Chapter Twenty-One
Epping Forest
Essex
Lex and Basil stood at the river’s edge, tossing stones while their horses quenched their thirsts.
“What am I going to do about this, Basil?”
“How can you be certain she is this bandit?”
“I tell you, Edwina and the Lace Bandit are one and the same. I am certain of it.”
“You still haven’t told me how you know this to be true.”
“It’s a bit embarrassing.” Lex felt like a lecherous Peeping Tom, confessing to gazing down the Lace Bandit’s and Edwina’s blouses. Oh, drat, how do I explain myself?
“Yes, go on.”
“When I handed over the money pouch to the Lace Bandit, I glimpsed her décolleté, and I saw that she possessed a unique beauty mark that was quite unforgettable. A rather magnificent marking, it was shaped like a heart.”
“How very intriguing.” Basil could not hide the amusement in his voice, and Lex felt his face reddening.
“Yes, well, when Edwina fell from her horse, I unbuttoned her blouse to better facilitate her breathing.”
“I can understand your concern. Breathing is rather important, isn’t it?” A chuckle escaped, and Basil cleared his throat. “Forgive me, Lex. Please continue.”
“This is no laughing matter. Edwina has the exact beauty mark in the exact place.” Lex blew out an exasperated breath. “Blast it, Basil, the woman I love is a highwaywoman. Why would she do this? She stands to inherit a fortune.”
“Calm down, Lexington. I am sure she has a perfectly reasonable explanation. Have you thought of asking her about it?”
“Are you mad? How can I bring this up? She has to come clean and explain what this is all about of her own accord. Edwina is anything but daft; she knows what she’s about. Besides, what kind of relationship can we build if she keeps secrets from me?”
“Don’t stand on principle, man. It does not matter who introduces the topic first. You love her, and from what I have seen of the two of you together, she loves you. You must go at once to Wiltshire House and settle this with her.”
Lex didn’t say anything as he considered Basil’s words.
“Have you had any communication with her since the weekend at Du Priest Manor?”
“No, I had to contend with the roofs falling in on half my tenant farmers’ cottages after that rainstorm we had.”
“But did you send word to her about that to explain?”
“No, I was too preoccupied with fixing roofs for several days straight. Besides, I assumed she would send word to me and invite me to Wiltshire to admit the truth to me.”
“So, you’ve just let the grass grow beneath your feet, without a word of explanation. Good God, man, she likely thinks you don’t want her anymore. She must be greatly distressed by your neglect.”
“Damn and blast!” Lex said. “With everything going on, I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“Naturally, typical male behavior, thinking only of oneself.”
“I’ve been such a fool—”
A scream pierced the air, cutting off Lex’s response.
“What was that?” said Basil.
“I don’t know. It sounded like a woman in distress. We’d better investigate.”
They mounted their horses and galloped swiftly in the direction from which the scream had come.
They came to a glen where six men surrounded what at first glance appeared to be a man.
In a flash, Lex surmised that these were the brigade of Scotsmen hired by Axel Hammond.
Anger seethed through him. How dare they accost a person on Essex County lands, lands within his protectorate?
This he would not abide. His anger and indignation strengthened his voice. “I am the Earl of Essex, and I am not pleased to find you disturbing the peace and threatening the passage of anyone who travels through this forest. What business do you have here?”
“M’lord,” said a burly Scot, “we are here to apprehend the Lace Bandit. She has been terrorizing peaceful travelers who pass through Epping Forest. I suggest you ride on and leave us to our task.”
“I will not leave you to anything,” Lex retorted. “This is my land. And you’re trespassing.”
In the heat of the moment, he hadn’t noticed that the rider encircled by the band of Scotsmen was a woman. Taking a closer look, he saw the lace mask and that delectable figure that a man’s clothing could not hide. His heart thundered in his chest.
Edwina…dear Lord!
Lex didn’t know what outraged him more, Edwina’s being endangered by these outlaws, or that she was here to rob some unsuspecting stranger.
Anger surged through him. His first thought was to wring the little vixen’s neck, but there was no time to linger on that satisfying notion.
A confrontation was looming between them, but first he needed to save her neck from the noose.
Basil and he were outnumbered, but he would never allow these brutes to get their hands on her.
Although he was as angry as a boiling teakettle, his fear for Edwina’s safety tempered his reaction.
Once she was safe at Wiltshire House, he would demand she explain her actions.
He envisioned laying her over his lap and paddling that perfect derriere of hers as a punishment, but this was no time for erotic imaginings. Get a hold of her yourself, man!
“I will not allow you to do anything on my lands. Begone from here. I will not have you terrorizing unescorted women in Epping Forest, or in any part of Essex.”
The Scotsmen looked from one to another, finally turning their attention to their leader. Lex made a mental note. He knew if you cut off the head of the snake, the rest of his followers would likely scatter without a leader.
“I’m afraid not, m’lord. We will not leave without her. There is a price on her head, and we intend to claim it.”
Lex pulled out his gun and pointed it at the villain’s heart. “Then you should accept your fate willingly because, regardless of what happens, you will leave this glen dead, carted out of Epping Forest flung over the back of your horse.”
The Scotsman’s eyes widened. “You would give your life for a thief and lose your own in a foolhardy act of heroism?”
“I stand on principle and my word. This is my land, and you have no right to trespass here.”
“My men will kill you.”
“Ah, yes, but you won’t be alive to see it, will you?”
Lex and the captain of the Scottish mercenary group glared at each other in a standoff. From the corner of his eye, he could see Basil’s hand resting where his pistol was hidden. He chanced a quick glance at Edwina and saw her trying to keep her skittish horse calm.
Damn and blast! That’s all we need now, for her horse to rear up and her to injure that pretty head again.
Lex took a deep, calming breath and spoke with command.
“My lady, I insist you ride from here as quick as the wind, and I suggest you never return. We do not welcome thievery in Essex. The marquess and I will keep these gentlemen occupied until you are safely away from here. Consider yourself lucky today, but remember luck has a way of running out, so take heed.”
“Thank you, my lord. I pray we meet again someday that I might thank you.” The Lace Bandit reared her horse and shot through the circle of men, disappearing in the denseness of the woods.
Lex nearly sighed aloud with relief. Once things were settled and this marauding band of Scotsmen driven from Essex, he would ride for Wiltshire House.
He would confront her, then kiss her.
Or perhaps he would spank her first, then kiss her.
Either way, he would make her promise never to don that damn mask again.