Page 1 of The Truth about the Duke (Whispers of the Ton #5)
Prologue
W hy have we stopped?
The gentleman frowned, looking out of the window though he could not see a great deal, given that dusk had already fallen. “Stanley, might I ask why you have pulled me to so sudden a stop?” The rap on the roof and the call to the driver brought no answer and the gentleman’s frown grew heavier, his eyebrows falling low over his eyes as he battled the tension beginning to rise within him. The carriage ride back to his estate had been a long and arduous one and he was more than ready to return home. That journey, however, had now been interrupted though quite for what purpose, the gentleman was not yet sure.
Frowning, he glanced around the carriage, wondering if he had any way of defending himself should it come to it. There was no time for him to consider, however, for there came a sudden cry, followed by a thump which made the gentleman’s breath hitch in fright.
Highwaymen.
A cackle of laughter and the sound of his belongings being thrown from the carriage roof only confirmed his suspicions. Frantically, he began to search every inch of the carriage, trying to recall whether or not he had any weapon hidden within. His mind could not fix on any one idea, could not settle on a single thought, his heart racing, his breathing quickening as he searched every inch of the carriage.
And then, he remembered.
Sliding his hand to the back of the seat, he fumbled to find the small gap and, upon securing it, tugged lightly at the seat itself. The entire thing lifted just a fraction, allowing his fingers to close around the small dagger that was hidden there. It was not a pistol, which might have been much more useful given the present circumstances, but it was the only weapon he had.
“And you, my good sir! Are you to show your face to us?”
He did not have time to answer nor even to think of what he might say, for the door to the carriage was swung open for him and a leering face peered up at him. The gentleman’s heart threw itself against his ribs as he lurched back as though somehow, hiding himself back into the carriage would help him.
“We are here for your treasures,” the fellow said, tilting his head, a kerchief pulled up around his mouth and nose. “You have a fine carriage and you must have something of worth, I am sure.”
“Whatever I have belongs to me,” the gentleman answered, his voice wavering slightly as he gripped one edge of the seat in an attempt to keep himself steady. “It is not yours to take.” Trying to take in the highwayman, trying to make out as many details as he could, the gentleman’s eyes narrowed. There was not much for him to see, aside from two flashing eyes and a black hat that was pulled low over the fellow’s forehead. The kerchief hid the rest of his features, making it almost impossible to discern anything.
I will remember those eyes, the gentleman told himself, just as the highwayman began to laugh, perhaps discerning his thoughts.
“There is little worth in trying to salvage something – anything – from this,” he said, with a chuckle. “You are quite under my control. Your driver has already been conquered by another of my men and as we speak, your things are being laid out for us to search through. Your jewels, however, must be somewhere. And, I suspect, you must have them on your person or in the carriage beside you.”
A slight sweat broke out across the gentleman’s forehead. The very reason he had gone to London was to collect the family heirlooms which had been sent back to him from the continent. His late father had taken them with him upon his departure from England, though, the gentleman believed, he had not had any intention of dying over there. It had taken months for him to have the heirlooms returned and his delight upon bringing them back to the estate was almost inexpressible.
Save now, that was to be taken away from him.
“I have a good deal of coin on my person, yes.” He did not mention the heirlooms, wanting the precious stones to be safe, wanting to do his utmost to hide them from these vagabonds. “There may well be one or two other things in amongst my possessions but – ”
“Do you mean to say you have no diamonds?”
The gentleman stopped short, rather astonished by the highwayman’s question. How did the fellow know that he had such a thing upon his person? Or was it a mere guess, given his obvious status?
“I asked you a question.” The highwayman’s voice grew ugly now. “Do you have your diamonds?” When the gentleman did not answer, a flash of a blade was his only warning. The tip pressed lightly against his neck and in that instant, the dagger held hidden in his other hand, seemed utterly useless. He swallowed, his throat bobbing as he tried to answer, his vision blurring just a little.
“The diamonds.”
He had no choice but to nod. His life was not worth the heirlooms. To state that he did not have diamonds seemed useless, for what point was there in pretending otherwise? Somehow this fellow, whoever he was, had a clear awareness that yes, he did have these in his possession so to lie would only bring him more trouble, he was sure.
“Where?”
The tip of the sword moved away as the gentleman straightened. He gestured behind him, to the boxes tucked away on the floor of the carriage. Pretense would do nothing. They could easily kill him and search the carriage thereafter… though they might very well kill him all the same.
“Fetch them, if you please.”
The gentleman swallowed at the knot in his throat, pushing himself back a little as he tried to reach for the boxes all without revealing the dagger. It was foolishness on his part, he knew, but to drop the dagger would make him feel completely vulnerable. To hold it still meant he had a chance – albeit a slim one – to defend himself.
“Here.” There were three boxes and, one by one – and with one hand – the gentleman pushed them towards the highwayman. “The diamonds. Just as you expected.”
He watched as a flash danced across the highwayman’s eyes. Did the fellow realize what it was he had done by revealing his knowledge of these diamonds? He had, whether he had meant to do so or not, shown an awareness of this gentleman: who he was and what he had been about. Though mayhap that did not matter, if his end was soon to come.
“Take them outside.” The highwayman lifted his chin. “Then I shall let you and your driver away.”
A flare of hope caught his heart but he quickly dismissed it. This man’s word could not be trusted. No doubt the sword would pierce him through the moment he had finished putting the last box outside but what choice did he have? Taking a tighter hold of the dagger, he edged closer and, as the highwayman stepped back, rose to his feet so he might step down. The highwayman did not do or say anything, keeping the sword high as the gentleman began to take one box at a time from the carriage. Fear scrambled through his mind as he set the last box on the ground, praying that the growing darkness would give him a chance to escape. His heart hammered furiously, turning his attention to where the driver sat only to see that there was no driver there.
“Where is my man?”
The highwayman chuckled, a tremor raking down the gentleman’s spine. “He is indisposed.”
But he told me that there were others, the gentleman reminded himself, his eyes beginning to pierce through the gloom a little better now. Yet I can see none. Courage began to build within his heart as he glanced all around, the twilight no longer as dark as it had been when he had first stepped out. There was no sound from any other man present, though the gentleman feared what had happened to the driver.
“Going through the rest of your things will not take long. You will leave them here with me.” The highwayman stepped closer, drawing the gentleman’s attention. “Now, given that there is nothing else of worth upon your person, I – ”
“His rings are gold. Pure gold, I think.”
The gentleman started at another voice coming towards him, a shudder of anger tearing from head to foot as he recognized his driver’s voice. This had been no accident, then. His driver had, for his own reasons, decided to work alongside this highwayman purely to rob him blind.
“Your rings, then.” The highwayman chuckled as the gentleman trembled violently, no longer afraid but filled with a coursing anger. “And anything else you have of worth. There is no point in hiding anything from me.”
Recognizing that he could not hide the dagger any longer, the gentleman did the only thing he could think of. Using surprise as his weapon, he sprang towards the highwayman, dagger slashing through the air. It connected with the fellow’s face, ripping his kerchief, but the gentleman did not stop there. Slamming it hard into the fellow’s shoulder – not quite where he had wanted it to go – he heard the howl of rage and pain that broke from the highwayman’s lips, coupled with the roar of fury from the driver behind him.
Then, he ran. With unsteady legs, he forced himself forward into the darkness. He heard the driver shouting, the highwayman’s cry of agony as, no doubt, he wrenched the dagger from his shoulder, but those sounds only forced him forward all the faster. Chest heaving, he slowed for just a moment, hearing a quiet nicker nearby.
His horse!
Blinking furiously as he slowed to a walk, the gentleman’s eyes slowly made out the shape of a horse and, with hope beginning to build, made his way towards it. The reins were looped over a tree branch, his fingers slipping as he fought to free the creature. He did not doubt that the driver was coming in search of him now, perhaps the highwayman also. If he was found, death would be the only end. With a cry of relief breaking from his mouth, he freed the reins. Placing one foot in the stirrup, he pulled himself into the saddle, kicking hard into the horse’s sides.
A shout from just behind him sent a wave of realization crashing into him, seeing just how close he had come to being caught. Sweat ran into his eyes and he blinked it away, pushing the horse to ride further into the darkness of the night. The horse did as he was bade, perhaps used to the gloom and the chill. With relief beginning to pour through him, the gentleman realized that safety was now within reach.
I will have to hide until the morning dawns. A chill began to whisper around his shoulders as he slowed the horse to a trot, having very little awareness as to where he might be. They could come searching for me.
Nodding to himself, he glanced up at the sky, praying silently that the clouds would part for him and the moon shine its brightness out onto the road all the more clearly. Seeming to hear his inner thoughts, the clouds slowly began to shift and the gentleman’s heart slowly began to settle.
Yes, the diamonds – his heirlooms – were gone, but he was alive and well. That was all that mattered.
Though how had the highwayman known of his diamonds? What had led his driver to connect with such a nefarious person? Questions upon questions began to flood the gentleman’s mind though, no matter how long he considered and how far he rode, none brought with them any answers.