Page 9 of The Highwayman's Bite

Chapter Four

Vivian yawned againas she made her way downstairs for breakfast. She’d barely gotten a decent wink of sleep last night. Her body was still jarred from the long carriage ride, her mind worried endlessly about how she and her uncle would get on, and her heart pounded from memories of the highwayman’s indecent kiss.

If she’d known kissing could be so spellbinding, she very well could have been ruined in a more traditional manner. Not that she would have allowed Lord Summerly or even any other gentleman of her acquaintance to get so far. None of them captivated her like the mysterious thief had. If Vivian closed her eyes, she could still see the rakish glint of his eyes, his flashing smile, and hear his decadent, low laughter.

Frowning, she paused on the stairwell and took a few deep breaths to calm her inappropriate thoughts. Was she mad? The man had held up her father’s carriage, pointed a gun at her, and robbed her and her father’s coachman. She shouldn’t be simpering after him like he was one of King Arthur’s knights.

Madame Renarde was already seated at the table with a heaping plate of morning victuals. “Good morning, Cherie. Did you sleep well?”

“Not really.” Vivian smiled at her friend’s ever hearty appetite as she took her plate and served herself a few pieces of bacon, a sausage, and a scone. “Did you?”

“Like the dead.” Madame Renarde spread jam on one of her pieces of toast. “The carriage was so dreadfully uncomfortable that I could never nod off properly since we left London. And the inns on the way were little better.”

Vivian couldn’t disagree with that sentiment. The bedchamber her uncle had given her was more luxurious and comfortable than her own at home, yet she’d tossed and turned all the same.

Blast that man! She didn’t even know his name, and if God was good, she’d never see the scoundrel again.

She needed to put him out of her mind. There were more important matters facing her. Such as her uncle’s knowledge of Madame Renarde’s identity. Both he and the highwayman had known right away when countless others had taken Vivian’s companion at face value. What had tipped them off?

Vivian nibbled on a piece of bacon and surreptitiously studied her companion. Her chin was free of stubble. Her neck was covered with the lace collar of her modest dress, so no Adam’s Apple could be discerned, though from what Vivian had seen, it wasn’t very prominent anyway. Madame Renarde’s corset gave the impression of a bosom, especially as she was on the plump side and though her jaw was square, she’d met biological women with more masculine features.

“Is something wrong?” Madame Renarde asked. Her blue eyes were wide with concern.

Should she tell her friend that her uncle knew her secret? Vivian weighed the idea carefully. On one hand, it would be courteous to give Madame Renarde a warning in case her uncle wrote Father, for she would be sacked immediately if that happened. On the other hand, Uncle had seemed to be very understanding of the situation and willing to consider keeping the secret. Vivian didn’t want to worry her friend needlessly if all would be well. She decided to hold her silence and observe Uncle’s interactions with Madame Renarde to see which way the wind blew.

Vivian shook her head and voiced another concern. “I am only worried how I will get on here. Uncle is known to be eccentric and reclusive, and though I am not a picture of normalcy either, I do not know if he will like me. He interrogated me quite rigorously about the scandal I caused.”

“Did he seem angry?” Her companion signaled the footman to clear their plates.

“I couldn’t tell.” She shrugged as she rose from the table. “He is more difficult to read than Father.”

Madame Renarde nodded. “Yes, he was quite enigmatic. Do you suppose he’ll be down for breakfast soon?”

Vivian shook her head. “He said his illness keeps him from being about during the day. He will be down for supper, though.”

“That poor man.” Madame Renarde sounded genuinely sympathetic, but then she smiled. “That could work in our favor for our exercises. Shall we explore the estate?”

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