Epilogue
Onboard the Charlotte
Somewhere on the Mediterranean Sea
The small, carriage-style clock on the table near Evan’s bunk softly chimed the midnight hour.
Silvery moonlight streamed into the quarters through the bowed windows, frosting everything in that shivery illumination.
He was in the process of undressing, and once he’d stripped to his breeches, one of the doors to the cabin opened.
Hannah came in, because of course she did; they shared the space.
The first thing he’d done was to rechristen the ship with a new name. Both he and Hannah had agreed that remembering Charlotte by naming the ship after her was a lovely way to honor her and keep her with them always.
And then they were off, leaving England’s shores behind for quite a while. His wife had chosen Brighton to start, where they’d lingered for a couple of months, and they’d been traveling the world ever since.
“I’d wondered where you’d gone off to.” He flashed a grin but declined to light a candle. “We had dinner hours ago.” As soon as his breeches were removed, he wrapped a banyan about his form and tied the sash.
Cleo batted at the ends of the sash, then she dashed off to hide in a box sitting in a corner. For a cat, she adored living on a moving ship.
After closing the door, she pulled the curtains across the Frenched glass.
Then she worked at undressing until she was clad only in her shift.
“I realize that, but Percival was a bit fussy and wanted a story read to him, which I was glad to do. Then he tried to manipulate me into letting him have his tin soldiers in bed with him. I said no, but he gave him his rag bear instead.”
“I think he takes after his father.” His heart was near to bursting, for the boy—his son—was nearly three years of age, conceived shortly after he’d wed Hannah, but they hadn’t fallen pregnant again since that time.
That one period of her increasing had been fraught with challenges, but he felt blessed beyond measure that he’d been given this child.
Her chuckle sent a wave of awareness through his body. “I believe that too.” When she perched on the edge of a chair and began the process of removing her garters and silk stockings, his throat went dry.
Even after nearly three years of marriage, he still went a bit insane when seeing her body or watching her doing anything remotely erotic. “Uh, what of Helena?”
They’d adopted the girl as a baby from an orphanage in Lisbon, Portugal. At a year and a half, she’d managed to wrap them both around her little finger, and she was the delight of his crew. Percival, however, had yet to fall victim to her charms, and he maintained that he didn’t need a sister.
Poor lad.
“She is sleeping like an angel. In fact, none of Percy’s antics woke her. I swear she’d sleep through a storm.”
“That is all to the good.”
The children shared a cabin next door to this one, but he needn’t have worried, for they both had taken to the sea as if made for it.
To be honest, Percival had been born on the ship, and Helena didn’t know a life without it.
Such a dream would never have been possible without him returning to London and seeking out Hannah in those early days.
“We are expecting calm seas and minimal wind for the next couple of days, so don’t expect us to make much progress over the ocean.”
“I don’t mind. The weather has been gorgeous, and I’ve enjoyed soaking up the sun.
After years of living in dreary England, I revel in each day like we’ve had.
” Finished with the stockings, Hannah stood.
“By the by, there’s been a question bouncing through my mind for the past three years.
I’ve been meaning to ask you, but I’ve had numerous distractions and it falls out of my brain for a bit. ”
“Oh?” Though it was warm in the cabin, watching her in only the thin lawn shift as she prowled toward him made him even more heated, especially since the outline of her hardened nipples was evident through the fabric. “What is it?”
“Why did you keep the fact that you were a duke’s son secret from me when we first met?”
Fair question. “I suppose I didn’t want you to act differently around me knowing I was a duke’s heir. I wanted you to respect me, to choose me for my own merit and accomplishments of what I’d done in the Navy.”
“I understand that, but even without the secret, I would have fallen for you merely for how you treated me from the first, as if I mattered, as if I weren’t unworthy due to being pleasantly plump with red hair… or a mistress.”
“Those are only a few reasons why I adore you. And, in the event you’ve wondered, you have always been mine.
” Not quite trusting the wicked gleam in her eyes, he took her hand and tugged her into a loose embrace.
“While we are on this subject, thank you for still referring to me as Evan. Buckthorne might be dead, but I still haven’t accustomed to being called Mr. Edward Cooperton, first mate.
” Though it was a screen they constantly were forced to use when among people.
As far as his crew was concerned, they knew the truth and also knew he would always be Captain Buckthorne.
He trusted each of those eighteen men with his life, paid them well to keep his identity to themselves.
“You will always be Evan Hubley to me, or rather Captain Buckthorne,” she whispered as she laid a hand on his chest, where he swore her touch seared his skin.
“I appreciate that.” He forced a swallow into his dry throat. “Are you disappointed you aren’t the Duchess of Bettington?”
“Not at all. I didn’t want the anxiety or the responsibilities, and if I was, I wouldn’t have this wonderful life we enjoy now.
Some things are much more sacred than a title in society.
” Then she pulled at the sash holding his banyan closed.
“This conversation has run its course and has naught to do with our present circumstances. Since the children are in slumber, you and I have a bit of free time.” She pushed the garment from his shoulders where it fell to the floor with a whisper. “I wonder what we should do with it?”
“Interesting. Do you have an idea?” But he knew. God, how he knew, and it was one of the things that kept him bound to her.
“Mmm.” Her gaze went to the manacles. “Should we indulge?”
“That depends. Can you keep your responses quiet? The last thing we need is to have some of the crew come running or be interrupted by the children.” Another thing he loved about her was her penchant for carnal play that demanded restraints and sharing power—or relinquishing it—whenever they could be alone.
“I will try my best, but I only want you. All of you tonight, to remind me why I was right in accepting you as a husband.”
He couldn’t help his grin as he removed the shift from her lush body. “We both know you were right, but I’ll give you whatever you want, love. Haven’t I always?”
And he would continue to do so because after years of being adrift, he’d finally found something to live for, and it was more valuable than anything society—or a birthright—could give.