any heroic deeds so as not to endanger the man’s life—or so he insisted.
Of course, Caroline’s father assured him that he’d acted nobly and deserved nothing less than the highest honor.
Caroline could not deny that the man looked fairly pleased with himself. “Excuse me, my lord,” she inquired when an opportunity arose. “May I ask? Was it only one highwayman who attacked you?”
Seeing his aspirations endangered, her father instantly snapped at her. “Caroline, that’s enough!”
In order to maintain her father’s impression of her, Caroline quickly bowed her head and mumbled an apology, hating every moment of it. Fortunately for her, though, Lord Coleridge seemed to enjoy being the topic of discussion.
“It’s quite all right,” he trilled in an oddly sweet voice that sent a shiver down Caroline’s back. “Yes, it was only one man, but since he had a pistol trained on my trusted servant I had no choice but to comply with his demands.”
“I see,” Caroline pushed carefully. “Did you see his face?”
“Unfortunately, he wore a mask.”
Unfortunately, indeed. Still, a mask? Had it been the man she’d encountered more than once herself? And if so, was this man Lord Markham? “Was there anything about him you recognized?” she asked, all but holding her breath.
Lord Coleridge’s gaze narrowed in a rather calculated fashion. His voice, however, betrayed none of his suspicions. “I cannot say that I did,” he replied, looking for all intents and purposes like a predator on the prowl. There was something deeply unsettling about this man. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m only concerned,” Caroline mumbled as she dropped her gaze, hoping to extinguish all suspicions that might have arisen in his mind. “The notion of a highwayman lying in wait is most disturbing. I can only hope he will be apprehended soon.”
Did she? In truth, Caroline could not deny that the thought of her masked stranger being apprehended caused her no small amount of regret. At what point, exactly, had she come to think of him as hers though?
In that moment, movement caught her eyes from the window, and Caroline could barely prevent herself from turning toward it…and perhaps drawing everyone else’s attention there as well. Her teeth gritted together as her iron will overruled her reflexes, and she forced herself to draw in a slow breath. Then she lowered her head in that unobtrusive way she’d acquired long ago, her gaze fixed on her food before she allowed her eyes to drift sideways toward the window while her left hand brushed a nonexistent curl behind her ear in distraction should anyone chance a look at her.
A mask!
Despite the darkening sky, Caroline was certain she had seen a mask before it had quickly disappeared. Whoever was out there was careful not to be seen, never revealing himself for long. Was it her very own masked stranger? But what would be his reason for coming here tonight? No, in all likelihood, it was Lord Pembroke. It would seem he had received and read her letter and determined Rebecca’s plan was too dangerous.
Otherwise, why would he be here?
Caroline breathed easier, knowing he was nearby, and yet, the thought that he believed Lord Coleridge a danger to Rebecca was highly unsettling. Or was Lord Pembroke simply jealous? Fearing the other lord would beat him to Rebecca’s hand in marriage? But if they were in love, why would he think she’d accept him?
Caroline could’ve cursed out loud, shocking everyone at the table. Why were there so many secrets between them? Why did they all feel compelled to keep their lives in the dark? If only her parents were less ambitious, allowing them greater freedom, Caroline was certain neither she nor Rebecca would have felt compelled to live their lives in the shadows, afraid to lose any chance for it.
“Certainly,” her father exclaimed, joy in his voice. “Of course, I have no objections as I’m certain she’ll be in good hands with you.”
Caroline blinked. What had just happened?
Her gaze drifted from her parents to Lord Coleridge as they all rose from their seats. Rebecca, too, seemed out of sorts as she hadn’t been listening, either, confusion in her green eyes.
“What is it, Mother?” Caroline whispered, but her mother only shook her head, unwilling to answer, while her father walked over and uttered a few hushed words to Rebecca that had the color all but drain from her face.
Caroline froze, seeking her cousin’s gaze, wondering if this was the moment Rebecca had referred to. Would Rebecca wink at her now, asking Caroline to faint?
Although