“No, no! Tell them to drive on! We have not a moment to lose!”
Cold whooshed in from the open window, and Alex shoved it back up as the coach came to a standstill. At any moment, Carver would be jumping down to come and find out what the problem was.
“Look here. I don’t know who you are, but if you are indeed running away from your guardian, I’ve no choice but to return you to him at once.”
The girl leaned forward and her hood fell back a little, revealing a pale countenance and a pair of large, pleading eyes. “You must not! It would be too cruel. I am escaping from horrible persecution!”
Alex sighed. “Didn’t suppose you don’t have reason. But you must see how impossible it is for me to aid and abet you.”
“But I only want to ride with you for a short time. Just to the next stage. Surely that isn’t so much to ask?”
The plea in the tone had lessened, and Alex detected the beginnings of irritation. He struck back. “Don’t you get uppity with me, young lady. Must see it’s the height of idiocy to expect me to carry off a complete stranger. Especially if you’re running away from school or some such thing.”
The girl sat up, indignant now. “I’m not a schoolgirl! I am one and twenty all but a matter of weeks.”
“Then you should have more sense.” He reached for the door handle and turned it. “Now, out you get, and go right back where you came from.”
The intruder’s manner altered. She did not move from where she sat, but her right hand emerged from beneath the cloak and she raised it. Alex found himself staring into the mouth of a small but serviceable pistol.
“Order your servants to drive on, if you please.”
The politesse at the end did nothing to take away from the tone of command. The girl’s voice had changed, losing the plea and gaining an edge. There was no trace of her former fear.
Alex did not move, but his fingers tightened on the door handle and he felt a pulse spring to life at his throat. No doubt he could overpower her. Could he take the chance? If she fired at this close range, she could not miss. His tongue followed an instant thought.
“Is that thing loaded?”
Her eyes widened. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Where did you get it?”
Her brows drew together. “Why ask me? It’s not your concern.”
“Very much my concern if you mean to shoot me with it.”
“Then do as I asked.”
Alex released his hold on the door handle and sat back. “What if I don’t?”
For a moment, she looked nonplussed. Then she rallied, bringing up her other hand to help support her hold on the gun. She lifted it higher, her chin rising along with the gesture. “Then I will fire.”
Footsteps scraped outside and his groom’s voice sounded. “What’s to do, my lord?”
The girl flicked a glance towards the door. “Tell him to drive on!”
Was there panic now? At any moment, Carver would become concerned and open the door. Alex seized the handle and held it fast. Then he pulled down the blind, raising his voice to be heard on the other side of the door.
“All’s right, Carver. Just wait, will you?” There was a mutter from outside, and the stranger visibly blew out a breath. Alex dropped his tone. “Listen, you madcap child, this won’t do. Might as well give it up, for you ain’t going to fire that thing and you know it.”
“Yes, I shall!”
“What, and cause enough stir to bring the whole place out on you? And if I’m dead or wounded, how do you propose to explain yourself?”
For a moment, she did not speak. Her eyes never left his, and Alex thought he saw the matter turning over in her head. The barrel of the pistol wavered and he saw a slight rise and fall in the folds of the cloak.
Unwillingly, he began to feel sorry for the chit. She’d put herself in an impossible situation. If he didn’t miss his guess, she’d no idea how to get herself out of it.
To his reluctant admiration, she did not buckle. That determined chin lifted again and she gripped the gun more firmly.
