by Laura Martin
The race had started, all nine horses building up speed at an impressive pace, their hooves churning up the grass and their riders bent low over their backs.
‘Go, Dawnbreaker!’ Lina shouted, completely caught up in the moment, unaware of her surroundings or the fact that other people were staring.
Alex envied this ability of Lina’s to do what she wanted without caring what other people thought of her. He was able to do the same to an extent, but it wasn’t a natural state of affairs for him, he had to work to go against his upbringing and not be bothered by other people’s opinions.
Lina grabbed his hand, squeezing it with excitement as the horses raced past their position, Dawnbreaker vying for the lead position. Watching carefully, Alex saw how his horse remained completely focused, ignoring the other animals around it, not becoming distracted by the crowds or the noise. A surge of excitement began to build, travelling down his spine, and he observed Dawnbreaker and his rider take the lead, slowly but surely increasing the distance between them and the horse in second position. If he wasn’t very much mistaken, he was watching a champion racehorse win his first race.
‘He’s won!’ Lina cried as Dawnbreaker crossed the finish line clearly in the lead.
She threw her arms around Alex, hugging him for a second before he felt her body stiffen as she must have remembered Georgina’s reprimand from earlier in the afternoon.
‘Congratulations,’ Lina said, pulling away and offering her hand for him to shake instead.
Feeling strangely bereft without her lithe body pressed against his, Alex took her hand and raised it to his lips.
‘Shall we collect your winnings?’ he asked.
‘My winnings? Oh, from the bet I placed. How exciting!’
Quickly Alex led Lina through the crowds, instructing her on how to collect her winnings after presenting her betting slip at one of the numerous booths.
‘Alex, there’s thirteen pounds here,’ Lina whispered quietly as they stepped away from the booth. ‘This can’t be right.’
‘It is. As Dawnbreaker was unknown and untested in a big race environment, the odds were twelve to one. I gave you one pound to bet, so you get twelve pounds in return plus the pound you bet originally.’
‘It’s so much money.’
She caressed the notes for a moment before holding them out to him.
Carefully he plucked one note from the pile before pushing the rest back towards her.
‘I’ll take the original stake... You get the winnings.’
‘Alex, that’s too much.’
‘You chose which horse to bet on, the money is yours.’
He watched as she flicked through the banknotes again as if she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. She tried to form a word with her mouth but nothing came out. Alex could see the tears building in her eyes. It was easy to forget that twelve pounds might be enough to change someone’s life.
Chapter Nineteen
The sky was overcast as they said their farewells to Georgina and Pentworthy, the brilliant sunshine of earlier in the day a distant memory.
‘There’s going to be a storm,’ Lina observed, looking at the sky with a knowing expression.
‘Probably just a little rain.’
‘There’s a storm building,’ Lina insisted. ‘Tonight or tomorrow. Feels like a big one.’
‘How can you tell that?’
She gave him a small smile, not her normal cheeky grin, but at least it was better than the emotionless facade she’d adopted for most of the afternoon. ‘You don’t spend twenty years sleeping under the stars and not develop a feel for the weather.’
When he thought about it he supposed it was a vital skill, knowing when it was safe to sleep outside and when it was prudent to find shelter somewhere.
As Alex helped Lina into their carriage, he felt the first heavy raindrop fall on his head and before he could climb up after her a few more splattered his jacket. With a quick glance at his coachman and groom, who sat huddled at the front of the carriage, he satisfied himself both men were suitably protected against the weather. It appeared it was only him oblivious to the impending storm.
‘Did you enjoy your day?’ he asked as he settled on the seat opposite Lina. It felt a lifetime since he’d been squeezed in next to her on the way to the races and although he would like nothing more than to sit with his arm draped casually around Lina’s shoulders again, her expression told him that was not a good idea.
‘Yes, thank you.’
‘I appreciated your company.’
They fell silent. It felt awkward, too stiff and formal, and Alex cursed himself once again for the foolish words he’d spoken earlier in the day. The excitement of the first race, with Dawnbreaker winning and Lina collecting her first racing winnings, had helped in knocking down the protective barrier Lina had raised between them, but that change in mood had been short-lived. For the rest of the afternoon she’d remained polite, replying to his enquiries with a word or two, but never initiating a conversation of her own. She seemed lost in her own mind, preoccupied, and Alex knew that could not be a good thing.
‘I was thinking of moving to my London house next week. Would this suit you?’ Alex asked, hating the way he felt unsure about his plans for the first time in many years.
Lina shrugged. ‘Whatever you think best.’
‘That way we will have a little while before the Wilcox ball and the final challenge of the wager.’ His heart sank a little at the prospect, but he continued, ‘I need to visit my tailor and you will need at least one new dress. It will also give us the opportunity to take in an opera and anything else you’d like to do whilst we’re in London.’
Another shrug, this time accompanied by a weak smile.
‘Perhaps a trip to Astley’s,’ Alex suggested.
‘Astley’s?’
‘Astley’s Amphitheatre. There is a circus there, mainly great feats of horsemanship, riding standing up, that sort of thing.’
‘Of course I’ve heard of Astley’s.’ Lina’s hushed voice belied the excitement on her face. ‘I’ve always wanted to go.’
He saw the flames of excitement in Lina’s eyes that she could not dampen no matter how hard she tried. For a moment, he pictured her trying to emulate the performers at Astley’s and shuddered as he realised it was exactly the sort of thing she would try to do.
‘Only if you promise never to try the tricks you see,’ he added quickly. The idea of Lina galloping through the countryside hanging upside down from the stirrups made his stomach churn with worry.
‘Will Aunt Lucy accompany us to London?’ Lina asked after a few minutes of silence.
‘No, her leg will heal better if she stays at Whitemore House—a long carriage journey wouldn’t be practical or comfortable. I will ask Georgina to reside with us when we arrive in London, I’m sure she will be amenable.’
‘I wouldn’t want to inconvenience her.’
For a moment Alex felt a surge of hope, wondering if Lina was suggesting she would prefer to stay with him alone, but one look at her subdued visage and the hope dwindled and died.
Deciding to sit back and stop trying to force the conversation, Alex closed his eyes. Things would seem better in the morning. Hopefully Lina would have time to work through whatever it was that was concerning her and tomorrow they could return to their normal, easy relationship.
Outside, the rain was pounding on the carriage now and whenever they travelled over an exposed stretch of road, the carriage rocked from side to side as it was buffeted by the wind. The trees groaned and rustled, their branches creaking. It was a foul night to be out and Alex spared a thought for the coachman and groom braving the elements to hurry them home.
* * *
‘We’re slowing,’ Lina said when they’d been travelling for nearly an hour. It should still be another hour at least until they reached Whitemore House, probably more in these conditions.
Alex leaned forward, peering out of the window into the darkness
, trying to see if there was a fallen tree or something similar blocking the way.
‘There are men on horses, my lord.’ The groom’s voice carried down to them on the wind.
Time seemed to slow as Alex’s senses heightened. Men on horses blocking the road on a night like this meant nothing but bad news. Highwaymen and robbers had become less of a problem over the past few years, but they did still exist and an encounter could be deadly.
‘Don’t get out of the carriage unless absolutely necessary,’ Alex instructed Lina, squeezing her hand to try to convey the importance of his words. Most highwaymen were ruthless men without any scruples when it came to killing. The punishment for highway robbery was death, so they were already risking everything. It didn’t concern them if their victims were left alive or dead.
There was a chance these men in the road ahead weren’t highwaymen, but Alex couldn’t think of another reason to be stopping carriages on a night like this.
‘Can we push through them?’ Alex shouted as he leaned out of the window. The horses had slowed to a walk and he peered into the darkness, trying to make out the forms in the road ahead.
‘The road’s too narrow,’ the coachman answered after considering for a few seconds. ‘They’ve got guns, my lord. If they fire, it’ll spook the horses and who knows where we’ll end up.’
‘Be ready,’ Alex instructed, referring to the pistol the coachman kept in a small box up next to his seat. ‘Stop the carriage, I’ll get out. If you see an opportunity to break through, then go. It is most important to get Miss Lock to safety.’
‘But, my lord—’ the coachman began to protest.
‘That’s a direct order,’ Alex said, pulling his head back into the carriage as it slowed to a stop.
‘Be careful,’ Lina said, her face pale and her expression worried.
Alex gave her a reassuring smile and had just flung open the door when he felt her arms around his neck. Before he knew what was happening, Lina’s lips met his and she was kissing him deeply, almost frantically. She had an irresistible pull over him and Alex nearly forgot the line of men on horses waiting outside and the danger they presented. Only when Lina pulled away did he regain his senses and manage to push himself from the carriage.
‘Is there a problem, gentlemen?’ Alex shouted to be heard above the wind. Six pairs of eyes regarded him from the darkness, all sitting confidently on their horses.
‘Don’t move,’ one of the men shouted.
Alex froze, knowing it would be foolish to get himself shot before the men had even dismounted.
‘Remove any weapons you are carrying and place them on the ground.’
‘I’m not in the habit of carrying a gun around the countryside,’ Alex said. He knew it was best not to antagonise the men in front of him, but he wasn’t going to start stuttering and stammering in fear, either.
‘Is there anyone else in the carriage?’
Alex hesitated. There was no point lying, but he would much prefer they left Lina alone.
‘Just a young woman. She has no money or valuables upon her person.’
Two of the men conferred quietly, appearing to argue over their next course of action. Alex shivered as the rain began to soak through his jacket and shirt; he’d only been outside for a couple of minutes and already he was soaked to the skin.
‘Stay where you are. No sudden moves or we shoot. That goes for you, too.’ This last instruction was directed towards the coachman and groom, who remained hunched over at the front of the carriage.
One of the horsemen dismounted, giving the reins of his horse to his closest companion, then crossed slowly to the carriage. Alex took the opportunity to study the men in front of him. It was strange to have so many; often highwaymen worked alone or in pairs, but it was uncommon to have six mounted bandits. More people to share the profits with—but he supposed there was safety in numbers, as well. All the men wore heavy overcoats, hats and had a piece of material pulled up over the lower half of their faces so only their eyes were visible from below the brims of their hats. It would make identification impossible. This buoyed Alex’s spirits a little; if the men were planning on killing all witnesses they would be much less concerned about concealing their identities. The fact they were so covered up gave Alex hope they might survive this encounter.
Turning slowly, Alex watched as Lina was pulled roughly from the carriage, stumbling and thumping the highwayman on the shoulder as he dragged her along.
Despite the danger in the situation Alex had to stifle a smile. Lina wasn’t the sort to go quietly when manhandled, even when her assailant was armed and dangerous and she was at a disadvantage.
Alex caught her as the highwayman thrust her towards him, looping an arm around Lina’s waist both to steady her and to stop her doing anything foolish like rushing and attacking the mounted men.
‘We have five pistols trained on you both,’ the leader of the men said, having to raise his voice to be heard over the wind. ‘If you make any sudden moves, you will be shot. If you do not comply with our orders, you will be shot. If you attempt to escape, you will be shot.’
As the man was speaking, Alex could feel Lina shivering, although he couldn’t be sure if it was from cold or fear. Given the warm weather the last few weeks and the beautiful sunshine earlier in the day when they’d set off on their journey to the races, Lina was dressed only in her cotton dress with a light shawl draped over her shoulders. Hardly appropriate attire to be out in a storm.
‘May I give my companion my jacket?’ Alex asked.
‘No. Very slowly I want you to gather all of your valuables and money and pass it to our comrade here.’
Alex was carrying his coin purse and a thin stack of notes—winnings from their time at the races. He also had a pocket watch, but didn’t like to adorn himself with copious valuables like some young men seemed to. Lina would have the twelve pounds she had won by betting on Dawnbreaker, but nothing more. Overall it would be a small loss, nothing he couldn’t live without. Certainly nothing worth risking Lina’s life for.
Slowly he reached into a pocket and withdrew the coin purse and the stack of banknotes held together by a silver clip. These he handed over, at the same time manoeuvring himself very slightly in front of Lina. It wouldn’t be enough to protect her from all six bullets if they were fired upon, but it might give her a fighting chance of diving for cover should one of the highwaymen become twitchy with his trigger finger.
‘And you, miss,’ the man in front of them growled, gesturing for Lina to hand over any valuables.
‘I don’t have anything,’ Lina said, her voice defiant. ‘And even if I did, I wouldn’t hand it over to you.’
‘Show some manners, or I might just have to shoot you.’ The highwayman took a step closer to Lina and Alex quickly stepped in between the pair, unsure if he was more worried about the man hitting Lina or Lina hitting the man. Not that he wouldn’t deserve it, but it was a way to ensure that they got shot and rolled into a ditch.
Behind him he heard Lina mumble something about manners, but luckily the wind blew her comment away from the highwayman’s ears.
‘You’ve got my money,’ Alex said placatingly. ‘Now, just let us go on our way.’
The men on horseback glanced at each other, as if trying to decide what would be the best course of action. Before they could come to an agreement, Alex saw movement out of the corner of his eye. His coachman, a middle-aged man who’d been travelling the roads of England long enough to know most hold-ups didn’t end well, shifted slightly in his seat. Quickly Alex took another step closer to Lina, grasping her by the shoulders as he saw the coachman raise the gun and aim at one of the highwaymen. As the pistol fired, Alex didn’t wait to see if it hit the mark; even if the one man was dead there were five more to shoot back. He pulled Lina sideways, flinging them into the ditch at the side of the road. Just before they disappeared into the icy water that lay at the bottom of the ditch, Alex felt a searing pain across his biceps which c
aused him to jerk and fall awkwardly. He recovered at the very last moment and managed to roll so he cushioned Lina’s landing.
For a few seconds the commotion from the road above them stilled as their heads dipped under the water, and as they re-emerged, Alex could hear confusion and the clattering of hooves.
‘Stay here,’ he instructed, knowing the cold, dirty water wasn’t the best place to spend more than a few minutes, but for now it was safer than the unknown situation up on the road.
‘Be careful,’ Lina whispered as Alex poked his head above the rim of the ditch.
It was chaos. Horses were rearing, men shouting, and as Alex hauled himself up to join the melee, another shot was fired.
Spooked by the unnaturally loud gunshot, the horses tethered to the carriage had sprung into action and Alex could see both the coachman and the groom desperately trying to control them. It was to no avail, and he watched the carriage head straight for the group of highwaymen, scattering them as it ploughed through their line at speed.
The remaining men struggled to calm their horses—two had been thrown in the commotion and were visibly torn between remounting and being able to defend themselves with their pistols. One decided to remount, and the other, with a quick glance at his companions, followed.
‘Let’s get out of here,’ someone shouted.
Alex almost cheered at the idea. He was standing unarmed and battered against six armed men. He didn’t have a chance if they decided to come after him.
The first of the highwaymen spun his horse and cantered away into the darkness, four more hot on his heels. Only the man who’d taken their money, the man who’d threatened Lina, remained for a few extra seconds, his pistol aimed at Alex from his position on the back of his horse.
There was nowhere for Alex to go. Either this man would shoot him or he wouldn’t. At this range, he would have a fifty-fifty chance of hitting his target, and seeing as Alex was unarmed there wasn’t much risk to the highwayman if he tarried for a few seconds longer to fire the shot.
Alex had always wondered what thoughts might assail him as he looked death in the eye and he was surprised that only images of Lina filled his mind. Lina smiling as she teased him. Lina slipping into the water of the lake on the estate. Lina dancing in his arms at the country dance.