She decided it was best to remain silent as he set a plate of food before her. It looked wonderfully delicious, and for the moment, she turned her focus to the meal.
By the timedusk had given way to nightfall, Harlan was on horseback beside the rest of his men. They had not taken out the unmarked carriage this evening since Lucas had remained at the cottage. That also left Matthew behind since he was in charge of driving the coach.
Waiting beside Hugh and Benjamin on horseback was a slightly odd experience. Harlan generally didn’t like to go out without a full crew, but Hugh had mentioned that it was of the upmost urgency that they were on the roads this night. He’d overheard a conversation at the Old Prince of Orange that there was going to be a ‘person of interest’ arriving from France. It sounded as though it could be the assassin they had been waiting for, so it was imperative that they strike now, rather than wait until Leah wasn’t around.
Harlan wished that he might be able to trust her so that he wouldn’t have to worry about her rushing out and foiling any chance they might have to capture any treasonous criminals. He wasn’t certain he completely approved of Lucas’s idea to forgo the mask, but he supposed it was a level of trust he was willing to engage in, even if Harlan wasn’t yet prepared to do the same.
“They’re coming!”
Harlan snapped to attention at the sound of the whispered warning from Hugh. Keeping to the shadows of the trees around them, they waited for the opportune moment to make their presence known. If they were fortunate, they would apprehend the guilty party before they had a chance to retaliate.
If not…
Harlan didn’t like to think in those sorts of terms, because it could cause him to lose his focus. In apprehensive moments like these, he had to remind himself that he was an agent for the Crown on an important mission to save the reigning monarch. Nothing else should matter. Or rather, it didn’t used to.
“Now!” He shouted the order once the carriage was abreast of them. Riding out in a swift, fluid motion, Hugh shot his pistol into the air as a warning, while Benjamin and Harlan trained their weapons on the driver and his companion, ensuring that they didn’t do anything rash while Hugh was reloading.
“Stand and deliver!” Harlan yelled out loud enough that the occupants inside the public coach might be able to hear. Once he heard the cock of the pistol beside him, the indication that Hugh was prepared for defense, Harlan rode around to the side of the carriage. He trained his weapon on the door of the coach and instructed in a deep, firm tone. “Everyone out. Slowly, if you please.”
The door creaked open and a thin man in glasses was the first to step to the ground. He was shaking, his palms lifted into the air, but the hatred in his gaze spoke what he dared not utter aloud. Harlan had to commend his courage, if it was just to a certain degree.
A sniffling, buxom woman was next. She held a handkerchief to her nose and moved to stand next to the first man. Likely her husband, if Harlan had to hazard a guess.
When the coach remained still, he asked the couple, “Is there anyone else inside?”
The woman nodded miserably and acted as though she might faint at any moment. It made the man’s scowl even more pronounced. No doubt he wasn’t looking forward to listening to his wife’s dramatics for the rest of their journey. It was the part of the job that Harlan regretted, but again, he told himself that he was there for an important reason.
“Step down!” Harlan announced to the coach, but there was no further movement inside.
Benjamin moved his mount closer and whispered so only Harlan could hear, “Do you want me to take a look?”
“No. I’ll go.” Harlan handed his reins over as he dismounted. Keeping his pistol firmly in his grasp, he moved cautiously toward the interior of the coach. He had nearly made it to the door when there was a flash of light inside, followed by the popping retort of a pistol.
Harlan darted out of the line of fire, but he wasn’t quick enough. A blaze of heat scoured the side of his head as he fell to the ground.
Disoriented, Harlan blinked, trying to make sense of the sudden chaos that ensued around him. Benjamin shouted his name while the buxom woman let out a piercing shriek. More gunshots were exchanged, but none appeared directed at him to finish the job. The sound of frightened horses bolting and carriage wheels cracking in motion were the last Harlan heard as he succumbed to his wounds and fell into darkness.
Leah decidedthat Lucas was just as delightful in conversation as Hugh had been, although in a different manner. He wasn’t charming or flirtatious, but polite and direct. She could easily believe anything he might have to say, but that was his skill. No doubt, it was part of the strategy that made him a valuable asset to the rest of the highwaymen.
Once dinner was finished, they removed to the parlor where they sipped on their tea and chatted about neutral topics like the weather and the current politics happening in London.
“Do you like the new queen?” she asked.
“She is my queen whether I approve or not,” he returned factually. “She is young, but she has long been under the impression that the Crown would become hers after the death of her elder uncles. She will be further adapted into the role as time progresses.”
Leah couldn’t deny the logic, even if it wasn’t exactly what she had asked.
He held up the book he’d been perusing earlier. “Do you like to read?”
She nodded. “I do, but there is a sad lack of anything of interest here.”
He bent down to a satchel and removed another book which he handed to her. “If you enjoy a bit of theatrics, you should try Mary Shelley. She recently published a new novel.”
She accepted the offering. The title read,Falkner. “I actually readLodoreand liked it very much.”
“Then you should appreciate this one as well.” He opened his book. “Shall we pass the time?”
Leah decided that was a capital idea. However, as darkness slowly fell and the minutes ticked by with frustrating precision, she started to grow anxious. Something was making her restless, although she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was causing it. She knew it wasn’t the man sitting calmly in the same room, as the silence between them had become quite comfortable. It was more like a feeling, another sense that warned her that danger was impending.
