Free The Highwayman's Bride by Jane Beckenham

for a change.” She shot Tess a cheeky smile and Tess winked back in return, both of them stifling a fit of giggles.
    “Today, Millie, is the beginning of a new adventure.”

Chapter Six
    ’Tis the season for courting.
    For pretty girls and handsome boys to play.
    Mirabelle’s Musings
    November 1813
    Dawn fully broken and with his leaden feet dragging, Aiden took the steps into White’s two at a time. After leaving the Bancroft’s before midnight he’d been intent on heading home, only to receive word from Mickey Cocroft that Nash’s delivery would arrive in a matter of hours.
    Sleep had beckoned, but his grim determination to hunt out the bastard and catch him in the act overrode everything else and he’d headed out on the road again.
    But again he’d failed.
    With a nod to the doorman, he handed the man his hat and topcoat and made his way to the library, refusing eye contact with a soul. To do so would entail having to stop and talk, and right now he wanted neither.
    A long sigh ruffled from his chest. Thankfully, the room was empty.
    Sinking into a luxurious leather chair, he stretched out, reveling in the warmth of the nearby fire as it succored his chilled bones. He rested his head, eyelids slowly lowering.
    Marriage?
    What fool idea had gotten into his head to even consider such a prospect?
    “Your Lordship?”
    Reluctantly, Aiden opened his eyes. A waiter stood nearby and proffered a tray of drinks.
    Aiden reached for a whiskey, relishing the fiery burn that traveled down his throat as he simply sat and stared at the fire.
    “Hello, old fellow. Where the devil did you charge off to? One minute you were at Bancroft’s discussing this bloody Nash business, and the next there’s no sign of you.” Carson Humphries, the Earl of Beswick, who had been Aiden’s best friend for more years than he could remember, sank into the chair opposite him.
    “I thought we were going to keep an eye on Nash. Happy to help and all that, but if you’re going to do the disappearing act, how about letting me know in advance.”
    Aiden offered a wry half smile. “Sorry, Beswick, but ah…something came up and I went home.”
    “A woman, no doubt,” Beswick chuckled.
    Aiden chose not to confirm his friend’s assumption and sipped at his drink for a silent moment. “Unfortunately I got word Nash’s delivery time had moved forward.” Aiden knew what they talked of was confidential, but they’d served alongside each other in the Peninsula, attended Eaton together, and Aiden would trust his friend with his life.
    Beswick raised a brow. “And?”
    “And nothing. Just another bloody red herring!”
    “The best way to get back at Nash, my dear friend, is to foil his enterprise.”
    “Aye, you’re right. I need to catch him in the midst of his illegal shenanigans so the law can punish him.”
    “It seems unlikely to me that Nash would head out on the road after last night’s soiree. By the way, I saw him talking to another man at Bancroft’s. Do you know who it was?”
    “Gibbs,” Aiden confirmed, mouth clicking his disgust. “The man’s a dealer of sorts, though from my inquiries everything he’s touched has failed dismally.”
    “Which could be a reason why he’s talking to Nash. Easy money. Desperate.”
    “Aye. I had wondered. So why the hell was Nash at the Bancroft’s? My informant assured me the swap was going to happen.”
    “Showing his face could have been a way to deflect suspicion.”
    “Probably.” Aiden shut his eyes briefly. “Instinct pushed me to rout the bastard then and there.”
    “So why didn’t you?”
    “Fortunately, or unfortunately, common sense prevailed.” Aiden exhaled long and slow and his fist tightened around his glass. “I keep chasing every damned lead and still nothing.”
    “Somebody has to be warning him.”
    “But who?” He scraped a hand across his jaw, fingers crawling up to massage his temple. “God, how my head pounds.”
    “Lack of sleep does that to a