Page 13 of Pirate's Intent
She cocked her head. “What do Luke’s letters have to do with my brooch?”
“You meanmybrooch,” he said tightly before he could stop himself. But at the moment, he damn well meant it.
Rose jerked back a little as if she’d been slapped, blinked several times then tore her eyes from his. “Yes,yourbrooch.” She pulled her shoulders back, gathered herself, and looked at him again. “What is the connection?”
“Luke talked about the bauble,” he said. “And those letters were in the trunk.” He shook his head. “Thankfully, he never used his name, so his anonymity remains intact.”
Her hand drifted to her chest, where he suspected she typically wore the brooch. “I can only assume it had value to someone...other than me.”
“It did,” he conceded, finally telling her the truth about the dainty rather plain, floral brooch. “Though it was underwhelming, it was extremely valuable. Of the royal line and the only one of its kind, it ended up with my family, handed down generation upon generation. It is hundreds of years old.”
“I thought it a tad more becoming than underwhelming,” she said softly. “It was truly lovely.” She swallowed and didn’t quite meet his eyes. “A flower for your rose, I believe you once said.”
It was hard to imagine a time he’d spoken such romantic words, but they had been said. Back in a time where saying such a thing to a woman came easily. Back when he meant it with all his heart.
“Its appearance matters little.” He moved the discussion along before he got lost in her eyes. Before he forgave all and pulled her into his arms. Now was not the time for that. There might never be. “What matters is its extraordinary value.”
“Surely, it is not that great,” she murmured.
“It is very great, indeed, Rose,” he confirmed. “Valuable enough to make a host of men very wealthy several lifetimes over.” He shook his head and gave her the cold, hard truth. “Enough so that Big Devil will never stop until he acquires it.”
ChapterFour
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OVERWHELMED BY NOTonly the battling earlier but by everything she had learned, Rose sat quietly and tried to gather her thoughts. Thomas, in turn, downed his rum and waited patiently for her to speak, much like he had in their youth. She’d always appreciated that about him and was glad to see that aspect of his personality unchanged.
How could Hannah have kept such information from her? Not just her correspondence with Luke over the years but the astounding fact that she had a way to contact him. That Rose might have had the same with Thomas. She scowled and shook her head, putting that thought from her mind. Better that they had stopped after the first few letters when he was still in the Royal Navy.
Yet she remained curious. “How did Hannah get the letters to Luke?”
Thomas shrugged. “They had their ways.”
She arched a brow. “And what ways were those?”
“I haven’t a clue.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Why, when I did not know they were even corresponding?”
True. Still. Though she meant to leave it alone, she could not. She had to know. “Did you ever think to write me again?”
“No.”
She pressed her lips together, folded her hands in her lap, and fought a wave of emotion. How could he have grown so callous? She thought of his endless selfless gestures when they were young. Him reading to her as they strolled through the forest one cool spring morning.
“You are going to trip,” she had warned gaily, amused as he avoided branches and rocks, his eyes never leaving the page. He was a handsome sight in his navy uniform, issued by British Admiralty. A grey kersey jacket, lined with red cotton, and fifteen brass buttons. A waistcoat of Welsh red with eighteen brass buttons, paired with red kersey breeches and double soled shoes. His cravat was tidy, and his hair neatly combed.
“I am too coordinated to trip,” he assured. “Besides, how could I trip when I am single-handedly assuring the hero makes it home to his love by reading this to you?” He winked at her. “Just as I intend to make it home to you.”
“I hope so.”
“Without a doubt, my love.” He pulled her into his arms before she could dart away. “You know that, right? That I will always return to you?”
Her heart leapt though fear cut through her.
“I know,” she murmured but worried still.
