Falling In Love Again (Heroic Rogues Series) (35 page)

“Three o’clock this afternoon.”

“So soon?” He hissed. “Thank you, Monkey.” He turned the lad toward the street and gave him a gentle push. “Now leave and don’t come back.”

Marcus hurried back into the house and ran up the stairs toward Isabelle’s room. His heart hammered with each step closer. He prayed she didn’t know, or at least didn’t doubt him. He must tell her the truth, but not yet. How much had she talked to his father? He groaned, the mystery would kill him, but he couldn’t come right out and ask, either. Her actions would let him know.

“Isabelle, darling?” He knocked before opening her door. She sat on the stool in front of her vanity brushing her hair.

She swung toward him, her hand flying to her throat. “Oh, Marcus. You startled me.”

Smiling, he walked in and closed the door. “Forgive me, my love. I didn’t mean to.” As he walked closer, he tried to read her expression. Was she mad? He couldn’t tell through her smile. When he neared, she stood.

“You have been very naughty, my dear husband.”

He stopped and held his breath. “I have?”

She slid up to him and wrapped her hands around his neck. “You forgot to tell me you had a father who lived so close.” She tilted her head. “Why did you not invite him to our wedding?”

Relief gushed from his throat as he held her tight and kissed her forehead. “I didn’t think to invite him. How could I think of anything else but my charming, beautiful wife?”

She chuckled and pulled back, meeting his gaze. “Your compliments are meant to side-track me, I’m sure. Nonetheless, I have forgiven you.”

He cupped her face and brought her closer. “That’s music to my ears, love.” He covered her mouth with his, kissing her with the tender love flowing through him. She sighed and leaned against him, meeting his lips as her hands slid around his waist.

Soon, she pulled away and stepped out of his arms. “As much as I want to continue, there’s much to be done before tonight.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Why, what’s tonight?”

“Since your father is here, I thought about having a nice meal, and because I didn’t know he was coming, I haven’t prepared the kitchen staff.”

“Then I shall leave you to your duties.” He stroked her cheek. “I also have errands to run this afternoon, so you probably won’t see me until before dinner.”

“I shall miss you.”

“Not as much as I.”

Thankfully, she didn’t ask about his errands. She should be used to his time being occupied most of the day with other dealings. At least he’d hoped, because today wasn’t the time for her to be curious about her husband, especially since he had to get himself ready as Captain Hawk quickly and be at the abandoned building before she reached there. In the light of day she might recognize him as her husband. Although he’d wear the fake beard and mustache as he had that first day he met her in the building, he still couldn’t have her guessing his identity.

Once he figured out how to handle the complications with the
Sons Of Liberty
and the new information he discovered from his father today, then he could confess the truth to Isabelle. He prayed she still loved him after that.

He gathered his disguise and hurried out of the house. His stallion was ready for him, and he mounted and rode fast to the shipping office. Once inside, he changed into Hawk and placed the fake beard and mustache on his face. The other day, he’d found a wig he could use as Hawk since the hair hung to his shoulders. This way Isabelle wouldn’t notice Hawk’s cropped off locks. Using the back door, he proceeded to go to the abandoned office and ready the area. He closed the curtains on the windows, grumbling when sunlight still came through. He couldn’t make it totally dark, but the darker the better, anyway.

Marcus checked his timepiece. Only a few minutes before her arrival. His heartbeat quickened and he searched the room for the darkest corner. When the door handle rattled, he froze, holding his breath as he watched the door.

Isabelle walked through and closed the door. Her attention swept the room until it rested on him. He couldn’t yet tell if she was upset, only because her bonnet shadowed her eyes. “Isabelle,” he said in his deep captain’s voice.

“Captain Hawk.” As she stepped closer, she removed her bonnet, keeping it clutched against her middle. Her gaze swept over him. “It’s good to see you again.”

Still, no sign of recognition lit her face, and he grinned. “You are looking beautiful, Isabelle. Might I assume married life is working for you?”

She stopped in front of him and nodded. “It is.”

“Good to hear.” He folded his arms across his chest. “So why the urgency to meet me today?”

“I thought you might like to know I’m… I’m the spy you were asking about the last time we spoke.”

A gasp sprang to his throat before he could stop it. Why was she telling him this? And why, pray, was she lying? Mrs. Winters clearly informed him Isabelle didn’t know anything about the dagger or the
Sons Of Liberty.
Confusion settled in his chest, but he tried to put the emotion aside until he heard her excuse. “Why tell me now?”

“Because you hinted that you would like to join forces with me.” She stepped closer and laid a hand on his chest. “I’m scared of being discovered. I need your protection.”

He narrowed his gaze, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. “Why me? Why not your husband?”

“I haven’t told him. I don’t wish to tell him. I want to keep this secret between us.”

Silently, he groaned. Why did she act in such a way toward a man she promised to hate? Last night she confessed to loving her husband, so why was she being so distrustful now?

She stroked her soft hands over his chest, her gaze dropping to watch. “You have to tell me what to do, Hawk.”

A twinge of desire budded inside him, and he cursed his weakness. He did this every time she touched him. He grabbed her shoulders to push her away, but she let out a low sob and leaned against him, resting her head on his chest. The bonnet dropped to the floor as she clutched his shirt.

Her breath against his skin sent heat rushing everywhere. Jealousy crept inside his heart as he held her against his body. Why would she do this when only last night she had loved her husband so tenderly?

“I don’t know what to tell you to do, Isabelle,” he whispered as he brushed his lips across her forehead.

She moved her head back and forth, and at first he thought she was going to say something, but soon her mouth swept over his shirt, leaving kisses along the path.

He should be furious and push her away. She was married, yet doing this to Hawk. But he wasn’t Marcus right now, and Hawk wanted her badly.

Groaning, he clutched her head, threading his fingers through her sun-kissed chestnut hair. “Isabelle, why are you doing this?”

“Oh, Hawk. Being with you,” she murmured, nuzzling her nose against his chest, “has made me realize how much I’ve missed you.”

She tilted her head to look into his eyes and smiled. “I think you have missed me, as well.”

“I shouldn’t, my dove.”

“I shouldn’t, either.” She lowered her head and kissed his chest again. “But I cannot stop myself.”

He turned her and pinned her to the wall as his mouth devoured hers, kissing her wildly. She answered with urgent kisses of her hands moved under his shirt. Her fingers brushed the scab from where she’d plunged the knife in his body. Gently, she stroked him, almost apologetically.

He loved the way she touched him, even when her palms slid over his arms to his neck. In one swift movement, she yanked off his mask and wig. Shocked, he looked at her. Narrowed eyes focused on him, anger shooting from their depths. Before he could collect his thoughts, she ripped off his beard and mustache. Victory gleamed in her stare.

“What a surprise. It’s my dear husband, after all.”

* * * *

Isabelle’s uneven breaths whooshed out as she glared into Marcus’ wide eyes. She wanted to hate him. She did hate him. But at this particular moment, she just wanted answers.

She didn’t say anything, letting the statement sink in to his thick skull. Soon, his wide eyes dimmed and a frown took over his face. Guilt ate his expression, for which she was glad. Still, she wanted to scream at him for lying to her.

He straightened and pulled away. Emptiness consumed her quickly, and heaven help her, she wanted him back in her arms.

“How did you figure it out?” he asked.

She shook her head. Tears gathered in her eyes. “I should have known all along. Ever since meeting Lord Lockwood, I’d compared him to Hawk no matter what he did. I thought it was because I couldn’t stop loving Hawk.” She wiped a stray tear. “Then this afternoon I met your father. He called you Matthew. When I questioned him, he was appalled you’d use your dead brother’s name.” She shrugged. “I suppose then was when I started putting stories together. I remember when Hawk told me about his childhood. Strange, but Marcus had the same youth.”

She met his stare with a scowl. “Tell me the truth now. Are you Matthew or Marcus?”

“I’m Marcus.”

“Why does your father think you’re dead?”

“You don’t remember the story? He always thought of me as the weaker son. When I tried to present myself at his doorstep all those years later, he turned me away.” He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Also, I didn’t tell you about what else my father did. He tried to kill me.” She gasped, but he continued. “I saw him murder a man, and he tried to make it right by killing me so I couldn’t tell. Not long after that, I became a pirate and then a highwayman, seeking revenge against men like him.”

Her heart tugged once again, but she couldn’t allow herself to feel sorry for him. What he’d done to her was unforgivable. “So where is Matthew?”

“He’s dead.”

She blinked as confusion filled her head again. “Why doesn’t your father think so?”

Marcus took another deep breath and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “After Hawk set you free, I stepped back into my role as Marcus Thorne. I was told Viscount Lockwood had been asking about my ships. I decided to have him investigated. I don’t trust anybody, and since I’d never met Lord Lockwood, I didn’t know why he wanted to purchase a ship. Gabe was the one who discovered what a despicable man he was. Matthew had heard about his look-alike, and wanted to buy my shipping company so I could leave.” He turned his body toward her. “Matthew was about to kill me when I refused to let him buy my company. If Gabe hadn’t been spying, I’d be dead right now and you would have married my loathsome brother who I can promise, wouldn’t have treated you so kind and gentle.”

He stroked her cheek, still frowning. She wanted to bat his hand away, but the sadness carved into his expression stopped her.

“I’d forgotten you were betrothed to Lord Lockwood,” Marcus continued. “Until the day you arrived on my doorstep. At that point, I had decided to step into my brother’s role, which was legally mine now with my brother dead. I knew I’d learn more about the Royal Navy doing this.”

“Why…” Her throat tightened and she cleared her throat, not wanting to cry. “Why did you agree to marry me? When you were Hawk, you made it perfectly clear there was no room for me in your life.”

“There wasn’t. But Marcus needed you.” He smiled and moved closer to her. “To be honest, the reason Hawk didn’t want you anymore was because I thought you was a spy for the Royal Navy.”

She gasped and pushed his hand away. “You had asked me about that before, but I didn’t think you were serious.”

“Do you remember the dagger? There was a message hidden in the handle. The day I realized I was falling in love with you was the day I discovered the hidden code. That’s when I had Gabe take you to New York. I didn’t want to love a spy.” He shrugged. “But I couldn’t stop loving you no matter how hard I fought it. When you came to Lord Lockwood to ask about the betrothal agreement, I knew I must marry you to keep you close. If you had secrets about the Royal Navy, I wanted to know them.”

Pain throbbed in her skull as she tried to absorb all the information. Finally, Hawk’s actions that last day at his hideout made sense. The heartbreak was as real now as it had been back then. “Do you still think I’m the spy you were searching for?”

“No. Mrs. Winters was the culprit. The day after we’d made love as husband and wife I discovered this. That’s when I knew how much I loved you. I wanted to tell you, but didn’t know if you felt the same.” He moved closer, sliding his arms around her waist. “Do you still love me? Could you ever forgive me?”

The emotion in his voice tugged at her heart, and she silently cursed her body for responding. She couldn’t fall for his charm now. Not ever! He’d lied and had broken her trust.

“Marcus, it’s not that easy.” She pushed away from him and stepped back. “You lied to me.” She shook her head. “When I found out my father had been deceiving me all those years, it broke my heart, but not as much as you have done. You purposely lied to me and made me believe I wasn’t good enough for Hawk.”

“No.” He pulled her back into his arm. “I’m in love with you. Hawk is in love with you.” He kissed her mouth then buried his face in the curve of her neck. “Please forgive me. I cannot go on without you.”

She forced herself to stay strong. His sweet-talk couldn’t sway her this time. She yanked away from him once again. “I’m sorry, Marcus, but I cannot. I need more time to think about this. You hurt me badly.” She picked up her bonnet and hurried out the door before he stopped her. Tears blurred her vision, and she moved quickly before he noticed. When she climbed in the carriage, she allowed herself to cry, not caring if she ever saw her husband again.