the woods.”
“But when you do, it seems, you leave in style.”
“I am lucky to have landed friends who took interest in me as a child.”
“Do you work for the earl?”
“No.”
“Do you…?” He looked her up and down meaningfully.
“What are you implying?” she demanded indignantly, so angry that she rose, pushing him aside. “The lord’s lady is one of the kindest and most beautiful women I have ever met, and I do assure you, he feels the same. How dare you…? Ah, you are but a highwayman, and anything of gentility I’ve sensed in you is nothing but a mask, far more concealing than the one upon your face. I believe I’ve quite finished with this ridiculous tête-à-tête, and I would sincerely appreciate it if you would return me to the carriage now.”
At first she was afraid he would respond with violence—she had shoved him hard enough to send him reeling backward. For a moment she stood still, very still, regretting her action and wondering, as well, if she dared to run. She was unfamiliar with her surroundings, but running anywhere would have to be preferable to being his prisoner.
But he didn’t respond with violence; he didn’t even touch her. Laughing, he took a seat upon the fallen log himself.
“Bravo!”
“Bravo?”
“The earl is a lucky man to have such a staunch defender.”
“The earl is known for his strength, ethics and honesty, something you would know and appreciate—if you weren’t a rogue.”
“Ah, that I were only such a man.”
“Any man might strive to initiate his attributes.”
“Might any man have such a castle?” he asked with amusement.
“A castle does not make a man,” she told him primly.
“Nor riches?” he inquired.
She wasn’t sure what it was in his tone—a certain bitterness perhaps—but it suddenly made her realize that she might well be in serious peril after all.
She had managed to put some distance between them when she had pushed by him, and now that he was seated, cocky, comfortable, quite certain he was the one in charge, it seemed like the right time to run.
There were many advantages to growing up in a cottage in the woods. She had spent endless days exploring the trails close to her house, playing with imaginary friends, running from place to place. She had often played with the children of the woodsman down the lane, and there had been a time when she was young when the son thought she was quite a hellion. So she was strong, fit and fleet. She thought that she could leave him in the dust.
At first, she did.
Heedless of the water, she bounded across the little rivulet and tore down one of the forest trails. There was a moment when she dared to take pleasure in the sound of his startled oath as she disappeared.
Then she realized not only that she was being followed but followed swiftly.
She tore under a canopy of trees, dexterously flying over roots, rocks and fallen branches in her way. She kept running and running, following what appeared to be a path, then turning to crash through thicker foliage, hoping to lose her pursuer.
As she ran, the sound of pursuit diminished. Or perhaps it was the thundering of her heart that made all else silent in comparison.
Eventually, she had to stop. Her lungs were burning, her heart pounding in revolt, and her calves cramping. Her delicate boots were far from the perfect footwear for running through the forest.
She gripped a tree, inhaling, exhaling, trying to ease the pain in her chest and limbs. Her hair had come loose, and a wayward strand now teased her nose. She puffed at it, then drew it back, thinking she must look an incredible mess, and yet, at the same time, realizing with pride that she had done it.
She had eluded the highwayman.
Just as that pleasure began to sink in, she heard a soft chuckle.
She spun around.
He was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, as relaxed as if he had not a care in the world. Not a strand of hair had escaped his queue. He wasn’t breathing hard. He didn’t appear as if he had exerted himself at all.
She straightened, staring at him defiantly.
“You can’t escape, you know.”
“Actually, I did.”
“No, you didn’t.”
She considered her position. Yes, she could run again. But how had he done it? Caught her in this place so easily?
Her heart sank as she realized her mistake. She had been so determined not to follow a clear trail that she had run in circles. He had realized her error and simply waited until she had come around through the trees.
She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Don’t do it. Such a waste of time and energy,” he told her.
“I’m so sorry. Am I being inconvenient?” she asked sarcastically.
He shrugged. “Actually, I had no other pressing engagements for the day.”
“You do realize that when the Earl of Carlyle realizes his carriage hasn’t arrived, he’ll begin searching?”
“Certainly…but not for a while yet, I don’t believe.”
“And why is that?”
“I suspect he’s in the city. There’s a celebration at Buckingham Palace today. Someone’s birthday. I don’t think he’ll be home until the evening.”
“You know so much about the Earl of Carlyle?” she asked, playing for time. She needed to catch her breath. She was certainly not going to tell him that he was mistaken as to the earl’s whereabouts.
“I read the newspapers, Miss…ah, yes, that’s right. You’ve not yet furnished me with your name.”
“I don’t remember you furnishing me with yours.”
“You don’t really want to know my name. That would make you dangerous to me, wouldn’t it?”
“Then I shan’t give you mine.”
He smiled. “Caught your breath yet?”
“I’m quite fine, thank you.”
“Don’t do it.”
“Do what?”
“Run again.”
“What else would you have me do?”
