The Lord of the Highwaymen - Elizabeth Bramwell Page 0,38

kiss firmly on her cheek. She gasped in surprise, but he danced out of reach of her slap with a merry laugh.

William strode forward with a loud demand to know what the devil Abershawe was about, but Amelia caught him in her arms, laughing despite herself.

“No, my love. I deserved that! Trust me, and let him go in peace. I will explain later!”

He hesitated, and indeed the goading smirk on Abershawe’s face didn’t help matters, but William settled the moment she slipped her arms about his waist and rested her head against his shoulder.

Abershawe swung himself back up into the saddle, then doffed his cap in a mocking salute to Amelia and William.

“I’d say it’s been a pleasure, oh Lord of the Highwaymen, but I’d be lying to you, although a taste of my lady here has mollified me. We’ll bid you goodnight and see you safely on your way, but be warned, if I find you working my roads again, I’ll shoot first and ask questions later.”

“Understood, Abershawe,” said William, inclining his head.

Amelia thought it was probably a good thing that no one asked Conway or Killarney what they thought, for if she’d ever seen two men itching for a game of fives, it was those two.

Abershawe’s gaze lingered on Amelia for a long moment before a genuine smile cracked his features so that she could see how handsome he would have been if life had dealt him a different hand.

“As for you, me lady, it’s not often I meet a wench who earns my respect. If you’ve ever need of me services—and looking at me lord and his company here, I’ve got a feeling you will do—then leave word for me at the Bald-Faced Stag.” His smile faded, and his expression turned stern. “Only once now, mind. I’ll help you but once, and even then, there will be a payment due.”

She did not want to show how touched she was by the offer, suspecting that he would find any display of fondness on her part to be contemptuous.

“Thank you, Jerry,” she replied, “although I fervently hope that we never lay eyes on each other again.”

He barked out a laugh.

“Aye, wench. I feel much the same about you. Let’s be off now, lads, I’ve had all I can stomach of the gentry tonight.”

William had his arms around her in an instant, and Amelia fell back against his chest with a sigh of relief.

“My God, Amy, you were magnificent,” he mumbled into her hair. “But for the sake of everything holy, never, ever, ever, do anything like that again.”

“You’d better marry me, then, to keep me out of such escapades,” she replied before turning around so that he could kiss her once again.

“I say, Amelia, is that collar of yours real or fake?” called out one of William’s friends. “Either way, I’d appreciate it if you handed it over. I’m robbing you, you see.”

She giggled as William muttered something rather rude against her cheek, before turning to look up at his fellow, would-be high pad.

“We can’t rob her, you fool. She knows who we are, so it does not count toward the wager.”

“Hah, that’s where you’re wrong! She knows who you are, not the identities of the rest of us!”

Amelia pointed to each of the men in turn. “I’d know you anywhere, Killarney, masked or otherwise. That’s Conway and Roehampton, and the Frenchman is the Chevalier D’Arras.”

“Devil take it, William, why did you have to fall in love with an intelligent woman?” muttered the marquess with disgust.

Amelia brows furrowed. “Wait a moment, what wager?”

There was an awkward silence broken only by a quiet snort from her two servants, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves now their lives were no longer in danger.

“Ah… well… it’s possible that we may have a month to earn a living as highwaymen or else forfeit a small fortune…to your stepson,” said William, wincing in anticipation of a shout or slap.

Amelia stared at him and then just shook her head. She reached out to take hold of his hand.

“You better get into the carriage with me, my love, and tell me absolutely everything.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “You wish me to escort you home? At night? Alone?”

There was her shy, adorable, proper William.

“We’ll bid you goodnight, shall we?” said Roehampton, doffing his cap to Amelia. “Killarney, stop gawking, and get on your horse. Can’t you see that we’re superfluous to requirements?”

“I’ll take care of Mr. Haddington’s horse,” announced Phillip, leaving his blunderbuss with John as