retrieve his sword and turn once more to face the big man. The man, whose gaze had been diverted by his companionâs fate, remembered too late and flashed at Daniel with the cudgel but Daniel sidestepped, his sword catching the manâs arm. The footpad looked at the blood that welled through his sleeve, gritted his teeth and came at Daniel snarling, with the cudgel above his head. Daniel neatly stepped under the upraised arm, the momentum of the manâs charge skewering him on the slender blade of the Spanish sword.
The footpad stopped and looked down at the sword that pierced his chest, surprise registering in his eyes. The cudgel dropped to the ground, and as the man sank to his knees Daniel put a boot to his chest so he fell backwards, allowing Daniel to retrieve the sword. Agnes looked away, sickened by the sucking noise as the sword came free, followed by a bright spray of blood.
Daniel turned to the brigand who knelt cowering at Agnesâs feet, his hands still pressed to his groin.
âWe didnât mean no âarm,â the man whimpered. âLet me go, guvnor. I served His Majesty in the wars. Lost everything, I did.â
Agnes glanced up at Daniel. The fire had gone from his eyes and he lowered his sword. âWho did you serve with?â
The man licked his lips. âLord Hopton.â He held up his left hand, or what was left of it. âThatâs all the thanks I got. Lost me fingers at Naseby. No good for workinâ after that. Wife and kids died of starvation one winter and I took to the road.â A glimmer of hope gleamed in the manâs eyes. âYou wonât turn me in, captain?â
Daniel jerked his head at the manâs companion. âYour friendâs dead.â
The man shrugged. âDonât have friends in this game. If you hand me over, theyâll âang me. Let me go.â
Daniel glanced at Agnes and gave a curt nod. She raised the pistol away from the manâs head.
âGet on your way,â Daniel said.
The man scrambled to his feet. Clutching his greasy hat to his head, he took off into the woods as if the hounds of Hell were on his heels.
Daniel wiped the blade of his sword on a grassy tussock and restored it to his scabbard. He secured the placid bay mare and turned to Agnes.
âYouâre hurt.â
She raised shaking fingers to the cut on her neck. âItâs only a scratch.â
âLet me see.â
Lifting her chin, he narrowed his eyes as he scrutinised the cut.
âLet me just clean it a little. Iâm afraid there is blood on your collar.â
From a pocket inside his jacket he produced a square of neatly laundered cambric edged with lace and pressed it against the cut, wiping the trail of blood that led to her throat.
âHold that there for a moment. Itâs almost stopped bleeding,â he said.
âWhatâs this?â she enquired, holding out the pad of cambric, now stained with her blood.
âA kerchief. Theyâre the height of fashion in Paris.â
Her eyes widened. âYouâve been to Paris?â
He smiled. âAnd met the King of France.â His fingers closed over hers, returning the pad to her neck.
âItâs too dainty for your taste,â she said.
A smile twitched his lips. âA lady gave it to me,â he said. âA keepsake.â
She pressed the cloth against the wound, her gaze dropping from his. âI see.â
His fingers circled the chain of the locket that the villain had pried from her neck. His touch sent a shiver down her spine.
âA pretty piece,â he said. âIs it special?â
Agnes snatched it from his fingers, stowing it away out of sight beneath her collar.
Daniel stepped back and studied her for a moment. âNone of my business, apparently?â
âNone!â
âSo in addition to the use of a pistol, did your brother teach you that interesting manoeuvre, Mistress
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