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know. My feet keep reminding me of the distance.”
    His brows came together. “What are you doing out here alone? Who are your parents? What are their names?”
    She sighed and kept walking. “At this rate, forget paying me. Because I have to get to Paris or my cousin might very well give my lead to another. And then where will I be? The theatrical debuts in three days. Three. Which means…I have to be in Paris by tomorrow nightfall at the latest . I have knee-high skirts to be fitted into.”
    “Knee-high skirts?” He shifted in his saddle and let out a whistle between straight teeth. “You certainly are ambitious. I foresee great things for you in the back of some man’s carriage.”
    She put up a hand. “I have officially ceased listening to anything you are saying. If I choose to show off my legs, at whatever price I set, that is my business, not yours.”
    Dismounting with the swing of his long leg, he landed with a heavy thud onto the ground behind her. “You and those legs became my business the moment you stopped me.” He stalked after her and snapped out a gloved hand. “Give me your basket. You and I are going to talk.”
    She turned and lifted an astounded brow. “Have we not been talking?”
    “Only superficially.” Still holding out his hand, he wagged the tips of his fingers. “Give me your basket. I want see what you have in it.”
    She scrambled back, swinging her basket away. “’Tis none of your business what I have in it. Off with you!”
    He lowered his gloved hand, the tails of his coat whipping around his muscled frame.
    Drops of rain spattered her face. “I believe you owe me money.” She presented a hand. “I expect to faint the moment those coins touch my hand.”
    His features and tone hardened. “You are wandering a forest alone without any shoes, are asking me for money and look like you have been sleeping in hay for days. What sort of trouble are you in? Are you on your own? Or did someone hire you to intercept me?”
    She pulled in her chin. “Intercept you? What are you— If you must know, my parents engaged me to a horrid man twice my age and I had no choice but to leave. Unfortunately, I got lost and here I am.”
    His gaze slid to her breasts for a moment, causing him to scratch at his chin. He met her eyes. “Are you wanting to travel with me?”
    The perusal of her breasts aside, she was beginning to wonder if she should trust him. She gripped the basket. “That depends on who you really are. I assume given your casual approach to visually molesting my breasts, coupled with your impeccable use of language and expensive firearms, you must be a merchant of some sort.”
    “No. I am not bourgeoisie . I am well above it.”
    Well above it? There was nothing above bourgeoisie. Nothing except for…
    Her eyes widened. “Are you saying you are of the elite?”
    “Yes.”
    “As in a real aristocrat?”
    He widened his stance. “Yes. As in a real aristocrat.”
    Not good. His kind didn’t like her kind anymore than her kind liked his kind. “That would certainly explain the sour demeanor, the weapons, the mask and an attempt to wear outdated clothing. Are you in hiding?”
    “No. I am merely travelling back from an….engagement.”
    “That required a mask?”
    He swiped at his mouth in agitation. “You are clearly on to me. So what happens next? What should we do about each other?”
    Thérèse hesitated. Either he was not used to making friends or he was not used to people at all. “You appear to be under duress, and while I completely understand, there is no need to take that duress and fling it at me. I share your distrust. This revolution went to muck the moment they started killing people. The things I have been hearing are enough to turn the stomach of even the devil. Did you know the Legislative Assembly oversaw the execution of two aristocratic young men barely a breath over twenty? And they were brothers, no less. It was all maliciously done on the side