Which meant he might be dangerous.
Kneeling on the floor, her father was clutching the pistol, his knuckles white.
“Drop your weapon, good sir.” The highwayman flicked a glance to her father and then flashed his teeth in a smile thatmight have been charming. “Unless you want someone to get killed.” He lifted one gloved hand, revealing a gleaming knife.
Amelia’s nerves flipped from excitement to fear.
He wasnotcharming.
He meant to rob them—or worse!
“Now, now, that won’t be necessary.”
“Put the pistol on the floor,” the man ordered.
“Of course, of course.” But even as the words left his mouth, her father was whipping around, pointing the pistol at the stranger.
Rather than cower, the highwayman, fast as lightning, wrapped his free hand around the barrel of the gun and forced it up to point at the ceiling. Amelia watched in fascination as her father pulled the trigger.
Everyone except the robber flinched, but the gun only clicked quietly. Uselessly.
“That was foolish, now, wasn’t it?” The stranger looked to be enjoying himself.
Lord Foxbourne snatched his hands away from the pistol as though it had bitten him.
“Erm. Ahhh. I didn’t mean any harm.” Amelia’s father’s voice trembled as he backed onto the bench.
The highwayman chuckled. It wasn’t a kind sound. “Sure you didn’t. Now?—"
But her father interrupted him. “If you’re looking to fill your pockets, you’ve stopped the wrong coach. I don’t travel with my valuables.”
Miss Henrietta’s brows shot up and Amelia winced.
They had all seen the bag of coins in the secret compartment—along with the velvet reticule her mother used to transport her favorite pieces of jewelry.
“Nothing valuable, eh?” the highwayman taunted as he tucked the pistol into the front of his trousers.
“Nothing at all,” her mother answered. “Except for this brooch. I’m happy to give it up if you’ll let us continue on our way.” Hands shaking, she unpinned a dull-looking clasp from her shawl. It was obviously made of tin and paste.
Once she’d removed it, her mother turned to Amelia. “You have the pendant your grandmother gave you. Give it over, darling.”
Amelia’s hands immediately flew to her neck. She’d worn it on a gold chain for as long as she could remember. It wasn’t the only gift she’d received from her father’s mother, but it was the last one.
“I’ll not bother with those,” the highwayman sneered. “If you’ve nothing of real value, I’ll take the girl instead.”
“The girl?” all four of them asked at once. Surely, he didn’t mean?—
“The girl.” His gaze landed on Amelia again. He couldn’t be serious! What was happening?
Shaking her head in disbelief, Amelia waited for her father to move off the bench and offer the contents of the secret compartment. If the choice was between his only daughter and their family’s valuables, Amelia knew he would keep her safe.
But her father remained sitting. “You must be joking,” he said instead, lifting his chin. Amelia’s heart sank; she knew that expression. Surely, he wouldn’t be stubborn about this!
“I assure you, I am not.” The villain’s smile had disappeared, and he lifted the knife just enough to appear threatening. He then held out his other hand, beckoning Amelia toward the door with his fingers. “My lady, you’ll be coming with me.”
But she didn’t move.
“Father?” She beseeched the man who’d sired her, the man she’d always relied upon for protection. At the same time, she felt Miss Henrietta push something into her hand.
