Page 83 of A Stolen Heart

“It was an accident,” Alexandra explained. “We didn’t mean to take off in the balloon, but that man attacked me, and he made them untie the ropes. Of course Sebastian knocked him out of the basket—”

“But of course.” The highwayman’s grin broadened.

“But it was too late. We were already going up by then. So we had no one to follow us, and we were blown off course from the rest of the balloons. We didn’t know how to operate it, you see.”

“It’s not a common skill,” the other man agreed reasonably.

“Of course everyone will be most worried about us by now, so we have to get back to London as soon as possible. If you would be so good as to tell us how to get to a village where we could hire a coach or catch the stage—”

The man leaned over. “For you, my lady, anything.” He cast a roguish look at Sebastian. “Do not look so black, my lord husband, I mean no harm. She is too beautiful to resist a little flirting.”

“Thank you,” Alexandra told him. “You are very kind.”

The man swung down from his saddle. He was tall and slender, broad-shouldered in his dark, loose shirt. There was, Alexandra noted, a pistol stuck through his belt. He was, she suspected, dangerous. However, he had also a certain grace and charm of manner, as well as an infectious grin.

He swept her an elegant bow. “Jack Moore, at your service, my lady.”

Alexandra couldn’t help but smile and bob a little curtsey in return. “Alexandra—”

“Lady Thorpe,” Sebastian interposed, moving between Alexandra and the man.

“Tomorrow I will take you to Evansford. The London stage comes through at ten. The stage tonight has already passed.” Another expression flitted across the man’s face, a kind of amusement, as if he knew a joke that no one else was in on.

Behind him one of the men made a low noise, and the horses shifted restlessly. Moore glanced at the men, then returned his gaze to Alexandra and Sebastian.

“Tonight you must be my guests. My house is not far, and you will be able to rest and refresh yourselves. And after a good’s night sleep, I shall escort you to the village.”

“We could not impose on you, sir,” Sebastian said firmly. “If you will just tell us which way the village lies, we will go there tonight.”

“No, I insist. It is far too long for a lovely lady such as your wife to walk. This part of the country is somewhat isolated. I have room in my house, and it will be most pleasant to have company.”

“You are too kind,” Sebastian began.

The man grinned. “There are many who would dispute that. But I cannot let a beautiful woman languish by the side of the road. You must come with us.” He paused, giving Sebastian a long, serious look. “You will come to no harm, you know. I give you my word.”

He held out his hand to Sebastian, and after a brief hesitation, Sebastian shook it.

“I think it sounds lovely,” Alexandra said, moving beside Sebastian. “A meal and a good night’s sleep will be just the ticket. You are very kind, Mr. Moore.”

“Thank you, my lady.” He smiled at her. “We are even so fortunate as to have an extra horse with us tonight. We, er, came upon it on the road.”

“That is indeed fortunate,” Sebastian commented wryly. He winced as Alexandra trod upon his foot.

“Isn’t it?” she agreed. “I have always found that things come along just when you need them the most. Like tonight, when you arrived so fortuitously.”

“It was fortuitous, indeed,” Moore replied. “It has been a while since I have had good conversation at the supper table. My lord, if you will mount our spare animal, I can easily take my lady up before me.” His eyes twinkled roguishly.

“Alexandra will ride with me,” Sebastian said flatly, his eyes narrowed, and he moved his feet a little farther apart, bracing himself.

Moore’s teeth flashed. “But of course your lady will ride with you. Everything will be quite proper.”

He walked with them to the spare mount, but before Sebastian could climb on the saddleless animal, Moore put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “But first, I regret, we must cover your eyes. It would be—let us say—awkward, for you to see the way we take. It is dark, I know, but still…” He shrugged expressively.

A little to Alexandra’s surprise, Sebastian acquiesced easily to the idea, allowing Moore to tie a black scarf around his eyes. Moore then gave him a leg up onto the horse. He tied another dark cloth around Alexandra’s eyes and lifted her onto the horse in front of Sebastian.

“There. Are you comfortable?”

“Fine.”