“Who the bloody hellisthis boy?”
James chuckled. “My son, don’t you know. I tried to get him to remain behind on the ship, but he would have none of it. Determined to be here to see how you took our news.”
“I doubt you have news that concerns me.”
“Your wife is no concern of yours?”
Nicholas stood up slowly, his eyes locked with the captain’s. “What about her?”
“She’s very lovely, isn’t she?”
“How could you—?” With a growl of rage, Nicholas launched himself forward, flew over the desk, and grabbed James by the throat. It took Conrad and Jeremy together to pull him away from the captain. They held Nicholas, each grabbing an arm.
“If you’ve laid one hand on her, Hawke, I’ll kill you!”
James rubbed his sore throat, but there was a twinkle in his dark eyes. He was satisfied. “What did I tell you, Connie? Is this the reaction of man who doesn’t care?” he crowed.
“My wife,” Nicholas snarled before Conrad could think what to say, “what have you done with her?”
“Oh, this is famous,” James chuckled. Conrad and Jeremy clutched Nicholas tighter. “What sweet revenge it would be, lad, to invent a tale to torment you with. I could tell you I had kidnapped your dear wife, which is quite true, as a matter of fact. I had meant to use her to bring you to me. We didn’t know you had left the country, you see. And…unfortunately, I didn’t know who your wife was.”
“Don’t tell me the fearless Captain Hawke was intimidated by her family?”
This was greeted by such uproarious laughter from the other three that Nicholas was taken aback. He was able to throw off Jeremy’s tight hold, then aim a stunning blow to Conrad’s midsection. It gained his release for a moment, but only a moment.
“Easy, lad.” James put up a hand to stop Nicholas from any more fighting. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He grinned. “Especially since it took me weeks to recover from the last time.”
“Is that supposed to pacify me? It took me just as long to recover, and it prevented me from discouraging Regina…well, that is none of your business.”
“Depends on how you look at it, lad. I know you tried to get her to jilt you. A shame she didn’t,” he sighed, “but that’s beside the point.”
“Gettothe point!” Nicholas snapped. “What have you done with Regina?”
“My dear boy, Regan would never come to harm through me. You see, she’s my beloved niece.”
“Regan? I don’t give a damn—”
“Don’t you?”
There was so much insinuation in his manner that Nicholas stiffened, searching his mind. Suddenly, what he hadn’t noticed before came clear as he stared at Hawke. Hawke and the boy bore a distinctive resemblance to each other and to…
“James Malory?”
“The same.”
“Bloody everlasting hell.”
James laughed. “Don’t take it too hard. Imagine how I felt, finding out you had married into my family. That put an end to my plans.”
“Why?” Nicholas retorted. “As I recall, your family doesn’t acknowledge you.”
“That was before our reunion. My brothers and I have patched things up, thanks to Regan. She does have a way of getting what she wants.”
“Doesn’t she,” Nicholas murmured, his voice heavy with irony. “What are you doing here then? Came to congratulate me, did you?”
“Hardly, dear boy.” James smiled. “I’ve come to take you home.”
Nicholas’ eyes shot fire. “Not bloody likely.”
