It was a startling reminder that actions could have far-reaching consequences.
“Don’t look so distraught.” Jasper climbed in. “Poor Luke over there would have met the reaper eventually, likely by swinging from the gallows. He’d have suffered more that way, and his family might have had to watch.”
Jasper lowered himself onto the bench beside her. Of course, he’d read her thoughts.
Nia replayed the events of the robbery in her mind. Neither Peters, nor Coachman Will, nor Jasper had shown the slightest panic. They had, in fact, seemed in control of the would-be robbery the entire time. The servants worked for the Duke of Malum, a man with a highly questionable reputation. Jasper was his friend.
“They chose the wrong carriage today,” she said.
Jasper nodded.
They hadn’t driven off yet. Peters and Will had dragged the dead man off and then disappeared into the thick forest that lined the road. In the aftermath, the natural sounds of the countryside struck Nia as ironically peaceful.
She was safe. She doubted she’d even been in danger.
“I didn’t want them to see you.” Jasper eyed her, and she wasn’t sure if he was serious or… testing her. “That was why I asked you to get down on the floor.”
She bit her lip.
“And I didn’t want you to see that.” His anger seemed to have abated, but he was still frowning.
“I’m sorry.” But was she? The apology came out too quickly to be believable. “But I heard you talking, and I didn’t look until I was sure it was safe.”
Jasper's eyes flared. Her qualifying statement summoned his ire right back.
“Do you know where Peters and Will are this very second?”
“Relieving themselves?” she ventured.
Jasper’s eyes blazed. “They are searching the woods for possible accomplices. If they are there, and if they saw you, there would be more than one corpse to dispense with.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.” Jasper was not happy.
“I’m sorry,” Nia whispered. “I didn’t think about that.”
“Of course you didn’t.” He rubbed the back of his neck but then pinned his gaze on her mouth, where it lingered. Suddenly, Nia wasn’t thinking about the dead man, the danger, or anything else. Because her mouth burned beneath his stare, sending heat shooting through her core and into her limbs.
Reminding her of his intimate touch the day before.
She fought the urge to climb into Jasper’s lap. It was such a random urge, she didn’t quite understand it.
And thank heavens she was spared from doing something so embarrassing when the sounds of crunching footsteps forewarned them of Peters’ and Will’s imminent return.
The driver carried the dead highwayman’s gun in his hand and a few other items Nia couldn’t make out. After storing them away in yet another secret stowing compartment on the carriage, he opened the small window between the interior and the driver’s box.
“All clear, my lord,” Will announced. “Shall we continue on our way?”
“Unless Miss Smith here would rather have a picnic.” Jasper kept his gaze on her as he spoke to the driver.
Nia shook her head.
“She is content to move on,” Jasper answered.
And a few seconds later, they were once again rolling along the dirt road.
She waited until they’d traveled some distance before giving in to her curiosity. “How did you do that?”
