Page 97 of Road Trip With a Rogue
The carriage lurched to a stop.
“Stand and deliver!”
The bellowed command from outside made Daisy’s mouth drop open in disbelief.
Notagain.
“Oi! Stand aside!” the driver shouted back.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the brigand said, and Daisy frowned at the hint of laughter in the man’s voice. He sounded awfully familiar. Recognition came almost immediately, and she thrust open the carriage door and jumped down before she could think better of it.
Three mounted figures in dark clothing blocked the road, but it was the central one she fixed with a narrow-eyed glare. He was dressed in black, with a caped greatcoat and a tricorn hat pulled low over his brow, and in the moonlight all she could see was the tip of his nose, his chin, and the stubborn line of his jaw.
It was more than enough. She’d know him anywhere.
“Lucien Vaughan! What in hell’s name are you doing?”
Chapter Forty-Six
The brigand’s lips opened to show a flash of white teeth and Daisy’s heart began to pound in reckless anticipation.
Lucien—it was definitely him—dismounted from his midnight-black horse with the easy grace she’d come to recognize. He removed his hat and swept her an extravagant bow in the middle of the road.
“Well-met by moonlight, Miss Hamilton.”
Daisy put her hands on her hips, and slanted a censorious look at his two fellow highwaymen, Justin and Harry, for their collaboration. Then she turned and glared up at the driver, and received a mocking tip of the hat from a grinning Finch up on the box.
So. A full-blown conspiracy.
“It’sillmet by moonlight,” she countered, just to be perverse. “If we’re quoting fromA Midsummer Night’s Dream. And you, sir, are in danger of meeting the sharp end of my knife.”
Behind her, she heard both Tess and Ellie giggle as they leaned out of the open carriage door and recognized the shadowy forms of their own husbands. All three menmust have gone to the stables almost immediately after Tess told them they were leaving.
Lucien shook his head. “You’re very argumentative for someone who’s being held up by merciless highwaymen. You’re supposed to be terrified. Cooperative. Compliant.”
Daisy bit back a smile. “You’ve chosen the wrong target. I’ve crossed paths with highwaymen before, and I’m sorry to say it didn’t end well for them.”
“I’m shaking in my boots,” Lucien drawled.
Daisy spread her hands wide, mocking his earlier bow. “My apologies. I’m sure you’re a very competent footpad. What are your demands?”
His lips twitched at her pert answer. “The usual, of course. Your money or your life.”
Daisy raised her brows, but her heart was beating against her ribs. “I don’t have any money, I’m afraid. Not on me, at any rate.” She held up her bare hands. “In fact, I don’t even have any trinkets. Not even an engagement ring.”
His teeth flashed at her pointed reminder. “That is disappointing. Ladies are expected to be dripping with jewels.”
He took a step closer, deliciously menacing, and her breath caught as she inhaled his midnight-forest scent. He reached into the pocket of his greatcoat and withdrew a necklace that he held up before her. Icy diamonds and midnight-blue sapphires glittered in the moonlight.
“Perhaps this would do?”
She forced herself not to reach for it, even though it was breathtaking. “I take it back. You’re a terrible highwayman. You’re supposed totakemy valuables, not give me yours.”
He ignored her sarcasm and reached forward to fasten the ravishing thing around her throat. Daisy suppressed ashiver as his gloved fingers brushed her nape. The stones were cool and heavy against her skin, and she knew it would match her outfit to perfection.
“Much better,” he said, stepping back. “But you’re still missing something.”
He reached into his pocket again and produced a ring, a sapphire surrounded by diamonds. He removed his gloves with his teeth, and Daisy’s pulse gave a joyous little leap as he took her hand in his.