Page 2 of Seducing the Knave

She wouldn’t give up so easily. She’d only just begun.

The sound of carriage wheels on cobblestone drew her attention back to the window just as an elegant private carriage rolled to a stop in the small courtyard. It was painted a bold green and black and the crest on the door looked slightly familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it.

Holding her breath, she stared intently through the murky dawn as the carriage door opened before the liveried groom even had a chance to assist. A gentleman wearing a greatcoat and top hat emerged, stepping to the cobblestone in swift, efficient movements. He paused briefly to look around—first one way, then the other—as though assessing his surroundings. Then he said something aside to the groom before giving a short laugh and clapping the man on the back.

Elvina had never seen a gentleman act in such a way toward a servant—with such a familiar manner. And his stride, as he headed toward the door of the inn, was far too long and easy to be that of a true gentleman. Where were the stiff, straight shoulders? The measured steps? The arrogant head tilt?

The newcomer sauntered into the common room with the same bold nonchalance she’d witnessed through the window. More than curiosity and her pressing incentive to find someone willing to take her to London had her studying the gentleman rather intently. She couldn’t help but sense something strangely...strange about him.

He was young—mid-twenties, she’d guess, which was still a number of years older than her own twenty years—and unexpectedly handsome in a careless sort of way with caramel-colored hair that fell in a haphazard fashion over a sturdy brow. His jaw was strong and square and he possessed deep-set eyes beneath slashing brows that angled slightly upward toward his temples. Beneath his black greatcoat, his eveningwear denoted wealth and refinement and was unexpectedly formal.

Despite the early morning hour, it was obvious that he’d left an important party of some sort when he’d begun his journey. That he hadn’t taken the time to change into something more appropriate for travel suggested he might be in a bit of a hurry.

When he paused in the entryway to remove his hat and scan the room just as he had the courtyard outside, Elvina got the impression he saw far more than most with that single sweeping glance. There was an odd sort of calculation in the otherwise careless action. As though he were instantly assessing everyone in the room. Despite his oddly casual demeanor, his gaze was that of a man who held total dominion over himself and his world. A man who answered to no one but himself. A king. A czar.

And just when she believed she’d passed beneath his notice, his gaze flickered sharply back to where she sat alone by the window.

A chill slid down her spine and she tensed before remembering she was safely concealed by her cloak. There was no way he could see her face as shadowed as it was beneath her hood and she kept her head turned slightly away from him so he wouldn’t guess she was watching him. Yet, she felt as though he saw right through her facade—that he saw through everything.

Then he glanced away with a smirk curling one corner of his mouth.

She was tempted to be insulted by the man’s reaction until she realized the futility of it. What did she care what the stranger thought of her cloaked and solitary form?

Yet, with a covert gaze, she continued to watch him as he turned toward an empty table not far from her own. Striding through the room, he seemed to both ignore and take note of every person he passed. Anyone he happened to make eye contact with quickly lowered their gaze or turned their attention elsewhere. Without saying a word or doing anything overt at all, he seemed to have taken command of the entire room.

Reaching the empty table, he tossed his hat to its surface and lowered himself to the chair tucked into the corner where he had a full view of the room. Within seconds, a buxom barmaid nearly tripped over herself to reach his side.

“Good mornin’, sir, er, m’ lord?” The serving girl stammered her way through the greeting, obviously flustered by the man’s strange but distinct air of power. And his somewhat sculpted handsomeness, no doubt.

The gentleman gave a teeth-flashing grin as he leaned toward her to murmur something that had her blushing furiously as she glanced around in a furtive manner.

Elvina rolled her eyes. Though she’d never had a debut, one didn’t need to be out in society to have heard of men like him. A rake. Unconscionable, obviously.

Making a clear effort to collect herself, the serving woman noted in a flirty tone, “Can I fetch ye something to break yer fast? We’ve a hearty sausage pie if you’ve a good appetite.”

Another flash of teeth. “I do love warm pie.”

He kept his voice low and the tone was sort of smoky and dark. For some reason, his reply caused the maid to giggle furiously behind her hand.

Elvina couldn’t comprehend what was so amusing, but her curiosity was sharply piqued by the odd intonation of the man’s speech. He did not speak like a member of the peerage. In fact, he sounded a lot like one of their old grooms who’d grown up in London’s rough East End. Certainly not how she’d expect a man to sound when he dressed with such sophistication and traveled in a liveried and crested carriage.

How odd.

Doing her best not to appear to be eavesdropping, she had to strain her ears as the barmaid lowered her voice to a rather intimate, hopeful tone, “And will ye be stayin’ with us a while?”

“Afraid not, luv. I’ve got to be getting back to London and just stopped in for fresh horses and the pleasure of a hot meal.”

Elvina failed to hear the maid’s reply as her heart started thundering in her ears.

Was this her opportunity? This irreverent rogue?

Could she really consider putting herself in this man’s company for the remainder of her journey to London? He was an utter stranger who was clearly not at all what he appeared to be.

But if she didn’t seize this chance, there was no guarantee she’d get another. And every minute mattered if she were to successfully evade Jasper until she determined a more permanent solution.

Maybe she wouldn’t have to endure the man’s company. Perhaps she could convince him to let her purchase the use of his carriage, leaving him behind to continue some other way?

As soon as the maid sauntered away from the gentleman’s table with a deep swing of her generous hips and a coy glance back over her shoulder, Elvina stood. Giving a tug on the hood of her cloak to ensure it stayed in place, she stepped forward in a focused stride. A stride that threatened to falter when the gentleman casually tilted his head to watch her approach with those intent and piercing eyes.

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