Page 68 of His Wife, the Spy
He lifted the vacant seat and retrieved a pistol. Five delicate fingers beckoned for it. He looked over his shoulder and into her defiant stare. She was nowhere near the floor.
“No, Annabel.”
“I will not cower while you hang out the window shooting at people.”
“It’s not that dramatic.” A shot rang out from behind them, proving him wrong at the worst possible time. The carriage lurched forward at Lawrence’s urging, and Frederick returned fire.
“You have more than one weapon, and I am not helpless.” Her face was pale, but her hand was still out.
“Do you know how to shoot?” He put the gun in her hand and watched her nod a little too fast for comfort. He pushed her into the corner of the bench and lifted her feet so her kneeswere bent. “Balance your arm on your knees and brace your back against the corner.” He shoved her down. “Keep your head clear of the window.”
He’d groused to no end when Kit had given him this lecture—as though he’d never considered dueling or having to defend himself.
“Both barrels are loaded. If you fire them at the same time, you’ll either scare the hell out of your target or break your elbow. Either way, you’ll ruin your chance for a second shot.” He lifted the pistol and her hand with it. “Pull the rear trigger first. If you need it, pull the front. They will have to be close, darling. Don’t close your eyes, and don’t hesitate.”
Once she nodded, he retrieved the other pistol and practically fell into his seat as the coach hit a rut in the road. He doused the lantern over his head, braced himself against the motion, and waited.
The world narrowed to pounding footsteps and shadows stretching across the floor. Frederick’s rifle came at regular intervals. He was trying, and failing, to spook the robbers before they reached the coach.
“Remember to breathe,” he said to Annabel as much as himself.
The lanterns grew brighter, gold replacing silver moonlight inside the coach. A shadow loomed over his head, while a hulking figure filled the window nearest Annabel.
Jasper aimed and fired, and the blast deafened him. Annabel’s shot set her wide-eyed face into stark relief. Moonlight flooded the coach as the riders fell back. Before he could move, she scrambled across the seat, braced her arm against the door, and fired again. She flew back against the velvet cushions with a yelp as the pistol fell from her hand.
Her target shouted and fell back out of sight.
“Annabel!” Heedless of the windows and whether the highwaymen were still in range, Jasper leapt across to her and pulled her into his arms. Ragged breaths sawed through her, warming his suddenly cold skin.
Jasper ran his hands over her, praying for nothing wet or sticky. “Are you injured?”
She blinked up at him, frowning.
“Hurt, Annabel,” he shouted. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head slowly, then with more force. Her smile was almost feral. “I’m fine. Though I should have listened more closely about how the pistol would kick.”
Jasper handed her his weapon and retrieved the other from the floor. “I’ll reload. Use that if you need it.”
A wild turn sent them toppling into each other, and trees shrouded them in darkness. Lawrence slowed the coach to a stop. In the quiet, every breath was distinguishable. But no one found them.
“Are you all right down there, my lord?” Lawrence whispered.
“Yes,” Jasper replied. “You?”
“Fine, sir. There is an inn up ahead. Off the route, but out of the way. Thought it would be best to rest the horses.”
“Excellent thinking. Thank you.”
Silence stretched as they wound deeper into the trees on a road that twisted back on itself multiple times. Jasper didn’t dare light the lanterns, and he gave up staring into the darkness trying to make sense of the shapes surrounding them.
He took the almost-useless pistol from Annabel. “I told you to stay out of the windows.”
She curved against him, lifting his arm over her shoulders. “Forgive me, but he had a sword, and I like your head where it is.”
Her arm draped across his waist, and her breathing evened out, deepened. Still, she trembled against him. Or perhaps it was his shaking. Jasper closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of travel and the cries of night birds.
He jolted awake when they came to a halt. The pistol was level with the window and cocked before he recognized Frederick. “My apologies.” He lowered the weapon. “Have we arrived?” Beside him, Annabel swung her feet to the floor.
