Which made it a lady’s duty to ensure that never happened.
But, without the constraints of honor, wouldn’t males in the lower classes be even more dangerous?
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, sitting up straight again. “That cannot possibly be true. You would have me believe that a kidnapping, honorless highwayman like you is somehow more trustworthy than a proper gentleman?”
Leopold shrugged. “Like it or not, it’s true. You get what you see with the likes of me, while your fancy lords hide like wolves in sheep's clothing. They may pretend to follow your rules, but I’ve seen enough to know better. Even your father—” He stoppedhimself, but it was obvious he had already said more than intended.
Amelia narrowed her eyes. She didn’t know whether she ought to be offended or suspicious or both. “What about my father?”
“You tell me.”
“He’s not one of those wolves,” she insisted. “My father’s protected our family for as long as I can remember.”
“Like he’s protecting you now?”
Amelia shook her head. She’d already come to terms with why her father hadn’t stood up to this man. He hadn’t stood a chance.
“What are you saying, exactly? That I should be afraid of you?” Without meaning to, she’d shifted so she could see his face. Without the cover of his mask, there was nothing to shield her from the effect of his startling good looks. She wished she was as comfortable as he seemed to be.
“Believe what you want, but your father abandoned you not knowing me from Adam.”
“He didn’t have much choice though, did he?” she asked.
“Did he?”
Amelia went to answer, but then caught herself. What could her father have done differently? Implored him with that box of valuables? Offered himself in exchange for her?
“Would you have left me alone for the right amount of money? Or for jewels?”
The man’s jaw turned hard, uncompromising. “No,” he said.
That was both what she’d expected and not. None of this made sense!
“Why not?”
He leaned forward, and she shrank into her corner before realizing he was only opening a basket that was sitting on theopposite bench. She’d been so overwrought, she hadn’t noticed it initially.
With hardly any fumbling, he located a loaf of bread wrapped in paper, tore it open, and offered her half. “There’s cheese as well, and dried meat.” Watching her, he bit into the bread, tearing the piece off in a manner that made him look rather wicked.
Amelia swallowed hard.
It was the reminder she needed that he wasn’t a gentleman. He was a common thief.
Only, there wasn’t anything common about the hard line of his jaw, or his uncompromising scowl.
When she didn’t move, he grunted, “You should eat.”
“I’m not hungry,” she answered.
“Suit yourself.”
He didn’t bother offering her anything again, but rather, ate his fill and, after wiping his mouth with a linen napkin, crossed his arms, slumped down on the bench, and closed his eyes.
He was going to sleep? After stealing her from her family? As though this were any normal afternoon? He was a beast!
Amelia stared out the window, her heart pounding harder than the rain outside. The door shook on its hinges and the handle wobbled.
Not knowing what her captor might be capable of, she felt an urgent need to escape.
