Could you establish a moment that casts Jack as trustworthy in the Frenchman's eyes earlier? A small but telling thing--he sees Jack showing some kindness to a lower-ranking soldier or to a prisoner or writing a letter home for an illitierate wounded man, so we see that he has a reason to choose him?

I've already established a good rapport between Jack and the French officer, since they work together on things like care for the wounded and accommodations for the prisoners after the British surrender. Maybe I could have the Frenchman conclude that while Jack isn't the ideal choice for Anna's reputation, at least he knows him to be a capable, intelligent, and kind man, and he doesn't have time to decide if there's anyone else who'd be suitable.

I just got my first form rejection letter (from an agent). It hurts a lot more than the personalized kind.

Fie! You still roooooock.

We could go with the premise that the French soldier wouldn't be completely aware of the social implications of sending Anna off with one man. Maybe he's not too far above peasant himself and thinks competence trumps social appropriateness any day of the week. Jack's not an officer--therefore not a gentleman (officially)--and while he's probably aware of the social gulf between himeslf and Anna, he probably doesn't have the bone-deep awareness of the fine points. She would know, though, and she might have an intiail kneejerk response that having someone of lower class escort her could be damaging. You could have a British officer volunteer but be too injured to actually fulfill the duties. And maybe the British officer can be intelligent enough to realize that Jack--"He's a stout fellow and can be depended on"--is the best bet to defend the lady, especially in the awkward situations a war entails. Then when everyone gets back to civilization, the people who were safe at home can be all twittery and those who were out there can be very quietly accepting. Though it would be the kiss of death to say such a thing out where the social dragons could hear.

Thanks, y'all.

She would know, though, and she might have an intiail kneejerk response that having someone of lower class escort her could be damaging.

t fairly ignorant about the period, outwith Heyer

I'd have thought that having someone markedly lower class than her would actually be less compromising, reputation-wise; I mean, ladies were alone with menservants at times, weren't they? Without there being the kind of hoo-ha that would ensue if they were alone with gentlemen?

t /fairly ignorant about period, outwith Heyer

My other thought, in addition to everything above, is that emergency trumps custom every time, and twice on Sundays. It can be as simple as Monsieur Evil is on his way over here right now, and Jack is standing right over there, and he seems a right fellow.

You know, Go. Go now. Here is my greatcoat, slip under the back of the tent. Head north if you can. I haven't seen you.

I'd have thought that having someone markedly lower class than her would actually be less compromising, reputation-wise; I mean, ladies were alone with menservants at times, weren't they? Without there being the kind of hoo-ha that would ensue if they were alone with gentlemen?

Hmm. Definitely true about the servants--women would go out riding with a groom, and presumably it'd take a lot of work NOT to be alone with one's butler or footmen upon occasion. But I have the impression that if a lady was alone overnight or longer with a man, if he were more or less of her class she could salvage her reputation by marrying him, which wouldn't be an option if he wasn't. What I'm a little less clear on is how much it'd hurt the woman's reputation--it's not the kind of thing you routinely stumble across in primary source documents!

Would it be better or worse that she is in mouring, Susan? It seems to me that could tip it either way -- either she would be presumed to be too sorrowful to get Up To Anything, or it would be the equivalent of Scarlett O'Hara in the red dress at the ball.

And I think that a combination of setting the French officer up as not fully aware of the social statures involved, and having an English officer give it his blessing, would help readers see the situation as realistic. Plus, you have the war trumps all card.

Ooh, OR you could have the French junior officer recruit a French female servant/camp follower to act as a chaperone, and then have her run off into the night shortly afterward, possibly after stealing everything interesting from Jack and Anna.