‘What would you wish me to do, my lord?’
‘You are going to assist me in holding up a chaise and capturing its passenger. I’ve had enough of chasing after the wench. I’ll take what I want and she shall learn to know her master.’
Joseph blenched, but did not dare to answer back. He’d known that his master was a wicked man, for he knew all the marquis’s secrets—but never before had he been asked to take part in such a desperate act. His throat felt tight with fear, for he could end at the hangman’s noose for such work as this—but if he refused his master might kill him in a rage.
There was nothing he could do but do as he was told, but he would leave the marquis’s employ and seek another master as soon as he could.
Madeline smiled at her companion. It was late in the afternoon and they had made good time, stopping for only half an hour to eat their nuncheon while the horses were changed. Dusk was falling as they began to cross the Heath at Hampstead, but it was not yet dark and she did not think they needed to fear the highwayman who was said to haunt this place. When the shots rang out and the chaise was brought to a shuddering halt it took her so much by surprise that she was flung across the carriage into Sally’s arms.
‘Oh, my lady,’ Sally said as Madeline apologised her and they righted themselves. ‘Is it the highwayman?’ She was obviously shocked and distressed and before Madeline could stop her, she had opened the window to look out. ‘There are two of them. And—oh! I think Thomas is hurt!’
Madeline was powerless to stop her as she scrambled out of the carriage and ran to where Thomas was lying on the ground. The sound of her maid’s screaming made her follow her from the chaise. She could see two masked men, each with pistols. One of them seemed to have covered the coachman and the post boy, who accompanied him, the other man had his pistol trained on Captain Mardle.
‘Stay in the carriage, ma’am,’ Captain Mardle warned, but it was already too late. Madeline was out and making her way to Sally’s side.
‘Is he alive?’ she asked in a whisper and Sally nodded, her face very white as she replied,
‘Yes, but hurt.’
Turning towards the masked men, Madeline said. ‘We have some money and I have a few jewels. I will give them to you, but please allow us to go on our way. My companion is badly injured and needs a doctor.’
‘Your companions may go where they please when I have what I want,’ the man covering Captain Mardle with his pistol snarled. ‘Bring your jewel box and come here to me.’
‘As you wish,’ Madeline said and returned to the carriage. She reached inside and picked up her velvet muff and the box that contained her valuables, holding it by the handle at the end. Inside her muff was a small pistol with silver chasing on the butt. If she had the chance, she would shoot. Her stomach was churning as she walked towards the masked man and offered the box to him.
‘Bring the groom’s horse and mount it. I want you and the gold—the others will be free to go if you come with me. Any bother and I’ll kill them all.’
‘There will be no trouble,’ Madeline replied in a calm voice, though she was far from calm inside. She was actually seething with anger for, though he had tried to disguise his voice, she knew him. This was the man who had attempted to seduce her and, when he failed in his aim, had sent his rogues to abduct her. She turned and looked at Captain Mardle. ‘Will you help me to mount, sir, for I cannot alone.’
Captain Mardle hesitated for a moment and then dismounted, caught the bridle of Thomas’s horse and began to lead it towards her. He had almost reached her when the sound of horses being driven at speed made everyone looked towards the newcomer. In that instant, the masked man made a mistake for he turned to glance at the oncoming vehicle and, as he did so, a shot rang out. Madeline was aware that the shot had come from Captain Mardle. He was standing so close to her that she felt the breeze as the ball passed her cheek. It hit the highwayman full in the chest and he gave a cry of disbelief, then pitched sideways and fell from his horse at Madeline’s feet. She moved back, a startled cry of warning leaving her lips as the second man swung round to point his pistol at them. He seemed to hesitate, but then as someone jumped down from the newly arrived chaise and fired in his direction, he turned his horse and fled across the Heath towards a stand of trees.
Captain Mardle dropped to his knees and pulled the mask from the face of the man he’d shot. He gave a cry of astonishment and looked up at Madeline.
‘This is the Marquis of Rochdale,’ he said. ‘I thought him a common highwayman...’
‘He wanted to abduct me,’ Madeline said. ‘I must thank you for saving me, sir. This is not the first time he has attempted to harm me.’
‘I knew him for a rogue, but this...’
‘Is he dead?’ The newcomer had arrived. He glanced down at the marquis with contempt and then at Madeline, before addressing Captain Mardle. ‘It was fortunate that you were here, sir. This man was a vile seducer and has threatened this lady too many times.’
‘Indeed, I know what an evil man he was for he harmed a lady who was dear to me,’ Captain Mardle said. ‘It was my intention to demand satisfaction for it—but I never intended this.’ His face was very pale. ‘But I shall admit my fault and take the consequences.’
‘I pray you, sir, do not speak of fault,’ Madeline said. ‘All of us here will bear witness that you shot in defence of me. You will speak for Captain Mardle, will you not, Hal?’
‘Indeed I shall, sir. I am glad to meet you. In my opinion you have acted just as you ought and I am eternally grateful, as we all must be.’ He shook Captain Mardle warmly by the hand. ‘I might have arrived too late had you not acted so bravely.’
‘It was your arrival that gave me the chance for he looked to see who had come upon us and in that instant I fired.’
‘Then I am glad to have been of some use.’
There was a note in his voice that made Madeline look at him and what she saw caused her to feel as if she wanted to weep.
‘Excuse me, I must help Sally,’ Madeline said. ‘I see that Thomas has recovered consciousness. I must help her get him into the carriage for he needs a doctor.’
‘Allow me to assist him,’ Captain Mardle murmured and moved away.
Madeline stood immobile, gazing up at Hal. He looked angry, his eyes cold, his mouth set in a hard line. She hardly knew how to speak but knew that she must apologise.
‘This is all my fault,’ she whispered. ‘I should not—’
‘No,’ Hal said harshly, ‘you should not. Why did you run away like that? Without a word to me?’
‘You did not receive my letter?’
He looked at her hard. ‘Adam spoke of a letter to Jenny, but made no mention of a letter to me.’
‘Oh...’ Madeline shook her head. She could not know why Adam had not told him, but she was for the moment relieved. ‘I—I did not wish to bring shame on your friends or—or to ruin you.’
‘Was that all?’ he asked. ‘Surely you must have known what could happen? Did you not think of the risk you ran? I have been out of my mind with worry.’
‘Forgive me,’ she begged, and now there were tears on her cheeks. ‘I never meant to hurt or distress you or your friends.’
The stern line of his mouth softened a little. ‘That is what I told Adam. He blamed himself for he thought you must have overheard us talking in the library the previous night.’
Madeline turned away. ‘Yes, I did,’ she admitted. ‘I did not wish you