Page 14 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

Margaret jerked up to see an unshaven man standing in front of her. She had not noticed his approach, and he did not look to have a horse, though he was eyeing hers up.

“I was just on my way,” said Margaret, rising from where she was sitting.

“Don’t leave yet,” said the man. “It’s not safe out here. You don’t know who you are going to bump into.”

CHAPTER6

A Fortuitous Meeting

“Ireally should be going,” stammered Margaret. “You can have this bread if you like. I was done with it anyway.”

“I don’t want the bread,” said the man. “Now, what is a beautiful woman like you doing out in a place like this? Looks to me like you’re running away. As I said, there are some… unsavory types out here.”

Margaret got to her feet, trying to move her way slowly around to the side of the horse so she could make another escape.

“Nice cat,” commented the man. “I bet you look just as good rolling around on your back.”

“Please, you can take the horse, just leave me be,” whimpered Margaret.

“What do you take me for? I only want to make sure you are safe out here. But, seeing as I’m being so nice to you, it’s only fair that you repay me in kind. Don’t look like you have a lot of money, so, we’ll have to come to some other arrangement.”

The man approached Margaret, and she knew she was trapped. She backed up, but there was nowhere to go. She looked to the horizon and saw a coach approaching. This could be her chance. All she had to do was wait until it was close enough and scream out for help.

The man whirled around and looked in the same direction, seeing the carriage too. He turned back to Margaret and opened his jacket, showing her the knife hanging on his belt.

“As I said, you can’t trust anyone out there. Stay nice and quiet, and there will be no need for me to hurt you. Call out, and the blade will cut you before you can finish screaming. Do I make myself clear?”

Margaret did not have to think about it, nor did she hesitate. “Yes,” she whimpered. Leaving London had been a big mistake. Why did she think she could make it out here on her own, and where was she supposed to go anyway? She didn’t even know if the road led anywhere.

“Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to stand by your side, and you are going to stay nice and quiet. Make a sound and I stick you with the blade. Got that?”

Margaret nodded and did not say a word. The man took her arm, and he stood with her, trying to look and act nonchalant. The coach got closer and closer until it reached them and passed, and not a squeak came from Margaret. She closed her eyes tight, and there was silence. When she opened her eyes, the coach had stopped a few yards in front of them.

For the second time that morning, she watched as a pistol moved through a doorway before the man wielding it. Margaret could not believe it when she saw the Duke of Garriot step out of the coach with a gun.

“I want no trouble,” said the man, letting go of Margaret’s arm.

“Neither do I,” said Arthur. “I was only stopping to pick up my friend, and I was troubled that she was standing here with a man. Are you traveling with the lady?”

“No, I only just met her, sir. Was just passing on the road.”

“And, are you done passing?” asked Arthur.

“I’m on my way now, sir. Didn’t mean any bother.”

“Good day to you.”

“Good day, sir,” said the man, scurrying off as quickly as his legs would take him.

Margaret let out a breath of relief. She looked down at the dirt beneath her feet and tried to make sense of what had just happened, of how close she had come to disaster.

“What are you doing out here?” asked Arthur.

“That is none of your business,” said Margaret. She could not help but be defensive.

“No, it is not. You should not be mixing with the likes of him.” Arthur gestured with his head to the man who was now quite a few yards down the road, heading in the direction of London.

“I was not mixing with him,” admitted Margaret. “I was only….” Margaret did not know what to say about the situation.

---