CHAPTER 5
William
Captain William Hawkins strolled through the castle, arm in arm with his wife. It was her first visit to the ancient fortress, and she’d been enchanted by its grotesque exterior and modern, illuminated interior. He’d showed her all the principal rooms. And now, there was just one hall left to tour.
“Last,” he said with majestic flair, “is the library.”
William opened the heavy oak door, revealing a vaulted ceiling with three stories of priceless tomes, and a giant globe in the middle of the room.
Madeline rushed toward it. “How marvelous!”
He had saved the library as the last stop on their jaunt, knowing it would bring her the greatest pleasure. And as she grazed her fingers over the circular map in wonder, and her emerald eyes sparkled with awe, his chest tightened.
Lady Madeline’s Winters had entered his life several months ago, during his darkest hour. She was his miracle. She was also five months pregnant, possessed a wicked temper and always found a way to put him in a damnable position—but he still thanked heaven for her every day.
Her hand soon rested over a streak of isles in the Bahamas. “I don’t see our island here.”
Their “island” was one of many uncharted landmasses in the Caribbean: just a small outcrop of boulders, beach and jungle with no human habitation—and thus the perfect shelter for a band of pirates.
William’s mood darkened as he remembered the buccaneers who’d kidnapped his wife, threatened her harm . . . and the pirate leader who’d stabbed him in the belly. The bloody island shouldn’t hold any fond memories for him, but it’s there they’d found a pool of healing water, water that had mended his lethal wounds and offered him a lifetime with Madeline.
Aye, it was “their” island: a secret, magical place.
William shut the door and approached his wife. “There are many lands left to find and explore, luv . . . but I’m afraid no one will ever see ‘our’ island on any map.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s gone, Maddie.”
Madeline blinked, bemused. “Gone? How can an island disappear?”
As a privateer in the Royal Navy’s African Squadron, William was privy to reports from the Admiralty. He had recently learned that an island in the Bahamas—their island—had vanished.
While the pirate crew had been imprisoned by the authorities, their captain, a nameless devil, had eluded capture, and so the Royal Navy had routinely circled the island in search of the castaway captain, confidant deprivation would force him out of hiding—until one day they found the island missing.
“A few days ago, I came across a naval report, recounting yet another survey of the island in search of the elusive pirate captain.”
“The fiend,” she said in a tart voice.
William cupped her shoulders. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore, Maddie. The island sank in the sea: an earthquake according to the report. And the pirate leader drowned with the island.”
For a moment, she remained still. Soon, her ginger brown curls bobbed as she tapped her foot. “That coward!”
William arched a bow. “I beg your pardon?”
“He scuttled the island rather than face trial, rather than face us for his crimes.”
“Maddie, I don’t think an island—”
“Can sink? On purpose? Of course, it can, Will. Remember the healing waters?”
William strained his memory. He had so few images in his mind, mostly sentiments like pain, dizziness, and then the sensation of warmth and comfort. “I don’t understand, Maddie.”
“Like an earthquake,” he said, a vivid picture coming into his head.
“Aye.” She sniffed. “That fiend disturbed the pool, sending the island to the bottom of the sea—and evading justice, of course.”
“Perhaps you’re right, Maddie.”
“I know I’m right,” she huffed. “I looked straight into his eyes, Will. I confronted a Coward.”
As her features turned an even greater shade of red, he worried about her health and that of the babe’s, drawing her into his arms and lulling her with an encompassing embrace.
“It’s over, Maddie.”
She sighed. “I wanted to watch him hang.”
He groaned at her bloodthirsty response. “You’re a dangerous woman to cross.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not sure that was a compliment.”
“I accept it as a compliment.”
As her smile returned, he chuckled. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished.”
He steered her toward the door, a protective arm around the small of her back. “I’m sure dinner is about to be served.”
The couple sauntered through the corridors, making their way toward the dining hall. Inside, most of the family had already gathered around the large table. The duke and duchess ogled each other from across the heads of the table. James looked rather petulant, though Sophia rubbed his arm in assurance. Edmund and Amy were both quiet, but content. And moments later, Quincy and Holly rushed into the room, disheveled and blushing.
As William and Madeline took their seats, footmen served platters of freshly cooked fare and poured red wine into chalices.
William scooped his chalice and lifted to his feet. “I propose a toast.”
The gesture unexpected, the family stared at him. After all, he was the most unspontaneous of the clan. At least, he used to be before he met his wife.
As soon as everyone had a cup in hand, he went on with, “To happily-ever-after. Though sometimes late, ’tis better than never.”
“Here! Here!”
And amid the roar of celebrators, the ringing of chalices echoed throughout the castle.