She couldn’t think of him now, couldn’t believe in him or dare to believe in love. Her father’s life was at stake. Was another night spent in the arms of a pirate a small enough price for life?
No…for it was betrayal now.
The Hawk was staring at her, as if his silver eyes read her thoughts, and her very soul. He kissed her forehead, then took her hand.
“Come, lady. Our deal is made, and our bargain sealed. I will deliver.…”
“And then payment will be made.”
XV
The Silver Hawk cast open the door to the hallway. “Robert! Robert Arrowsmith.” he called.
Robert could not have been far away, for he came instantly to the door. “Aye, Captain?”
“Give the order to our own men below that we must get to the longboats and onto the ship. We sail out tonight.”
“Aye, sir!”
“And when the warning is given, come back to me. You may escort Lady Cameron back to wherever it is that you found her. Deliver her to the lieutenant governor with my compliments and suggest that he might wish to keep her somewhere out of harm’s way.”
“As you wish, sir,” Robert agreed.
“What!” Skye cried out.
“Go,” the Hawk told Robert. Robert saluted, and left them. The Hawk turned back to look at Skye. “You’re not coming, milady. You know that you cannot possibly come. You must go back to your husband and your home.”
“My father—”
“I will find your father. I will give you my word.”
“But—”
“I will not put your life at risk again. Were your father not so impulsive as to seek you when others were better at the task, we would not be here now. There is danger aboard a pirate ship. You should know that well.”
“Not when one is under the captain’s protection!”
“But you know very well that one captain can be killed and another man take his place. You know full well that the sea can rage, and cannons fire. I will not take you with me.”
“But…but what about your reward, Captain Hawk, your payment?”
He shrugged. “I have given you my promise that I will find your father and restore him to you. I will take your word that you will give payment, when payment is due. Your promise will be sufficient.”
“My promise—”
He came back to her, a curious smile curving his lips. She didn’t think to walk away; she was touched by the silver fire in his eyes and the wistful curl of his mouth beneath the mustache and beard. “You made a promise to me once before,” he said softly. “Do you remember?”
She started to shake her head, suddenly frantic to be free from him. Sweet warmth filled her.
She might have stayed with him. Once, if it had not been for her love for Theo, she might well have cast caution and society and propriety to the wind. She might well have stayed with him upon his paradise while the world be damned. She had cared so very deeply. And now with his touch upon her…
“Do you remember? Darkness had fallen and you defied me and all danger to escape the night. And you promised me anything, anything at all that I could desire. To give to me all. You later retracted the promise—you had given it to a pirate. But you did not retract, in truth, and I will never forget the time that you gave me the innocence, the trust.”
“You never forget?” she whispered. “Except when you bed with whores?”
“Never even then,” he replied. “You tell me, milady, do you think of me when you bed with your husband?”
She pulled from him quickly, lowering her head. She had made new vows in her heart. She had sworn that when this danger was over, she would never fight her legal lord and husband again. She would live with him at Cameron Hall, and love him for all of her life.
