Free Rebel Marquess by Amy Sandas Page B

her sharp elbow, none too gently it would seem by Lady Ashdown’s wince. “Give him your jewels. Ashdown will buy you more.”
    As Whitely turned his attention to Grimm’s mistress, Rutherford looked at the third woman who had been silently watching the proceedings much as he had. She was not reduced to an argumentative panic like the other two ladies. Her posture was more wary and alert than overtly frightened. His first impression was that she was a servant, but when she glanced about the moonlight caught her face and he realized his mistake.
    A sizzling jolt ran through him as he recognized the youngest Terribury. The taut readiness that had been hovering about him from the start of the night expanded into an acute awareness that tightened the muscles of his thighs and sparked heat through his blood.
    He had not spoken with her since their walk through the forest. He suspected she had been equally as determined to avoid him for the rest of the party as he was to avoid her. Aside from a suspicious mix up when they had nearly been seated next to each other at dinner before a servant quickly corrected the mistake, there had been very little cause to be within speaking distance of each other.
    To her credit, Miss Elizabeth Terribury did not appear terribly put out by the fact that she was being held at gunpoint in the middle of the road. She stood beside her sister, covered head to toe by a long cloak rather than the traveling outfits most ladies preferred. She looked exceptionally young with her pert round face peeking from the shadows of her hood. And as she was inclined to do, she was avidly casting her sharp gaze about, studiously taking in all the details of her surroundings. When she directed her attention to where Grimm stood at the front of the carriage, she tilted her head curiously.
    Following her gaze, Rutherford saw his friend mop at his brow with a swipe of his forearm. Grimm’s hand shook as he held his pistol at the driver, who luckily still appeared content to let the robbery run its course. In his borrowed clothes, Grimm looked more like a fumbling country squire than a highwayman intent on stealing from the wealthy.
    Rutherford ground his teeth and returned his attention to Miss Terribury. Wariness bristled across his nerves when he saw she was now patiently watching the interaction between Whitely’s effeminate highwayman and her petulant sister.
    “Surely I cannot be expected to relinquish all of my possessions.” Lady Ashdown’s whine was as strident as a child’s. “Others will pass by. You do not need to make your fortune on me alone.”
    “Give over, lady. Yer fortune’s as good as anyone’s,” Whitely persisted, loosening his hold on his charm.
    Was that a hint of amusement tickling Miss Terribury’s lips? Did the impertinent girl just roll her eyes?
    “You there.”
    She turned immediately upon hearing his voice and he could tell by the surprise on her face that she had not previously been aware of his presence beneath the shadows of the roadside trees. Her large eyes now fully upon him, Rutherford wasn’t sure exactly what he had intended when he called out to her. All he knew was she was far too observant and he needed to distract her or she might start to wonder at the obvious ineptitude of the thieves.
    “Come here,” he ordered in a false baritone.
    She hesitated, the wariness returning to her features as she looked to her mother and sister who were both now fully occupied with removing their jewelry and handing it to Whitely. Neither of the other ladies noticed she had been singled out. Swinging her gaze back to him, she scanned him from the top of his old-fashioned felt hat past the rough leather gloves he wore and down to the hooves of his borrowed horse, which scuffed the ground nervously. When she lifted her eyes again, they flashed with the kind of curiosity that often led innocents to the wolves.
    He wondered if he would have to restate his command when she started toward