He wanted to strangle her with his bare hands.
“No,” he said, trying desperately to moderate his voice, “no, nothing really. When will you take your leave? Who will accompany you?”
“I’m leaving for Southampton on Thursday.”
“That is but two days from now.”
“Quite so.” She’d decided at that very moment. Surely there would be a ship leaving from that huge harbor in the near future. “I shall take Dorcas and Geordie with me, if they wish to go. Now, I am quite busy. I’m certain Philfer will be delighted to show you out. He was obviously quite delighted to show you in, after all.”
She turned on her heel and sailed from the drawing room, humming, paying him no more heed.
Etienne DuPons was nervous, excited, and overly warm in the long black wool cloak. He privately thought it ridiculous to dress up as some sort of silly highwayman, but Evan had insisted.
“We can take no chances that you are recognized,” Evan had said. “After it is done, then no matter.”
Etienne pulled his horse back into the shadows of a giant oak tree. The servant, Geordie, would be riding just ahead of the carriage. He didn’t want to kill the man, merely take him out of the game, so to speak.
Where was Arielle?
He felt lust just thinking about her. He closed his eyes for a moment, seeing her again on her knees before him, her soft hands caressing him, her mouth touching him. His own moan brought him back to the present.
Where was she?
He heard a horse galloping toward him. Slowly, he drew the pistol from his wide belt and carefully cocked the trigger. He peered through the thick foliage, holding himself tensely still. Several moments passed. Finally, he saw a man riding toward him, a stranger. He quickly pulled his horse back in the shadows again, cursing softly under his breath.
Where the devil was she?
It occurred to Burke as he waited in the shade of a thick-branched maple tree that he had never told Arielle that he loved her, had loved her for three years, and that he wanted to marry her. He hadn’t seen her since that Friday morning when he’d kissed her and left her, so furious and frustrated he’d wanted to spit. He’d become a madman when Mr. Lapwing had told him she was selling up and leaving England.
A madman. He shook his head, his eyes still trained on the road, knowing full well that no sane man would do what he was planning. Well, the devil, he thought. When he’d discovered from Mr. Lapwing that she’d been robbed by her solicitor and steward, he had ridden to Rendel Hall immediately. To this moment he still wasn’t certain what he would have said to her if he’d been allowed into the house.
It was probably just as well that he hadn’t seen her. He might have acted precipitously. His visit to Mr. Lapwing on the previous day played in his mind. If he hadn’t gone—oh, God, he would never have found out that Arielle was leaving England. But he had gone—
“I see, my lord,” Mr. Lapwing had said, turning and twisting a quill between his fingers. “Obviously if you wish the Rendel property, I am certain you can buy it from the creditors at an excellent price.”
Burke shook his head. He wanted nothing to do with the Rendel property. It was just that he didn’t want Arielle to feel compelled to marry him because she hadn’t a sou. No, he wanted her freely because she wanted him. He would find a way to salve her pride by filling enough of her purse.
“It no longer matters, my lord,” Mr. Lapwing continued. “Your decision will have nothing to do with Lady Rendel.”
“What? I’m sorry, I was thinking of something else. What no longer matters?”
“Any of it, my lord. Lady Rendel received a letter from her sister inviting her to come to Boston to stay. Lady Rendel is leaving tomorrow, I believe. We are still at war with the Americans, but I did manage to locate a Dutch merchant ship for her that will be safe enough.”
Burke could only stare at him. To hell with her pride, was the first thought that struck him.
It was still in his mind.
“I am a madman,” he said aloud, and Dandy, a huge raw-boned stallion he was certain Arielle had never seen before, obligingly whinnied. He became very still when he heard the hoofbeats coming. That would doubtless be Geordie—and Joshua’s problem. He waved a hand and saw Joshua’s return wave.
The road was flat and fairly straight, so both of them could see Geordie a good thirty yards before he reached them. When he did, Joshua, a mask over his face, rode from his hiding place, an enormous pistol in his hand.
“Halt and deliver!”
Geordie pulled the bay up and whirled about toward the voice. Stupid fellow. For heaven’s sake, he had no money worth speaking of.
A man swathed in a long black cloak, a black wool mask tied about his head, appeared from the shade of the trees, “Don’t move, or I’ll kill you.”
Oh, God, Geordie thought, the fellow’s an amateur. Geordie had no intention of doing anything. “I won’t move,” Geordie said quickly, holding himself as still as one of those London actresses doing attitudes.
“Get off your horse and lie facedown on the road.”
Geordie did as he was told, one eye on the pistol in the man’s gloved right hand. The man sounded familiar, but at the moment he couldn’t place him.
Joshua quickly tied Geordie’s hands behind him, fastened a mask over his eyes, and said, “All right, let’s go now. Don’t give me any trouble, else I’ll cosh you good.”
“Yer mad,” said Geordie. “What do ye want with me?”
“Not a thing,” said Joshua and shoved Geordie into the woods. He turned, waved toward Burke, and disappeared.
Burke felt the tension mount. His heartbeat quickened; his palms were clammy. Then he saw the carriage, the single driver. Arielle and her maid, Dorcas, were within.
The tricky part, he thought.
He rode to the middle of the road, drew his pistol, and waited.
The driver, Samuel, took one look at the man and the evil black gun pointing at him and stood up, yanking the horses to a halt with all his leveraged strength.
Arielle grabbed for the leather strap and missed. She was flung facedown beside Dorcas on the opposite seat.
“Well, I never!” yelled Dorcas.
Arielle drew herself up and stuck her head out the carriage window. “Sam, whatever is the mat—” Her voice dropped like a stone into an abyss at the sight of the highwayman.
“What do you want?” she asked, thinking about the one hundred pounds in her reticule, all the money she had in the world. It wasn’t fair. Where was Geordie?
“Get out,” the man said to her.
“No,” Dorcas said and grabbed Arielle’s arm. “The man’s bad, he’ll hurt you.”
“Release me, Dorcas. He will probably just take my money and let us go.”
With those words, Arielle opened the carriage door and jumped down to the dusty road. To be robbed in broad daylight was too much. Where was Geordie?
Burke stared down at her. She looked beautiful, but so pale and scared. He didn’t want her to be frightened, but he saw no hope for it. His breathing deepened, quickened. “Come here,” he said, trying to flatten his accent so that she wouldn’t recognize him until he had her.
“Take my money,” she said, flinging her reticule at him. “Damn you.”
Burke caught the reticule and weighted it in his palm. “How much have you got?”
“Surely enough for the likes of you,” Arielle said, gritting her teeth.
“I will count it later, and we will see. Where were you off to, sweetheart?”
He saw her go even more pale, if that were possible. “To Southampton, to leave this accursed country.” To his surprise and amusement, she stamped her foot. “Just go away. It isn’t fair. What do you want anyway? What did you do with my man?”
“He isn’t harmed, I promise you. As for you, well, I do have plans.”
As he spoke, he walked Dandy toward her. She took a step back. He spoke again, wanting to distract her. He did
n’t want anyone hurt in this madman’s fantasy. “When does your ship leave?”
“Tomorrow, early morning. Please, I must be there. I cannot miss my chance.”
“And where do you go?” He was nearly close enough.
“To Boston, to my sister. Can you not rob someone else? I—truly, I haven’t much money, and I need it, desperately. I cannot arrive in Boston—”
God, he hated the pleading. One more step and Burke, without warning, reached down, circled her waist, and hauled her up against him. She was perfectly still for several moments; then all hell broke loose. She was wearing gloves and thus didn’t hurt him. She would have scored the flesh off his face had her hands been bare.
“Stop it, now,” he said, squeezing her tightly about her ribs. She gasped for breath and from pain, but continued to hit at him. If he was a madman, she was certainly a witch.
Burke toppled her and she landed stomach-down in front of him. As if from a great distance, Burke heard Dorcas screaming, yelling insults at him that he doubted his salty sergeant had known. As for the driver, he just stared, openmouthed.
Arielle twisted about frantically, trying to lurch up, but Burke’s hand came down hard at her waist, holding her still.
“Don’t move, Arielle, or you’ll just hurt yourself.” His words had no effect at all, and he made his voice as mean as he could. “Stop it or I’ll knock you unconscious.”
She quieted.
A believable threat, he thought. He yelled to Dorcas, whose furious face was regarding him from the carriage window, “She won’t be harmed.” He dug in his heels and Dandy raced forward down the road. He realized suddenly that he’d said her name aloud. He cursed silently.
Arielle felt the breath whoosh out of her at the stallion’s pace. “How do you know me?”
He said nothing.
“You called me Arielle. Who are you?”
He kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want her to recognize him just yet. When he revealed himself, he wanted the both of them to be in more comfortable surroundings. She would doubtless be more amenable to reason if she weren’t slung on her stomach over his saddle.
“Where are you taking me?” She didn’t expect him to say anything this time. Her face was pressed against his thigh, and the wool of the black cloak was scratchy. She could feel the strength of him, the muscles bunching and pulling as he guided the horse with his legs. And she could feel her own fear begin to grow at that moment. The palm of his hand was against the small of her back, and it felt hot and strong.
The rocking motion of the horse was making her nauseous. “I will throw up if you don’t let me sit.”
“All right,” he said, frowning a bit. She was small, with not nearly enough strength to overpower him. He pulled his horse to a halt and brought her astride in front of him. Her gown rode up to her thighs and he had a marvelous view of her stocking-clad legs. He swallowed, saying nothing.
He placed both arms around her, holding the horse’s reins in front of her. “Don’t move or you’ll go back down again, and if you retch, well, you’ll just have to live with it.”
“Who are you? What do you want?”
He said nothing.
“Where are you taking me?”
His arms tightened about her waist. “Keep quiet,” he said softly against her left ear.
Arielle sagged. It was too much. She’d been helpless for so long; then she had the first small, sweet taste of freedom. Now it was gone. He would probably rape her and beat her. He was a man, and would do that extremely well. She would have given anything to have a pistol at that moment. Anything.
“What did you do to Geordie?”
Burke said nothing. He heard her fear and it bothered him. He tried to disguise his voice. “He is all right. He won’t be harmed, I promise you.”
“Please tell me what you want.”
“In good time. Why don’t you rest? Our ride is long.”
Was the stupid man out of his mind? Rest? To their mutual surprise, she fell asleep, leaning back against him. He was relieved. He would have had to blindfold her to keep her from seeing where he was taking her.
“I’m indeed a madman,” he said, looking straight between Dandy’s ears.
He eased Arielle into the crook of his arm. He now was free to look at her to his heart’s content. Her bonnet was a simple affair, pale yellow crepe and ribbons, and the bow beneath her chin was untied, the bonnet now on the back of her head. He couldn’t keep his fingers away from her lovely hair. Soft and thick and that incredible color. He wished it were October. He rather thought the shade now more a mixture of brilliant fall leaves. I am become a fanciful madman, he thought. He gently pulled the bonnet off and tied its ribbons around the saddle pommel. He pulled the pins out of her hair, then smoothed it out with his fingers. He pictured her hair spread about her face, over his pillow, with him above her, and she was opening to him, welcoming him, yielding to him.
His own moan brought him out of that damnable erotic dream, and for the time being, he kept his eyes on the road ahead. Dandy moved at a steady pace. They had only about eight more miles, their destination Knight Winthrop’s small hunting box just two miles north of Shepherd Smeath.
When he looked down at her again, it seemed to him that she was regaining some of her color. Her pallor had alarmed him. Her mouth drew him, her lips so soft-looking and full, a pale pink color. And that straight little nose of hers. He could picture her nostrils flaring in anger. Their children would have stubborn jaws, he thought, running his fingertips lightly along hers.
Burke recognized the leaning road sign. It said Rowhams to the left and Shepherd Smeath to the right. He turned Dandy to the right. The road narrowed, and oak trees met over the road in a rich green canopy. He passed old Hookham’s farm, situated just where Knight had promised it would be. The hunting box was set back from the road, a small, rectangular, two-story house, covered with ivy and smelling of rich summer rose and hibiscus blossoms.
Burke dismounted, holding Arielle carefully. It would suit him if she didn’t awaken just yet. He managed to unlock the door and get her upstairs into the charmingly furnished master bedchamber. He covered her, then left, locking the door behind him. He settled Dandy into the small stable, then took himself back to the house.
When Arielle opened her eyes, she didn’t move. She was no longer on a horse. No man was holding her. She kept herself perfectly still. Looking about, she realized she was lying on a bed canopied with rich blue brocade. A single knitted quilt was covering her. She was fully dressed, even her slippers still on her feet.
The man was nowhere to be seen.
Slowly, she sat up. There was no more nausea, nothing. She stood, took a step, and saw that the ribbon on her left slipper was unknotted. She leaned down and fastened it tightly. She straightened and looked around. She had no idea where she was. The room was neither predominantly masculine nor feminine, but the furnishings were expensive, she could tell that much. The armoire was oak and intricately carved, as was the small commode, and the pitcher and basin atop it were fine porcelain. The pale blue-and-green carpet was soft and lush.
The door was locked, of course. What had she expected? To find her reticule with her money still inside and an open door?
Arielle walked quickly to the wide window and pushed aside the draperies. She was on the second floor, but that made no difference to her. She quickly unlatched one window and shoved it outward. She climbed up on the ledge and looked down. It was a good twenty feet to the ground. At the very least she would break something and be in a worse fix than she was in now. Still—
The door opened.
Arielle whirled around. She clutched at the top of the window frame. “Burke,” she said, so surprised that she couldn’t think straight.
“Come down, Arielle. I don’t wish you to hurt yourself.”
“No,” she said precisely and put one foot down on the stone ledge outside the window. “You stay away from me or I will jump.”
&nbs
p; “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would you want to jump out of the window?”
“All right. You are quite correct, I am being precipitous. First you will tell me what you want—then I will decide whether or not to jump.”
This was sticky, he thought. He’d expected screams, yells, tears, whatever, but not a negotiator on a window ledge. She seemed perfectly calm.
“You wouldn’t let me in your house,” he said, a bad beginning, but for the moment his brain was dead.
“So? It is—was—my house. I didn’t allow Evan there either, but he bribed that old fraud butler of mine.”
“I wish I had known,” Burke said. “I could have bribed him too.”
“I repeat, my lord, what do you want?”
“I want to feed you, Arielle. It is late afternoon, you know. When was the last time you ate?”
She cocked her head at that and answered automatically, “An early breakfast.”
“Well, then, I’ll go fetch our dinner.”
She watched him turn on his heel and stride toward the chamber door.
“Wait.”
“Yes?” He didn’t turn.
“This is ridiculous. I don’t want anything to eat. I demand to know what I’m doing here.”
“Soon,” he said, closed the door after him, and locked it. Arielle was left standing with one foot inside, the other outside, not having the faintest idea of what to do. “This is all very strange,” she said aloud, but still left the one foot outside.
Oddly enough, she wasn’t really afraid now. Burke was a gentleman and he could be managed. At least she hoped so. But why had he abducted her? She saw him clearly in her mind, saw him pull her against him and kiss her. She felt his tongue against her lips, felt the heat of him. And she knew, of course; she knew what he wanted.
He wanted her to be his mistress. He would treat her as a man treated a woman, and it would be worse because she wouldn’t be his wife. A mistress must be treated awfully badly. No, wait. That couldn’t be right. No. Perhaps mistresses were treated better than wives. After all, couldn’t a mistress simply leave? She wasn’t bound legally. Yes, being a mistress had to be preferable by far.
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