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He was a complete ruffian. He wore a wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his eyes and a greatcoat made of oilskin, and sported what must have been several days' growth of beard. His boots were dusty and worn as if he had already traveled a good distance and had even farther to go. He certainly didn't appear to be anyone's champion, except, he had become hers.

The driver's coarse suggestion had shocked Elise, and she shouldn't have been. Wasn't this the reason gently reared young ladies needed to be chaperoned? To keep them from men's unsavory lust?

Except Elise had always believed that if any rude fellow dared to make a disrespectful comment to her, she would crush him with one cool look. She'd even practiced it in her looking glass.

However, in that moment, instead of being disdainful, she had been so astonished by what he had suggested—and she wasn't completely certain that women actually did that to men? It sounded rather distasteful—that she'd frozen. Her. The one who was never at a loss for words. The worldly Lanscarr sister.

That was the moment the ruffian had interfered and entered her life.

He had approached the vehicle just as the driver had made his demand. Upon hearing it, or perhaps upon seeing the shock on her face, the newcomer had clapped a heavy hand on the driver's shoulder. In a low, gravelly voice, he had said to Elise, "Climb inside the coach."

She'd hesitated.

"Go on," he'd barked.

This time, Elise had obeyed.

The door had shut behind her, and then there was a thump as if something, or more like, someone, was shoved against the coach. Words were spoken but the ruffian's voice was so low, Elise couldn't make out what was being said.

Then, the door had abruptly been yanked open as if the ruffian didn't realize his own strength. He'd climbed aboard without comment, the coach leaning in his direction. He'd settled himself heavily on the seat as if exhausted. His long legs took up most of the space between them, sending Elise scooting as far away from him as she could, literally squeezing herself in a corner.

She covertly studied him. He'd removed his hat and rubbed his leather-gloved hands over his jaw as if tired. His hair was dark and in need of a barber. He didn't even glance in her direction. Instead, he slapped the hat back on his head and closed his eyes, dismissing her completely.

Elise didn't wish to talk to him. She would prefer to ignore him. Except, there was something too, well, large about him. With those broad shoulders, it had probably been effortless for him to toss the burly coachman around.

He also smelled of gin or perhaps rum...and manliness. His scent. It swirled in the air around him.

Still, she knew her manners. "Thank you," she had whispered. In response, he'd pulled the brim of his hat lower over his eyes.

Elise gathered the hood of her cloak around her face. She could be aloof, too.

And then the driver had shouted at the horses, the Mail Guard had blown his horn, and they had been off—leaving Elise alone with her thoughts...and her doubts.

In truth, she needed to guard against her fears. Any wavering of her intentions to reach Ireland would see her back to her sisters, Gwendolyn and Dara, and her great-aunt Tweedie. She didn't think they'd learned she had run away yet. Last night, when Elise had slipped the money for her trip from the carved wood box where Gwendolyn kept the sisters' personal funds, she'd left a note promising she would pay back every penny. She wasn't certain how yet, but she would honor her word. She'd also asked them to not worry. She would be fine. Since they all now lived with Dara and her new husband, Michael Brogan, a week could possibly go by before the box was touched. As to her absence, she had been spending so much time as her friend Lady Whitby's guest, they would assume she was there.

Elise also worried about her reception at Wiltham. It might not be a welcoming one. After her father had been declared dead, her cousin Richard had inherited the house and grounds. Richard was not fond of any of the Lanscarr sisters. He thought them a burden and they thought him a ninny.