Free Only Scandal Will Do by Jenna Jaxon Page B

had ever faced, but she was determined. She’d hounded Jack almost night and day since he’d recovered from the blow to his temple, wheedling him to agree to her return to Virginia to seek out Captain Dawson.
    She’d related her tale of adventure on that horrible night almost three weeks ago–the contrived version of course–and managed to instill in Jack the intense fear and shame of those hours. So when she’d begged him to allow her to sail back to the colonies, he’d reluctantly agreed. He even booked the passage for her on the Constanza , the family-owned flyut they had traveled on to England two months before.
    Now she would be accompanying a Major Jameson, on his way to take a post with her father’s old regiment. He, his wife and daughter would make sure she arrived safely and provide chaperonage until she either married Captain Dawson or contacted their mother’s relatives living in Pennsylvania.
    “Well, if I can’t get all these clothes in here I am going to be sorely pressed to cover myself next winter, Jack, unless you intend on sending me substantial sums of money every quarter. That would not hurt my feelings, you know.” She laughed at his outraged expression. “I suspect I will be able to get along rather well on a captain’s pay until the children come along. Then, Uncle Jack, you will be made to pay through the nose.” God, she would miss him.
    “Kat, are you sure this is what you want?” His beloved face wore that woebegone expression again, the earnest blue eyes, so often merry, now a bleak gray.
    She steeled her heart. “For the four hundredth time, yes! I don’t belong here in this London jungle. My home is the much safer wilderness of Virginia. You cannot know how terrified I am every time I leave the house. What if those blackguards are still out there? What if they try to take me back to that...that place? I barely escaped once. Do you think I’d be so lucky again?” This was not an idle argument; the man in the mask could indeed be looking for her.
    Jack shook his head. “I do understand. But I got bashed on the head and I’m not running back home.”
    She stopped trying to shove the brown leather boots into the overstuffed trunk and took his hands. “I know you’re not. Though maybe you should! You could have been killed, Jack. And then where would I be? But no, I for once have a luxury you cannot afford. It is your duty to stay here, take your place in society, marry and produce an heir. So you must face your responsibilities.” She crinkled her eyes at him. “While I manage to avoid mine.”
    “What will I do without you, Kat?”
    To her horror, tears threatened at his forlorn tone. She must do this.
    “You will be fine without me. You’ve already made friends, you have the house and servants. You will quite possibly one day receive a letter from me and say, ‘Katarina, Katarina, where have I heard that name before?’” More soberly, she embraced her brother’s tall frame, all teasing aside. “Besides, it is not forever. I will come back now and again. For your wedding certainly, whenever that is. And who knows but that Captain Dawson may be stationed here in London at some point. I would not be so afraid here with a husband in tow.”
    “Then let us simply find you a husband here.” Jack’s face lit up at the possibility. “Why is that impossible? The whole of London could be at your feet if you would only go out at night.”
    “You should bow down and give thanks I have agreed to accompany you tonight. I feel positively terrified when I go out after dark.” A shiver touched her at the thought.
    “I am cut to the bone. You don’t feel I can protect you.”
    “Oh, I have no doubt you can.” She chuckled. “But you will have to beat me to it now.” On the rare occasions she went about at night, she carried a concealed knife and muff pistol hidden in a pocket.
    “If you take to wearing your sword I’ll refuse to be seen with you,” Jack