The coach swayed and Kathryn braced her hands on the seat to keep herself upright. Martha snored on. Kathryn believed her maid could sleep through anything. The coachman was traveling much too fast for the rough road, but she knew better than to utter any complaints. The road they traveled was well known for being thick with highwaymen and the coachman had been warned by her father to make all haste in getting his daughter to Bartlett House.

Lady Bartlett, her fiancé’s grandmother had invited her to stay for the fortnight before the wedding and her father had accepted the invitation. Kathryn had not been consulted, just as she’d not been asked if she wanted to marry the cold and aloof Lord Bartlett. Having come into his title after his father’s death two years earlier, Henry Bartlett had immediately cast about for a wife. Wanting to waste no time in producing an heir to appease his elderly grandmother, he'd been bored by all the young ladies thrown his way by the fortune seeking Mama's of the ton. When he was introduced to Kathryn at a ball several months before he’d been drawn to her unusual beauty, saying she looked like a cat with her black hair and large green eyes. Henry had liked her intelligence and the fact that she didn't act like all the other silly chits he'd met. Kathryn on the other hand wanted nothing to do with him and had tried in vain to avoid his presence. When he’d asked for her hand, she’d said no. 

Henry ignored this and made an offer to her father. Her father had been thrilled and he and Lady Bartlett  had arranged the marriage, a business arrangement, no less. Kathryn had been horrified, but her protestations had been for naught. This alliance would not only insure her future, but her father's as well. Hedrick Weathers was a gambler and unfortunately not a successful one. His gambling had dwindled his inheritance down to a pittance and he saw this marriage as a heaven sent opportunity to avoid the disgrace of having to flee the country to escape his creditors. Despair washed over her as she imagined the lonely future ahead of her, a future devoid of love and affection from her husband.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the blast of gunfire as the coach lurched heavily to the side, coming to a stop. Martha abruptly sat up, taking a deep breath and smoothing her gown.

“My, are we there already, Dear? It seemed a very short trip.”

“No, Martha, we have not arrived at Bartlett House. I believe we are about to be set upon by highwaymen.” Kathryn shivered a little, but wasn’t sure if it was more from fright or excitement.

“Highwaymen! Oh no, it can't be. Oh…what will we do? We will be killed or worse!” Martha was becoming hysterical and Kathryn gently slapped her cheek.

“Get hold of yourself, Martha. I’m sure they are only interested in the contents of our purse, not our lives or our…well in anything else.”

 Martha calmed somewhat, but continued to shake and cowered into the corner of the seat as far from the door as she could get. When it opened she let out one ear-piercing scream and fell over in a dead faint. The masked man took one look at Martha and his lips quirked in a grin. He snapped his fingers and two very large men joined him.

“Remove her.”

Kathryn was mesmerized by his deep raspy voice, but as the two large men began to remove Martha from the coach she jerked from the spell and grabbed hold of Martha.

“Wait! What are you doing? Do not touch her.”

“She will not be harmed, my lady. Not as long as you do exactly as you are told.”

Kathryn looked into the black eyes behind the mask and was frightened for the first time. His eyes were devoid of expression and she realized he wouldn’t hesitate to kill them both if she didn’t do as he said. Letting go of Martha, she sat back as he entered the coach and took the seat across from her. The other men disappeared with Martha and the coach began to move.

“What are you doing? Where are you taking me?”

“You should try to relax and get some rest. We have a very long trip ahead of us.”

“I have money... jewelry. Why not take what you want and let us go?”

“Oh, I intend to take exactly what I want.” He leaned close and she pressed back into the seat. He was so close she could feel his breath move over her face.

“Are you kidnapping me for ransom?” Her voice trembled and she cleared her throat and straightened, determined not to show how much his closeness frightened her.

“Sometimes a man must do things to insure his future.”

“And you think to gain a great fortune for me? I can tell you, sir, you have chosen unwisely. My father is not a wealthy man and will be unable to pay even a very small fortune for my return.”

“Ah…but your fiancé is a very wealthy man, my lady, and unless he is a great fool, he will pay very handsomely for your return. No man would risk losing such a treasure.”

Copyright Elizabeth Melton Parsons