“You are also a very obstinate young lady.” The gentleman waved his pistol around freely as he gestured. “But I fear that I have no other choice but to agree. Yes, my Lady, so long as you remove yourself from the carriage, I shall leave your mother as she is.”
Elizabeth glanced at her mother again, but Lady Longford did not so much as turn her head. Finally, praying that she would not end up dead because of her courage, Elizabeth made her way from the carriage, horrified when the gentleman put out his hand, and she had no other choice but to take it, to assist her to step down. To grasp the hand of a highwayman who was surely an evil fellow was almost a wickedness in itself!
“Very well.”
Standing in front of her carriage, Elizabeth tilted her head, looking back at the highwayman – only to catch her breath in horror as she realized that he, standing there with a pistol, was not alone, but was accompanied by three other highwaymen. They remained on their horses, one on either side of the coachman, with the third in front of the horses, holding the bridle of the lead horse. How relieved she was now that her mother had been permitted to remain in the carriage! Had she stepped outside, Elizabeth had every belief that she would have fainted with shock.
“Might I say that you are as beautiful as a summer’s morning, my Lady.”
The highwayman’s smooth manner and confident speech had her curling her lip.
“I am not about to be taken in by any flirtations.” Looking the highwayman straight in the eye, she put her hands on her hips. “I have no dreams of being flattered and fawned over by a highwayman. You wish to steal from me, is that not so? You wish to take what does not belong to you and take it solely for yourself, so that you need not work for your keep, as so many others are required to.”
There was, again, a slight tremble in her voice, but she ignored it, holding his gaze steadily and catching how his lips pulled into a small smile. She shivered lightly.
“You may consider me as you wish.” The highwayman shrugged, looking at her keenly, his eyes mysterious, hidden from her. “Yet regardless of what you wish, I shall still be taking something valuable from you. How else am I to pay my men?” Grinning, he glanced at his companions, one of whom chuckled as Elizabeth looked away.
“Very well then,sir.” Putting as much irony into her address of him as she could, she spread out both hands. “What is it you shall have from me?”
Chapter Two
Felix grinned to himself. This young woman, whoever she was, was the most extraordinary creature he had ever come across. She was beautiful, of course, for what young lady of London was not beautiful in some way? It was her spirit, however, which was utterly remarkable. He was quite sure that he had never come across such a person before, for what young lady of quality would dare stand up to a highwayman? What strength it took for her to speak to him in the manner and tone which she had done! Everyone else he had ever stopped had cowered in fear before him. Some had trembled, and one or two had even fainted. Any young lady he had come across had always remained hidden in her carriage, silent and afraid until, at last, she had been forced to step out. He had never demanded much from any of them, for gaining wealth was not his purpose in doing such things. It was all a little jest on his part, at least. He paid the three rogues handsomely for coming along with him, out of his own pocket, but whatever he took, he always found a way of returning. Yes, everyone he held up was upset and displeased with him, but he did not care about their consideration of him. That was not his purpose here. His only purpose was to find a little enjoyment - and what enjoyment he was having at this moment!
“Well?” The young woman sighed heavily as if he was wasting her time. “What is it that you intend to take from me? You have said nothing for some minutes, and I confess I am a little frustrated!”
Felix chuckled. Taking a small step closer, he regarded her carefully, tipping his head from one side to the other and allowing his gaze to traverse slowly from the ground at her feet to the very top of her head. To her credit, the young lady did not so much as flinch, nor did she even blush. Instead, her flashing blue eyes regarded him sharply, her lips thin as though daring him to make a single remark about his study. Gentle brown curls danced lightly in the breeze, the sun lending it a sweet copper tone and Felix found his smile growing. Obviously, the young lady was not at all appreciative of the silence, but he had no desire to hurry through this moment. He was enjoying himself far too much.
“I will tell you, my Lady, that I do not think I have ever met anyone with as much gumption as you.”
The young lady sighed and shook her head.
“I am afraid that gumption is not a trait which young ladies are particularly well known for.” Her arms were folded across her chest, her eyes as sharp as shards of glass. “And still, you have not answered my question. If you seek to compliment me to ease my current difficulties, then I can assure you it will mean nothing to me. I would rather let you take from me what you wish, and then let us be on our way.”
“But you would deny me the pleasure of your company for a little longer?” Felix held out both hands in an almost begging fashion. “And what if I were to suggest that a prolonged conversation with me might make me consider leaving you with all that you currently have?”
Her eyes closed and she let out a little huff.
“I should not like, at all, to be in your company for any duration. Instead, I would much prefer to give youmorethan you asked for, rather than spend even a single minute of my time furthering our acquaintance.”
Her words were so cutting that Felix did not immediately respond, such was his surprise. Every young lady of his acquaintance thus far had always been very careful to speak with as much decorum as they ought. This young lady, however, seemed to have no quibble, no hesitation, in speaking precisely as she wished, and Felix admitted silently to admiring it.
“I see that you do not hold your tongue either, as might be expected from a young lady,” he remarked, as the young lady frowned, her mouth in a tight line. “Very well, very well. I shall not force my company upon you. Instead, however, I will simply take the brooch which you wear upon your traveling cloak and, thereafter, permit your coachman to drive you, and your mother, away. I assume that you are going to London?” Chuckling, he smiled broadly. “I doubt we shall ever meet again.”
That, of course, was quite a lie, for Felix had every intention of seeking this lady out again, albeit without his highwayman garb.
“My – my brooch?” The young woman blinked. Her hand lifted to the brooch, and the courage he had admired seemed to fade as her fingers traced across it. It was not overly large but had one purple sapphire within it, surrounded by diamonds. “You would take a family heirloom from me?” Her face crumpled, her lips pulling down, her eyes closing, gentle lines crossing her forehead and, for a moment he thought she was going to beseech him, only for her to turn her head away. Many a young lady had cried when he had come upon them, but this young woman’s tears seemed to mean a great deal more to him. He had never allowed himself to feel guilty, but this young lady’s glassy eyes were stabbing him with shame. “Very well.”
Much to Felix’s surprise, the young lady unpinned it from her traveling cloak and, with it clenched tightly in her hand, stepped forward, holding it out to him. Her eyes were still a little red-rimmed but, all the same, she held his gaze steadily and did not flinch.
“I have the feeling that this brooch means a great deal to you.” Felix held out his open hand and after only a moment, she dropped the brooch into it. “A family heirloom, you say? Does not every young lady have more than one piece such as this?”
She looked somewhere over his shoulder, seemingly no longer willing to look into his eyes.
“Alas, I am the youngest of three daughters. I have been given one valuable piece andonlyone. It belonged to my grandmother. She wore it on the day of her wedding.” Her eyes darted to his for just a moment as though she had hoped to find sympathy in his expression, but was immediately disappointed. “But then again, I suppose a highwayman would not care about the memories such a thing holds, nor understand the significance of a single item.”
She went to turn away, to go back to her carriage, and Felix, much to his astonishment, grasped her wrist. When she turned back to face him, he surprised himself all the more by stepping forward, dropping his head, and pressing a kiss to her lips.
To his amazement, the young lady did not step back. She did not pull herself away, nor strike out at him and then hurry off into her carriage. Instead, she remained precisely as she was, although mostly, he considered, her nearness to him came from the shock of his action rather than from any enjoyment. With a sigh of contentment, he broke their kiss but remained close to her, looking down into her eyes, and seeing how wide they were. Grinning to himself at how much he had managed to change her expression, he shrugged lightly.
