Falling In Love Again (Heroic Rogues Series) (10 page)

“What are your duties now?”

“Whatever Hawk or the other men need me to do.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m in me twelfth year.”

“Oh, that’s certainly an important role for someone your age.”

“It is, Miss.”

“Where’s your mother, and does she approve of you working for Captain Hawk?”

He shrugged and turned his attention back to washing. “Don’t know me mother, or me father.
Cap’n
Hawk found me at the orphanage, and put me to work.” Monkey looked back at her and smiled wide. “That was the happiest day of me life. Nobody wanted me, and the orphanage was
gettin
’ crowded. Then one day, the
cap’n
strolled in through the doors,
searchin
’ for a lad who could do hard work. I
knew’d
I could do it, and when he looked at me, he bought me right away.
Cap’n
has been so good to me. And the other men treat me like their own, too.”

Emotion clogged her throat, making her swallow hard. Could it be true? Was Hawk as thoughtful as the lad made him sound?

“I haven’t been with any other pirates or highwaymen, but from what I’ve heard,
Cap’n
Hawk is the best. I knows the
Cap’n
hates the Royal Navy and wants to torture them, but other than that, he’s the kindest man I’ve ever met.”

She focused on washing once again. “Do you know why the Royal Navy vexes him so?”

“No, Miss, but I trust that whatever the
Cap’n
is doing is a just cause.”

“Well, Adam, I think you’re very loyal, and that makes you a good person, too.”

The boy’s face reddened as he grinned. “I’ll do
anythin
’ for
Cap’n
Hawk.”

Silence lasted between them as they continued in their chores. Why hadn’t she heard these stories about Hawk before? All she knew was he’d been labeled the
dreaded
pirate. Men feared him—women adored him. Well, Isabelle could see why women would swoon since her knees had weakened a few times.

Hawk had told her he didn’t kill people for sport. So why had he killed her father? Hawk gave her several chances to prove herself, why hadn’t he done the same with her sire?

While living with her aunt and uncle, she caught hints that they didn’t approve of the way her father handled his business affairs. Aunt Margaret was Isabelle’s mother’s sister, and the woman didn’t like Commodore Stanhope and the distance he put between himself and his daughter. Uncle Bartholomew hated her father with every fiber of his being. Yet nobody told her why her parent was such a bad man. He’d always been the epitome of goodwill to her.

Dare she ask Hawk? Would he even remember her father? But he had to since he knew who Isabelle was. She scrunched her forehead. Why did Hawk know about her? She’d certainly have to ask him about that, too.

“Miss?”

She looked down at Adam who now had suds up to his elbows. “Yes?”

“Do ye hate
Cap’n
Hawk?”

Her heart clenched. Too bad she still didn’t know how to answer it. Hatred was definitely not the feeling running through her since becoming his nursemaid. “I don’t know him enough to decide yet.”

“I heard
ya
tried to kill him.”

She frowned. “I didn’t, really. I tried to protect myself, and in doing so, I stabbed him. It’s what any virtuous woman would have done in those circumstances.”

“I heard ye were mad at him for killing
yer
father.”

“That, I was. I don’t know why he killed my father when the captain freed the other prisoners.”

“
Knowin
’ the
Cap’n
, he probably killed
yer
father because he deserved it.”

She scowled. “Adam, please refrain from slandering my father’s name when you don’t even know him.”

“Aye, Miss.” He wiped his nose on his sleeve. “So does
ya
likes the
Cap’n
now?”

She chuckled. “Why all these questions?”

“
Cuz
I think the
Cap’n
likes
ya
a lot.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Indeed?”

“
Ye’ve
been the first lady he’s kept for himself.”

Heat filled her face as she stared at Adam. “I am?”

“Aye. Usually when he takes prisoners, they all stay in the cellar until he releases them.
Yer
the first lady me knows that he’s
takin
’ an interest in enough to keep by his side.”

She released an uneasy laugh. “I’m probably also the first prisoner who has ever stabbed him.”

Adam shook his head. “Oh, there have been plenty, believe me. But he took an interest in
ya
before
ya
wounded him.”

Confusion filled her even more. Why did the boy have to make sense? And why was her heart softening the more she thought about Hawk? Had she judged him too harshly? Although she hated to be wrong, this may very well be one of those times she had over-reacted.

Her resolve weakened, knowing he had indeed shown her a man with a pure heart, instead of the black color she thought it had been.

* * * *

Marcus wasn’t healing as fast as he wanted. Of course, all he could think about was Isabelle and how she made him want things he couldn’t possibly have. Never had he met a woman like her, and although he still didn’t think he could trust her fully, he wanted to show her how kind he could be instead of the ravaging highwayman he was supposed to be.

After she’d bathed him yesterday, he’d kept her busy with washing his clothes, and the poor woman was so weary she didn’t have dinner, but went straightway to bed. He didn’t have the heart to wake her just so he could show her more of his charm.

This morning when she came to change his bandage and bring him breakfast, she hurried through her duties, informing him that Monkey wanted to continue with her washing lessons. Marcus grinned. Strange how well Isabelle picked up on the chores. Either that or she was afraid of being alone with him. He tried to convince himself being alone with her was
not
a good thing at all.

He’d taken a nap after the midday meal, and now he waited for her to bring his clean clothes. He also had a surprise for her. This morning he had Gabe find her trunk she’d had on the stagecoach. Upon Marcus’ request, he had his friend bring it to his room. Now she had more gowns to wear, and a brush for her hair. He couldn’t wait to see excitement light up her blue eyes. And he prayed she’d bestow a kiss upon him—this time without having to be told.

When she finally opened the door and walked in, she carried an armful of clothes and set them on the end of his bed. She presented him with a cheerful smile, which nearly made him sigh with happiness.

“I have a clean shirt for you,” she said. “Would you like me to help you put it on?”

“Yes, I believe I would.” After he’d answered, he wished he hadn’t. If she helped him, that would only mean getting closer to her.

Without a word, he stood so she could slip the garment over his head. When her gaze met his again, he smiled. Her cheeks flamed. He loved how nervous he made her.

“Thank you, my dear.” He rubbed a hand over his sleeve. “Was this your first time at washing?”

“Yes.”

“You did a remarkable job, I must say.”

“Well, I owe it all to Monkey. He’s really a sweet boy.”

“That he is, and a hard worker. Sometimes he works harder than my men.”

She laughed, which made his heart soften. Why did her voice sound like angels singing? What confused him more was thinking he wanted to listen to her… always.

She turned to move away, but he slid his arm around her waist and brought her up against his chest. Her eyes widened and she gasped. Both hands rested on his shoulders, making his heartbeat quicken. “I have a surprise for you, my dove.”

“Why would you do that? After all, I’m merely your servant.”

He shook his head. “You’ve been a very good servant.” He grinned and pointed to the trunk in the corner of the room. “Does that look familiar?”

Her gaze followed his finger. She hitched a breath and covered her mouth with her hands. Tears filled her eyes as she stared. His chest twisted with an unknown emotion. Why did her reaction affect him so?

“Oh, Hawk… you didn’t…” She left his embrace and slowly walked to her trunk, knelt and opened it. Gingerly, she swept her hand across the gown on top. “Oh, Captain, this is the best thing you could have done,” she whispered with a broken voice.

He moved beside her and stroked her hair. “I had actually instructed Gabe to fetch this before you stabbed me.”

She looked up at him with wide eyes, still swimming with tears.

“I realized yesterday you needed a brush.” He grinned.

As she laughed, a tear slipped down her cheek. She stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a hug. “Thank you.”

Closing his eyes, he held her against him as he breathed in her heavenly scent. She pulled away just enough to look into his eyes. Desire darkened her gaze, but she studied him differently than she’d done before. Being like this with her was rather nice. Comfortable.

Soft blue eyes stared dreamily into his, and she smiled. Then she dropped her gaze to his mouth, and his excitement grew. He hoped she would kiss him. But the longer he waited, the more his hopes dropped.

Finally, she leaned forward and swept her lips across his. Groaning, he tightened his hold on her. The kiss only lasted a few seconds before she tore her mouth away. Her cheeks stained pink as she stepped away. She turned to the clothes on the end of his bed and picked them up.

“Where do you want me to put these?”

That was it? That was all she had to say?
But he couldn’t get over that kiss. Even as short as it was, lightning had passed through him, stunning him completely. He wanted so much more.

He pointed to his trunk. “In there.”

She knelt in front of it and lifted the lid. Lying on top of his things was the miniature he’d taken from her father’s room along with letters. She gasped and picked up the picture. Quickly, he rushed to her side, but it was too late to take it away. Now he had to tell her the truth.

She looked up at him, the tears now gone from her eyes. Instead, confusion filled her expression.

“Where did you get these?”

Sighing heavily, he moved to sit on his chair, leaning his elbows on the table. “I took it from your father the day I killed him.”

She picked up the letters then joined him at the table, looking at him through suspicious eyes. “Why?”

“Because that’s what highwaymen do.”

“Are you saying you stole these from his trunk?”

He shrugged. “You call it how you like, and I shall use my own terms.”

“You told me yesterday you didn’t take anything of value.”

“This was the only thing, I assure you.”

“Why do you still have these items? You killed my father nearly a year ago.” Her eyes pleaded for the truth.

Sighing, he nodded. “I searched through your father’s personal items, looking for parchments from the Royal Navy. Instead, I found letters and your picture.” He reached across the table and took the picture away. As he gazed upon it, he remembered what his thoughts had been back then. “The woman’s loveliness in this miniature captured my interest.” He rubbed his thumb across the bottom. “She has huge, innocent eyes, and a mouth made for kissing.” Marcus looked up at Isabelle and smiled. “I had never seen anything so beautiful before, so I kept it. Almost every day since, I’ve stared at your picture, wondering if I would ever meet you.” He shrugged and pointed to the missives still in her hand. “Of course, after reading the letters your father had written, I put the pieces together and realized you were his daughter.”

“I had gathered as much.” She nodded. “So this is how you knew who I was.”

“Aye.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“I would have eventually.” He reached across the table again, and held her hand. “Isabelle, I’m not the evil man you may think.”

She tilted her head, still meeting his gaze. “Why did you kill my father?”

That was another thing he didn’t want to tell her, but somehow this enchantress had put a spell over him to make his mouth jabber like a loose-lipped woman. Then again, he wanted her to think differently about him. He didn’t want her to fear him anymore. Only to trust him.

“I had been introduced to Commodore Stanhope six months prior to the time I shot him. I met him in New York.” Her eyebrows lifted in question. “I have a different life other than being a pirate or a highwayman. Your father didn’t know my true identity.”

She nodded and relaxed her fingers in his hold.

“From that moment, I knew your father was a man who couldn’t be trusted. So, when my men stopped the stagecoach your father was on that fateful day, I knew I couldn’t turn my back on him. As it happened, I did turn my back, and he pulled out a pistol hidden in his coat. He almost shot me. Since I was quicker, I fired my pistol first, killing him instantly.”