Read The Reinvented Miss Bluebeard (London Paranormal 03) for Free Online

thought grimly, but she kept her rebellious thoughts to herself. Captain Ben Silvers—later dubbed Captain Hook—was a tall, thin man with a dark brown eye and a slightly rakish air. He had an eye patch, and a solid gold hook where his right hand used to be. He was also ruthless and cunning. Ever since she'd turned fourteen, Hook had attached himself to her. When she'd become eighteen, he'd begun to try to win her affections, to bind her securely to him. It had taken all Eve's cunning to elude the crafty rat. She had barely escaped his clutches and a seduction attempt, fleeing to Vienna to go to school.
    Perhaps she should have told her father about Hook's less than honorable schemes. At the time she had been afraid her father would either challenge Hook to a duel or clap his hands in joy at the idea of her getting married. She'd wanted to risk neither event, so she had remained silent.
    "You would tie to me to a pirating marauder whose motto is, Any port in a storm or a calm sea?" she asked.
    "He's a lusty man who will fill yer belly with fortune."
    Eve grimaced. "You make me sound like some Chinese cookie. Besides, I wouldn't want his fortune. I have never been interested in Captain Ben Hook, and well you know it. That rat-faced moron must be the unluckiest person I know."
    "Why, that's blasphemy. Ben Hook is a wily pirate. He's got a hoard tucked away in his treasure chests, and his ship, the Tiger
Lily
, is fine, fast in the water and has good, strong lines. He's also got wererat blood in him. 'Tis true he's not a full-blood, but at least he's got some shape-shifting ability."
    "I was speaking of his unfortunate habit of losing body parts," Eve remarked. And a rat was a rat, as far as she was concerned, even if he didn't turn completely furry during the full moon.
    "Why, Evie, Hook's loss could have happened to any ol' sea dog. It's not his fault that ogre took exception to him trying to steal his gold fillings."
    "And his eye?" Eve asked, arching a brow.
    "A mere accident in Persia. Could have happened to anyone," her father replied lightly, staring up at the ceiling in an expression of pure innocence.
    "Yes. I imagine he won't be peeking through keyholes into any harems anymore."
    "That he won't," Bluebeard promised solemnly. "The sultan's threatened to hack off his… well, less fortunate parts, should he even show his face there again."
    "A wise ruler and a fine judge of character, this Sultan. And you would have me leg-shackled to that!"
    "Now, lass, I know Captain Hook is a bit rough around the edges—"
    Eve interrupted. "Listen to what I'm saying, Da! I am not interested in this one-eyed pirate. He has more mistresses at one time than you have had wives, and that is saying quite a lot. Besides, this conversation is irrelevant.
I am already married
." She waved her wedding ring in his face and looked away.
    "You can just as easily be widowed," the Captain remarked. "I know Hook will oblige me. You're too lovely a lass never to know a husband's touch, and I'm much too impatient not to have a grandchild or two to spoil in me dotage. Now, lass, no more Barbary tales about this absentee husband of yours. Produce him, reproduce with him, or forget about him."
    Eve growled. "May I remind you that my husband is dedicated to treating illnesses of the supernatural mind? He is still with one of the Dracul vampires in Transylvania, where he is trying to help the count overcome a rather overzealous bloodlust."
    "Yes, yes, you've said that. But surely three years is long enough to cure whatever ails this fruit bat."
    "Not when you're of the Dracul line of Nosferatu. Adam may be doctoring him for decades."
    "Yeah, he might. Or again, he might not. Fate is a fickle mistress," Bluebeard replied. He tweaked his stubborn daughter's cheek. "As is Father Time. And as you know, fathers know best."
    "Indeed," she replied, not daring to speculate what that meant.
    "You know it's not nice to try to fool a father," Bluebeard continued.