The Infamous Rogue Part 45

Epilogue.

"C ongratulations, Black Hawk."

James hardened at the epithet. "Black Hawk is dead."

The duke extended his arm in a gesture of felicitation. "Only in my dreams."

He took in a slow, deep breath before he accepted the handshake. "Thank you for your help in court."

"Hmm...next time I'll let you hang."

Damian smirked before he strolled off. James followed his exasperating kinsman with his eyes...but as soon as he lighted on Sophia, the displeasure in his breast withered away.

The woman's smile and gaiety were infectious. She thanked the duke for his well-wishes, then embraced Mirabelle in a sisterly fas.h.i.+on.

A warm and pulsing sentiment gathered in James's belly. He observed his bride-to-be in admiration, for the woman was beyond lovely in a brilliant bronze dress of l.u.s.trous satin with short puffed sleeves that hugged her delectable shoulders. She had forsaken the garish baubles, her full and tempting bust smooth and luscious. Even her dark hair, curled and pinned, was loose in its arrangement, so soft tresses cuddled her ears and caressed her throat.

James ignored the merry din in the castle as the engagement party was well under way, content to observe his fiancee instead. She had vowed to make his life miserable...but he was determined to make hers wonderful.

William approached him with a gla.s.s of champagne in his hand. "Congratulations, James."

"Thank you, Captain."

Captain William Hawkins looked fl.u.s.tered at the appellation. That made James smile even more. His brother was now in command of his own vessel. He would have to grow accustomed to the term of respect...and the burden of responsibility that accompanied it.

"When do you set sail?" said James.

"In a fortnight."

He nodded. "I have a gift for you, Will."

He lifted a brow. "You do?"

"To commemorate the event of your maiden voyage...I'll give it to you after the wedding, though."

William shrugged.

A moment of quiet pa.s.sed between the two men.

James regarded his brother thoughtfully. "Good luck, Wil ."

"Thank you, James." There was a silent understanding that their strife was over. "I'm going to need it with Eddie and Quincy serving onboard."

It was time the brothers parted ways. James would always be there to support his kin, however he would not serve under the Royal Navy. If the men needed to be privateers and explore the world without him, then he wished them wisdom and sweet winds...at least the brothers needn't worry about the impostors anymore.

Quincy entered the parlor. "I've got it!"

Alice bounded across the room and hugged her uncle Quincy's leg. "You got what?"

"You've got what?" corrected her mother.

Squirt screwed up her face. "I don't have anything."

Mirabelle rolled her eyes.

Quincy chuckled and ruffled the chit's curly locks. "I have the paper." He cleared his throat. "The headline reads: Black Hawk Is Dead!" He wagged his brows. "Memorable, eh?"

"Well?" said Edmund, frowning. "How does the rest of it read?"

Quincy rustled the pages. "The infamous pirate leader Black Hawk is dead, the crew drowned! The notorious villain tempted fate with his heinous conduct, kidnapping the wealthy Miss Sophia Dawson for ransom. The young lady's fiance, the valiant Captain James Hawkins, hunted the surly devil at sea, and in a dance with death, defeated the wretched pirate lord, rescuing the damsel and sending the cutthroats to the bottom of the sea. The water is free at last from the wicked corsair and his motley crew of scalawags."

Quincy twisted his lips. "Scalawags?" He sniffed. "The sea is once more the domain of our nation's great navy. Rejoice, good reader! Rule Britannia!"

"Hurrah!" Squirt danced on her toes. "I hate pirates."

The room erupted in guffaws, for Alice wasn't privy to her uncles' notorious reputations. James wondered what the squirt would think to learn she was standing in the same room with the infamous villains.

James moved off and settled beside a window, the sunset casting the crisp, autumn landscape in a fiery glow of brilliant russet reds and bright golden yellows.

Black Hawk was dead. James had "killed" the brigand at sea, and as a result, he didn't have to chase after the impostors anymore. The knave Hagley and his cheeky crew could pillage the waters al they liked...under another pseudonym. No one would ever take the legendary t.i.tle away from James again, and that meant the brothers needn't seek a pardon for their wicked ways, their pasts secured. William, Edmund, and Quincy had enlisted under the Royal Navy's African Squadron as privateers without censure, scandal, or legal delicacies.

"Good evening...valiant Captain James Hawkins."

He quirked a wry smile at her smoky drawl and showmans.h.i.+p.

"Good evening, sweetheart."

She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her warm cheek against his breast, making him shudder. He closed his eyes and embraced her, his soul quiet as she snuggled against him, chasing away the last remaining shadows in his heart.

"I received a letter from Imogen today."

"Oh?" He bussed the top of her head, the sweet scent of bay rum shampoo filling his nose, his lungs. "How is she?"

"Mrs. Lewis is doing very well. She and her husband are coming to the wedding."

"I'm glad to hear it."

James was pleased to know the girl was fit and in good spirits, that her beau had proved honorable and faithful, whisking her away from scandal and wedding her proper.

"Lady Lucas will attend our wedding, as wel ."

James's good mood soured.

"I think you'll find her much more agreeable, James."

He frowned.

"You are the valiant Captain James Hawkins, after al ."

He sighed at that, Sophia chuckling.

"Alice, put that down!"

James and Sophia glanced across the room-and witnessed Squirt inspecting a dainty dish.

"I was just looking at it, Mama," she said peevishly.

"You might break it, Alice. Put it down!"

The spiteful chit glanced at the dish...then at her mother...then dropped the porcelain.

"Alice!"

She scurried into her uncle Quincy's protective arms. "It was an accident, Mama!"

Sophia groaned in sympathy with the d.u.c.h.ess. "I think it's time Bel e hired a governess."

"I think you're right," he said grimly.

She offered him a sa.s.sy smile. "Are you sure you won't regret not having offspring of your own?"

"Bite your tongue, woman."

She chuckled and rested her chin against his breastbone. "I have something for you."

He looked down into her bewitching, cocoa brown eyes and shuddered at the smoldering expression in the deep, dark pools. "You do?"

Slowly she gathered her slender brows in a seductive, nay, mischievous fas.h.i.+on.

James watched as her thin fingers sensuously slipped into her bodice and stirred in the pocket between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. With a wicked grin, she removed a small, black velvet pouch with golden cords from her corset.

"No knife?" he asked.

"No knife." She handed him the mysterious parcel. "I thought you might like a new one...to replace the old."

He furrowed his brow at the enigmatic clue before he took the weighty gift from her fingers and stretched the threaded cords. He turned the satchel upside-down.

A fob watch slipped out of the bag.

James took in a sharp breath. His heart thumped hard as he fingered the timepiece, rubbed his thumb across the smooth gla.s.s surface and solid gold underside.

"Read the inscription," she said softly.

He gazed into her lovely eyes, so mesmerizing, before he lifted the watch toward the window, the bauble s.h.i.+mmering in the splayed light, and read: May you rot in everlasting matrimony.

Fingers quivered, then his lips. He whispered, "Witch."

"Aye, I am." She kissed his breast, stirring his blood, his bones, his heart to pulsing life.

"But it's no worse than you deserve, you infamous rogue."

About the Author.

ALEXANDRA BENEDICT is a storyteller at heart. A graduate of the University of Toronto, she works part-time in a museum while penning pa.s.sionate tales of historical romance. An archaeology buff, she loves to travel and explore ancient ruins. Her hobbies include collecting art and reading cla.s.sic British literature.

Alexandra invites readers to visit her at www.alexandrabenedict.ca and www.thehawkinsbrothers.ca for trivia, excerpts, and more!.

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Romances by Alexandra Benedict.

MISTRESS OF PARADISE.

THE INFAMOUS ROGUE.

TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE.

TOO SCANDALOUS TO WED.

TOO GREAT A TEMPTATION.

A FORBIDDEN LOVE.

end.