounted bandits. More people to share the profits with—but he supposed there was safety in numbers, as well. All the men wore heavy overcoats, hats and had a piece of material pulled up over the lower half of their faces so only their eyes were visible from below the brims of their hats. It would make identification impossible. This buoyed Alex’s spirits a little; if the men were planning on killing all witnesses they would be much less concerned about concealing their identities. The fact they were so covered up gave Alex hope they might survive this encounter.

Turning slowly, Alex watched as Lina was pulled roughly from the carriage, stumbling and thumping the highwayman on the shoulder as he dragged her along.

Despite the danger in the situation Alex had to stifle a smile. Lina wasn’t the sort to go quietly when manhandled, even when her assailant was armed and dangerous and she was at a disadvantage.

Alex caught her as the highwayman thrust her towards him, looping an arm around Lina’s waist both to steady her and to stop her doing anything foolish like rushing and attacking the mounted men.

‘We have five pistols trained on you both,’ the leader of the men said, having to raise his voice to be heard over the wind. ‘If you make any sudden moves, you will be shot. If you do not comply with our orders, you will be shot. If you attempt to escape, you will be shot.’

As the man was speaking, Alex could feel Lina shivering, although he couldn’t be sure if it was from cold or fear. Given the warm weather the last few weeks and the beautiful sunshine earlier in the day when they’d set off on their journey to the races, Lina was dressed only in her cotton dress with a light shawl draped over her shoulders. Hardly appropriate attire to be out in a storm.

‘May I give my companion my jacket?’ Alex asked.