“I’ll have ye home in a trice, sir. Slough is only a league up the Bath Road.”
An hour after the unwelcome visitors departed, Mr. Burke went down into the cellars and unlocked the door to the underground tunnel. “Thought it might be you, sir,” he said calmly.
Nicholas, still sitting on the floor amidst a pile of papers, looked up in surprise. “How the devil did you know I was here?”
He stabbed a thumb into the air. “My quarters are just above here, and you’re the only one who ever ventured into the tunnel.” Though it was obvious that Nick Hatton was the highwayman who had robbed John Eaton’s coach tonight, Mr. Burke made only one comment. With a sigh he picked up the filthy evening shirt and said, “Really, sir, it will be impossible to get this linen white again.”
Nick grinned. “Give me a hand, Mr. Burke. I need to take all this up to my chamber.”
“I trust you don’t expect your mare to navigate the stairs?”
Nick’s grin widened. “Before first light I’ll take her over to the Grange and feed her. She earned her oats tonight, Mr. Burke. Did you by any chance have an unpleasant visitor?”
“Indeed we did, sir. John Eaton came pounding on the door with some preposterous tale of highway robbery, but when your twin stumbled from his bed, looking like death warmed over, Eaton’s suspicions melted like snow in summer. When Lord Hatton refused him hospitality, Eaton and his lackey departed for Slough.”
“Poor Kit, his day went from bad to worse! I intend to make it up to him, but not tonight, Mr. Burke; best let him sleep.”
By the time Nicholas gained his own chamber, he had never felt less like sleeping in his life. The two hours of sifting through letters and documents had certainly paid off. He had wanted to cheer with triumph when he unfolded a crumpled document and found that he was holding the original Hatton deed, complete with its legal seals. From that moment he no longer felt the discomfort of the soaking wet garments that were rubbing his skin raw nor the cramps that assailed his limbs from crouching on the damp floor. It was like cream on the cake when he found the paper that Kit had signed, authorizing Eaton to handle all his financial affairs. Nicholas carefully placed the two documents in his desk and locked the drawer. He removed his wallet from the inside pocket of his coat, then stripped off his clothes and lit a fire in the grate. Not until after he had enjoyed a warm bath did he open the leather satchel to count Joan’s winnings from the Mollies’ Club.
Nick whistled as he pulled out four bundles of twenty-pound notes, each more than three inches thick. When he counted them, they totaled more than forty thousand pounds. Without a doubt, they were the loveliest ill-gotten gains he had ever seen. He could only imagine the tumult and fury Eaton must have experienced when he had been forced to hand over the bag. Until he could deposit the money in London, Nick decided to lock the cash in his desk along with the two all-important legal documents.
There was little more than an hour of darkness remaining, and Nick knew he was not yet finished his night’s work. Before the first flush of dawn touched Hounslow Heath, he intended to return the remaining papers to Eaton’s metal file box, along with the empty leather satchel from the Mollies’ Club.
Nick glanced in the mirror, wondering if he had time to shave, and saw his own gray eyes, brimful of laughter. “All in all, Hazard Hatton, I’d say you had an enjoyable night!” He rubbed his fingers along the dark stubble of his jaw and grinned. “But not nearly as much fun as I intend to have before I’m done!”
Alexandra opened her eyes as the first rays of sunshine filtered into her bedchamber. Yesterday’s rain had kept her a prisoner indoors, and she couldn’t wait to saddle Zephyr for a morning ride. Instead of throwing back the covers, however, she lay still, trying to recapture the details of the dream that still floated about her. It had been a compelling dream about the Hatton twins; the thing that stood out most vividly was that she could not tell them apart. When the twins appeared together, she was both confused and confounded. When she was with Christopher, she thought he was Nicholas.
When you are with Christopher, you want him to be Nicholas,
an inner voice whispered.
That is a lie! When Kit took me to the lake the other night, he was far more romantic than Nick could ever be. When he gave me his mother’s ring, it touched me deeply, and when he said he desired me to be Lady Hatton, I knew he meant every word. He spoke of his deep and abiding love for Hatton Hall, and he stole my heart. I felt a oneness with Christopher that I never felt before. When he kissed me, I didn’t want him to stop!
Alex slipped from the bed and picked up the note Kit had sent yesterday. Her mouth curved in a soft smile as she read his words.
My Dearest Alexandra,
My head was so filled with your lovely face when I arose this morning that I walked straight into my bedchamber door. Since I don’t want you to see my black eye, I shall refrain from visiting you for a few days. When I look more presentable, I hope you will come with me to the church so we can set a date for our wedding. Love, Christopher
Alex decided that though Kit would refrain from visiting her, she had no such qualms. She would ride over to see how he was and to decide on a date when their banns could be read in the Hatton church. Now that she and Christopher were officially engaged, there was little point in postponing the wedding. She looked down at her beautiful ring and smiled a secret smile. It announced to the world that she was his, and it reminded her of how possessive he had been the night he had stolen her away from Hart Cavendish and danced with her at Burlington House. The memory was so tangible that when she closed her eyes, she could feel their bodies swaying to the music.
While Alex was taking her bath, she made an important decision. On Saturday, after her performance at Champagne Charlie’s, she would tell Charlotte King that she would not be performing again. Alex felt relief wash over her. She had no regrets about what she had done; it was the only way she had been able to earn money to help Dottie and her mother, but she was glad that she would not be going to Pall Mall again after Saturday night.
She put on a pale gray riding skirt with a yellow jacket to match her sunny mood, grabbed a quick breakfast, and hurried to the stables. She was surprised to see Dottie there before her, talking with Rupert, who had two other men with him.
“Sirrah! We are a household of ladies here at Longford. It is preposterous that you suspect one of us of highway robbery out on the heath! No, I emphatically refuse you permission to search my home and stables!” she announced in withering tones.
“Dottie, he doesn’t suspect any such thing,” Rupert assured her. “Officer Thorpe merely wants to look in the stables to see if the robber is hiding there without our knowledge. He has already searched the Hardings’ stables, and I came over here with them so that you wouldn’t be alarmed.”
Dottie lifted her lorgnette for a more thorough inspection. “You profess to be John Eaton’s coachman? My condolences!” She swung around to Thorpe. “And you are the authority from Middlesex County?” The moment Thorpe nodded in the affirmative she said, “There you are, then: This is Bucks County, and you have no jurisdiction whatsoever!”
“Lady Longford, would you prefer that the Bow Street Police of London be called in? They would overrun the entire area and leave you no privacy whatsoever.”
“The London authorities have more good sense than to waste their time chasing phantom highwaymen. I suggest you need look no farther than The Cock and Bull Inn in Hounslow. No doubt you will discover it was nothing more than drunken horseplay!”
Rupert finally realized that Dottie wanted him to get rid of her unwanted visitors. “Gentlemen, I know the owner of the inn. Why don’t we go there and get to the bottom of this matter?”
Before they were safely out of earshot, Dottie remarked to Alex, “Deliver me from the country bumpkins of Slough!”
Alex laughed. “I’m off to Hatton to see how Kit is faring. If I discover a highwayman hiding in Zephyr’s stall, I shall run him through with a pitchfork!”
“No, darling, send him up to the house. I wouldn’t mind an encounter with a dark and dangerous night rider.”
As Alex rode the short distance to Hatton, she thought of the masquerade ball. A picture of Nicholas disguised as a highwayman came full-blown into her mind. It was so compelling that it took her breath away.
I was so madly in love with him that night. It is nothing short of a miracle that I got over my feelings for him.
As Alex cantered across the lush meadow of Hatton Grange she saw a man standing beside a black horse. Suddenly, her heart began to hammer.
It cannot be Nick! My imagination is conjuring his image because I am thinking about him!
Then again, it could not be Kit, who never cared to work with the horses. She closed the distance between them, and when her eyes told her she was not imagining him, the ground came up to meet her and she swayed in the saddle.
“Alex!” Nick caught her before she fell and held her secure in strong arms until her eyes fluttered open. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she replied breathlessly.
Dear God, no, I’m not all right!
“I didn’t expect to see you.”
I’ve been longing to see you!
“Kit told me you were safely back from France.”
I saw you with my own eyes at Champagne Charlie’s! Dear God, I thought I was over you, but now I know that I shall never be over you!
Nick carefully set her feet to the ground, cursing himself for causing her to feel faint. “Can you stand, Alexandra?”
“Of course.” She saw that he had been washing mud from the mare’s legs.
When Hounslow Heath is all afire, then Hounslow’s roads are naught but mire.
The words of the old rhyme ran through her head.
My God, Nicholas, are you the highwayman?
She knew he needed money. His father had left him penniless, and army pay was a disgraceful pittance. She also knew he was reckless enough to risk his neck. Her heart turned over in her breast. If aught happened to him, she would die. “I . . . I came to see Christopher.”
Nick frowned. “Didn’t you get his note?”
“Yes . . . he told me he walked into a door . . . I have to see for myself that he is all right.” She hesitated. “We are engaged.”
“I know.” He took her hand and looked down at her ring. “Alex, more than anything in the world, I want you to be Lady Hatton.”
“Thank you.” She lowered her lashes so he could not read the pain in her eyes. “I’d better go.” Her lashes flew up as he drew close. “No, no, please don’t lift me into the saddle; I’ll walk Zephyr.” She felt so brittle that she feared she would shatter into a million shards if he touched her.
As she slowly walked toward Hatton Hall, her thoughts were in chaos, her emotions tangled up in knots, and she now felt reluctant to visit Christopher. She had a sudden impulse to mount Zephyr and ride away, yet she knew that if she gave in to the urge, she might never return. Alex chided herself for being a coward. She had a duty to Christopher and to her family; she must not play fast and loose with her promises. She tethered Zephyr’s reins and knocked on the hall’s magnificently carved door.
“Good morning, Mistress Alexandra. Lord Hatton is in the breakfast room. I shall bring you a cup of chocolate.”
Mr. Burke’s cheerful welcome did much to calm her agitation, and the moment she saw Kit’s bruised face, her reluctance to see him fled. “I know you said you couldn’t see me for a few days, but I wanted to make sure you were all right. Is it very painful?”
“Only when I breathe.” His words, which could have been meant as a jest, sounded petulant and filled with self-pity.
Mr. Burke brought her a cup of chocolate, and she noticed that Kit did not speak again until he had left the room. She took a sip and broached the subject of their wedding. “Your note mentioned going to the church to arrange a date for the ceremony. As I understand it, the banns are read three Sundays in succession, so it would be possible to have the wedding in a month, if you wish.”
“No, that’s not soon enough!” he said sharply. “I’ll get a license so we can dispense with the banns. Alex, surely a fortnight is long enough to wait?”
She felt dismayed that he was behaving so differently today. Yet she had known all her life that Christopher could be moody and sensitive at any hint of rejection. She did not wish to argue with him. “Arrange for the license. You are right; two or three weeks is long enough to wait.” At least this way there would be no time to plan a costly wedding reception, inviting half the county. She set her cup down and gave him a radiant smile. “Kit, why don’t we go for a gallop in the sunshine? I’m sure it will make you feel better.”
“Alex, I have such a headache. I thought I’d go out by the lake and do some painting today. You understand my need to be alone?”
“Of course I do! My own sketching brings me both pleasure and tranquility. Solitude is exactly what you need. I’ll see you in a few days when you are feeling better.”
As Alex galloped along the river, she pondered over how withdrawn and unwell Kit had seemed. And yet, at the same time, he had insisted that they waste no time in getting married. Alex sighed. She should never have invaded his privacy. His note had said that he didn’t want her to see him with a black eye. Now she wished with all her heart that she had not ignored his wishes. If she hadn’t gone to Hatton this morning, she would not have discovered that she was still madly, hopelessly in love with Nicholas.
Nick Hatton was in no great hurry to see John Eaton, and he deliberately waited until after lunch to set out for Slough. He surmised that at first light Eaton would have informed the county authorities that his coach had been robbed on Hounslow Heath, and that they would have dispatched an officer to investigate. When Eaton’s baggage and files were recovered in Dog’s Hollow, they would have returned them to him; for his own perverse pleasure, Nick wanted to arrive after the fact.