The smugglers stared.
It was Jack, yet a Jack they’d never seen. His clothes marked him clearly as one born to rule. From the high gloss of his Hessians, to the faultless crease of his cravat, he was Quality. The grey eyes they all remembered scanned their faces, impressing power just as they recalled, only this time the personal strength was backed by social standing.
“Jack?” The puzzled question was asked by Shep, his grizzled brows knitted in consternation.
The slow smile they all remembered twisted the man’s lips. “Lord Hendon.”
The name should have sent shivers down every spine, but they all knew this man, knew he’d smuggled alongside them, that he’d saved their hides a good few times. So they sat and waited to have the mystery explained.
Jack’s grin grew. He took up his usual stance, feet apart, under the light. “It’s like this.”
He told them the story, simply, without detail or embellishment. The essential points were enough for them to grasp. He made no mention of Young Kit, a fact some noted but none made comment upon. When they grasped the fact they’d been helping His Majesty’s government to apprehend spies, the atmosphere lightened considerably. When Jack showed them the pardon he’d brought for them all, and read the official decree, they simply stared.
“This will be posted in all the Revenue Offices in Norfolk. It means that as of today, you’re absolved of any crime under the Customs Act committed up until last night.” Jack rolled the parchment up and tucked it into his pocket. “What you do with your lives from now on is up to you. But you’ll be starting with a clean slate, so I’d urge you all to think carefully before you re-form the Hunstanton Gang.” He smiled, wryly, convinced that no matter what he said, after a spell, the Hunstanton Gang would live again. “You’ll doubtless be pleased to know that I’m retiring as High Commissioner. In fact, it’s doubtful there will be another appointment made to the post.”
His glance took them all in, every last unlovely face. Jack smiled. “And now, my friends, I’ll bid you farewell.”
Without looking back, Jack walked to the door. Matthew opened it for him, then he and George followed him outside. There was a murmur of farewell from the men in the barn, but none made any attempt to follow.
Outside, Jack stood under the open skies, his hair glinting in the moonlight. He dropped his head back, his hands on his hips and stared at the pale orb, glowing amid the clouds.
George drew near. “And so ends the career of Captain Jack?”
Jack swiveled about. In the moonlight, George saw his devilish smile. “For the moment.”
“For the moment?” Incredulous horror filled George’s voice.
Jack threw back his head and laughed, then strode toward the trees.
Puzzled, George watched him go. Then he gasped and grabbed Matthew’s arm as a rider burst from the band of firs directly in front of Jack. Jack’s stride didn’t falter; if anything, he moved faster. Then George recognized the horse, and noticed Champion behind.
“Dangerous fools!” he said, but he was grinning.
“Aye,” said Matthew. “Imagine what their young’ll be like.”
“God preserve us.” George watched as Jack swung up to Champion’s saddle. Kit tossed some remark over her shoulder and set Delia for the road. Jack followed, bringing Champion up to ride by his wife’s side.
George watched until their shadows mingled with the trees and disappeared. Smiling, he turned to fetch his horse, his ride home made light by anticipation of Amy, now his wife, waiting safe at home in their bed.
“Incidentally,” Jack said to Kit, as Champion led the way up the narrow path onto Hendon lands. “You’ll have to give up riding Delia.”
Kit frowned and leaned forward to pat the glossy neck as Delia followed the stallion at a slow walk. “Why?”
Jack grinned, knowing his wife couldn’t see it. “Let’s just say you and she have more in common than you might at first suppose.”
It took Kit a moment to work that one out. On the ship, her bouts of queasiness had become more pronounced day by day, until, when they’d left Bruges, she’d had to admit to Jack that she suspected she was carrying his child. To her abiding irritation, he’d admitted he’d known she was since he’d first made love to her in the big bed in their stateroom. Ever since, he’d gone around positively glowing with a smug pride that never failed to get her goat. His protectiveness, of course, had reached new heights. She’d been surprised he hadn’t yet taken exception to her riding; doubtless that would come. But what could Delia and she have in common?
The answer made her rein in with a gasp. “You mean…? How…?” Jack drew up and turned to look at her. The truth was easy to read in his smile. Kit’s eyes narrowed. “Jack Hendon! Do you mean to tell me you’ve let that brute of a stallion get at Delia?”
Her husband’s eyes widened with unlikely innocence. “But, my love, surely you wouldn’t deny Delia a pleasure you take so much delight in?”
Kit opened her mouth, then abruptly shut it. She glared at her aggravating husband. Would he always have the last word?
With an irritated humph, she clicked her reins.
Jack laughed and fell in beside her. “Well, are you satisfied you’ve shared in Captain Jack’s end?”
Wide eyes turned his way. “Has Captain Jack died?” Her voice was sultry. “Or has he simply changed his clothes for a while?”
Jack’s eyes widened as he read her look. But before he could say anything, Kit urged Delia ahead. She led the way homeward, but pulled up in the clearing before the cottage.
Jack drew rein beside her. “Tired?”
Kit eyed the cottage. “Not exactly.” She slanted a look at her husband.
Jack saw it. He groaned, mock resignation not entirely concealing his anticipation, and dismounted. “I’ll take care of the horses, you take care of the fire.”
Kit laughed as he lifted her down. She reached up to draw his lips to hers, pressing her body against his in flagrant promise. Then, smugly satisfied with his immediate reaction, she released him and ran for the door.
Jack watched her go, a slow smile curving his lips. Despite all her adventures, Captain Jack’s damned woman was every bit as wild as she’d ever been-outwardly conservative, in reality as untamed as he. She was headstrong but his, in his blood as he was in hers; there could be no tighter bond. Caring for her would fill the empty center of his life; she’d already filled his heart. He could count on her to exasperate, frustrate and infuriate-and love him with all her soul.
She would keep him on his toes. Jack glanced at the cottage. He hoped she was getting impatient.
With a conspiratorial wink for Champion, and a last smiling glance at the moon, he took the horses to the stable before swiftly returning to the cottage-and the warm, loving arms of his wife.
About the Author
New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Laurens began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science. Her hobby quickly became a career, and her series about the masterful Cynster cousins has captivated readers, making her one of the romance world’s most beloved and popular authors. She lives in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia with her husband and two teenage daughters.
