The Earl of Sutcliffe has a problem – his son, Daniel, prefers men to
women.

After two years of marriage to Lady Kathryn Sinclair, Daniel hasn’t
produced
an heir. Desperate to continue his bloodline, Sutcliffe turns to his
illegitimate
son,

Talon

Montgomery.

Knowing the prosperous American privateer will never do as he
wishes,
Sutcliffe arranges for his son to be falsely arrested for piracy. Talon is
devastated when he believes his entire crew has been executed. When
he
discovers Sutcliffe has interceded on their behalf, Talon is willing to do
anything to keep them safe – even seduce his sister-in-law.

Once a Pirate
By
Diana Bold

Chapter One
London—1810
"You've got a visitor, Montgomery."
Deep in the bowels of Newgate Prison, Talon Montgomery looked up
from the corner of his dank, windowless cell. "A visitor?" His words
were little more than a hoarse rasp. He hadn't spoken in months, not
since he'd realized nothing he said would entice the guards to release
him.
He shielded his eyes from the glare of the guard's lantern with a grimy
hand, blinking and uncertain. A visitor? He'd been trapped down here
for what seemed an eternity, accused of treason and branded a pirate.
They claimed he'd been spying for the Americans, looting English
ships for military secrets and wealth.
He accepted the charge of piracy, even though he was technically a
privateer, but he hotly denied the treason. He was an American, by
choice, if not by birth. Unfortunately, his letter of marque from the
American government had been ignored, and he'd been thrown in this
cell to rot. He'd been sentenced to death, and he couldn't imagine why
they were dragging it out.
The hulking guard withdrew a key and unlocked his cell for the first
time since his mockery of a trial. The grinding rasp of the key brought
long dead reflexes to life.
Was he hallucinating? He had to be, because freedom lay just beyond
that open door. All he had to do was get rid of the guard...
"You wouldn't make it two feet," the man warned, hauling Talon off
the floor with one beefy arm.
Talon fought a wave of nausea and humiliation. The good health he'd
taken for granted all his life had deserted him. He battled to find the
strength to remain standing instead of wilting at the man's feet in an
ignoble heap.
The guard grinned. "Not so high and mighty now, are we, Lord Pirate?"
Talon shook off the man's hands, bracing his own against the iron bars
for support. "Where are you taking me?"
"There's a fancy gentleman waitin' to have a word with you in the
warden's office." Still chuckling, the guard shoved Talon toward his
cell door. "I don't imagine the bloke wants to be kept twiddlin' his
thumbs by the likes o' you."

Talon let the guard prod him down the narrow corridor, unable to
accept the fact that he had a

visitor. Who could it be? His valiant crew had been dead these many
months, and he had no one else.
He wondered if this was a ruse, some strange new form of torture to
make him confess. If so, perhaps this time they'd succeed. He could
bear anything but false hope.
Halfway to the warden's office, the cobwebs cleared and he realized
there was someone in his life with the power to arrange such a visit.
Sudden fury sparked within him, burning away months of apathy and
despair.
Sutcliffe! Had he come to gloat? To see Talon broken and humbled
once and for all? His anger gave him the strength to climb the endless
flight of stairs.
At last the guard shoved him into a warm, brightly lit room. "Here he is,
sir. Let us know when you're done with him."
Talon stood in the doorway, blinking against the light, tension coursing
through him as he struggled to get a clear look at the two men who
waited inside. One was a giant of a man, dressed in silver and blue
livery that bore the Sutcliffe crest. Hired muscle, Talon thought in
disgust, dismissing him.
The other man stood in front of the crackling fire, warming his gloved
hands. He didn't turn around when Talon entered the room, which
wasn't surprising.
James Sinclair, the Sixth Earl of Sutcliffe, had first turned his back on
his bastard son twenty-nine years ago, the day he'd discovered Talon's
mother carried him in her womb.
Talon slumped against the wall, glaring. He'd swallowed his pride and
sent his father an impassioned plea for help after his arrest, only to be
completely ignored. If there'd been anything left in him of the boy
who'd once yearned for his father's love, Sutcliffe had killed it then.
"Damn you," Talon muttered. "Damn you to hell."
Sutcliffe laughed and turned to look at the son he'd never wanted.
Talon drew in a sharp breath, startled. He hadn't been face to face with
the man who'd sired him since he was a lad of twelve. He'd forgotten
how much he resembled the man.
They shared the same unusual coloring — inky black hair and icy blue
eyes. Sutcliffe's harsh, uncompromising features were more deeply

lined and his ebony hair had turned gray at the temples, but there was
no denying they were father and son.
The earl assessed him with a critical gaze. "I'm glad to see five months
in prison hasn't broken your spirit."
Five months. Five months since he'd taken a breath of air that wasn't
fouled by the odors of death and decay. Five months since he'd felt the
sun and wind on his skin or eaten a decent meal. It had seemed far
longer.
Talon's fury burst through the dam that had held it, a torrent of all the
injustices he'd suffered since his arrest. He pushed off the wall, hell
bent on murder.
Sutcliffe's footman stepped forward, but Sutcliffe stayed him with an
arrogant wave of his gloved hand. "Leave us, Lionel. He's far too weak
to do me any harm."
Lionel pinned Talon with an intimidating glance then shrugged and left
the room.
Talon burned with mortification. He hated his obvious weakness, hated
that his father was right. He was in no shape to strike fear into anyone.
"What are you doing here?"
Sutcliffe gave him an arrogant smile. "Arranging your pardon, of
course. You're a free man, Montgomery. All you need to do is walk out
that door."
Despite his hatred, Talon couldn't contain the dizzying sense of hope
his father's words provoked. He wanted out of this place. He wanted to
lift his face to the sun just one more time...
It would be worth any price he had to pay. And the watchful look on
Sutcliffe's haughty face assured him there would be a price.
The truth of it hit him like a fist in the gut. Sutcliffe had left him to rot
for a reason. He'd wanted to make certain Talon was desperate enough
to agree to whatever he was about to demand.

"What do you want from me? You wouldn't help me when I needed it.
Why bother now?" Sutcliffe smiled again, but the smile didn't reach his
eyes. "I've been busy. I attended to this as soon as I was able."
With those few careless words, Sutcliffe managed to express how
utterly unimportant he found the life of his bastard son.
"I didn't ask you to help with my release. I needed you to use your
influence to intervene on behalf of my crew. It's the only thing I've ever
asked of you, and now seventy good men are dead."
"Don't work yourself into a state," Sutcliffe said. "Your disreputable
crew is safe and sound, sailing one of my ships to Barbados as we
speak."
Relief washed over Talon with the force of a hurricane. He'd been
haunted with guilt, knowing his men had died while he still lived. Now
he swayed dizzily with the knowledge that Sutcliffe had saved his crew
from the gallows.
Sutcliffe frowned and shoved a chair in Talon's direction. "Here, boy.
Sit down before you fall."
The last ounce of Talon's strength deserted him. He had no choice but
to take the offered chair. Sutcliffe ensured his capitulation by handing
him a tray loaded with fresh bread, cheese, and wine.
Talon's stomach growled, brought to life by the sharp, wonderful
scents. He lifted a piece of crumbling bread to his lips with a trembling
hand, eyeing Sutcliffe warily lest he try to snatch it away.
"You're far too thin and filthy as hell, but that can be remedied,"
Sutcliffe mused while Talon devoured the food he'd provided.
Talon paused long enough to raise a sarcastic brow. "If you needed me
fat and clean, you should have arranged for my release months ago."
Sutcliffe threw back his head and laughed. "By God, boy. There's more
of me in you than I'd imagined, but I'm glad to see it. You're perfect for
what I have in mind. Absolutely perfect."
Sutcliffe's words should have alarmed him, but the warmth of the room,
coupled with the solid feel of good food in his stomach, stole over him,
filling him with lethargy. Sutcliffe had spared his men. He was willing
to listen.
"What am I perfect for?" He was curious despite himself. Why would a
man like Sutcliffe go to so much trouble to ensure the cooperation of an
American privateer? It made no sense. "I need an heir."

Talon straightened, unamused. "You have an heir."
Sutcliffe waved his hand dismissively. "Lansdowne is an
embarrassment to me. I procured him the loveliest bride in the land,
hoping to dissuade him from his perverted ways, but I don't think he's
so much as touched her hand in passing during the two years they've
been married."
Nausea twisted in Talon's gut. He had an inkling of where this was
leading, and he didn't like it, not one bit. He knew of Viscount
Lansdowne's preference for men. He'd once stalked his half-brother,
Daniel, through the streets of London, curious to see what his life might
have been like if his mother had been the earl's wife instead of his
mistress. He'd seen far more than he'd wanted to. "What does this have
to do with me?"
"I want you to escort Lansdowne and his young wife to my plantation
in the Carolinas. He's become a liability. I don't want him to return until
Lady Kathryn manages to conceive a child."
The utter ruthlessness in Sutcliffe's eyes when he spoke of banishing
his only legitimate son sent a shiver up Talon's spine. Perhaps he was
the lucky one after all.
"I doubt he's capable of siring a child," Talon muttered, disgusted with
the entire subject.
"I'm counting on you." Sutcliffe leaned forward with sudden intensity.
"You're my son, more like me than Daniel could ever hope to be. If you
father Lady Kathryn's child, I'll have a grandson worthy of my title."
The earl's outrageous suggestion hung heavy in the air. "You want me
to seduce Daniel's wife?"

Talon shook his head in stunned disbelief. "What makes you think I'd
do something like that?"
Sutcliffe sat down behind the warden's desk and steepled his fingertips.
"I've asked myself the same question time and again. What would it
take to bend a man like you to my will?"
In answer to his own question, Sutcliffe lifted one broad shoulder in a
careless shrug. "I'd thought a few months of deprivation would make
you more open to suggestion. But then I had a chance to visit with some
of your men, and I think I discovered what it is you'd sell your soul for."
"Go to hell," Talon snarled. "You don't know anything about me."
"You want land. Land in that heathen country you call home." Sutcliffe
smiled benignly. "I can give it to you. In fact, I'm prepared to deed you
the title to my newly acquired holdings in Carolina. It's a lovely place,
I've been told. Two thousand acres west of Charleston. A plantation
called Holyoke. Perhaps you've heard of it?"
"You know I have." Talon felt stripped, his most secret dream laid bare
beneath his father's steady gaze. He'd meant to buy Holyoke one day,
leave the sea and settle down in a place where titles meant nothing.
"It's yours. I'll have you on a ship to the Carolinas as soon as I can
arrange it. All you have to do is seduce a lovely young woman. Then
you can walk away and never look back."
"I'm not like you." Talon stared down at his empty plate, the food he'd
eaten churning in his stomach. "I won't do it."
Sutcliffe sighed and got to his feet. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'm very
sorry indeed."
He strode to the door and rapped twice. The burly guard appeared
immediately. "I'm finished with him. He refuses to listen to reason.
You may escort him back to his cell."
Talon knew the earl expected him to change his mind. He watched the
guard approach, his heart pounding in his chest. He tried to work up the
courage to defy Sutcliffe, to go back to his cell and die rather than give
his father the satisfaction of breaking him.
But he couldn't do it. He couldn't go back down into that cold, dark hell.
He wanted to live, damn it. He wanted the chance to make the son of a
bitch pay for asking this of him.
"All right," he said. "I'll do it."

Chapter Two
Talon's release was arranged with breathtaking speed and efficiency.
Sutcliffe and the warden engaged in a brief conversation, there was an
exchange of funds, and then Talon found himself outside the prison
walls for the first time since his arrest.
The moon hung heavy and full in the starry sky. For a long moment,
Talon just stood there, staring upward, inhaling the crisp night air. He'd
never seen a more beautiful sight.
"Come along, lad." Lionel, the footman, laid a broad hand on Talon's
shoulder and steered him toward the fine carriage waiting just beyond
the gates. "You're free now. There will be plenty of time for stargazing
later. Right now, we need to get you home."
Home. Talon swallowed back a bitter retort and climbed into the
luxurious compartment beside the earl. As the carriage rumbled
through the deserted streets, he let his mind drift back to his twelfth
year, to his mother's last, painful words...
"I've never been able to give you the life you deserve," she told him
as she lay dying of fever. "You're a Lord's son, Talon. Your father
is the Earl of Sutcliffe. You were meant for better things."
The Earl of Sutcliffe. He stilled, shocked to the core. Even in his
wildest dreams, he'd never dared reach that high.
"Areyou sure, Mama?" He was afraid to believe in her, even now.
How many times had she promised him a better life? How many
times had those promises turned out to be nothing but lies?
"Go to him. Don't let him turn you away." She gave him one last,
tremulous smile, and then she slipped away.
"No." Tears streamed down his cheeks as he held her lifeless body
and stroked her limp, dark hair. He tried to imagine a time when it
had not been dirty and tangled, tried to imagine her as a rich
man's mistress instead o f a poor man's whore.
What was he to do, traipse over to St. James Square, pound on the
earl's front door and demand his rightful place as a son o f the
house?
Not bloody likely. They'd take one look at his dirty face, ragged
clothes and skinny body and laugh their arses o f f . He had no
proof, nothing but his mother's name. Even i f her claim was true,

it was unlikely the Earl o f Sutcliffe would remember a woman like
Maggie Montgomery.
But through the terrible days that followed, long after his mother
had been buried in a pauper's grave and the landlord had stolen
what few belongings she'd l e f t behind, it was all he could think

about.
What i f it was true and he did nothing? What i f he was meant for
something better than the dirty, violent streets he called home?
What could it hurt to try?
He finally gathered his courage and asked around until someone
directed him to the earl's enormous Palladian mansion. Once
there, however, he knew he could never actually knock on the
imposing front door.
He turned to go, but then the door opened and a young boy
emerged. The lad was a little younger than Talon, small -boned
and pale, dressed like a little lord. There was an expression o f
utter boredom on the boy's face as he sat down on the wide marble
steps and stared at the t r a f fi c on the busy street.
A brother? Talon stared at the boy, his heart thundering in his
chest, the sting o f tears burning his eyes. He'd always wanted a
brother.
Before he could think better o f it, he darted across the street,
climbed the steps and dropped to his knees before the lad. "Is Lord
S u t cl if fe your father?"
The boy scooted backward, his eyes widening i n fear. He tightened
his hold on the toy soldier i n his hand until it broke, the head
bouncing down the stairs and rolling away. "Go away. I ' m not
supposed to talk to strangers."
" I need to know." Talon's voice rose i n desperation. He knew he'd
never have another chance. "He's my father, too. My mother told
me he was."
"You're lying." The boy shook his head i n denial then jumped to
his feet and raced to the door, throwing it open and darting inside.
Talon followed, dashing past the wide-eyed butler, careening to a
stop inside the grand marble hallway. His surge o f bravery
dissipated when faced with the reality o f his surroundings.
He'd never seen such grandeur. Dozens o f gleaming white
columns rose toward the domed ceiling, while ivory statues twice
the size o f men guarded the huge oak doors that led i n all
directions.
"Father, Father, come quickly!" the boy yelled up a grand curving
staircase, darting nervous looks i n Talon's direction.

After a moment, a tall, dark-haired gentleman appeared on the
landing.
Talon swallowed, suddenly terrified.
"Daniel," the earl said at length. "Why i s there a beggar child i n
the hall?"
"He says you're his father." Daniel's thin voice was angry and
tearful. "Tell him it's not so. Tell him you're my father."
S u t cl if fe laughed, a harsh, unfriendly sound. His icy gaze
returned to Talon. " I' m your father, am I , boy? Where i s your
proof?"
Talon fisted his hands at his sides so the earl couldn't see them
shake. "My name i s Talon, sir. My mother was Maggie
Montgomery. She died a few days ago, and I have nowhere else to
go."
"Maggie Montgomery?" S u tc li ff e descended the stairs and strode
toward Talon with long, ground-eating strides.
Talon forced himself to keep from flinching as the man grasped his
chin and turned his face up to the light.
The silence i n the hall was absolute.
S u t cl if fe laughed and released him, dusting his hand on the side
o f his tailored trousers as though he'd touched something foul.
"You do have the look o f me."
Talon nearly collapsed i n relief. His mother had been telling the
truth. The earl's eyes turned flat and distant. "Your mother was a
whore, boy. It's true I could be your father, but so could any o f a
dozen other men." He waved a hand at the boy on the stairs.
"Besides, as you can see, I already have a

son."
Daniel's smile was cold and mocking. In that moment, Talon hated
his half-brother more than he'd ever hated anything, even the
father who scorned him.
The earl snapped his fingers and one o f the footmen stepped
forward. "Give the little bastard some money and send him on his
way."
Talon drew himself up with as much dignity as possible, given the
circumstances. " I don't want your money, sir. I don't want
anything from you at all." He turned and walked away, head still
held high, the earl's laughter ringing i n his ears...
He'd gone straight to the docks, hired on as a cabin boy and gone to sea.
But from time to time during the last twenty years, he'd imagined
coming back so flush in coin and elegantly attired no one would think
of denying him entrance.
Not even in his worst nightmares had he imagined he'd be dressed in
rags and covered in his own
stench.
When they finally arrived in St. James Square, Sutcliffe was the first to
step out of the carriage, trailed by Talon and the massive footman. The
same haughty butler who had witnessed Talon's childhood humiliation
stood waiting on the steps.
"Good evening, Lord Sutcliffe." The impassive little man bowed to his
employer and then turned his attention to Talon, betraying not a flicker
of surprise at his ragged condition. "We've been expecting you, Mr.
Montgomery."
"Jenkins, make sure he has everything he needs. Inform me when he's
ready for dinner." Without a backward glance, the earl strode off down
the hall.
"Right this way, sir." Jenkins escorted Talon up the curving mahogany
staircase to an opulent bedroom suite on the third floor. Moments later,
an army of servants arrived, laden with every imaginable amenity.
After the huge copper tub had been filled with steaming water, Talon
sent them all away, desperate for a little privacy. After so long alone in
the dark, the chaos rattled him.

Shedding his filthy clothes, he stepped into the deep tub, letting the hot
water seep into his frozen bones. "Lady Kathryn," he muttered, shaking
his head in despair.
Christ, what had he gotten himself into?
It had taken a will of iron to pull himself out of the gutter where he'd
been born, but Sutcliffe had managed to break him with nothing more
than the promise of a breath of fresh air.
He'd bought his freedom by swearing to seduce his sister-in-law, but he
had no intention of doing so. The question was, how did he keep his
hatred for his father at bay long enough to pretend he did?
Every instinct urged him to run, and it took a supreme act of will to
resist. The wisest course was to remain here a few days and regain his
strength. He needed every possible advantage before attempting to
outsmart his father. Lord knew his thinking was none too clear at the
moment.
Lifting a mirror and razor from the table next to the tub, he took a
moment to look at himself and was stunned by what he saw. The pale,
gaunt stranger who stared back at him bore no resemblance to the
dashing pirate he'd once been. Hell, how did Sutcliffe expect him to
seduce anyone?
Resolutely, he scraped off his heavy beard, determined to play the part
his father had scripted. He would meet Daniel's wife, perhaps even
show an interest in her. Anything to get safely out of England.
But as soon as the ship cleared the Channel, he intended to wash his
hands of both his half-brother and the unfortunate Lady Kathryn. No
estate was worth his honor. Especially since his honor was all he
had left.
The steaming water was lukewarm by the time he exited his bath.
He dried off with a big, fresh-smelling towel, then pulled on the velvet
robe that had been provided for his use. He'd just finished belting the
heavy fabric when the door opened behind him. "You clean up well,
my boy."

Talon turned and met his father's appraising blue gaze. Sutcliffe sized
him up as though he were a prized stallion. An accurate analogy,
considering what the old bastard wanted him to do.
"Well," Talon muttered, taking a seat in front of the crackling fire. "We
wouldn't want Lady Kathryn to be disappointed, now would we?"
Sutcliffe gave a short laugh and strode across the room, seating himself
in the deep leather chair opposite Talon's. "No. We wouldn't want that."
A loaded silence fell between them, broken only when several burly
servants arrived to remove the tub. When they were finished, a young
girl brought up a dinner tray for Talon and a decanter of brandy for
Sutcliffe.
Talon gave the girl a wan smile and was rewarded with a wink and a
blush. She was lushly curved, Irish, he'd guess, from that riotous red
hair. Perhaps in a day or two he might feel up to the invitation in her
eyes.
"Bridget," Sutcliffe said. "That will be all."
Bridget lowered her gaze and backed away. Talon waited until she was
gone then glared at his father. "Planning to keep me celibate until I've
performed your dirty little deed?"
"I'll admit the thought had occurred to me." Sutcliffe poured a generous
glass of brandy and took an appreciative sip. "But I doubt that will be
necessary. You see, I do have one more ace up my sleeve."
Talon had broken open a steaming roll and was in the process of
buttering it, but his father's words gave him pause. He set the roll down
and met Sutcliffe's mocking gaze head on. "What do you mean?"
"We're a lot alike, you and me. So, don't think you've fooled me for a
moment. I know you agreed to my demands only to get out of that
stinking hellhole. I also know you've spent the last few hours thinking
of ways to thwart me. After all, that's what I'd do in your shoes."
Talon said nothing. A sense of impending doom settled over him as he
waited for what would come next.
"The wealth and plantation aren't enough, are they? If it were only
yourself at stake, your own life, your own freedom, no doubt you'd take
your chances and jump ship at the first opportunity."
"My crew?" Talon closed his eyes. The loss of freedom had addled his
brain. He should have known Sutcliffe had saved his men only to use
them against him.

"Yes." Sutcliffe shrugged one broad shoulder. "I don't know why you
care what happens to that mangy assortment of scoundrels. But you do,
and I'm sure you realize what will befall them if you don't do exactly as
you've promised."
"I would do anything for my men." They were the only family he'd ever
known. He'd already mourned them once and had no intention of doing
so again.
Sutcliffe downed the rest of his glass of brandy and then stood. "We
have an understanding, then?"
"Of course." Talon watched his father leave the room. And he vowed to
kill the son of a bitch, if it was the last thing he ever did.

Chapter Three
Lady Kathryn Sinclair frowned as her father-in-law's magnificent
coach started up the long, tree-lined drive toward Rosewood Manor.
Dear God, what was he doing here?
Something was definitely wrong. The Earl of Sutcliffe never visited his
country estate. His unexpected appearance didn't bode well.
Had something happened to Daniel?
Heart racing, she let her spade drop to the freshly tilled soil of her rose
garden. While she bore her husband no great love, neither did she wish
him any harm.
She picked up her dusty skirts and hurried up the stone path toward the
imposing gray mansion, intent upon making herself presentable. It
wouldn't do to have the earl see her in her gardening attire. He disliked
impropriety of any kind.
She ran up the servant's stairs to her suite of rooms on the second floor.
Shutting the door behind her, she blocked out the commotion of the
earl's arrival below.
"Dear Lord." A quick glance in the mirror confirmed her worst fears.
She grabbed a cloth and wet it in a basin of tepid water then scrubbed
her face and did her best to wash the embedded dirt from her hands.
There wasn't time to change or ring for her maid, Betsy, so she tried to
repair the damage on her own. Her hair had escaped its simple chignon
to wisp about her face in unruly chestnut ringlets. She took the heavy
mass down, gave the dark strands a vigorous brushing, and then
arranged it in a much simpler style.
Her stomach clenched in a fierce knot as she descended the sweeping
front stairs. She wished she could run out the door and across the park
until she collapsed, but it wouldn't do any good. There was no way to
escape the earl or the hold he had on her life.
"Lady Katherine, Lord Sutcliffe has arrived." The butler, Gregory, met
her in the echoing front hall, his usually calm demeanor visibly rattled.
"He's waiting for you in the library, milady."
"Thank you," she murmured, smoothing her hair one last time. "Please
announce me."
She paused outside the library and took several deep, calming breaths,
waiting while Gregory said her name in his cool, formal voice. Then
she gathered her courage like a shield and walked into the room.

Her father-in-law stood behind his huge desk, staring out the window at
the lake in the distance.

He turned when she entered, and his impassive, ice blue gaze swept
over her, taking in her unkempt appearance. "You look like a
washerwoman, Kathryn. It's not fitting for a viscountess to dirty her
hands like a common peasant."
"Gardening is a genteel pursuit," she pointed out, clenching her
dirt-stained hands behind her back. "My roses have won numerous
awards."
He frowned, obviously annoyed that his cutting comments hadn't
caused her to burst into tears as they once would have. Her marriage
had taught her many things, paramount among them to never show
weakness.
He glared at her for another long moment and then sat down in the
leather chair behind his desk. There weren't any chairs on her side, a
ploy to give him the upper hand and make all those who stood before
him feel inferior. She raised her chin a notch and waited him out,
determined not to give in to the panic his arrival had precipitated.
Why i s he here ?
"How long has it been since Daniel paid you a visit?"
Shamed heat crept up her cheeks, but she managed to hold his steely
gaze. "He came in February."
"Four months?" His displeasure was evident. "Then I'm correct in
assuming he still hasn't managed to get you with child?"
His shockingly blunt statement managed to do what all his calculated
cruelty could not. Kathryn looked away, her cheeks flaming.
Her husband didn't desire her, and everyone seemed to know it. "This
situation is intolerable," Sutcliffe continued. "Daniel's drunken
carousing is an embarrassment to me. He refuses to do his duty and
produce an heir, so I've decided to send the two of you to my new estate
in the Carolinas. Perhaps if he has nothing else to occupy his time, we'll
see some results and I'll allow you to come back."
Her world shifted beneath her feet. It was an effort to remain standing
when everything she knew and loved had just been snatched away.
She'd managed to live without the hope of a loving husband or a family
of her own, but she couldn't bear to have Rosewood Manor, even the
land of her birth, taken from her as well.
"The Carolinas?" she breathed. "Surely you jest."
"I never jest."

She fought to keep her composure. "I'll speak to Daniel. Surely he'll
spend more time with me once I explain how serious the situation has
become."
Sutcliffe shook his head. "I spoke to him months ago. He refuses to
listen to reason."
Shame overwhelmed her. Was the thought of making love to her so
repugnant Daniel would risk banishment to avoid it? She'd never
thought of herself as exceptionally pretty, but she wasn't unattractive.
Did she have some terrible flaw she was unaware of?
"Please, don't make me leave the Manor." She hated the betraying
tremor in her voice, but she was too heartsick to stop it. "It's my home."
"I've made up my mind. Nothing you can say will sway me." The earl
dismissed her with a flick of his wrist. "I suggest you begin packing.
The ship leaves at the end of the week."
Five days. Kathryn whirled around, determined to leave the earl's
presence before she gave in to the threatening tears.
She wouldn't let him see her cry. Never again.
"Why do you allow the poor girl to think Daniel's inattention is her
fault?" Talon reached for the bottle of brandy on the table and poured
himself a healthy glass, feeling the need to get stumbling drunk.

How else could he bear to participate in this terrible tragedy his father
had set in motion?
He'd watched from a leather chair in a secluded nook as the earl bullied
and belittled Lady Kathryn. It had taken every bit of self-control he
possessed not to intervene.
She hadn't noticed him, and for that he was thankful. Her interview
with the earl had been upsetting enough. She'd have been mortified to
know she had an audience.
"Daniel keeps her off balance. She doesn't know how to remedy the
situation." Sutcliff waved a deprecating hand. "It's good for her. The
girl has far too much spirit. She's impossible to deal with."
Talon narrowed his eyes at his father's callous words, his admiration
for his sister-in-law growing by the minute. She wasn't at all what he'd
expected.
When Sutcliffe told him she was the most beautiful girl in the land, he'd
envisioned one of the blonde, blue-eyed English roses who populated
London's elite drawing rooms by the dozens. A pale, mindless creature
with a vapid smile and not a single opinion of her own.
Lady Kathryn was none of those things. She was a passionate,
gorgeous brunette with enough courage to stand up to the earl. Talon
couldn't help but be impressed. "I like her."
Sutcliffe leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk on his lips. "I
thought you might."
Talon scowled. It annoyed him to no end that he and his father shared
the same taste in women.
Sutcliffe chuckled at his expression. "It won't be so terrible, son. A few
hours in Lady Kathryn's arms and you'll have all you've ever wanted.
Holyoke will be yours, and I'll even give you enough money to run the
place. I should think you'd be grateful to me for giving you this
chance."
Son. Once Talon would have thanked God on his knees to hear that
word from this man. Now his stomach churned to think he'd come from
Sutcliffe's tainted seed.
"You expect gratitude for what you've done to me?" Talon shook his
head and stood. "When hell freezes over, old man."
He exited the room, ignoring Sutcliffe's surprised bark of laughter.
"Lady Kathryn, where shall I put your riding habits?"

Kathryn shrugged and pointed in the direction of the half-dozen trunks
that lined the far wall of her bedroom. "It doesn't matter, Betsy. Put
them wherever you think best."
Betsy tsked under her breath, but Kathryn ignored her. She returned to
the window and let her gaze wander to the lake in the distance, doing
her best to ignore the entire situation.
Servants had been parading in and out of her room all afternoon,
pestering her with endless questions. They'd asked which set of the
priceless Sutcliffe silver she wanted to take with her. They wanted to
know which jewels should be packed and if she wanted any of the
furniture shipped at a later date.
She really didn't care. She had no interest in the monumental move
Sutcliffe was orchestrating, because she had no intention of leaving
England.
In a matter of hours, she and the earl would be returning to London.
Once they arrived, she was determined to talk some sense into Daniel.
Her husband loved the London nightlife as much as she loved her roses
and the fresh country air. Surely, if he knew what he stood to lose, he
would swallow his distaste and try to produce the heir his father so
desperately wanted.
She closed her eyes and pressed her flaming cheek against the cool
glass, praying this wouldn't be a repeat of the heartbreak of her
wedding night.
What a naive fool she'd been...
Marrying Daniel Sinclair had been a dream come true. She'd expected
her father to sell her off to

some ancient, balding Marquis, so when he'd announced that handsome
young Viscount Lansdowne had asked for her hand, she'd been thrilled.
Their courtship had been awkward and well chaperoned, but she'd soon
fallen in love with her future husband's gentle ways and mild sense of
humor. Daniel was breathtakingly handsome with light brown hair and
blue eyes, and he'd been so kind to her.
The wedding had been perfect, and he'd kissed her on the altar with
infinite tenderness. For the first time in her life, she'd believed in
fairytales.
After the ceremony, her father's widowed sister had escorted her to the
bedroom she would share with her husband. While helping her to don a
revealing nightdress, her aunt had told her in whispered tones what to
expect.
But when Daniel finally had come to her near dawn, he'd been well in
his cups. He'd managed only a brief, brotherly kiss on her forehead
before passing out dead drunk on the bed beside her.
In the morning, he'd begged her forgiveness and promised to make it up
to her. Then he'd cut his own thumb, letting his blood darken the sheets
so no one would be the wiser.
She'd waited for him the next night, and the one after that, but he'd
never attempted to consummate their marriage. In fact, he'd avoided
her ever since. When she'd tried to press the issue, he'd grown distant
and angry, so in time she'd come to accept the situation.
Now she realized she shouldn't have been so acquiescent. She should
have fought for her marriage, done more to show him she was worthy,
if not of his love, then at least of his respect.
If only her own mother hadn't died so young. If only she had someone
to confide in, someone to tell her how to win a man's love... Stiffening
her shoulders, she chased the self-pitying thoughts away.
She couldn't change the past, but she could change the future. She
wouldn't allow Sutcliffe to send them away like some distasteful, dirty
little secret. Tonight, she would find a way to seduce her husband and
begin the family she should have had long ago.
"Betsy, I need your help." She turned from the window and crossed the
room with purposeful strides to kneel beside the closest trunk. "Did you
already pack my lingerie?"

Betsy nodded, her blue eyes widening in surprise. "Yes, ma'am." She
pointed to the nearest trunk. "They're right here."
Kathryn dug through the pile of negligees until she found the exquisite
creation of lace, silk and satin she'd worn so briefly on her wedding
night. She stood, holding it up to her shoulders. "Do you think
it will still fit?"
"Of course. You haven't gained a bit since your marriage." Betsy
frowned. "What are you thinking, milady? Does this have anything to
do with that handsome young devil who arrived with the
earl?"
"What handsome young devil?" she asked, searching for the
translucent robe that completed the ensemble.
"You haven't heard?"
When Kathryn shook her head, Betsy's eyes lit up. She dearly loved to
be the source of interesting gossip. "Well, the earl has decided to claim
one of his by-blows. One of the footmen told me this gent's been living
at the London house for more than a week. I caught a glimpse of him
when the coach arrived. He's dreadfully good-looking, reminds me of
the earl in his younger days, don't you think?"
"Where is he now?" she asked, fighting her rising panic. Was this why
Sutcliffe was sending them away? "I want to meet him."
Betsy shook her head, making her blond curls bounce. "I don't know,
milady. Didn't you meet him earlier? He was in the library while you
were talking to the earl."
Kathryn blinked, stunned. "Are you certain?" She hadn't seen anyone
else, but there were several reading nooks in the huge, dark room and
she hadn't been looking.

"He stormed out of there just a few minutes after you did, milady. He
looked mad enough to spit nails."
Kathryn's stomach clenched at the thought of a total stranger
witnessing her humiliation. How dare he sit there and watch such a
scene without calling attention to himself?
She tossed the lingerie on her bed. "Please make sure these get packed
with the clothes I'll be wearing in London. It seems I have a new
brother-in-law to welcome."
After a lengthy search, Kathryn found the stranger sitting on a marble
bench in her rose garden. His hands were braced behind him, his eyes
were closed, and his face was tilted toward the afternoon sky. A pagan
pose reminiscent of a medieval sun worshiper.
She paused for a long moment, staring, fighting to control the rapid
beat of her heart. Daniel's halfbrother was wickedly beautiful.
Her gaze lit upon his stark, finely hewn profile then slid to the lush
mane of long black hair that brushed his broad shoulders. He had the
look of someone who had been ill, as though every extra ounce of flesh
had been winnowed from his body. But instead of detracting from his
good looks, it somehow added to them.
He reminded her of a romantic hero from a book, a man who had gone
through some terrible ordeal, but had emerged victorious.
She banished the thought, annoyed. This man was nobody's hero. He
could very well be a threat to everything she held dear. Still, she could
understand why Betsy had assumed one look at him would be enough
to send her searching for a seductive negligee.
"Good afternoon," she murmured, striding forward.
The stranger flinched and opened his eyes. They were deep blue, the
same color as his father's, but bright like the morning sky, devoid of
Sutcliffe's ice. When he saw her, he smiled, a twitch of his wide,
mobile mouth.
"Lady Kathryn, I presume?" His voice was deep and resonant with a
slight accent. The low, intimate pitch sent shivers down her spine.
If she'd had any doubts that he'd been in the library, they vanished
beneath his knowing gaze. "You seem to have an advantage, sir. I have
no idea who you are."
"Allow me to introduce myself." He stood, his big body moving with
fluid grace. At full height, he towered over her by almost a foot. He

took her hand and brought it to his lips, brushing a tender kiss to her
knuckles. The heat of his mouth sent a shiver of awareness through her
entire body. "Talon Montgomery. At your service, of course."
His words were almost too polite. Faintly mocking. As though he knew
the rules of polite society, but had no patience with them.
Talon. An unusual name. She snatched her hand away, her skin still
tingling from the warm pressure of his kiss. There was something
overwhelming about him, a physical presence she'd never encountered
in anyone other than her father-in-law.
"Are you related to my husband?" She feigned ignorance, determined
not to let him know she'd searched him out after hearing the rumors.
"I'm Sutcliffe's bastard."
"Oh." His candid confession caught her off guard. "I'm sorry." "Sorry
for what? That I'm a bastard, or that I'm Sutcliffe's bastard in
particular?" She frowned, feeling as though she'd made a terrible
blunder. He couldn't help being a bastard, after all. There was nothing
she could say to make her words sound less like the insult they'd been,
so she

decided to change the subject.
"Your father didn't tell me you were here, or I would have welcomed
you when you arrived. How long will you be staying?"
"I won't be staying. I'll be riding back to London with you and the earl
this afternoon." But he gazed at a flock of geese landing on the lake as
though the idea of returning to the city was far from appealing.
Kathryn's gaze caught and held on his strong profile. The length of his
long, dark lashes gentled his otherwise austere features, giving him a
hint of vulnerability.
She didn't know whether she could handle being in such close
proximity to this man for hours on end. The mere thought made her
strangely breathless. "Then you'll be staying at the London house?"
He nodded. "For the present. Then I'll be going on to Charleston with
you and Daniel."
The slight drawl she'd heard in his voice suddenly slid into place.
"You're an American?"
"By choice," he murmured. "Not by birth. I grew up in White Chapel."
She shuddered. White Chapel was one of the seediest parts of London,
populated, she believed, mainly by cutthroats and prostitutes. "You
must by very glad your father decided to claim you."
He made a sound of disgust. "Why? Do you truly think I'm a better
person now than I was before Sutcliffe admitted something I've known
most of my life?"
The intensity of his blue gaze made her flinch. "That was thoughtless of
me. I didn't mean to offend you."
"Think nothing of it," he said after a long moment of silence. "I'm far
too defensive of my humble beginnings."
His anger seemed to fade, but she sensed it took quite an effort to keep
it under control. She'd struck a nerve, and she wondered if Sutcliffe
realized how deeply his son's resentment ran.
"I shouldn't have bothered you." This man made her nervous. She'd
managed to put her foot in her mouth twice during their brief
conversation, which was a record even for her. "I need to get back
inside and supervise the packing."
"It was a pleasure to meet you." He bowed, the courtly gesture of a
perfect gentleman. When he straightened, his blue gaze held hers for a
long moment. She had the feeling he saw far more than she would like.

Being the subject of such intense regard was unsettling, to say the least.
Involuntarily, she took a step backward.
He smiled as though pleased to have rattled her. Apparently, his
resemblance to Sutcliffe was more than skin deep.
"Good afternoon, sir." She turned away, trying to ignore the nettling
feel of his gaze upon her back as she hurried to the house.

Chapter Four
Talon opened the coach window and took a deep, cleansing breath of
fresh air, trying to force away the twinge of panic that clawed at his
throat. Ever since his incarceration, he'd had an embarrassing fear of
closed-in places.
"Close the window, please. I can't abide the dust."
Talon leveled a glare at Kathryn, willing her to perdition. There wasn't
any dust. Yesterday's soft rain had left the ground almost too damp to
travel. Sutcliffe had arranged for them to make the trip alone so they
could get acquainted, but this was the first time she'd spoken to him all
afternoon.
Raising one brow in challenge, he reached over and flung the other
window open as well.
Her mouth rounded in an astonished "O" at this affront then closed with
a snap. He wondered if anyone else had ever dared defy her in such a
manner. God, he hoped not. He had an uncontrollable urge to get under
her skin the way she'd gotten under his.
He'd been watching her surreptitiously for hours. Each soft sigh and
shift of her legs made him mad with yearning. If he'd ever known a
lovelier woman, he couldn't remember. Kathryn's dark hair looked
almost black in the dim light, contrasting sharply with her creamy skin
and emerald eyes. And those lips.
Very kissable.
If she'd talk to him, it might be easier to keep his lust at bay. He'd been
alone in the dark with nothing but his own thoughts for far too long.
Words welled in his throat, but he willed them away, reluctantly
admitting the danger. He must flirt with her, even seduce her if all else
failed. But he couldn't afford to like her. It would make the task that lay
ahead of him unbearable.
As the miles crept by, his resolve weakened. The need to say
something grew and grew.
Their knees brushed again for what must have been the thousandth
time, and he summoned a smile. "Bumpy road."
"Yes," she replied, her voice cool and clipped. "Intolerably so."
"Beautiful day," he said, trying again. "Don't you agree?" "It's passing
fair."

"Well," he murmured, at a loss. "That completely exhausts my
repertoire of small talk."
The hint of a smile graced Kathryn's full lips and the stiff set of her
shoulders relaxed. "Why

bother with small talk, Mr. Montgomery? Don't you have anything
worthwhile to say?"
He searched his mind for something suitably profound, but brilliant
banter escaped him. He shrugged. "I didn't think people like you
enjoyed talking about anything worthwhile."
That got her attention. "People like me?" She gave him an intent stare.
"You don't know the first thing about me."
He returned her gaze, enjoying the hint of anger in her eyes. "You're
right. I don't know anything about you. I'm attempting to remedy that,
but you're not cooperating. So, I'll assume you're like the other
highborn women I've known. Women who only enjoy talking about the
weather and the next party."
"I don't go to parties," she told him with quiet dignity. "And I only
worry about the weather when I'm caught in a downpour."
There. It wasn't much, but she'd given him an opening. He wasn't about
to let it pass by. "Are you caught out in the rain often?"
She smiled, her rigid posture relaxing altogether. "More often than you
might imagine. I love being outdoors. Between exploring the estate and
gardening, I've found myself drenched to the skin quite a few times."
The image of this beautiful woman's face and hair wet with rain was
incredibly enticing. "Tell me about Rosewood Manor. I would have
liked to spend a little more time there. The gardens are extraordinary."
She nodded, her emerald eyes alight with passion for the subject. "Your
great-grandfather built the Manor for his mistress. I've heard they
shared a grand passion. He spent every moment he could at her
side."
Your great-grandfather. He was startled by her words. He'd never
given much thought to his ancestors, hadn't imagined a Sinclair human
enough to care for a woman.
"I wonder if my mother ever lived there," he mused. "She once told me
my father kept her in a beautiful country house until he learned she was
expecting, but that was long before she ever told me his name."
"He cast her out when he learned she was going to have his baby?" She
stared at him in disbelief.
He nodded. "No wonder she was so unhappy, so angry with me all the
time. It must have been quite a shock, going from Kent to White
Chapel."

"I can't imagine how difficult such a change in circumstance must have
been for her. But it wasn't your fault."
He looked away, uncomfortable with the softness in her voice, the
understanding in her eyes. "Do you mind if we change the subject?"
This conversation had gotten far more intimate than he'd planned.
Awkward silence fell between them, but then she cleared her throat.
"Will you tell me about America?" she asked, infusing false
enthusiasm into her voice. "I'd like to know what to expect."
"Certainly." He risked a glance in her direction. "What would you like
to know?"
She flushed and balled her hands in her lap. "I've heard it's a wild,
heathen place full of half-naked savages who'd like nothing better than
to separate your hair from your head."
"Well, your hair would be a fine trophy." Unable to help himself, he
leaned forward and brushed an errant strand back behind the delicate
curve of her ear. "But you needn't worry. There hasn't been any Indian
trouble near Charleston in decades."
Her breath caught, and he removed his hand. The surge of desire
provoked by such a casual gesture stunned him.
It had been far too long since he'd been with a woman.
He cleared his throat. "I think you'll be surprised, Kathryn. Holyoke is a
lovely place. Not as large as Rosewood Manor, but imposing
nonetheless. You'll want for nothing there."
"I didn't give you permission to address me so familiarly," she snapped,
obviously furious at his

lack of manners.
"It doesn't suit you anyway." He grinned, unimpressed by her show of
pique. "Kathryn is too stuffy. Sounds like someone's maiden aunt." "I
didn't ask for your opinion."
"Kate," he decided. "I think I'll call you Kate from now on."
"I don't need a nickname." She glared at him, that fine mind of hers
working. "What about your name? Talon. I've never heard such a
strange name."
Pain flared to life, chasing away his lingering good humor. "My mother
named me Talon. I don't know why."
So much for changing the subject. He'd spoken of his mother more in
the last five minutes than he had in the last decade.
She sat back, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
"It's all right. She's dead now, anyway."
"How terrible for you, Talon." Her green eyes were filled with
sympathy. He didn't miss the fact that she'd used his first name, even
though she'd just chided him for doing the same. "How old were you
when it happened?"
"Twelve." He shook his head, looking away. "It was a long time ago."
"My mother died when I was born," she told him, trying to keep him
from making light of his pain. "I never even knew her, but I still mourn
her loss."
"I didn't say I didn't mourn her. Good God, Kate. We should have kept
to the small talk.
She laughed, a soft, airy sound that went a long way toward chasing
away his demons. "Well, at least you aren't boring. And you may call
me Kate, if you wish. I rather like it."
The clatter of carriage wheels beneath Kathryn's window woke her
from a fitful sleep. Her gaze flew to the clock on the mantle, and relief
flooded her when she saw morning hadn't yet arrived. Her entire plan
centered on speaking with Daniel before Sutcliffe returned from the
Manor.
She'd curled up in the window seat, awaiting her husband's return, but
had drifted off to sleep around midnight. It was one o'clock now.
Pressing her face against the glass, she peered down at the stables far
below, relief washing over her when she made out Daniel's slender
form. Unfortunately, he'd brought a friend home.

She chafed at the necessity of waiting while he settled the stranger in
one of the guest rooms. Nothing seemed to be going her way.
Sighing, she slid off the window seat and checked her reflection in the
mirror, hoping she looked suitably seductive. Her bridal nightgown
revealed every curve of her body, and her hair hung loose down her
back in a waterfall of dark curls. Heated embarrassment flushed her
cheeks, and her eyes were bright with excitement.
This had to work.
She couldn't bear to think about what she'd do if it didn't.
The conversation she'd had with her brother-in-law this afternoon had
made her even more determined to stay in England. Talon Montgomery
was simply too intriguing. He'd managed to take her mind off the
matter at hand, and that was unacceptable. She couldn't let him distract
her. She couldn't let anything interfere in her quest to win Daniel's
affections.
The low rumble of male voices in the hall outside her room made her
hurry to the door. She pressed her ear against the wooden panel,
straining to make out the words.
For the hundredth time, she wished she and Daniel had adjoining
rooms. Even though his suite was

directly across from hers, there was a chance someone might see her
dressed so provocatively. She paced her room for another fifteen
minutes, trying to build her courage, and then stole into the dimly lit
hall.
She hesitated outside Daniel's door then took a deep breath and entered,
shutting the heavy oak panel behind her. Within seconds, she realized
Daniel wasn't alone.
Her husband's nude body, lithe and golden in the flickering firelight,
moved in sensuous tandem with another on the lavish, four- poster bed.
A heavy, pervasive scent filled the room. Opium, she guessed
irrelevantly, shocked beyond words by what she was seeing.
She'd known Daniel wasn't faithful to her, but to have her suspicions
proven on a night when everything dear to her rested on winning his
cooperation... She put her hand to her mouth, trying to stem her soft
moan of betrayal.
She must have made some sound because Daniel froze and turned to
face her. His blue eyes widened, and he yanked on the down comforter
beneath him, shielding his lover from view.
"Kathryn." He held up a hand as though to ward her off. "What are you
doing here?"
She shook her head, wondering if the heavy cloud of opium had
managed to dull her senses. She wanted to stride forward, yank back
the covers and confront them both. But for some reason, all she could
manage to do was cross her arms over her chest and back away.
Before she could reach the door, Daniel's lover sat up, flicked a lock of
long blond hair out of his eyes, and gave her a charming smile. "Hello,
Kathryn."
Philip Carrington, the heir to the Earl of Stonebridge. Kathryn sagged
against the wall, stunned. The enormity of what she was seeing
undermined the very foundations on which her prim and proper life had
been based.
Daniel's lover was a man.
"I don't understand." Her voice shook as she realized how hopelessly
naive she'd been. Why hadn't she known this? How could she have
been so stupid?
Daniel pulled the satin sheet around his waist and sat back against the
headboard, rubbing the bridge of his nose. His light brown hair fell

forward, obscuring his eyes. "I've failed you, Kathryn. I know it, and
I'm sorry. But don't judge me too harshly. I love him."
"You love him?" Incredulous, she stared at the man she'd once hoped
would love her. "Well, I'm sure that will be a great comfort to us both
when we're banished to the Carolinas."
Daniel flinched. "Don't you see? My father's testing us. He wanted you
to get my attention and it worked." He cast a pained glance in Philip
Carrington's direction. "Can't we discuss this tomorrow?"
Her nostrils flared at his easy dismissal of his father's threats.
Sutcliffe intended to do exactly as he'd promised, and now she didn't
even have the comfort of thinking she'd found a solution.
"By all means." She reached behind her for the doorknob, her voice
dripping with disdain. "I'm just your wife. Don't let me keep you from
what you were doing."
"Kathryn! Wait!"
She ignored Daniel's voice, intent only upon escape. Stumbling out into
the hall, she ran straight into Talon Montgomery's arms.
Talon had spent the evening in his father's library, absorbing
knowledge with greedy intensity. He doubted he'd ever again have
access to the great works he found in Sutcliff's extensive collection.
He didn't head up to bed until well after midnight, so he was surprised
when one of the doors lining the upstairs hall flew open and the woman
he'd been trying to avoid spilled out into his arms.
"Kathryn?"

Clad in an enticing ensemble of satin and lace, her hair tumbled loose
and free over his arm. His gaze was immediately drawn to the expanse
of creamy skin that swelled above the plunging neckline. He took a
deep breath, which was a mistake, because her scent, an erotic blend of
roses and vanilla, was more intoxicating than the brandy he'd imbibed
earlier.
"Let me go." She began to struggle, wrenching out of his arms as
though he'd held her by force. Her chest heaved with some intense
emotion, and her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"What is it? What's happened?"
Before she could answer, there was movement in the open doorway.
Daniel stepped out into the hall, fumbling to belt his robe. Over his
shoulder, a naked young man sprawled across a lavish four-poster
bed.
"This doesn't concern you, Talon. I need to speak to my wife. Alone."
Talon gave a soft curse, leveling his brother with a glare. This was the
first time Daniel had deigned to speak to him since their father had
introduced them last week. Tension hummed between them.
He glanced back at Kate, full of sympathy. She'd obviously made a
desperate attempt to seduce her husband, only to catch him with his
lover. What a shock that must have been. "Do you want me to
leave, Kate?"
She made an inarticulate sound of dismay and stepped in Talon's
direction, apparently deciding he was the lesser of two evils. Talon
sighed and put his arm around her waist, guiding her away from Daniel,
entangling himself even further in her life.
"Which room is yours?" he asked, wanting to get her away from Daniel
as quickly as possible.
She pointed to a door a few yards away opposite of Daniel's. Next to his
own, he realized in shock. They shared a suite connected by a common
sitting room. Another of his father's unsubtle ways of shoving the two
of them together.
"Kathryn. Please," Daniel whispered from behind them.
Talon glanced over his shoulder, sparing him a scathing glance.
Kate stiffened but didn't turn around. Squaring her shoulders, she
opened her door. "I have nothing more to say to you, Daniel."
Her quiet dignity made Talon proud.

Daniel closed his own door with a gentle click, ending the
conversation. Kate sagged briefly, and Talon glimpsed the effort this
rigid control had cost her.
"Come." He guided her into the sitting room and urged her to take a
seat on the striped peach and green sofa in front of the fireplace.
She bent forward, the fall of her heavy, dark hair curtaining her face.
Talon stood behind her, fighting an unfamiliar urge to offer comfort, to
take her into his arms not as a lover, but as a friend. He wanted to let her
cry her heart out upon his chest.
"Ah, Kate," he muttered at last, sitting down beside her. "I'm sorry you
had to see that."
"Am I the only one who didn't know?" Her voice was surprisingly
strong. "I feel like such a
fool."
"You're not a fool. I'll wager that until tonight you didn't even know
such a possibility existed."
Her shoulders relaxed a bit, and she let out a shuddering sigh. "All this
time," she whispered, her voice a mere breath of sound, "I thought it
was my fault. I thought there was something wrong with me."
"You're a beautiful, desirable woman. Daniel is probably the only man
you know who doesn't appreciate that."
She lifted her head and pushed a lock of silken, chestnut hair back from
her heart-shaped face. He'd expected to see tears tracking down her
cheeks, but her eyes were dry. "Thank you. You're far too kind, but I
needed to hear that more than you can know."
He thought perhaps he did know. He'd seen the look on her face when
Sutcliffe had berated her for

Daniel's inattention, and he'd heard the terrible satisfaction in his
father's voice when he'd spoken of how his brother's apathy had kept
her off balance. But she was stronger than he'd thought. In fact, he'd
never admired anyone more.
He cupped her lovely face in his hands. "I never say anything merely to
be kind."
And then he kissed her.
He told himself he was taking his plan of seduction to the next step,
taking advantage of her vulnerability, but he knew it was a lie. He
kissed her because she was beautiful and so badly in need of it, and
because he was lonely and needed it, too.
Her lips were soft, pliant and warm beneath his. He deepened the kiss,
tasting the honeyed sweetness of her mouth, catching her small sound
of surprise.
Her hands came up to his shoulders, and he thought she was going to
resist. But instead of pushing him away, she threaded her fingers into
his hair, pulling him closer.
The kiss erupted from something gentle and sweet to something fierce,
hot and damned near uncontrollable. Months of celibacy had left him
on the razor's edge of desire. His control slipped a little more with
every passing second until his senses screamed with the need to bury
himself inside her.
He pulled away with a curse. He couldn't do this. Not yet. Not until he'd
assured himself there was no other way to save his men.
She stared at him, her fingertips brushing her kiss-swollen lips. His
gaze dropped to her heaving chest and the tight dark buds her nipples
made against the white lace. This blatant evidence of her passionate
response nearly drove him back into her arms, but he managed to avert
his gaze and regulate his breathing.
"I'm sorry," he said at last. "That was unforgivable."
She bowed her head. "I shouldn't have invited you in. No wonder you
thought I would welcome your advances." She looked up, tears
gathering in her beautiful emerald eyes. "Perhaps I wanted this to
happen. Perhaps I wanted to hurt Daniel as much as he hurt me."
It slayed him that he'd made her cry when she'd remained strong
through Daniel's betrayal. "I should go." He strode toward the door that
connected their rooms.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was breathy and soft, startled.
He gave her a guilty glance. "I'm right next door. I didn't know this was
your room until tonight. I'll move farther down the hall if you wish."
"No." She leapt to her feet. "Please, don't go."
He paused, raising an eyebrow in question. If this was an invitation, he
didn't know how in the hell he was going to refuse her.
She bit her lip. "I'm afraid my husband doesn't realize the gravity of our
situation. He seems to think your father is merely testing us and has no
intention of sending us away." She lifted her gaze to his. "What do you
think?"
He hesitated, but knew it served no purpose to lie. He owed her the
truth, in this at least. "He's already bought the tickets. I'm certain he
wouldn't have summoned me here if he didn't need me to escort
you."
"Sutcliffe knows about Daniel's... activities, doesn't he? That's why he's
sending us away. Because he's embarrassed and knows Daniel and I
will never have a child." That wasn't quite it, but he gave an abrupt nod.
She closed the distance that separated them, her face somber and
imploring. "I know I have no right to ask anything of you, but there's no
one else I can trust."
He wanted to ask her what on earth made her think she could trust him,
but he swallowed his protests and sighed. "What do you want me to
do?"
"I want to go to my father. Now. Tonight. Will you take me?" It was the
last thing he'd expected

her to ask, and he frowned.
"Can't it wait until morning?"
She shook her head. "I'm hoping he'll intervene on my behalf and
petition the church for an annulment. If I wait until tomorrow, Sutcliffe
will be back, and he'll never let me go."
An annulment. He stared at her in surprise. If she succeeded, it would
put her beyond Sutcliffe's sphere of control. And what use would the
earl's bastard son be without a daughter-in-law to impregnate?
The thought of returning to prison threw him into a moment of blind
panic. He wouldn't go back. He couldn't. He opened his mouth to deny
her request, but when he looked into her lovely green eyes, he realized
refusing her would make him no better than his father.
She didn't deserve to be sent away for Daniel's sins. She didn't deserve
any of this.
"If I help you, will you promise not to mention it to my father?" If the
earl didn't know of his involvement, he couldn't blame him for failing
to give him an heir.
She nodded. "Just take me home. That's all I ask. No one need ever
know.

Chapter Five
Kathryn stared numbly ahead, lost in her racing thoughts. A thick,
heavy fog surrounded the curricle like a wet blanket, smothering all
noise and light. Only the pervasive stench of the Thames convinced her
they were still in the city.
She never would have had the courage to attempt this journey alone
and was grateful for the silent, reassuring presence of the man who sat
on the narrow seat beside her. Talon handled Sutcliffe's matched pair of
bays with practiced ease, and she didn't doubt his ability to use the
pistol he'd slipped into his jacket pocket before they'd left the house.
He hadn't said a word since they'd gotten underway. She wondered
what he was thinking. When she'd asked him to come with her, she'd
expected him to say no. But all he'd asked was that she keep his
involvement a secret from Sutcliffe.
That had been an easy promise to make. If things went as planned, she
hoped never to set eyes upon her father-in-law again.
Her gaze strayed to his hawkish profile and rested on the sensuous
curve of his lips. The memory of those lips moving against hers caused
a curious melting sensation in the pit of her stomach.
He'd kissed her, shown her such passion and tenderness. It was wrong,
terribly wrong, for her to have let him, but she wasn't sorry.
If he hadn't, she never would have known what she'd been missing.
She might have drifted along with Daniel forever, growing more bitter
and lonely with each passing year.
Marriage for love was almost unheard of among London's upper crust.
Everything revolved around wealth and titles. But even so, she'd seen
the respect and regard that generally grew out of such circumstances.
If nothing else, at least a woman could count on children to love.
After tonight, she could no longer entertain the hope of wooing her way
into Daniel's heart and bed. If she remained married to him, she would
die alone and unloved, far away from everything she knew.
The only solution was an annulment, she reassured herself, clenching
her fists in the folds of her voluminous cloak. Still, she dreaded the
thought of facing her father and telling him her marriage had never
been consummated and the reason why it wouldn't be.
Thomas Hayden was a mere viscount. He'd considered it quite a coup
to marry his daughter to the

heir of an earldom. He wouldn't like the scandal this would bring to his
name and wouldn't relish the prospect of having her home again.
She sighed and closed her eyes, remembering her miserable childhood
and the sullen, brooding man who comprised her entire family. They'd
never had much to say to each other. In fact, he'd strictly forbidden any
frivolous chatter.
Her head began to throb as she realized moving home wasn't likely to
be much better than the alternative. She would never find happiness in
her father's house.
"Have you changed your mind?" Talon's deep voice intruded upon her
melancholy thoughts.
She shook her head, trying to dispel the image of dining in silence with
her father at opposite ends of a table meant for twenty. She'd always
hated mealtimes.
He squeezed her hand, offering her the brief warmth and comfort of his
touch. "You're doing the right thing. I'm sure everything will be fine."
She had a sudden, wild urge to fling herself into his arms. He was the
only man she'd ever known who acted as though he cared what
happened to her. She found it hard to believe she'd known him less than
two days.
With effort, she managed to control herself. "I'm sure you're right. It's
just daunting to take such a big step."
He squeezed her hand again and his strong, white teeth flashed in the
dark as he smiled. "It takes a remarkable person to outmaneuver my
father. Lord knows I haven't been able to do so."
His words warmed her. She'd been starved for this, for praise and
acceptance, for casual talk and the comforting clasp of a strong hand.
"Why couldn't you have been Sutcliffe's heir?" she asked without
thinking. "We would have suited very well together, don't you think?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Not only had
she brought up the taboo subject of his illegitimacy once again, she'd
stirred the uncertain waters of the futile attraction they felt for one
another. Even if she gained her freedom from Daniel, her father would
never allow her to forge an alliance with someone like Talon
Montgomery.
He tensed and then withdrew his hand. "I've often asked myself that
same question. What quirk of fate allows one man to have everything

handed to him on a silver platter while another must struggle and claw
his way through the dirt for every single scrap?" His gaze pierced hers
through the dim light. "I would sell my soul for the things Daniel takes
for granted."
She didn't like that. Not his tone, nor his inference that she was merely
one of Daniel's possessions. A plaything he didn't appreciate. She
looked away, unable to bear his scrutiny. "Life is seldom fair."
He didn't reply, and she felt the tension riddling his lean body. He was
angry, but she wasn't sure whether the emotion was directed at her, or
at his father and the circumstances of his birth.
A familiar road sign appeared out of the fog in front of them, and she
pointed at it, relieved for the distraction. "That way," she murmured.
"We're almost there."
Talon banged on the heavy oak front door of Thomas Hayden's country
estate for almost half an hour before he roused someone. When the
prune-faced, wizened old butler finally answered, he didn't seem
pleased to see his former mistress. Nor did Kate seem glad to be home,
for all that she'd pushed so hard to get here.
The butler left them waiting in a dark, chilly parlor. He went to
summon his sleeping master, mumbling under his breath about the
unseemly hour of their visit. Talon was surprised Kate didn't put him

in his place.
Then again, with each passing moment, her tension and nervousness
grew. He wondered what kind of man her father was to inspire such
fear.
He wanted to take her hand again, remind her she wasn't alone, but that
didn't seem proper, given the circumstances. He'd taken far too many
liberties as it was.
She'd made her choice, and he was certain she had the strength to live
with it. The last thing she needed was his help.
"Shall I leave?" The darkness made him feel as though he should
whisper. "You'll be safe here." She shook her head. "No. Please don't
go. Not yet."
Before he could reply, there was a noise out in the hall. A small,
bewhiskered man in a burgundy dressing gown swept into the room,
followed by the lantern-wielding butler.
"Kathryn." The man's loud, mean-spirited voice belied his size. "What
is the meaning of this?"
Thomas Hayden's beady gaze fixed upon Talon. He sized him up, a
frown of displeasure on his sour face. "Who are you? What are you
doing with my daughter at this time of night? Where is her escort?"
"My name is Talon Montgomery," Talon replied, managing to control
his anger. "I am Kathryn's
escort."
"He's Daniel's brother, Papa," Kate interjected. "I asked him to bring
me home."
Hayden glanced back at Talon in surprise, obviously wondering about
his relationship to the earl. Then he shook his head. "This is no longer
your home, Kathryn. You should be in London with your husband, not
gallivanting around the countryside in the middle of the night."
Talon stood close enough to Kate to feel her cringe. "Let her tell you
why she's come."
Hayden's mouth snapped shut with an audible click, and he threw his
daughter a bull-headed glance. Talon's stomach clenched because he
suddenly knew the son of a bitch wasn't going to listen to anything she
said.
She took a deep breath. "I want to annul my marriage, Papa. I need you
to help me."

"No." Hayden didn't even pause to consider it. "It's out of the question.
The marriage with young Sinclair is a good one, far better than you
deserve, being your mother's daughter."
Her breath caught. Talon sensed that if her father had meant to wound
her, he couldn't have chosen a better weapon.
"We haven't consummated our vows," she managed to tell Hayden in a
soft, trembling voice. "Daniel prefers men, so there will never be an
heir. Sutcliffe is furious and plans to banish us."
"Watch your mouth, girl." Hayden didn't seem at all surprised to hear
he'd married his daughter to a sodomite, merely shocked she'd dared to
voice it out loud. "I won't abide such talk."
"You won't abide it?" Talon put a reassuring hand on Kate's shoulder,
infuriated by her father's callous attitude. "Sutcliffe intends to send
your daughter to Carolina for something that isn't her fault, and all you
can do is chide her for daring to tell the truth?"
"Good riddance, I say. She's been nothing but an inconvenience to me
since the day she was born. I knew she'd grow up to be a faithless
whore like her mother, and I see I was right." Hayden's gaze narrowed
on Kate. "You'll tell any lie to gain an annulment so you can be with
your lover, won't you?" He shook his head and backed away. "I won't
be a party to it. I wash my hands of you, Kathryn. Don't ever come here
again." Then he turned his back on his only daughter in obvious
dismissal.
Talon started after him, a growl of anger in his throat, but Kate placed
her small, trembling hand on his forearm, stopping him. "Please, don't
make it any worse. Just let him go."
Glancing down, he took in the bruised, haunted look in her eyes and the
brittle stiffness with which she held her body. She looked on the verge
of complete collapse. "Come with me," he murmured for the second
time that night. "It will be all right."

She allowed him to put his arm around her and lead her through the
darkened house and out to the waiting curricle. After helping her up, he
settled beside her, taking up the reins once more.

Chapter S ix
Kathryn had faced loss and despair many times during her brief life.
Still, things had never seemed as dark and hopeless as they did when
Talon turned the curricle back toward London.
She should have known her father wouldn't help her. But she hadn't
expected him to viciously berate her or slander her mother before a
total stranger.
She might be able to obtain an annulment on her own, but even if she
did, where on earth would she go? There were no relatives to take her
in, only an elderly aunt who would never stand against her father.
Kathryn had no money of her own and no way to support herself.
It was over. All her little schemes to escape her fate had fallen apart.
She couldn't think of anything else to do, anyone else to turn to. She
didn't have any friends save Talon, a pathetic truth she'd just as soon
keep to herself.
"Maybe I am like my mother," she whispered. All her life she'd
wondered if her mother had truly been the awful person her father
portrayed. Maybe her mother had just been lonely, so starved for
affection she'd turned to a stranger for comfort. Kathryn was starting to
see how that could happen, how loneliness could turn you into
someone you didn't even recognize.
Talon went still beside her. "Don't do this to yourself. I kissed you,
Kate. The fault was entirely mine. I should never have taken advantage
of you."
She shook her head. He'd been the one to initiate the kiss, but she'd
been dying for his touch since the moment they'd met. In fact, she
wished he'd kiss her again. Right here. Right now.
The tension between them grew, and for a moment she thought he
would kiss her again, but then he looked away and made a soft,
encouraging noise to the horses. He seemed to be in a hurry, and she
didn't blame him. He'd undoubtedly had quite enough of her for one
day.
"Do you think we'll arrive back in London before your father?"
Talon nodded. He looked exhausted. She'd kept him out on this wild
goose chase all night.

As for herself, she was too upset to be tired. All she cared about was
cutting her losses. "I think it would be best if we didn't mention this to
him."
"I agree." He gave her a sympathetic glance. "What will you do now?
Any more tricks up your sleeve?"
She blinked against the sting of tears. "No. No more tricks. I guess
there's nothing left to do but go to the Carolinas."

"You won't be alone." He reached for her hand, and somehow it felt
right to thread her fingers within the elegant, lean strength of his. "I'll
be with you."
She looked up at him, at his starkly chiseled features, and knew she'd
never seen anyone quite so beautiful. "I don't know what I would have
done without you today. I hardly know you, yet you've gone out of your
way for me time and again."
"Think nothing of it." His words were light, but she sensed she'd made
him uncomfortable.
She dropped her gaze, trying to keep from mooning after him. He
released her hand, and she almost cried out at the loss. But he only put
his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Lean on me, Kate. It's been a long, difficult night. You don't need to be
strong anymore."
His words brought a fresh sting of tears to her eyes, but she blinked
them away. He pulled the heavy, wool lap blanket around them both,
giving freely of his strength and warmth.
Never in her life had she been offered a shoulder to lean on.
Lean on me. His words echoed inside her tired brain. She drifted off.
to sleep, thinking perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, after all, to spend a few
weeks at sea with Talon Montgomery.
Talon awoke late in the afternoon, grumpy and disgruntled. It had been
nearly dawn before he and Kate had returned. She'd slept on his
shoulder most of way. The tenderness he'd felt when he'd carried her
through the darkened house to her bedroom disturbed him.
In fact, the whole situation disturbed him.
He didn't want to care about her, didn't want to see gratitude in her
lovely green eyes. Was she a fool to trust him?
He could have had his way with her last night. Her defenses had been
decimated, first by Daniel's betrayal, then by the stunning rejection
she'd endured at her own father's hands.
He should have taken advantage of her fragile state. What good could
come of stretching this sordid affair out?
He groaned and covered his face with a pillow. There lay the crux of his
problem. He didn't want to have an affair with Kate. He liked her far
too much to take her virginity, impregnate her, and cast her aside.

He'd had his share of women, but never one like his sister-in-law.
Having been at sea most of his life, there had been little time to build a
lasting relationship. His entire sexual experience consisted of whores
and widows, women with willing bodies who never expected anything
but a few coins in return.
Kate was the kind of woman who still believed in love. She wouldn't
give herself cheaply. She'd expect sweet words and gentle wooing. And
when she discovered how he'd schemed and lied to get into her bed,
she'd hate him.
It shouldn't bother him so. Better Kate's animosity than the lives of his
crew. With a sigh, he tossed away the pillow and slipped out of bed.
He dressed, pausing only once to grimace at himself in the mirror.
Sutcliffe's mirror. Sutcliffe's home. Bloody hell, it burned to know he
had nothing of his own. Not even the clothes on his back.
Stepping out into the hall, he halted when he saw Daniel waiting for
him. The younger man was dressed impeccably, but his fine clothing
couldn't obscure the tired lines beneath his pale blue eyes. Daniel
looked like hell. If Talon didn't know better, he'd think his brother
actually cared about what had happened with Kathryn.
Cursing beneath his breath, Talon squared his shoulders and turned in
the opposite direction. He wanted nothing to do with this.

"Talon. Wait."
He stiffened, but didn't turn around. Damn it all, what did he want?
Daniel caught him in a few steps. "I think we should talk about what
happened last night." Talon paused and raised one brow. "There's
nothing I want to discuss with you. If you want to talk to someone, talk
to your wife."
Daniel flushed and dropped his gaze. "I never meant for Kathryn to see
that. You must believe
me."
"Must I?" Talon gave his brother a challenging stare, knowing there
was something else behind this conversation. Daniel didn't give a damn
what Talon thought of him, and they both knew it.
Daniel shook his head and took an involuntary step back. "Christ. You
look just like him." The jab cut deeply as Daniel had no doubt known it
would. "Go to hell."
To his surprise, Daniel laughed. "He's got us both spinning, doesn't he?
Bloody old ass." Then he sobered. "I only sought you out to ask if you'd
had any luck at seducing Kathryn."
His words caught Talon off guard. "You know then? You know why
I'm here?" Despite his intense dislike for his brother, he felt a surge of
guilt and pity.
"Of course, I know. Do you think he could resist the opportunity to rub
my nose in it?" Daniel sighed and gave a careless shrug. "I just wanted
you to know it's all right with me. In fact, I'd like you to get the job done
as soon as possible."
Talon could only stare at his brother in stunned disbelief. "Good God,
man. Don't you have any
pride?"
A quick stab of pain lit Daniel's blue eyes, but it disappeared so quickly
Talon wondered if he'd imagined it. "No," he said, turning away. "I
suppose I don't."

Chapter Seven
Kathryn dressed carefully for dinner, choosing her loveliest gown in an
attempt to bolster her courage. She'd need every possible advantage to
get through a meal with Sutcliffe, Daniel and Talon.
The earl had returned nearly an hour ago, and Kathryn had been on pins
and needles ever since. Even though there had been very few members
of the staff on duty last night, Kathryn was terrified one of her
father-in-law's lackeys had witnessed her late-night journey. If Sutcliff
found out she'd gone to her father for help, or that Talon had gone with
her...
Well, hopefully he'd never find out.
Unfortunately, the earl was only the tip of her troubles. She didn't know
how she was going to look her husband in the eyes after what she'd
witnessed last night. Her stomach turned at the very thought. But even
worse was the memory of falling apart in Talon's arms.
She shuddered to imagine what her brother-in-law must think of her.
Somehow his opinion had become very important. She couldn't bear to
lose his kind regard. Not now. Not on top of everything else.
"You look lovely, milady." Betsy fastened a heavy emerald necklace
around Kathryn's neck and stood back to admire her work. "Your
husband will be most pleased."
"I doubt it." Kathryn gave her reflection a wry glance. She did look her
best. The emeralds complemented her eyes and the forest-green gown
accentuated her figure in a very pleasing way, but the effect would be
lost on Daniel.
Betsy sniffed and handed over Kathryn's favorite bottle of perfume.
"Well, then, beggin' your pardon, miss, but he's a fool."
Kathryn laughed at her maid's impertinence. "Oh, Betsy. I'll miss you
when I'm gone."
Betsy frowned as Kathryn applied the scent of roses to her wrists. "I
wish I could go with you. I would, if not for my poor ailin' mother.
America sounds like a grand place."
"Yes," Kathryn mused, turning away from the mirror. "That's what my
new brother-in-law says."
"Ah." Betsy somehow managed to put a wealth of meaning into the
simple word. "And what else did the handsome bloke have to say
during that long, unchaperoned ride?"

Kathryn blushed. "He's been very kind."
Betsy shook her head and patted Kathryn on the shoulder. "I know
what you're thinkin', sweet. And mark my words, it will only bring
heartache."
Heartache. Kathryn closed her eyes, letting herself imagine, just for a
second, how wonderful the

events leading up to that heartache might be. Images of Talon flooded
her memory. His warmth, his lean strength, his beautiful, haunted eyes.
She blinked, dispelling the dangerous thoughts. "I'm not a fool, Betsy.
Daniel is my lot in life. I'll not look elsewhere."
Betsy nodded. "A woman's life is seldom easy, sweetheart."
Kathryn gave her maid an impulsive hug and then hurried out of the
room before more foolish tears could fall. She'd allowed herself to shed
far too many in the last twenty-four hours.
By the time she entered the dining room, the men were already there.
She stood in the doorway for a moment, staring. All three were
breathtaking, yet her brother-in-law still managed to stand out.
Talon stood before the fire, idly swirling his drink as he stared into the
flames. His beautiful face was turned in profile, and she thought his
mother had named him well. He was as graceful and wild as the
gyrfalcon her father kept for his hunts.
"You're late." Sutcliffe glared at her over the rim of his brandy glass.
"She looks ravishing, so it was well worth the wait." Daniel hurried
forward and took her arm, guiding her toward the table. Kathryn tensed
at his touch and gave him a suspicious glance. It was the first time he'd
ever stood up to his father on her behalf.
"I agree." Talon's deep voice chased away any further contemplation of
Daniel's motives.
She let Daniel pull out her chair, but all her senses were attuned to the
man who stood across from her. He wore a black dinner jacket with a
snowy white cravat, and his blue eyes glittered with appreciation as he
returned her stare.
"Good evening, Talon."
"Lady Kate." His reassuring smile gave her courage.
Lean on me. The words he'd spoken last night came rushing back, and
she clung to them with a sense of wonder. How had this man sprung
from such tainted seed?
The three men took their places, Sutcliffe at the head of the table, with
Daniel to his right and Talon to his left. She sat next to Daniel, which
gave her an unobstructed view of her brother-in-law. Flushing, she
dropped her gaze and took a sip of wine. This had to stop. No matter
how Daniel had wronged her, she was still a married woman.

The servants brought out the first course. When they withdrew,
Sutcliffe let the weight of his gaze fall upon each of them. "This is
certainly a first. All my dutiful children sitting down to supper together.
Of course, you'll be leaving soon, so we won't have to make a habit of
it."
Kathryn felt Daniel's sudden tension. Despite everything that had
happened, she pitied her husband. She knew how it felt to be scorned
and ridiculed by your own father.
"You mean to go through with this?" Daniel's face paled, and she saw
the faint tremor in his hand when he picked up his fork.
"Of course. Did you think I would change my mind?" Sutcliffe shook
his head. "You're a fool."
Daniel put his fork back down without taking a bite. "You'll forgive
me, then, if I decline the pleasure of dining with the lot of you. There
are other places I'd rather spend my last two nights of freedom." He
gave Kathryn a wry, apologetic smile. Then he stood and exited the
room.
Sutcliffe cursed under his breath and then turned his wrath upon
Kathryn. "This is your fault. If you'd been woman enough to keep him
at home, none of us would be in this situation."
Kathryn sucked in her breath, but before she could say a word in her
own defense, Talon stood up and threw down his napkin. "I won't listen
to this. I refuse to stand by while you belittle her."
"You refuse?" Sutcliffe stood as well, and the two of them faced off,
nose to nose. "Who are you to refuse me anything? Need I remind you
that I hold the future of everything you care about in the palm of my
hand?"
Fury sparked in Talon's beautiful eyes, and Kathryn felt the tiniest
fission of fear creep down her

spine. This wasn't the tender friend who'd offered her a shoulder to lean
on and wiped away her tears. The stranger across the table was every
bit as dangerous as the man who had sired him. "You are an evil son of
a bitch," Talon muttered, spinning on his heels.
The moment Talon left the room, Kathryn got to her feet as well. She'd
rather starve than stay here with her father-in-law. But when she
reached the door, she turned and met his icy gaze.
"You may as well get used to dining alone," she told him, shocked by
her own audacity. "You've just insured you shall remain that way for
the rest of your life."
Talon went searching for Kate the next morning. He had a strange,
masochistic compulsion to spend more time with her. Surely, once he
got to know her better, he would see she was just like all the other
women he'd known. Manipulative, conniving, uncaring of anything but
her own needs and wants.
If he didn't find a reason to dislike her, it would be almost impossible to
do as his father commanded.
He found her in the library, pouring over a huge tomb of sea navigation.
He knew the book well because one just like it had graced the captain's
cabin aboard his ship, The Western Sky. The book was an old friend
and had guided him through many a storm.
He paused in the doorway, enjoying this chance to observe her. She
twined a strand of hair around her finger as she read, an adorable
wrinkle in her brow. The complicated sea charts probably looked like
Greek to her.
He smiled and entered the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
She jumped and closed the book, looking like a child who'd been
caught stealing from the cookie jar.
"What are you doing?" He crossed the room and leaned one hip against
the edge of the table, looming over her. "What are you reading?"
She sighed, but he didn't miss the hint of color that stained her cheeks.
For some reason, she was embarrassed to have been caught reading. "It
appears I shall be going to America, whether I like it or not. I thought it
would be wise to find out as much about the land and people as I can."
His gaze shifted from her lovely face back to the table. Beneath the
navigational chart were various histories of the Americas. His regard

leapt another notch. He'd never known a woman who liked to read.
Never known one who could read, come to think of it.
"I like the way your mind works."
She frowned, seeming truly upset. "Don't tease me. Not about this."
"I'm not teasing." He leaned forward and stared into her troubled eyes,
wondering why on earth she'd think such a thing. "Your intelligence is
one of the most attractive things about you."
She flushed and looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. "My
father says an educated woman is nothing more than a harlot. At
school, they taught us to read, but only for the purpose of writing notes
and planning menus."
The mention of Kate's father made Talon's blood boil. He hated the fact
that such a heartless, unfeeling bastard had raised her. Once again he
felt the strange urge to shelter her, to protect her from life's harshness.
"If you were mine..." The words were out before he could stop them.
Dangerous, treacherous words. He pulled away, a bit startled by what
they made him feel. "Go on," she whispered, her eyes wide.
He laughed, a short, strained sound. "I would never discourage you
from broadening your mind." Naked gratitude shone in her eyes. It was
obvious no one had ever shown her any sort of encouragement. How
very sad. He also knew she was beginning to care for him, and he
wanted to warn

her not to. Didn't she know better than to wear her heart on her sleeve?
She blinked and looked away. "Do you know anything about the sea?"
"Quite a bit, actually. Until recently, I was... a ship's captain." He
thought it best to hide the exact nature of his past profession. It seemed
a lifetime ago anyway. Sometimes he wondered if he'd dreamed the
successful life he'd built for himself.
"Really? I didn't know that about you. So, you know the route we'll be
taking?"
He leaned closer, inhaling a deep breath of her sweet smelling, freshly
washed hair. "I think we'll probably go this way." He covered her hand
with his and trailed her fingertip over the map. "At least, this is the way
I'd go if I were at the helm."
She trembled and then turned her palm face up, twining her fingers
with his. "Thank you for taking me to see my father. I've never had a
friend like you."
"Friends?" His gaze was drawn to the plump fullness of her bottom lip.
He was dying for another taste of her. "Is that what we are?"
Her eyes widened, mirroring his reckless desire. "Of course. That's all
we can be."
"Is it?" He ran his thumb over her cheek, willing her to make the first
move. If only she'd meet him halfway and play the seductress. He
wanted to be able to tell himself she'd known what she was getting in
to.
"Oh, Talon." She closed her eyes and turned her head, pressing her lips
to his palm. "You make me ache for things I cannot have."
"Come here." He swept aside the books and sat on the edge of the table,
then tugged on her hand until she stood. "Let me hold you for awhile."
A choked little laugh escaped her lips. "This is so very wrong."
He pulled her closer, into the lee of his thighs, reveling in the soft press
of her breasts again his chest. He thought of what she'd said, about
aching for things she couldn't have. He felt it, too. This was the third
time he'd held her, and it seemed more natural each time.
She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I fear this thing between us
will end badly. Already you're monopolizing my thoughts and stealing
my breath."
He smiled into her hair, glad he wasn't the only one. "Then why do you
fight it?"

She lifted her head, and there were tears in her eyes. "Because I must.
Daniel doesn't take our vows seriously, but I could never forgive
myself if I were to forsake them as well."
He sighed and released her. "I'll respect your wishes." He forced a
lightness he was far from feeling into his tone. "But I'm going crazy
cooped up in this house. Would you like to go riding?"
She hesitated for a long moment, and he could see the battle being
waged within her. She obviously wanted to spend more time with him,
but it went against everything she'd ever been taught.
Come on. Take a chance. Just this once.
His silent pleading seemed to work. "Yes," she said. "I'd love to."

Chapter Eight
As Kate hurried up to her room to change, she knew she'd been a fool to
agree to go riding with Talon. But how could she have said no?
He was everything she'd ever wanted. Handsome and kind, yet wild
and a little dangerous. He treated her as though her opinion mattered, as
though what she said and thought were of interest. When she was with
him, the harsh reality of her life drifted away. He made her feel young
again.
She frowned at the thought. Why shouldn't she feel young? She was
only twenty-two years old. Her marriage to Daniel was making her old
before her time. With new determination, she finished buttoning her
emerald riding habit, then pinned her hair up beneath a jaunty green
hat.
When she met Talon in the stables fifteen minutes later, his gaze swept
over her with undisguised appreciation. "I've never known a woman to
be so prompt, yet still manage to look so lovely."
She smiled, trying to tamp down the pleasure his words provoked. "I've
never known a man so free with his compliments."
A charming grin lit his face, and he motioned toward the waiting
horses. "The groom told me you preferred Ginger, so I took the liberty
of having her saddled."
"Ginger will be fine, and Jack here is another of my favorites." Kate
assessed Talon's choice. For some reason she'd expected him to choose
a high-spirited stallion, perhaps that black devil his father liked to ride.
Instead he'd chosen a rangy, chestnut gelding.
Talon helped her mount the little gray mare, his hands lingering longer
than necessary on her waist. A thrill moved through her when he leapt
into his own saddle. He sat his horse with ease and fluid grace, as
though he'd been born to it.
They rode west toward Hyde Park and the infamous stretch of road
known as Rotten Row. It wasn't long before they started garnering
curious glances.
"We're causing quite a scandal." Kate bowed her head, guiding her
mare closer to Talon's mount so she could speak to him in whispered
tones. "We should go somewhere else. By noon, everyone in town will
know I was seen riding in the park with my husband's brother."

Talon raised a sardonic eyebrow. "Why do you care? You'll be leaving
soon. There's nothing any of these small-minded people can do to hurt
you."
He was absolutely right, and the knowledge freed her. For the first time
in her life, she needn't worry about what everyone thought. The only
person who would be hurt by a scandal was her father-in

law.
She wanted to cause one just to spite him.
A laugh bubbled from her lips. Not the quiet, restrained laugh she'd
been admonished to use in public. No, this laughter was uninhibited,
husky, and not at all ladylike. Heads turned in her direction, but she
ignored them, wondering why she'd ever cared what anyone thought
about her in the first place.
Talon shot her a quick glance and then laughed with her, the deep
sound ringing out across the park. "You have a beautiful laugh. I hope
to hear it more often."
"You will." If anyone could make her laugh, it was him. She kicked
Ginger into an undignified cantor, and Talon raced alongside her, his
lean body moving in graceful tandem with his horse.
They sped past the sedate aristocracy who had come merely to see and
be seen, through a copse of trees, and into a lovely little garden filled
with wild roses and a small, white gazebo.
He reined in beside her, his blue eyes dancing with pure devilry. "Let's
stop here for awhile. You like roses, don't you?"
She frowned, a prickle of unease chasing down her spine. The garden
was completely secluded, the perfect place for a tryst. "Maybe we
should head back to the house."
"Nonsense." He dismounted and came around to offer her a hand. "I've
already promised to play the gentleman. You have nothing to fear from
me."
He'd only promised to play the gentleman, not be one.
She searched his gaze and then allowed him to help her dismount.
Once again, he held her against him, chest to chest, for just a moment
longer than was necessary or proper. His scent, freshly washed skin,
horses and musk, made her heady with delight. At last he stepped away,
pressing one hand to the small of her back and leading her to the bench
inside the gazebo.
"How did you know I liked roses?" She was desperate to get the
conversation back to safe ground, determined to resist him no matter
how much he tempted her.
He leaned against the rail and placed one booted foot on the bench
beside her. Muscles rippled down the long length of his thigh, and she
stared, transfixed.

Bowing his head, he fiddled with his jacket cuff. "I was in the library,
back at the Manor, when Sutcliffe interrogated you."
She'd already known that, thanks to Betsy, but she was glad he'd told
her. For some reason, she didn't want there to be any secrets between
them. She sighed. "You must have thought me pathetic."
He shook his head. "Ah, Kate. You were anything but that. I liked the
way you stood up to my father. And I really loved the fact that you had
dirt on your hands."
She flushed and clenched her hands, trying to hide her calloused palms
and chipped, ragged nails, once again afraid he was mocking her.
If only she were elegant and worldly, the kind of woman who could
dazzle a man like Talon with her charm and wit. The kind of woman
who could take a lover and not feel guilty about it.
"I'll miss my roses." She blinked, hoping she was strong enough to hold
back more useless tears. "I think I'll miss them most of all."
He took her hands, bending down until his beautiful face was
disturbingly close. "Tell me about your roses. Why do you enjoy
gardening so much?"
No one had ever asked her about the things that made her happy. A
lifetime of hopes and dreams were locked deep within her. She didn't
even know where to begin. "There's just something about working in
the dirt, getting dirty and sweaty, making things grow." She shrugged,
feeling silly. "When I'm out in the garden, I don't have to worry about
doing and saying all the right things. I can just be myself."
He brought her hand to his lips, his long lashes sweeping low as his
mouth brushed her knuckles. "You don't ever have to pretend with me.
I like you just the way you are."
His lips were fine and full, warm and satiny to the touch. She wanted to
kiss him, to run her hands

over his skin. Lord, he was a dangerous, dangerous man.
Flustered, she pulled her hand away. "What are you passionate about,
Talon? What makes you
happy?"
A flicker of pain crossed his handsome features, but then he smiled. "I
like simple things. The wind in my face. The smell of the sea. Warm,
willing women."
Warm, willing women. His words were like a dash of icy water in the
face. They reminded her Talon Montgomery had been with dozens of
women. He probably had to fight them off with a stick.
She didn't doubt he could make her very happy for a night or two.
But then he'd move on. She'd be left behind, alone and unloved, more
miserable then ever because she'd know what she was missing.
Clearing her throat, she stood. The time had come to put an end to this
foolishness. "I think we should leave, Mr. Montgomery."
Talon cursed himself all the way back to his father's townhouse. What a
royal botch he'd made of everything. Kate was silent beside him, her
back rigid with dismay.
Warm, willing women. What a stupid thing to say. But her question
had surprised him, and he'd realized that she was the only thing that had
made him happy in a very long time. So he'd brazened it out, made it
sound as though she were merely one of hundreds, thousands even, to
cover his discomfort.
Now she thought he would use her then abandon her without a
backward glance. He wanted to pull her off that horse and shake her,
make her look into his eyes and see what kind of man he truly was.
His thoughts trailed off, and embarrassed heat crept into his cheeks.
Necessity had made him exactly the kind of man she feared him to be.
What was it about her that made him forget himself? When he held her
in his arms, he forgot about his men, forgot everything but the memory
of her lips melting beneath his, her softness, the scent of roses and
innocence.
She made him feel alive, as though anything were possible.
He had to remember this wasn't a romance. He was being blackmailed,
and he couldn't afford to let himself be carried away by emotion.
It was best to nip this maudlin daydreaming in the bud. He had to focus
on the subject at hand— cold-hearted seduction.

He was pushing her too fast.
She was attracted to him. But she was suffering intense guilt over the
one meager kiss they'd already shared. Her defenses were up, and she
was determined not to give in to him again.
Well, he didn't have time for her maidenly protests. He wanted her to
fall willingly into his arms. He wanted her to be a different kind of
woman altogether. One who'd take the pleasure he offered and not be
burdened by morality.
He sighed, and she turned to look at him. Her gaze was reproachful,
even a little fearful. But beneath it all was something else, something
hungry and needy. Something that made him think maybe he hadn't
botched it after all.
Forcing himself to be ruthless, he pasted on his most charming smile.
"I'm sorry if I offended you. It certainly wasn't my intention."
She gave a dismissive flick of her hand, her face softening. "It's my
fault. I shouldn't have come with you. It was selfish."
"How often do you do anything for yourself?" He shook his head.
"Don't regret the time we spend together, Kate. I won't allow it."

"You won't allow it?" Her voice rose in disbelief. "Don't tell me what
you will and won't allow. I already have enough men in my life telling
me what to do."
Before he had a chance to call his words back or defend himself in any
way, she took off, spurring her horse toward home. He wanted to chase
after her, but restrained himself. Best to cut his losses and try again
some other day.
By the time he reached the stables, she was nowhere to be seen. He
waved away the stable lad and groomed the horse himself, enjoying the
familiar, soothing rhythm. He'd always ridden whenever he had the
opportunity. It was a gentleman's sport, and he'd never had the luxury
when he was young.
As he worked, his tension eased. He let his mind wander over the
events of the day. Kate had been touched when he'd asked her about her
roses. Her lovely face had lit up when she'd spoken of them. He smiled,
thinking perhaps he'd found the key to melting her defenses.
She claimed she'd miss her roses the most, which spurred a plan. If he
arranged to have a few of her rose bushes brought aboard ship, it would
cheer her and perhaps help him regain some of the ground he'd lost
today.
It would give her something to remember him by.
Feeling morose, he handed the curry brush back to the groom and
exited the stables. So much for keeping his emotions out of it. He
couldn't shake the thought that after he'd done what he must, she'd
never think of him with fondness again. She'd hate him with all the
green-eyed passion she possessed.
Just the same, he resolved to send a footman down to Rosewood Manor
this very afternoon. Kate should have at least a few of her roses. It was
the only thing he could do for her.
Daniel Sinclair was at his club sharing a bottle of port with Philip
Carrington when his father tracked him down. Daniel watched through
narrowed eyes as Sutcliffe bore down on them, his face set in grim,
foreboding lines.
"Oh, Lord," Philip groaned, noticing Daniel's sudden inattention.
"What on earth is he doing
here?"

Daniel shook his head, willing the tyrant who'd sired him to perdition.
"I don't know. But maybe you should make yourself scarce."
Philip tossed a lock of blond hair out of his eyes, frowning. "Bugger the
old bastard. He has no right to treat you this way."
Daniel just shook his head, knowing all he stood to lose. Philip wasn't
the only thing his father could take from him with a mere snap of his
fingers. "I'll be all right. Just go."
Philip stood and bowed as Sutcliffe joined them. "Sir. I was just
leaving."
Sutcliffe gave Philip a look of pure disgust. "Then by all means, do so.
I need to talk to Daniel alone." He took the chair Philip had vacated,
dismissing him.
Philip glared at Sutcliffe's broad back for a moment then shrugged and
wandered away toward the gaming tables. Daniel watched his lover go,
in no hurry to listen to his father's complaints.
"You'll be pleased to know everything is in order." Sutcliffe helped
himself to the port, staring at Daniel as though he was an insect in need
of squashing. "I'll expect you to be on board the ship when it
sails."
Daniel's anger spiked. "I don't understand why I have to go anywhere.
Why can't your golden boy seduce Kathryn right here on British soil?"
Sutcliffe quaffed his drink. "There's already too much talk. No less than
half a dozen people have asked me why your wife was riding in the
park with my bastard since I entered the club."
Daniel laughed. He couldn't help himself. No matter how much he
hated his half-brother, he was

glad to see his father in such a state. "Very inconvenient. But I don't see
why we can't just go to France for a few weeks. We could rent a villa,
and I could amuse myself with Philip while the two of them conceive
the perfect little heir."
The thought of being separated from Philip for months on end killed
him. Why should he be forced to give up his lover while his wife took
one beneath his very nose?
Sutcliffe slammed his heavy crystal glass down on the polished oak
table. "You're getting on that ship. I don't want to hear another word
about it."
Daniel clenched his fists at his sides, feeling totally impotent. "You
can't force me to claim another man's child as my own. Just listen to
yourself. This entire plan is mad. It will never work."
"I can do anything I want." Sutcliffe was eerily calm, considering this
was one of the only times Daniel had ever found the courage to stand
up to him. "You should know that by now."
Daniel knew. He knew all too well. Swallowing, he prepared himself
for whatever hell his father had in store for him this time.
Kate spent the rest of the afternoon in her room, brooding over what
had happened in the park. Talon seemed to bring out both the best and
worst in her. She couldn't explain her erratic behavior.
Talon wasn't a knight in shining armor. He hadn't come here to rescue
her. He was Sutcliffe's son, and she couldn't expect him to risk his
relationship with his family to have an affair with her.
She'd been upset the other night, and he'd kissed her out of pity more
than anything. He'd probably been regretting his generosity ever since.
As for the rest of it, his sweet words in the library this morning, his
claim that he admired her... well, she mustn't read too much into it.
He was a man, after all. It was her duty to keep him at arm's length.
She'd been far too forward in her dealings with him and couldn't blame
him for taking advantage.
Besides, this whole sordid situation was probably her mind's only
defense against what she'd learned about her husband. She'd taken all
her schoolgirl dreams and longings, which had been wasted on Daniel,
and hung them on Talon instead.
She should be figuring out what she was going to do with the rest of her
life instead of sitting here fantasizing about her brother-in-law.

After all, he'd disappear from her life in a matter of weeks, but she'd
have to deal with Daniel forever.
A soft rap on her bedroom door came from the sitting room, not the
hall. It had to be Talon. She cursed herself for the spike of happiness
that surged within her. "Just a minute." She glanced at her reflection in
the mirror, despairing over her bedraggled appearance.
"May I come in?" Talon's voice sounded muffled and far away.
Despite all her earlier misgivings, Kate found it impossible to turn him
away. "Of course."
He entered her bedroom, and heat rushed to her cheeks when he
glanced at the large, satin-draped bed in the corner. His very presence
was sheer temptation. If she had any sense, she would have joined him
in the sitting room instead.
She cleared her throat. "Do you need something?" Too late, she
realized that was not the kind of question she should ask when
entertaining a man in her bedroom.
A small smile pulled at the corners of his sensual mouth. Then he shook
his head and met her embarrassed gaze. "I just came to apologize. I
don't want you to be angry."
"I'm not angry," she hastened to assure him. "Don't give it another
thought."
He took another step toward her, and she fought the impulse to back
away. Lifting his hand, he cupped her face, his tender touch melting the
last of her defenses. "Good," he whispered, leaning forward

and brushing her forehead with his lips. "Don't ever be angry with me,
sweetheart. I don't think I could bear it."
For a long, loaded moment, they stared at each other. Something inside
her shifted and fell away. She wasn't sure what had changed, but she
knew with utter certainty that some sort of inner line had been crossed.
He must have felt something similar, because a look of confusion
crossed his handsome face, and he fell back a step. "I'll see you at
dinner?"
She nodded, unable to form a coherent thought. If he'd held out his
hand, she would have fallen into his arms and damned the
consequences. Luckily, he turned on his heels and exited her room.
For a long time, she stood where he'd left her, staring after him. Then
she sank into a chair, coming face to face with a horrible truth.
Even though she knew it was wrong, even though it could only bring
heartache, she was helpless to resist Talon Montgomery's hypnotic
attraction. She was his for the taking. All he needed to do was ask.
Talon fled Kate's room as though the hounds of hell were on his heels.
He'd only meant to gauge her mood, but the attraction between them
had roared to life and he'd been lucky to escape without being burned
alive.
He'd wanted to make love to her more than he'd ever wanted anything
in his life. In fact, he was still trembling with desire, still half- tempted
to go back there and toss her down on that big, plush bed. "Do you
really think you can get away with making a fool of me?"
Sutcliffe's booming voice stopped Talon dead in his tracks. He gripped
the mahogany banister and schooled his features into an expressionless
mask before turning to face his nemesis. "I don't know what you're
talking about."
Sutcliffe stood at the top of the stairs, a superior position since Talon
was halfway down them. "Get back up here. We need to talk."
Talon affected an air of complete boredom. "Say whatever you have to
say. I'm going out."
The look on Sutcliffe's face was priceless. Talon wondered idly if he
could solve all his problems by angering the man until he dropped dead
of apoplexy.

Cursing under his breath, Sutcliffe stomped down the stairs until he and
Talon stood eye to eye. "Everyone at the club was talking about you
and Kathryn. They saw you riding together in the park."
"What of it?"
"I won't have it!" Sutcliffe's voice thundered through the large, vaulted
space, causing a maid down the hall to turn her head.
Talon lifted a brow. "Careful. You'll have the servants talking."
"Your relationship with Kathryn must remain discreet." Sutcliffe
lowered his voice to a fierce, angry whisper. "There will be no more
public displays. No one must doubt this child is Daniel's."
"You're insane," Talon told him. "No one will ever believe Daniel
fathered this child, no matter
what I do."
"People will believe what I want them to believe."
The maid lifted her head again and then scurried away when Sutcliffe
shot her a venomous look. Sutcliffe waited until she was out of sight
then turned to glare at Talon again. "I've changed your travel plans to
insure nothing like this happens again."
"What are you talking about?" A bad feeling took root in the pit of
Talon's stomach. Christ, could this possibly get any worse?
Sutcliffe smiled; the sudden change in his demeanor was frightening to
behold. "I've booked the

three of you on one of my merchant ships, The Shining Star. I believe
you're already acquainted with that vessel?"
Talon nodded, his pulse roaring in his ears. "I know of it." The captain
of The Shining Star, Joshua Percy, was an old enemy and The
Shining Star had been one of the best prizes his crew had ever
managed to take. He should have scuttled the damn vessel.
"You'll be sharing a suite of three rooms, two sleeping berths connected
with a sitting room. You'll have to keep Kate below, since she'll be the
only woman on the ship." The earl smiled in grim satisfaction. "No one
is to know she's aboard. That way, no harmful gossip will find its way
back here."
Talon's question had been answered. Things were definitely going to
get worse.

Chapter Nine
Talon held his breath as he watched Kate climb The Shining Star's
gangplank. Dressed as a boy in a large shirt and baggy pants, her
glorious wealth of chestnut hair was well hidden beneath a battered old
hat.
He gave an inward groan. Her face was too pale, her features too
delicate. No man with eyes in his head would mistake her for a boy.
This wasn't going to work, and Talon cursed Sutcliffe for having made
it so desperately necessary to try.
Kate hurried past a few burly sailors who were loading last-minute
supplies. She kept her head down, her eyes on the uneven wood
beneath her feet. A half smile curved Talon's lips despite the danger.
He couldn't fault her for her performance.
When he'd discovered the dirty trick his father had pulled on them, he'd
sent a hastily scrawled note to her room, giving her instructions on
what to wear and how to act. She was following his suggestions to the
letter.
What a trusting little soul she was. It amazed him that she'd paid any
attention at all to his desperate plea for cooperation. There was no way
he would have donned a dress and pretended to be a woman at the
request of a lady he barely knew.
She looked so frail, so tiny and helpless, surrounded by the legion of
brutish sailors. He wanted to rush to her side and escort her to her
cabin. He would have, if not for the glowering presence of Sutcliffe's
personal footman, Lionel, at her back. The man had been instructed to
see her safely boarded, and he seemed to be taking his responsibility
seriously.
"Good God," muttered Joshua Percy, The Shining Star's captain, from
his place at Talon's elbow. "Is that her?"
Talon gave a grim nod.
"I can't believe Sutcliffe talked me into this. Hell, Montgomery, you
know my men will mutiny if they find out there's a woman on board.
They're a superstitious lot. And heaven help us if they discover she's a
beauty."
"You're doing this because my father paid you damned good money to
do so." Talon glared at the other man, making no effort to hide his
loathing. "I don't like this any more than you do, but Sutcliffe has us

both over a barrel. We have to work together, distasteful as the idea may
be."
Percy took an involuntary step back, and Talon knew he was
remembering the last time they'd met.

They'd gone to blows in a Jamaican tavern, and Percy had taken the
worst of it before they'd both been thrown out.
He had to hand it to Sutcliffe. When he'd set out to make this trip a
living hell, he hadn't missed any of the finer details. Talon didn't trust
Percy. He wouldn't put it past the captain to decide the money wasn't
worth it and take this chance at revenge his boss had handed him on a
silver platter. He'd be lucky if the bastard didn't keel haul him and
throw Kate to his men.
"Let's get one thing straight," Percy told him. "I'm in charge here. This
isn't your cursed pirate ship, and I'll be damned if I'll let you walk all
over me. I made a deal with Sutcliffe, and I intend to honor it, but
you've got to do your part. You've got to keep that woman in her cabin
and your worthless brother under control, or all bets are off."
"That woman is my wife. I'll keep her hidden the best I can, but if
something goes wrong, you better back me up. If anything happens to
her, I'll rip you limb from limb."
The lie came far too easily to Talon's lips. It was the only part of
Sutcliffe's plan he'd agreed to. It was imperative Percy think Kate was
his wife, not Daniel's, since she'd be spending most of the voyage alone
in her cabin.
Percy had already seen Daniel, and Talon knew he wouldn't consider
him much of a deterrent if he wanted Kate badly enough. Hell, Daniel
couldn't even take care of himself, let alone his wife.
Daniel had spent the last two days in an alcohol-induced fog, resisting
the forthcoming trip for all he was worth. Sutcliffe had grown tired of
his son's protests and ordered for him to be drugged and carried on
board in the dead of the night.
Percy laughed. "Well, at least we understand each other." He whirled
away and began to bark furious orders at his men, sending them
scrambling to set sail. Talon glared at his retreating back, knowing the
argument was far from over.
Lionel emerged from the hatch that led below decks, and Talon hurried
toward him. "Is everything in order?"
Lionel nodded. "No troubles, sir."
Talon breathed a sigh of relief. At least one thing had gone right.
"Thank you." "Good luck to you, lad." Lionel gave him a sudden grin.
"You'll be needin' a bloody lot of it." "Then I'm in a world of hurt,"

Talon muttered, making Lionel laugh. "Because my luck ran out the
day I was born."
Kathryn paced the narrow confines of her cabin, anxiety eating a hole
in her stomach. The clothes she wore felt strange and alien against her
skin. Why on earth had Talon insisted she wear them?
She'd glimpsed him earlier when she'd boarded the ship. He'd stood at
the bow, the feeble sunshine glinting off his jet-black hair. He'd been
watching her, and she'd wanted to speak to him, but his instructions had
been very specific. She was supposed to dress like a boy, keep her head
down, speak to no one and wait for him in her cabin.
She sank to the edge of the bunk, clenching her fists at her sides. A
knock sounded at the door and she froze, then grabbed the ugly hat
she'd discarded earlier. She was trying, without much success, to stuff
her waist-length hair beneath it when Talon slipped inside the room.
"Leave it off. It's just me."
She let the hat drop to the warped wooden floor and crossed her arms
across her chest. The shapeless vest was very concealing and she'd
instructed Betsy to bind her breasts, but she still felt naked beneath his
heated gaze.
The hint of a smile curved Talon's lips at her defensive gesture. He
leaned against the wall,

watching her. "You look very fetching."
She stared at her feet, embarrassment creeping up her cheeks. "I don't
know why you insisted I dress this way. I can only assume I've been a
fool to do so."
"You're not foolish." He pushed away from the wall and stepped in
front of her, forcing her to look up at him. "Believe it or not, I didn't ask
this of you for my own enjoyment." The smile returned for half a
second and then disappeared. "I'm afraid we're in a bit of a rough spot,
Kate."
Kate. For a moment, all that registered was the sound of his deep voice
caressing the nickname he'd given her, but then her gaze flew to his in
alarm. "What's happened?"
"You're the only woman on the ship. These men believe women are bad
luck. And you're so damned beautiful. If they see you, they'll begin to
think about you, dream of you, want you. Do you understand what I'm
saying?"
"I'm not beautiful," she whispered automatically. The rest of what he'd
said made no sense. How could she be the only woman on the ship? It
was impossible, scandalous. Sutcliffe would never allow such a thing.
Anger flickered across his features. "Is that all you can say? I tell you
you're in danger and you fish for compliments?" He sat back on his
heels and raked his hand through his thick dark hair in a gesture of
impatience.
She shook her head in quick denial. "I'm not fishing for compliments. I
don't understand. I thought this was a passenger ship."
He looked away, a muscle twitching in his lean cheek. "I'm sorry. I
tried to get him to change his mind, but he refused. He was furious
when you and I were seen together in the park. This is his way of
getting back at us and making sure no more gossip finds its way back to
England."
She absorbed that for a moment, shame heating her cheeks. What had
she been thinking? She'd acted too impulsively that day they'd gone
riding. She should have known the illusion of freedom was merely
that—an illusion.
"What about Daniel? Am I being sent away by myself so he can
continue to amuse himself with his... lover?" Lord, it still made her
nauseous to think of what she'd seen.

He laughed, an angry, bitter sound. "Daniel is in the cabin next door.
He refused to come willingly, so Sutcliffe had him drugged and carried
here unconscious. This trip isn't going to be any more pleasant for him
than it is for you."
She blinked, stunned. How could this be happening? How could her
father-in-law have this much control over their lives? "What will
happen to us?"
"Nothing," he assured her, his voice hard-edged. "You'll stay in this
cabin or the adjoining sitting room until we reach Carolina. I'll make
sure no one even knows you're here."
The cabin was small and dark, perhaps ten feet wide and not quite as
deep. She couldn't imagine being trapped here for all the long weeks
their voyage would take. "I can't leave?" The walls seemed to press in
on her as soon as she said the words. "Not at all?"
"I'm sorry. I know it will be hard for you. But I can't think of any other
way you'll be safe." He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"It won't be so bad. It will be over before you know it."
A laugh caught in her throat, threatening to choke her. His nightmare
would cease once they reached America, but for her, the end of the
voyage would only be the beginning of the hell Sutcliffe had sentenced
her to.
Talon postponed his return to Kate's cabin as long as possible. He
checked on Daniel a few times, but mostly he stayed on deck, watching
Percy's crew guide The Shining Star across the Channel and out

to sea.
It was frustrating to be nothing more than an observer. He was used to
being in control, used to barking out orders and navigating the ships
that sailed beneath him.
Even so, it was wonderful to leave land behind. Especially this land.
He didn't plan to ever return to England. Those months he'd spent in
prison had sapped more than his strength and health. They'd drained his
spirit, his very soul.
He smiled at the antics of a pair of dolphins swimming and playing in
front of the ship. The sea had always calmed him. The fear and hatred
that had hung so heavily around his neck during the last few days
dissipated as the English coast fell away.
Freedom.
He was free, and that was all that mattered. Sutcliffe was ahead in the
game, but he hadn't won, not by a long shot.
He sighed and pushed away from the rail. Daylight was slipping away
and Kate was probably going mad in that tiny, dark cabin. He hated
having to keep her down there. He, of all people, knew how terrible
confinement could be. But at least he could make sure she was well fed,
warm and comfortable, which was far more consideration than he'd
been given in prison.
She would survive this. They both would. He had a feeling she'd thrive
like a hothouse rose in Charleston.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't be around to see it. Charleston had lost its
appeal now that Sutcliffe had appropriated Holyoke.
If necessary, he would do what his father demanded. But he wouldn't
take the damned plantation. He wouldn't allow himself to be bought.
Once he was reunited with his men, they'd find a new ship. He'd take to
the seas once again and rebuild his fortune. Then he'd find a nice, hardy
American girl and do his best to forget Kate's beautiful green eyes and
fiery spirit.
He only hoped that was possible once he'd made love to her.
The narrow passageway that connected the handful of passenger cabins
was dank and foul smelling. Talon grimaced and ducked into the cabin
he shared with his brother. Daniel was still out cold, and he wondered if
whomever Sutcliffe had hired to drug the poor bastard had known what
he was doing.

He opened the basket full of food he'd purchased before they left port
this morning. Grabbing an apple and a chunk of bread, he slipped them
into his pocket. Kate was probably starving. He'd take her this light
dinner and then leave her alone for the night.
His stomach turned at the thought of spending the night in here with
Daniel. He'd much rather sleep up on deck with the rest of the crew. But
that would raise too much suspicion. Kate's cabin was supposed to be
his, and he had to keep up the pretense.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself against the sight of Kate in
those provocative pants, and opened the connecting door.
The stench of sickness overwhelmed him. For a moment, he stood
motionless in the dark, listening to the painful sound of Kate's weak
retching. Then he moved toward her, striking a match and lighting the
lantern on the wall. He blinked against the sudden glare. "Kate? Are
you all right?"
She huddled in the corner, clutching the chamberpot. Her green eyes
were glassy and unfocused, her face an unhealthy shade of gray. She
moaned, and the sound tore at his heart. Poor little thing. She'd been
alone and miserably sick for hours while he'd been thinking of ways to
avoid her.
"Let me help you." He sank to his knees beside her and took the
chamberpot out of her hands. He set it aside, trying to control his own
nausea at the smell.
"Are you just seasick, sweetheart? Or is it something else?"
Just seasick? Kathryn moaned as her stomach threatened to rebel once
again. She'd never been so

miserable in her life. "Will it be like this until we get to America? I
don't think I'll survive."
Talon put his arm around her waist and helped her over to the narrow
bunk. "The Channel was choppy today. Perhaps once we hit the open
sea, you'll do better."
"Oh God." She groaned, curling up in a little ball on the bunk. "Doesn't
it bother you at all?"
"No." He smiled a little and sat down on the bunk beside her,
smoothing a lock of hair out of her eyes. "I've been at sea nearly all my
life."
He continued to stroke her forehead, and the wave of nausea subsided.
She didn't know if it was his presence that helped, or if the waters had
calmed.
"Please." She moved away from his soothing touch. He was the last
person in the world she wanted to see her in such a state. "Please go. I'll
be all right."
He frowned and reached out, pointing to the nasty streak of vomit that
stained the front of her borrowed shirt. "Why don't you take that off?
I'll carry it and the chamberpot above decks and wash them
out."
Heat rose in her already warm cheeks. "Take it off?"
He nodded, tenderness and amusement battling for precedence in his
blue eyes. "I'll turn my back. You have nothing to fear from me. I just
want to help."
Of course, he was merely trying to be helpful. She was foolish to
entertain any other notion. What man in his right mind would find her
attractive right now? "All right," she whispered, wondering if this day
could possibly get any worse. "Thank you."
He smiled and then turned around. "Just crawl under the blankets when
you're done."
She stared at his broad shoulders, and then her gaze dropped lower to
his lean waist. Then lower still to the curve of his buttocks snugly
delineated by the fabric of his tight britches. The fluttery feeling in the
pit of her stomach intensified as she lifted her hands to unbutton her
borrowed shirt.
Even though he couldn't see her, it seemed terribly intimate to disrobe
while he was in the room. She flung the shirt to the floor and struggled

to twist her arm behind her back so she could unfasten the binding her
maid had used to flatten her breasts earlier.
"Can I turn around?"
Panicked, she struggled once more to reach the end of the binding. "No.
Not yet. Give me another minute." Her breasts ached, but her attempts
to remove the binding were useless. Disgusted with herself, she gave
up and crawled under the covers, pulling them up to her chin. "All
right. I'm ready now."
He turned around and looked at her for a long moment. She knew he
was wondering what had taken her so long, and she dropped her gaze,
unable to bear his intense regard. He moved about the room for a
minute, picking up after her, which only added to her mortification.
He paused at the door. "I'll be back in just a few minutes. I have
something that might make you feel better."
She nodded, but she doubted she'd ever feel better again.
Daniel was awake. Talon felt it the moment he entered the cabin they
shared. His brother lay on the bottom bunk, staring sightlessly at the
wall.
Talon felt a small glimmer of relief upon seeing Daniel conscious.
There was no love lost between the two of them, but he didn't agree
with Sutcliffe's methods of getting Daniel out of England. In a way,
Daniel was as much a victim in all this as Kate.
He put his disgusting bundle aside and strode to his trunk, digging
through it for some peppermint sticks. Perhaps they would help settle
Kate's stomach.
"How long have I been unconscious?" Daniel's voice cut through his
thoughts.

He sighed, knowing there was no way to get through this journey
without talking to his brother occasionally. "About thirty-six hours.
We're already at sea."
Daniel pierced him with a gaze. "Were you the one who had me
drugged?"
"Of course not." Talon shook his head in denial. "You were already
here when Kathryn and I came on board."
Daniel nodded toward the chamberpot. "Is she all right?" "Seasick,"
Talon muttered. "I'm hoping peppermint might help."
Daniel closed his eyes and gave a dismissive flick of his hand. "Run
along. Go play nursemaid to my wife."
Talon glared at Daniel, debating whether to wipe that smug, effeminate
look off his face. In the end, he merely picked up the chamberpot and
exited the cabin, slamming the door behind him. He'd save that battle
for another day.

Chapter Ten
As soon as Talon left the room, Kate flung off the blankets and tore at
her bindings. She couldn't stand it. She had to get them off. Sweat
beaded her brow, and her actions grew feverish. No matter how she
contorted herself, she couldn't untie Betsy's knots. She was well and
truly stuck in the darned thing.
The door from the sitting room opened without warning, and Talon
entered the cabin, brandishing a stick of peppermint. "I've brought you
something to settle your stomach."
Kate froze. It was too late to do anything but try to cover herself with
her arms. Heat suffused her cheeks, and she wished the floor would
open up and swallow her whole.
He was halfway to her side before he noticed her state of undress.
When he did, he stopped dead in his tracks. "Bloody hell, Kate. What
have you done to yourself?" She blinked, averting her gaze, speechless
with embarrassment. Talon always seemed to find her at her worst.
He sat down beside her and his big hands went unerringly to the knot,
releasing it in a matter of moments. She breathed a sigh of relief as he
unwound the long strip of cloth. Thank God for the white cotton shift
she wore beneath it.
"There," he murmured. "Is that better?"
He handed her the candy, and she fumbled to unwrap it. "I couldn't get
the knot undone. The more I pulled, the tighter it got."
Tossing the cloth aside, he pulled her back against his chest. His arm
rested right beneath the swell of her breasts, and she flushed with
mortification when her nipples hardened to clearly discernible points.
"It's a crime to hide such beauty." His breath was warm in her ear,
sending a delicious shiver down her spine.
"I didn't think anyone would believe I was a boy if I didn't." She put the
peppermint in her mouth, hoping the sticky sweetness would get rid of
the horrible taste of sickness, if nothing else.
He laughed, a low, rough sound. "You still didn't look like a boy. If
anyone had really looked at you, they would have seen through your
disguise in an instant."
She knew she should pull away. He was holding her far too intimately,
and it felt too good. Instead, she threw caution to the wind and turned,
pressing her face against his hard, warm chest. She inhaled, breathing

in his scent, a mixture of salt, sun and man. "Wasn't it enough for
Sutcliffe to send us

away? Did he have to arrange the most terrible journey imaginable as
well?"
Talon ran his hand down her back and then paused, returning to the
deep groove the binding had left in her skin. "Damn thing really hurt
you, didn't it?"
He massaged gently, and she couldn't control the small moan of delight
that sprang to her lips. "That feels wonderful."
"Does it?" His lips brushed her temple. "I love touching you, Kate."
She shuddered. "You shouldn't say such things."
"Why?" He cupped her chin and tilted her face so she was forced to
look into his earnest blue eyes. "Why shouldn't I say it? It's true."
He was so beautiful. Her heart ached with longing. She would give
anything for the right to find comfort in his arms. "Because I'm married
to Daniel," she whispered in despair. "And he's right next
door."
His face darkened. "He doesn't deserve you. What's more, he doesn't
care. You could take a dozen lovers and he wouldn't blink an eye. So
why should it matter if I hold you and kiss you? Don't you want me to?"
Despite her best intentions, her gaze strayed to his sensuous mouth. Her
protests scattered as she remembered the way his beautifully drawn lips
had felt against her own. "Please."
"Please what?" He gazed at her breasts through a veil of inky black
lashes. "Please touch you, or please let you go?"
"I don't know." She couldn't catch her breath, and her nipples seemed to
swell even more under his regard.
"Your breasts ache from being bound for so long, don't they?" As he
spoke, he turned her in his arms so her back was once again pressed
against his chest. "I'm going to touch you now. Tell me if you want me
to stop."
His hands skimmed her collarbone, meeting at her throat and then
drifting lower. His palms brushed her nipples, and she gasped at the
exquisite sensation. He repeated the process, his touch infinitely gentle.
Every nerve in her body tingled in response.
The third time, he caught each sensitive tip between his thumbs and
forefingers, pressing his lips against her neck. "Do you want me to
stop?"

She shook her head, no longer caring that this was wrong. Nothing in
her entire life had ever felt so right.
He made a soft, rough sound and cupped her breasts in his palms.
"Perfect," he whispered, his breath hot and moist in her ear. "You fit
my hands perfectly."
She let her head fall back against his shoulder and closed her eyes,
sighing as he leisurely fondled her chest. Some dim part of her brain
was stunned by her actions, horrified by her behavior, but she ignored
the pangs of her conscience. They were meaningless in the wake of
Talon's burning touch.
When she didn't think she could stand the pleasure any longer, he
turned her in his arms and lowered his head, feathering his lips against
hers. "I can't stay away from you," he breathed and kissed her again.
This time his mouth moved hungrily, demanding entrance. Her lips
parted, and then his tongue touched hers, coaxing her into a sweet, wild
dance. His gentle fingertips plucked her breasts in the same mind-
numbing rhythm.
She twined her fingers in his soft, black hair and pulled him closer,
needing to touch him, too. He moaned and bore her down to the
mattress, insinuating his lower body between her thighs. Something
hard and foreign pressed against her. He thrust his hips against hers, the
action so primitive and searing it took her breath away.

Startled, she shied back.
She knew of the differences between men and women from illicit
reading and Betsy's giggling descriptions, but she'd never expected
such heat and steely strength. She was suddenly frightened, both of him
and the way he made her feel.
He rolled away, his chiseled features drawn with passion. "You're
driving me crazy, Kate. I've never wanted a woman the way I want
you."
She stared at him, her heart still thundering in her chest. Her gaze
dropped again to his lap, to the massive ridge of flesh that strained
against the front of his breeches. It was a shocking sight, but once her
fear ebbed, it pleased her immensely. For too long, she'd thought
herself incapable of inspiring desire in any man.
"You're not ready for this." He cursed and rolled off the bed. "I should
leave." She wanted to tell him to stay, but her emotions were so frayed,
so brittle with exhaustion and despair, she didn't trust herself. "Yes,"
she whispered, her voice trembling. "That's probably for the
best."
He nodded once abruptly and left her alone in the prison her cabin had
become.
Talon shut Kate's door with exaggerated care then leaned against it, his
pulse roaring in his ears. God, what the hell was wrong with him?
He'd had her in the palm of his hand. Literally. She'd been ripe for his
seduction. There might never be a better time, and yet some maverick
streak of honor kept popping up, preventing him from doing what he
must.
"You're a fool."
Daniel's voice flayed Talon's already tightly strung nerves to the
breaking point. He lifted his head, meeting his brother's gaze across the
narrow room. Shit. The bastard was still awake. "Leave me alone."
Daniel pulled himself to a sitting position and gave Talon a slow,
appraising look. "Why are you putting yourself through this? You
obviously want her. Look at you, standing there with your cock hard as
a rock. It would solve all of our problems if you'd just go back in there
and let nature take its course."
Never in his life had another man commented on the state of his penis.
Anger and humiliation surged through him, burning away his lust. He

lunged forward, grasping Daniel's throat and pinning him to the hull.
"Give me one more reason," he whispered. "You don't know how bad I
want to hurt you."
Daniel didn't resist; he merely hung from Talon's hands, his face
turning red with the strain. Disgusted with himself, with the
impossibility of the whole situation, Talon released him.
For a moment, the only sound to be heard was Daniel's gasping
attempts to regain his breath. Talon clenched and unclenched his fists,
staring out the small porthole.
"You're so predictable." When Daniel spoke, his voice was choked and
low. "Father must be enjoying this immensely. You're playing right
into his hands, and you don't even realize it."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Talon itched to put his hands
around his brother's throat once more, but he restrained himself,
determined not to let the bloody bastard make him lose his temper
again.
"My wife is the kind of woman a man like you can't resist. Innocence is
unholy temptation to a man who's never known it, isn't it? You already
burn for her. It's just a matter of time."
Talon shook his head in disbelief, angry and unwilling to admit the
truth. "Why don't you just do the job yourself, man? Close your eyes
and think of England. Christ, do whatever you have to do, just get the
bloody thing done and leave me out of it."

Daniel gave a bitter laugh. "It's not that simple. Nothing ever is when
my father's involved." He met Talon's furious gaze with a twisted
smile. "Enough of this talk about women. I don't suppose you've
brought anything to make this trip more bearable? I'll pay you well."
Talon grimaced, realizing his brother was talking about opium, or
perhaps something even worse. He had the sallow, wasted look of a
man addicted to the stuff. "Looks like I'm not the only one who's in for
a miserable trip."
Daniel raised an imaginary glass, smiling for the first time with real
humor. "Aren't you glad your father turned out to be an earl instead of
some sailor on shore leave?"
"Go to hell." Talon couldn't help remembering Daniel's pale little face,
peering at him from the top of the stairs on that fateful, long ago day
when he'd tried to convince the earl to take him in. Daniel had
witnessed his weakest moment, and he doubted he'd ever forgive him
for that.
Daniel sighed and turned away. "I'm already there."
After Talon left, Kathryn climbed beneath the scratchy blankets and
snuffed out the light. Her thoughts scattered as she stared up into the
darkness. The ship creaked and rocked beneath her, the sounds strange
and disconcerting, the swaying motion renewing her nausea.
How would she bear three more weeks of this?
Despair settled around her like a black cloud. The events of the past
few days had destroyed her optimism, and she didn't know how to get it
back again. The pale, beaten creature she'd become didn't even
resemble the strong, confident woman who'd been so sure she could
seduce her husband and control her own destiny just a few short days
ago.
Her life was spinning out of control, and she had no idea how to stop it.
No matter how she turned the situation around in her mind, there was
no way out. The ship had already sailed. There was no turning back the
clock.
And then there was Talon. Just the thought of him sent that melting
sensation spiraling down to the pit of her stomach. She could still feel
the heat of his hands on her skin, still taste peppermint and desire on
her tongue.

She'd never wanted anything the way she wanted to give in to this
fierce attraction. In his arms, she might be able to forget her heartache.
For a few glorious moments, there would be nothing in her world but
that beautiful man and the wonderful things he made her feel.
Unfortunately, she knew she could never live with herself afterwards.
The liberties she'd allowed Talon were inexcusable. Under no
circumstances could she allow him to touch her again. Her willpower
was nonexistent where he was concerned.
She had to pull herself together and honor the unbreakable vows she'd
taken when she'd become Daniel's wife. He was her cross, and since all
her efforts to be free of him had failed, she simply must bear him.
In a day or two, she'd have to talk to her husband and figure out what
their future held. She couldn't bear the thought of giving birth to his
child, not now, after what she'd seen. The best she could hope for was
that they'd manage to build some sort of friendship.
She felt foolish to have ever wished for more.

Chapter Eleven
Talon spent the next morning in an out of the way spot on deck.
Bare-chested and indolent, he stretched out next to a pile of rope and
soaked up the sunshine. He enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the taste of
freedom and the rarity of having nothing to do.
He'd helped himself to a few volumes from his father's library before he
left, and now he plunged into the world of a novel, seeking an escape
from the decisions that lay before him. He had weeks to worry about
the future. For the next few days, he planned to do nothing but focus on
regaining the health and strength prison had cost him.
Before his arrest, he'd never had an idle day. As a child, his life had
always been a mad scramble to stay alive. Life at sea hadn't been much
better. He'd always been sweating to complete some task or another,
even after he'd finally managed to get a ship of his own.
All his life he'd been rushing toward something, pushing himself harder
and harder to achieve some measure of success and security. How
humbling to have everything he'd worked for snatched away.
But it wasn't his ship or his wealth that he missed the most. It was the
feeling of belonging, of having somewhere to call home.
After a long while, a shadow fell across him. He glanced up,
immediately on the defensive since Percy's crew had made no secret of
their reluctance to have their old rival aboard.
The tow-headed lad who stood on the deck in front of him took an
involuntary step back. "Didn't mean to disturb you, sir," he said, his
voice cracking. "I was jest wonderin' what you was readin'."
Talon smiled, feeling at ease for the first time in months. "Oh, it's a fine
tale of adventure. Would you like to borrow it when I'm done?"
The boy cast the book a longing look and then shook his head. "Naw,
wouldn't do me much good. Never did learn to read."
Talon frowned. "That's a pity. What's your name, boy?"
The boy grinned and sat down, obviously taking his words as an
invitation. "Name's Johnny, sir.
What's yours?"
"My name's Talon Montgomery. But you can call me Hawk, if you
like. Most of my friends do."

"You're the pirate," the boy exclaimed, his eyes widening with fear and
fascination. "Everyone's been sayin' there's a pirate named Hawk on the
ship."
Talon gave a short, humorless laugh. "I once was," he admitted. "But
right now, I'm just another passenger."

Johnny reminded Talon of his own cabin boy, Garrett, who had been
like a son to him. Garrett's loss had been the hardest one of all to take,
and he was grudgingly thankful his father had stepped in and rescued
the lad. He wondered where Garrett was now and hoped he was healthy
and happy in his new berth.
Johnny peered at the book. "Would you tell me this story, Hawk? After
you're done reading it?" "Nope." Talon shook his head, hiding a smile
at the boy's crestfallen look. "I won't tell you the story, but I'll do
something even better if you're interested."
Johnny raised one sandy brow in question. "What do you mean, sir?"
"I can teach you to read, if you want me to." It would be a way to pass
the time. A far more enjoyable activity than being cooped up in his
cabin all day with Daniel.
Johnny's eyes lit up with wonder, the same way Garrett's had not so
long ago. Hell, the way his had when he'd been taught. "I'd be much
obliged, sir. I surely would."
Talon laughed. "Meet me here tomorrow after your work is done and
we'll begin."
Kathryn spent the next few days in near total isolation. Talon came
faithfully twice a day to bring her something to eat and inquire after her
well-being. But his visits were brief, to say the least, and he avoided
meeting her eyes.
She hadn't had the pleasure of Daniel's company and wasn't desperate
enough to seek him out. There were things she needed to discuss with
him, important things, but she didn't have the energy to deal with him at
present.
Her nausea had improved, but she still felt weak and groggy.
Besides, what good would it do to get out of bed when there was
nowhere for her to go except the small adjoining sitting room? She was
imprisoned in this tiny cabin as surely as though she had a ball and
chain around her ankle.
On the fourth day of the trip, she woke late in the afternoon, feeling
groggy and sick. She pulled herself out of bed to use the chamberpot
and then caught sight of herself in the small mirror on her table. Her
hair was dull and wild, her face wan and pale, her eyes bruised and
teary-looking.

She sank into the chair and stared at her reflection in horror. No wonder
Talon didn't want to spend time with her.
What was she doing to herself? She'd allowed Sutcliffe to beat her.
Worse, she'd beaten herself by losing her will, losing her way.
Well, no more. She was through feeling sorry for herself. Filled with
new determination, she rooted through her trunk to find a plain, simple
skirt and blouse she could don without a maid's help. Once she was
dressed and her hair was neatly combed and plaited, she opened the
door that connected her cabin with the sitting room beyond.
The room was tidy and neat, full of gleaming wood, a small writing
desk and a table with two chairs, one of which was occupied by Daniel.
Her husband stared morosely into the bottom of his glass, but when she
entered, he glanced up.
Kate took in Daniel's pale, ravaged face and the wary look in his eyes.
He looked as depressed and beaten as she felt.
"Talon's not here." When he spoke, Daniel's voice was low and rough,
as though he hadn't said a word in several days.
"I'm not here to see him." Guilt flooded Kate when she realized her
husband was aware of her feelings for his brother. Was she that
transparent? "I really think we need to talk, Daniel." He nodded.
"Perhaps you're right. Please, sit down."

She took the chair across from him, her stomach churning with anxiety.
The next few moments could prove to be pivotal to her future, and she
prayed she'd get through them without losing her temper and
irrevocably severing the fragile bond that connected them.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked solicitously. "Talon told me you'd
been unwell."
"I'm fine." Heat stained Kate's cheeks when she thought of Talon
witnessing her retch weakly into the chamberpot, of him emptying it
for her and then cleaning her up. Even worse was the memory of what
had happened later, of Talon's elegant hands caressing her breasts.
She forced herself to meet Daniel's gaze. His light brown hair was
disheveled, as though he'd repeatedly run his fingers through it, and
there were dark circles under his eyes. "How are you doing, Daniel?
You look pale."
He gave a deprecating wave of his hand. "I'm fine. Just suffering the
aftereffects of whatever my father drugged me with."
His words channeled her anger in a new direction. "He's a monster to
do such a thing to his own son. You could have been killed."
"I don't think he gives a damn." Daniel shrugged and drained his glass.
"I haven't given him the heir he wants, so as far as he's concerned, I'm
utterly useless."
Kate shifted in her chair. The image of her husband in his lover's arms
was branded in her mind. "You shouldn't have married me. You should
have known it would only make us both miserable."
"Of course, I knew." Daniel's voice was low and lost. "But my father
pressured me until I couldn't stand it any more. He knew of my
preferences, but he was certain all I needed was the right woman to
change my mind."
Kate laughed bitterly. "Apparently, I wasn't the right woman."
"It's not you," Daniel hastened to assure her. "Believe it or not, I put a
lot of thought into choosing you as my wife. You're beautiful and
intelligent, and I really thought I could make it work. I planned to have
a child with you, to make you as happy as possible while still
maintaining a discreet relationship with Philip. I thought we'd be
friends, if nothing else."

Kate shuddered at the thought of Daniel going from Philip Carrington's
bed to her own. It would have been even harder to bear his betrayal if
she'd thought he'd cared for her, if they'd had a normal marriage.
She couldn't even imagine how damaging it would have been to learn
his secret if they'd already been intimate and she'd had his child.
She forced the thought away. "You never even tried to be my friend,
Daniel. You've ignored me since our wedding day."
"I'm sorry." He pushed out of his chair and knelt before her, taking her
hands in his. "Nothing turned out the way I'd planned. I thought about
coming to you and confessing everything, but I was sure you'd never
forgive me if you knew the truth."
His hands were pale and cool, soft to the touch. She couldn't help
comparing them to his brother's strong, callused ones. And she knew
they were both lost, because she could never allow him to touch her the
way Talon had, not even if it meant staying banished forever.
"You should have known I'd come to you eventually, demand more
from you than you had to give."
He sighed, sounding sad and very young. "I've been such a fool. I've
ruined my life, but the last thing I meant to do was ruin yours as well."
She brushed a lock of silky brown hair from his eyes, feeling strangely
maternal. He was foolish, he was damned, but she could no longer hold
on to her anger.
Daniel leaned into her touch, seeming to need the human contact as
much as she. "What do we do now, Kate? You're all I have left."
It was the first time he'd ever used Talon's nickname for her, but she
didn't mind. He was

absolutely right. For better or for worse, all they had was each other.
Before she could reply, the door to the passageway opened, and Talon
entered the cabin. He froze, his gaze locked with hers. He was shirtless
and shoeless, his smooth skin kissed by the sun, stretching tautly over
powerfully contoured muscles. Dark hair furred his chest, narrowing to
a thin line that disappeared into the waistband of a pair of soft, doeskin
breeches.
He was so beautiful, all lean strength and golden skin. She'd never seen
a bare-chested man before, but doubted many looked like this.
"How cozy," he said at last, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Am I
interrupting?"
His words made Kate feel unaccountably guilty, but quick on the heels
of her guilt came anger. How dare he? Talon Montgomery meant
nothing to her. Nothing. He was her brother-in-law, and she couldn't let
him be anything else.
Daniel lifted his head and met Talon's glare straight on. "Bugger off,
Talon. My wife and I are finally getting to know each other."
Talon frowned and shifted his gaze back to Kate. For a moment, she
thought he was going to protest, and she wished with all her foolish
heart he'd stay.
"I'm glad to see you're feeling better," he said. Then he turned and left
the way he'd come.
Daniel gave a soft laugh and sat back on his heels. "Poor sod. He's quite
smitten with you."
Kate's stomach twisted in panic. Did Daniel know? Was he aware she'd
let Talon kiss her twice and touch her in the most intimate way?
"It's all right," Daniel assured her. "I don't mind if you have an affair. I
can't expect you to remain faithful to me. You're a young, vibrant
woman. You deserve to be loved."
"I'm your wife," she whispered, stung. "I'll admit I've been angry with
you and I was tempted to do something spiteful, but it will never
happen again. I'll stand beside you. I swear it."
A pained expression crossed his face, and for a moment she was certain
her words had upset him, but then he gave her a wry smile. "I'm glad."
She did her best to return his smile, but inside her heart was breaking.
She knew what she was giving up—Talon and the kind of passion she'd
only dreamed about.

"Well," he murmured, getting up and grabbing a deck of playing cards
from the desk. "Now that everything's been settled, can I corrupt you
further and teach you some card games? I've been going out of my
mind with boredom."
"Yes," Kate agreed, determined not to dwell on what might have been.
"I'd like that very much."

Chapter Twelve
After leaving Daniel and Kate, Talon went back up on deck, his mind
whirling with the ramifications of what he'd seen. What the devil was
going on? Kate had touched her husband's face with such tenderness,
with the kind of easy familiarity he associated with true love.
The way he'd imagined she'd touch him if he ever got around to
seducing her.
Talon had never thought of himself as a jealous man. But there was no
other word to describe the raw emotion that had exploded in his chest
when he'd opened the door and saw his brother and Kate together.
Damn it. He wanted to be the one to lay his head in her lap while she
gently stroked his hair. He wanted her soft touch and sweet kisses for
himself.
Kate had become important to him in a very short time. He'd missed her
these last few days, but had managed to stay away. He'd wanted to give
her a little time, unwilling to take advantage while she was in such a
vulnerable state.
Now it appeared he'd waited too long.
The old Kate had returned. She was no longer lost, no longer
vulnerable. She'd gathered her amazing strength around her like a
cloak, and it was going to be very difficult to breach her defenses again.
He stood against the rail, staring down into the churning, icy depths of
the Atlantic, wishing he could find the answers he sought.
He was so torn. On the one hand, he was glad she'd bounced back, glad
to see that determined sparkle in her lovely eyes once again. But the
clock was ticking, his men's lives were still at stake, and he had to make
a move soon.
There had never been a woman he couldn't seduce once he put his mind
to it. But Kate Sinclair was a force to be reckoned with, and he was
afraid he'd pushed her too far, too fast, that first night after they'd
sailed.
Hell, he'd scared her so much she'd turned to Daniel. She'd put her
husband between them, using him as a barrier. But the mere fact that
she'd done so gave him hope. He'd seen the way she'd looked at his bare
chest this afternoon. The attraction was still there and stronger than
ever. He just had to give it a little time.

Besides, a few days with Daniel ought to put his charms in a whole new
light.

* * * * *
During the next few days, Kate spent most of her time with her
husband. He turned out to be a passable chess player and an interesting,
if sometimes shocking, conversationalist. He taught her how to play
whist, poker and rummy, and they took turns reading to each other.
She grew stronger, bolder, more willing to accept this sudden twist in
the fabric of her life. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to live in America.
She imagined she'd have a far easier time continuing her newfound
freedom there than she would have in London.
Talon stayed away as much as possible, but when he did join them, she
often found him staring at her wistfully. He seemed respectful of the
distance she'd imposed between them, but she sensed he'd be all too
willing to pick up where they'd left off.
And despite her growing friendship with her husband, her nights were
long and lonely, filled with thoughts and dreams of her brother-in- law.
His passion and gentleness had changed her, made her believe in the
kind of love she'd only read about.
The biggest challenge she'd ever faced would be to restrain her reckless
heart for the rest of this journey. She prayed she'd find the strength to
do so.
Talon allowed two endless days to go by before he sought Kate out
again. He spent some of his time teaching Johnny to read, the rest
staring out to sea and trying to come up with a plan to thwart his father.
He'd had no luck, so on the third day, he woke before dawn and stole
into Kate's cabin. He lit a lantern and then stared down at her for a
moment. She was unbearably lovely in sleep, her face angelic and
innocent, her chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm.
Kneeling on the floor beside her bunk, he tucked a lock of chestnut hair
behind her ear, letting his knuckles trail down her cheek. "Kate," he
whispered. "Wake up."
Her eyes fluttered opened, and a soft smile curved her lips. "Talon. Am
I dreaming?"
Her words caused a strange flutter in the vicinity of his heart and a
not-so-strange reaction lower. She dreamed about him. He
contemplated climbing into that narrow bed and showing her he was
flesh and blood, far more potent than any dream.
"You're not dreaming. I'm here."

Her eyes widened, and she scrambled to a sitting position, drawing her
knees up to her chest. "What are you doing?"
She smelled of warm flannel and sweet, soft woman. Her dark hair
hung loose, tumbling over her slim shoulders in a wealth of silky curls.
It reached nearly to her waist.
Soon, he promised himself. Soon he'd see her wearing that beautiful
hair and nothing else.
"I thought you might want to get out of this room for awhile. I've
brought you Daniel's hat and cloak. As long as you keep your head
down, it should be safe to sneak above and watch the sun come up over
the sea."
"Are you serious?" Her entire face lit up, and he couldn't resist leaning
forward and touching her. He cupped her cheek with his palm, stroking
the pad of his thumb along her jaw.
"I'm very serious. Besides, I have a surprise for you, and you need to
come up top to see it."
She tilted her face, pressing her smooth cheek more fully into his palm.
"You're so good to me. I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll come."

"Of course, I'll come." The deep, husky sound of her laughter ignited
his blood even more. He shifted uncomfortably and prayed she was too
innocent to notice his massive arousal.
"I'll wait out in the passageway until you're dressed. But remember,
you have to be very quiet and pretend you're Daniel. He hasn't left his
cabin much, so no one knows what he looks like."
"I can do that." He stood, and she grabbed his hand, squeezing tightly
as though reluctant to let him go. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome." His smile faded and he stepped away. Then he
turned and left the room, wondering how on earth he was going to
survive when her soft smiles turned to hatred.
Kate dressed hurriedly, donning the boy's clothing she'd worn before
and covering herself with Daniel's cloak and hat. When she opened the
door and stepped out into the passageway, Talon was waiting for her,
his eyes sparking with humor in the dim light.
"I'd take your hand again, but it might cause more attention than we
want."
She choked back a laugh and followed him up the narrow ladder that
led above. They crossed the pitching deck and went to stand at the rail
in an out of the way spot toward the bow.
Kate took a deep breath of the salt-scented air. A soft wind kissed her
cheeks and stirred her clothes. She wished she could take off the hat
and let her hair blow free.
A few crewmembers stirred at their posts, but none of them were very
close. She had the impression she and Talon were completely alone.
Of course, he always made her feel that way. When he was near,
everything else tended to fade
away.
He smiled and pointed out to sea. "Only a few more minutes now. That
way."
The sky was lightening in the east, and she held her breath, waiting for
the day to dawn. The mere fact that Talon had woken her to share this
with him made her resolve to stay strong crumble like a castle made of
sand.
How could she possibly resist a man who watched the sunrise with
such eagerness?

As if his thoughts mirrored her own, he shifted and moved a few inches
closer. "I wish I could take you in my arms," he whispered, his voice a
mere breath of sound. "I've missed holding you."
She turned to face him, her breath coming hard and fast. She wanted to
tell him it had been difficult for her, too. That she dreamed about him
constantly. Hot, wanting dreams that left her tired and
edgy.
The image of his bare chest was branded in her mind. Sometimes, in the
darkest part of the night, she imagined seeing even more of him. She
imagined him naked and beautiful in the bed beside her.
"Shh," he whispered. "It's all right. I didn't bring you up here to tell you
that or make you uncomfortable. Just enjoy the sunrise and forget I'm
even here."
As i f I could. Dutifully, she turned her face back toward the rising sun.
The line between the horizon and the sea became more distinct by the
moment, lightening to a thin strip of silver, then blazing all at once in
ribbons of red and gold.
Heartbreakingly beautiful. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked to
clear them. The sun hovered for a moment, half visible, bobbing at the
edge of the sea before rising in all its glory.
"Amazing, isn't it?" They stood side-by-side, so close she imagined she
could feel the heat of his big body. Then he sighed. "Well, we mustn't
stay much longer. But there's one other thing I want to show you before
I take you back down."
Intrigued, she followed him to a sheltered place near the wheelhouse
where he pointed out something that took her breath away. Rose
bushes. A half dozen of them.

"I thought you might like to see how roses grow in Carolina." Kate
couldn't speak. The tears she'd managed to restrain before fell freely.
He frowned, glancing around to make sure no one saw. "Go back to
your cabin. I'll be right behind you."
She stumbled back the way they'd come, her mind reeling with the gift
Talon had given her. No one had ever done anything like this for her,
and she was overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness.
Somehow, she managed to make it back to her cabin. When Talon shut
the door, she threw herself into his arms. He caught her against him,
and she lifted on tiptoe to press her lips to his, beyond caring whether it
was right or wrong.
He stiffened in surprise then made a low, rough sound in the back of his
throat and returned her passionate kiss. He turned her until she was
pressed against the wall. His lean, hard body covered hers completely.
After a long moment, he pulled back. His blue eyes held cautious
delight. "I take it you're glad I brought the roses?"
She cupped his face with trembling hands. "No one has ever done
anything like this for me before. You're the only one who has ever
known me well enough to realize how much it would mean."
He closed his eyes as though her words had hurt him. "Don't give me
more credit than I deserve," he whispered, his peppermint-scented
breath tickling her face. "My motives were far from pure."
She laughed. "I don't care about your motives. I'm just glad you did it.
Carolina won't feel so foreign now that I have something of home. In
fact, I can't believe I didn't think of it myself."
He bent forward until his forehead rested against hers and she couldn't
see his face. "I only brought them because I hoped it would make you
so happy you'd let me kiss you again."
She hugged him, loving the way he felt so warm and solid. In his arms
she felt safe, cared for, cherished, all the things she'd sought with
Daniel but never found. "Well, it worked. So why don't you take
advantage of your success?"
"I'd like to do a hell of a lot more than kiss you," he told her. "God,
Kate, can't you feel what you do to me?"
It was there again, that hard, probing part of him pressing against her
stomach, reminding her of his maleness, his strength, her own fragility.

She stared up at him, both frightened and exhilarated. "I love it that
you're attracted to me. I thought no man would ever look at me the way
you're looking at me right now."
He sighed and kissed her once more, lingering over her lips, teasing
and withdrawing until she thought she'd faint with the pleasure of it.
Then he stepped away. "We'll continue this discussion some other
time," he promised. "If I don't leave now, I won't be able to."
He hesitated, his gaze boring into hers, and for a moment she almost
gave in. She almost threw caution and her morals to the wind and asked
him to stay.
She wanted this thing he was offering her. Wanted it more with every
passing day.
But in the end, she said nothing, and he turned and left the room.

Chapter Thirteen
Talon was on his way to his cabin a few days later when he heard
scuffling and a soft whimper down the corridor to his right. He paused,
senses instantly alert, his mind conjuring up terrible images of Kate's
fate if she'd been discovered by one of Percy's filthy men.
"Who's there?" His harsh words elicited a loud thump and a muffled
groan that made his hackles
rise.
There was complete silence for a moment, and then a gruff voice let out
a muttered curse. "None of yer damned business."
Talon took a few steps forward, his eyes adjusting swiftly to the gloom.
A large, brutish sailor named McGuire stood in the shadows.
Johnny, the cabin boy Talon had been teaching to read, cowered behind
him. Johnny's trousers were down around his knees, and his face shone
wetly with shamed tears.
Talon's rage was instant and intense. After so many weeks of boredom
and frustration, he was itching for a fight. "Take your hands off him,
you bastard."
McGuire gave the boy a shove, sending him sprawling amidst the
tangle of his pants. "I'm not finished with ye," he warned before turning
his full attention on Talon.
Knowing his only chance lay in going on the offensive, Talon struck
first, sending a punishing, bone-crushing right to the man's bulbous
nose. He felt it give and knew a moment of savage joy as he followed
with a left to McGuire's gut.
McGuire stumbled back, but recovered quickly, coming after Talon
with a growl. Talon swung again, but this time McGuire blocked the
blow and retaliated with a fist to Talon's temple.
Pain exploded inside Talon's skull, but he pressed on, determined to kill
the bastard so he would never be able to abuse the boy again. He
couldn't help thinking of his own cabin boy, Garrett. Fury drove his
next few punches as he wondered if the lad, whom he'd rescued off the
London streets, was being mistreated in this same foul way.
A door opened behind him, and he prayed it wasn't Kate. He hoped she
had the good sense to stay out of this.
Meanwhile, McGuire's brute strength and large bulk had turned the tide
of the battle. Talon renewed his efforts, battling exhaustion. His lip

split beneath McGuire's ham-like fist. He stumbled back and saw his
brother step out into the passageway. Daniel sized up the situation, his
gaze fastening on the

trembling boy who was struggling to fasten his pants.
Talon turned his attention back to McGuire, who was coming at him
again, murder in his beady eyes. Talon ducked, evading the first blow.
McGuire roared like a bull and raised his other fist. He stopped the
swing in midair, sputtering in disbelief as Daniel stepped between
them, pressing an elegant, lightweight sword to the bastard's neck.
"Get away from my brother." Daniel's voice dripped with icy,
aristocratic disdain. "Before I slit your filthy throat."
Talon blinked, annoyed yet pleasantly surprised by Daniel's help.
He'd never expected his brother to come to his defense or stand beside
him. Some nameless spark of emotion had flared deep within him when
Daniel called him brother.
Heavy footfalls sounded down the corridor. Percy rounded the corner,
his dark eyes flashing. "What the hell are you trying to do to my ship,
Montgomery?"
"Your ship?" Daniel lifted a brow as he lowered his sword from
McGuire's throat. "This is a Sinclair ship, Captain. I'll thank you to
remember that."
Talon groaned and stepped forward, his momentary gratitude for his
brother's actions fading. The last thing they needed was for Daniel to
challenge Percy's authority in front of the growing group of men. Percy
was God on this ship. All Daniel's wealth and privilege could not help
him here.
Kate would be left defenseless if Percy took it in his head to feed him
and Daniel to the sharks.
"McGuire was molesting your boy," Talon said, wondering if Percy did
the same thing when no one was looking. "I was trying to stop him."
Percy looked to the boy who had managed to pull himself together
since Talon had seen him last.
"Is that true, Johnny?"
Johnny flushed scarlet and stared down at his feet. "Hawk was trying to
help me, sir. If he hadn't come along when he did, Mac would have..."
His voice broke and he trailed off.
Percy gave a grim nod and turned his wrath on McGuire. "You'll get
fifty lashes for this, Mac." His gaze speared the other men who were
watching the drama unfold. "And let this be a lesson to the rest of you.
This type of behavior will not be allowed on my ship." There was

definite emphasis on the word my, but this time Daniel had the sense to
let it go.
"Take him above," Percy commanded, and several of the men rushed
forward to do his bidding. The passageway emptied until only Daniel,
Johnny and Talon remained.
Daniel put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault," he
said, his voice low and dark, containing undertones Talon chose not to
examine too closely. "You have nothing to be ashamed of."
Johnny nodded and shrugged off his hand. "I'll be all right," he
mumbled, hurrying away. He glanced over his shoulder once just
before he climbed the ladder. "Thanks, Hawk."
"You're welcome." Talon let his head fall back against the passageway.
Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he realized how foolhardy he'd
been. He ached all over, and his nose was bleeding profusely.
Daniel shook his head, a wry smile curving his lips. "You look like hell.
What were you thinking? That mongrel was twice your size."
"I couldn't stand by and do nothing." He took a deep breath. "Thanks
for the help, Daniel."
Daniel grinned. "It was my pleasure, you stupid, big-hearted bastard."
There was a note of affection in his tone, and for the first time in his
life, Talon decided not to take offense at being called a bastard.
They stared at each other for a long moment, and Talon felt a sudden
surge of kinship. For all their differences, this man shared his blood.
Daniel was his brother, and today he'd actually been there when Talon
had needed him. It was strange, unsettling, and a trifle sad. He couldn't
help wondering how different both their lives might have been if they'd
grown up together, defending each other's backs since

childhood. "Come on," Daniel said at last. "Kate's probably worried
about us." Talon followed Daniel through the door that led into the
common sitting area, pondering the "us", confused by Daniel's
behavior and his own.
"What happened?" Kate rushed to Talon's side, the concern on her
lovely face erasing any doubts he'd had about whether she still cared
for him.
Talon attempted a wry smile, feeling a bit sheepish. His split lip pulled
painfully, and he abandoned the effort. "It's nothing."
Daniel laughed. "He's so modest. You should have seen him, taking on
a brute twice his size to keep a young boy from being brutalized. It was
quite heroic."
Kate shook her head and ushered Talon to a chair. She urged him to sit
and handed him a wet washcloth to press to his bleeding nose. "I never
doubted his bravery." Kate brushed a lock of hair from Talon's
forehead. "He's been my hero on several occasions."
"I'm not a hero," Talon said to cover his discomfort. He hated deceiving
her. "Besides, if Daniel hadn't arrived, the lout probably would have
killed me."
"I'll be the judge of who is brave and who is not, if you please. And I
think you should both be commended." She smiled and then glanced
over her shoulder at Daniel. "Would you find me a basin of warm water
and some rags so I can tend to your brother's face?"
"Of course." Daniel winked at Talon and then left the cabin, closing the
door behind him. For the first time in days, Talon found himself alone
with Kate.
Her hands drifted over his face, cataloguing his injuries as she tsked
beneath her breath. No one had ever coddled him in such a manner.
Even his mother had always been too caught up in her own miseries to
worry about his.
She massaged his temples, eliciting a small sound of pleasure from the
back of his throat. He closed his eyes, reveling in the attention. Her
touch was like a gentle rain upon the parched surface of his soul. He
drank her in, determined to take as much from this moment as he could
since she offered it so freely.
"I think your beautiful nose is broken," she told him. "Your lip is cut,
and you'll probably have two black eyes in the morning."

"It was worth it to have you touch me this way." He didn't bother to
open his eyes and see if his words had affected her. Daniel would be
back soon, and the mood would be shattered. He was determined to
enjoy her sweetness for as long as possible.
She caught her breath, and he felt the fine tremor of her hands upon his
skin. "Talon," she whispered, her soft voice caressing his name. "You
know how much I care about you. But you also know I'm a married
woman. I can't keep letting this happen. It's wrong."
"You're not married." He opened his eyes and glared at her, willing her
to listen. "You've been cooped up on this ship with the man for two
weeks, but that doesn't make a marriage."
Her eyes clouded, and she let her hands fall away. "Maybe not. But it's
a start. Daniel and I have to learn to get along with each other. He's all I
have. There will be no children. We'll never return to
England."
"You have me, Kate. All you need to do is say the word. I could make
you so happy."
"How will it make me happy to take you as my lover?" Her blunt words
shocked him, and she shook her head. "It would be far too easy for me
to fall in love with you, and that would only lead to a broken heart
because eventually you would leave me. Besides, I could never live
with the guilt."
He sighed and turned his face away. "I live with guilt every day. You
manage to get used to it after awhile."
But that was a lie. He would never get used to it, and it was never going
to go away. Even if he managed to win his men's freedom, the guilt
would still be there. If anything, it would be stronger because

in saving their lives, he'd have done exactly as Kate feared. He would
have broken her tender heart.
The door opened, ending their conversation. Daniel slipped back in,
carrying a basin of steaming water he must have gotten from the galley.
He set it on the table in front of them, frowning as he took a closer look
at Talon's face. "Well, you won't be quite so pretty for awhile, but I
imagine you'll live."
Kate wet the washcloth, lifting it to Talon's face. "This might sting a
bit."
"It's all right." He tried to take the cloth from her hand, unwilling to
have her hands on him while Daniel was in the room. "I can do it."
She put one hand on his chest and flashed him a warning look. "Let me
do this for you. I want to."
"All right." He couldn't resist her plea. Despite all her talk of marriage
and duty and guilt, she seemed unable to resist this chance to be near
him.
Talon held still while she bathed his bloody face, struggling to control
his rioting emotions. She traced the outline of his lips with infinite care,
and he wondered if she was remembering the kisses they'd shared.
He was. In fact, he'd been unable to think of little else. Especially since
that morning in her cabin when she'd come so willingly into his arms.
Turning away from her had been so hard, and he wondered why he'd
bothered.
He wanted her so badly he ached. More than half a year had passed
since he'd found release within a woman's body, and he knew making
love to Kate would surpass all his other romantic experiences.
So, what was he waiting for?
Delaying the inevitable wouldn't make it any easier when the time
came to leave her. Why not steal these few precious days and hours
when she still trusted and cared for him? He could turn these days at sea
into a memory that would last the rest of his life.
He was tired of spending his days on deck, pacing and driving himself
crazy with jealousy. He hated it when Daniel and Kate excluded him.
He wanted to remain in this cabin with Kate and his brother. He wanted
to taste this strange friendship and bask in Kate's golden light. His life
had been full of solitude and loneliness. It was stupid to deprive himself
of love and companionship when they were being offered so freely.

At last, Kate finished her careful ministrations, and she sat back on her
heels to survey her work. "Much better."
Daniel tossed Kate a book, and she caught it in surprise, raising one
eyebrow. "Is this a hint?"
Nodding, Daniel glanced at Talon. "Kate has been reading to me from a
volume of Greek mythology. Why don't you stick around and listen for
a bit?"
Talon felt as though his brother had read his mind. Daniel gave a
wicked smile when Talon caught his gaze. While Kate was struggling
hard against taking him as her lover, Daniel was doing his best to throw
them together.
"I'd love to listen to you read," Talon murmured with no little regret.
"But I think I need to lie down for awhile."
"We'll come with you. It's more comfortable in there anyway. You
don't mind, do you, Kate?" Daniel's smile was guileless.
For the second time that day, Talon was forced to admit his brother was
not the self-absorbed simpleton he'd first supposed him to be. A
cunning mind lurked behind Daniel's bland good looks and mincing
manner.
Kate gave Talon a tentative glance. "No, I don't mind, if Talon really
wants to listen." A hopeful plea lit her eyes.
"I do," he told her, unable to fight them both.
They filed into the cabin Daniel and Talon shared. Talon kicked off his
boots and socks and

stretched out on the bottom bunk. Daniel took the only chair, so Kate
gestured toward the mattress at his feet. "Will it bother you if I sit
here?"
He shook his head, hiding a small smile. He'd wanted her in his bed for
weeks, but this wasn't quite what he'd had in mind.
Kate took a deep breath and opened the book. As she began to read,
Talon closed his eyes, listening to the sound of her voice while she
spoke of Mt. Olympus, the realm of the Gods. Gradually, Kate's
shoulders relaxed and her hip rested against his foot.
For a long time, he lay still, enjoying the warm press of her body
against his feet, but after awhile he grew restless. It wasn't enough. He
wanted more.
He moved one foot tentatively, almost groaning aloud at the slight give
in her soft, rounded hip. Her voice faltered for a moment then resumed
stronger than before. She touched his ankle, closing her hand over his
bare skin.
At first, he thought she was warning him. Instead, she rubbed his arch
with slow deep caresses that made his already warm blood rise to the
boiling point.
He'd never known such sensual decadence, to have a beautiful woman
rub his feet in the middle of the afternoon. Every other sexual
experience he could recount had been a hurried affair. There was
always someone else waiting for a turn, or he had a ship to sail or a
score to settle.
All these weeks, he'd been worrying himself sick over how to save his
men without seducing her. He could have been lying here in his bunk,
regaining his strength and listening to her clear, sweet voice. What a
waste.
He'd been a fool to resist this. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever
known. She moved on to his other foot sometime during the third
chapter, reducing him to complete mush. His mind began to wander,
and he drifted away, lost in his daydreams of the woman beside him. In
his dreams, she was his wife, not Daniel's.

Chapter Fourteen
"I think Talon is asleep." Kate glanced up at Daniel, then closed the
book and put it aside. "I'm going to stop reading, if you don't mind."
Daniel leaned back in his chair and gave his brother a sympathetic
glance. "He really does have a heart of gold, doesn't he? He's nothing
like I imagined."
Kate stared down at Talon's beautiful, battered face. His lashes lay
thick and dark on his bruised cheeks, and his broad chest rose and fell
in soft rhythm. "Exactly how did you picture him?"
Daniel gave Talon a pensive stare. "He showed up at the London house
when I was a boy. I was playing on the steps when this filthy ragged
urchin approached and told me he was my brother. Father sent him
away, of course, but from then on he delighted in telling me of his
successes."
"Where did he go after that? How did he live?" Kate was horrified at
the thought of the earl rejecting his own son. No wonder Talon hated
his father so much. And poor Daniel. It must have been hard to live in
the shadow of the brother he'd never known.
"He went to sea and worked his way through the ranks until he finally
commanded a ship of his own. Father loved to tell me how brave Talon
was, how resourceful. I expected to hate him."
"He's rather hard to hate."
"Yes, he is." Daniel shook his head. "I can't help but admire him. He
had none of my advantages, yet he managed to make something of
himself anyway. He went from the streets to being one of the most
successful privateers to sail the seas. He amassed quite a fortune before
he was arrested last year for piracy."
"He's a pirate?" Kate couldn't have been more surprised. "I don't
believe you."
Daniel sat forward, his blue eyes serious. "They called him the Hawk.
His ship was a gorgeous clipper called The Western Sky. He targeted
mainly British ships, my father's in particular, but who can blame him
for wanting revenge? He raided this very ship not long ago, which is
one reason why he's so worried for our safety. He and the captain are
not on the best of terms."

Kate squeezed Talon's slim, bare foot. She loved his feet. They were
fine-boned and elegant, just like his hands. "I never would have
guessed."
"He was condemned to life in Newgate for his crimes. I thought Father
was going to let him rot there forever, but he finally intervened and had
him released a month ago."
"So that's why he was so thin and pale when we first met." Kate was
horrified to think of this strong, kind man trapped in a filthy,
windowless cell. "No wonder he spends so much time on deck."

"I still haven't figured out why he's been so decent to me," Daniel
mused. "Surely he must hate me and everything I stand for."
Kate reluctantly released Talon's foot. "I'll bet he's anxious to reach the
Carolinas so he can be rid of us."
"He'll be glad to get rid of me. But I don't think he minds your company
at all."
She stood and stretched, feeling the kinks in her body relax. She'd been
sitting in one place for far too long, unwilling to move for fear she'd
lose the warmth of Talon's body. But this conversation with her
husband had reminded her once again why she must keep her distance.
She didn't care whether or not Talon was a pirate, but she realized now,
more than ever, how impossible it would be to hold him. He belonged
to the sea. "I think I'll skip our card game tonight, Daniel. I'm rather
tired."
"Sweet dreams," Daniel told her. "I'll see you in the morning."
Talon wasn't sleeping. He'd heard the whole conversation, and he
barely managed to restrain himself until Kate left the room. As soon as
the door clicked shut behind her, he sat up, pinning his brother with a
furious glare. "How dare you tell her those things?"
Daniel flinched in surprise then shrugged and gave an easy laugh.
"Don't you know it isn't nice to eavesdrop?"
"Why did you tell her all of that? Christ, how could you do this to me?
I thought you wanted me to seduce her."
Talon was still stung by the dismay in Kate's tone when Daniel had told
her he'd been imprisoned for piracy. He'd wanted to deny it at the top of
his lungs and beg her to believe in him. He'd do anything to keep from
losing the one thing she'd given him that no one else ever had—her
esteem.
She had thought him a hero.
"Don't be an idiot." Daniel gave him a smug smile. "You've been
slacking these last few weeks. Kate's gotten too close to me. Hell, she's
even pledged her undying faithfulness. I had to do something."
"What do you think you've accomplished by this?" Talon wanted to
bash Daniel's face until his brother looked as battered as Talon felt. He
couldn't believe a few short hours ago, he'd thought the two of them
might someday be friends.

Besides, Kate's undying faithfulness was nothing to scoff at. He wanted
it for himself.
Daniel stood up, stretching. "I gave her something to think about. The
dashing pirate Hawk. What woman could possibly resist?"
Talon shoved a hand through his rumpled hair in disgust. "It shouldn't
surprise me, but it's obvious you don't know a damned thing about
women. If your goal was to get Kate into my bed, I'm afraid you've
made a big mistake."
"I don't think so. But we'll see, won't we? You're running out of time,
you know. We'll only be at sea another week or so. You have to do this
soon."
"We've had this conversation before," Talon said, refusing to admit
he'd already come to the same conclusion. "I'm not going to seduce her.
There has to be another way."
"Maybe our father isn't so smart. Maybe you don't care as much about
those men of yours as he thought you did."
"You can't begin to know how I feel about those men." Talon fisted his
hands at his sides, concentrating on the pain of his split knuckles
instead of the responsibility he felt for his crew. "You've never held
another man's life in the palm of your hand. You don't know the
meaning of the words honor or loyalty. I will save them. But I'll do it
without hurting Kate. She doesn't deserve this fiasco you've made

of her life."
Daniel sat back down, his eyes widening in disbelief. "My God. I can't
believe I didn't see it before. You're in love with her. Aren't you?"
Talon flinched, feeling as though McGuire had punched him in the gut
yet again. "Of course not." He shook his head in denial even though he
was terrified it might be true. "Don't be a bloody ass."
Daniel laughed again, but this time there was pity in the sound. "I'd hate
to be you, my friend. What a decision to have to make."
"Why don't you just leave me the hell alone?" Talon lay back down and
stared sullenly at the ceiling. He pretended to ignore Daniel, but his
brother's words would not give him any peace.
What a decision to have to make.
A decision. In the end, that was all it really came down to. Kate's
innocence, or the lives of seventy men. It should have been so easy.
Kate was strong. This would hurt her, but she would go on. She would
lavish all that love and affection on the child he would give her.
The child he would never see, never hold. He imagined a son with
Kate's beautiful eyes and quick laughter. He pushed the thought away,
determined not to torture himself that way. It was better if he didn't
think of the child.
Long after Daniel had blown out the light and climbed into the bunk
above him, Talon continued to stare up into the darkness, both dreading
and anticipating what tomorrow would bring.
After a long while, his brother's soft snores filled the silence. Talon
clenched his jaw against the sound and planned the seduction of his
sister- in-law.
Kate was getting ready for bed the next evening when someone
knocked on her door. She'd already changed into her nightgown, but
she shrugged, deciding it was probably just Daniel come to say
goodnight.
She welcomed the thought of a little conversation. Her husband had
been quiet today, lost in his own thoughts. And Talon had been up and
gone long before sunrise. In fact, she hadn't seen her brother-in-law all
day, and it had been hard to contain her disappointment.
She'd hoped Talon had enjoyed spending the day with her and Daniel.
She'd even thought she'd noticed a lessening in the tension usually so
prevalent between the two brothers.

Her thoughts trailed off when the knock came again. When she opened
the door, she was stunned to find Talon dressed in elegant, black
evening clothes, the effect only slightly tarnished by his battered face.
He looked as though he'd arrived to take her to the opera. He held one
perfect red rose in his hands, which he must have gotten from the rose
bushes he'd brought with them.
She flushed, stunned by his masculine beauty, but confused as well.
She'd grown accustomed to seeing him dressed as a sailor, shoeless,
shirtless, bronzed skin damp with sweat. She could think of only one
reason for him to be here bearing a rose and dressed in his finest.
"May I come in?" He smiled and entered her cabin before she could
answer, shutting the door behind him. "Close your mouth, Kate. You've
seen me in a dinner jacket before."
She swallowed and took the rose he offered, bringing it to her nose and
inhaling deeply. Her heart pounded, and she couldn't give voice to the
questions stuck in her throat. She was afraid she already knew the
answers. Where would she find the strength to deny him anything he
might ask?
"You shouldn't be here. I think you should leave before we both do
something we regret."
Talon lifted one dark brow, his eyes glowing with inner fire. "Would
you really regret making love to me?"

There. He'd said it. The words hung between them. Shocking.
Potent. Laced with promise and dark secrets. Dear Lord, she wanted
what he was offering. She'd wanted it ever since she'd first laid eyes
upon him.
"Of course, I would regret it." She turned away, unable to look at him
while she denied what was in her heart. "I would regret it for the rest of
my days."
"Is it because of what Daniel told you yesterday?" He moved to stand
behind her, his heat permeating the thin layers of cloth that separated
his skin from hers. "Are you sorry you let me touch you with my filthy
pirate hands?" As he spoke, he cupped her breasts, his breath rasping in
her ear and sending a delicious shiver down her spine.
"Are you a pirate?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "I told him I
didn't believe it. You're too good, too fine to make your living that
way."
He shuddered and hugged her, stealing her breath with the power of his
embrace. "I went to prison," he admitted harshly. "I guess you don't
know me as well as you thought."
She covered his hands with hers, trying halfheartedly to remove them.
"Please, Talon, don't do this. Not this way."
"What way then?" He moved his hips against hers, and his scent
enveloped her. He smelled sinfully good, a mixture of soap and sea.
"Would you have me beg? Because I would."
She shook her head, past coherent speech. His lips moved against her
neck, his long, elegant fingers working their tender magic on her
breasts.
"Daniel doesn't care. You know it as well as I do. He doesn't want you.
He doesn't need you."
"And do you need me? Will you ever give a thought to me once this
passion between us has been spent?" She was crying, tears streaming
down her cheeks.
"I need you like I need air to breathe." He turned her in his arms and
tenderly kissed her tears away. "You're a fire in my blood. I could never
get enough of you. Never."
It wasn't quite the answer she'd hoped for, but it no longer seemed
important. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back,
straining to get closer, offering herself to him without guile or

hesitation. It was wrong and she would probably burn in hell for her
weakness, but she didn't care.
In a blinding flash, she realized how much she loved this man. Loved
him with all her heart and all her soul. She was running out of time, and
she wanted this one night for her own. One night of passion and love to
sustain her through all the long, lonely years to come.
She didn't want to spend the rest of her life wondering what she'd
missed.
"Make love to me," she whispered. "I need you, too.

Chapter Fifteen
Talon swept Kate into his arms and carried her to the narrow bunk,
humbled by her acquiescence. He was trembling with need and
something else. Something stronger than desire.
If only this was the beginning of their relationship instead of the end.
She would hate him so much when she found out the truth.
"Just let me kiss you for awhile." He lowered her to the mattress and
stretched out beside her, noticing for the first time the light sprinkle of
freckles across her dainty nose. "We don't have to do anything else. Not
tonight. Not until you're ready."
It was a lie, of course. Another filthy lie, because he knew he'd come
too far to turn back now.
She nodded, her teeth worrying her bottom lip in a gesture he found
unbearably erotic. "I trust
you."
He bent and cupped her face, lowering his lips to hers and sipping from
them with a gentleness he hadn't known he possessed. She trusted him.
God, she broke his heart.
He'd never made love to a virgin before, and he was terrified he'd lose
control and hurt her. He wanted to take his time and show her every
measure of a woman's pleasure, but it had been so long, too damned
long, since he'd had a release of his own.
She smelled of roses and feminine musk. Everything soft and sweet
that had been missing in his life. She was the stuff his yearning
midnight dreams were made of, a lady with a core of fire and passion.
And in the midst of it all was the poignant knowledge that he did not
deserve this. He was a pirate, after all, taking what belonged by law to
another and trying to justify it as right.
There was only the slightest hesitation in Kate's kiss, a bit of charming
awkwardness as he taught her how to seduce him with her lips and
tongue, and she more than made up for it in exuberance. She was a
slim, burning flame in his arms, and the soft sounds of burgeoning
passion he coaxed from the back of her throat nearly undid him.
Kissing her was nice, but there were far more wonderful delights
ahead. At length, he trailed his lips from her mouth to her throat,
whispering sweet words as his nimble fingers attacked the tiny white
buttons that lined the front of her nightdress. Then the barrier was gone

and her beautiful breasts were bare to him, their tight, dark nipples
glistening in the soft light, begging him to touch and taste.
"You are so beautiful, Kate. So soft." He molded her shape with his
hands, watching her green eyes flare with passion. He bent his head,
tracing one rigid crest with his tongue before taking it fully into his
mouth.

Sweet. He'd never known such sweetness. She gasped his name and
threaded her hands in his hair while he sampled the other lush mound
and then back again like a starving man at a banquet. "I want to touch
you, too."
Her voice seemed to come from far away. He felt drugged with arousal,
drunk on her, but her words wrenched him out of his reverie.
"Aye," he breathed, sitting up and shrugging impatiently out of his
jacket, vest and shirt. Holding her gaze, he let his hands fall to the ties
of his breeches. When she didn't protest, he loosened them, freeing his
aching cock and kicking away the confining fabric.
Naked, he stretched out beside her, trying like hell to restrain himself,
to walk when he so badly wanted to run. She lifted up on one elbow and
used her other hand to trace the contours of his chest.
"I've dreamed of this. Of touching all this beautiful, sun-bronzed skin."
As she spoke, she circled his nipple with her thumbnail, making him
suck in an agonized breath.
"I've dreamt of you, too. Every night." He rolled on top of her, their
bare chests pressed together, the soft mounds of her unbound breasts
searing his skin. He kissed her long and deep, trembling with need.
She traced his back with her fingertips, exploring. Tentative at first,
then moving daringly low, grazing the swell of his buttocks. He smiled
into the kiss, enraptured. His Kate was a quick learner.
Unable to bear it any longer, he broke a little apart from her, running
his hand over her flat stomach then lower. He threaded his fingertips
through her dark, damp curls, touching her where she needed it most.
She flinched at first, shying away and trying to close her legs against
the intrusion. He persisted, whispering words of encouragement while
he coaxed the sweet honey of excitement from her body.
He found the exact spot that drove her wild and then took shameless
advantage of the knowledge, pleasuring her until she was writhing and
panting beneath him. She sobbed his name, and he caught the beautiful
sound with his mouth.
Rising above her, he settled between her thighs. "I can't wait,
sweetheart. I've wanted this for so long." His voice was harsh and
broken, his entire body trembling. He slid against her wet heat, and
sweat broke out across his forehead.

Her eyelids fluttered closed at the sensation then she opened them,
staring at him with emerald intensity. "I don't want you to wait. I love
you, Talon. I've never loved anyone the way I love you."
Her words pierced him. Such a priceless gift, the only one of worth he'd
ever been given. He was shamed to the depths of his soul by what he
was about to do, yet he couldn't turn away from her now.
It wasn't about his men any more. He wanted her for himself, just for
tonight. He was a miserable, betraying bastard, and this only proved it.
"Don't love me, Kate. I'm not worth it."
"You're worth it to me." She moved beneath him, reaching for what he
could give her. She tilted her hips just enough to allow him to breach
the virginal tightness of her body with his.
"Are you sure?" he whispered. "Are you absolutely sure this is what
you want?"
She nodded, her gaze full of love and trust. "I'm sure. I want you. I have
since the first time I saw
you."
Riding the euphoria of her declaration, he thrust deeply, crying out with
pleasure as he buried himself to the hilt. She gasped and stiffened
beneath him, shoving at his chest as he braced himself above her, his
arms trembling with the effort of holding back.
He dipped his head and kissed away her tears. "I'm sorry," he
whispered over and over. "I'm so
sorry."
"It's all right," she murmured, relaxing as she adjusted to his invasion.
"I just didn't realize it would be like this. You fill me so completely."
He took one of her hands and placed it over his thundering heart. "You
fill me, too. Here." The

words weren't nearly enough. What he felt for her was too new, too
immense to name, but she bit her lip and more tears welled in her eyes,
and he knew she understood.
It was impossible to hold back any longer. He drew his hips back in a
long, slow slide and then drove home again. Kate winced a bit, but
nodded, encouraging him.
"Let go. Take me, Kate. Take all of me." "Yes," she whispered. "Yes."
Her acceptance pushed him beyond coherent thought. He closed his
eyes and filled her again and again, losing himself in the wonder of it,
the rightness of making love to this woman. She was everything he'd
ever wanted, and for this brief, shining moment, she was his.
All his plans to ensure her pleasure evaporated because his own came
too quickly, ripping through him with the force of a hurricane. He
shuddered and moaned her name, spilling his seed deep within her,
holding her tightly against his chest as tremors of completion racked
his body.
Kate lay in Talon's arms, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
The lean strength of his big, warm body pressed along her back and one
of his elegant hands fanned her bare hip.
She felt the strangest urge to laugh. Here she was, a proper, pampered
lady all her life, lying in her lover's arms in glorious abandon while her
husband slept unknowingly in the room next door.
There was none of the guilt she'd expected to feel. For the first time in
her life, she'd followed her heart instead of her head. She'd thrown
consequence to the wind and lived for the moment.
Strange as it seemed, she thought Daniel would approve.
She'd been made for this, made to love a man like Talon. It wasn't fair
that fate had stuck her in a loveless, passionless marriage with a man
like Daniel, someone who would never show her the physical side of
love.
She forced the pointless thoughts away and concentrated instead on
absorbing every nuance of this moment for later reference. She wanted
to remember the feel of Talon's breath on her skin, the hair-roughened
tangle of his legs with hers. Who knew if she'd ever have an
opportunity like this again?
They'd reach America in another few days, and she had no idea of
Talon's plans once he'd seen them to Holyoke. There had been no talk

of the future, and he hadn't claimed to love her, although she thought
perhaps he did.
Another thought occurred out of the blue, striking icy fear into her
heart. What if the night she'd passed with Talon resulted in a child?
The panic dissipated as quickly as it had come. Lord, what i f it did?
If she had a child, they could return to England. Daniel would probably
be ecstatic. She wouldn't even have to feel guilty about her son
inheriting the earldom, because he would still be of Sutcliffe's blood.
A baby at last. After all these lonely months of heartache and
disappointment, the thought of it was enough to bring pure joy to her
heart. She wanted Talon's baby. She could shower the child with all the
love she wanted to give to Talon, all the love he'd never allow himself
to know.
"Good morning." Talon hugged her and pressed a tender kiss behind
her ear. "Having second
thoughts?"
She closed her eyes and tried to control her racing heart. She couldn't
let him know what she was thinking. He would assume she'd used him
to get her pregnant and escape the fate Sutcliffe had planned for her.
To distract them both, she turned to face him. "I'm past second
thoughts. I've already moved on to third and fourth ones."

He chuckled and kissed her, long and sweet. "It's nice to wake up with
you. I've never known the luxury of spending the night in a lady's bed.
My life has never been this soft, this sweet."
She ran her fingertips over his poor, bruised cheekbone. "Tell me what
your life has been like. I want to know everything about you." Reality
would intrude soon enough. She'd already committed the sin; it
couldn't hurt to wring every moment of pleasure she could from the
experience.
He sighed and stretched, the muscles of his big, lean body rippling
against her. "You don't want to know. It's an ugly tale."
She tried to contain her disappointment. It wasn't as though he'd made
her any promises, after all. She had no right to expect him to give her
his heart or his trust. He'd offered nothing but his body.
Her attention was caught by a soft sound in the adjoining cabin. Her
husband was awake. She bit her lip. "Do you think Daniel knows?"
Talon nodded. He hugged her tighter for a moment and then released
her. "Yes, he knows." There was a strange, angry note in his voice she
was hesitant to identify. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart. I'll take care
of Daniel."
Sweetheart. Kate's foolish heart clenched at the careless endearment.
"Daniel and I were just beginning to become friends." The enormity of
her betrayal was sinking in, the guilt no less powerful for having been
delayed.
"You can still be friends. He'll be happy for you." He kissed her again,
this time on the bridge of her nose.
"I should get out of here." He sat up and swung his long, bare legs over
the side of the narrow bunk. Naked, he strode to the pile of clothing
he'd discarded last night.
The dim, dawn light poured in through the round porthole and gilded
his powerful body. Her gaze was drawn to the muscled perfection of his
thighs and backside as he bent and grabbed his pants.
He turned toward her and pulled them on. She stared, transfixed by the
part of him she'd never gotten a clear look at last night. He was still
huge and thick with need, and when she thought about how he'd filled
her, how he'd moved within her, her face grew warm with
embarrassment.

He hesitated, pausing without fastening his pants. "I still want you."
His voice was low and intense. "No matter what happens in the future, I
want you to know these past few hours have been the most beautiful
moments in my life."
"Mine, too." Her dwindling hopes were refueled by his passionate
words.
Then he was in her arms again, kissing her with overwhelming urgency
and hunger. For a moment, she was too stunned by his passion to react,
but then she responded with the same sense of desperation. She
brushed his hands away, shoving his trousers down his thighs.
She touched him, learning every inch of his powerful frame, daring to
run her hands over the smooth, beautiful curves of his backside,
cupping him closer while he suckled her breasts.
He groaned and laid her down on the bed, kneeling above her, his
erection jutting from its nest of dense, dark curls. "Touch me," he
breathed, his blue eyes burning. "I want to feel your hands on me."
She knew what he wanted and was shocked at herself for wanting to
give it to him. Tentatively, she lifted her hand and traced the tip of him,
gasping at the heat, the unexpected silky texture.
"Yes." His voice was rough and broken. "God. Just like that." He
closed his hand over hers, showing her how to please him, his beautiful
face drawn with passion.
She stared at her pale hand, dwarfed by his large, callused one, amazed
by what she was doing and even more so by how wonderful it felt. She
liked having him at her mercy, liked knowing she had the ability to
bring this fierce, gentle man to his knees.
"I love you, Talon. I love you so much." She couldn't control the words,
couldn't hold them back. She wanted to chant it over and over for the
rest of her days.
"Kate. Oh God, Kate." He moaned and thrust her hand away, moving
over her, covering her with

his powerful body, pressing her into the mattress. She clutched his back
and wrapped her legs around his lean hips as he thrust deep inside her.
This time there was no pain; there was nothing but pleasure. Waves and
waves of it building in intensity as she reached for something just
beyond her grasp.
"Come with me," Talon breathed, reaching between them, rubbing his
thumb against a tiny bud of sensation as he thrust harder and faster.
Her entire body tensed then shattered in a mind-numbing, brilliant
explosion.
Talon whispered her name, his hips jerking, his mouth hot and damp
against her throat as he, too, found release. She held him, drifting in the
aftermath, her eyes brimming with tears as she faced an unavoidable
truth.
Someday very soon, this man was going to break her heart.

Chapter Sixteen
Talon spent the entire morning with Kate, returning to his cabin early
that afternoon. He'd found it nearly impossible to leave her side and
had postponed the inevitable as long as he could.
Last night had been everything he'd imagined and more. In her arms,
he'd felt at peace for the first time in his life.
But it couldn't last. Kate wasn't his. She could never be his. He wanted
to scream with the injustice of it all. He'd never asked for much out of
life, never wanted anything but a home and someone to care about. But
it seemed that the things most men took for granted were to be forever
denied him.
Daniel waited on the bottom bunk in their cabin. The self-satisfied
smirk on his brother's face brought Talon crashing even further back
down to earth.
"Well, how did it go?" Daniel queried, looking up from the book he
was reading. "Did you deflower my wife?"
Talon merely glared. He stalked across the room to the cold basin of
water Kate had used to bathe his wounds yesterday. Wringing out the
washcloth, he brought it to his face and washed the perspiration from
his brow.
For a long moment, he just stood there, staring at the wall, a vein
pulsing in his jaw. "It's done," he muttered at last, tossing the washcloth
back in the basin. "I've fulfilled my part of the bargain, and I damn well
expect you to tell Sutcliffe to live up to his."
"What if it doesn't take? Who knows, it might be months before your
work is done."
Talon closed his eyes, both horrified and elated by the prospect.
Daniel was right. He hadn't really thought that far ahead, stupidly
assuming it would only take one
time.
How would he bear it, deceiving her time after time, watching the love
in her eyes grow? How could he bear knowing that as soon as he'd
gotten her with child, he'd have to give her up?
He turned around, focusing his fury on Daniel. "Don't make light of
this, you bastard. This is your fault, all of it. If you'd been man enough
to do the job yourself, Sutcliffe would have left me the hell alone."

"Don't you dare stand in judgment of me." Daniel's voice was low and
furious. "You expect me to pity you because James Sinclair turned you
from his door? Well, think again. I wish I could have gone with you.
There are worse things in the world than poverty."

"Spoken like a man who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth."
Disgust laced Talon's every word. "I would have given my soul for the
things you take for granted."
"And I'd have given mine to be you. Absolutely free, sailing the world
without a care with no one but yourself to disappoint." There was a
longing in Daniel's voice Talon couldn't fathom. How could Daniel be
so foolish? Didn't he know how lucky he'd been?
"You had a father!" he cried. "You don't know how it feels to be all
alone. You never had to fight and struggle for every bite you ate. My
God, Sutcliffe is willing to sacrifice the lives of seventy men just to
give you a son. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"If you think he's doing this for me, you're a fool." Daniel turned away,
his shoulders rigid with anger. "You don't know a damn thing about it. I
could have made love to Kate. Hell, it isn't as though I've never been
with a woman. And whether you believe it or not, I do care for her. I
care for her very much."
"Then why didn't you? God damn it! I deserve to know the answer."
There was silence for a very long moment, and Talon was sure his
brother would once again laugh him off, leaving him angrier and more
confused than before.
"Did you know my mother killed herself?" Utter despair laced Daniel's
voice when he finally spoke. "Sutcliffe drove her to it. He made her life
a living hell."
Talon's anger drained away. He knew what loving Sutcliffe had done to
his own mother. "I'm
sorry."
Daniel shrugged. "She killed herself to escape him, because no matter
how often he beat her, no matter how often he beat me, she would never
give him the answer he sought. She would never admit she'd lain with
someone else."
"He doesn't believe you're his son?" Suddenly all the pieces started to
fall into place.
Daniel shook his head, and Talon was stunned and humbled by the pain
in his brother's eyes. "He did when I was young, treated me like a
damned prince. But then, when I was twelve, I had a tutor who used to
punish me for poor tests scores by making me perform sexual favors..."
He trailed off and squeezed his eyes shut. "Anyway, Father caught us.

It was right after he'd sent you away, and as he beat me, he told me he
wished he'd kept you instead."
Talon sank into the cabin's lone chair, feeling utterly drained. He hadn't
counted on this, had never imagined Daniel had been cast aside as
cruelly as he had, perhaps even more so. "Are you telling me he
planned this all along? That he never intended for you to bed your own
wife, whether you wanted to or
not?"
Daniel opened his eyes and met Talon's seeking gaze. "You're the son
of his heart, Talon, the one he's proud of. He doesn't want my tainted
blood muddying up his line. On my wedding day, he told me he'd kill
Philip if Kate became pregnant before he had a chance to set this whole
complicated scheme into motion."
"Christ." Talon bowed his head, soul-deep fear chasing away the last
remnants of his anger. "I can't let him have my child. I won't let that son
of a bitch get his hands on another innocent life."
Daniel shook his head, pity in his eyes. "The only way you can keep
him from doing that is to sacrifice your men. I'm sorry. I wish there was
some other way."
Talon felt as if he were suffocating. He couldn't stand being in this
cabin even one more second. He got to his feet and headed toward the
door, hesitating after he'd opened it. "Go talk to Kate, Daniel. She's
afraid what she's done will hurt you. Let her know you understand. Tell
her you're not angry."
"Of course," Daniel whispered. "Of course."
What a pathetic son o f a bitch you are. Daniel flopped down on his
bunk after Talon had left. The

web of lies and deceit his father had forced on him was unbearable.
He found himself liking Talon, something he never would have
expected in a thousand years. After all, he'd spent years building his
hatred for the brother who was everything he'd tried and failed to be.
Talon the perfect. Talon the brave. Talon the hero.
When he thought of all the times his father had sung his brother's
praises, all those dark, black moments he'd tried so hard to forget, he
wished desperately for the tenuous calm he'd only managed to find at
the bottom of an opium pipe. Perhaps the lack of that old, familiar
escape was the worst part of this hellish journey. He would have liked
to ignore the whole situation, pleasantly drifting along in a
drug-induced haze. Instead, he'd been forced to get to know his brother
and his wife, only to find he liked them both and didn't want to see them
hurt.
Talon loved Kate, loved her fiercely and passionately. Daniel had never
known such love existed. What he had with Philip didn't even come
close.
It made him wonder what it would be like to have a relationship that
was based on something other than sex and drugs. He'd been thinking
too much lately about what might have happened if his father had
allowed him and Kate to have a child together.
For the last week, he'd watched Talon, wondering if his brother might
somehow figure a way out of this mess. He'd decided perhaps he could
live without Philip, could even stay in the godforsaken Carolinas and
remain celibate for the rest of his life, merely for the pleasure of
watching his father thwarted just this once.
But in the end, his father had won, as he always did.
Poor Kate. Talon was right. She was probably beating herself up over
what had happened. He should do as his brother asked and go to her.
And he would. In a little while. But first he was going to write a letter to
Philip and let him know he would be coming home soon.
Kate woke late in the afternoon. She stretched, reaching for Talon in
the bed beside her, only to find herself alone.
Her body still tingled, and she was sore in a very agreeable way. She
smiled when she saw the rose on the pillow beside her. "Talon," she
whispered, loving the sound of his name on her lips.

She wondered where he'd gone and if last night had been as special to
him as it had been to her. Never in all her wildest fantasies had she
dreamed making love to him would be so beautiful, so consuming.
She slipped out of bed and reached for her nightgown, suddenly
self-conscious of her nakedness. As she slipped the fabric over her
head, she saw the dark red stain on her sheets.
Letting the concealing fabric slide down over her hips, she reached out
a trembling fingertip and touched the dried blood, sobered by the
dreadful finality of it.
There was no going back now. She would never be innocent again.
What would happen when she saw Talon? Would he act as though
nothing had happened? Or would he take her in his arms, kiss her and
tell her he loved her?
And what about Daniel? What did he think about this whole mess?
She bathed with the chilly water left over in her basin and then dressed,
knowing she couldn't put off facing him any longer.
A few moments later, she opened the door to the sitting room. Daniel
looked up from the desk, hastily shoving the letter he'd been writing
into the drawer. Standing, he took her hand and escorted her to the
chair. "How are you feeling?"

His concern made her burst into tears. She had wronged him in the
worst possible way, and still he was being nice to her. "I've done a
terrible thing. I'm so sorry."
"Hush." Daniel patted her awkwardly on the back. "It's all right, Kate. I
understand." "How can you understand? I don't. I'm not the kind of
person who does things like this." "Yes, you are."
She glanced at him, stung, but he grinned and waved a dismissive hand.
"You were meant to be with a man like Talon," he clarified. "Besides,
I'm hardly in a position to begrudge you any happiness you might find."
Her cheeks grew hot when she thought of the rapture she'd found in
Talon's arms. He did make her happy. Happier than she'd ever been.
"You're blushing." Daniel sat back and gave her an appraising glance.
"So, tell me. Was it everything you'd thought it would be?"
"More," she admitted, her face flaming even hotter. "So much more." It
seemed odd to be discussing this with Daniel of all people, but she was
grateful for the strange friendship they'd forged.
She desperately needed to talk to someone, and her very
unconventional husband gave her a freedom not many women had. She
realized nothing she could say would shock Daniel. He'd never judge
her, because he'd done things far worse than anything she could even
imagine.
"It was wonderful. Magical."
He smiled. "I'm glad. Truly, I am."
Deciding she might never have the courage to bring the subject up
again unless it became imperative to do so, she forged ahead. "Can I
ask you something?"
His smile slipped as though he sensed the gravity of what she was about
to ask him. "Of course. You can ask me anything."
She stared at him intently, determined to read the truth in his face, no
matter how he answered. "What would you do if I were to have Talon's
child?"
Something hot and bright flickered in Daniel's eyes. She thought it was
elation, but it disappeared so quickly she couldn't be sure. All the same,
it gave her a bad feeling, and she suddenly regretted her openness.
"I would be very happy. The child would be of my blood, the son of my
heart, if not my loins. Besides, that would solve all our problems,
wouldn't it?"

The cold feeling in the pit of her stomach intensified. She shook her
head, trying to deny it. "Don't say anything like that in front of Talon. I
wouldn't want him to t h in k . "
"Think what? That you had an ulterior motive last night? That you
wanted to have his child so you could return to England?" Daniel
watched her closely, obviously expecting her to admit that what he said
was true.
"I didn't. I swear to you, it never even occurred to me until this
morning." "Didn't it?" Daniel's soft blue eyes were pitying. "It occurred
to me."

Chapter Seventeen
Talon ignored the seething hostility of Percy's crew and strode to his
usual place at the bow. Thank God this was almost over. He wanted to
get back to his men and back to the helm of a ship where he belonged.
Closing his eyes, he clenched the oak rail and leaned into the wind. The
ocean spray washed over him, clearing some of the cobwebs from his
mind. Unfortunately, that left more room for memories of last night.
Warmth flooded him at the image of Kate, flushed and beautiful, her
pale limbs bare in the early morning light. She was incredibly sweet,
passionate yet innocent all at the same time.
When he'd made love to Kate, he'd felt as though he'd come home.
Until last night, he hadn't even known what he was missing, but now he
knew with deep, dark certainty that home for him would always be
where Kate was.
He'd done the unthinkable. He'd fallen in love with the only woman he
could never have. Swallowing convulsively, he tried to control the loss,
the utter despair of letting Kate and his child go.
There would be a child. He knew it with every fiber of his being. It was
unbearable to think of bowing out of the picture while his father and
Daniel raised and corrupted his son.
Or daughter. God, the thought of a lovely little green-eyed daughter left
him breathless.
"I can't do it," he whispered. "I won't give her up."
A strange sense of peace washed over him when he realized he was far
from powerless now that the deed had been done. He would leave Kate
for a little while, just long enough to find his crew and warn them of the
danger Sutcliffe posed. His father's reach was not infinite, after all. He
would split them up, find them new, safe berths.
Then he would return. He would make himself a perpetual thorn in his
father's side.
It killed him to think of living without Kate until then, but he promised
himself he'd find a way to remain near her. Even if it meant returning to
England and remaining there for the rest of his life.
He wasn't quite sure how long he stood there, his mind racing with new
possibilities, but gradually he became aware of the fact that the wind
had turned.

So far, their crossing had been blessed with fair weather, but he'd made
this trip dozens of times and knew the heavy clouds gathering in the
west meant trouble. They were heading into something bad.
He glanced up at the bridge where Percy and his first mate were
pouring over a map, their faces tight with concentration. Good, it
looked as though they were on top of the situation.

Longingly, he thought of the rain slicker in his cabin. He had a feeling
he'd be needing it, but he wasn't ready to face Kate. Not yet.
Kate remained in the sitting room until after Daniel had gone to sleep.
Her stomach was upset again, but she wasn't sure if it was because the
ship had begun to buck alarmingly beneath them or her anxiety about
facing Talon again.
He'd remained on deck all day, and with each hour her heart broke a
little more. What had she expected? That he'd stay by her side, share his
thoughts and dreams with her?
She meant nothing to him. She was merely the only woman available
on which to spend his lust. She'd been a fool to imagine he loved her.
Daniel had betrayed her as well. He didn't care that she'd made love to
his brother; in fact, he seemed happy about it. He wanted her to have
Talon's baby so he could claim it as his own and return to his lover in
London as though nothing had ever happened.
He'd been writing a letter when she'd first seen him this morning.
He'd looked so guilty she suddenly wondered again what he'd been
writing. Striding across the room, she jerked open the desk drawer and
retrieved the letter from its hiding place. She wanted to remind herself
she wasn't the only one who'd been unfaithful. She wanted to know
what Daniel and his lover wrote to each other about.
Dearest Philip,
It's done! Last night my brother and Kate were intimate. Surely, the
coveted heir will quickly
follow.
I haven't enjoyed playing the mediator, constantly reminding Talon o f
all he stands to lose i f he doesn't do as our father wishes while subtly
trying to let Kate know I wouldn't mind i f she decided to have an
a ffa ir with him. I like them both more than I ever expected to, and
believe it or not, my conscience has troubled me greatly the past few
weeks.
Talon was hard to manage, as you might imagine, but last night I
finally pushed him into making a choice. He chose Holyoke and the
other boons Father promised him over his own honor and Kate's
virtue.

I must admit I was a little disappointed. I thought he might resist his
obvious attraction to my w i f e and risk it all just to thwart the old
bastard, but it turns out my dear brother i s only human, a f t er
all.
So, things have worked out just the way my father planned. I f Kate
isn't already with child, I've no doubt she soon will be, and then I shall
come back to you...
Kate let the letter slip from her bloodless fingers, unwilling to read any
more. She felt as though she'd been punched in the gut. Both the men
she cared about had used her in the most despicable of ways. They'd
plotted her seduction, spoken of it to each other while she lay sleeping
unsuspecting in the very next room.
Sutcliffe, of course, had been behind it all. He'd bribed his bastard son
with an estate in hopes of getting an heir of his own blood. Daniel had
been all too willing to play along. He'd schemed to become her friend,
done everything possible to encourage her relationship with Talon.
"Talon." She sank to her knees in the middle of the floor, slain by the
knowledge that every sweet word, every tender touch had been a lie.
She had loved him, damn it. She loved him still.
She pressed her hand to her stomach, praying she wasn't pregnant.

She wanted to remain childless and never let any man touch her in
passion again. It would be worth remaining alone and unloved just to
see the earl die without his precious heir.
Her gaze darted to Daniel's closed door. He had a lot to answer for, and
she preferred to channel the emotions inside her into anger instead of
giving in to the anguish that lurked just beneath the surface.
She got to her feet, marched over and flung open the door. The sound
was very loud in the silence of the small room. Daniel sat bolt upright,
looking confused until his gaze settled on her face.
"Kate," he whispered, his voice rough with sleep. "What is it? What's
wrong?"
"I read your letter to darling Philip," she told him. "I know everything.
I know you and your father bribed Talon into seducing me."
Daniel paled, putting his hands up as though to ward her off. "God,
Kate. I never thought you'd snoop through my private
correspondence."
"And I never thought you were such a conniving, low-down, lying
jackass." She'd lost all semblance of control. She knew she should try
to be quiet, but she was beyond caring if someone heard her. "I trusted
you. I thought we were friends."
"We are friends. I'm sorry if this hurts you, but it was for your own
good, you've got to believe
me."
Her temper flared even hotter. "Don't you dare try to make it sound as
though you had any regard for my feelings."
His blue eyes were imploring. "I wanted you to have a child. I wanted
you to know love and passion. I wanted you to have all the things I
could never give you."
"You wanted to return to your lover. You've never given a damn about
me. God, I feel like such a fool to have fallen for your belated attempts
to pretend you did."
"When you calm down, I'm sure you'll see there was no other way.
Once you hold our precious child in your arms, you'll realize it was for
the best."
"Our child?" She laughed, making no effort to rein in her rising
hysteria. "No baby of mine will ever be yours, Daniel.
He flinched and looked away.

"I'm through talking to you." She would never let him know he'd
helped break her heart in a million pieces. "And you can tell that
scheming brother of yours to stay away from me. I never want to see
him again."
The storm hit the ship with all its fury at dusk. Talon couldn't believe
his father had let such incompetent fools behind the wheel of one of his
finest ships. Instead of circling the storm, Percy had tried to outrun it.
Now they were in a maelstrom of twenty-foot swells and continuous
lightning.
Talon had volunteered his services, knowing the captain needed every
able-bodied man if they were to have a chance of surviving this. But
within two hours, he knew they were fighting a losing battle.
From the coordinates he'd stolen a peek at earlier, he figured they
weren't far from the Virginia shore. He began to think about the skiffs
fastened to the sides of the ship.
Once the ship began to break apart, he wouldn't be able to keep Kate
safe. He refused to subject her to a lifeboat full of angry British sailors.
He knew his own skill. The wisest course of action was to get himself,
Kate and Daniel into a boat of their own, where he at least had a
semblance of control over their fate.
He needed supplies, lots of them. Blankets, food, fresh water, a
weapon, oilcloth... He mentally ticked the items off in his mind. He
would take what he needed and not worry about anybody else. His first
priority had to be the safety of the people he cared about.

Strange that he'd come to include Daniel in that number.
Stealing into the pitching galley, he took everything he could find then
went back out on deck, securing the supplies under the canvas that
covered the most out-of-the-way skiff. No one paid any attention to
him, and he prayed his luck would hold.
Ducking his head against the wind, he struggled down the side of the
wheelhouse and headed for the hatch that led below. A figure appeared
ahead of him, and he was surprised to see Daniel.
"What's wrong?" Talon grabbed his brother by the shoulders, peering at
his face through the rain, yelling to make himself heard over the noise
of the storm.
"It's Kate," Daniel yelled in return. "She knows everything. I've never
seen her so furious. She told me to tell you to stay away from her."
Kate knows. For a moment, Talon couldn't move. He saw his dreams of
a future shatter like a fragile piece of crystal. Then his shock turned to
rage. "You told her, didn't you? I can't believe you'd do this to me. You
miserable son of a bitch!"
Daniel shook his head and backed away. "I didn't tell her. I swear, I
didn't. I never wanted her to
know."
"Then how did she find out?"
Daniel had the grace to look embarrassed. "She found a letter I was
writing. I wanted Philip to know I'd be returning to him soon."
"Ah, shit." Talon shook his head in disgust. There was no use arguing
about it. He needed to go to Kate, try and explain things to her. He
wanted to tell her about the decision he'd made this afternoon.
Daniel said something else, but the wind snatched his words away.
Talon ignored him, turning to go below deck. But before he'd taken
more than a step or two, a blinding flash of light sent him careening
against the hatch.
Talon looked up at the mizzenmast, crying out when he realized it had
been hit by lightning and was crashing toward his brother. He tried to
move forward, to knock Daniel out of the way, but the ship was riding a
swell, and he couldn't push away from the side of the wheelhouse.
"Daniel!" He screamed the word, but he might as well have whispered
for all the good it did. The deck was in chaos and the mast crashed
down, clipping Daniel and knocking him to the wet deck.

The ship pitched back the other direction, and Talon surged forward.
He knelt beside Daniel, pulling his head into his lap. Blood streaked his
brother's temple, and there was a huge knot on the side of his head.
"Daniel," he muttered, shaking him. "Daniel, wake up."
Daniel lay silent and still. Talon placed trembling fingertips to his
brother's pale throat, but he couldn't feel anything, not even the faintest
beat of life.
He was stunned by his sense of loss. Even after today's betrayal, even
though he wanted Kate for his own, he hadn't wanted it to end this way.
No matter what Sutcliffe thought, over the last few weeks he'd grown
certain he and Daniel shared the same blood.
Just when he'd given up and was lowering Daniel's head back to the
deck, his brother moaned and his eyes fluttered open. "What
happened?"
Talon closed his eyes in thanksgiving. "I thought you were a goner,
Daniel."
Daniel gave a weak laugh. "I don't plan on making it that easy for you."
"Can you stand? We need to get the hell off this ship. Now that the mast
is gone, it's just a matter of time before it goes under."
Daniel nodded. "I'm all right."
"Good. Make your way to the skiff that's farthest aft, and I'll go get
Kate."

Chapter Eighteen
The cabin door crashed open. Kate jumped, her nerves on edge, then
relaxed when she saw it was only Talon. He stood in the doorway, his
gaze riveted on her face, then used his foot to slam the portal closed
behind him.
He was soaking wet, his hair plastered to his head, his clothes outlining
every lean, muscled inch of his body. Despite her anger, she still
appreciated his stark male beauty. His father had chosen him well. He
was everything she'd ever wanted.
"What's going on? What was that noise?" Just after Daniel had left, the
entire ship had given a violent shudder, and her fear of the storm
eclipsed her earlier fury.
"Lightning hit the mast." He rubbed his hand over his face and leaned
against the door for a moment. "The ship is going down. We need to get
to a lifeboat."
"The ship is sinking?" She shook her head, unable to believe him.
"That's not funny."
"It's no joke." He strode to his trunk and began pulling things out. "Go
change into those trousers you wore when you first came on board. Be
quick. Grab the quilt off your bunk and anything else you think might
be useful."
She stared at him, shocked at the sharpness of his tone. He'd never
spoken to her this way before. "Now!" he snapped. "We're running out
of time."
She scrambled to her feet, spurred into action by the truth in his eyes.
The ship is sinking. This wasn't the time to tell him how much he'd hurt
her. She hurried into her cabin and donned the boy's clothing then
grabbed her heaviest cloak and the quilt.
When she returned to the sitting room, Talon was going through
Daniel's trunk. She blinked in surprise when he pulled out a revolver
and tucked it into the waistband of his trousers.
"I'm ready. Where's Daniel?"
"Daniel should already be in the boat." His voice was harsh, leaving no
room for questions or accusations.
But she couldn't resist one little jab to let him know how furious she
was. "Did he tell you I know about your lies?"

Talon paused and gave her a long, searching look. "Yes. But there's no
time for this now. We have to get to a lifeboat before there aren't any
left."
He strode toward her, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the
door. His hand was gentle

despite his harried manner, but she shook it off. "Don't touch me. Don't
ever touch me again."
"All right," he murmured, eyeing her as though she'd lost her mind.
"But you have to come with me now. Go ahead and hate me. I deserve
it. But please, just do as I say for the next ten minutes."
She nodded, and he preceded her out into the narrow passageway. She
followed him, shocked to find the corridor full of ankle deep, ice-cold
water. She fought to stay on her feet as the ship swayed and bucked
beneath them. He climbed the steps that led to the hatch, waiting at the
top.
"It's going to be rough out there. I know you don't want to touch me, but
if the wind is too much, don't hesitate to grab my hand. I don't want you
blown overboard."
As soon as he'd finished speaking, he opened the hatch, letting in the
ferocious wind and rain. Kate gasped and swept her cloak around her
shoulders. It was nearly impossible to battle her way across the deck by
herself, and she found herself clinging to Talon's waist, letting him pull
her forward through the chaos.
None of the men even glanced in her direction, but it seemed an
eternity before Talon reached the skiff. He stopped so suddenly she
slammed up against him.
"Damn it," he cursed, prying himself away. "Stay here," he bellowed,
struggling to be heard over the roar of the wind. He wrapped her
freezing fingers around the rail. "Hold on. I'll be right back."
Then, to her shock, he kissed her, fierce and hard. Before she had a
chance to protest, he was gone. She clung to the rail, blinking to see
through the driving rain as he made his way to a lifeboat being lowered
just ten feet away.
He waved his arms, yelling something, but the wind stole his words
away. One of the men scrambled back up the rope and swung his beefy
arm in Talon's direction. Talon blocked the punch and then pulled out
the gun, aiming it at the sailor's face.
The battle of wills lasted several seconds, but then the two men got out
of the boat. Talon gestured in her direction, and she realized he wanted
her to join him. She pulled herself down the rail, every step a
battle.

"I told them to find their own damned boat. I've already provisioned
this one," he yelled when she was mere feet away from him. "I don't
know where Daniel is. If he doesn't get here fast, we'll have to leave
without him."
She nodded, wondering why it mattered. The sea rose toward the deck
like some nightmarish monster. The tiny lifeboat would never stay
afloat in this raging maelstrom. They were all going to die.
He pointed to where the lifeboat hung suspended above the seething
waves. "You'll have to jump for it, Kate."
Jump for it? It seemed impossible, but one look into his flinty eyes
convinced her. There was no other way.
She jumped.
Talon hesitated for several minutes after Kate was safely aboard the
skiff, searching the pitching deck for any sign of his brother. Daniel
was nowhere to be seen. Had that blow to the head been worse than
he'd thought? Had Daniel been swept overboard while Talon was
below gathering Kate?
If his brother was still alive, he'd be here by now, wouldn't he?
Surely, he realized the seriousness of their situation.
His gaze caught and held on several men who were making their way
toward him, that bastard McGuire in the lead. Cursing under his breath,
he waited for one moment more, searching the chaos desperately for a
glimpse of Daniel. Then he leapt into the lifeboat and released it, letting
it fall into the churning fury of the ocean below.

They were thrown against the ship then tossed away, as insubstantial as
a piece of seaweed. He glanced over at Kate and saw that her eyes were
huge in the pale oval of her face.
She yelled something, but he couldn't hear her. It didn't matter. He
knew what she was asking. She wanted to know why he'd left Daniel
behind.
The answer was far from simple. If there weren't so many other things
to worry about, he knew he'd be racked with guilt. But searching for
Daniel would have meant losing the skiff, and he was sure Daniel
would have wanted him to save Kate. Daniel wouldn't have wanted all
three of them to die.
He wanted to reassure her, tell her everything was going to be all right,
but he wasn't certain of that himself. He'd lived on the sea most of his
life, and there had been many times when it had challenged him, made
him fight to survive. Always he'd emerged victorious and exhilarated
by the battle.
This time was different. He didn't have a beautiful, seventeen-mast
schooner and a crew of seventy able-bodied men at his side. He had
only a skiff, his strength and his wits.
It didn't seem nearly enough.
Kate huddled beneath her cloak, soaked by the rain, buffeted by the
wind, her lovely eyes filled with accusation. If she died, it would be his
fault. He'd made her trust him and then betrayed that trust.
If only she hadn't found out the truth. If she'd just look at him with love
one more time, he might be able to pull off the miracle it would take to
get them to shore.
He hated this feeling of impotence. There was nothing he could do right
now, nothing but hang on. The waves would continue to toss them
where they willed until the storm died down. By then, they could be
hundreds of miles from land, stranded in the middle of the Atlantic,
dying slowly as their food and water ran out.
He rubbed his burning eyes, praying they lived through this, hoping he
hadn't made the biggest mistake of his life by taking Kate off the ship.
He wanted a chance to tell her about his crew. He wanted to tell her
what had motivated his betrayal and beg her to forgive him.
Everything had seemed so simple this morning, and he clung as hard as
he could to the memory of the peace that had washed over him when

he'd realized how much he loved her. He refused to believe he'd ruined
everything irreparably. Because if she wouldn't give him a second
chance, what was the point of hanging on? What was the point of
living?
Kate huddled beneath her raincoat and glared at Talon through the
sheeting rain. He was insane. He'd taken her off the ship, which, while
broken, was still a much safer place to be than this speck of a lifeboat.
Any minute they could capsize and be tossed into the sea with nothing
to hang on to but each other.
At this point, she'd rather drown than hang on to Talon Montgomery.
She was strangely calm considering the fact that she'd lost her virginity,
had her heart broken, and left her husband to die all in the space of one
day.
"You're going to get us killed." She didn't even know she'd spoken the
words out loud until Talon turned in her direction and cupped his ear.
"What?" The roaring wind and crashing waves made it almost
impossible to hear him.
"You're going to get us killed," she screamed. "I can't believe I came
with you. Not after all you've done."
He made a slashing motion with his hand. "I can't hear you. Can't this
wait until the wind dies down?"
"What if the wind never dies down? What if we end up on the bottom of
the sea?" She was still screaming, her frustration rising because she
knew he was only hearing half her words.

"I won't let anything happen to you." He moved forward and grabbed
her arms, shaking her a little, his blue eyes intense. "I swear I'll get us to
shore."
She stared at him. "I don't believe you. I'll never believe anything you
say again."
Pain flashed in his eyes, and he released her. He said something, but
she didn't hear it because a huge wave washed over them, drenching the
boat with icy water. It filled her nose and mouth, making her choke and
gasp for air.
Drowning was a horrible way to die, she thought, struggling to breathe.
She didn't want her life to end this way.
Talon forced a bucket into her hands. "Bail," he yelled quite distinctly.
"I know you hate me, but I need your help. If you don't bail for all
you're worth, we will end up at the bottom of the sea."
The storm continued throughout the night, but as dawn broke, the seas
calmed. Talon glanced at Kate, who bailed mechanically on the other
side of the small boat. Her head drooped with exhaustion, her hands
moving independently of her mind.
He reached out and stopped her, putting his hands on hers, stunned by
how cold they were. "It's all right, Kate. It's all right. You can stop
now."
She looked up at him, her eyes glassy and unfocused. He yearned to
pull her close and share his body heat. But she wouldn't appreciate that
even now, so he fought the impulse.
Instead, he reached beneath the seat and pulled out the bundle of
blankets and clothes he'd kept dry with a large piece of oilcloth. He
spread the oilcloth across the wet hull and then placed several blankets
on top of it.
"Lie down for awhile. Get some rest."
She nodded and crawled to the makeshift bed. "What about you?
Shouldn't you rest, too?" He shook his head. "I need to figure out where
we are and start trying to row toward land. We weren't far from shore
when the storm hit, but we could have been swept a hundred miles
farther out last
night."
"We could still die, couldn't we? We could just drift out here until we
die of thirst or hunger."

He hated the resignation in her voice. Had he done that to her? She had
once been such a fighter. "We have plenty of food and fresh water.
We'll make it. Just have a little faith in me."
"I wish I could," she whispered, closing her eyes. "I wish you were half
the man I once thought you were."

Chapter Nineteen
Talon blinked and then blinked again. Disbelieving, he brought his
hand to his eyes and gave them a vigorous rub. When he looked again,
it was still there, a dark smudge on the horizon that could only be land.
"Kate." His voice was harsh and raspy from lack of sleep. By his
calculations, it had been almost three days since they'd abandoned the
ship, and he hadn't slept at all.
He reached out and touched Kate's shoulder, shaking her awake.
For a long moment, she resisted his efforts, but then she made a small
sound of alarm and scrambled to her knees, making the boat rock.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
He couldn't control a wide grin. Somehow, with nothing more than a
compass and sheer will, he'd brought them to dry land. Elation surged
through him, chasing away the self-doubt he'd wallowed in for the last
few days. "We made it, sweetheart. We're going to be all right."
Kate stared up at him, confusion darkening her sleepy green eyes. "We
made it?"
He slipped his arm around her shoulder and tipped her chin toward the
west with his fingertip. The narrow strip of land was becoming more
visible by the moment. "Land. Right there."
For a moment, she relaxed against him, her warmth and softness a balm
to his bruised soul. Then she jerked away. "I told you never to touch
me."
Talon's momentary elation disappeared. He'd been a fool to think she'd
forgiven him just because he'd managed to get her safely to shore. Hell,
she still believed they would have been safer on the ship.
He reached for the oars. "You win," he told her, fighting the renewed
pain of her rejection. "If you want me to keep my distance, I will. But
don't turn to me when your hate won't keep you warm at night."
She stiffened her shoulders, but not before he saw the tremor that
rocked her slim body. "How can you act as though I'm the one at fault?
I gave you everything I had to give. My heart, my trust, my body. I
loved you." Her voice broke, and she lifted her gaze to meet his. "How
did you expect me to react when I discovered you'd purposely set out to
seduce me? That every look, every touch, every word between us was a
lie?"

Talon's hands itched with the need to touch her, so he rowed with every
ounce of strength that remained in his battered body. "I never lied to
you. I may have kept some truths from you, but I didn't lie." She gave a
bitter laugh. "How can you look me in the eyes and say such things? Do
you think I'm a
fool?"
Frustration coursed through him. "You haven't given me a chance to
explain."

"You think I should let you explain?" Her voice rang out over the
water, incredulous. "What could you possibly say to excuse what your
family has done to me?"
Talon felt another little piece of his soul shrivel up and die. She was the
one who had lied. If she really loved him, she would hear him out. She
would trust him a little.
"I was facing life in prison," he ground out between clenched teeth.
"The earl offered me a way out. Seducing a woman I didn't even know
seemed a small price to pay."
"And now?" Tears streaked unheeded down her sunburned cheeks.
"Does the price of your freedom seem so cheap now?"
He shook his head. "I had to make a decision the other night. There was
more at stake than your innocence. There was more at stake than my
pride and sense of honor."
"You have no honor. I know exactly what was at stake. An estate in
Carolina. A way for a boy from the streets to better himself."
Talon sat back, stunned. He'd nearly forgotten about Holyoke. He'd
never meant to accept it, had given up his dreams the moment his father
had offered it as a tawdry bribe.
But Daniel had left no stone unturned in his missive to Philip
Carrington. He could only imagine how damning his brother had made
his behavior sound.
"I would never have hurt you this way to gain an estate. If you can think
that, you never loved me. You never even knew me."
Kate flinched and then turned her face back toward shore. The stiffness
in her shoulders told him she wouldn't listen to any more excuses. She
wouldn't believe him if he told her about his men. She'd think they were
an invention to gain back her trust.
Well, he was through begging. He'd lived without love his entire life.
He'd been a fool to reach for it now.
He forced his exhausted muscles to pull toward the beach. The sooner
they reached land, the sooner he could put Kate back on a ship to
England.
Kate scrambled out of the skiff before Talon had finished rowing it in
to the barren, deserted shore. Her abrupt disembarkment left the small
boat rocking wildly, but she didn't care. She had to get out. For days,

she'd thought they would float forever. She'd been certain she'd die
without ever walking on dry land again.
Talon let out a string of curses as he fought to keep the boat from
capsizing. "What the hell are you
doing?"
She ignored him, splashing through the last few feet of icy water and
then running several yards up the beach. Sinking to her knees, she
pressed her forehead against the grainy white sand in utter
thanksgiving. The tears of relief and regret she'd been holding back
came in a rush, streaming down her cheeks while harsh sobs racked her
body.
She was alive! They had made it despite impossible odds, and she was
suddenly ashamed of herself for the horrible things she'd said to Talon.
He might have seduced her, but he had also saved her
life.
If he was the heartless bastard she'd accused him of being, he would
have left her to die with Daniel. He'd had nothing to gain by bringing
her along.
The boat glided up on the beach, and Talon got out. He traipsed back
and forth, carrying the supplies from the boat to a small stand of
strange-looking trees about fifty feet inland.
He made no attempt to stop and ask her if she was all right.
Up until twenty minutes ago, he would have. He would have tried one
more time to reach out to

her, risking her nasty comments. She'd finally managed to push him
away.
She lifted her head to see him kneeling beside a few pieces of wood,
struggling to make a spark with a piece of flint. She watched him for
several long moments, her guilt growing as she noticed the utter
exhaustion in his cloudy blue eyes and the defeated slump in his broad
shoulders.
In contrast, she thought of the excitement and confidence shining on
his beautiful bruised face when he'd woken her. She'd taken that away
from him, after he'd gone without sleep and most of his share of the
food and water for the last few days.
Unsteady, she got to her feet and crossed the distance that separated
them. It felt like a dozen miles instead of a dozen yards. By the time she
reached him, he'd managed to get the fire started. A small, hungry
flame licked at the kindling, growing stronger and brighter.
It had been so long since she'd been warm. She longed to sit beside him
and soak up the fire's meager heat, but there were too many things that
needed to be done. Talon was at the end of his strength. It was long past
time to help him.
Despite the anger and resentment simmering between them, they had to
work together. Reaching dry land didn't guarantee safety. Any number
of things could go wrong before they managed to find their way back to
civilization.
She sorted through their supplies, pleased to see there was enough food
and fresh water to last a couple more days. Until now, she hadn't
appreciated the effort he had made to see they were prepared. Now she
understood why he'd fought so hard to make sure they got this boat.
She spread out the blankets, making a bed a few feet away from the
fire. Talon glanced at her, and she wondered if he thought she was once
again putting her needs before his. She didn't blame him if he did. Lord
knew she hadn't been at her best these last few days.
Gathering her courage, she dug out a fresh pair of breeches and a warm
flannel shirt. "Here," she said, offering the clothes as a gesture of peace.
"Why don't you change out of those damp clothes and try to sleep for
awhile? You've been watching over me for days. Let me take care of
you now."

He eyed her warily, and then his gaze flicked past her, resting on the
bed. "No, you go ahead. It's going to get cold tonight. I don't want to let
the fire go out."
"I can keep the fire going." She shook the dry clothes in his direction.
"Come on. Just take a little nap. We've got a few hours before dark.
You'll be of no use to me if you drop dead from exhaustion."
He sighed and took the clothes from her hand. "I am tired," he
admitted, pulling his damp shirt over his head and tossing it on the
sand.
She watched, unable to tear her gaze from the broad, golden expanse of
his chest. He fumbled with the buttons on the soft flannel, lacking his
usual dexterity. She batted his hands away and buttoned it for him,
pierced with longing when her knuckles brushed the satiny warmth of
his skin.
"Thanks." He gave her a searching gaze and attempted a wry smile.
"Would you like to help me with my breeches, too?"
She pulled away, remembering all the reasons why she was angry with
him. "No, thank you. Never
again."
"Can't blame me for trying." He shook his head then crawled over to
the blankets and collapsed upon them in utter exhaustion. "Wake me
when it gets dark. I'll keep the wild things at bay."
"You are one of the wild things," she chided, reaching over and tucking
the blankets around him. "Who's going to keep me safe from you?"
His breathing deepened almost immediately, and she sat back on her
heels, watching his face in the flickering light. With a sigh, she returned
to the fire, reflecting morosely on everything that had led them to this
moment.
Her gaze was drawn again to the long fan of his lush lashes, the bristly
growth of beard on his lean jaw. He looked so tousled and vulnerable in
sleep. Even after everything that had happened, she had to

fight the urge to go to him and smooth the worried frown from his
brow. If only she could believe the things he'd told her this afternoon.
He'd sworn he'd never lied to her. She didn't want to admit she'd been a
fool, so hungry for love and acceptance she'd made herself an easy
target. But it had been painfully easy for him to win her trust.
Unfortunately, her trust had been a fragile thing. It had taken very little
to destroy it. You never loved me. You never even knew me. His words,
and the disappointment lacing them, haunted her. He'd made it sound as
though her love should have been stronger than Daniel's revelations.
But how dare he demand such blind loyalty when he'd never once told
her that her love was returned? She sighed and buried her face in her
hands, ignoring the encroaching darkness.
Perhaps she should try to restrain her anger long enough to listen to
whatever it was he had to say. Regardless, she would let him sleep
through the night. He needed his strength for what lay ahead.

Chapter Twenty
Talon came abruptly, violently awake. He sat up, staring into the
darkness that surrounded him, struggling to get his bearings. Where the
hell was he?
The sound of the sea, so close yet strangely muted, confused him
further. Had he fallen asleep and let the lifeboat wander off course?
"Talon?" Kate's voice pierced the darkness, and she touched his back,
making him flinch. "Are you all right?"
He shifted to face her, taking in the small fire that burned to his left and
the concern in her eyes. The soft, powdery substance beneath his hands
clicked into place. Sand. They'd made it to dry land, and Kate had
insisted he take a nap.
Letting out a shuddering sigh, he scrubbed his face with a trembling
hand. God, he was as weak and tired as he'd been when he'd first gotten
out of prison. "It's dark. You shouldn't have let me sleep so
long."
"Actually, it's almost dawn." There was a popping noise as she put
another piece of wood on the fire he'd started yesterday afternoon.
"You needed to rest. It's all right. I'm not afraid of the dark."
"Almost dawn?" That meant he'd slept nearly twelve hours. She'd
remained awake all night, watching over him and tending the fire.
It confused him, made him feel strange and unsettled. Why was she
being so kind? He'd rather face her anger than this cool, impersonal
concern.
In any event, she looked exhausted. The dim, flickering light
illuminated the dark shadows under her eyes. "Come lie down with me.
Don't worry about the fire. We'll be warm enough if we share the
blankets."
He held his breath, wondering if she'd reject him again. To his relief,
she nodded and scooted across the few feet that separated them.
"I haven't forgiven you," she warned, crawling under the blankets
beside him. "But you're right; if we're to keep from freezing to death,
we need to share our body heat."
Deep tremors racked her slim body. She lay stiff beside him, her teeth
chattering. Talon was humbled to think she'd sat there freezing for
hours on end while he'd lain here oblivious beneath a half-dozen
blankets.

Ignoring her soft protest, he pulled her into the circle of his arms. "You
little fool," he whispered, rubbing his cheek against her hair. "Forgive
me. Let me take care of you."

"I think perhaps I can forgive you. But I don't think I'll ever be able to
trust you again."
It was a start, more than he deserved. He held her tighter, thinking of
the night they'd made love, wishing he'd had the foresight to tell her the
truth then. "I'll never abuse your trust again," he vowed. "And I'll get
you back to England. I swear I will."
"We'll see." She burrowed a little closer to him and promptly fell
asleep.
Of all the things Kate loved about Talon, waking up in his arms was
one of the best. That much hadn't changed. He exuded strength and
warmth, and after going for days without those things, she was
reluctant to relinquish them.
She lay in his arms, pretending she was still asleep. While awake, she'd
have to keep her distance; for now, though, she just wanted to rest
against Talon's broad chest and listen to the steady beat of his heart.
Heat seared her eyelids. It was probably afternoon already. The sea
lapped against the sand and a few strange-sounding birds called in the
distance.
She knew what she'd see if she opened her eyes. Strange trees, white
sand and water that seemed to stretch on to eternity. A whole new
world. A beautiful, lost, lonely place. It reminded her of Talon.
No wonder he loved it so.
He'd coaxed her into lying beside him with embarrassing ease, but she
wasn't sorry to have left her post in front of the fire. She'd sat there most
of the night, watching him sleep, his long limbs sprawled out in
boneless exhaustion, wishing she'd never found Daniel's letter.
If she hadn't... Well, if she hadn't, things would be so simple right now.
She felt shockingly apathetic about Daniel's death. Despite their
differences, he'd been her husband, and she'd grown fond of him during
the last few weeks. She should be weak with grief, but she couldn't
manage anything but a sense of emptiness and loss.
Daniel had left her a widow. If Talon had meant the things he'd said, if
he loved her as much as she loved him, there would be nothing standing
between them now.
As if on cue, Talon's arms tightened around her, the slight tension in his
body giving him away. He was awake, and he probably knew she was
awake, too. She should move away.

She should move away, but she didn't. She remained still, lost in
memories of his touch and kiss. There must be something wrong with
her to want him so badly after all he'd done.
"Kate?" Her name was a mere breath of sound, his lips barely moving
against her hair.
She said nothing, her pulse jumping as his hand slid stealthily from her
waist to her chest. His fingertips found her nipple through the
salt-roughened material of the boy's shirt she wore.
This time, there was no tight binding to protect her; there was nothing
but a thin layer of cloth and her own will, which seemed to have
deserted her. All she had to do was pull away, tell him not to touch her,
and she knew he would release her. He would never force himself on
her.
He plucked at her breast, causing an answering twinge deep in her
womb. He shifted against her, and she felt the hard press of his erection
against her hip. Startled, she opened her eyes, and her gaze locked with
his.
"I knew you were awake." A note of satisfaction laced his voice. "Look
me in the eyes and tell me you don't want me."
It would have been impossible if he weren't so smug.
"I don't want you." Shoving away, she got to her feet and strode to the
fire, trying to stir some life into the embers.
He groaned and thumped his head back against the sand. "And you call
me a liar?"

She ignored him. Inwardly, she berated herself for not pulling away the
moment she'd woken up. She could have saved herself this
embarrassment.
Silence reigned behind her for several long moments. Then Talon
heaved a huge sigh and joined her at the fire.
"Here, let me. You'll never get it going that way." He produced the flint
from his pocket and started striking it, his brows drawn together in an
ominous frown. "If you want to help, you can go gather some more dry
wood."
Her gaze wandered from his grim face, still battered from when he'd
saved that little boy, to the enormous bulge thrusting against the front
of his sandy breeches. "Yes, of course," she murmured, backing away.
"I'll be back in a minute."
"Don't go too far. Keep me in sight."
Kate forced back a hysterical laugh. Keep him in sight? The sight of
him was branded against the back of her eyelids. It would be there until
the day she died.
She strode up the beach a couple hundred yards and then ducked
behind a tree to take care of her personal needs. She took her time
coming back, gathering as much wood as her arms could hold. By the
time she returned, Talon's body had returned to normal.
She dumped the wood in a pile beside him. "Do you have any idea
where we are?"
He glanced up, his dusky lashes tangling at the corners. "I believe we're
somewhere along the Atlantic coast of the Carolinas. Of course, I could
be wrong. We could be stranded on some little barrier
island."
"Wonderful," she muttered, sitting down beside him. Her gaze drifted
to the stand of trees. What lay beyond? Indians, wild animals? She
shivered and stared back into the fire. "What do we do now?"
He shrugged. "I thought we'd spend one more night here, resting. Then
we'll get back in the boat and head north along the coastline, stopping
to make camp on the beach every night until we reach some sort of
settlement. If this is an island, we'll just have to continue to row west."
Her shoulders slumped. Lord, she hoped this wasn't an island. In fact,
she hoped they were only a few miles from civilization. Because if she

had to spend more than a few more days with him, she'd forget how
much she hated him and remember how much she'd once loved him.
Talon gazed into the fire, chewing as slowly as he could, considering
he hadn't eaten a thing for nearly four days. Kate sat to his right,
picking at the rabbit he'd snared earlier. He was determined to match
her pace instead of behaving like the animal he felt himself becoming.
She'd been civil all afternoon, but he'd kept his distance, embarrassed
by this morning's fiasco. When he'd awoken, he'd been hard and aching
as he usually was. Touching Kate had seemed as natural as breathing.
It had been a terrible mistake. Once again, he'd opened himself up to
rejection.
"I've been thinking about Daniel." Kate's voice surprised him out of his
bitter thoughts.
"You're free of him now. Isn't that what you wanted?"
She drew in a sharp breath. "Of course not. At least, not this way."
"What way, then? Did you have some other plan to get rid of him?"
Talon was through being polite, through trying to win back Kate's love.
It was better if she saw him for what he truly was. A heartless bastard.
"How can you talk about him this way? He was your brother." Kate's
green eyes were wide with hurt and accusation.
"Daniel wasn't my brother any more than he was your husband. The
only reason he ever lowered

himself to speak to me was to threaten and cajole me into seducing
you."
Talon forced himself to forget the times Daniel had confided in him
and the tentative camaraderie they'd shared toward the end. He wanted
to believe Daniel had always had an ulterior motive.
But an ugly little voice in the back of his mind kept reminding him that
Daniel had been there for him during his fight with McGuire.
"I know you cared for him. You were becoming friends." Kate gave
him a perceptive glance, her gaze searching and sympathetic. "It's all
right to admit you'll miss him. I'll miss him, too."
"You don't know anything about me." Talon shook his head,
overwhelmed with the guilt of leaving Daniel behind. "I will not miss
him."
Kate looked away, blinking back tears. "Never mind. I guess I was
wrong. You probably didn't care for him any more than you cared for
me."
"Think whatever you like. I just don't give a damn anymore."
Her shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'm going to sleep now." She threw
him an angry glare. "I don't want to wake up with your hands on me,
Talon. Not ever again."
"You won't," he told her, staring back into the fire. "I've learned my
lesson."

Chapter Twenty-One
Kate blew a sweat-soaked strand of hair out of her eyes, stifling a groan
of pure misery. She was hot, filthy and infinitely tired of drifting along
in this bloody boat. Her skin was chapped and dry, burnt from the
punishing rays of the sun.
Talon's tense, bitter silence was driving her insane. Since the night
they'd fought about Daniel, he hadn't spoken more than a handful of
words. If she asked him a direct question, he gave her a yes or no
response, and he issued a curt command or two when they made camp
on the beach each night, but that was it.
He acted as though she'd hurt him, which was ridiculous.
He sat across from her, bare-chested, his muscles flexing beneath an
expanse of sun-bronzed skin, the crisp whorls of dark hair damp with
sweat. His strength and endurance amazed her. She knew he was
exhausted, but still he pressed on.
Probably because he wanted to be free of her.
Unable to bear the silence any more, she asked the question that had
been haunting her for days. "Why did you bother to take me off that
ship, Talon? Why didn't you leave me to die with Daniel?"
"I never meant to leave Daniel behind. I told him to meet us at that
lifeboat." He stopped rowing, swiping the sweat from his eyes with his
forearm. "Christ, do you really think I'd have let you die?"
"I don't see why not," she answered. "With Daniel gone, your father
will probably leave you something. An estate. Money. Why leave me
alive? It doesn't make any sense. I'll only give him something else to
hold over your head. If I'm not pregnant, you'll have failed to do as he
asked. I'm sure he won't be very happy about that."
She didn't know why she was pushing him so hard, but she was
desperate to crack that icy veneer. She wanted to make him angry,
wanted him to show her something of his true self, his real emotions.
Talon gave her a cold smile. "Well, I wasn't thinking too clearly at the
time. I'm sure if I'd thought about it as much as you have, I would have
left you there. In fact, now that you've brought it to my attention, I'll
have to think of a way to get rid of you."
Kate swallowed, wondering if she'd gone too far. She searched his face,
which suddenly looked faintly sinister disguised by the fading bruises
and nearly a week's worth of thick, black beard. It was as if all the

trappings of civilization had fallen away. This man looked every inch
the bloodthirsty pirate.
And she was entirely at his mercy.
"Nothing too bloody, I hope." She smiled, trying to bring humor into
their conversation, missing

the days when she'd felt comfortable with him.
He ignored her, picking up the oars and rowing with renewed vigor.
Silence lapsed between them once again, and her apprehension grew.
Good Lord. Was he truly thinking of ways to dispatch her?
Suddenly, he let the oars clatter to the bottom of the boat and leaned
forward, pinning her with his furious gaze. "Damn it, Kate. Sometimes
I would like to kill you. I'd like to place my hands around your pretty
little throat and squeeze until you shut up, squeeze until you stop
looking at me as if I'm a monster." He shook his head. "I never claimed
to be a hero."
He looked so tired, so utterly drained, that all her nervousness
disappeared and she was forced to remember all his kindnesses to her.
"If you want me to quit looking at you that way, then give me one
reason to trust you again, one excuse that makes any sense at all." She
implored him with her eyes, begging him to set her world to rights. She
didn't want to believe her love for him had been completely
unwarranted.
He sighed and looked away. A muscle in his jaw clenched. "There's a
part of me that wants to tell you everything, fall down on my knees and
beg you to believe in me again."
She held her breath, hoping against hope that she'd finally broken
through his defenses.
Talon met her gaze and shook his head. "The time for trust and love and
explanations has passed. We can't go back to the way it was. It will only
be harder on both of us in the end if we try."
Talon remained mute the rest of the day, concentrating on the ache in
his shoulders instead of the piercing pain in his heart.
Kate had asked him for the truth, had given him the perfect opportunity
to tell her how his father had blackmailed him.
Unfortunately, her questions had made him think about what would
happen once they found their way out of the wilderness.
She was probably right about Sutcliffe. If she wasn't pregnant, his
father would deem the mission a failure and follow through with his
threats.
Either that, or he'd force Talon to try again.
He stared at her through the shifting flames, watching as she spread out
her blankets. She looked up and met his gaze, her expression lost and

lonely. "This country is so wild, so huge. Sometimes I think we'll be
lost forever."
He gripped his cup of coffee a little tighter, raising it to his lips and
taking a bracing swallow. "Still don't trust me to get you back to
London?"
"I don't even know if I want to go back. There's nothing there for me
now."
"There's nothing for you here, either." He forced himself to be brutal,
tamping down a crazy surge of pleasure that she wanted to stay.
He'd never be able to build a future in this country unless there was at
least an ocean between them. Otherwise she'd be too much temptation.
"What about you? Where will you go once you've seen me to safety?
Will you continue on to
Holyoke?"
Questions and more questions. She seemed determined to torture him
today.
"I doubt it." Holyoke was ruined for him now, no matter what
happened. "As you pointed out earlier, Sutcliffe might decide I haven't
earned it."
She bit her bottom lip. "What if I am pregnant? Will you take your
prize and walk away? What about your son or daughter? Will you
abandon your child the way your father abandoned you?"
She was right. So heartbreakingly right. He couldn't bear the thought of
leaving his child to grow

up without him.
He closed his eyes against the sight of her. "What would you have me
do? There was a time back on the ship when I thought you were worth
fighting for. I thought we'd found something rare and wonderful. I
planned to tell you the truth and beg you to forgive me."
"What made you change your mind about me? About us?"
He shook his head, refusing to look at her, knowing if he met her
earnest green gaze he would shatter into a million pieces. "It was your
reaction to Daniel's letter. Your lack of faith in me. We could try to start
over again, but it would never be the same."
"I understand why you don't want me anymore, but I never thought you
were the kind of man who would walk away from your own child."
Kate's voice broke. She curled in on herself, pulling the blankets up
around her shoulders. "You'd be the kind of father neither of us had.
You'd be stern yet loving. You'd give piggyback rides and read
stories..."
Her words painted such a sweet picture. He thought of her growing up
alone and unloved in that dreary mausoleum of a house, dreaming of a
father who'd give her piggyback rides and read to her before she went
to bed at night.
His throat tightened with emotion. God, I can't do this. He couldn't
remain aloof, couldn't pretend the mere thought of losing her wasn't
killing him.
"I don't want you to raise our child without me. I never wanted that."
He put his head in his hands and rubbed his aching temples. "Holyoke
wasn't the reason I seduced you. It was never about land, never about
money."
He could sense her stillness. Her whole being was attuned to him, and
he realized how much she'd been longing to hear what he was about to
say.
"I know. I'm sorry for all the things I've said. I was just so hurt, so
frightened."
Her words gave him the absolution he'd been waiting for. No matter
what happened, he wanted her to know what had motivated him,
wanted her to know how much had been at stake.

He lifted his head, meeting her gaze. In her eyes, he saw such trust,
such love. For the first time, he dared to hope she might be able to
forgive him.
"I'll tell you everything. As long as you come over here and let me hold
you while I talk." It was a big gamble, and for a moment he thought it
had been a foolish one to take. She stared at him for a long, long
moment then stood and crossed to his side, sinking to her knees in the
sand beside him.

Chapter Twenty-Two
Kate moved into the circle of Talon's arms, her heart hammering at the
thought of learning the truth. She wanted to know what he'd been
hiding from her, but she was afraid he'd disappoint her, afraid she'd
learn her faith in him was unwarranted.
"Where shall I begin?"
She sighed and snuggled closer, determined to listen with an open
mind. "Begin at the beginning."
Talon reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers, squeezing
tightly. "I never knew who my father was until the night my mother
died. She told me the whole story then, how she'd been his mistress,
how he'd cast her aside when she had become pregnant. But she wanted
me to go to him. Even after all the pain he'd caused, she thought he'd
take one look at me and be unable to turn me away. I can't believe I was
foolish enough to believe her."
"You were just a child," Kate whispered, her heart breaking already.
"It's not foolish to expect your own father to provide for you."
"He sent me packing, of course. Offered me a few pounds, but I didn't
take it. Instead I went down to the docks and found myself a job
working as a cabin boy."
She squeezed his hand even tighter, wanting to say something, but
unwilling to do anything to interrupt this halting glimpse into his
childhood.
"It wasn't a bad life. The captain was a good man and I got to see the
world, places I'd never even dreamed of. I had quite a bit of free time,
and he did me the tremendous favor of teaching me how to
read."
Talon looked up at her, brushing a lock of hair out of his eyes. "I
worked my way up through the ranks. Then, when I eighteen, our ship
was attacked by some some American pirates. I was given the choice of
dying or joining them." He gave her a rueful look. "Well, you know my
choice. Eventually, I worked my way up there, too. I became first mate,
and then, when we took a particularly rich prize, we seized the ship and
the captain offered to give me my own command. I gathered a whole
crew of men I knew I could trust. Those men were my family, Kate.
The only one I'd ever known."

Kate was surprised by the passion in his voice when he spoke of his
journey from street urchin to pirate captain. Perhaps Sutcliffe's
rejection had been a good thing. It explained why he'd seemed so
different, so fair and kind compared to his father and brother.
"So, there I was with my own ship and a crew of loyal men. I was
making a good living and it

should have been enough, but it wasn't. I was tired of the cramped
spaces and the lack of privacy. I started dreaming of a home, a family,
all the things I'd never had, all the things I thought my father had stolen
from me."
A home. A family. Dear God, how she wanted to be the one to share
those things with him.
"I dreamed too big. I set my sights on a grand plantation a few miles
outside of Charleston. Holyoke. The owner had died and the heirs were
asking a fair price. I started imagining myself there and decided to do
everything it took to buy it. I took some risks, pushed my ship and my
men too hard."
He shook his head. "I don't know why the British Navy came after us. I
didn't even realize the danger they posed until it was too late. We were
charged with piracy and thrown in prison even though I had a letter of
marque. I was so desperate to save my men I even sent word to the earl,
hoping he'd help, but he didn't reply. We were found guilty and they
executed my crew, but for some reason I was spared. They took me
back to Newgate and threw away the key."
She pressed a tender kiss to the back of his hands. "Oh, Talon."
"It killed me. I thought I'd lost everything. So, when Sutcliffe told me
he'd intervened on my crew's behalf, saving them from the gallows, I
was willing to do whatever it took to keep them safe."
"He saved them in order to get you to seduce me." She understood now.
She understood completely, but it still hurt to say the words.
A look of utter pain and loss crossed his stark features. "He put my men
on one of his own ships so he could control them. If you and I don't
provide him with an heir, he'll make sure my men really do
hang."
Kate hugged him. "You did what you had to do. There was no other
choice. My virtue hardly compares to the lives of all those men."
"I'm so sorry." His arms tightened convulsively, and she buried her face
against his warm, broad chest. "I wish you hadn't been caught in the
middle of it."
She lifted her face and brushed a tender kiss to his mouth. "I love you,
Talon. I've never stopped loving you."

He gave her a wary look, clearly yearning for her forgiveness, but
afraid to give too much away. She thought of the motherless boy he'd
been, and her heart bled.
"I'm so alone without you." She brushed the faint purple bruise on his
cheek with her fingertips, feeling the warmth of his skin and the rough,
dark bristle of his beard. "You're the best friend I've ever
had."
He shuddered at her touch. "Ah, Kate. It seems like a lifetime since you
touched me like this." It had seemed like a lifetime to her, too.
Emboldened by his husky words, she let her hands trail from his face to
his shoulders. Holding his smoky gaze, she caressed his chest, loving
the feel of his hard, thick muscles, thinking of every moment during the
last week when she'd longed to put her hands on all this golden, silky
skin. "Take off your shirt," she whispered, stunned by her own
audacity.
He quickly did as she'd asked then stood, sweeping her into his arms
and carrying her back over to the spot where she'd lain her blankets.
Kneeling, he made short work of the boy's clothing she wore and then
shed his own trousers as well. Naked, he stretched out beside her,
giving her a look full of simmering promise.
Her gaze swept over him, taking in his tousled dark hair and scruffy
jaw, his blue, blue eyes, and magnificently aroused male body. "You're
so beautiful," she sighed, tracing her fingertips across his taut, muscled
belly.
His jutting erection leapt as though it had a life of its own, straining
toward her hand. She laughed, holding his hungry gaze while she
brushed the tip.
He made a low, tortured sound in the back of his throat and looped one
arm around her neck,

pulling her down across his chest. "Kiss me, Kate. I'm dying for the
taste of you."
She obliged, kissing him the way she knew he liked to be kissed, slow
and deep and oh, so sweet. All her notions of playing the seductress
fled. There was no room for teasing. It had been too long, and she
needed him too much.
He lifted her so she straddled his hips, the long hard length of his
erection pulsing between her thighs. The abrupt change in position
broke their kiss. She stared down at him, a bit embarrassed by her
wanton dampness and totally at a loss as to how to proceed.
He smiled, dark and wicked. Then he reached between them, showing
her how he could fit, impaling himself deep within her. She gasped,
surprised all over again by how completely he filled her.
He closed his eyes and leaned forward to take one of her nipples
between his lips. Placing his hands upon her hips, he showed her how
to move and pleasure them both.
Soon the long, slow strokes were not enough. She fell forward, bracing
her hands on his chest as he plunged with fierce, wild abandon. The
pressure began to build, spiraling toward a higher peak than it had
before. She cried out in shocked wonder as wave after wave of ecstasy
crashed over her.
Her release seemed to trigger his, because moments later he groaned
and shuddered deep within her. She collapsed against his chest, holding
him tightly, determined to never let him go. Together they could find a
way to best his father.
Together they could do anything.
Talon moved reluctantly, sliding Kate's boneless, sleeping body off his
chest. He rearranged her beside him and then curled protectively
around her, tucking the blankets around them like a cocoon. He already
wanted her again.
Her easy acceptance both shamed and humbled him. He should have
told her the truth days ago. He should have known she'd understand
once she knew what had motivated him. His pride had nearly destroyed
this special thing between them.
He'd been such an ass, brooding and feeling sorry for himself,
determined to make her as miserable as she'd made him when all along
he'd been the one at fault.

How could he have blamed her, even for a moment? She had every
right to think the worst of him after reading Daniel's letter. If their
situations had been reversed, he doubted he'd have been half as
understanding.
But even after everything he'd put her through, she'd still had the
courage to give him one more chance. Her strength and ability to love
astounded him. Especially since she'd never been loved herself.
Where did it come from, this ability to love unconditionally? Was it
something women were born with, a maternal instinct? Or was it just
Kate? Was she really as unique as he suspected?
She made a soft sound and snuggled closer, her soft bottom cradling his
groin. He groaned at his body's fierce reaction. Would this ache ever go
away? He doubted it, not even if he made love to her every night for the
rest of his life.
Every night for the rest o f my life...
The thought was so sweet. He cupped her flat stomach with his hand,
imagining her big with his child. A child made of love with no ulterior
motives.
He let his hand fall away, hoping she wasn't pregnant. Not yet. He
wanted her to have his children, but not until she was truly his. He
didn't want the memory of his betrayal to come back and haunt them in
the future.
There had to be a way to keep her by his side. He wanted her smiles, her
laughter and her tears. And God help James Sinclair if he tried to stand
in the way again.

Chapter Twenty-Three
Kate woke slowly, reveling in the warmth of Talon's body. So much
had changed since the last morning he'd held her in his arms. This time
she was free to savor it, free of guilt and anger and regret. She felt as
though she'd been reborn.
Memories of last night, of the wanton way she'd loved him, made her
smile. God, she loved this
man.
"You look happy." Talon's voice was soft and husky in her ear.
She stretched and opened her eyes. He filled her vision, his beautiful
blue eyes stormy with unguarded emotion. He still hadn't said the
words, but there was no longer any doubt in her mind that he loved her.
"I'm very happy." They were stuck in the middle of nowhere and
running low on food and fresh water, but she didn't care. The hardships
of their trek down the beach were nothing compared to the emptiness
she'd felt until she'd met him.
He laughed, one side of his lips turning up in a rueful grin. "You're a
strange and remarkable woman, Kate. I'm humbled."
She smiled back at him. "Of course, I'd be even happier in a cozy hotel
room somewhere with a gourmet meal and a hot, scented bath."
His smile faded, and he traced the planes of her face with his fingertip.
"I didn't sleep at all last night. Instead, I stared up at the stars and
wondered how on earth I was going to manage to keep my men from
the hangman's noose and keep you in my arms at the same time."
Her heart quickened with gladness. He did love her. This was
practically a declaration. "We'll figure it out. Sutcliffe's whole plan
revolves around me playing my part, and I don't ever intend to be meek
again."
He tweaked her nose. "You're about as threatening as a hissing cat,
sweetheart."
She glared at him, truly offended. "I've stood up to him before, and I'll
do it again if need be."
"I know you will." He gave her a gentle kiss. "Don't worry. I came up
with a plan, and I think you'll like it. At least, I hope you will."
She sat up and stared down at him, pulling the edge of the blanket to her
breasts a little selfconsciously. "Tell me."

He folded his arms behind his head and stared up at the sky. "Daniel's
gone. You're free to marry

me if you want to."
She stared at him, biting her bottom lip as she tried to gauge his intent.
"Is that a proposal?"
The wistful yearning in his blue eyes broke her heart. "Of course, it is,
though a piss poor one, I'll
admit."
He sat up and took both of her hands in his. "I don't have much to offer
you. But I do have some money in a bank in Charleston if the damned
English haven't confiscated it. I think it's enough for a fresh start."
She started to answer, to tell him yes with all her heart, but he put his
finger on her lips, hushing her. "Hear me out before you commit
yourself." She nodded mutely.
"Sutcliffe believes us dead, and I'd like him to keep on thinking that, at
least for awhile." Her eyes widened as she realized where he was going
with this.
He took a deep breath. "Once we get to Charleston, we'll lie low until
there's an available berth on a ship to Nassau. Then I'll gather up my
men and let them know what has happened. I'll get them off Sutcliffe's
ship and split them up. As long as they're aware of the danger, they
should have a fighting chance."
"And then what?" She asked the question softly, knowing all her future
happiness rested on his
answer.
"Then we'll marry, if you'll still have me. We'll spend the rest of our
lives here in Carolina, growing roses, tobacco and children."
Her eyes flooded with happy tears and she flung herself against him.
"Of course, I'll have you, Talon. Of course, I will."
His arms tightened around her. "I'm so glad," he whispered, his lips
crushed against her hair. "I don't deserve you. But I promise I'll do
everything in my power to make sure you don't regret this."
"How could I regret loving you? You're far harder on yourself than you
need to be."
He laughed a low, lost sound and pulled her up into his lap, letting her
feel the extent of his need. He kissed her, a sweet, hot coupling of their
mouths. She stirred against him, wanting to feel the length and breadth
of him inside her.

As they continued to kiss, she let her hand trail down his chest and flat,
muscled stomach. Suddenly he groaned and set her aside.
"What's wrong?" She touched his shoulder and he flinched, his skin hot
beneath her fingertips.
"When are you expecting your monthly?"
She stared at him, shocked by the impropriety of his question even after
all the intimacies they'd shared. "I don't know," she whispered,
embarrassed heat suffusing her face. "Soon."
He gave her a pained smile. "Think about it. I need to know for certain.
This is important."
She glanced away, still flushing, and tried to remember. This month
had been so full of changes, she hadn't really thought about anything so
mundane, but now she realized she hadn't had one since right after
she'd left the Manor.
"I should start any day now," she said at last. "It's been about a month."
He nodded, his gaze drifting over her bare breasts. "I hope you're not
pregnant. Not now. We should wait awhile before we make love again.
I want to know for sure that our baby was not conceived aboard that
ship."
She bit her lip and tore her gaze away from his beautiful body. "I don't
want to stop touching you. I spent so many nights on the other side of
that fire dreaming of you, wishing you were beside me."
"Ah, sweetheart. You're enough to tempt a saint, and I've never claimed
to be one." He reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I
want to do this right. I want to be sure all our children are conceived in
love, not blackmail and distrust."

She sighed. "I was looking forward to sleeping in your arms tonight."
He gave her a wicked grin and pulled her back into his lap. "You can
still sleep in my arms. And there are other things we can do. Things that
will give us pleasure, but not cause a baby." "There are?" She lifted one
brow, delighted. "Yes," he whispered, kissing her deeply. "I'll show
you tonight."
After a dinner that consisted of the last of the dried beef and an apple to
share, Talon busied himself by making a bed out of their blankets close
to the fire. He pushed aside his growing unease over their dwindling
supplies. Soon they would have to forage for food.
Instead he concentrated on thoughts of the night to come. He still
couldn't believe Kate had agreed to marry him. Hell, he couldn't even
believe she'd decided to forgive him.
He didn't deserve it. He knew that with every breath in his body.
Kate had disappeared down the beach with a pile of clothing a while
ago, saying she needed a few moments alone. While he waited for her,
he kicked off his boots and shed his shirt then climbed beneath the top
blanket. She emerged from behind the trees a few minutes later,
pausing, her gaze loving yet self-conscious.
His breath caught and his heartbeat accelerated. She wore nothing but a
white linen shift, and she'd unbraided her chestnut hair, letting it tumble
across her slim shoulders. His gaze caught and snagged on her long,
bare limbs, entranced.
"You're beautiful," he murmured as she knelt on the blankets beside
him.
Kate shook her head. "I'm a mess. I don't have anything to brush my
hair with..."
Talon silenced her with a kiss. She melted into his embrace, her mouth
moving over his with all the passion in her beautiful soul.
God, how he'd missed that passion.
He thought of his vow not to do anything that would cause a baby and
prayed he had the strength to resist burying himself deep within her. He
would never get enough of her, not in a hundred lifetimes.
Kate lifted her trembling hands to remove her shift, but he stilled her.
"No," he whispered. "Let me." He undid each of the tiny buttons,
kissing each inch of pale, soft skin he uncovered.

Her breasts were so sensitive. He loved the way her breath caught at the
barest brush of his lips, loved the dark, pouty tips. He spread the wealth
of her chestnut hair across her chest, admiring the result. "I promised
myself I'd see you this way one day."
"What way?" Her emerald eyes were smoky with passion.
"Wearing nothing but your hair." He bent and kissed her, drowning in
the taste and feel of her. As they kissed, he pleasured her with his hand,
drinking in her soft, broken cries.
Soon that was no longer enough, and he slid down her body, loving her
with his mouth, taking her to the edge again and again and then pulling
back until she was nearly sobbing with need.
At last he let it happen, let her tumble headlong into rapture, holding
her trembling in his arms in the aftermath.
His own body still pulsed and ached with need, but he closed his eyes
and fought against it. He was determined to be unselfish.
After a long while, she stirred against him, running her hands across his
chest, exploring the dark hair that grew there.
"I never knew such things were possible," she whispered. "I never
knew anything could feel so
good."
He gave a husky laugh. "You have a lot to learn. And you can't imagine
how happy I am to be the

one to teach you."
She continued her tender explorations, her brow knotted in adorable
concentration. Suddenly she sat up and stared at the aching, straining
length of his cock. "Is it possible for me to do for you what you've done
for me? To love you with my mouth?"
He nearly came undone on the spot. God, she was a quick learner.
"Of course," he whispered, his voice unsteady. "But you don't have to if
you don't want to. Most women don't care for it."
"I'm not most women." She smiled and leaned over him, pressing a
sweet kiss to his belly. Her silken hair trailed over his heated skin. He
groaned, clenching his fists at his sides, as she ran the tip of her tongue
over his swollen tip.
"Like this?" she whispered, her breath stirring him unbearably.
"Aye," he breathed. "Take me in your mouth, Kate. As much of me as
you can."
Sweet. So hot and erotic. She was unskilled, and her teeth grazed him
painfully a few times, but he didn't care. She explored every inch of
him with her lips and teeth and tongue, and he drifted in the beauty of
it, wondering how he'd ever lived without her.
Each time they came together it was better than before. She never
ceased to surprise and humble
him.
At last he couldn't take it any more. He was so close, so unbearably
close. He groaned and pulled her up his body, kissing her wildly as he
wrapped her hand around his pulsing length and spilled his seed across
her palm.

Chapter Twenty-Four
Kate was gathering firewood for the morning fire when she saw the
smoke in the distance. At first, she mistook it for a cloud, but then she
realized what it was, what it meant, and her heart plummeted to her
toes.
Civilization.
After more than a week in the wilderness, she should have been
overjoyed to see signs of human life. And she was. But another part of
her dreaded leaving the safety of the life she and Talon had created on
the beach. It was impossible to believe the happiness they'd found
could last.
She let the firewood she'd been gathering tumble to the ground and ran
back up the sand toward Talon, who was dragging the boat into the
water. "Smoke," she told him breathlessly. "There's a house or
something over that ridge."
His blue eyes widened, and he stared in the direction she'd pointed.
"You're right." He turned back to her, a crooked grin curving his lips.
"Oh, my God, Kate. We made it."
She nodded, unable to resist smiling in return. "You promised you'd see
me to safety, and you did. I should never have doubted you."
He threw back his head and laughed, grabbing her around the waist and
swinging her round and round until they were both so dizzy they
collapsed on the sand. They lay on their sides, staring at each other and
smiling foolishly.
"I love you," she whispered then held her breath, hoping against hope
that today would be the day he returned the sentiment.
His smile faded, and he cupped her cheek with his palm. "You make
me so happy, sweetheart."
Banishing her disappointment, she hugged him fiercely. "What
happens now?"
He pulled away and sat up, staring broodingly out to sea. "I think you
need to don your disguise again. A man and a boy wandering out of the
woods won't cause nearly the speculation a man and a beautiful woman
will."
She lifted her hand to her snarled hair, wondering how on earth he
could still think her beautiful. "We shouldn't mention anything about
being shipwrecked. Word of it might get back to Sutcliffe."

He nodded, his eyes twinkling again. "I'm going to have to bind your
breasts again, sweetheart. But just think of all the fun we'll have when I
get to take that horrible thing off tonight."
Anticipation chased up and down her spine. "First, I want a long, hot
bath. Then I want to sleep

until noon in a real bed."
"Then you shall." He stood and rooted in the bottom of the boat until he
found her battered old hat.
"Let's go."
"Just follow me and keep your head down. Try not to make eye contact
with anyone and you'll do fine." Talon gave Kate a reassuring smile as
they crested the ridge that overlooked the small town.
It wasn't much as far as towns went, just an inn and a couple of houses,
a rickety dock, and a small trading post. But to Talon and Kate, it was a
teeming metropolis. They were saved. If nothing else, they'd at least be
able to get some more food and supplies.
They received a few curious stares, but no one looked too closely at
Kate. Talon wasn't surprised. He'd learned long ago that people saw
what they expected to see and not much else.
The inn was a small, dark little building redolent with the smells of sour
ale and cabbage. The sign above the door proclaimed it The Do Drop
Inn, the once green letters faded and nearly indecipherable. Talon led
Kate to a table near the back, blinking to accustom himself to the dim
light.
Thankful for the small purse of spending money he'd appropriated from
Daniel's stash aboard the ship, he beckoned the barkeep. "An ale for me
and the boy, and two plates of whatever you've got cooking in the
back."
The man nodded, his beady eyes lively in his jowled face. "You folks
come a far piece?"
Talon laughed. "You could say that. We're on our way to join the lad's
ma in Charleston, but I'm afraid we got a bit turned around. Can you tell
me how far we have to go?"
The barkeep scratched his chin with a big, dirty hand. "I'd say about ten
miles. Old Seth is takin' a wagon load of cotton down that way later this
afternoon. If ye're interested, ye could probably hitch a ride for a small
price."
Talon nudged Kate's leg under the table, barely able to contain his
elation. Ten miles. It appeared that they hadn't been blown that far off
course after all. "We're very interested. Thanks."

Nodding, the barkeep went behind the bar to get their drinks. When he
was out of earshot, Talon allowed himself a grin. "You just might get
that hot bath tonight after all, sweetheart."
Her face lit up with delight. "I can't wait."
The barkeep returned with their drinks and heaping plates of corned
beef and cabbage. Talon had never been a big fan of cabbage, but it
tasted wonderful today.
He couldn't stop grinning as he watched Kate. She looked adorable in
her stained travel-worn clothing. She dug into her food with gusto,
pretending in her dainty, ladylike way to be some pig of a farm
boy.
After they finished the meal, they went and spoke to Old Seth, who was
indeed headed for the city and would be delighted to give them a ride,
for a small price, of course. They sat in the back of the wagon atop
comfortable burlap bags stuffed with cotton and headed for Charleston.
Kate was enjoying her charade. If the earl could see her now, he'd be
apoplectic. Talon grinned at the notion. This Kate was a far cry from
the elegant woman Sutcliffe had handpicked to be the mother of his
heir.
Her cheeks were flushed with color and good health. Despite the
ridiculous clothes and hat she wore, he didn't think he'd ever seen
anyone more beautiful in his life. This land suited her. He'd been right,
she was blossoming before his very eyes.
God, please, let me have this.
It was as close to a prayer as he'd ever come. This thing he'd found with
Kate, these last few days of bliss, were all he'd ever wanted out of life.
Her uncomplicated, generous love made him think anything

in the world was possible.
Unfortunately, he was plagued by a pervasive sense of doom. If there
was any way to get his money without going to Charleston, he'd avoid
the city like the plague. Sutcliffe would look for them if he suspected
they'd survived the shipwreck.
They rounded a familiar bend in the road, and Talon sat up straighter,
realizing where they were in a blinding flash. He peered through the
dense oaks, straining to catch a glimpse of the majestic white house that
had once been the extent of his dreams.
"What is it?" Kate leaned forward, concern darkening the earlier
pleasure in her eyes.
"Holyoke. It belongs to Sutcliffe now. This is where you and Daniel
would have lived if everything had gone as he'd planned."
"It's lovely."
He nodded. "The land is perfect for growing tobacco. There's over two
thousand acres running all the way to the river, where there's a private
dock for shipping the crops to market. Your roses would have grown
well here. I'm sorry you had to lose them."
She frowned, searching his face. "You really wanted this, didn't you?"
He shrugged as though Holyoke and all it entailed meant nothing to
him. "It doesn't matter. It's just a house, just some land. What you and I
build together will be better because it will be ours."
She nodded, but he saw the doubt in her eyes and knew he'd troubled
her. He kicked himself for pointing the place out. The last thing he
wanted, now that she'd forgiven him, was to remind her of his betrayal.
He forced himself to put the house and his foolish dreams out of his
mind. He and Kate would have a place of their own someday very soon.
He didn't need Holyoke. Never had.
He'd much rather think about Kate and all the naughty things he'd
taught her during the last few days. She'd become surprisingly
uninhibited, growing surer of herself and her power over him every
time they touched.
When he thought of all the ways she'd loved him with her hands and
sweet, sweet mouth, he grew instantly aroused. He wished she weren't
dressed in those ridiculous clothes so he could hold her. God, he missed
being inside her.

He tried to remember why he was torturing himself. This was his rule,
after all, his last-ditch attempt to make up for that night aboard the ship.
Soon, he promised himself. Soon his men would be safe, and he would
be free of Sutcliffe. He and Kate would live the rest of their lives in
peace, far away from Sutcliffe's evil schemes and plans for their
child.
Charleston was a busy, bustling place, far more cosmopolitan than
Kate had imagined. Old Seth dropped them off at the outskirts of the
city, and they took a ferry across the river, disembarking down by the
docks. Kate trailed after Talon, gawking at the houses, shops and inns.
They stopped at the first respectable looking hotel they came to, and
Talon signed in with a fictitious name. He claimed her as his son and
told the proprietor his wife would be joining them tomorrow.
Kate looked down at her feet, unwilling to let anyone see the hot blush
that spread across her cheeks. Soon she really would be Talon's wife. It
seemed too wonderful to be true.
Their room was on the second floor, a two-room suite with a large,
four-poster bed and a sitting area. The mahogany furniture was dark
and heavy, the bed covered with a handmade quilt in deep tones of blue
and red. It looked like heaven after so many weeks at sea.

Talon grinned as she ran her hand over the quilt. "I haven't forgotten.
Bath and then bed, right?" She nodded. "That would be wonderful. We
can order dinner brought up and eat here in the
room."
"I have some errands I need to run, but I'll stop and order you a bath on
my way out. Is there anything else you need?"
"Just hot water." She sighed, taking her grubby hand away from the bed
before she soiled it. "A lot
of it."
Half an hour later, the big copper tub had been filled and Kate was
alone at last. She slid into the steaming depths, sighing in bliss as the
hot water seeped into her aching muscles.
Picking up a bar of soap, she scrubbed at the sand, grit and sweat that
roughened her skin. She couldn't wait to be clean again and dressed like
a woman in ribbons and lace.
Their time on the beach had been wonderful, but now she wanted to
pretty herself up for Talon. She needed to remind him she hadn't
always been a bedraggled urchin with dirty clothes and tangled hair.
What she wouldn't have given for the emerald gown she'd worn at
dinner that night back in London.
Using the scented soap on her hair, she scrubbed repeatedly, washing
and rinsing until at last her tangled, dirty mane was squeaky clean.
When she had finished washing, she lingered, reluctant to get out. She
intended to wring every single bit of warmth from the water before she
finally relinquished it.
"What's this? A mermaid?" Talon's deep voice startled her. She
jumped, sending water sloshing over the rim of the tub.
She glared up at him. "You scared me to death. I didn't even hear you
come in."
He smiled and held out his arms, emphasizing the packages he held.
"Am I forgiven? I come bearing gifts."
She smiled back, feeling like a little girl at Christmas, though heaven
only knew her father had never troubled himself much on her behalf
when she was a child. She grew misty eyed thinking of the way Talon
would be with their children. He'd be stern yet loving, letting them
crawl all over him and press sticky kisses to his brow.
"Let me get out first. Would you hand me a towel, please?"

He tossed the packages on the big bed and then grabbed the towel from
the chair.
She took the towel from his hand and stood, a little self-conscious. If
she were truly a lady, she wouldn't let him love her the way he did, or
worse yet, love him back in such wild and wanton ways.
He wrapped the towel around her and pulled her back into his arms.
"Mmm, you smell good," he whispered, his voice rough and low in her
ear.
She pushed him playfully away. "Well, you certainly don't."
He laughed and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it aside and then
shedding his trousers. "I intend to remedy that. Care to help?"
Gloriously bare, he stepped into the tub, sinking into the lukewarm
water with a sigh. She watched him with a half smile, then knotted the
towel around her breasts and knelt on the floor beside him, taking the
soap into her hand.
"What did you buy me?" she asked, running the soap in a frothy trail
across his muscular chest. "Something clean to wear, I hope?"
He nodded and closed his eyes, leaning his head on the back of the tub.
"I bought you a few dresses. I hope they're the right size. I just
described the way you fit my hands, and the shop girls were able to help
me out." He held out his hands and mimicked the way he'd measured
her breasts.
She smacked his arm. "Please tell me you did no such thing."
He laughed. "I just got a few ready-made things in small sizes.
Whatever doesn't fit can be returned tomorrow. But I did ask the shop
girl to pick out all the

necessary underthings. My experience with women only goes so far."
She continued to bathe him, loving the feel of his wet, warm skin
beneath her hands. "Did you go
to the bank?"
He nodded again, a wide smile curving his lips. "I got the money. It's
enough to give us a good start. I can't believe I was foolish enough to
think I needed so much more."
She ran the soap over the contours of his arms. "When can we leave?
Have you found us a ship
yet?"
He shook his head. "I'll look into that tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll find
something by the end of the week. Until then, we'll stay here at the
hotel, maybe go out to dinner a few times, and spend the rest of the time
making love."
"Oh," she murmured. "You're going to make love to me tonight? Are
you through torturing me?"
"We'll see." He opened his eyes, and there was a teasing glint in their
beautiful blue depths. "Maybe if you ask me real nice."
She slid her soapy hands lower beneath the surface of the water, and his
eyes darkened. "I think you want to make love to me. I really think you
do."
He grinned and sank back, letting her have her way with him. This was
something she'd never grow tired of, learning his body, learning what
made him shudder with desire.
After several long, delicious moments, he pushed her hand away and
dunked his head under the water. "Wash my hair, wench, or I'll get out
of this tub right now and you'll never get me clean."
She laughed, loving that she had the power to affect him this way, to
make his big body tremble with longing. Thank God he'd come into her
life when he had. She could no longer imagine living without him.
His thick, dark hair felt like silk beneath her fingertips, and she took her
time rubbing in the soap, making him sigh in contentment. After she'd
rinsed his hair, she had him lean forward so she could soap his back as
well.
"Would you shave me? I bought everything I need. It's in that smallest
package."

She nodded and crossed to get the things she'd need, happy to be able to
get rid of his dark beard. She liked him clean shaven. The lines of his
face were too pure and clean to obscure with facial hair. And his
bruises had faded so much they were barely noticeable.
She put the shaving cream on his face then stared at him, wondering
about her skill as she handled the lethal straight-edged razor. "Much as
I'd like to help you out, I've never done this before. I'm afraid I'll slit
your throat."
His eyes widened. "Give me the mirror, then. You can watch and
learn."
She moved the small hand mirror into his line of vision, holding it
while he proceeded to scrape away the course, black whiskers.
She watched him with great interest. Of all the things they'd shared
together, for some reason this seemed the most intimate. She loved the
look of concentration on his face, the way he sucked in his cheeks to get
the right angle. If everything went as planned, she'd be able to watch
him shave every morning for the rest of her life.
It seemed far too good to be true.

Chapter Twenty-Five
The sun was setting in the west in a brilliant blaze of purple and mauve
when Talon and Kate stepped outside their hotel. Kate paused for a
moment to admire the view then hurried to catch up with Talon, who
hadn't even realized she'd stopped.
He'd gone out for a while this morning, and he'd been distracted ever
since. At first, she'd been nervous, afraid something had happened,
something that would send this idyllic interlude spiraling out of
control. But other than suggesting they go out for dinner instead of
dining in their room, he hadn't given any hint of what was on his mind.
As they'd dressed for the evening in the clothes he'd purchased, she'd
realized he had the air of a man with a secret.
"There's something I want to show you." He placed his hand on the
small of her back and guided her down the lovely, tree-lined street, still
smiling that secret smile. "Do you mind if we take a little walk before
dinner?"
She gazed up at him, amazed that he was hers. He looked every inch the
gentleman in his fine cream trousers and tailored emerald coat, and she
would have walked through hell and back to stay on the receiving end
of his beautiful smile.
"I'd love to see a little bit of the town. It's not at all what I'd expected."
He grinned. "Not exactly a heathen, backwoods village, is it?" She
shook her head, greedily absorbing the sights and sounds of
Charleston. There was a newness, a freshness and an energy in the air
that made it easy to understand why Talon loved his adopted country.
Even the poor people they passed didn't have the hopeless despair in
their eyes she'd so often seen in London.
At last Talon drew her to a stop in front of a lovely stone church. Two
magnolia trees in full bloom grew on either side of the front steps, and
he plucked a blossom and tucked it behind her ear. "Would you like to
get married here? I spoke to the minister this morning, and he agreed to
marry us tomorrow, if that's all right with you?"
Tears stung Kate's eyes, and she blinked them away, afraid to believe
this was real. "I thought you wanted to wait until we found your men."
He cupped her cheek with his broad, warm palm. "I don't want to wait,
sweetheart. I want to hold you in my arms tomorrow night and know
that it's forever, that nothing in the world can take you away from me."

She pressed her lips to his wrist, touched beyond words. "I want that,
too. I would be honored to

marry you tomorrow."
The faint crease of worry, which had furrowed his brow during the last
few hours, disappeared. He hugged her tightly in full view of all the
passersby. "I never knew such happiness was possible." His words
were soft and fervent against her hair.
"I didn't either. Not until I found you." She hugged him back, uncaring
of the scene they were making, oblivious to anything but the fact that
tomorrow all her dreams would come true. She would be Talon's wife
and never have to spend another night alone.
After a long moment, they broke apart, laughing a little self-
consciously, still holding hands. An old woman sniffed her disapproval
at their public show of affection, and a man on the other side of the
street was staring at them with burning intensity...
"Oh, no." She took an involuntary step backward, her gaze locked upon
the tall, slim gentleman who was making his way toward them.
"What is it?" Talon gave her a sharp glance. He half turned, looking for
the source of her dismay, then froze. His hand tightened almost
painfully around hers. "Daniel," he breathed.
She nodded. There was nothing more to say.
It wasn't possible. Of all the disasters Talon had imagined befalling
them in the city, having Kate's husband come back from the dead
wasn't one of them.
He closed his eyes as if that would take the image away, but when he
opened them, Daniel was still striding toward them. He looked healthy
and well. Unmistakable pleasure lit his eyes as he crossed the last of the
distance that separated them.
"Kate! Talon!" He pulled Kate into his embrace, laughing. "I can't
believe it's really you, sweetheart. I thought I'd lost you to the sea."
"We thought you'd been washed overboard." Kate endured Daniel's
hug, her gaze locked with Talon's in an unspoken question. "Talon said
you were to meet us at the lifeboat, but you never did."
Talon took a step back, stunned. She was obviously wondering if he'd
left Daniel behind on purpose, attempted to murder his own brother so
he could have her to himself.
Her doubt slayed him. He'd hoped that after everything they'd been
through together, he'd earned back her trust.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to meet his brother's steady
gaze. "Hello, Daniel."
Daniel drew away from Kate. "Talon. It's good to see you again." But
in his eyes, Talon saw the same question. Apparently, Daniel also
suspected Talon had left him to die. Christ, what had he ever done to
make the two of them think so poorly of him?
He stepped forward and pulled Daniel into a rough embrace. "I'm glad
you made it. I never expected to see you again."
"I'm sure you didn't," Daniel said, pulling away. "But I'm like a bad
penny. I always turn up." His tone was light, but again there were dark
undertones.
"What happened?" Kate asked. "How did you get off of the ship?"
Daniel shrugged. "I must have passed out after Talon left me. That
young cabin boy, Johnny, was the one who saved me. I woke up in one
of the lifeboats the next morning with a hell of a headache."
"Thank God for Johnny." Talon was nearly crippled with guilt. He
hadn't given the boy a thought since he'd left the ship.
Hell, maybe they were right about him after all. The lad had saved
Daniel, showing rare courage, while Talon had chosen to save himself.
He'd made the decision to release the boat, knowing there was a chance
Daniel was still alive.
"I'll have to find Johnny and express my gratitude," Talon said. And he
would. Despite all he stood to lose, despite his many protests to the
contrary, he had mourned Daniel's loss. Kate had been right. He had
grown to care for his brother.

"I've been here for nearly a week," Daniel commented. "Father's agent
has arrived, and we were about to give up on you two and head back to
London."
Hope soared anew. Maybe there was still a chance to salvage the
situation.
"There's no reason to change your plans. Pretend you never saw us."
The words were out before Talon could stop them. "Tell the earl we
were lost at sea. Let Kate remain here with me."
Kate glanced back and forth between them, her eyes wide and tragic.
She looked as devastated as he felt. "We were going to be married
tomorrow."
Daniel paled, his good humor fading. He gave Kate a look filled with
reproach. "That's a little precipitous of you, isn't it, darling? It's usually
considered bad form to marry a second husband before you're even
certain the first one's dead."
"I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you." She lifted an imploring hand,
touching Daniel's sleeve in entreaty. "I love him, Daniel. Please, let me
go. It's the only way any of us can be happy."
"You're my wife, Kate. Not his." Daniel jerked away and turned his
anger on Talon. His light blue eyes were filled with rage and betrayal.
"I won't let you have her. You've taken too much from me already."
"You bastard." Talon forgot his earlier guilt and regret. "You're just
like our father. You don't give a damn about Kate. You don't give a
damn about anyone but yourself."
Kate gasped, and Daniel's face flushed an unhealthy shade of red. "I'd
be careful with your insults. You still have a crew of men to worry
about, don't you?"
And that was it. With those few words, Daniel punctured Talon's last
hopes. They had come full circle. Talon was forced back into the
position of choosing between his men and Kate.
His soul cried out in anguish. He couldn't think of anything he could
say, anything he could do to make Daniel change his mind.
And there was no way he could sacrifice his men for his own
happiness.
He met Kate's stricken gaze, and his heart shattered. "I'm sorry," he told
her. "I'm so damned sorry for this whole mess."
Then he turned and walked away.

Stunned, Kate watched Talon disappear around the corner. She'd
known if he were ever forced to choose between her and his men, he'd
choose them, but she hadn't expected him to give up so easily. She'd
thought he'd fight for her, not just walk away.
Did she mean so little to him, even after all they'd shared? What if she
carried his child? She took a step after him, but before she could take
another, Daniel grabbed her arm. "Don't," he said, his voice low and
angry. "Don't you dare go after him."
The anguish in Daniel's voice stunned her. She tried to pull away,
suddenly frightened of the gentle, foolish man she'd married.
Daniel's hand tightened painfully, ending her struggles. "Tell me, Kate.
Did you shed a single tear for me? Or did you and Talon conspire to get
rid of me from the very beginning?"
"I care for you." She heard the desperation in her voice, but was
powerless to stop it. "You're like a... brother to me. But I can't stay with
you. Talon is my life. I love him. Surely you can understand that."
"Love?" Daniel gave a harsh laugh. "I know nothing of love. I only
know that I trusted you. Hell, I trusted him. And both of you betrayed
me."
Kate was flooded with guilt because he was right. She hadn't mourned
him as she should have. They'd been friends, if nothing else. But her
friendship with Daniel meant nothing compared to all that was at stake.
She had to make him understand.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But please, if you ever cared for
me at all, let me go. I think I'm going to have Talon's baby."
"Dear God." He closed his eyes then opened them and stared at her
stomach, an indecipherable

look on his face. "Come with me," he ordered, propelling her down the
cobblestone street.
Kate didn't ask where he was taking her. It took all her flagging
composure to keep from falling to her knees and wailing in despair.
She had only these few moments to come up with a rational argument
that would convince Daniel to return to England without her, but she
couldn't think of a single thing. Her mind was numb, the word no
reverberating inside her skull until she thought she'd go mad.
At last, they arrived at a beautiful hotel, much fancier than the one she
and Talon had stayed in. Daniel shepherded her up two flights of stairs
to a luxurious suite of rooms. He shut the door behind them, and she
was surprised to see a young boy lounging on a paisley sofa in front of
the fireplace.
"Lord Lansdowne," he cried, jumping to attention. "Is everything in
order?"
Daniel shook his head. "No, Johnny. Everything has gone to hell." He
shrugged out of his jacket and threw it across the back of a chair.
"Would you mind taking a walk? My wife and I have a lot to discuss."
Johnny. The boy who had saved Daniel's life. Kate didn't know
whether to laugh or cry upon learning Daniel had been taking care of
the lad.
"Your wife?" Johnny turned his blue gaze in Kate's direction. "Beggin'
your pardon, ma'am. But does this mean Hawk is still alive, too?"
"Hawk?" Kate stared at the boy in confusion.
"Talon," Daniel explained, shaking his head bitterly. "It's always
Talon, isn't it?"
Kate blinked back tears of sorrow and frustration. "Talon is alive and
well," she told the boy. "He's staying at the Charleston Arms."
Johnny grinned. "Thank you, ma'am. Do you think he'd mind if I paid
him a visit?"
Kate shook her head, thinking of how alone Talon would be without
her, how badly he'd need someone to talk to. "I think he'd like that very
much."
The boy darted toward the door. But before he left, he hesitated and met
Kate's gaze again. "I'm real glad you're here, Lady Kathryn. Your
husband has been missing you something fierce."

After the boy left, Daniel sat down on the sofa. "Have a seat. We have a
lot to discuss."
She nodded and settled in the chair across from him. "Did you really
miss me?" she asked, deciding to go on the offensive. "Or were you
merely counting the days until you could return to your
lover?"
Daniel flushed, his beautiful face crimson with emotion. "Think
whatever you like, but I did grieve for you. That week before the storm
was the only time in my life I'd ever felt as though I were part of
something, as though I had a family."
She closed her eyes, unable to bear the anguish in his. "I felt it, too."
"Well, then you can imagine how I felt when I saw the two of you out
there on the street and realized you thought me dead, but neither one of
you gave a damn."
"Oh, Daniel. I know how it must have seemed. But we did care. Both of
us did. I swear it." She sagged against the back of the chair, suddenly
bone tired. She was too exhausted to cry, too sick at heart to argue any
more.
There was silence for a long moment, and then he knelt before her. "I'm
tired of being alone." His words were soft and husky. He took her hand,
pressing it to his lips and kissing her palm. "I want to help you raise
your child. I want the three of us to be a family. I know you love Talon,
but he's already made his decision. He chose his men over his own
child. Surely you don't want a future with a man who doesn't put you
first in his heart."
"You forced him to choose!" Kate snatched her hand away, sickened by
the warm imprint of Daniel's lips on her skin and determined not to let
him make her doubt Talon. "Why can't you just pretend you didn't see
us today? Why?"

"Why?" He sat back on his heels, fury emanating from him in waves.
"Because I'm tired of never having what I want! I'm tired of losing to
Talon, tired of watching him take everything that should have been
mine!"
The words echoed for a long moment, and Kate began to tremble. She'd
lost everything. There was no reasoning with him. Especially since she
knew he was right. She'd betrayed him, and so had Talon.
Daniel took a deep breath and pushed a lock of hair from his burning
blue eyes. "We could have had a good marriage. I could have made you
happy if only my father had left me alone. But he demanded I give you
to Talon. He forced me to give up any hope of a child of my own."
"Maybe we could have been happy," she conceded, trying not to
shudder at the thought. "Because I wouldn't have known what I was
missing. But it's too late for that now. I'll never forgive you if you make
me go back to London."
He stood and paced to the window. "Then I guess we'll be miserable
together. Because I'm not letting you go. Not now. Not ever."
After leaving Kate and Daniel, Talon returned to his hotel room. He
closed the door behind him with infinite restraint and then leaned
against it, trembling with suppressed rage and anguish.
His gaze swept the room, noting that the maid had already been in to
clean. He'd instructed her to burn their old clothes, so there was nothing
left of Kate. There was no trace she'd ever been here except for a
brand-new peach nightgown draped over the foot of the bed.
He pushed away from the door and picked it up, sorrow overwhelming
him. He rubbed the soft fabric against his cheek, wishing she'd worn it
so he'd at least have her scent to sustain him.
With a low moan of despair, he lay down on the bed, staring up at the
ceiling in dry-eyed misery. He tried to think of a way to get her back,
but he knew in his heart he had failed. Sutcliffe had won. If he pursued
Kate any further, his men would die.
I don't care! The words echoed up from the depths of his soul, hateful
and true. Good Lord, he was a selfish bastard because he wanted to
forget the danger to his crew, run away with Kate and pretend the men
who had once meant the world to him didn't exist.

It would have been better for everyone concerned if he'd refused his
father's offer and remained in prison where he belonged. But no, he'd
dared to hope, dared to dream he could change things.
What a fool love had made of him.

Chapter Twenty-Six
By the time Daniel and Kate arrived in London, the icy chill of winter
had settled over the city and her pregnancy had begun to show. As the
elegant Sutcliffe carriage carried them through the teeming, dirty
streets, Kate was struck anew by utter despair.
Returning to the land of her birth was more depressing than leaving it
had been just a few short months ago.
She pressed her hand against her stomach, taking solace from the child
who rested safe and secure in her womb. She'd felt the baby move for
the first time just yesterday. Her need to share the moment with Talon
had been a physical ache that burned within her still.
Daniel stared at her, his eyes darkening in concern. "Is anything
wrong?"
"I can't believe you have the nerve to ask such a thing. Everything is
wrong. Absolutely everything. You're about to deliver me into the
hands of a monster, and the only man who could protect me is
thousands of miles away."
"Can't we have even one conversation without you mentioning him?"
Daniel glared at her and then shook his head. "I promise my father will
never harm you. You must believe me."
"Don't make promises you can't keep. You know what it's going to be
like. You know the hell he'll put us through."
Daniel flushed and looked away, his fists clenched at his sides. She
knew she'd hurt him again, but she wasn't the least bit sorry. He was
trying so hard to win her over, as though one day she'd simply wake up
and not love Talon any more.
As though she could ever allow him to touch her and not shudder with
revulsion.
She no longer thought of Daniel as her husband. Talon had been right.
A few weeks on a ship did not make her Daniel's wife.
But a few days on the white beaches of Carolina had made her Talon's
in every way possible.
The carriage slowed and halted before Sutcliffe's imposing townhouse.
Kate took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.
Sutcliffe wanted her child, but Kate intended to guard the babe like a
lioness. She would never allow her father-in-law to damage her son the
way he'd destroyed both of his own.

Sutcliffe met them in the formal drawing room just moments after they
arrived. For once, there was genuine welcome in his icy blue eyes.
And why not, Kate thought cynically. He alone had gotten what he
wanted.

His gaze went to Kate's slightly rounded stomach. "Kathryn. It's so
good to have you home at
last."
Kate laughed, a lost, bitter sound. "I'm sorry, but I really can't say I'm
glad to be here."
Sutcliffe frowned, glaring at her so intensely she was surprised she
didn't burst into flames. "I'd be careful, my dear. You wouldn't want
anyone to know whose child you're really carrying."
"Wouldn't I?" she answered recklessly. "I'm not ashamed of loving
Talon. It's you and Daniel who want this kept secret."
Sutcliffe's handsome face, so like Talon's, turned red with fury. He
grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Don't even think about crossing
me, you little trollop. I'll keep you locked away in the country forever,
if need be."
Kate laughed again, past the point of caring what happened to her.
They'd already taken the one thing that mattered most. "Go ahead.
Nothing could make me happier. All I've ever wanted was to be left
alone in the country with my roses."
Dear God, if only that were the truth. If only she hadn't dared to dream
of far, far more.
Tears stung her eyes, and she jerked away from Sutcliffe's punishing
grasp. Daniel stared at her, pity and regret darkening his gaze.
She hated Daniel in that instant more than she'd ever hated anyone in
her life. Despite all his talk of wanting a family, she knew he'd be
reunited with his lover tonight while she'd spend the rest of her life
alone.
But to her immense surprise, it appeared Daniel wasn't ready to
abandon her yet. He took her arm and steered her away from his father.
"Let me help you upstairs to your room, darling. You're looking pale.
I'll have your dinner sent up later."
Sutcliffe made a sound of disgust. "Go on. Get her out of my sight."
Kate followed Daniel reluctantly, unwilling to acknowledge her
gratitude. Surely, he would tire of playing the doting husband soon,
leaving her alone and defenseless. It would be foolish to start trusting
him. She couldn't afford to depend on anyone but herself.
He didn't leave when they reached her bedroom. Instead he came in and
sat down on the same striped sofa where she and Talon had shared their

first kiss. She looked away, blinking hard as the memory crippled her
with loss all over again.
"Aren't you late for a tryst with Philip Carrington?" She was desperate
to make him leave. She wanted to be alone so she could wallow
undisturbed in her grief.
He flushed. "There will be plenty of time to see Philip later." He
crossed his legs and made himself comfortable as though he planned to
stay.
"Don't let me keep you."
Ignoring her, he leaned over to the brandy decanter and poured himself
a healthy shot. "It wasn't wise to provoke him that way. Can't you just
hold your tongue for a few more days? I need time to convince him you
were tired and upset and didn't mean what you said today. Then I'll take
you home to the Manor and we needn't see him again until the baby's
born."
Kate clenched her hands at her side, pacing the room. "I meant every
word," she told him. "I'm tempted to create a scandal neither of you will
ever live down."
Daniel sighed. "Think about what you're saying. He would never allow
you to do such a thing without reprisal. If you continue to behave this
way, he'll destroy you."
"Do you really think I care?" Her voice broke as the effort to remain
strong became too much to bear. "The two of you have already broken
my heart. Talon is gone. What else can he possibly take from
me?"
"Your child," Daniel answered. "He'll take your child from you if
you're not careful."
Kate closed her eyes and turned away, gripping the cool marble of the
mantel until her knuckles

turned white from the strain. He was right. There were consequences
for every action, and she was no longer the only one at risk.
"Oh God, Daniel." She turned around and pressed her hands over her
stomach. "Do you realize what you've done? Do you see the danger
you've put us in?"
He paled and reached for her hand, pulling her to sit on the sofa beside
him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, awkwardly putting his arm around her
shoulder. "I'm so sorry. But it will be all right. I swear
it will."
It was the first time he'd ever held her, and for a moment she let herself
lean against him. She absorbed his warmth, trying to find the strength
to get through this night and all the cold, lonely nights to come.
Daniel touched her chin, tipping her face until she was forced to meet
his earnest gaze. "Do you think you'll ever grow to love me, Kate?
Even just a little bit?"
Her eyes widened as he moved closer. Surely, he didn't mean to ... Oh,
but he did. Daniel's mouth descended on hers in an ardent kiss. For a
moment, she was too stunned to react, but when he lifted his hand to
her breast she gasped, shoving away from him with all her strength.
They stared at each other, both breathing heavily. Kate forced herself to
resist the urge to wipe the taste of him from her lips. She couldn't afford
to anger him, not now when she was at his mercy as his wife in the eyes
of the law.
"Don't do this. Please, Daniel. I can't bear it."
Daniel got to his feet and slammed his hand against the wall, making
the fragile crystal vase on the mantle shudder. "What can't you bear?
My touch? My kiss? My body lying next to yours in the dark?"
He advanced toward her as he spoke, his eyes a little wild. Kate cringed
against the sofa, terrified of him and what he might do. Suddenly his
entire posture changed, and he sank to his knees before her. "Give me a
chance. God, just give me one chance."
"I'm sorry." She wrapped her arms around her waist, curling in on
herself, praying he wouldn't force himself on her. The thought of his
hands on her body, the same hands that had touched Philip
Carrington... Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed, tears stinging
her eyes. "I'm sorry, Daniel. I can't."

His handsome face filled with despair. "I've been such a fool. I disgust
you, don't I? The mere thought of making love to me is abhorrent, and
after what you witnessed that night you came up from the country...
how can I possibly blame you?"
He was right, but she didn't want to hurt him any more. They were both
hurting enough already. "You don't disgust me. This isn't about you."
She touched her stomach, beseeching him with her eyes. "I'm going to
have Talon's baby. I love him more than my own life. I could never
share myself with anyone but him. Can you understand that?"
Daniel laughed, a low, lost sound. "I've made a mess of everything,
haven't I?"
She nodded in heartfelt agreement, afraid to give too much away, afraid
to trust the glimmer of hope his words provoked.
He smiled, and something in the tilt of his lips reminded her of his
brother. "You know, you're not my ideal lover either, Kate. No offense,
but you're just not my type."
She burst into surprised laughter, glad for his flash of humor. It made
everything much easier. "Tell me. Why this sudden urge to be my
husband? You've never cared about hearth and home before."
He shrugged and got to his feet, coming to sit beside her on the sofa. "It
just seemed like it would be so much easier. Being with you. Starting a
family. Perhaps my father wouldn't hate me so much if I could do this
one thing right."
Kate took Daniel's hand and squeezed it. "Do you really love Philip
Carrington?"
Daniel sighed and closed his eyes. "I don't know. I don't know anything
any more."

* * * * *
Daniel closed Kate's door and leaned against it, trembling with
emotion. Dear God, what had he
done?
For the last month, all through the long voyage across the sea, he'd spun
sparkling fantasies of a new life. He'd imagined donning an entirely
different persona, becoming the kind of father to Kate's child that
Sutcliffe had never been to him. With the love of a good woman, he'd
planned to put the past behind him, deny the sinful urges and
destructive behavior that had ruled his life so far.
The love of a good woman. What a farce. Kate cared for him, but she
would never look at him the way she looked at Talon. How could she?
He'd never be able to love her the way his brother had.
He'd let his jealousy and anger over Talon's betrayal blind him.
Now he knew that by taking Kate away from his brother, he'd ruined
not just Talon's life, but Kate and the baby's as well.
All so he could have something he didn't even want.
Closing his eyes, he let his head fall back against the door, a horrible
image searing his eyelids. Memories of the punishments his father had
subjected him to made him shudder in despair. How could he ever have
considered allowing his nephew to suffer such a fate?
What if the poor boy started displaying signs of weakness? What if all
Sutcliffe's machinations produced an heir who was more like Daniel
than Talon?
God help him, he would kill his father before he'd let the son of a bitch
touch Talon's son with his perverted, filthy hands.
Shoving away from the door, he strode toward the staircase with new
determination. He couldn't allow anyone else to suffer for his mistakes.
All his life he'd lived in terror of his father. He'd cowered and worried
and drowned his self-disgust in liquor and drugs.
Well, no more.
It was time to stand up to Sutcliffe and undue all the wrongs. He was
the only one with the power to set Kate and Talon free.
He made his way back downstairs, only to groan aloud when he saw his
father standing in the hall waiting for him. Sutcliffe's dark hair gleamed
in the flickering candlelight, and Daniel was eerily reminded of Talon.

Daniel's earlier resolve withered beneath his father's icy stare. He
wasn't ready for this confrontation. Not now. He needed more time to
think. He didn't even have a plan.
"Well," the old man snapped. "Did you talk some sense into her? I
won't allow her to destroy this, not after everything I've been through."
"Everything you've been through?" Daniel ran his hand through his
hair in agitation. "I'm glad Kate's standing up to you. God knows it's
time someone did."
Sutcliffe laughed, dismissing the thought of Kate's anger as though she
were a mosquito buzzing too close to his ear. "She's a mere woman.
What could she possibly do to hurt me?"
"She's strong, and she's got more heart than both of us put together. If
you want to keep her quiet, you'll have to keep her under lock and key.
She'll never let you get away with this."
"She could always die in childbirth," Sutcliffe said. "No one would find
that peculiar. It happens all the time."
Daniel stared at his father in dawning realization. Kate was an obstacle,
and Sutcliffe always got rid of any obstacle that stood in his way.
If Kate continued to stick up for her unborn child, kept declaring her
love for Talon, Sutcliffe

would arrange an accident.
Presto, the unwanted daughter-in-law would be gone.
"Keep away from her." This was even worse than he'd feared. He'd
known his father would make Kate miserable, but he'd never dreamed
the bastard would snuff her beautiful life out completely. "We'll go out
to the country," he vowed with a sinking sense of desperation. "I'll keep
her quiet."
"Is this concern I'm hearing from you, Daniel? For a woman?" Sutcliffe
gave a nasty laugh. "Are you finally going to start acting like a man?
Now, when I no longer have any use for you?"
Daniel flushed, struggling to maintain a thin veneer of control. "She's
my wife. We've become friends. I won't claim this baby as mine if you
do anything to harm her."
"Perhaps that time you spent with my true son did you some good."
Sutcliffe gave him an appraising glance. "Tell me, you little bastard,
have you fallen in love with Talon? Is that what this is about? Because
I know you don't give a damn about that shrew, Kate."
Daniel felt as though he'd been punched in the gut. He stared at
Sutcliffe, filled with disgust and loathing. For the first time in his life,
he was glad the Earl of Sutcliffe denied being his father.
"When Talon finds his men, he'll be back," he warned. "And God help
you then."
Sutcliffe laughed. "He'll search his entire life and never find them. How
could he? I made sure they hanged before I ever let him out of prison."
"They're dead?" Daniel paled when he thought of the look on his
brother's face when he'd spoken of his men. He'd spoken of honor and
trust, concepts as foreign as love to the monster who'd brought them
both in to the world. Daniel couldn't imagine what it would do to Talon
when he discovered all his sacrifices had been in vain.
"I hate loose ends," Sutcliffe explained. "There were too many of them
to keep track of, so I decided to eliminate the problem."
Eliminate the problem. Just as he planned to eliminate Kate. Hell,
Daniel imagined he'd be eliminated, too, once the baby was born. After
all, what use would he be once the world thought he'd begotten an heir?
"You certainly fooled him, didn't you?" He tried to keep his face
impassive. It was imperative not to let Sutcliffe know how much the
death of Talon's men disturbed him.

"I'll expect you to be more discreet in your dealings with Philip
Carrington now that you're back. I want you to at least pretend you've
been sleeping with your wife. I won't have any hint of scandal right
now. The timing is too crucial."
Daniel nodded, realizing that if he renewed his relationship with Philip,
it would only endanger them both. "Are you quite through?"
Sutcliffe laughed and turned back to his study. "I'm through with you
for now," he tossed back over his shoulder. "Run along. Go play with
your little friend. You needn't worry yourself with your wife any
longer."
Daniel clenched his fists at his sides, reining in the urge to attack the
bastard and make him pay for every single time he'd hurt him.
Sutcliffe was insane. He had to be stopped.
And Daniel knew how to do it. It was time Talon learned the truth.
About everything.

Chapter Twenty-Seven
Talon had been in Nassau for over two months. He'd questioned
someone from every ship that came in about his missing crew, but had
yet to turn up a single lead. It was as though his men had vanished off
the face of the earth.
He sat with his back to the wall in a shady, seafront dive, drowning his
troubles in the bottom of a bottle. It was hard to remain hopeful in the
face of repeated failure.
He'd thought of writing his father and demanding his crew's
whereabouts. After all, he'd more than likely fulfilled his part of the
bargain. Sutcliffe owed him.
But each time he tried to put pen to paper, something stopped him. The
last vestiges of his pride, he supposed. Or maybe it was fear. He was
afraid to receive confirmation that Kate had been pregnant when he left
her.
Perhaps he was even more frightened by the possibility that she wasn't.
Was Sutcliffe searching for him, expecting him to finish the job?
"Talon Montgomery?"
The sound of his given name in a place where he'd taken pains to
remain anonymous jarred him out of his anguished reverie.
"Who's asking?" Talon warily regarded the stranger who'd come up
behind him, wishing he hadn't imbibed so much. He was in no shape
for a fight.
"Jonathan Scott, sir. Your brother hired me. He asked me to give you
this letter." The young man grinned. "You're a hard man to find."
Talon stared at the letter as though it were a poisonous viper. "This is
from Daniel?"
Jonathan Scott nodded and extended the envelope. "He said it was most
urgent, sir."
Talon accepted the letter and then sent the man away. He returned to
his drink, staring pensively at his name scrawled in Daniel's neat
handwriting.
What the hell did Daniel want from him now? Hadn't he already taken
everything that mattered?
After a long while, he finished the bottle then stood and took the letter
back to the barren hotel room where he'd been staying. He sat down on

the edge of his narrow, filthy bed and opened it with trembling fingers,
praying nothing had happened to Kate.
Talon,
Kate i s wasting away for love o f you. I thought i n time she'd forget
you or at least realize she

must move on. But that hasn't happened, and I know i n my heart i t
never will.
My dreams o f a family o f my own are slipping away, but why should
that surprise me? It wasn't my family I've been dreaming o f . It was
yours.
All my l i f e I've wanted to be h a lf the man you are.
You accused me o f never having loved anyone, never having sacrificed
anything I wanted for the sake o f someone else. You're right, o f
course. I f our situations were reversed, i f I ' d had to choose between
Philip and the lives o f seventy men, I ' m sure I ' d have chosen Philip
with little regret.
Well, no more. For once I am going to do the right thing and sacrifice
something I want for the sake o f someone I love.
I give you Kate. And not only that, I give her to you with a clear
conscience because our father has never had anything to threaten you
with.
Your men are dead. They have been from the start.
Father admitted as much when I returned to London. After further
investigation, I've discovered his crimes against you do not stop there.
He was the one who sent the British Navy a f t er you. I f it weren't for
him, you never would have been imprisoned i n the first place.
I hate the part I played i n this unspeakable deception. I hope someday
you can forgive me.
Come back for Kate and your child. Don't let your hatred for
S u t cl if fe blind you to the fact that they need you.
Your brother, Daniel
Talon crumpled the letter into a ball and hurled it across the hotel room,
watching as it settled in the dust against the wall. Then he sank to his
knees, burying his face in his hands. His men were dead. They'd been
dead all along.
Big, gruff Smitty and young, trusting Garrett. Bones, O'Neal, Scott...
The list went on and on, their faces marching in a relentless, accusing
line through his mind. He realized he was crying, not just for their loss,
but because of everything it meant.
He'd ruined Kate for nothing then let her go without a fight. Christ, he'd
almost let his father and Daniel raise his child.
My child.

Had Kate known she was carrying his baby when he'd left her standing
there beside Daniel in Charleston?
Of course, she'd known. He'd known it, too. He hadn't let himself
acknowledge it for fear he'd go stark raving mad, but the truth had been
in his heart all along.
He'd known if he admitted it, even for a moment, he wouldn't be able to
concentrate on saving his men. Fury rose in his chest, burning away the
lesser emotions of guilt and regret.
His own father was to blame.
Sutcliffe had schemed and manipulated, murdering innocent men in
cold blood, just to ensure Talon gave him an heir. The entire plan was
diabolical, but he'd never even suspected it was Sutcliffe who'd had
him arrested in the first place.
He had to kill the son of a bitch for what he'd done. It was the only way
he could ever be certain Kate and his child would be safe.
Kate stood at her bedroom window, her cheek pressed against the cool
glass, staring at the rose garden beneath her. The roses were dying. She
hadn't worked with them since she'd returned and had

forbidden the gardener to go near them.
It seemed fitting somehow. The sight of them withering on their vines
was strangely comforting.
She'd ended up exactly where she'd begun, banished to the country to
await the birth of her child. It was as though those fiery months she'd
spent with Talon had never happened.
Knowing Talon's love, even for just a little while, had opened her eyes
to all she'd missed. The silence of the Manor left her bereft. Dear God,
how she missed him.
She missed the heat of his body lying beside her while she slept.
She missed his beautiful smile and his tender, knowing touch.
Perhaps she would feel better once she held his baby in her arms, but
somehow, she doubted it. This ache in her heart, in her very soul, would
never go away, not even if she lived to be a hundred.
Surely by now Daniel's letter had reached Talon. She still simmered
with rage when she thought about what Sutcliffe had done to him, to all
three of them. She was glad Daniel had decided to do the decent thing
and put an end to Talon's searching and suffering.
She would have given anything to be able to tell him herself. The news
must have killed him. She wished she could have been there to hold
him, comfort him, and try to convince him it hadn't been his
fault.
Without her, he would be so lost, so alone. Worse, there would be no
one to tamp down his fury. Rage at his father's injustice had always
simmered just below the surface.
She shivered to imagine the lengths he'd go to, the risks he'd take, in
order to gain revenge. Especially now since he didn't think he had
anything left to lose.
She pressed her palm against the large swell of her stomach. Tears
stung her eyes. Didn't he realize how much she still loved him? How
much she and this child needed him? He had so much to live for if only
he'd come back and claim it.
Daniel had assured her he'd grant her an annulment if Talon came back
for her. But they'd both agreed that until he did, she was safer not to
start the proceedings.
She was beginning to think Talon wasn't ever going to come back.

As much as she fought against it, these months of loneliness were
taking their toll. Every passing day made her doubt herself and Talon's
love. If only he'd said the words just once.
But he hadn't. He'd asked her to marry him, but he'd never, ever looked
her in the eyes and said the words she'd longed to hear. I love you, Kate.
It would have made all the difference in the world. She could have kept
hoping forever on the strength of those four little words.
A sudden, sharp pain in the small of her back brought her self- pitying
thoughts careening to a stop. She held her breath until the pain subsided
then rubbed her hand nervously over her stomach once again.
It couldn't be time yet, she assured herself. The doctor had been by to
see her just yesterday, and he'd told her she had several more weeks to
go.
She began to think back, count in her mind how many months it had
been since she'd first made love to Talon, but the memories made her
dizzy with longing and she gave up. It seemed like an eternity since
he'd come to her cabin with that single perfect rose and created this tiny
life that grew within her.
She crossed the room toward her bed, thinking she needed to lie down.
But before she could get there, the pain came again, sharper this time.
She stumbled to the satin bell pull and yanked on it, panic clawing at
her throat. She needed help. She needed Betsy's smiling face.
"No," she whispered, hugging herself. "Please, please not yet." She was
terrified of both the pain and going through this by herself. She wanted
Talon at her side, holding her hand and encouraging her

with words of love. All her carefully constructed dreams of the future
had revolved around this day and his presence by her side.
In her heart of hearts, she'd been so certain he wouldn't let her go
through this alone. She was unprepared to face the truth... she was
going to have this baby alone and probably remain that way for the rest
of her life.
Betsy entered the room, her face paling when she saw Kate lying on the
bed. "Goodness, sweetie, are you all right?"
Kate blinked away her tears, resolving to get through this. Her child
needed her to remain strong, because the worst battles were yet to
come. "Send for the doctor, Betsy. The baby's coming."

Chapter Twenty-Eight
Talon's rage and thoughts of revenge sustained him during the weeks it
took him to cross the Atlantic. He spoke to no one, sending any
potentially friendly sailor skittering off with one hell born glance.
Sutcliffe was a dead man. No matter what the consequences, Talon was
determined to make the bastard pay for what he'd done.
After Sutcliffe's demise, Daniel would be the bloody earl. Perhaps that
would finally make his brother happy. For himself, Talon was prepared
to face the hangman. It was only fitting since the very fact of his birth
had consigned his crew to die.
He did his best to block all thoughts of Kate from his mind. If he
thought of her, he'd go mad.
For a few days, he'd toyed with the idea of going to see her before he
slit Sutcliffe's throat. He wanted to make love to her one last time, tell
her how much he loved her before he died.
But in the end, he knew it would weaken his resolve. She would remind
him of all the things Sutcliffe had stolen from him, all the bloody lies
and betrayals.
She would make him want to live again, and there was no room for
such thoughts. Sutcliffe had taken seventy lives, and he had to die. It
was the only way Talon could redeem himself for being such a stupid
fool. He never should have fallen for his father's lies.
Why hadn't he demanded some proof that his men still lived before
agreeing to break Kate's heart and abandon his own child?
Had he trusted the bastard, even for a moment?
That was the worst of it, because he knew in the depths of his heart that
he'd been a little flattered Sutcliffe wanted him to father his heir. At last
his father had acknowledged him. He'd been pathetically happy to
know Sutcliffe found him a worthy adversary.
Christ, how the son of a bitch must be laughing at him now.
He arrived in London late in the afternoon a little over ten months after
he'd left. Kate might have even given birth to his child by now, but he
shoved the thought aside. The baby would be fine. That was what he
was here to ensure.
The city hadn't changed since he'd been gone. It was still too crowded,
too busy, too dirty. He thought of the promise he'd made to himself

when he'd left about never coming back and wished to God he'd been
able to keep it.
He hired a hack and leaned back in the rickety seat, his thoughts racing
ahead to the confrontation

to come. Would Sutcliffe be surprised to see him, or had he anticipated
this, still one step ahead of the game?
Would that hulking footman be lying in wait, ready to take care of
Sutcliffe's embarrassing youthful mistake now that he had his heir?
Talon set his jaw. It didn't matter. All that mattered was that he took
Sutcliffe with him to hell. Life without Kate was hell anyway.
The hack turned down the quieter streets where the rich and privileged
lived. Talon sat forward, scanning the stately mansions for the one he'd
come to know so well.
He had the driver drop him off a few houses away then stood in the
gathering twilight, wondering belatedly if Kate was here.
It wasn't beyond the realm of possibility, although he'd assumed she'd
returned to the Manor. But her time was close, and perhaps she'd
preferred to stay here where she'd have access to the finest doctors.
Heaven help him if she hadn't left. Because he knew he could never kill
anyone, not even his father, if there was a chance she might be hurt by
it.
If he caught even a glimpse of her, he might forget why he'd come, fall
down on his knees before her and beg her to give him one more chance.
He took a deep breath and circled the house, letting himself in the
servant's entrance. Once inside, he made his way up the back stairs,
heading to the room Kate used while she was in residence.
One way or the other, he had to know.
He slipped through the unlocked door, forcing himself not to look
toward the sofa where he and Kate had shared their first kiss. Despite
the circumstances, it had been one of the most beautiful moments of his
life. Even then, he'd known how hard it was going to be to give her up.
A soft noise caught his attention, and he turned his head toward the
source. His heart pounded in denial when he heard shallow breathing
coming from the curtained bed.
Creeping closer, he heard another noise, a small, thin cry that nearly
unmanned him. Kate's voice whispered in the dark, a soft, sweet breath
of sound, quieting the child who must be lying in the bed with her.
The floor creaked beneath his feet. Kate inhaled sharply, and the covers
rustled as she sat up and fumbled to light the lamp beside her bed.
"Who's there?"

The room flooded with soft light, and Talon's gaze locked with Kate's.
She was breathing heavily, her hair falling around her shoulders in
chestnut disarray. One sleeve of her pale green nightgown was
lowered, exposing her full, white breast.
She held his child against her, the tiny mouth sucking greedily, the
sound very loud in the silence of the room.
He couldn't speak. He could only stare in awe. She was more beautiful
than anything he'd ever seen in his life. Madonna and child. His family.
"Talon," she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. "Is it really
you?"
He nodded and moved toward her hesitantly, afraid of losing control, of
throwing himself against her and crushing her in a bruising embrace.
His gaze traveled from her face to the baby at her breast, transfixed by
the sight of the tiny creature he'd helped create.
She patted the bed beside her in invitation. He sat down, a shudder
working its way from deep inside him as she closed her hand around
his.
"Oh God." He bowed his head and pressed his lips to her palm. "I
missed you so much."
"I missed you, too." She touched his face, his hair, his chest, as though
she couldn't believe he was really there.
"I didn't think you were ever coming back. I've been so afraid, so
worried about Elizabeth..."

"Elizabeth?" His gaze left hers to return with awe to the baby. "A
daughter?" "Is Elizabeth all right with you?" she asked. "It was my
mother's name."
"Of course," he whispered, his throat tight with emotion. "Of course,
it's all right. It's a beautiful name." He reached out and touched his
daughter's downy head, awed by the softness, the warmth.
Kate gently disengaged the child from her breast. "Would you like to
hold her?"
Talon nodded and held out his arms. Kate handed him the baby, and a
rush of overwhelming love consumed him. He cradled Elizabeth to his
chest, staring at her tiny, perfect face.
He saw a little of Kate in his daughter's face, but also a little of himself.
It made him doubt everything that had been so clear just a short while
ago. He didn't want to die. Not when there was so much left to live for.
"Did you get Daniel's letter?"
Kate's soft voice intruded on his reverie. He nodded, the grief for his
men a crushing weight dragging him down. He had no right to be here,
holding his beautiful daughter and basking in the love of this wonderful
woman, when so many men were dead by his father's hands.
"I'm so sorry. I wish I could have been there with you when you found
out." The sympathy in her voice undid him.
"I'm glad you weren't. I went a little crazy. I wouldn't have wanted you
to see me that way."
She pulled her nightgown up, covering her full breast, and then cupped
his cheek with her hand. "You don't always have to be at your best for
me. I want to be there for you during the bad times as well as the good.
Nothing you do could ever make me love you less."
"You can't mean that." He shook his head, unwilling to believe her.
How could she still love him after all that had happened? "Don't depend
on me, Kate. I can't bear it. Don't you realize I didn't come here to see
you? I didn't even know you were here."
Her hands slid from his skin, leaving him bereft. "Then why did you
come?" Kate's voice was frightfully restrained, cool and condemning,
every bit the English aristocrat. Never had he felt the difference in their
stations so acutely.
"You know why. I came to kill Sutcliffe to protect you and Elizabeth.
To make him pay for everything he's done."

"Don't drag me and Elizabeth into this." Kate's green eyes flashed with
fury. "If you loved us, you'd take us away from this place tonight and
never look back. You'd be there when we needed you instead of
throwing your entire life away for revenge."
"Kate, you don't understand." He met her gaze, trying to make her see
he was doing this for her. He was sacrificing his entire future. There
was a kind of nobility in that, wasn't there?
Christ, why couldn't she see i t ?
"I understand perfectly." She leaned forward and took Elizabeth from
his arms, cradling the baby to her chest and giving him a look filled
with loathing. "You seduced me because you had to. You've never
claimed to love me, and I'm an utter fool to have believed you did."
Her words left him reeling. He might not have said the words, but he'd
shown her in a million ways how much he loved her.
Hadn't he?
"Please, sweetheart. Don't be this way. You know I love you. I've loved
you since the first time I saw you. That's why I have to kill Sutcliffe. As
long as he's alive, we'll never be free of him. He'll find some other way
to destroy us."
"We can leave England, go back to America and change our names.
There has to be a way, if only you're strong enough to find it."
Kate's words were filled with blazing intensity, and for a moment he
found himself considering her crazy plan. Maybe she was right.

But the thought of letting Sutcliffe live, walking away while that son of
a bitch remained free to ruin even more innocent lives, was abhorrent.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I have to do this. It's the only way I'll ever
be able to live with myself."
"Live with yourself?" Kate's voice rose hysterically. "If you do this
thing, you'll die. They'll hang
you!"
He just stared at her, his heart breaking.
"Do you think Elizabeth gives a damn about your pride and guilt? Don't
you think she'd rather have a father who loves her and kisses her
goodnight, than hear stories about one who sacrificed his life for some
mistaken sense of nobility?"
The baby began to cry. Obviously, Kate's mood was communicating
itself to the child.
"Let me hold her again before I leave. Please."
Kate hugged Elizabeth tighter, making her cry even harder. "No, Talon.
If you want to be a father, then you be one for the rest of her life. Do
what's best for her. Don't abandon us again."
His arms ached with emptiness. How could he leave them? How could
he die without ever making love to Kate again?
Kate's eyes narrowed. "Make the hard choice, Talon. Choose love
instead of hate, or get out of my
room."
"I do love you," he vowed. "I love you both. But I can't do what you're
asking." Eyes stinging with unshed tears, he turned and went in search
of his father.

Chapter Twenty-Nine
Talon drifted back downstairs, taking care to remain unobserved by
any of the servants. He wanted to surprise the bastard. Lord knew he
needed every advantage he could get.
Thoughts of Elizabeth and of Kate and her impassioned plea echoed in
his head, destroying his resolve. He took several deep breaths, trying to
regain control.
At last, he managed to put everything except the need for vengeance
out of his head. It was the only way he could do this thing, the only way
he could face what would come afterward.
Sutcliffe was exactly where Talon had expected him to be, sitting in his
library smoking an expensive cigar and sipping cognac. For a moment,
Talon just stood in the doorway, watching him and letting his hatred
simmer to the boiling point.
Sutcliffe finally turned to see who was behind him. "Talon." Dismay
flickered across Sutcliffe's face before his features became inscrutable.
"Come in, son. I'll pour you a drink."
"Don't call me that. Don't ever call me that again."
Sutcliffe chuckled and filled another crystal shot glass with cognac. He
sent it skittering across the desk and gestured to the chair across from
him. "Go ahead, sit down. We have a lot to talk about."
"I'm through talking." Talon ignored both the drink and the chair. "I
didn't even plan to say this much. All I want to do is kill you, you son of
a bitch."
"Ah, so you've found out about your crew." Sutcliffe gave a pitying
shake of his head. "Come now, did you really think I'd stick my neck
out for a bunch of worthless pirates?"
Talon reached into his waistband and pulled out the small,
pearl-handled pistol he'd purchased in Nassau. He aimed it at
Sutcliffe's cold, dead heart, surprised to see his hands were steady. "I
mistakenly assumed you might be a man of your word since we shared
the same blood. Obviously, I was wrong."
Sutcliffe glanced at the pistol. "You'll never get away with killing me,
you foolish boy. Lionel will be in here the instant you fire a shot.
You'll never even make it out of the house."

"I got in to the house, didn't I? It doesn't matter. I never expected to get
away with it. I might even turn myself in. I'm more than ready to die,
you see, as long as I can take you with me."
Sutcliffe looked just a little taken aback by that, but then he smiled.
"I'm surprised you came to me first. I expected you to go out to the
country and see Kathryn and her child. She delivered several days
ago."
Talon forced himself not to react. He wouldn't allow Sutcliffe to use
Kate or the baby against him.

"I guess that shows how little you know me. By killing you, I'm
ensuring their safety. That's all that matters to me now."
Sutcliffe played his trump card. "They're here, Talon. Upstairs. I had
them brought here so I could see my heir. Are you sure you don't want
to go see your daughter before you do something you'll regret? Surely
you don't want Kathryn to see you arrested for murder."
The thought made him weak with despair. Sutcliffe was right, killing
him would be harder than he'd ever imagined, especially after the
ultimatum she'd given him. "I'm sure," he managed, trying to remain
impassive.
Sutcliffe must have seen his flicker of weakness, though, because he
pounced on it. "A little girl, can you credit it? I thought you were more
of a man than that." "Go to hell," he whispered.
He should have just walked in and shot the bastard in the back of the
head. It had been the height of foolishness to allow him to say a single
word.
"A girl child simply won't do." Sutcliffe pursed his lips and shook his
head. "I'm going to have to try again with one of my other by-blows. I'll
have to find one who is more agreeable for the next go round."
All indecision fell away. Talon wouldn't allow Kate or Daniel to be
hurt again. He lifted the gun and took careful aim. "I don't think so."
"Don't do it." Daniel's voice startled Talon, but he didn't turn around.
He kept his gaze locked on his father, gratified to see a few beads of
sweat break out on Sutcliffe's brow.
"It's too late, Daniel. I should think you, of all people, would be glad to
see him gone." Talon's finger tightened on the trigger.
"I don't give a damn about him." Daniel crossed the room until they
stood side by side. "But I do care about Kate and your daughter. She's
been waiting for you. Don't throw it all away now. He's not worth it."
Sutcliffe laughed mockingly. "Isn't this sweet? Such a show of
brotherly concern." He smiled. "He wants you on your knees for him,
Talon."
"Divide and conquer, hmm?" Talon shook his head. "Daniel has earned
my trust, you bastard. I happen to think he'll make a wonderful earl
once you're dead."

He risked a glance at his brother and was shocked to see the fury on
Daniel's face. "If anyone's going to shoot him, it should be me," Daniel
muttered. "I don't have anything to lose. Let me do it. It's the only way."
"You don't have the guts," Sutcliffe told him. "You've been a spineless
ninny all your life,
Daniel."
"Think of Kate." Daniel ignored Sutcliffe's taunts, his gaze still locked
with Talon's. "Don't do this to her. She's already been hurt enough.
Think about little Elizabeth. She's so beautiful. Don't throw your life
away before you have a chance to see her."
Elizabeth.
God, if only Daniel hadn't mentioned his daughter. But now he saw her
in his mind, a living, breathing soul. Elizabeth would need him.
And he realized he did have a choice. Kate was right. He had to choose
between his hatred for his father and his love for Kate and the child.
The decision was surprisingly simple to make.
He slowly lowered his gun, forcing himself to ignore the triumphant
light in Sutcliffe's eyes. "Daniel's right, I'm of far more use to my
family alive than dangling at the end of a hangman's noose."
"Your family?" Sutcliffe scoffed. "You forget, Talon. She's married to
Daniel. And Daniel will never go against my wishes. He'd do anything
to protect Philip Carrington."

Daniel gave a bitter shake of his head. "Philip and I have ended our
involvement. And I've already told Talon I'll annul my marriage."
"You'll do no such thing." At last, Sutcliffe began to lose control. "I
won't allow the two of you to defy me. I'll kill you both and father
another child on Kathryn myself if I have to. God knows that's what I
should have done in the first place. The two of you are as worthless as
the spineless bitches who birthed
you."
Talon lifted the gun again, blinded with red-hot fury. "I'll see you in
hell before I'll let you touch one hair on Kate's head."
Before he could pull the trigger, Daniel wrenched the gun out of his
hand. Talon tried to wrest it back, but Daniel pulled away with
surprising strength and fired, aiming for their father's black heart.
Sutcliffe staggered back, clutching at his chest and staring down at the
blood that covered his hands. His shocked gaze flickered up to Daniel,
who still held the gun in his trembling grasp, his face bleached pale as
snow.
"I am not spineless," Daniel whispered. "And I wish to God I wasn't
your son."

Chapter Thirty
Talon and Daniel stood side by side, watching as James Sinclair took
his last, choking gasp of air. Talon clenched his fists at his sides, still
stunned by what had happened.
Daniel laid the gun on the desk and then knelt by Sutcliffe's side,
feeling for a pulse. "He's gone," he said a few moments later. "He'll
never bother any of us again."
"Daniel, what have you done?" Talon stared at his brother, wondering
if the younger man was in shock. "I never meant for you to get involved
in this. This was my fight, not yours."
"You think so?" Daniel shook his head and sank into the chair behind
the desk, the one Sutcliffe had so recently vacated. "He never would
have stopped. Even if you'd managed to take Kate and Elizabeth away
from here, he would have found a way to hurt you. And once you were
gone, he would have started on me again. He'd have found something
else he could hold over me, forced me to marry some other poor girl."
Talon rubbed a trembling hand over his face, knowing every word
Daniel said was true. "You hated him even more than I did."
Daniel nodded and met Talon's gaze head on. "He was always making
me do things I didn't want to do." His voice broke, and Talon saw
unimaginable pain in his brother's light blue eyes. "Do you understand
what I'm saying?"
"Christ." Talon looked away, remembering that night on the ship when
Daniel had claimed there were worse things than poverty.
He'd been right.
Daniel took a deep, shuddering breath. "Well, it won't ever happen
again. Not to me, not to you. Not to any innocent child ever again. I'm
not sorry. I'm willing to take the consequences."
There was a swift knock on the door, and Lionel burst in, a revolver in
his large, capable hands. He took in the situation with impassive eyes
then turned and murmured something to the gathering crowd of
servants outside before shutting the door firmly behind him.
"Which one of you finally gave the old bastard what he deserved?"
Lionel asked without a flicker of surprise.
Talon looked into the footman's face and realized Lionel was an ally,
not an enemy. Hell, he probably knew better than anyone how evil
Sutcliffe had been. "I'm afraid the honors go to Daniel."

Daniel buried his face in his hands. "I couldn't take it any more, Lionel.
He pushed me too far this

time."
Lionel stared at Daniel for a long moment, compassion in his dark,
knowing eyes. "Every man's got a limit. I expect you've been pushed
further than most, Lord Sutcliffe."
"Lord Sutcliffe?" Daniel whispered. "Thank you for that, Lionel. I
doubt I'll be hearing it again once the constable comes."
Lionel glanced at Talon. "I don't think there's going to be a problem
with the constable. I'm sure your brother will be more than happy to
testify to what he saw here tonight, and so will I."
"What did I see?" Talon asked, realizing the big man had a plan. "Your
father surprised a prowler." As he spoke, Lionel crossed the room and
slid aside a painting, revealing a hidden safe. He deftly worked the
combination and opened it, tossing papers and stacks of money to the
floor. "The thief shot him then escaped through the window when the
two of you came running."
Lionel hefted one small stack of bills and lifted a brow. When Daniel
nodded, Lionel grinned and pocketed the money. "By the time I
arrived, the two of you had already determined your father was dead."
Talon crossed the room, opening one of the large windows. "I believe
this was the window he escaped through, wasn't it?"
Daniel glanced between them, cautious hope dawning in his eyes. "You
don't have to do this."
Talon exchanged a look with Lionel, certain the footman could be
trusted. "You don't deserve to die, Daniel. If we have to tell a few lies to
prevent that from happening, we will."
Kate sat in the darkness, holding her baby in her arms, tears streaming
down her cheeks as the echoes of a gunshot faded away. The sound was
a death knell, not just for her father-in-law, but for all her dreams.
In her heart, she really hadn't thought Talon would go through with it.
Even when he'd walked out the door, she'd been certain he'd come back
once he'd had a few moments to think about what he was losing.
How could he have looked into Elizabeth's helpless little face and made
the decision to desert her? Was he more like Sutcliffe than she'd
imagined? Was he as disappointed as Sutcliffe that she hadn't given
him a son?
She stroked Elizabeth's downy cheek, her tears falling even harder.

She knew she should go below and attempt to keep Talon out of prison,
but the futility of it overwhelmed her. Sutcliffe had been an earl. His
peers would demand justice for what had happened. Justice?
She had a sudden, vivid image of a noose around Talon's beautiful
neck, his long, lean body dancing in the wind. No. No matter what he'd
done, she couldn't allow him to die. There was no justice in that.
Elizabeth fussed as Kate laid her back down on the bed and began
pulling on her clothes. She had to be downstairs before the authorities
arrived. There must be something she could do, something she could
say to keep Elizabeth from growing up without a father.
She dressed in record time then hurried down the sweeping staircase
with Elizabeth clutched to her chest, terrified of what she might find.
The servants were milling around outside the library door and talking
in excited whispers, but when they saw her they quieted.
"What happened?" Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat,
determined not to let on that she already knew. "I thought I heard a
gunshot."
"There was a gunshot, Lady Kathryn. It came from the library." The
butler, Jenkins, stepped forward, his solemn face more animated than
she'd ever seen it. "We're not sure what happened. Lionel is

in there now talking with the earl's sons."
Sons? Had Daniel been involved? She pushed through the crowd,
stopping only to hand Elizabeth to her nurse. Perhaps, if only Lionel
knew what had happened, there was still something that could be done.
The butler tried to block her way. "I don't think you should go in there,
milady."
Kate gave the man her most scathing glare. "Kindly step aside, sir. I am
the lady of this house, and I intend to find out exactly what happened."
The butler looked as though he'd like to argue with her some more, but
he let her pass. Head held high, Kate stepped past him and tried the
library door.
It was locked.
Heat rising in her cheeks and intensely aware of her audience, Kate
rapped on the closed oak panel. There was silence for a long moment,
and then the door opened.
Lionel, the huge, gruff footman who accompanied her father-in-law
everywhere he went, stood in the opening, blocking her view of the
room beyond. The angry look in his eyes gentled when he saw her. "I'm
sorry, milady. There's been a horrible crime committed here tonight.
You'll have to wait out here with the others until the constable comes."
"Let her in, Lionel."
Kate had never been so glad to hear Daniel's voice. She slipped past the
giant footman, only to come to an abrupt halt when she saw Sutcliffe
lying on the library floor in a pool of blood.
She lifted her hand to her throat, closing her eyes in an effort to block
out the terrible sight. He ' d done it. Talon had chosen vengeance over
love. Her heart shattered at this final, irrefutable proof that he'd never
loved her.
"Kate?" Talon's voice was soft and low, and she realized he'd come up
behind her.
She whirled to face him, all dignity and restraint gone. "Was it worth
it? Was killing this man worth losing me and your daughter?"
Pain sparked in the depths of his eyes. "I know I hurt you tonight. I
know you're angry, but please, let me explain."
"Explain what?" She turned her back, unable to look at him for another
minute, unable to listen to him rationalize yet another terrible betrayal.
"There's nothing left to say. You made your decision."

"It's not what you think, Kate." Daniel took her arm and drew her to a
chair. "Talon didn't kill
him. I did."
Kate sat down, staring at her husband in shock. "You, Daniel?" Her
gaze flicked to Talon, who said nothing, just stared at her with those
blue, blue eyes.
Daniel nodded and sank back on his heels. There was grief on his face,
but also a strength and steadiness she'd never seen there before. "Yes. I
did this."
Lionel cleared his throat. "Are you sure you should be telling her this,
sir?"
Daniel made a dismissive gesture. "I trust her more than I trust myself."
Talon stepped forward, placing his hand on Daniel's shoulder. "I was
going to do it. I wasn't thinking straight. All I wanted was revenge."
"That's not true," Daniel said. "He wouldn't have done it. He had too
much to lose, and all three of us knew it. I told Father you and I were
going to get an annulment, that you and Talon had my blessing to
marry. The old bastard started to lose it. But instead of admitting
defeat, he kept on. He started taunting
me... "
Kate shuddered, wondering what Sutcliffe had said to drive a gentle
man like Daniel to murder, but she realized she was better off not
knowing.
"Oh, Daniel. What will become of you?" She couldn't imagine Daniel
in prison, let alone sentenced to death.

"Nothing will happen to the lad, Lady Kathryn." There was a faint
challenge in Lionel's voice. "We've decided to claim Lord Sutcliffe was
killed by a prowler."
She let her gaze drift over the face of each of the three men in the room
and realized they had things well in hand. As usual, her presence wasn't
required at all.
Talon took her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Why don't you take the
baby and go back upstairs? The constable will be here shortly, and
there's no reason for you to have to endure all their questions. Daniel
and I will take care of everything."
She stared into his eyes, trying to see beyond his quiet words,
wondering where on earth this strange turn of events had left them.
Questions trembled on the edge of her tongue, but she held them back.
She'd already said everything she had to say. The next move was up to
him.
"All right," she whispered, turning her face away from her father-
in-law's bloody corpse.
"I'll come up after everything is settled," he promised her, squeezing
her hand gently before releasing it. "We still have a lot to talk about."
Hope soared anew, but she schooled her face, nodding as though she
could care less, determined not to let her emotions show. He'd already
broken her heart once tonight, and she wouldn't allow him to do so
again.
Before she left, she hugged Daniel, pressing her lips to his cheek.
"Everything will be all right," she told him. "This is a beginning, not an
end."

Chapter Thirty-One
Talon stayed in the library with Daniel for hours, answering the
constable's questions over and over again. The inspectors were
justifiably suspicious, but he, Daniel and Lionel had worked out a solid
story, and there was no proof they were lying.
Besides, Daniel was an earl now, and none of these men wanted to
accuse either him or his brother of murder without anything solid to go
on. In the end, they'd taken away Sutcliffe's body and promised to find
the unknown intruder who had done the deed.
Exhausted and emotionally drained, Talon headed upstairs to Kate's
bedroom. He needed Kate and his beautiful daughter to cleanse him of
the night's ugliness.
He still couldn't believe the old bastard was dead.
The knowledge gave him none of the satisfaction he'd expected to feel.
His crew was still gone, and Daniel was scarred for life.
Sutcliffe had ruined every life he'd ever touched.
For the second time that night, Talon stole into Kate's room, shutting
the door and locking it behind him. It was almost dawn, and he didn't
want to be interrupted by any dutiful servant before he and Kate had
settled things.
The room was softly lit this time, the lamp by the bed flickering low.
Kate was sound asleep with Elizabeth cradled in the crook of her arm.
A smile curved Talon's lips when he saw his daughter was awake,
gazing wide-eyed at the ceiling, her little arm flailing in tune to music
only she could hear.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and lifted Elizabeth into his arms.
"Hello, sweetheart," he whispered, touching her tiny nose with his
forefinger. "I'm your father."
The words brought stinging tears to his eyes. The task that lay before
him seemed almost insurmountable. How did one become a good
father? Elizabeth's future rested in his hands. What if he failed her?
"You came back." Kate's voice was soft with wonder and scratchy with
sleep. He jumped at the sound and averted his face, blinking rapidly,
hoping to erase all signs of his weakness.
"I thought you were asleep." He cleared his throat and hugged
Elizabeth a little tighter. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how
to right all the wrongs.

Kate got to her knees and put her hand on his chin, forcing him to look
at her. "You're crying, Talon." She sat back, her eyes wide and
confused. "Why are you crying?"

He shook his head. He wanted to deny it, but his pride had destroyed
too much between them already. "I'm afraid," he admitted, releasing a
shuddering sigh. "I'm afraid I'll ruin this."
She frowned and said nothing, just continued to stare at him with those
wide green eyes.
He took a deep breath, knowing she wasn't going to make this easy on
him. "I love you, Kate. I know I've hurt you; I know I've been a fool.
But please, give me another chance."
She bowed her head. "How can I trust you? A few hours ago, you were
willing to throw it all away. I need you to be there. Not just for awhile,
but forever."
He reached into the space that separated them and took her hand in his.
"I've learned so much tonight. I've learned the value of love and the
importance of family. Most of all, I realized my life meant nothing
without you in it."
She closed her eyes. "I'm glad. Really, I am. But did it ever occur to you
that it might be too late?"
"Is it?" He squeezed her hand with more force than he intended. "Is it
too late?"
For an endless moment, she said nothing. He saw everything slipping
away from him and wondered how he'd find the strength to bear it.
At last, she shook her head and met his gaze, a tremulous smile curving
her lips. "It's never too late when you love someone."
He shifted Elizabeth so he could pull Kate close. "I do love you," he
whispered, realizing he held everything he needed in his arms. "I'll
never stop loving you."
"Then let's get married," Kate suggested, kissing his lips with infinite
tenderness. "The sooner the
better."

Epilogue
Holyoke Plantation -1814
"Daddy, Daddy, come look! Come look! Mama got me a kitty cat!"
Talon grinned at his adorable, green-eyed daughter and bounded up the
front steps to the wide, cool verandah that surrounded the big
plantation house on all sides. "A kitten?" He raised an eyebrow at Kate
who rocked contentedly in a worn wicker chair.
Kate smiled. "She's been pestering me for weeks."
Elizabeth pulled on his dusty pant-leg, and he bent down to meet her
earnest, three-year-old gaze. "Look, Daddy. Isn't he the cutest li'l' kitty
you've ever seen in your life?"
Talon's heart swelled with love, and he tousled his daughter's sable
curls. "He surely is, sweetie. He surely is."
Satisfied, Beth scampered away, the striped gray kitten clinging
precariously to the front of her yellow dress. Talon watched her for a
moment then sank into the chair beside his wife and poured himself a
glass of cold, sweet lemonade. He'd spent the day working with his
men in the south field, and he was glad to be home.
"How are you feeling today?" He placed one hand on the large swell of
Kate's stomach. "You didn't overdo it, did you?"
She smiled and moved his hand, directing it to a spot where a little foot
kicked vigorously. "I don't have enough energy to do anything. I've just
been sitting here most of the day rocking and playing
with Beth."
Talon closed his eyes and leaned back, leaving his hand on Kate's
stomach, loving the feel of his child moving within her. She teased him
sometimes about all the questions he asked and the way he liked to
touch her stomach and the beautiful fullness of her breasts. But he'd
missed all this the first time when she'd been pregnant with Beth, and
he thought she understood.
He was blessed, and no one knew it better than he did. He had
everything he'd ever dared dream of and more. His love for Kate grew
with each passing day. His daughter was healthy and happy, and he'd
proven he was worthy of being a father. Sutcliffe's tainted blood had
not destroyed his ability for kindness and compassion.
Yes, life was good.

He opened his eyes and gazed out at the tobacco fields, which stretched
as far as the eye could see. In the end, he'd even gotten the land he
wanted. Daniel had gifted him with Holyoke as his wedding present.
He'd been stunned by his brother's generosity and tried to refuse the
generous offer, but Daniel had persisted, and at last Talon had given in.
It was meant to be yours, Daniel had insisted, and Talon had finally
agreed.
Daniel had come to visit last year, and Talon had been glad to see the
changes in his brother. Daniel was more mature, more content, and he
and Beth had fallen in love with each other.
If the child Kate carried now was a boy, he would be Daniel's heir, the
future Earl of Sutcliffe. Deep down, Talon hoped it wasn't. He'd be
more than content with a house full of little girls.
But he trusted Daniel, enough to have agreed for his unborn son to go
to England when he was old enough so he could see how the Sutcliffe
estates were run.
Which meant Talon and Kate would need another son to take over
Holyoke some day. He looked over at Kate and grinned lazily, thinking
of all the baby making they had yet to do.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Kate gave him a suspicious glance
and stole a drink of his lemonade.
"I'm just happy," he told her. And it was true. His life had come full
circle, everything sliding into place just when he'd almost given up
hope. Despite the troubled path he'd taken to get here, he couldn't
imagine ending up any other way.
Kate smiled and squeezed his hand. "I'm glad, Talon. I'm so glad."
They stared at each other, and for a moment Talon couldn't even
breathe. His love for her was still that strong, that deep.
In her eyes, he saw his weaknesses, but also his strengths. She'd told
him once that she wanted to be there for him during the good times as
well as the bad, and she'd proven it time and again.
She'd taught him love was stronger than hate, trust was stronger than
doubt, and that there was nothing in the world they couldn't do
together. "You're a remarkable woman, Mrs. Montgomery. I love
you."
Her gentle smile told him she felt the same.
The End

About the Author
Drawn into the happily-after-ever of fairy tales, Diana wrote her first
story in elementary school and has been writing ever since, publishing
over twenty historical romance and fantasy novels. She has won or
been a finalist in over a dozen writing contests, including RWA's
prestigious Golden Heart. She lives in a small Colorado town with her
wonderful husband. Diana loves to hear from her readers. You can
email her at

[e-mail]

or visit her website at

www.DianaBold.com.