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"’Tis highwaymen!" an excited Samuel cried with thinly veiled enthusiasm.
"Get your head back in here, stupid man!" Mary grabbed her overeager husband by his collar and hauled him back in the window and Marjorie pulled it shut again behind him. They careened around a corner and barreled down the highway as shots ran out behind them.
"Bloody hell! Pull it over before you end up in the ditch, you fool!" someone shouted. A figure flew past, bent low over the neck of a lathered steed. Moments later, the coach began to slow as the cursing driver and the daring horseman both worked to pull the charging team to a stamping, snorting halt.
"Quick, Marjorie, my bag!" Heroine's heart was pounding so hard she thought it might leap from her chest, but she still managed to find the flintlock pistol she carried. With minimal fumbling and reasonably steady hands, she primed it and made it ready. Samuel, whose eyes were alight with the fire of a man forty years younger, also had a pistol and he did the same. No one had approached the windows or doors yet, but they could hear the sound of feet crunching on gravel as the horses were settled.
°Ú…]
The rest of the conversation was too muffled for Heroine to understand it, but after a prolonged silence she could tell they'd been deserted. What had the world come to when even a king's servant could not be relied on to protect defenseless women in his charge? Well, no one was touching the hard-won deed to her lands. She hunkered lower and aimed her pistol at the door.
"Good evening, ladies," a pleasant voice said from the window. They all screamed including Samuel, and the sharp report of two pistols went off with a roar.
Coughing and wiping her eyes, Heroine watched as a nimble hand reached through the broken window and neatly plucked her pistol right out of her grasp.
"God's blood, Heroine! Someday I must show you how to manage one of these things properly. It really shouldn't be used as a toy."
Sputtering in rage and indignation, she scrambled back into her seat and brushed broken glass from her hair. "Fool! Imbecile! Samuel might have killed you! What in God's name do you think you're about?" Heroine's heart was pattering madly with shock, fear and elation. She didn't know if she wanted to kiss him or wring his neck.
A bullet lodged in the roof and one had shattered the window. He examined the damage, turned to Sam, removed his hat, and gave him a bow. "Hero, at your service. I am relieved to see the ladies well protected on these dangerous roads. Indeed, Master Samuel, 'twas bravely done. You're not going to shoot me, though, are you?"
Sam sat up, beaming with pride. "Not unless my lady tells me to, my lord."
Thomas looked in the window over his master's shoulder and waved at Heroine with a cheerful grin. Marjorie nudged her with an elbow in her side. "Oh, Heroine, he has kidnapped you. How romantic. It's just like in a story! I always said he was a good boy."
"Samuel! Would you be so good as to keep your pistol at the ready and ride on the box with my man Thomas here? One hears these woods are full of highwaymen and villains, and with both of you on guard I'm sure we'll all feel safer."
"Of course, my lord! It was my intention all along but my lady wouldn't have it"
"Well, now she's had the opportunity to see you in action, I am certain that she's changed her mind."
"He's sixty-five years old, Hero," Heroine hissed.
"And 'twas his shot that just missed me and took out the window, my love. I've told you before, Heroine, do you wish to be a widow, you must marry me before you kill me. For that you are going to have to be a better shot Excuse me, ladies. Pardon me." He opened the door and hopped in the carriage, helping Marjorie into the seat vacated by Samuel, and dropping his lanky frame down next to Heroine.
"Ah! when will this long weary day have end, And lend me leave to come unto my love.
"I hate to be a grumbler, my dear, but I must say I am exhausted." He leaned his head against her shoulder and though the feel of his warm body sprawled next to hers was delicious, she shrugged him off. He was wild and reckless and probably half-drunk, and besides, they had a rapt audience.
"Do you mind?"
"Apparently I have no mind," he said amiably. "According to Thomas, I am the village idiot"
"Well, I'm sure he is in a position to know. But do stretch your limited faculties, Lord Hero, and try to tell me what this is about" She glared at Mary, who quickly pulled out some knitting, and Marjorie, who closed her eyes as if preparing for a nap.
"Why, I should think it obvious, my love." His presence seemed to fill the carriage. His folded arms and stretched out legs took up too much space. With each sway of the coach his elbow nudged the soft outer curve of her breast and his muscled thigh brushed her hip. "I told you one day I'd show you how I occupied myself while in exile."
"You were a highwayman?"
"Yes. A rather good one. Tom was my accomplice, though people of sophistication called us knights of the road."
"You held people up at gunpoint and robbed them?"
"Only those who were wealthy, and supported Cromwell instead of the crown. "I was my patriotic duty really, and how I met that greedy harpy Jane Shore. I can't say I liked my name much though. It should have been something all together more dashing."
She couldn't resist it "What did they call you?"
"The tax collector," he said with a moue of distaste. "As if I were some bureaucratic functionary rather than the terror of England's roads."



I know it's long, but I just couldn't choose passages to delete. I love that scene, it really made the book.

I might have read this book. It seems familiar, but if I was "heroine" I would be more inclined to put my hands around his neck and squeeze.

No idea at all!

I have no idea either.

Not a clue. The period should give it away, but there are so few books written then. Of course that should make it easier to guess...

Not a clue!

I have no clue either, but it seems really interesting. What is it?

Libertine's Kiss by Judith James

I read the 2nd book in this series, 'cuz even if it doesn't say so there are overlapping characters, thanks to the cover(it's amazing!) and after I finished that I just had to know the story of these 2 characters. It was one of my lucky "obsessed by to cover so I have to have the book" choices :D

Hm. I started it, didn't get into it and dropped it. Time to go find it again.

I DID read this! Amazing that I guessed right this time. Also, I DID fantasize about squeezing his throat then... (evil laughter)

I bought a copy of this one because it generated such buzz, but other TBR books keep taking precedence. I'll get to it eventually.