Falling In Love Again (Heroic Rogues Series) (13 page)

“Because I need something to do.”

“Where’s the captain?”

“He has returned to his duties, and doesn’t need me as much anymore.”

“Ah, I see.” He winked. “I suppose if
ye’d
like to help, I have some potatoes
needin
’ to be peeled.”

“Wonderful.” She rubbed her hands together.

He led the way to another table and handed her the knife. “The potatoes are in that bag.” He arched a brow. “Do I have to watch my back now?”

“Whatever for?”

“
Ye’re
holdin
’ a knife.”

She chuckled. “I assure you, I’ll not use it in that manner. I do know how to peel potatoes.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “In that case, I’ll not bother ye.”

She settled upon a stool as she proceeded to take each potato and cut off the skins. The cook still kept an eye on her, but that was to be expected, she supposed. “Sir? What’s your name?”

“David.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I’m Miss Stanhope.”

He nodded then turned back to his pot. She wished he would talk more. How could two people occupy the same space without conversing? It didn’t matter if men could do it, the silence would drive her insane. “So, David, how long have you been with Captain Hawk?”

“Why do ye want to know?”

“Just curious. I want to know the Captain better. Is that a crime?”

David stopped stirring and scratched his chin. “I’ve noticed ye
makin
’ doe eyes at the him lately.”

A blush heated her face.
Was it that obvious?
“I’m quite enjoying his company—”

He laughed. “I can also see the Captain has taken an interested in
yer
company, too.”

When her smile widened, she concentrated on the potato, hoping not to look as if his comment brightened her day. “Thank you, David. That’s good to know.”

“But don’t ye be
gettin
’ any ideas.” He shook his finger at her and scowled.

“Beg pardon? What ideas?”

“I know women like
yerself
,
wantin
’ to snare the captain into marriage. I’m
tellin
’
ya
now, that’s not
gonna
happen.”

She set the knife down and met the man’s narrowing stare. “You don’t believe in love?”

“Blah. Love is for fools, and Captain Hawk is certainly no fool. He’s had plenty of women, but none have been able to turn his heart, and none ever will.”

Isabelle’s heart wrenched, and she tried not to let David upset her. She had to believe Hawk would fall in love with her. She must be someone special to him or else he wouldn’t have kept her close. Wasn’t that what Monkey suggested? “David? Have you ever been in love?”

“Aye, and it was the worst time of my life. Like Captain Hawk, my true love is being a pirate or highwayman—an outlaw if you’d like to call us.”

“Do you think the Captain has ever been in love?”

“Nah. He won’t allow it to happen. There’s
nothin
’ he wants more than revenge against Britain. Not even a pretty lass.”

“Then I feel sorry for you, David, and the Captain as well.” She sliced the blade across the potato, removing the skin faster than she should. Anger built up inside her, making her want to scream. How dare he suggest Hawk wouldn’t fall in love? She would not let this man ruin her plans. Hawk was her only hope for a way out of marrying a man her father had picked—a man she didn’t love.

“Don’t feel sorry for me, Miss Stanhope. I’m happy as a lark and right where I want to be.”

She bit her tongue and didn’t reply. Obviously, there was no talking to a man so stubborn. But what if Hawk felt the same way? How could she convince him to take a chance on love? Should she confess her true feelings first? No, it was best not to say anything right now. She didn’t need him to break her heart. Even though it would if he didn’t return her love.

* * * *

Marcus stood next to a table as he read the maps his crew had confiscated from all the ships and stagecoaches over the past year. From the bits and pieces Marcus collected so far, he had reason to believe the Royal Navy had a treasure hidden somewhere. He scratched his head and strained his eyes as he studied the map. Why would the navy want to hide anything? Everything eventually made its way back to the King anyway.

Groaning in frustration, he threaded his fingers through his hair and straightened, looking at Gabe who stood next to him. “Nothing makes sense. If I didn’t know better, I would think my father was behind this and knew I was trying to locate the treasure. Leave it to the old man to be that underhanded.”

Gabe chuckled. “What are the odds? Do you think your father knows the identity of Captain Hawk?”

“Of course not. Except for you and a few other crew members, nobody knows my true identity. Besides that, I’m quite certain my father thinks I’m dead.” He shook his head. “What doesn’t make sense is why the navy would want to hide the treasure in the first place.”

Gabe sighed and leaned his elbows on the table as he stared down at the map. “What if it isn’t the navy?” His gaze lifted to Marcus. “What if someone in the navy is in cohorts with a spy and they want the loot for themselves?”

Marcus nodded. “That’s actually more believable.” He straightened and folded his arms across his chest. “What do we know so far? We have gathered information from four ships and three stagecoaches. My father’s name has been linked as well, so obviously the fool is in with this gang. And someone who was on this last stagecoach is up to no good. Whether they are all connected is yet to be determined.” He met Gabe’s stare. “Did you search every prisoner before they were dropped off?”

“Aye. We searched the trunks thoroughly and came up empty. None had any personal items on them except for their clothes, which we also searched.” He chuckled. “Miss Stanhope’s poor companion thought we were violating her person.”

“Indeed, Mrs. Winters would assume that.” Marcus shook his head. “So the spy could have been the driver or the guard since they were both shot.”

“But we searched both of them before leaving the area. They were clean.”

Marcus linked his hands behind him and paced the room, trying to remember what had happened that day, but Isabelle’s face kept interrupting his thoughts. Her beautiful, sultry, innocent eyes and those kissable lips he couldn’t get enough of.

Groaning silently, he closed his eyes. How could he concentrate like this? He counted the minutes until they would be together again.

“Captain?”

Marcus snapped out of his daydreams, realizing he stood in front of a wall. Blinking, he turned and strode across the floor back to the table. “All of this is giving me a headache. I cannot think straight.”

Gabe chuckled. “Well, any man who had a lovely lady as his nursemaid would become flustered, and rightly so. Miss Stanhope is a sight for our lonely eyes, I must say.”

Marcus couldn’t help but grin, although he should be upset that his friend would covet his servant. Then again, they had all been without a woman’s company for the same amount of time.

“Exactly.” Marcus marched to the door and flung it open. “See to the things here. I’ve had a tiresome day.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Marcus wasn’t certain he liked the laughter in his friend’s tone, but Gabe knew what he’d been thinking. He and his friend were like brothers. Although Marcus had never been close to his own brother, he wanted to think this was what it felt like to trust someone so deeply he’d give his life for that person.

Before going outside to check on things, he hurried to his room to change his mask. He pulled out the drawer to his desk. Instead of his fingers brushing by his mask, they bumped into a hard object. On closer inspection, he remembered putting the jeweled dagger Isabelle had stabbed him with in the drawer for safekeeping.

As he pulled the weapon out, he smiled. Strange how quickly Isabelle had changed since that first day—and how he’d changed. No longer did he see her as his way of avenging her father. Now he enjoyed her company, and needed her by his side all the time. He desired her touch like a man does food. He craved her kisses like bees needed sweet nectar. Plain and simple, he couldn’t imagine being without her.

He studied the dagger as it lay in his palm. Very expensive, to be sure. So where did Isabelle get it? She never told him. On closer inspection, he turned it over and looked at it from a different angle. The handle was wider than most he’d owned. Very peculiar… especially, the tip of the handle that looked as if a piece of paper was stuck in it somehow.

He pinched the edge and pulled, and the paper kept coming. Soon a small script appeared with strange coding upon it. His heartbeat hammered as excitement shot through him. Could this be what he’d been after all this time?

Carefully, he pulled until the paper wouldn’t go any further. He squinted, trying to read the small print, and recognized a few of the words. Royal Navy was one of them. Gritting his teeth, he held back a shout of victory. He couldn’t draw attention. Not yet. Especially since Isabelle was the one who’d had it on her person when they’d met.

Coldness seeped into his chest, and his breath stilled. Had the spy been under his nose all this time? Could she have tricked him by making him crave her kisses so he wouldn’t suspect her true intent?

Nonsense. She was far too innocent to be a spy for the Royal Navy. There had to be some other reason. Perhaps she had taken the dagger from one of the others who’d been traveling with her.

With that explanation in mind, he ripped off the coded message. As he put the knife back in the drawer, he wondered what was in the message. The letters were too small to see, so he’d take it to his map room and use his magnifying glass.

The room was empty when he entered, so he closed the door, lit the lantern, and proceeded to read the message with the magnifying glass. Apparently, the message alerted someone about a shipment coming from England that would arrive in New York within thirty days. This message was slightly different than the others he’d found. It didn’t suggest a treasure, but a shipment, instead. That could mean anything. He wished he could ask Isabelle, but she wouldn’t know, especially if she had obtained the dagger from one of the others in the coach.

He placed the message with the others he’d gathered, turned off the lantern and left the room. Before going outside, he really needed to put on his other mask.

When he entered, he stopped cold in his tracks. His heart dropped. By his bed holding the dagger stood Isabelle. Her eyes widened and her face paled. Guilt etched itself on her expression. Doubt crept inside him and he couldn’t shake it off this time. “What are you doing?”

“I thought to clean the room, and well… I stumbled across this.” She laughed uneasily. “Were you going to give it back to me?”

“I haven’t decided.”

She shrugged and placed it back in the drawer. “Forgive me, but I really wasn’t probing.”

He nodded stiffly. “Of course not.”

She walked to him, kissed his cheek, and turned to leave. “I’ll fetch your dinner now if you’re ready.”

“Actually, Isabelle, I’m not hungry, but you get a bowl of soup for yourself.”

She smiled and left, closing the door behind her.

Marcus sank to the edge of his bed as confusion filled his head. Had she really been a spy all this time and he’d been too blind and love-struck to see? She didn’t act like the spies he’d met. Then again, she had turned her attitude around quickly after he made her a servant.

His mind returned to the dagger. A few times she had suggested wanting the weapon back. Obviously her reason behind the request had been a lie. She knew what secrets were hidden within the handle, which was why she wanted it so desperately.

His stomach twisted. It couldn’t be true. No woman had ever fooled him. He was too smart for that. Yet Isabelle was an accomplished chameleon. Her actions that first day proved it. Why hadn’t he realized it then?

Threading his fingers through his hair, he lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her intoxicating scent hung in his room, reminding him how close they’d become—how he’d come to trust her. He’d actually been happy and satisfied with a woman beside him. In a brief moment, he’d seen a future with her.

Pain clenched his chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe. Why had fate decided to punish him this way? Then again, his life hadn’t been a happy one. He should be used to the feeling.

Trying to ignore the crushing pain of betrayal, he growled and pulled himself off the bed. After changing his mask, he wrapped the dagger in one of his scarves and left the room. He marched back to the map room. This time, Gabe was there.

His friend’s head snapped up. After a few seconds, his eyes widened. “Captain? Is something amiss?”

Marcus threw the dagger on the table. “I found the secret document.”

Gabe’s mouth dropped open. “It had been in the dagger this whole time?”

“Yes.” Bile rose in Marcus’ throat, and he shook his head. “And Miss Stanhope is our spy.”

“It can’t be!” Gabe scratched his head and paced. “We actually believed she was sorry for stabbing you.” He growled and swung around to face Hawk. “We all talked to her about personal things in our lives. Do you think she’ll use this information against us?”