Chapter One

The English countryside

Early Spring, 1815

“Stand and deliver!”

The loud command shocked the London-bound passengers out of their varying degrees of slumber. Confused and disoriented, they held on as the driver, swearing loudly, fought to control his frightened team.

Hooves skidded on the hard-packed surface of the road. Brakes squealed in protest. Dust flew from beneath large spinning wheels. Top-heavy and in danger at any minute of tipping over, the ungainly coach slowed, shuddered violently, and then came to a quivering halt.

From her seat in the corner, Madeline Carlyle saw her own fear mirrored on the faces of those around her. In the past few days, she had come to know her fellow passengers quite well. They were an odd lot. Under normal circumstances, they might never have met. But as so often happens with traveling companions, they had formed a tenuous bond. It would end with their arrival in London, but at least in this time of danger, they had each other for support.

“Everyone out and be quick about it,” came the command. “Do as I say, and no one will be hurt.”

“Oh my, oh my,” whimpered Jeremiah Frye, the large balding salesman. His attitude now a far cry from the braggart of a short time ago. Clutching at his middle, he fondled the money belt hidden snugly beneath his clothing. “Hurry, hurry, don’t keep the man waiting,” he cried as he pushed the frail Mrs. Graves out through the door. “You next,” he muttered, quickly sending her bewildered husband to join her. Ling Ho, the timid little Chinaman, then suffered the same fate. “Now me,” Frye babbled. With an awkward heave, he raised his immense bulk from the seat. Then, tripping over Madeline’s feet in his haste, he too exited the coach.

Madeline wiggled her trampled toes, a pained frown on her face.

“Nasty man!” Gloria Brownlow, the last remaining passenger, voiced her disapproval. “Never you mind, dearie.” She patted Madeline’s knee. “Just you stay close to me.” The mother of four girls herself, Gloria had been shocked to learn that this young girl was traveling alone. From that moment, she had latched onto Madeline like a mother hen. Now, sensing danger, she was determined to protect her newly adopted hatchling. She defiantly crammed her silly little hat down further on her graying head, bending its long white feather in the process. “Just let this villain tangle with me,” she bristled. “I’ll soon set him down a peg or two.”

Madeline smiled warmly at the feisty little woman. She had liked Gloria right from the start but, for reasons of her own, had tried to avoid her. There was something about her twinkling brown eyes that was unsettling. It was as if she could see right through you. But now, none of that mattered. There was something solid and comforting about her presence. Madeline was glad she was there. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she grasped the woman’s outstretched hand.

“Are you ready, child?” Gloria asked, giving her fingers a reassuring squeeze.

Madeline nodded, and together they stepped out into the bright afternoon sunlight.

Despite the heat of the day, Madeline shivered at the sight of him. From somewhere in the region of her left elbow, she heard Gloria gasp. What had they expected? Obviously not this. Dressed all in black, seated high atop a black steed, he looked more giant than man. It was a sight to strike fear into the heart of even the stoutest of souls. Except for Mr. Frye, who blubbered constantly, everyone waited silently. Breathing was difficult; the air was hot and heavy. Dust motes swirled. Flies buzzed incessantly. Time stood still. The man’s dark eyes scanned their faces, coming to rest at last on Madeline.

“Step aside there.” He waved his pistol contemptuously at Jeremiah Frye. “Make room for the young lady, if you please.”

“Yes, yes.” The salesman did as he was told, quickly giving the selected one a sharp shove with his elbow.

“Oh, you, you, simpering bowl of jelly.” Mrs. Brownlow grew tongue-tied with rage. “Take him first, you bullying bandit, and leave this defenseless wee girl alone.”

“I wish that I could, Madam,” the man replied, “but you see, she is the reason I am here. Yes.” He nodded at Madeline’s surprised gasp. “It’s you I came for.”

“Th-there must be some mistake,” she managed to stutter.

He seemed not to hear her. “Back inside with the rest of you, and hurry,” he snapped. A mirthless chuckle escaped his lips as he watched the mountainous bulk of the salesman quickly disappear from view. Mr. and Mrs. Graves and Ling Ho soon followed suit. “Now you, Madam.” He motioned to Gloria Brownlow.

“No, I won’t leave this child alone,” the woman insisted. She moved to Madeline’s side and grasped her arm. “You must deal with me first, young man. I won’t let you have her.”

“Dear Lady, your courage is commendable,” he voiced his respect, “but if I must, I will have you tied hand and foot and put in with the baggage.”

“Nooo, Mrs. Brownlow, I beg of you.” Madeline pried her arm free of the woman’s grasp. “I will be all right. Really, I will. Please, just do as you are told.”

Reluctantly, Gloria climbed back into the waiting coach, closing the door behind her.

“Don’t worry, dearie,” she called, sticking her head out of the window, “I will send help as soon as I can. I promise.”

Frightened and unsure, Madeline gave the woman a half-hearted wave.

“On your way, driver!” To reinforce his words, the man in black sent a well-placed shot over the man’s head. He needed no more encouragement. It took but a slight flick of his whip to put his frightened team in flight.

Shading her eyes, Madeline watched as the large vehicle careened dangerously off down the road. At last, it faded off into the distance, but until the very end, she could still see that silly crooked white feather at the window. She wished now that she had confided in Gloria, but it was too late. Besides, how do you tell a woman like her that you are running away?

A soft snort and the gentle nudge of the black’s muzzle against her shoulder quickly returned her to the present.

“Time to go.” The man’s voice was gruff. “We’ve wasted enough time already.”

Madeline looked up at him, heart pounding. “What do you want of me?” she demanded.

“Nothing, except to take you back.”

“But I don’t want to go back.”

He shrugged. “Perhaps not, but I’ve had a long ride, and I don’t intend to go back without you.” He moved toward her and reached for her hand.

She backed away. Who was this strange man? Had he really been sent to bring her back? She found it hard to believe. He moved closer. She panicked, and giving no thought to her direction, she turned, raised her skirt, and began to run.

“Damn!” She heard the man curse and the soft thud of the horse’s hooves as he gave chase. Then, without further warning, a powerful arm encircled her waist, and her feet were treading air.

“Stay still,” he hissed as she struggled to escape. “Do you want to fall?”

But the warning came too late. The heel of one flaying shoe dealt a sharp blow to the horse’s shoulder. With a startled whinny, the animal reared up on his hind legs.

“Easy, Samson!” The man barked the command as he fought to maintain his hold on the girl.

Madeline could feel herself slipping and squealed in fright. Trying to save herself, she threw her arms around the man’s neck. But it cost her much. Her chin made solid contact with his shoulder, and stars spun before her eyes. A sharp, dizzying pain pierced her head. It robbed her of breath. She felt sick.

“Oh God!” she managed to gasp as darkness closed in around her and her body went limp.

“Damnation!” Tyler Wentworth looked down at the girl lying still in his arms. “Well, I didn’t bargain on anything like this, Samson.”

Calm now, the gelding snorted and tossed his head as if in agreement.

“It was one thing to say I would bring the girl back,” the man continued, “but confound it, I never expected to have to play nursemaid.”

Frustrated, he shook his head. Soft and disjointed as a rag doll, she lay in his arms, her fair head pressed close to his chest. Her delicate face was finely boned, the skin flawless. “Peaches and cream” were the words that came to mind. Absently, he wondered where the ridiculous saying had come from, but somehow, with her, it fit. She was small, her slim body warm and supple. He sensed a vulnerability about her, and for some reason, he found it oddly erotic.

“This is crazy, Samson,” he muttered. “I thought finding her was going to be the hard part, but now I have a sinking feeling our troubles have only just begun.”

Suddenly anxious to be on his way, he shifted the girl’s weight to his other arm.

Errant strands of her long blond hair tickled his nose, and unable to suppress the urge, he sneezed. She uttered a soft sigh, her head rolling back against his shoulder. Long lashes fluttered open, and bewildered bright blue eyes stared up at him. His pulse raced.

“Are you alright?” he asked, a trifle shaken. Her face was ghostly pale, and no answer was forthcoming. “Are you alright?” he demanded, this time giving her a gentle shake.

“Please don’t do that!” Madeline moaned.

She blinked her eyes, trying to make sense of the world she had just...