Something big and dark stepped in front of Eliza. A man. She sidestepped but he was quicker.

His arm wrapped around her. She looked up to see Papa’s security detective. The tall one who’d been watching her earlier. Instantly Eliza relaxed. She was safe with him.

The detective’s attention was focused behind her. He said nothing and his expression remained neutral. From her vantage point, however, she could see the detective’s free hand rested on the revolver strapped to his side.

“Let her go—she’s mine,” Ben shouted as he caught up to them.

A moment passed, just a second though it seemed longer, and then the larger man spoke. “I doubt she knows that.” The detective paused to sweep his gaze over Ben before he looked down at Eliza. “No, I’m sure of it. Now go.”

Ben faltered a moment and shook his head. His attention went to the detective. “Eliza does this, you know. She pretends disinterest and then changes her mind. Just when it appears she will commit, she runs. Then she comes back.”

When the detective did not respond, Ben turned his gaze to Eliza. “You always do. So when it happens again, I’ll be waiting. But just know that I won’t wait long.”

With that warning, or what she figured he thought was a warning, he stormed off. Eliza watched him disappear inside River House and then exhaled a long breath.

“Thank you,” she told the detective as she stepped away. “He’s harmless, mostly, but very annoying.”

“I can see that.” The detective nodded toward River House. “It’s best you go back inside now. Unless you think that fellow will make a scene.”

“I have no idea what he’ll do,” she said as she removed her mask and adjusted her hair. “But I would prefer to just go home. Would you mind?”

The man seemed at a loss for an answer. His mask remained in place beneath his hat, and his beard covered his chin so she could not see what he looked like. But there was something in those eyes.

Something distantly familiar. And oddly unfamiliar.

“My partner and I are under orders to remain on-site together,” he finally said. “I’ll have him check with your mother to see if she is ready to leave.”

“I can save you the trouble. She is not.” Eliza shrugged. “What are your orders when my mother and I are not together?”

Again he looked perplexed. “Actually, miss, that has never happened, so there are none.”

The truth of that statement stung. She and Mama had done everything together for the past two months. Any visit Mama made, Eliza went along. Any entertainment or ball, lecture or luncheon was attended by the both of them.

No wonder she was pining for Texas and her horse.

An idea occurred. Eliza grinned and set off walking.

“Miss,” the detective said, “where are you going?”

She decided not to answer. Long ago Eliza had learned that sometimes it was best to act first and apologize later if necessary. The policy hadn’t always served her well, but tonight she could see no other option.

The detective had no trouble keeping up. But then, he was a head taller with legs that were unencumbered by a ridiculous ball gown. By the time the carriage house and stables neared, he was wise to her plan.

“Oh no,” he told her. “You’ll need to come with me back into the house now, miss. I’ve got orders to keep you safe tonight and to deliver you back home in one piece, and I intend to do that.”

“I have no intention of impeding you in your assignment.” Eliza offered the poor man a grin. “I also would like to return home safe and in one piece. The difference between us is when that will happen.”

The groom, a young man named Étienne whom she recognized as the cook’s eldest son, met them at the stables. Eliza leaned in and made her request and then watched the boy hurry away.

“Miss, truly, whatever it is you’re about to do, you cannot do it.” Moonlight slanted over his worried features, and for the first time since he’d saved her from Ben’s temper, she wondered what was under that mask, the hat, and the beard.

Though her fingers itched to snatch away at least the two things she could remove—the hat and mask—Eliza decided she would be making enough poor decisions tonight without adding another to them.

Wandering out alone at River House was something she’d done without thinking as a child. Looking back, however, she was never truly alone here in Louisiana. There was always a governess, a member of the staff, or one of her grandfather’s or her father’s men lurking about to keep her from harm.

Another reason why Texas appealed. The ranch was the only place Papa believed her to be truly safe. Thus his hired hands were kept busy minding their own tasks rather than minding the ranch owner’s daughter.

Étienne returned leading two horses. “I wasn’t sure which was which,” he said.

“Neither of them belong to her,” the detective said. “They are the property of my employer.”

“Apparently I am as well; thus I will have the roan.” She deliberately chose the horse she’d seen the irritating detective riding earlier. “Étienne, help me up.”

“Étienne, you’ll do no such thing,” he told the boy.

“Ignore him,” she said. “He has no authority to make decisions for me.”

“I have the authority to make decisions on behalf of her father.” He moved to stand in front of the horses, his attention fully on Étienne. “I will have the reins, please.”

Étienne quickly complied and then disappeared into the stables. The detective turned the horses back toward their stalls.

“Fine,” Eliza said. “If you will not allow me a horse, then I will have to find another way home.”

“Groom, come and get these horses,” the detective called.

She set off walking down the path that led to River Road. It skirted the grounds and kept her away from the main house and the chance of seeing Ben or her mother while she made her escape.

Attempted escape, as it turned out, for a moment later, she heard the sound of hooves behind her. Eliza ducked into the nearest foliage and was immediately rewarded by catching her sleeve on the thorns of one of Mrs. Hebert’s prize rosebushes.

The detective, now on horseback with his partner’s horse trotting behind, stopped just shy of where she was caught and looked down at her. “I can offer a better alternative to your thorny situation.”

She opened her mouth to offer a sarcastic response. The answer died in her throat as she moved and was yet again stuck, this time in the posterior.

“I didn’t realize security detectives were allowed to be funny,” she said as she reluctantly nodded. “I will accept your help.”

He landed on the ground in one swift move and studied her. “We are trained to respond to a variety of situations,” he told her. “Humor sometimes helps.”

“It isn’t helping at this moment,” she told him.

“Be still,” he commanded. “I am giving you the reins to the horses so I can use both hands to remove you from the rosebush. If you make any sudden moves or loud noises, they’ll spook. Then, depending on whether you’re still holding the reins, you will either come out of those bushes faster than you’d like or we will be chasing horses in the dark until we catch them.”

He stood there, tall and dark, menacing and still a little endearing. “I prefer we do this my way, but it all depends on you. I don’t see you as a rule follower, miss.”

Eliza squirmed. “I’m willing to try if it gets me out of this predicament.”

“All right,” he said evenly. “The rule is to do as I say. Nothing more and nothing less. Hold tight to the reins.” He handed them to her, and the horses shuffled a bit before settling again. “Now wait just a minute while I move the branch you’re caught on.”

“Be careful,” she warned him. “Those thorns hurt.”

He looked up from his work long enough for his eyes to collide with her gaze. “Unlike your gloves, mine have a purpose.”

A moment later, the branch was no longer jabbing her. “That’s already better,” she told him.

“Now take a step forward.”

She did and felt something snag her dress. Eliza swatted at it out of instinct and was rewarded by a yelp from the detective.

“Why did you do that?” he demanded, blood trickling from a wound that slashed across his cheek just above his beard.

The horses protested but she held the reins tight. With her free hand, she used the back of her glove to swipe at the wound. “I’m sorry. I reacted. I shouldn’t have.”

Again the detective looked as if he would respond and then seemed to think better of it before going back to the task at hand. A few minutes later, that impediment was removed too.

“Okay, step carefully forward. Slowly,” he said against her ear. “I think I’ve got you unstuck.”

Eliza did as he said and found she could easily walk away from the branches without being caught again. “Thank you,” she told him when he stepped in front of her. “Now can we go home?”

He stood there looking every inch the security detective that he was. In that moment she was absolutely sure he was the man who had been watching the house from across the street earlier today.

“Not until your mother is ready to leave.”

“Tell me your name,” she said in hopes she could turn the conversation in her direction.

The demand failed to distract him. “No.”

“Then at least take off your mask.”

Again he merely said, “No.”

She shrugged. “All right. Suit yourself. It just doesn’t seem fair that you know who I am but your identity is a mystery.”

He stood there saying nothing. Waiting him out crossed Eliza’s mind, but she was far too interested in leaving River House and going home to endure any sort of exercise in patience.

So she thrust the reins to one of the horses into his hand. “Fine.”

“The other one,” he demanded.

“Sorry,” she said as she hitched up her skirt just enough to put her foot into the stirrup and climb into the saddle.

She was off. The horse wasn’t hers, but it was a well-trained beauty that swiftly adapted to her commands. Together they traversed the path that followed the river until River Road appeared up ahead.

There the path widened and an irritated security detective appeared in her peripheral vision. A moment later, he was beside her.

Eliza didn’t have to look at him to know he was displeased with her. She also didn’t care.

It had been far too long since she had been on horseback. Far too long since she gave a good horse free rein to race across the land toward someplace she wanted to be.

Toward home. Or at least the next best thing.

So Eliza did just that. Somewhere along the way, perhaps when she dodged the slow-moving horse and cart just outside of the city, she lost her hairpins, but she never slowed her pace. The detective kept up with her but, to Eliza’s surprise, did nothing to try to stop her wild ride.

Finally, when she reached the gates of her New Orleans home, Eliza reined in her mount. She glanced over at the stranger and found him grinning.

Yet another surprise.

The gates swung open, and she rode through to the carriage house where the groom met them. The detective followed her but remained in the saddle until she handed the reins over.

She looked over at him and laughed. “Did you think I might change my mind?”

“According to your friend, that’s what you do,” he said as he swung one long leg over the saddle and then dismounted.

All her good humor soured. Several responses occurred.

Then the detective reached up to help her down. His hands grasped her waist. Her eyes locked with his. Only then did she consider that the fellow had ridden the entire way from River House with the mask still in place.

Only then did she wonder why.

Eliza reached to remove it and he dodged her attempt. “I want to see your face.”

Something passed between them. Eliza couldn’t say what it was or why it happened, but she knew this moment would remain fixed in her mind for quite some time.

He set her on her feet, and she wobbled so he caught her. “I’m just out of practice,” she told him, though that was only part of the reason.

His hand remained on her elbow, his eyes watching her carefully. It all felt so very familiar.

“Eliza Jane Gentry, what have you done this time?”

She jolted at the sound of her father’s voice, the moment shattered. The security detective took two steps back.

“Papa? What are you doing here?”

Papa stepped into the circle of light. Oddly, he looked more curious than upset that she’d returned home from the ball on horseback in such a bedraggled condition with a masked security detective in tow.

“I’d say I arrived just in time.” He looked past her to the detective. “Does she know?”

He shook his head, his expression unreadable.

“No, I suppose not.” Papa returned his attention to Eliza. “I suppose you’ve got an explanation for all of this?”

Now that was the father she knew. The father she could easily cajole out of almost any irritation he might feel toward her.

“All of this?” she asked innocently. “I am home safe, and that’s the point of having a detective follow me, isn’t it?” She paused only a moment. “And what is it you’re wondering if I know? I just might. I have my sources.”

“Justine doesn’t know either,” Papa said. “And don’t be impertinent. It isn’t how you were raised.” Again he looked past her to the detective. “Anything else I should know about tonight?”

“Why not ask me?” Eliza demanded.

“Because I am asking him.” Papa nodded. “He found her, didn’t he?”

“He did, sir.” The detective looked only to her father, not sparing a glance in her direction. “The subject followed her to the river and tried to corner her when he thought she was alone. I intercepted him and defused the situation.”

“Where is he now?”

“I was alone with Miss Gentry, so I sent him back inside with the idea of alerting my partner so that we could detain him.” He paused. “Unfortunately, Miss Gentry found a horse, and what happened after that, as you can see, is obvious.”

“I’m right here,” Eliza snapped. “I can hear both of you, and guess what—I could also answer questions if they were directed at me.”

“They aren’t, Eliza. In fact, why don’t you go upstairs? I see no further purpose for you to stand out here when you’re in such obvious need of a maid’s attention.”

She stood her ground and stared at her father. “As soon as I find out how long you have been keeping Ben Barnhart away from me.”