I was just riding on my way to my country estate. I had a groomsman with me. God forbid that I should be allowed to wander off by myself. You'd think that at nearly twenty five I'd be free to wander where I would but I have responsibilities as I am incessantly reminded, and need to be available and escorted.
We were halfway between a couple of towns, miles from anywhere, when we heard the shouting. I sped up to see what was going on, moving even faster when I heard the clash of swords. There was a coach stopped in the middle of the road with some men fighting next to it. At least, until I appeared on the scene they had been fighting. Now the combatants were strewn round on the ground, down for the count from the look of it.
I dismounted and approached the scene, Jack hastily following me, telling me to stay back while he investigated. Sod that. I'd see for myself what was going on.
The men from the stage were easily spotted, being in standard livery. Two outriders and the driver, all of them dead. The rest of the men, five in number, were obviously outlaws, waylaying a stray coach. They'd obviously waylaid the wrong coach because, although outnumbered, the outriders had fought well, killing the outlaws before dying of their own wounds. Two to five heralded some decent skill. (I didn't count the driver because from the look of his skull he was blown off the coach as a means of stopping it.)
Jack strolled over to the coach to see if anyone was home. He glanced in, held up his hands and back-peddled rapidly.
"Ah, Lord James, maybe you'd better attend to this," he said quickly. "Ladies inside."
"Be at ease, ladies," I called. "Help has arrived and we're friendly."
I opened the door of the coach and looked in. There were two nervous ladies inside, obviously a Lady and her maid.
"I'm Lord James," I said. "To whom have I the pleasure of speaking, despite the unfortunate circumstances?"
The two women looked at each other and then the woman I took to be the Lady took a deep breath and visibly rallied.
"I am Lady Dianne," she announced. "This is my maid, Millie. We were on our way home when we were accosted by these ruffians. How are my people?"
"Unfortunately your men are dead. They did, however, manage to account for what appears to be all the ruffians. If you and your maid will just sit tight for a little longer I and my man will tidy up the scene. I take it that you'd like the bodies of your people stowed in the back of the coach so that you can take the, home?"
Lady Dianne gave a sad little nod and I left her there while Jack and I got to work. Stowing the outriders and the driver in the capacious storage area at the rear of the coach was simple enough. Then we addressed the bodies of the bandits.
Jack did a quick search of the bodies but found nothing of interest. If he found and kept a few coins then he was welcome to them. After that we took the bodies and threw them into the undergrowth under the trees. We'd let the authorities know where they were and they could do what they wanted, if anything. We returned to the coach, one of us on either side.
"Lady Dianne, can either of you drive a coach?" asked Jack before I could say anything.
"Well, yes, I can," said Lady Dianne. "The driver often let me take the reins. "I'm quite a good driver. Why?"
I gave Jack a nasty look but knew I wasn't going to win this one.
"We'll let you drive it home or to the next town. Your choice," I said.
"Oh. I thought that you'd probably want to drive it for us," suggested Lady Dianne.
Jack laughed. "He does, but don't you let him. I'm not saying he's the worst driver in the land because I haven't seen all of them. He's just the worst driver I have seen. If you want to reach your destination in one piece do the driving yourself."
"Oh, come on, Jack," I protested. "I'm not that bad."
"True. You're worse," agreed Jack.
Really, it was so unfair. None of the accidents that I'd had were my fault. Well, maybe one or two, but that sort of thing could happen to anyone. Is it my fault when a wheel falls off? Apparently, according to some obviously biased onlookers.
"If you and your maid would step outside now we'll help you up onto the driver's seat," I said, opening the stage door while Jack was doing the same to the door on the other side.
I helped Lady Dianne alight, holding her arm like a true gentleman.
"Just walk for a few moments," I said. "It'll help you relax and then you can be on your way. We will ride alongside, naturally."
- - -
For his part Jack had helped the maid down on his side of the coach.
"I'm Jack," he told her. "And you are?"
"Millie," she said with a smile, "and if you call me Maid Millie or Millie the Maid I will hit you."
"Millie it is," he agreed. "Anyway, Lord James said to make sure I help you relax before you begin the arduous task of driving the coach."
"I won't be driving. Milady will."
"Which will probably be even harder so total relaxation is essential. Just lean back against the coach for a moment and breathe out slowly."
Millie leaned back against the coach but instead of breathing out she gasped.
"Hey, what?" she exclaimed as Jack bent down, took hold of her skirts and lifted them high.
"Just hold these," he said, pressing them into her hands.
As soon as she had hold of them Jack had bent down and was removing her small clothes, causing another shocked gasp.
"What do you think you're doing," she demanded. "You stop that or I'll scream."
"If you scream then Lady Dianne will probably come around to investigate," said Jack, pushing his trousers and small clothes down. "Would you really be crass enough to expose her to this sort of thing?"
"You wouldn't!" exclaimed Millie, looking down at his erection.
"The way of a man with a maid? Of course I will."
Jack's knee was pressing between her legs, forcing them further apart. A hand reached between her legs, rubbing and teasing.
"Are you a virgin?" Jack asked.
"None of your business," snapped Millie, glaring at him.
"Ah, Millie, seeing I'm about to have a much closer acquaintance with you it probably is my business if you are. If you're not it won't matter."