“He is the authority!” Angus cried in disgust.
Well, that was true in that Octavian was serving in the Royal Navy. But he was not going to turn these men in for trying to feed their starving families. Most travelers could afford to lose a few coins.
Angus was a hothead but his father was a cool character and had not raised a fist to him or Henshaw. “I give you my oath that I will not give you away to the authorities so long as you do not kill or maim your victims. I’ll turn a blind eye to robbery, but not cruelty.”
“Fair enough,” Samuel Armstrong said, offering his hand. “Safe travels, Captain Thorne.”
Octavian climbed back into the carriage and did not release a breath until Henshaw had flicked the reins and gotten the team under way. In truth, he was amazed they had gotten out of the confrontation without incident.
He remained seated atop Syd’s hiding spot until they were out of sight of the reivers, then lifted the lid and raised the blanket off her now that it was safe to do so. “Syd, are you all right?”
Beads of perspiration had settled across her brow and her cheeks were a bright pink. “Air,” she said, taking a deep breath and then another. “It was hot in there.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I did not see any other way out of that encounter but to hide you.” He took the pistol from her hand and placed it back in the lip of his boot before helping her out of the secret compartment.
She sat beside him, settling on the seat bench with a grunt. “That Angus fellow was a hothead. I did not like him at all.”
“Hopefully, we will never encounter him again. I think he might have liked you all too well and wanted to keep you.”
She laughed. “Why? Because I am hotheaded, too? No, even these fiery, thoughtless hounds are looking for biddable wives. No one wants a wife like me.”
“Except for me.”
Her smile faded.
“For the moment,” she said in response.
He did not bother to correct her.
Syd was so drained after being stuffed in that hidden compartment, she would not believe he might want her forever. Besides, they had more trouble in the offing. Those reivers had not gone back into hiding but were following them at a leisurely pace into Gretna Green.
“Bollocks,” he muttered, fearing there would be another confrontation once these reivers realized he had hidden Syd from them.
There was no way to hide her now.
Their best chance was to head straight for the blacksmith shop and get the wedding ceremony over and done before the reivers caught up to them and realized he had tricked them.
Bloody blazes.
Now he had not only Sir Henry to worry about, but these Scottish thieves, as well.
He would have to think of something to distract and deter both parties. If Sir Henry and Syd’s father were lying in wait for them, perhaps he could talk Jamie and the other Armstrongs into helping him out. After all, what Scot did not love a good brawl?
But it was no sure thing they would join in his fight to marry Syd.
After all, he had lied to them by hiding her and this counted as a lie of omission. Could he rely on Jamie Armstrong or the Armstrong laird understanding why he had to do it?
What if they chose to turn on him and helped Syd’s father steal her back?
He glanced at Syd.
Most women would be fluttering and crying by now.
But not Syd.
She was spoiling for a fight.
What would Syd do if they tried to set a hand on her?
