Joseph had left the inn at 2:00 a.m., after snatching a few hours’ sleep. His bed had been lumpy, the room damp, and he had not wanted to spend more time rolling about attempting to keep warm, so he was now riding down the road in what could politely be termed “frigid conditions.”

He understood the risks of riding alone at night, and took precautions. His pistol was tucked into the waistband of his breeches, and he carried a knife in his boot. It was not snowing... yet, and while it was cold enough to numb his nose, he enjoyed the solitude.

He could travel by moonlight and sing loudly if he chose to. Of course, he didn’t choose to, as he had no wish to give nightmares to all the creatures slumbering peacefully in their resting places, but it was an option should he require it.

There were no idiots about who believed they had right of way in a lumbering coach, or young fools racing from one point to another to best another young fool. There was just peace, he thought, looking up the road before him.

When had he become so jaded? Life’s lessons and responsibilities, Joseph realized, had a way of honing personality. He’d once been carefree, his most pressing responsibility the folds of his necktie. All that had changed four years ago. Now he was the head of his family, his heart was encased in stone, and life had taken a series of twists and turns that had changed him irreparably.

Rounding the bend, he came to a halt as he saw the figure on the road before him. A woman was walking with a large sack-like bag in one hand, leading a small dog with the other. What the hell was a woman doing out here at such an hour in these conditions? He hadn’t found a lame horse lurking on the roadside, nor a carriage with broken axle, so he had to rule those out as reasons.

She hadn’t heard his horse’s hooves, as he had been walking on the grass. The other reason she couldn’t hear him was due to her singing. Her voice was loud, and like his, unable to carry a tune.

Clearing his throat loudly, then coughing just to be sure she’d heard him, he began to walk his horse forward. She turned to look at him, and let out a shriek, which made the little dog start yipping, and began scurrying to the verge.

“Pardon me, madam, for startling you, but you appear to be walking in the middle of the road.” Of all the things he could have said, Joseph had chosen that one. Not, you bloody foolish woman, have you lost your wits, what are you thinking to be walking about alone at night in winter, which surely would have been more appropriate.

“Oh, forgive me, I had no idea someone was coming.”

Her voice came out shrill and shaky as she hurried to move, dragging the reluctant dog with her. She did not stop until she was pressed against the bushes that lined the road, which left enough room for his horse and a carriage to pass.

“Are you in need of assistance at all, madam?” Joseph said, reluctantly dismounting. He had neither the time or interest to help some fool woman who should know better but obviously didn’t. However, he’d been raised a gentleman, so he would see to it she was all right, and if so he’d leave. As he approached, she backed up rapidly, which now placed her in the bush.

It was dark, and the moon hidden behind the clouds, but Joseph could see an ugly black bonnet, spectacles, and a rather charming bow shape to her upper lip. The top of her head would brush his chin were he to hold her, and why had that thought slipped into his head? He must be tired. Leaning closer, he took a second look, and something passed through his mind, a memory that was gone as quickly as it appeared, and then he could see nothing but the top of her head as she lowered her eyes.

“No assistance, thank you.” The words came out in a rush.

“I mean you no harm, so do not fear me, madam.”

“Please carry on with your journey, sir.”

“Have we met?” Joseph said, because strange as it may seem, there was something about this woman that made him take a closer look. An awareness that he could not remember feeling with anyone before.

“No, we have not, sir.” She had a lisp, it came out when she said sir.

“How do you know that when I have not given you my name, and you will not look at me?”

“I know no one of noble birth.” She tried to retreat further as she spoke.

“There is a bush at your back, madam; pray cease trying to become part of it. I have vowed not to harm you.” She stopped moving, but her eyes remained on his boots. “Now tell me how you know I am of noble birth, if we have never met?”

“It was a guess. And as you are obviously a gentleman and I am not a lady, I fail to see how our paths could possibly have crossed.”

Joseph believed himself an astute judge of character, and watching her head turn to look down the road he had just ridden made him think she was expecting someone to appear. If he were to wager a guess, he would say she was running from something.

“You look like a lady,” the gentleman in him felt duty bound to say.

“I am of course a lady; however, you are of noble birth, and as such....”

She couldn’t find the right words to continue with the silly conversation, so Joseph took pity on her.

“How do you know I’m of noble birth?” he asked her again.

“Your horse is quality, sir, as are your clothes.” She addressed the words to his boots.

“And with only a glance you ascertained this, and these things make you believe I am a nobleman? Do men who are untitled not have fine horses and clothes, then?”

She had no answer to that.

Suppressing a shiver, Joseph thought about his bed. He wanted to lie down and sleep for a day. His toes were going numb, and the cold was seeping into his bones. He should simply get on his horse and leave, instead of conversing on this silly topic with this silly woman.

He looked down as he felt two paws on his leg. The ugliest dog he had ever seen was staring up at him. Its face was pointed like a weasel’s, one ear was bent forward the other back, and its eyes were small and beady. The little body was round, and it was wriggling the small stump that Joseph presumed was a tail.

“Down, Daisy.”

Joseph could find no resemblance to the pretty, open-faced little blooms that scattered the countryside for several months of the year in this animal.

“Is that a dog?”

“Of course it’s a dog.” The woman bristled.

“Surely Mugwort would have been a more suitable name,” Joseph added, still studying the ugly beast. “She can never hope to live up to the name Daisy with a face like that, whereas Mugwort is a plant that has little beauty but many uses.”

“That is insulting, sir.”

Joseph watched the young woman hang the large bag from her wrist, and then bend to pick up the dog and hug her close so the creature’s face obscured hers. Unfortunately, this was followed by several small dog grunts which did nothing to change his opinion.

“The truth is rarely pleasant, Miss…?”

“Please continue with your journey, as Daisy and I need to make our next appointment.”

Her words were muffled in the dog’s fur.

“My mind is agog to wonder what appointment you could have at such an hour, madam.”

“That is my business, sir.” She clutched the dog closer, which caused it to grunt again. Her lisp was really rather sweet.

“Come now, tell me why you are out here alone with no companion? Your voice suggests you are a woman who should have accompaniment, and I would hazard you have seen twenty summers at least, suggesting you should have more sense than what you are currently displaying.”

“Twenty-five, and I would thank you to keep your opinions to yourself, as you have no notion of why I’m here or what I am about.”

Her attitude went some way to confirming she was no mere servant. None he knew would speak to him the way she was. Although, in fairness, she did not know who he was... or did she?

“Tell me why you are here, madam?”

“I-I was waiting for the coach.”

“You’ll have a long wait, as it doesn’t come down this road.” Joseph rose up on his toes to stretch his calves. Riding had made them tight.

“What are you doing?”

“Stretching,” he said, doing so again.

She was nervous and frightened, and he suspected frozen to her toes. He could understand the latter, as he had no feeling in his.

“I wish to help you. My name is Lord Ellsworth, will you tell me yours?”

She inhaled, as if his words had been a shock. But why would they be? This entire situation was piquing his interest.

“Are you all right, madam?”

“No.”

“No, you are not all right?”

“No, I do not need your help.”

“What is your name?” Joseph infused some strength into the question.

She fell silent, so he waited patiently, his eyes on her, his body barring her exit to the road.

“Miss... ah... Higglesworth.” Her words came out in a rush.

“Come now, you can do better than that, surely?”

“I have no idea what you mean, my l-lord. Higglesworth is a perfectly fine name, and I’m sure my father would be insulted for your slur upon it. Now if you will excuse me, I will be on my way.”

“You shall ride my horse and I will walk, Miss Higglesworth.”

Of course he had no wish to walk, but his options were limited.

“No, thank you. I have no need of your accompaniment. Good day.”

Joseph watched as she shuffled sideways, her coat catching in the bush. After wrestling it free, she then skirted around him, dog still clutched to her chest, and her sack in the other hand, and made for the road. She wore boots at least. He hoped the soles bore no holes, or her feet would be wet and cold by now.

He returned to his horse and rested his forehead briefly on the heated neck before pulling himself once again up and into the saddle. All he’d wanted was a quiet, gentle ride to his estate, before he was greeted with the mayhem of his brothers’ arrival for the annual Stonleigh ball, which he also enjoyed. Yet still, he’d wanted a small allotment of time to himself, to ponder and solve several problems that he’d left behind in London.

Looking at the woman, he sighed again. He could not in good conscience leave her out here alone, no matter that she believed he should. Tapping his heels into Monty’s side, Joseph urged him forward. Pulling alongside her, he bent and caught the woman under the arms and lifted her up, ugly dog and sack, as well. She was not heavy, so the effort was not great. He then settled her in front of him.

“What are you doing? Let me down at once!”

Joseph winced as she screeched, her body going rigid. “Calm yourself,” he said in that voice that everyone but his siblings took notice of. “I have told you I mean you no harm. However, I cannot let a woman, even of your advancing years, walk about on these roads unescorted at this hour. Actually, at any hour,” Joseph amended. “So if you will not ride my horse while I walk, we will both share it.”

“I will not let you take me up on your horse. How dare you take such a liberty!”

She did not look at him, which he thought strange. If he was yelling at someone, he would do so to their face. In fact, her legs lay across his, but her body was twisted to face forward. Not a comfortable position, one would think.

“I fail to see how you can stop me, and your virtue is safe, as I only have to take one look at Mugwort to have my ardor cooled.”

Joseph smiled as she gasped, too outraged to speak.

“Furnish me with where you have run from, and I will take you back there at once. Only then will I let you down.”

“Please release me.”

“No.” Joseph felt the lick from Mugwort’s rough little tongue on the small exposed band of skin between his cuff and glove, on the arm he had around Miss Higglesworth’s slender waist. He wondered if it had been prompted by gratitude. The ugly little dog was tired, was his guess.

“I don’t like horses.”

Along with the lisp she had a gruff, deepish voice that seemed strange coming from a person of her size. He tried not to notice the slender curves of her body as he pulled her back between his thighs, nor the weight of her breast on the arm he held around her. Her coat was far too thin for such conditions. She was shivering, so he opened his and pulled her back inside. She was like a block of ice. He was amazed her teeth weren’t banging together.

“Th-this is highly improper. I want you to release me. ’Tis not right for you to be carrying me in such a way... in any way. I-I have no wish to be inside your coat at the same time as you.”

“Monty is a gentleman, I assure you.”

“He’s an ugly horse,” she snapped, trying to wriggle free.

“I hardly think, considering what you hold in your arms, that you have even a foothold in this conversation. Nor, may I add, about impropriety, as I see no companion at your side.”

“I am a servant, I have no companion.”

She had him there.

“Will you let me take you back to where you have come from, Miss Higglesworth, please? Surely whatever small misdeed your family or employer has done is not worth running away.”

“I have left one employ, and am making my way to my next post.”

“At two o’clock in the morning?”

“I-I like to travel at night.” Her voice rose and Joseph thought perhaps lying was not something she was comfortable with.

“Without a horse or carriage, you decided to simply leave your employ or home, as I am yet to be convinced of the latter, and walk to the next one?”

“I own neither, as many servants do not.”

Joseph thought of the crossroads he had left behind a few miles ago, and wondered if he rode back there, would she tell him which of the three roads leading off it led in the direction of whence she’d come.

“Your father wants you to marry a wealthy older man?” Joseph said, giving Monty his head as he settled Miss Higglesworth into his arms more comfortably. She smelled nice, something soft and subtle. Not being a flower person, he had no idea what it was. His sister would know; she knew everything about flora and fauna.

“No.”

He looked at the bonnet. What color hair and eyes did she have? There was something in his mind, a recognition that he could not quite call forth. He knew this woman... or something about her reminded him of another.

“Your sister stole your beau and you will never forgive her, nor will you attend the wedding?”

“No. As I have stated, my lord, I am moving to my next position.”

It was a strange circumstance that just minutes ago he had been pondering his problems alone, yet now he had this woman in his arms, he was more than happy pondering hers.

“I would like you to let me down here, my lord. Please.”

“No, I cannot do that.”

“Then will you drop me at the next inn?”

“There is no inn nearby.”

Her spine was rigid, attempting not touch his chest.

“I want to take you back to your home, Miss Higglesworth. Had I not come along, someone with far more nefarious intentions may have.” Now he had her before him, Joseph wondered what he was to do with her if she did not tell him where she came from.

“I do not have a home or family. I have my employment, my lord, as I believe I have already mentioned. I need to make my way to the village of Spindle with some expediency. So if you will not put me down here, then will you do so in a place that will help me achieve that?”

“And what is your employment?”

“I-I am a governess.” She wriggled again, her bottom brushing his breeches. And whilst he still did not have a clear picture of what she looked like, he was certainly very aware of the fact that her small bottom was deliciously rounded. Her hesitation also suggested she was not telling the entire truth.

“And do you enjoy this occupation, because to my mind you seem very young to have been in the position overlong.”

“It is most rewarding,” she said in a stiff voice.

“And who are you running from, Miss Higglesworth?” he said, hoping to catch her off guard.

“It matters not what I run from, my lord, only that I have a place to run to, surely?”

“Are you one of those devilishly well-read females who will argue every point and outwit a poor simpleminded man with words?”

“It is my fondest wish to be just such a woman.”

“Here’s the thing, Miss Higglesworth. If indeed you are going to Spindle, it will take you at least two, perhaps three hours on foot.”

“I—ah... I like walking.”

“As do I. However, not in the dark when the temperatures are cold enough to freeze a person to the road. Now, I am approximately one hour from my home, where I shall soon be knee-deep in brothers. I will take you there if you wish it, and then to Spindle in the morning, which is the next village from mine. Or I will return you to wherever you came. I will not, however, simply drop you on the roadside at this hour.”

“Does a stage run from your village, my lord?”

“Yes.”

“If you will drop me there, then, I shall wait to catch the stage in the morning to Spindle.”

“Miss Higglesworth, it is due to snow. I am cold, and if you force me to drop you in Stonleigh, I will be colder, as I will have to wait with you until the stage comes, because I doubt anyone in the village will be awake to accommodate you at such an hour.”

“I wish you would simply just agree to my request,” she muttered.

“As my siblings will attest, I never simply agree.”

“But I am a servant.” Exasperation was evident in her tone.

“And therefore not worthy of my time or effort?”

He could almost hear her thinking as Monty walked slowly down the road for several steps.

“Yes. I doubt you involve yourself in each of your servants’ lives.”

“If I found them walking about in the early hours of the morning, I may.” Joseph heard the snap of her teeth as he finished talking.

“I will find lodgings for what is left of the night.”

“I doubt that very much, and have already explained why.”

“I will,” she vowed. “People come and go at all times of the night.”

“Very well, I will see you to Stonleigh, and there you may catch the stage.”

“I would rather you let me down now.”

“You, Miss Higglesworth, are ungrateful.”

The silence stretched.

“If you will drop me at Stonleigh, then I shall accept your offer, my lord. Although it does not sit well.”

“But I offer you my gratitude that I am not to spend several more hours on this cold road,” Joseph added.

Her spine stiffened, and then softened. “Forgive me for my rudeness. I am of course grateful, it is merely that I have no wish to inconvenience you further, and this is a highly irregular situation.”

“No inconvenience at all,” Joseph replied in the same polite tone. This woman was no servant, he’d stake Monty on that. He also believed she was not intimidated by his title, just nervous that he, of all people, had chanced upon her. He wondered again who she was.

“Perhaps you could stop, and I will climb on behind to offer you more comfort, my lord?”

“I am comfortable, but thank you for your consideration. However, as my horse has the added burden of carrying both you and your plump companion, Miss Higglesworth, he will need to take at least one brief stop before we complete our journey.”

“I’m not sure why you are intent on abusing poor, sweet little Daisy, when she is but a helpless animal who cannot defend herself.”

Joseph looked around Miss Higglesworth at her ugly pet.

“What possessed you to own such an unfortunate creature? Begging your pardon if my words upset you,” Joseph added.

“I... ah, well as to that, she actually found her way into following me when I left.”

Joseph laughed, the sound loud in the still night air. “You stole the ugliest dog in Christendom, when you could have had a silver tea service, or something of far more value?”

“I would never steal from a person!” She sounded genuinely outraged, which assured him his passenger had not established a career as a thief.

“Will you not give me your first name, Miss Higglesworth? Considering our circumstances and the fact that you are to ride between my thighs for the next hour, I am sure we can move past the usual restrictions?”

She stiffened and then wriggled, and Joseph bit back a moan as her bottom brushed his groin once more.

“But what’s in a name, my lord, when after this ride we shall never see each other again?”

“A great deal, I should imagine, considering the surname you were given. My hope is that your first name has a better ring to it.”

“You insult me, sir!”