The Outrageous Lady — Barbara Cartland

The masterful highwayman stood in the moonlight waiting for outrageous Lady Galatea Roysdon to relinquish her last jewel to his rakish, mocking command.

"But you can not take this!" she protested. "It was my mother's and it is all I have left to remember her."

Then he said in a different tone:

"If I let you keep the ring, you must give me something of equal value."

"I have... nothing else with me..." she began.

Then as she saw the smile on his lips she was very still. He moved towards her and gently turned her face up to his. Softly his arms went around her and his lips were on hers in surprising, sweet ecstasy.

In a dizzy wave of rapture she realized he had stolen her heart!