“ ’Tis what I am about to tell you. After I had left you, I rode on quite quietly for about an hour, and then came upon Miss Beauleigh’s coach stopped by three blackguards who were trying to drag her to another coach belonging to the gentleman who conducted the affair. So, of course, I dismounted, and went to see what was to be done.”

“You would be after poking your nose into what didn’t concern ye. Four men, and ye had the audacity to tackle them all? ’Tis mad ye are entirely!”

“Of course, if you had been in my place you would have ridden off in another direction⁠—or aided the scoundrels?” was the scathing reply.

O’Hara chuckled.

“Well, go on, Jack. I’m not saying I don’t wish I had been with ye.”