Page 28 of Only Scandal Will Do

“She hasn’t accepted you yet, Dalbury, and likely never will.”

“We shall see.” He grinned. “I can be very persuasive.”

Manning shook his head, holding it in his hands. “I think I am going to be ill.”

Duncan chuckled. “And we aren’t even at sea yet!”

CHAPTER 12

Kat awoke to the slightly rolling sway of a ship at sea. Stretching out in the single berth of her cabin, she smiled at the thought of her escape. She was on her way to Virginia and Amiable. Hopefully to Amiable. Time enough to brood, though, once they were out on the ocean. Although then she would likely be too sick to brood.

She looked down at her makeshift night rail and frowned. Her chemise must do double duty until she got to Virginia, unless she took to sleeping naked, an idea so scandalous she blushed. Kat rose and donned her apple-green dress of yesterday, the only garment she would have throughout the voyage. She would be rather bedraggled six weeks hence when they docked in Virginia. Where Peter and her trunks had ended up she did not know, but certainly not aboard the Constanza. The first mate had informed her of this last evening before they sailed. Perhaps Mrs. Jameson could loan her some clothing. She would ask her chaperone if she saw her at breakfast; if not, she would pay the family a call afterward.

When she’d come aboard just after noon, the first mate had shown her to her cabin. She had spun him a tale of a dreadful suitor, a naive brother, and a true love in America. The sailor agreed to deny he ever saw her, should anyone ask. In exchange for his silence, half her coins now resided in the man’s pocket. But the ruse had worked. It was morning, she was at sea, and Jack and the malevolent marquess were miles away in London. A gleeful smile crept over her lips.

She must go up on deck and find where breakfast was being served; she might as well eat while she could. Smoothing her rumpled clothing in an attempt to look presentable, she sighed anew. Such a pity she hadn’t been able to bring Margery, but she would get used to doing things for herself. Would Amiable be able to afford servants? She shrugged. Domestic help was of small concern if she could only be safe from the marquess.

On deck, she peered around for a crewmember who could direct her. Another passenger-his suit of golden brown silk and his refined bearing bespoke him a gentleman--sat on a barrel, gazing out at the water. She approached him hesitantly, not wishing to disturb his reverie. Her stomach, however, had begun to make demands. She had foregone dinner to remain in the cabin lest someone see her before they left the dock.

She came to stand behind him, wondering how to best address him without startling him. Overtop the railing, buildings loomed. They were not in the open water, but moved slowly along the different docks within the city of London.

“Excuse me, sir, but do you know why we have not left the city waterway, yet? I was given to believe that we sailed on last evening’s tide. Has there been a change in plan?” Kat began to worry she would have to spend the entire day hidden in her cabin.

The man rose, uncommonly tall and slender, the morning sun glinting off his golden brown hair. He turned toward her and her worry transformed into shocked dismay.

“What the devil are you doing here?”

The Marquess of Dalbury took a step toward her and her stomach turned over, though not from the motion of the ship. She turned to flee but the marquess snared her wrist, holding her captive before him.

“I was waiting for you, Lady Katarina,” came his smooth reply. He gathered her arm in his, completely disregarding her outrage. “I have been up since dawn anticipating when you would awaken.” He smiled, the skin around his eyes crinkling as he squinted against the light. “There has indeed been a change in plan. This ship is no longer sailing to America. As soon as it docks, however, I will be most happy to escort you back to your brother’s house.”

Kat gave a tremendous pull and squeezed her arm out of his. She whirled and pounded down the dark-planked deck in search of someone who could protect her from this wretched man. She found no one. Frantic, she tried to locate the helmsman, but found her way barricaded with barrels and boxes. She turned to find the marquess several feet behind her, leaning against the side of the wheelhouse. He still wore that damnable self-satisfied smile on his face.

“You do not trust my word on this, my lady? Shall we find your brother to confirm it?”

“Jack!” The pit of her stomach plummeted. Her brother had betrayed her, the despicable turncoat.

“Of course, I insisted Lord Manning act as chaperone to us last night, since we are not married...yet.” He smiled mischievously.

“As I made abundantly clear the last two times we met, my lord, I will see you in hell before I marry you.” She darted a look around the ship again, hoping for rescue, but not a soul stirred in the warm morning light. Damn! Had he put the whole crew ashore?

His smile broadened, if that was physically possible. “Actually, Lady Katarina, you have

in the past likened me to your hope of heaven.”

She gave him a withering glance. Did the fool think to stand here and bandy words with her when she would just as soon push him over the rail?

As if reading her thoughts, he said quickly, “I can swim, Lady Katarina, so trying to throw me overboard will only delay our departure and ruin my suit.”

“I will ruin something else if I get the chance, my lord,” she muttered. Unable to bear facing him any longer, Kat lowered her eyes. “Where is my brother? If he is indeed on board.”

“Oh, he is here, have no fear of that. He is probably below having breakfast. Shall we join him?” Dalbury had the temerity to offer her his arm, which she pointedly ignored and brushed past him, heading back the way they had come.

“How did you manage to stop the ship’s sailing? Did you bribe the captain? Or is the owner a friend of yours?”

“Indeed, Lady Katarina, the captain was quite impervious to bribery.”

“So what did you do?”