Lizzie Tempest Ruins A Viscount (Felmont Brides Series Book 1) by Maggie Jagger
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The coach, drawn by four perfectly matched horses, edged its way over the neglected drive. Birds twittered high in the branches above Lizzie’s head. Her insane husband stepped out from the deepest shadows under a leaning oak into dappled sunlight.
“Stand and deliver!” he roared.
Childish shrieks of delight greeted his command. “Papa! Rob us! We have coins for you.”
The coachman drew to a halt.
Lizzie wondered how she had been inveigled into holding the viscount’s horse while he committed daylight robbery. Lucifer nudged her hand until she stroked his nose.
The viscount stalked towards the carriage. The door swung open. Giggles greeted him.
The Duke of Saint Sirin spoke in that odious way. “Get in or I shall be obliged to shoot you. Dashed highwayman!”
His daughter’s voice squeaked, “You sweared, Papa.” She tried to imitate her father. “Dashed highwayman, get in!”
Dace disappeared into the carriage. It bounced over the rough track, leaving her with Lucifer.
Drat the man! Lizzie looked down at her outfit. A highwayman need have no fear of being missed wearing a costume so outlandish. It was worse than Dace’s huge boots and his coat with many pockets.
Even if she discarded the enormous black feather adorning her huge, brimmed hat, the rest of her male attire proclaimed her supposed occupation from the silver candelabra sticking out of her boots, to the loot sewn to cascade from her pockets. The glass rubies dripping from the bosom of her shirt were a particularly fine touch.
Mr. Rackham’s sisters were nothing if not thorough in their costumes.
Her husband was not coming back for her. Lizzie was sure he’d forgotten all about her. Lucifer disdained to stand still and, with a determined tug on the reins, set off for his stable in the castle. Lizzie let him lead her back.
The sound of another carriage arriving made her coax the horse behind an overgrown rhododendron bush.
A landau rounded the turn. The five Rackham sisters jolted over the rough ground in their open carriage. Low shrubs caught at the wheels as the horses picked their way down the drive.
Lizzie scrambled up into the saddle by way of a sturdy branch. Not the most graceful way to mount but she had no time to spare.
Lucifer obeyed her command to move only too well. He shot off, going from walk to gallop in less time than it took to reach the drive. The stirrups swung too and fro, far from her feet.
Luckily, Lucifer seemed more interested in the visitors than his stable.
“Stand and deliver!” Lizzie called as she neared the landau. For a horse used to facing the cannonades of warfare, the Rackham sisters’ delighted laughter should not have made him stop so abruptly that she almost lost her seat. Lizzie saw the great head snort and advance towards Miss Rackham’s flowery bonnet, intent on sampling the exotic fair.
That lady saw the danger immediately. “Keep him back, Lizzie!”
Easier said than done. No matter how Lizzie pulled on the reins, Lucifer ignored her to clack his teeth together in the air where Miss Rackham’s head had been. She dived out of the way and scrambled amid her sisters’ skirts to remove her hat.
“Keep him away!” Miss Rackham hid her flowery bonnet under the seat.
Lucifer reared as if to climb into the carriage. Lizzie clung to his mane for a few of the longest seconds of her life.
Hands reached for the reins to pull the great head down.
“Hellfire! Hold on, Lizzie!” Dace caught her as she fell.