Kirk, and my life,” she said, coming to a decision. Just now it didn’t matter what anyone thought. “I believe my safety is far more important. Or are you afraid of the consequences to yourself should it be considered that you have compromised me?”

“Don’t be foolish,” he snapped. He took up the reins again. “The problem is, this lane leads only to Oakhurst. I don’t know the lay of the land enough to go cross-country.”

“Aren’t you familiar with your own estate, sir?”

“My brother’s estate,” he corrected her. “I’ve not been here in years.” He was quiet a moment, letting his horse amble along the lane. “I don’t imagine you can shoot.”

“Yes,” she said, startled. “That is, I’ve handled a rifle.”

“An unusual skill in a woman.”

“I’m country-bred, sir.”

“Have you ever used a pistol?”

Her lips pursed. “No, but I daresay I could, should I need to.” She paused. “Will I need to?”

“ ’Tis possible. There’s an extra one in my saddlebag. Even I cannot shoot two at once.”

If that were meant to make her smile, it succeeded. “Give it me, then, sir, so I can have it at the ready.” She paused. “Why are you doing this?”

Charles, rummaging in the bag, came out with a lethal-looking pistol and some shot. “It seems the thing to do.” He handed her the pistol. “Can you load it?”

“Of course,” she said, hefting the pistol in her hand. It was lighter than any gun she’d ever handled, though she doubted she’d be able to hold it in one hand as he’d done. Why was he doing this? she repeated to herself. He didn’t even know her.

“Good.” He had loaded his pistol quickly, which spoke of long experience. Too long, judging by the bleak look in his eyes. “Will you be able to load it on the fly?”

“I don’t know,” she said testily. For all her apparent steadiness, the thought of being chased again, of being caught again, terrified her. They had not been particularly gentle, her captors, not when they’d first abducted her, not when they’d held her captive. They’d be less so if they recaptured her. “I am not a soldier.”

He was silent so long she thought he wouldn’t answer. “Quite,” he said, his voice cold, his entire demeanor stiff. “There’s a manor house to the east, I believe. We’ll have to be careful getting there.”

“Do you really fear my abductors will be ahead of us? I thought you winged one of them.”

“I did, but ’tis possible, if they went for the horses.