Page 16 of A Second Chance for Love

“I expected to be hung or at least transported as the house had belonged to a well-off doctor who hadn’t been amused to return home to such a fiasco, but I was lucky because the Runners talked to my brother-in-law.”

“He came forward and told them the truth?” she asked. Her expression told him that Juss had reaffirmed her belief in humanity. He almost felt bad about setting her straight.

“Well, he didn’t exactly come forward; he’d been arrested on another job.”

Her face fell. “Ahh.”

“Yes, ahhh, indeed.”

“So they released you?”

“Not quite. I’m afraid that—after almost four months—I’d managed to get myself into trouble.” He had no intention of clarifying. “They decided I needed to engage in uplifting activities like peeling oakum if I was ever going to grow out of my criminal tendencies.”

She looked like she was afraid to hear his answer, but she asked, “How long?”

“Two years.”

She sucked in a breath, her expression one of horror. “What about your brother-in-law?”

“Ah, well, Gazzer wasn’t quite so lucky.”

“His name is Gazzer?” she interrupted.

Juss couldn’t help smiling; she was adorable. “Er, no. His name was Gary, but everyone called him Gazzer.”

“I see,” she said, her perplexed expression telling him that she didn’t see. “So what happened to him?”

“Gazzer received one-way passage on an ocean-going vessel, which was harsh, but better than doing the hangman’s dance.”

“Oh, Juss, that’s dreadful! What about your wife?”

“My wife died in childbed while I was in gaol.”

Her lips parted and one of her small, gloved hands reached out—almost as if she wanted to offer him comfort—but it jerked back quickly at whatever she saw in his eyes.

Juss held her gaze for a long moment before continuing. “When I was released, I knew there would be no chance of ever finding gainful, legal employment, so I joined His Majesty’s Navy, which was not choosy about sailors in a time of war. Like every other volunteer I was given a shilling and two months wages in advance. And then I was off on my adventure.” He paused and then asked, “Why are you shaking your head, Oona?” He decided he like the taste of her name on his tongue, and also the way she stiffened when he said it.

“Men have far more choices in life than women but not all of them are choices I would want.”

Juss was startled by her observation and didn’t have an immediate response.

“It must have been frightening,” she said quietly.

Her expression was so open, that, for once, he didn’t taunt or mock. “Yes, it was bloody terrifying, pardon my language. I’d barely gotten my sea legs when I learned the Ajax was on its way to a new engagement.”

Her lips curled up at the corners and the effect was beyond charming. Good God. Had he said that warming his bed wasn’t part of her duties? What an idiot.

“Why do you look so diverted?” he asked.

Her eyes flickered over his body in a way that sent blood rushing to his groin. “I was just thinking that Ajax was tall, strong, and fearless, so it was a perfect ship for you.”

For the first time in years Juss felt his face heat. Was that how she saw him? He knew he was a fine figure of a man, but he’d always thought that a woman like her—educated and refined, no matter that she’d fallen so far in the world—would view him as an unlettered behemoth. Her words were, well . . .

“Juss?”

“Ah, yes,” he temporized, scrambling for his wits. “I didn’t know it then, but we were headed for what is now called the Dardanelles Operation.”

She nodded. “Admiral Duckworth.”