Page 2 of The Truth about the Duke
“Where is my man?”
The highwayman chuckled, a tremor raking down the gentleman’s spine. “He is indisposed.”
But he told me that there were others,the gentleman reminded himself, his eyes beginning to pierce through the gloom a little better now.Yet I can see none.Courage began to build within his heart as he glanced all around, the twilight no longer as dark as it had been when he had first stepped out. There was no sound from any other man present, though the gentleman feared what had happened to the driver.
“Going through the rest of your things will not take long. You will leave them here with me.” The highwayman stepped closer, drawing the gentleman’s attention. “Now, given that there is nothing else of worth upon your person, I – ”
“His rings are gold. Pure gold, I think.”
The gentleman started at another voice coming towards him, a shudder of anger tearing from head to foot as he recognized his driver’s voice. This had been no accident, then. His driver had, for his own reasons, decided to work alongside this highwayman purely to rob him blind.
“Your rings, then.” The highwayman chuckled as the gentleman trembled violently, no longer afraid but filled with acoursing anger. “And anything else you have of worth. There is no point in hiding anything from me.”
Recognizing that he could not hide the dagger any longer, the gentleman did the only thing he could think of. Using surprise as his weapon, he sprang towards the highwayman, dagger slashing through the air. It connected with the fellow’s face, ripping his kerchief, but the gentleman did not stop there. Slamming it hard into the fellow’s shoulder – not quite where he had wanted it to go – he heard the howl of rage and pain that broke from the highwayman’s lips, coupled with the roar of fury from the driver behind him.
Then, he ran. With unsteady legs, he forced himself forward into the darkness. He heard the driver shouting, the highwayman’s cry of agony as, no doubt, he wrenched the dagger from his shoulder, but those sounds only forced him forward all the faster. Chest heaving, he slowed for just a moment, hearing a quiet nicker nearby.
His horse!
Blinking furiously as he slowed to a walk, the gentleman’s eyes slowly made out the shape of a horse and, with hope beginning to build, made his way towards it. The reins were looped over a tree branch, his fingers slipping as he fought to free the creature. He did not doubt that the driver was coming in search of him now, perhaps the highwayman also. If he was found, death would be the only end. With a cry of relief breaking from his mouth, he freed the reins. Placing one foot in the stirrup, he pulled himself into the saddle, kicking hard into the horse’s sides.
A shout from just behind him sent a wave of realization crashing into him, seeing just how close he had come to being caught. Sweat ran into his eyes and he blinked it away, pushing the horse to ride further into the darkness of the night. The horse did as he was bade, perhaps used to the gloom and thechill. With relief beginning to pour through him, the gentleman realized that safety was now within reach.
I will have to hide until the morning dawns.A chill began to whisper around his shoulders as he slowed the horse to a trot, having very little awareness as to where he might be.They could come searching for me.
Nodding to himself, he glanced up at the sky, praying silently that the clouds would part for him and the moon shine its brightness out onto the road all the more clearly. Seeming to hear his inner thoughts, the clouds slowly began to shift and the gentleman’s heart slowly began to settle.
Yes, the diamonds – his heirlooms – were gone, but he was alive and well. That was all that mattered.
Though how had the highwayman known of his diamonds? What had led his driver to connect with such a nefarious person? Questions upon questions began to flood the gentleman’s mind though, no matter how long he considered and how far he rode, none brought with them any answers.
Chapter One
And thus, it begins… just as I suspected it might.
Henry set a smile to his lips as he was greeted by not one but three young ladies, all of whom batted their eyes at him and sent brilliant smiles in his direction. A chorus of, ‘Good evening, Your Grace’ met his ears and he was forced then to try and recall the names of the three young ladies before him. They had already been introduced, though Henry could not recall any of them. And this when he had only been in London society for a few days!
“Good evening to you all.” Bowing, he lifted his head and kept his smile pinned. “I do hope you all are enjoying the evening? You all must be delighted at the crush of guests here this evening! There are plenty of gentlemen for you all to dance with.” Wincing inwardly at just how many times he had said, ‘you all’, Henry cleared his throat, aware of the heat in his face.
“Oh yes, we are indeed!” One of the young ladies, with her bouncing curls, beamed back at him. “We are very glad to have so many offers to dance.”
“I am sure that you are.” The warmth increased as he silently cursed his foolishness at mentioning the dancing. It was clear now from the eager, expectant looks on the ladies’ faces, thatthey were now waiting for him to ask for their dance cards. And this when he had not any intention of dancing at all! When he did not do as they so obviously expected, the three young ladies all exchanged glances, their smiles slipping a little. The second young lady, the one with clear blue eyes, tilted her head in a coquettish manner, her lips pulled into a overly bright smile.
“If I might be so bold as to ask, Your Grace, are you to dance this evening?”
“I – ” Henry spread out his hands, wishing that he had some legitimate excuse as to why he could not do such a thing. “I suppose that I – ”
“Good evening, Your Grace!”
With searing relief, Henry turned to greet his good friend, the Marquess of Kendall, to the conversation. “Good evening, Lord Kendall!” His voice, he realized, sounded a little overly enthusiastic and he tempered it quickly. “Have you just arrived?”
Lord Kendall nodded though his gaze lingered on the three young ladies. “Yes, I have. My sister and her husband came for dinner and we lingered much too long over the port!” He laughed at this, making Henry grin but this came solely from the fact that the young ladies were showing more interest in Lord Kendall now, rather than turning their attentions back towards him. Mayhap, he considered, he would be able to escape from the clutches of the three young ladies and permit the Marquess to dance with them all instead!
“The Duke was just asking us about dancing.” The third young lady, one who had not spoken as yet, turned her enquiring eyes back towards Henry, making his spirits – and his hopes – sink sharply. “It is a very fine ball and we should all like to dance as many dances as we can this evening!”
The other two ladies giggled, though one made a quiet comment about how her friend was being a little too bold inher remarks, though that did not seem to stop her from turning eager eyes towards Henry again. Sighing inwardly, Henry threw a look to his friend, though the Marquess only lifted an eyebrow and did not otherwise speak.
“Yes, of course.” With a smile that he did not feel, Henry gestured to the third young lady. “Your dance card, if you please?”
