Page 30 of Stolen by My Knave
Jack sighed. “Do I want to hear this?”
“I do not plan on going into details on the story itself. Just how it impacted my life.”
He suspected that was even worse. What good could have come to her life from a story about him? “I suppose you’re going to force me to listen to all of this?”
She frowned. “You’re acting like you’ll be walking the plank at the end. Did you actually make people do that?”
Jack lifted his hands and rubbed his face. “I’d rather not discuss that part of my life. It’s part of the past I’d like to leave behind me.”
“All right,” she agreed. “I’ll let that go—for now.”
Elizabeth was too stubborn for her own good. “Please continue. I’ve grown weary.”
She turned away from him and walked over to the mirror once again. What was with her fascination with the bloody thing? She wasn’t vain enough to have to stare at herself. “When I was twelve, my brothers begged me to tell them the pirate story.”
He remained quiet and watched her closely. So she knew the story well enough to retell it. Jack wasn’t sure it was an entirely good thing for her to have learned. It hadn’t occurred to him until that moment, but it couldn’t be all bad. A mother wouldn’t retell it to children if it was. Perhaps Evelyn had thought better of him than he’d believed. He glanced down at his hands and let her voice lull him.
“On that particular day, the mirror clouded over.” She lifted her hand and traced the outline. “I kept talking—the story flowed from me as if it were a part of me. As each detail swept out of me the mirror flowed with images. It was as if I couldsee itas it happened, and details I’d never known were revealed.”
Jack’s head snapped up at her words. “What was different?”
She turned toward him and smiled. “The differences don’t matter. What does is I saw it—you—for the first time. Don’t you understand? When we met in this very library, I received the shock of my life. We were meant to find each other.”
He shook his head. “I wish I had your faith. I’m not a good man, and you deserve far better than I could ever offer you.”
Elizabeth frowned. “I won’t argue with you now. It’s clear you’re going to be stubborn about this.”
Oh, how he wanted her. She wouldn’t fight him either. If he pushed, she’d fall willingly into his embrace, but what kind of cad would he be to take advantage of her innocence? She might believe they were fated, but Jack needed more proof than that. Maybe she’d seen him in the mirror for a different reason.
“Did you ever think you saw me and what I was capable of so you’d know to steer clear of me?”
“No,” she replied. “I saw a brave man who was willing to do whatever it took to protect a woman. In the process, he was torn from the world and everything familiar about it by a freak storm.” She walked over to his side and wrapped her arms around his neck. He turned his head to meet her gaze. “That man was prepared to do something most wouldn’t have been brave enough to do. Don’t let the darkness have you. With me, you have a chance for happiness.”
Jack wanted to believe her. It was so alluring... She was a temptress who lured him to her side like the sirens of legend. He was lost on her with no way or desire to fight it. Why not give in and taste her once more? “Yes,” he agreed. “You’re exactly what I need.”
He leaned down and captured her lips with his own. The fiery sweetness overtook him once again—vanilla spiced rum, and he was drunk on it. She moaned as he deepened the kiss. The more he tasted, the more he wanted. Jack doubted he would ever have enough of her. Her heat mixed with his as he pulled her against him. Without thought, and on pure instinct, he lifted his hand and cupped her breast. Elizabeth moaned louder as he caressed her. Her dress—he had to remove it. He wanted to feel her naked flesh—taste every part of her.
He was about to start pulling her dress down when a woman’s voice penetrated his thoughts. “Well isn’t this cozy?”
Elizabeth pulled away from him and glanced toward the intruder. Never before that moment did he wish he was still a pirate. If so, he’d happily throw Lady Hyacinth Barrington overboard. Walk the plank? That was too good for her.
“Go away,” he growled.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Lady Hyacinth replied. “It’s clear Lady Elizabeth is in dire need of a chaperone. I’ll make myself comfortable over there in the corner.” She grinned evilly as she met Elizabeth’s gaze. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to let your poor mama know what you’ve been up to. She needs to steer her only daughter right, and its clear you’ve fallen down a wicked path. It’s my duty to see you’re protected.” The smugness oozed off of Lady Hyacinth’s face.
Jack started to picture shark-infested waters. Maybe he’d come out of retirement long enough to steer a ship toward them and drop Lady Hyacinth overboard. It didn’t matter one way or the other though. They’d been caught, and there was only one thing he could do. Their predicament added to one conclusion, and as much as he didn’t like it, Jack was well aware of his responsibilities.
He’d have to offer Elizabeth marriage. It was a good thing he already decided he wanted her more than anything in the world...
