A Curse of the Heart

Suppressing a grin, Sebastian took the opportunity to press him further. “What sort of man allows a woman to act as his right-hand in a robbery? You obviously care little for her welfare.”

“It was certainly not my idea,” he replied through gritted teeth. “Trying to get her to listen to anything I say is like … like trying to trap lightning in a blasted bottle.”

Sebastian could not hide his amusement. He could not recall the last time he laughed aloud. In the last six years, he had been involved in many dangerous encounters, but this one had to be the most bizarre encounter of his entire life. To Sebastian’s surprise, the gentleman sniggered, too.

“How dare you laugh at me,” the woman scolded. Straightening her back, she appeared much more robust than Sebastian first thought. She’d yanked down her disguise to reveal a pert little nose and a pair of rosy pink lips. “And if you think I’m going to sit here any longer and be ridiculed for … for caring … for wanting to make sure you didn’t end up dead in a ditch.”

She swung her horse around, dug her heels in and cantered off across the field towards a small wooded area in the distance.

“For heaven’s sake, Annabel, wait,” the gentleman cried. “Damn it, woman. Do you want me to shout your name out for all to hear?”

Sebastian studied the man’s frustrated countenance and almost felt sorry for him. “Now it’s just the two of us, let’s get back to this business of robbery.”

The gentleman sighed loudly. “This is not a blasted robbery,” he said, his gaze flitting back and forth between Sebastian and the woman in the distance.

“Then why in hell’s name were you following my carriage?” Sebastian asked, his gaze also following the woman until she’d safely entered the woods.

The gentleman swung his horse around ready to ride out in pursuit. “You may lower your pistol for I am here on an errand.” With one hand gripping the reins, he reached inside his greatcoat and removed a red velvet pouch. “Here, take this.” He threw it down and Sebastian caught it with his free hand. “I trust you’ll keep it safe. And if this damn horse kills me, you’ll know what to do.” The gentleman straightened and raised the brim of his hat. “And I suggest you get some sleep, Dane. Your eyes are as red as the Devil’s.”

Only his closest friends called him Dane.

Sebastian stared at the familiar face. “Beaufort?” he said, wondering why his friend felt it necessary to conceal his identity.

“And keep an eye on Sophie for me. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

Before Sebastian could utter another word, Beaufort galloped off across the field as though his life depended on it and disappeared into the woods.

Sebastian just stood there, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open. Had it not been for the piece of red velvet lying in his palm, he would have believed he’d drifted off to sleep and imagined the whole damn thing.

As he strolled around to the carriage door, he glanced up at Haines’ hulking figure perched on his box seat like a stuffed bear. “It’s always good to know that when trouble strikes, I can count on your assistance.”

“I thought you were handling things just fine, my lord,” he replied, keeping his eyes fixed firmly ahead.

Sebastian arched a brow. “And you knew that without even moving a muscle.”

Haines turned to face him, his weather-beaten face expressionless. “Like you said when you hired me, my lord. People see what they want to see. Just ‘cause you didn’t see me move doesn’t mean I wasn’t leaning over the top of the carriage pointing a pistol of my own.”

Sebastian grinned. His man had a fair point.

“Perhaps it’s time I started listening to my own advice,” he said looking out across the field before turning back to Haines. “Did the whole thing not strike you as rather odd?”

“Can’t say as I can ever remember being chased by masked riders desperate to give me something,” he said pushing the front of his hat up to scratch the top of his head. “And looking at the piece of cloth in your hand I’d say it’s something right important.”

Lost in thought, Sebastian stared at the velvet pouch, his attention caught by the initials R.B embroidered in golden thread.

The sound of a cart rattling down the road disturbed his reverie and Haines gave a polite cough.

“Beg your pardon, my lord, but I think we need to be on our way. We’ve got a good day’s journey ahead, and there’s no telling what state the road’s in.”

“Very well,” Sebastian sighed, unable to resist one last glance over his shoulder.

He had missed Beaufort during the six years he’d been away. He had missed his witty banter and arrogant drawl, and he felt a stab of guilt for being absent during, what was obviously, a time of great need.

Returning to his carriage, Sebastian placed the pistol in the box, settled back against the leather seat and untied the string on the velvet pouch. There was another roll of velvet inside, and he opened it to reveal an elaborate gold and ruby necklace.

He had seen many enchanting things on his travels but had never seen anything quite like this. The chain consisted of a row of identical oval rubies encased in gold and joined together by a fine filigree design. It was so intricate and delicate in detail that it could have been spun by a spider. Transfixed by its beauty, Sebastian simply stared at it.

Why would Beaufort give him such a precious antiquity?