With a groan, the rogue dropped the knife.
Hetty’s heart galloped. She was gasping as she edged closer. The attacker took note of her, and his eyes narrowed. He broke loose from Guy’s grip and snatched up the knife again.
“For God’s sake, run, Hetty!” Guy yelled as he darted away from the lethal blade. The rogue followed, slashing wildly at the air.
The attacker’s back was to her. She could stand no more, one false move and Guy would be dead. She rushed up behind the assailant and swung the rock at his head. It connected with an alarming thud. For a moment he stood still, then fell forward onto Guy, and they both went down.
Guy rolled the unconscious man off him as blood spilled onto the ground from a gash on the man’s pate. He climbed to his feet. “What if he’d killed me? He would have killed you, too,” he said with a growl.
She put her hands on her hips. “How ungrateful!”
Guy’s jaw clenched. “I would have bested him. You should not have intervened. Go home before you are missed!”
Hetty peered at the ruffian who lay on his back with his eyes closed, his narrow face pale as death. Her chest heaved in anguish. “Have I killed him?”
“No.”
“W-who is he?”
Guy picked up the pistol, then knelt and searched the man’s pockets. “He didn’t seem obliged to tell me.” He looked up. “How did you come to be here? Not following me, were you?”
“Well, how arrogant! As if I would. I was on an errand.”
He stood and examined a piece of paper he had taken from the pocket of the man’s grubby coat. He flicked her a quick glance. “Alone? And riding your father’s horse, I suppose.”
She raised her chin. “Yes.”
“And your father remains ignorant of the fact.”
“This is hardly the time…”
“I’ll bet when you were a child, you never refused a dare.”
“Well I…”
A muscle ticked in Guy’s clenched jaw. “Do you now see how dangerous it is to ride alone, Hetty? This could have ended quite differently.” He glanced at the fellow. “Once he had you in his power, he may not have killed you immediately.” His eyes pinned her in place, his meaning clear.
She shuddered. “Well, I don’t believe he was after me.”
He scowled at her. “A woman should not go about on her own when there are dangerouscanaillesabout.”
“Canailles?”
Guy scrubbed his face with his hand. “You call them highwaymen.” His eyes narrowed. “But you are well aware of my meaning.”
Hetty put her hands on her hips. “I was the one who knocked him out, my lord.”
“That’s true, but I had it well in hand.”
“It didn’t look as if you did.”
“You distracted me.”
“Such ingratitude!”
“I didn’t want to kill him until I learned who hired him. I must get him into custody, preferably before he comes to. I ammostgrateful. And should be pleased to show you if I had time.”
Unsure what he meant by that, the possibilities made her heart leap. “Shall I go for help?”
