English Countryside, 1804
Rose loved the summer months when it was warm and the flowers bloomed in full. It was her first summer as a grown woman, now eighteen and she was allowed to attended local parties and balls. It was her season! Her mother and father were often busy with her younger sisters to notice her. She would ride all day in the countryside without them worrying for her.
The cook was fixing her some afternoon tea and sandwiches when she heard shouting and cries. Cook dashed away leaving Rose alone. Concerned, Rose looked out the window. She saw her father in rage as a man in black rode away with a sack full. Had he stolen items? The man shot his pistol up in the air.
Cook return looking dim. "Blasted highway men. Took some of your mother's fine silver spoons and candle holders."
Rose was shocked. "A highway man"? She had heard many stories about them.
"Aye, nothing but common thieves." Cook muttered.
Rose finished her tea in silence, thinking about that highwayman. Maybe she should see why he kept coming back and stealing from them. After all, she was now a lady and should help protect her family. Rose headed to the stables and fetched her horse while watching her father and mother yell at the footman. She rode off in a hurry as she heard her father call her name.
The dirt road was silent. Ravens flew in the sky above. She followed the newest tracks down a few miles and then stopped as the ended to a forest trail.
Her horse was getting spooked. Rose calmed her horse and decided to follow the new path. The forest was silent and lushly green. It was very pretty. She heard another horse ahead and stilled. Listening she felt she was being watched now. Her heart pounded. She turned her horse around and began to ride off when another rider pulled out in her path. He was all in black, and his hat shadowed his face. He pointed a pistol at her.
Who are you"? He asked her.
She did not know what to do. "I, I was curious. I mean you no harm, sir."
His lips curled into a grin. "Curious"?
"You are a highway man."
"Ah, yes, I am. I live on riches the rich can spare."
She felt tension in his voice. "Please let me go."
"I know who you are, miss. You are daughter to Lord Aston." He said and lowered the gun.
"Yes, I am Rose Aston." She said.
He took a good look at her and thought she was a lovely little thing. Copper red hair and deep brown eyes. And the lushest mouth he had seen and wanted it on his body. "If you go, you will not say a word we have met." He warned her.
Rose swallowed and nodded. "As you wish, sir."
He chuckled. "Off with you then."
She was let pass him and looking back at him just once she saw his handsome face was no longer shadowed. She smiled softy and rode off.
Griffin Mallory sat in his small worn down cabin deep in the forest as the fireplace crackled. The night was rainy and his cock had been hard ever since he had seen Miss Rose Aston today. He groaned and took a drink of brandy. She was a pretty little thing he wanted under him in his bed.
Griffin rarely seduced well-bred ladies. Rather he went for pretty tavern wenches and farm maids. But this one... she got under his skin. Maybe she needed to know what it was to be loved by a real man. No doubt she was to be married to some wealthy arse. And he wanted to be the man to take her first. After all, she could help him retake what was once his.
Smiling, Griffin finished his brandy and stood to put on his jacket and hat.
