Choose 2 or three different web sites that a student might access for Essay

Choose 2 or three different web sites that a student might access for information for a paper such as wikipedia - Essay Example Wikipedia uses this amount to buy bandwidth and for some other purposes. Wikipedia is a user- driven website that has a large number of volunteers to add and edit the articles. The founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales calls himself a volunteer too and works for the Wikipedia without any profit. There are only fifty workers in the Wikipedia that manages all the funds that are donated by the users. Wikipedia appeals to ours emotion as the site has no advertisements and the written content is free from any types of ads in between or after or before the article.The founder of Wikipedia believes that the Advertisements doesn’t belong to the Wikipedia and there is no way advertising on the reference page. To engage the viewer, Wikipedia holds almost every type of information and any person of any age can access Wikipedia with the confidence that it will provide the desired information. Either you are a medical student or a commerce student, it provider information about any topic in a d escriptive way. As the site is not for profit site so everyone is attracted by the site and viewing such explained information on any of the topic makes Wikipedia a website that has the solution for any of the question. Anyone can edit or up his writing on a certain topic. Wikipedia checks it and holds the authority to keep it or reject it. Wikipedia always emphasizes on the positivity of the article but if it discusses some personality or some issue it tends to remain neutral and if does not supports the positive characteristics, it does not support the negative characteristics. On all the issues it always tends to be positive but if there are more editors which have a negative attribute for the issue, Wikipedia then stays with the history and with the referenced material. On all other topics Wikipedia depicts positive characteristics and provide a positive message. There is a discussion page for every article in which anyone can discuss about the topic. The discussion page is also reviewed for positive and negative messages that could be utilized for the perfection of the article. The discussion page is for all the users and anyone can comment on the article and anyone can read the other’s messages. Anyone who has the internet access can utilize the information provided by the Wikipedia and use it as the reference material. The site has no passwords or any restriction for any of the user. But in some cases the website has the authority to accept or reject the edited version of any of the article. Such cases include if someone is unable to provide certain references for the articles or there are some grammatical or verbal mistakes in the edited version of any article. Wikipedia is improving day by day. The support given to the Wikipedia by millions of its users help improve the website. Users edit the contents and cite the article accordingly. The edited material is reviewed by the Wikipedia authority and by millions of the users that check the edited content. If there is still something left then it is edited by other user and again reviewed by millions of users. In this way the article becomes a perfect article. Ezinearticle.com Ezinearticle.com is another site that can be accessed for the information. Ezinearticle.com has a number of authors that write article for the ezinearticle.com. The articles on the site are free and can be accessed from any part

Implications of Leadership and Ethics on Organizational Behaviour Assignment

Implications of Leadership and Ethics on Organizational Behaviour - Assignment Example However, unlike most leaders I do not have an outgoing style or a sense of humor. My personal leadership effectiveness is perfect; however, this trait somehow affects it. To ensure that I leverage my strengths, I plan to focus more on past successful leaders and try to determine how they made their achievements. Additionally, I plan to put my strengths in every bit of practice so as to enhance them. Changing my attitude and personality in relation to my weaknesses is the only way through which I can eliminate the weaknesses I have. The only barrier to implementing these plans may be my dedication and determination to implementing them. However, I believe I have all the space and time to implement these development plans. Loyalty and respect is a key value that shapes my leadership behavior. My loyalty and respect to the organization where I work has not only improved my leadership behavior but has also enhanced my social responsibility, and help my motivate employees working under me. In addition, as a value, I often base my decisions on values and not beliefs. I believe values surpass both experiences and contexts. Therefore, the decisions I make for the organization are determined by my values and not beliefs. A reflection on Henry Mintzberg’s literary work â€Å"Beyond Selfishness† brings about the notion of a heroic manager and an engaged manager. For one to be a Heroic Manager they have to depict some form of perfection and excellence. For managers, the drive to being heroes simply involves differentiating themselves, to be who they can be. Managers who act as role models to certain individuals may still be considered heroic managers by those individuals. Being a heroic manager enables one to lead the people who admire them. In contrast, being more of a hero may become counterproductive, particularly if it dis-empowers your subjects. Generally, for mangers, occasional heroic acts may help their subjects feel they can imitate and depend on

Definition of art Essay Example for Free

Definition of art Essay A number of people have asked about the value of addressing aesthetics, the philosophy of art, or the definition of art. The reasoning is that if it is so difficult to define, it must therefor be ultimately subjective, and each person should just determine for herself what it is. Perhaps we all do determine for ourselves the meaning of anything. Because, as in the tree falling in the forest example, the meaning does not exist if it does not exist for me personally. I am allowed to define table or chair any way I wish for myself, but if I hope to communicate with others about tables and chairs, the meaning or definition must be shared. And that shared meaning derives from a combination of (a) acquired meanings from those whom we give credibility and (b) connotations developed from our experiences with tables and chairs. If there were really no way to define art, there would be no way to determine what is art, and art could be anything. Fortunately, art can be defined, although not succinctly in verbal form, as we might define table or chair. We learn the definition indirectly through understanding why works have been labeled art by critics and artists in the past, and directly by understanding the perspectives of those critics and artists. From the standpoint of complete subjectivity, if art can be anything, it is meaningless as a term == art is everything and nothing. There is nothing that is not art, so everything is art. The term art has no shared meaning and has no value in communication, and yet we use it all the time. By what criteria do you determine what is art for yourself? Because it pleases you? Because it pleases your friends, or someone you respect, or most people around you? What criteria constitute pleasing? What does it do to please? From another perspective, other than pragmatic needs, by what criteria do we select a season? Or what material we place in museums? By what criteria do we judge quality? How do we determine good from not good? Whatever criteria we use become our criteria for our aesthetic, which then become, in fact, our definition of our art. It is useful and valid for us to question what those criteria are, to challenge the validity of those criteria, and to constantly explore new criteria to define the art experience. In order to comprehend the options of criteria, the kinds of questions to ask of our criteria, the possible limits of our personal vision, it is worthwhile to explore the explorations of others. Understand that the definition of art and the determination of quality are linked and mutually affected. Alter one and the other is changed. One additional concern is the value in trying to understand how art works have meaning. Once we begin to explore this as artists, our work instantly changes dimension. It moves from the surface to the soul and allows us to refocus on the meaningful.

School Delinquency And Rising Problems Young People Essay

School Delinquency And Rising Problems Young People Essay School delinquency is a rising problem in our schools today. There are a large number of youth who are participating in youth delinquency in our schools. What are some of the problems that cause delinquency in our school? There are a number of reasons for this type of behavior. Poor parenting , children who are in poverty. School bullying plays a role in school delinquency. There has been large scale of gang activity in our school. There are many problems due to delinquency in our schools but it is everyones job to correct the problem. In our society we are faced with different forms of behavior, some good and some bad. The are many different view points, when it comes to how we are suppose to act. What is right and what is wrong is determined by what society except. What society dont except is wrong acts that are also called acts of deviance. Deviance is something we look at as a act that violates our social norm. To understand what is not norm you have to understand the culture of which you live in. Murder, for instance is an act of taking someones life purposely. This is an example of delinquency. An act of such is not excepted by society. In society we have laws, they are design to govern and protect us. These rules give us a guideline to how we must act. The society that we live in is full of law abiding citizens and ones who break laws regular. In our society these law breakers are not only breaking laws in the community but they are introduced to our school system Delinquent acts in our schools are committed by youth. Juvenile delinquency in our schools today has become a major problem. Our schools are not the same safe place to focus on education anymore. Some youth come to school everyday focus on education , ready to become what they are design to be in society. There are some youth who come to school just to participate in delinquent activities. There are many different reason children come to school but the problem occurs when the delinquent juvenile brings his delinquent behavior here. There are many reason that causes kids to become delinquent in our schools. Most reasons start from home. Poverty, a major influence towards delinquent behavior. Poverty is when a family lacks the basic resources that normal families use to survive. Other kids who are furnished with nicer clothes and shoes may appear to be more important to youth who dont have. Kids with more may even tease or down put youth who are not furnished with the basic goods. This type of behavior puts kids in a stressful mind frame. They deal with stress and eventually began to participate in deviant acts to try fitting in with the crowd. Kids who live in poverty are more exposed to crime. They are normally around violence and different crimes. They are exposed to law enforcement in a bad way at early ages. They grow up not trusting law enforcement or even respecting their authority figure. They suffer from bad living conditions, so their main focus is not school but basic survival. It can truly be devastat ing challenge for youth to conduct themselves in a school environment when they have this type of negative exposure. These kids suffer from many health problems , they dont have resources for good medical treatment so school cant possibly be their strong points. Social disorganization is another reason that youth act out in schools. For instance, children who were involved in a house hold with mother and father, who ended up getting a divorce is faced with a major change. Where as both parents being there and they have to adjust to just one causes great stress. These kids normally feel that it is their fault. They go to school and their grades drop, they began to feel like a failure. This attitude can easily give a youth , the I dont care attitude. With this attitude, kids began to act out in school. They may start by simple little deviant acts to fighting in school to express their anger. In households with both parent, a child is more prong to listen to one parent more or even favor one more than the other. In this case if that parent who they favor is the one who leaves, that child is deffinately gonna at out in school. Another factor that can arouse from a broken home is that single parent will most likely have to work. This may even be long hours, taking away social time and time for help with home work. This means poor grades and more time to participate in deviant acts. While these deviant acts are occurring children are spending more time watching tv. A study at Columbia University showed kids that watch at least a hour of tv everyday commit robberies and fights. There are a lot of violent shows on television today. Youth are watching these violent shows and thinking that this behavior is excepted in society. The acts that they see on tv are taken to school where they find themselves in trouble. It can be a devastating things for parents not be able monitor their children properly. Child abuse can lead to delinquency in schools. Parents who abuse their children are not only breaking the law but they are damaging their childs future and well being. Child abuse can be anything from striking your kids to neglecting them. Physical child abuse can be hitting, burning, shaking a baby to hard. This is truly something that teaches a child that violence works. Kids are sent to school who are victims of abuse. They are in pain sometimes and dont know where to turn. The are always stressed out and cant take it out on that parent so the act violently towards their peers at school. They often take on the role as being a bully. They began to tease other kids and called them names. The parents who abuse their kids are taking advantage of someone who the perceive as weaker than them. This same principle applied when their kids take on their role towards kids at school. They pry on children who they perceive as weaker than them. This type of behavior labels kids as school bulli es. This type of behavior leads kids in to believing they can go around an violently do what they want to who they want. Becoming a school bully is not only bad for the child who is doing the bullying but it is bad for the victim. This behavior causes the person who is being bullied to retaliate against bullies creating another violent act in our schools. Alcohol and drugs cause a major effect of delinquency in our schools. Drugs do not have a rightful place but definitely not in our schools. Drugs can be any illegal substance not prescribed by a doctor. The main drug of choice for youth is alcohol. Seventy three percent youth say they have tried it at one point of time in their lives. Youth who use alcohol says , it relaxes them and reduces tension. There are many bad sides to alcohol and youth activity. Most youth who drink alcohol are not properly supervised. They normally hang out late at night and miss school on a regular basis. They performance in school falls shorter and shorter. When they drink larger amounts they act the alcohol act as a depressor. Youth whole attitude changes in school , they may even come to school while under the influence. A youth under the influence of alcohol in schools can cause major problems. Another drug that youth like to take is , marijuana. This drug is a green leafy substance known as pot. This drug contains (THC). To much marijuana can be a major effect to youth react in school. This substance is illegal and should not be around schools. This substance can cause youth to act different in school and bring it on school grounds, definitely an act of delinquency. Steroids are another drug found in our schools today . They are used by school athletes to try and bulk up. These drugs cause youth to gain large amount of muscle mass, but it also causes a great risk. This drug can change the way youth act, they may become aggressive. An aggressive youth in our schools can be hard for staff to manage. Crack is a really dangerous drug. Crack is a substance that is cheap and highly addictive. It can be smoked. A youth who comes into contact with this drug is pretty much damaged for life. This drug actually transform youth into a dying person. Youth who come into contact with it will most likely quit school . In the beginning stages they may be able to go to school but they are guaranteed to steal and commit all sorts of crimes to support their habit. Gangs is another reason for delinquency in our schools. There are different type of gangs .There are social gangs in school who will participate in delinquents acts but their main goal is to get drunk and high. These type gangs in our school are still deviant because they are participating illegal act but there are more serious gangs in our schools. The gangs who dont normally worry about getting high but focus on violence. These gangs dont care who they harm. It could be detrimental for youth to get involved with this type of gang. These gangs in school use there power in school to get what they want. They will threaten other students and dare them to tell. These gangs are controlling the schools because it also offers protection. The old saying, if you cant beat um join um applies. Our school system is full of all sorts of acts of delinquency. There are a number of programs design to make our schools better. D.A.R.E is program design to teach kids and let the know about the dangers of drugs. This program has truly been a success. After school programs have been in effect to aid against delinquency in our schools. There are many approached to helping with this problem of delinquency in our schools. Not everyone household is the same, but we all should have the same goal when it comes to making our schools a place for education not a place for delinquent acts. One major problem to the solution is for everyone to take a good look ourselves and find out what we can do to help this situation. Spending time with your kids and finding out how their days are going. By starting this you can start a trend by letting that child know you care about them. Taking time with your kids, walking in the park and playing with your kids shows them that attention. You must disciplin e them when they are in need. Never let your children be the parent. Our youth need that extra attention in the society we live in. It is very important for us to give them that attention because some drug dealer is standing at the schools playground fence or bus stop waiting to show them that attention that leads to school delinquency. It is not only the schools job, law enforcement, after school program but it is all of jobs when it come to dealing with school delinquency. When I focus on correcting my childs action and making sure they are doing what they are suppose to do, then that is one less problem child in our schools. The correcting of our children in our school system creates a safer environment for us all. Larry Siegel Brandon Welsh Juvenile Delinquency Salynn Boyles Health and parenting , http://www.md.com/parenting/news/20100820 Tim Field, Bully at play time revealed Neil Marr, Bullying News Michele Borba, The Facts Of Bullying

Celtic Culture and the Arts Essay -- Celtic Traditions Cultural Artist

Celtic Culture and the Arts The legacy the Celts and their culture have bestowed upon the face of civilization is powerful and enduring. With their rich and intriguing history, and their complex and beautiful beliefs, they have been a great influence in many aspects of present day life, from their art and innovations, to deeply rooted traditions modern humanity still continues to preserve. It is through the examination of the Celtic culture as a whole, from their origins, tool usage and inventions, social systems, judicial systems, to their intricate spiritual beliefs that one is able to draw a strong sense of unity and connection to these mysterious people from whom most every Indo-European descendant draws their ancestry. The Celts were a people unsurpassed in their skill and endurance as a culture, and even now, at the dawning of the new millennia, their influence and inspiration continues to be felt. The Celts are thought to have originated in the area of what is now Central Europe, primarily east of the Rhine River, such as southern Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, or even so far as the Volga Steppes in western Russia at about 2000 BC (Pennick, 1997). These inhabitants were called the Beaker People, named for their tradition of burying pottery and various artifacts with their dead (Blundell, 1996). By the twelve century BC, they had expanded across the continent until they dominated most of central, western and northwestern Europe. There their culture flourished as they began to settle into an increasing agricultural lifestyle, gradually becoming less nomadic, and dependent of hunting and gathering as a primary means of survival. This is what is widely regarded as the Urnfield culture. The Urnfielders, with their name derived from their practice of cremating their dead, are now thought to be the immediate ancestors of the Celts as they had similar social and societal structures. It has even been suggested that the Urnfielders spoke an early form of Celtic language. The Celts emerged from this lineage at some point between 1200 to 700 BC. The traditional Celts were a result of a mixture of many bloodlines from cultures during that period, ultimately arising from the interbreeding and mingling of of a variety of existing cultures and spiritual practices, eventually developing into the Celtic culture a... ...int, or to ward off the mischievous â€Å"faery folk† or the little people. There still remains an order of Druids, a select group of neo-pagan priests who are dedicated to the preservation of the ancient belief system of their ancestors, the Celts. With more pagan traditions emerging today from former Celtic traditions, such as that of Wicca and Druidry, the world, or so it seems, has never been more fascinated with the Celts. But, like anything else that has the power of endurance, the Celts as a people have changed in every aspect of their lives to adapt with the pressures facing them, and thus, despite the resurgence of Celtic spiritualists, the original beliefs as the Celts once held them are now essentially lost, and will for the most part, remain forever unknown. Bibliography Blundell, Nigel 1999 Ancient England. Prospero Books, London. Eddy, Steve 1999 Timeless Wisdom of the Celts. Hodder and Stoughton Publishing, London. Lavin, Patrick 1999 The Celtic World. Hippocrene Books Inc., New York. Pennick, Nigel 1997 The Sacred World of the Celts. Inner Traditions International, Rochester. Piggot, Stuart 1996 The Druids. Thames and Hudson, London.

We Must Put an End to Child Brides in Turkey Essay -- Argumentative Es

Even though Turkey raised the minimum age of marriage to 17 years of age in 2007, the country currently has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Europe. Although the legal age is 17, under a legal provision for â€Å"exceptional circumstances† a family can apply for the consent of the courts to legally marry off a child who is younger than the established legal age. However, what is considered an â€Å"exceptional circumstance† is rather vague. Although Turkey already has laws in place to protect children, countless young underage girls are married off by their families each year. Child marriage is not just a family issue -- it is a human rights violation and it needs to be addressed as such with the legal circles in Turkey. In 2011, Turkey signed the Council of Europe convention aimed at combatting violence against women, which includes enacting laws that view child marriage as a crime. Even though Turkey is a signatory to the agreement, the rate of child marriages in the country continues to climb each year. Even though families may be aware of the laws regarding marriage, many prefer to avoid those legalities by marrying their children off in religious ceremonies, which are often not reported to the authorities. Therefore, it is difficult to find an accurate account of child brides in Turkey. According to reports, there are an estimated 180,000 child brides in the country. However, this statistic does not reflect the unknown number of religious marriages that are not legal or reported to the state. Some reports place the actual figure as high as one-third of all marriages in Turkey involving at least one partner who is below the legal age of consent. One has to wonder just how the number of illegal and underage marriages... ...egal marriages should be forced, with no exceptions, to accept the legal consequences of their actions. Communities must stop turning a blind eye to this form of child abuse and start speaking out. By depriving a girl of her childhood, her life and her dreams are seen as unimportant. All children deserve an education. They all deserve the opportunity to have financial stability in their lives. Every child should have the chance to experience a childhood and not be sold, traded or bought as a child bride. By law, a child cannot be forced into marriage when they are under the legal age of consent. However, too many have winked and looked the other way for too long as young girls were sent off to new homes as the â€Å"gelin† or young bride. This attitude must change if women are ever to take their rightful place in Turkish society. Anything less is an insult to all women.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter One

Grace Eversleigh had been the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham for five years, and in that time she had learned several things about her employer, the most pertinent of which was this: Under her grace's stern, exacting, and haughty exterior did not beat a heart of gold. Which was not to say that the offending organ was black. Her grace the dowager Duchess of Wyndham could never be called completely evil. Nor was she cruel, spiteful, or even entirely mean-spirited. But Augusta Elizabeth Candida Debenham Cavendish had been born the daughter of a duke, she had married a duke, and then given birth to another. Her sister was now a member of a minor royal family in some central European country whose name Grace could never quite pronounce, and her brother owned most of East Anglia. As far as the dowager was concerned, the world was a stratified place, with a hierarchy as clear as it was rigid. Wyndhams, and especially Wyndhams who used to be Debenhams, sat firmly at the top. And as such, the dowager expected certain behavior and deference to be paid. She was rarely kind, she did not tolerate stupidity, and her compliments were never falsely given. (Some might say they were never given at all, but Grace had, precisely twice, borne witness to a curt but honest â€Å"well done† – not that anyone believed her when she mentioned it later.) But the dowager had saved Grace from an impossible situation, and for that she would always possess Grace's gratitude, respect, and most of all, her loyalty. Still, there was no getting around the fact that the dowager was something less than cheerful, and so, as they rode home from the Lincolnshire Dance and Assembly, their elegant and well-sprung coach gliding effortlessly across the midnight-dark roads, Grace could not help but be relieved that her employer was fast asleep. It had been a lovely night, truly, and Grace knew she should not be so uncharitable. Upon arrival, the dowager had immediately retired to her seat of honor with her cronies, and Grace had not been required to attend to her. Instead, she had danced and laughed with all of her old friends, she had drunk three glasses of punch, she had poked fun at Thomas – always an entertaining endeavor; he was the current duke and certainly needed a bit less obsequiousness in his life. But most of all she had smiled. She had smiled so well and so often that her cheeks hurt. The pure and unexpected joy of the evening had left her body humming with energy, and she was now perfectly happy to grin into the darkness, listening to the soft snore of the dowager as they made their way home. Grace closed her eyes, even though she did not think herself sleepy. There was something hypnotic about the motion of the carriage. She was riding backwards – she always did – and the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses' hooves was making her drowsy. It was strange. Her eyes were tired, even though the rest of her was not. But perhaps a nap would not be such a misplaced endeavor – as soon as they returned to Belgrave, she would be required to aid the dowager with – Crack! Grace sat up straight, glancing over at her employer, who, miraculously, had not awakened. What was that sound? Had someone – Crack! This time the carriage lurched, coming to a halt so swiftly that the dowager, who was facing front as usual, was jerked off her seat. Grace immediately dropped to her knees next to her employer, her arms instinctively coming around her. â€Å"What the devil?† the dowager snapped, but fell silent when she caught Grace's expression. â€Å"Gunshots,† Grace whispered. The dowager's lips pursed tightly, and then she yanked off her emerald necklace and thrust it at Grace. â€Å"Hide this,† she ordered. â€Å"Me?† Grace practically squeaked, but she shoved the jewels under a cushion all the same. And all she could think was that she would dearly like to smack a little sense into the esteemed Augusta Wyndham, because if she were killed because the dowager was too cheap to hand over her jewels – The door was wrenched open. â€Å"Stand and deliver!† Grace froze, still crouched on the floor next to the dowager. Slowly, she lifted her head to the doorway, but all she could see was the silvery end of a gun, round and menacing, and pointed at her forehead. â€Å"Ladies,† came the voice again, and this time it was a bit different, almost polite. The speaker then stepped forward out of the shadows, and with a graceful motion swept his arm in an arc to usher them out. â€Å"The pleasure of your company, if you will,† he murmured. Grace felt her eyes dart back and forth – an exercise in futility, to be sure, as there was clearly no avenue of escape. She turned to the dowager, expecting to find her spitting with fury, but instead she had gone white. It was then that Grace realized she was shaking. The dowager was shaking. Both of them were. The highwayman leaned in, one shoulder resting against the door frame. He smiled then – slow and lazy, and with the charm of a rogue. How Grace could see all of that when half of his face was covered with his mask, she did not know, but three things about him were abundantly clear: He was young. He was strong. And he was dangerously lethal. â€Å"Ma'am,† Grace said, giving the dowager a nudge. â€Å"I think we should do as he says.† â€Å"I do love a sensible woman,† he said, and smiled again. Just a quirk this time – one devastating little lift at the corner of his mouth. But his gun remained high, and his charm did little to assuage Grace's fear. And then he extended his other arm. He extended his arm. As if they were embarking at a house party. As if he were a country gentleman, about to inquire about the weather. â€Å"May I be of assistance?† he murmured. Grace shook her head frantically. She could not touch him. She did not know why, precisely, but she knew in her bones that it would be utter disaster to put her hand in his. â€Å"Very well,† he said with a small sigh. â€Å"Ladies today are so very capable. It breaks my heart, really.† He leaned in, almost as if sharing a secret. â€Å"No one likes to feel superfluous.† Grace just stared at him. â€Å"Rendered mute by my grace and charm,† he said, stepping back to allow them to exit. â€Å"It happens all the time. Really, I shouldn't be allowed near the ladies. I have such a vexing effect on you.† He was mad. That was the only explanation. Grace didn't care how pretty his manners were, he had to be mad. And he had a gun. â€Å"Although,† he mused, his weapon rock steady even as his words seemed to meander through the air, â€Å"some would surely say that a mute woman is the least vexing of all.† Thomas would, Grace thought. The Duke of Wyndham – who had years ago insisted that she use his given name at Belgrave after a farcical chorus of your grace, Miss Grace, your grace – had no patience for chitchat of any sort. â€Å"Ma'am,† she whispered urgently, tugging on the dowager's arm. The dowager did not say a word, nor did she nod, but she took Grace's hand and allowed herself to be helped down from the carriage. â€Å"Ah, now that is much better,† the highwayman said, grinning widely now. â€Å"What good fortune is mine to have stumbled upon two ladies so divine. Here I thought I'd be greeted by a crusty old gentleman.† Grace stepped to the side, keeping her eyes trained on his face. He did not look like a criminal, or rather, her idea of a criminal. His accent screamed education and breeding, and if he was not recently washed, well, she could not smell it. â€Å"Or perhaps one of those dreadful young toads, stuffed into a waistcoat two sizes too small,† he mused, rubbing his free hand thoughtfully against his chin. â€Å"You know the sort, don't you?† he asked Grace. â€Å"Red face, drinks too much, thinks too little.† And to her great surprise, Grace found herself nodding. â€Å"I thought you would,† he replied. â€Å"They're rather thick on the ground, sadly.† Grace blinked and just stood there, watching his mouth. It was the only bit of him she could watch, with his mask covering the upper portion of his face. But his lips were so full of movement, so perfectly formed and expressive, that she almost felt she could see him. It was odd. And mesmerizing. And more than a little unsettling. â€Å"Ah, well,† he said, with the same deceptive sigh of ennui Grace had seen Thomas utilize when he wished to change the subject. â€Å"I'm sure you ladies realize that this isn't a social call.† His eyes flicked toward Grace, and he let loose a devilish smile. â€Å"Not entirely.† Grace's lips parted. His eyes – what she could see of them through the mask – grew heavy-lidded and seductive. â€Å"I do enjoy mixing business and pleasure,† he murmured. â€Å"It's not often an option, what with all those portly young gentlemen traveling the roads.† She knew she should gasp, or even spit forth a protest, but the highwayman's voice was so smooth, like the fine brandy she was occasionally offered at Belgrave. There was a very slight lilt to it, too, attesting to a childhood spent far from Lincolnshire, and Grace felt herself sway, as if she could fall forward, lightly, softly, and land somewhere else. Far, far from here. Quick as a flash his hand was at her elbow, steadying her. â€Å"You're not going to swoon, are you?† he asked, his fingers offering just the right amount of pressure to keep her on her feet. Without letting her go. Grace shook her head. â€Å"No,† she said softly. â€Å"You have my heartfelt thanks for that,† he replied. â€Å"It would be lovely to catch you, but I'd have to drop my gun, and we couldn't have that, could we?† He turned to the dowager with a chuckle. â€Å"And don't you go thinking about it. I would be more than happy to catch you as well, but I don't believe either of you would wish to leave my associates in charge of the firearms.† It was only then that Grace realized there were three other men. Of course there had to be – he could not have orchestrated this by himself. But the rest of them had been so silent, choosing to remain in the shadows. And she had not been able to take her eyes off their leader. â€Å"Has our driver been harmed?† Grace asked, mortified that she was only now thinking of his welfare. Neither he nor the footman who had served as an outrider were anywhere in sight. â€Å"Nothing that a spot of love and tenderness won't cure,† the highwayman assured her. â€Å"Is he married?† What was he talking about? â€Å"I – I don't think so,† Grace replied. â€Å"Send him to the public house, then. There is a rather buxom maid there who – Ah, but what am I thinking? I am among ladies.† He chuckled. â€Å"Warm broth, then, and perhaps a cold compress. And then after that, a day off to find that spot of love and tenderness. The other fellow, by the way† – he flicked his head toward a nearby cluster of trees – â€Å"is over there. Perfectly unharmed, I assure you, although he might find his bindings tighter than he prefers.† Grace flushed, and she turned to the dowager, amazed that she wasn't giving the highwayman a dressing down for such lewd talk. But the dowager was still as pale as sheets, and she was staring at the thief as if she'd seen a ghost. â€Å"Ma'am?† Grace said, instantly taking her hand. It was cold and clammy. And limp. Utterly limp. â€Å"Ma'am?† â€Å"What is your name?† the dowager whispered. â€Å"My name?† Grace repeated in horror. Had she suffered an apoplexy? Lost her memory? â€Å"Your name,† the dowager said with greater force, and it was clear this time that she was addressing the highwayman. But he only laughed. â€Å"I am delighted by the attentions of so lovely a lady, but surely you do not think I would reveal my name during what is almost certainly a hanging offense.† â€Å"I need your name,† the dowager said. â€Å"And I'm afraid that I need your valuables,† he replied. He motioned to the dowager's hand with a respectful tilt of his head. â€Å"That ring, if you will.† â€Å"Please,† the dowager whispered, and Grace's head snapped around to face her. The dowager rarely said thank you, and she never said please. â€Å"She needs to sit down,† Grace said to the highwayman, because surely the dowager was ill. Her health was excellent, but she was well past seventy and she'd had a shock. â€Å"I don't need to sit down,† the dowager said sharply, shaking Grace off. She turned back to the highwayman, yanked off her ring, and held it out. He plucked it from her hand, rolling it about in his fingers before depositing it in his pocket. Grace held silent, watching the exchange, waiting for him to ask for more. But to her surprise, the dowager spoke first. â€Å"I have another reticule in the carriage,† she said – slowly, and with a strange and wholly uncharacteristic deference. â€Å"Please allow me to retrieve it.† â€Å"As much as I would like to indulge you,† he said smoothly, â€Å"I must decline. For all I know, you've two pistols hidden under the seat.† Grace swallowed, thinking of the jewels. â€Å"And,† he added, his manner growing almost flirtatious, â€Å"I can tell you are that most maddening sort of female.† He sighed with dramatic flair. â€Å"Capable. Oh, admit it.† He gave the dowager a subversive little smile. â€Å"You are an expert rider, a crack shot, and you can recite the complete works of Shakespeare backwards.† If anything, the dowager grew even more pale at his words. â€Å"Ah, to be twenty years older,† he said with a sigh. â€Å"I should not have let you slip away.† â€Å"Please,† the dowager begged. â€Å"There is something I must give to you.† â€Å"Now that's a welcome change of pace,† he remarked. â€Å"People so seldom wish to hand things over. It does make one feel unloved.† Grace reached for the dowager. â€Å"Please let me help you,† she insisted. The dowager was not well. She could not be well. She was never humble, and did not beg, and – â€Å"Take her!† the dowager suddenly cried out, grabbing Grace's arm and thrusting her at the highwayman. â€Å"You may hold her hostage, with a gun to the head if you desire. I promise you, I shall return, and I shall do it unarmed.† Grace swayed and stumbled, the shock of the moment rendering her almost insensible. She fell against the highwayman, and one of his arms came instantly around her. The embrace was strange, almost protective, and she knew that he was as stunned as she. They both watched as the dowager, without waiting for his acquiescence, climbed quickly into the carriage. Grace fought to breathe. Her back was pressed up against him, and his large hand rested against her abdomen, the tips of his fingers curling gently around her right hip. He was warm, and she felt hot, and dear heaven above, she had never – never – stood so close to a man. She could smell him, feel his breath, warm and soft against her neck. And then he did the most amazing thing. His lips came to her ear, and he whispered, â€Å"She should not have done that.† He sounded†¦ gentle. Almost sympathetic. And stern, as if he did not approve of the dowager's treatment of her. â€Å"I am not used to holding a woman such,† he murmured in her ear. â€Å"I generally prefer a different sort of intimacy, don't you?† She said nothing, afraid to speak, afraid that she would try to speak and discover she had no voice. â€Å"I won't harm you,† he murmured, his lips touching her ear. Her eyes fell on his gun, still in his right hand. It looked angry and dangerous, and it was resting against her thigh. â€Å"We all have our armor,† he whispered, and he moved, shifted, really, and suddenly his free hand was at her chin. One finger lightly traced her lips, and then he leaned down and kissed her. Grace stared in shock as he pulled back, smiling gently down at her. â€Å"That was far too short,† he said. â€Å"Pity.† He stepped back, took her hand, and brushed another kiss on her knuckles. â€Å"Another time, perhaps,† he murmured. But he did not let go of her hand. Even as the dowager emerged from the carriage, he kept her fingers in his, his thumb rubbing lightly across her skin. She was being seduced. She could barely think – she could barely breathe – but this, she knew. In a few minutes they would part ways, and he would have done nothing more than kiss her, and she would be forever changed. The dowager stepped in front of them, and if she cared that the highwayman was caressing her companion, she did not speak of it. Instead, she held forth a small object. â€Å"Please,† she implored him. â€Å"Take this.† He released Grace's hand, his fingers trailing reluctantly across her skin. As he reached out, Grace realized that the dowager was holding a miniature painting. It was of her long-dead second son. Grace knew that miniature. The dowager carried it with her everywhere. â€Å"Do you know this man?† the dowager whispered. The highwayman looked at the tiny painting and shook his head. â€Å"Look closer.† But he just shook his head again, trying to return it to the dowager. â€Å"Might be worth something,† one of his companions said. He shook his head and gazed intently at the dowager's face. â€Å"It will never be as valuable to me as it is to you.† â€Å"No!† the dowager cried out, and she shoved the miniature toward him. â€Å"Look! I beg of you, look! His eyes. His chin. His mouth. They are yours.† Grace sucked in her breath. â€Å"I am sorry,† the highwayman said gently. â€Å"You are mistaken.† But she would not be dissuaded. â€Å"His voice is your voice,† she insisted. â€Å"Your tone, your humor. I know it. I know it as I know how to breathe. He was my son. My son.† â€Å"Ma'am,† Grace interceded, placing a motherly arm around her. The dowager would not normally have allowed such an intimacy, but there was nothing normal about the dowager this evening. â€Å"Ma'am, it is dark. He is wearing a mask. It cannot be he.† â€Å"Of course it's not he,† she snapped, pushing Grace violently away. She rushed forward, and Grace nearly fell with terror as every man steadied his weapon. â€Å"Don't hurt her!† she cried out, but her plea was unnecessary. The dowager had already grabbed the highwayman's free hand and was clutching it as if he was her only means of salvation. â€Å"This is my son,† she said, her trembling fingers holding forth the miniature. â€Å"His name was John Cavendish, and he died twenty-nine years ago. He had brown hair, and blue eyes, and a birthmark on his shoulder.† She swallowed convulsively, and her voice fell to a whisper. â€Å"He adored music, and he could not eat strawberries. And he could†¦he could†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The dowager's voice broke, but no one spoke. The air was thick and tense with silence, every eye on the old woman until she finally got out, her voice barely a whisper, â€Å"He could make anyone laugh.† And then, in an acknowledgment Grace could never have imagined, the dowager turned to her and added, â€Å"Even me.† The moment stood suspended in time, pure, silent, and heavy. No one spoke. Grace wasn't even sure if anyone breathed. She looked at the highwayman, at his mouth, at that expressive, devilish mouth, and she knew that something was not right. His lips were parted, and more than that, they were still. For the first time, his mouth was without movement, and even in the silvery light of the moon she could tell that he'd gone white. â€Å"If this means anything to you,† the dowager continued with quiet determination, â€Å"you may find me at Belgrave Castle awaiting your call.† And then, as stooped and shaking as Grace had ever seen her, she turned, still clutching the miniature, and climbed back into the carriage. Grace held still, unsure of what to do. She no longer felt in danger – strange as that seemed, with three guns still trained on her and one – the highwayman's, her highwayman's – resting limply at his side. But they had turned over only one ring – surely not a productive haul for an experienced band of thieves, and she did not feel she could get back into the carriage without permission. She cleared her throat. â€Å"Sir?† she said, unsure of how to address him. â€Å"My name is not Cavendish,† he said softly, his voice reaching her ears alone. â€Å"But it once was.† Grace gasped. And then, with movements sharp and swift, he leaped atop his horse and barked, â€Å"We are done here.† And Grace was left to stare at his back as he rode away.