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Antoinette’s mind worked furiously Was he after her ht so little with her Most of her luggage was still in London, and her scant pieces of jewelry were locked in Lord Appleby’s safe

The two hway to an to tie their hands This was ridiculous Antoinette turned away, searching for her spectacles, telling herself that if she could see him properly she would feel braver She did not for a er of being molested

Unlike Cecilia, Antoinette was not the sort of wolanced at twice Well, not usually There was the tie obsession with her, and began to write very bad poetry in her honor, but everyone kneas a little odd, and besides, he soon forgot her when the vicar’s lovely wife arrived in the village…

The coach door was flung open Her thoughts froze; Antoinette gasped He was leaning in, looking at her, and despite the lack of clarity in her vision—or perhaps because of it—he was even bigger than she’d thought He cut out the light and filled the door space, his hands gripping the fraers

What did you say to a highwayman? For some reason the proper form of address escaped her

“Give it to me,” he said in a deep voice

“Give it…?” she echoed in a whisper

His tipped his head, and she kneas taking in her disarray She sat up straighter, brushing down her skirts and pushing back a long strand of hair When she looked at hientleive a lady

“I know you have it,” he said in that sahtly husky voice “The letter Give it to me”

Shock froze her He knew! She only just prevented herself froainst her skin in its hiding place inside her bodice

“Who—who sent you?” she demanded shakily

“Who do you think?” he mocked

Lord Appleby She hadn’t been so clever after all He knew she had in her possession the letter that could destroy him, and he’d sent this man after her to fetch it back What better way to dispose of the evidence and her chance to use it than to stage a robbery? Oh, he was very clever

But she couldn’t allow this to happen It was Cecilia’s future that was at stake, as much as her own

The biginto the coach, and his broad shoulders blocked out the light There was soht, as she blinked up at hi for a way out He slipped the pistol into his belt and drew off his gloves, slohile she watched When he was finished he casually reached forward and put a hand on her knee

His skin was hot, his bare fingers thick and blunt It was his touch as much as the unexpectedness of it that shocked her She ju herself into the farthest corner

His litter of his pale eyes through the slits His rim and determined

“Give me the letter Don’t make me search every inch of you, because I will Every inch”

The threat was no idle one, and Antoinette knew the sensible thing to do would be to hand over the letter But she didn’t feel sensible She was desperate and frightened, and the letter represented her one last chance of escape Lord Appleby had already destroyed her reputation and ruined her good character What did it matter what this man did to her?

He atching her closely, trying to read her thoughts She tipped up her chin and stared back at him “I don’t believe that even a man as low as you would molest a lady who had done you no harm,” she said, with barely a tremor in her voice

He gave a soft, breathy laugh “Wouldn’t I, my little brown sparrow?” He flicked at a fold of her tan skirt “Believe et that letter back”