Read Online Captain Jack's Woman by Stephanie Laurens - Free Book Online Page B

really is a sheep in wolf’s clothing.”
    Kit smiled, but she hadn’t heard a word. She was far too concerned with learning what sort of cargo interested the new High Commissioner.
    “Human cargo,” Lord Marchmont pronounced with heavy relish.
    “Mind you, I’m not sure but what it’s better the other way around.” Lady Marchmont brightened.
    “Seems they’ve blocked the routes out of Sussex and Kent, but they didn’t catch all the spies.” Lord Marchmont leaned closer to Spencer. “They think those left will try this coast next.”
    “But just fancy, my dear. He keeps city hours down here. Doesn’t rise until noon.” An unladylike humph escaped Lady Marchmont. “He’ll have to change, of course. Needs someone to help him adjust. Must be hard to pick up country ways after so many years.”
    A frown nagged at Kit’s brows. As Lady Marchmont’s bemused stare penetrated her daze, she wiped her expression clean and nodded seriously. “I dare say you’re right, ma’am.”
    Her ladyship blinked. Kit realized she’d slipped somewhere and tried to focus on her ladyship’s words, rather than her lord’s.
    Lady Marchmont’s face cleared. “Oh—are you imagining he’s a fop? Not a bit of it!” She waved one plump hand, and Kit’s mind slid away.
    “Hendon suggested I quietly let the message get about. Just to the right people, y’know.” Lord Marchmont set down his teacup.
    “His dress is very precise—the military influence, I dare say. But you’d know more about that than I, being so newly returned from the capital.” Lady Marchmont chewed one fat finger. “Elegant,” she pronounced. “You’d have to call him elegant.”
    Kit’s eyes glazed. Her head was spinning.
    “Did he now?” Spencer eyed Lord Marchmont shrewdly.
    Lady Marchmont leaned forward and whispered: “Lucy Cartwright’s got her eye on him for her eldest, Jane. But nothing’ll come of that.”
    “Seemed to think he might need a bit of support if it came to a dustup,” Lord Marchmont said. “The Revenue are stretched thin these days.”
    “He doesn’t strike me as being the sort of man who’d appreciate having a young girl to wife. He’s a serious man, thirty-five if he’s a day. A more mature woman would be much more useful to him. Being the Lady of Castle Hendon is a full-time occupation, not the place for a giddy girl.”
    Spencer’s barking laugh echoed through the room. “That’s certainly true. Have you heard of the raids out Sheringham way?”
    Her grandfather and his guest settled to review the latest exercises of the Revenue Office. Kit took the opportunity to catch up with her ladyship.
    “Of course, there’s the limp, though it’s not seriously incapacitating. And he’s at least got the Hendon looks to compensate.”
    Kit attempted to infuse some degree of mild interest into her features.
    Lady Marchmont looked positively thrilled. “Well, Kathryn dear, we really must see what we can organize, don’t you think?”
    The predatory gleam in her ladyship’s eyes set alarm bells ringing; Kit’s interest fled. Good God — she’s trying to marry me off to Lord Hendon!
    To Kit’s immense relief, Jenkins chose that precise instant to enter with the tea tray. If not for the timely interruption, she’d never have stilled the heated denial that had risen, involuntarily, to her lips.
    Conversation became general over the teacups. With the ease born of considerable practice in company far more demanding than the present, Kit contributed her share.
    Suddenly, Spencer slapped his thigh. “Forgot!” He looked at Kit. “There’s a letter for you, m’dear. On the table there.” His nod indicated a small table by the window.
    “For me?” Kit rose and went to fetch it.
    Spencer nodded. “It’s from Julian. I got one, too.”
    “Julian?” Kit returned to the chaise, examining the packet addressed in her youngest cousin’s unmistakable scrawl.
    “Go on, read it. Lord and Lady Marchmont’ll excuse