Page 83 of Desires of a Duke Collection

By Red’s calculations, they were about two miles from town. The lazy swirls of smoke rose from the tiled rooftops of the town nestled into the hills around the mouth of the river. His arms had to be at least two feet longer after carrying the blasted rock all morning so he was mightily glad the town was in sight.

And that Hannah had quietened her questions for the moment.

He was well aware they would start again soon. She was simply too inquisitive for her own good. He hardly owed her any explanations for his business dealings, but there was something in her bright, quizzing eyes and eager tone that made him want to tell her all. And ask all those questions in return. How exactly did a bluestocking get tangled up in rescuing artifacts? Did the rest of her family not mind her unladylike behavior? Was there no one to counsel her on the dangers of curiosity?

Not that he really thought there was anything dangerous about a woman with a curious mind. The few intelligent women he had met had been entirely delightful. There were many more of them out there, no doubt, but they had been quashed by society and molded until silent. How was it Hannah had escaped unscathed and unguarded?

“Can we stop?”

He continued on. “Not far now,” he announced. “I’ll have you on a carriage in no time.” His back gave a twinge. And the bloody rock.

“Red,” she called from behind.

“Come now, I know you’re not tired. There’s no sense in resting now.”

“Red,” she hissed, hastening to his side. “I must stop now.”

He heard the demand in the now and was half-expecting her to stamp her foot. He sighed, stopped, lowered the rock to the ground, and swiveled to face her. “There, we are stopped. Now what?”

She peeked over at the large boulders lining their path. Several had rolled down from the tops of the hills thousands of years ago and had remained like giant’s marbles, grey and smooth against the green grass.

“I need to...” Her mouth moved but he missed the rest of the words.

“Pardon?”

“I need to...” Again, she mumbled the last words.

“For Christ’s sakes, what is it, Hannah?”

“I need to relieve myself!”

“Ah. Right.”

She cleared her throat and tucked her fingers into her skirts. “One of those rocks perhaps...” She pointed at the largest.

“Yes. Good idea. Right, then. I’ll just...” He turned his back and waited.

There was a rustle of skirts and a few footsteps. He kicked a rock and scuffed his foot against the slowly drying mud. He narrowed his gaze into the distance as the sound of a wagon approached. It made its way at a slow pace up the rise of the hill toward him. Red took a quick look behind him to see Hannah was entirely hidden, though he imagined she had heard the wagon too and was no doubt cowering in embarrassment.

The driver rolled the wagon to a slow halt, pulling back on the reins of a rather tired-looking nag.

The driver fared no better. He removed his hat and revealed a few wisps of grey hair stubbornly clinging to his head. Pock marks littered his face and his clothing had been darned and re-darned until there was likely nothing left of the old garments.

“Going to town?” the stranger asked.

Red nodded stiffly.

“I can give you a ride.”

“There’s no need, thank you.”

The man clambered down from the wagon and rubbed his chin, weighing Red up. It would be clear to the man that Red was no pauper, even without his fine carriage or well-bred horses. Red tightened his muscles and bunched his fists.

“Looks like you’ve come a way. There are no inns on this path. Let me help you. It will only cost...five shillings.”

Red laughed. “I need no help and certainly not at that cost.”

“That’s a shame.” The man moved more swiftly than Red could have expected from his angled, skinny frame, and drew a knife out from the back of his trousers. “I’d have been willing to leave it at a five shillings had you accepted my help.”

Sighing, Red shook his head to himself. This was no highwayman or career criminal but an opportunist. He’d seen Red’s expensive attire and figured he could earn some money—legitimately or not. He prayed Hannah remained behind the rock and let him deal with the fool.

“I’ll give you a shilling to be on your way. That’s all you’re getting.”

“Red! He has a knife!”

Inwardly, he groaned as Hannah came bounding out from behind the rock. The man twisted to view her, knife held out. Red had not been scared for his own life, but when the man took a leap for her, his heart near broke through his ribs.

The would-be thief snatched her arm and pulled her close. Red moved swiftly, hardly aware of what he was doing. The artifact was heavy but not enough to prevent him from lifting it up high and bringing it down on the man’s head. His head made a sickly hollow thudding sound and the man crumbled in an instant. Hannah stepped back, her eyes wide, and swung her gaze between Red and the man.

“Is he dead?”

He lowered the artifact to the ground and kicked aside the knife the thief had dropped. He pressed a finger to his neck and felt a faint pulse. There was a little blood matting his hair and signs of a nasty bump was already revealing itself.

“He’s alive. Just. He’ll awaken mightily sore. Might not even remember what happened.”

“I cannot believe you did that.”

Red stood and shrugged. “I only did what any man would do. I wouldn’t have let him harm you.”

“I meant with the artifact. I cannot believe you hit him with it.” She hastened over to the stone and unwrapped it, skimming her fingers over it. “It isn’t damaged, thank goodness.”

Eyeing her for several moments, he shook his head. “You were very nearly damaged yourself, you bloody woman. Why did you not stay hidden?”

She peered up at him as though he had just spoken gibberish. “And let you be harmed?”

“Well—”

“Who would carry the stone for me?”

He set his jaw. “I am so glad you are concerned for my welfare,” he said dryly.

A hint of a smile curved her lips as she stood after rewrapping the stone. “You were very brave. I’m glad you were not harmed.”

“And you were very reckless. Next time, stay hidden.”

“Do you think there will be a next time?”

“I hope not, but with our luck right now, I would not be surprised if we run into every highwayman in England before we reach London.”