Leaving the city behind him, Will encouraged his steed to a faster pace, the stallion reveling in the freedom of the race on the road that would take them to Marlborough. The sun burned off the last remnants of the previous evening's storm, beginning to dry the rain-soaked lane. By noon, Will found himself leaving all signs of civilization as the path beneath his horse's hooves began to climb into the foothills lying ahead. Taking in a deep breath, Will enjoyed the fragrance a fresh rain brought to the countryside, marveling at its healing effects. His headache was now a distant memory, and he felt thoroughly rejuvenated leaving the city and its foul odors behind him.

The trees began to close in as he gained the forest, Will scanned the tree line, noting the squirrels and chipmunks that were darting from tree to tree announcing his passage with shrill chirps. Deer shot between the trees attempting to put as much room between themselves and the human that invaded their home. Luckily for them, Will wanted to reach Malborough by this evening and had no time for a hunt.

Something lay in the road ahead, a bit of white against the deep brown of the damp dirt lane. As Will came closer, he could see that it was a pair of ladies bloomers trampled into the road. Riding on, he kept his eyes to the ground wondering how the undergarment had come to be there. The trees around him began to thin until he found himself in a clearing. Wildflowers swayed in the breeze to either side of him, and a herd of deer lifted their heads from their grazing to watch him pass.

When he entered the next thicket, the road told a story that sent a chill down Will's spine. At least six sets of scuffed footprints swept up from the cover of the forest to mar anything that may have been visible in the dirt. Will noted that after a short jaunt, a single horse had darted from the roadway, throwing up clots of grass and dirt in its flight. The strange hoofprints encircled a spot on the road ahead, and Will dismounted to take a closer look. In the places where the tracks stepped onto the softer dirt along the edge of the hard-packed lane, Will could see the impressions better. Will noted the lines around the sides of the prints as if someone had wrapped the hoof with a cloth to quiet the horse's movement. In the middle of the encircled area, there were sunken carriage tracks. Someone had lost their stomach, but Will saw no blood upon the earth. Near the carriage tracks, there were two sets of footprints facing the others — small shallow ones to the right and large deep ones to the left.

A man and a woman had been held up by highwaymen during the storm. Will was sure it was not after the storm because his own footprints sank much further into the road than those he was studying. He also noted some of the flat prints facing the carriage were much larger than the prints made by his own footwear. One distinguishable set of boots facing the carriage drew Will's notice. Unlike the large flat boots, these were much smaller, pointed at the toe and higher in the heel. These prints were front and center just before the markings of the victims. The leader of the highwaymen was either a small man with height insecurities... Or a woman.

Will searched the sides of the road and found that the obscure footprints moved thirteen different directions into the forest. Choosing one set, Will mounted his horse and began tracking the highwaymen. The hoofprints led him up the next rise and down into a valley where the ground soon became rocky, causing him to lose them. Riding in widening circles around where they disappeared, he picked them up again in a spot of soft dirt, leading him straight up an incline and back into the forest. He tracked the path for the better part of an hour before finally finding a makeshift pen where downed trees had been stacked to create fences, the horses trampling the grass thoroughly, suggesting they had been kept there overnight. Dismounting, Will tied his mount's reins to one of the downed trees and began to investigate on foot. A cliff rose to one side of him; the forest surrounded him otherwise. Where would they have made camp?

Will walked around slowly, finding footprints close to the cliff, almost missing the small opening in the rocks. A large slab of rock set against the cliff at an angle partially hid the opening to the cave. Will stepped into the cave and could see that the group had slept here safe from the rain. Turning back towards the sunlight, Will could see the scattered ashes of a fire just behind the slab that hid the entrance.

Returning to his horse, he noted hoofprints that seemed to have been swept by branches in an attempt to hide their passage. They led up towards the rocky terrain that crossed the peak of the mountain, and Will knew his chances of tracking them further were slim to none.

Will was debating an attempt to track them, surveying the suns position in the sky. It was doubtful that he would reach Marlborough before nightfall as it was and if he followed them further into the wilderness, he knew he would not make Marlborough until tomorrow at best. He did not have much food packed in his saddlebags, and he definitely did not have sleeping robes with which to camp out in the forest.

No, he had to turn back to the road and be on his way, for there was still a pirate to see about.

***

Will kicked his steed into a canter. He had ridden hard all day after making his way back to the road. The sun had set hours ago and the crisp night breeze was very welcome. It wasn't often that Will pushed himself to such laborious feats as riding all the way out to Marlborough from the city in one day. Usually, he would have stopped at an inn for the night and reveled in the nightlife to be found there.

Tugging the reins, Will turned up the drive to the estate. He was hungry, he was tired, and he needed a stiff drink. Sniffing the air, Will detected the odor of tobacco.

Drawing closer, Will spotted his father and another man seated upon the veranda. The shadows hid them from his scrutiny, but the glowing ends of their cheroots were unmistakable.

"Father," Will called out, announcing his identity.

The two men came down the steps to the gravel drive to meet him as Will pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted.

His father greeted him with open arms, holding onto him for a brief moment before clapping him on the back affectionately.

" 'Tis glad I am that you made it, Will. May I introduce.." The Duke of Marlborough extended his hand to the man at his side.

"Violet Leaves, I have heard of you." Will cut into his father's introduction, taking a moment to peruse Bitsy's pirate, why the man was absolutely gorgeous, he concluded.

"It is Violet Petals, my Lord, Captain Violet Petals to be exact." The pirate's beautiful brows drew together in a frown, and Will grinned at the knowledge that he was getting under Mr. Bitsy's skin.

"Oh ho, Captain, is it? Captain of what? I have heard that the King took your ship and sent you out here as penance for your piracy." Will lifted a brow and watched smugly as the pirate's eyes changed.

"William Kent!" The Duke scolded harshly, "Violet Petals is a guest in this home. He is a substantial part of the reason why we have your mother and sister are back with us at all. You will apologize at once."

Neither Will nor the pirate broke their tense stare, Will finding he was not finished needling the pirate yet. So far, he was pleased that Violet would at least stand in adversity. Bitsy deserved a man who would protect her... But would he defend her physically if necessary?

"Would you care to test me at swords, my Lord?" Petals needled. "I can assure you that I have earned my previous title many times over."

That he would threaten to may be a good sign, but Will felt he needed to push the man a bit further to see if he actually would, and Will was in no mood for a long fencing match.

"What is your lovely bride doing while you are out here being punished for your crimes, pirate?" Will almost sneered.

The pirate's eyes narrowed, and Will knew he was hitting his mark as the Duke turned red in the face and began sputtering.

"My wife has no reason to be on your lips if you mean to slander her," the pretty pirate replied, his tone belying the tint of red that formed at his ears and slowly spread across his high cheekbones.

"Why, just last eve the King had her dressed up like a lady of the ton and paraded her around for the peers of the realm." Will grinned conspiratorially, leaning slightly towards the pirate. "I danced a thrice of times myself with your sweet little morsel."

No sooner had the taunt left his lips before the pirate's fist struck Will's extended chin and he found himself on his backside in the dirt.

Will sat up and ran his hand across his jaw.

"I must apologize for my son." The Duke turned to the pirate.

"No, your Grace. It is I who must apologize." The pirate assured the Duke.

Will could not help but laugh at the absurdity of the entire situation as he lifted himself to his feet and brushed off his backside. Still smirking, Will decided this pirate had his approval as a suitable husband for Bitsy. "Why are you two apologizing when I am the only one who owes one?"

The pirate smoothed a strand of hair that had come loose from its queue while lifting a skeptical brow, "You apologize?"

"Of course I do. Just because I find your wife delectable does not mean I should say it to your face." Will held his hands up before him, "I am joking, my good man. She is as my little sister, Mister Petals. I would know how you felt about her, truth be told."

A short moment passed before the pirate relaxed and a corner of his mouth lifted in good humor. "I hope that satisfied your curiosity."

"More than I expected, Mr. Petals." Will stepped past the pirate, chuckling to himself, and fetched his horse's reigns. He secured the animal to the rail of the stairs, and the Duke brushed past him.

"You can fetch your own cigar and brandy after such rude behavior, young man." The Duke attempted to give his son a stern stare but found it difficult in the face of his son's amusement. The Duke moved up the steps and took his seat once again. The pirate climbed the steps to join the Duke, and once he was also seated, Will made an offering of peace.

"I did dance with your wife last night, Petals." Will left his horses side and followed the men up the steps. "However, all she wanted to talk about was you."

Letting himself into the house, Will crossed the hall to his father's study where he selected a cigar from the Duke's assortment and filled a glass from the brandy decanter. He left the study and heard feminine voices beyond an open door. Genuine happiness brought a smile to his face as he crossed the hall again to the drawing room and stepped inside to find his mother and his aunt seated across a small table from each other midway through a game of gin rummy.

"Aunt Eleanor!" Will greeted his father's sister. "It is a pleasure to see you." He bent to kiss the woman who had filled his mother's place for the majority of his childhood while his mother had been held captive, kissing both of his Aunt's cheeks.

"You look lovely, my boy." His Aunt greeted him affectionately, squeezing his hand while turning her face to accept his tokens of love.

"Mother, " Will turned to the Duchess, once again feeling privileged to even look upon her face. "You are ravishing as always."

"William, my love! I'm so glad you made it safely." Kathleen set her cards down, reaching for her son's face as he bent near.

Will winced for her benefit as she touched his jaw, her hands jerked back quickly.

"What is it, Will? Are you hurt?" The Duchess asked, her concern written on her face as she studied her son.

"Nay, Mother, I am not hurt. That pirate struck me is all."

Kathleen retrieved her cards and laughed. She regarded her son once again from the corner of her eye. "I assume you deserved it?"

"Absolutely." Will grinned proudly.

"Well, run along, dear, and visit with your father. I am about to beat your Aunt for the third time in a row." Kathleen drew a card, played a set, and then discarded. "I would like you to accompany Eleanor and me into town tomorrow. We want to do some shopping, and your father is still such a pain in the... Well, you know how he hates shopping, my dear."

"I would be delighted," Will assured her, pressing a kiss to his mother's cheek before heading back out to the veranda to join the men. Both the chairs being occupied, Will sat on the railing. He lit his cigar and tested his brandy before turning to lean against the post and stretch one leg out in front of himself.

The pirate was the first to break the silence. "I wish to apologize, my lord. I should not have been so quick to anger."

Will waved off the apology with the cigar. "You owe me none, Petals. It was completely my fault. I should have ducked." Turning his head to see if the pirate appreciated his humor, he asked, "Am I forgiven?"

"I suppose you must be," the pirate sighed sarcastically. "My wife thinks highly of you, though I do not see why."

Will lifted a brow and pressed his lips together for a moment. "Me either."

All three men chuckled at Will's admission.

"So you had no idea Bitsy was Alex Hastings daughter when you wed her?" Will asked, still bemused that the shy little sprite was the offspring of such a legendary man.

"No, " Petals replied, focusing on Will, "Elizabeth did not even know herself until just recently."

The pirate turned his attention to the Duke, "Did you know you had what qualifies as a trained assassin under your roof?"

Will tensed slightly; his hand instinctively found the handle of the blade at the top of his boot. Was the pirate insinuating that he was an assassin?

Petals took a sip from his brandy, not in the least bit concerned, as Will looked to his father, Will's confusion echoed in his father's visage.

"When Elizabeth first boarded my ship, it was infested with rats. That only lasted a few hours, however, as she refused to move from a barrel until she had killed them all." Petals laughed and stared off into the dark clearly remembering the scene. "She sat atop that barrel reloading that tiny pistol and firing as quickly as she could, never missing a single critter she aimed at."

Will relaxed, laughing at the mental picture the pirate's words painted.

"And then, " Petals continued, "When the Kingsmen boarded my ship to arrest us, she shot a barrel next to an officer and set a leak to spilling right down his leg. I have no doubt she could have cleaned the deck of the Kingsmen single-handedly had she tried."

All three men were amused, chortling at the pirate's story.

"She always did have a hidden spark in her," Will replied, remembering the countless times he had playfully accosted her in the halls while trying to steal a kiss, also recalling how she would box his ears quite firmly before slipping away.

They conversed for another length of time in good humor before the pirate retired for the evening, the Duke not long behind him. Will sat out in the quiet collecting his thoughts. Remembering the small boot prints from the scene of the hold up earlier, Will let his imagination run with the possibility that a woman led a band of highwaymen along the roads. What kind of woman would choose such a life?