Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series) (32 page)

She turned and caught his stare. A smile stretched across her face and she hooked her hand around his elbow, and pressed against his arm. “Shall we retire for bed?”

“Yes.” He kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you go on ahead? I shall be up momentarily. There is too much on my mind right now to sleep.”

She giggled. “Who said anything about sleep?”

“No, my dear. Not tonight. I need to think of a way to release Gabe.”

She huffed and folded her arms across her bosom. He narrowed his eyes, a slight throb beginning in his forehead. Why was she acting in this manner? She should be as upset as he right now...so why did she act like nothing had gone wrong this evening?

He stroked her cheek. “I promise not to stay up too late.”

“I shall await you.” She closed the space between them and linked her arms around his neck. “I will need you to keep me warm tonight.” She stood on her toes and placed her mouth over his. The kiss wasn’t the same as when he’d kissed her before. Perhaps it was because Mr. Percy’s homemade brew stained her lips.

He broke the kiss and pulled back. Through her half-closed eyes, he detected a glaze. “Mercedes, I thought you were not going to drink with the captain tonight.”

She shrugged. “I had to act my part. Captain Wilkes would not believe me any other way.”

He nodded and kissed her forehead. “Go to bed and sleep it off, my love. Have Beth help you to bed.” He chuckled. “I fear you will have a headache in the morning.”

She pouted and turned away, stomping up the stairs.

Strange behavior for certain, but then, he’d never seen his wife intoxicated before.

* * * *

The following morning, Katherine groaned as she held her head. The constant throb had gotten worse, and it wasn’t from last night’s entertainment, either. She suffered from some kind of illness, but so far, no physician could tell her why the headaches remained constant and happened more frequently.

Forcing her eyelids open, she glanced around the bedroom and scowled. Her sister had moved into William’s room, and it took all of Kat’s willpower to crawl into William’s bed last night. Thankfully, he didn’t join her.

Her father had wanted Mercedes to marry William, and thought Kat was her twin. Kat didn’t correct the mistake because she needed this adventure. She chuckled. When Kat first laid eyes on William, she thought him handsome, yet the mere idea of marriage appalled her, as if invisible bands tightened around her, suffocating her. She wanted to be free—free to be with whomever she chose. And William was not on that list.

She yanked off the blankets and climbed out of bed. Early mornings were not her forte, but it was imperative to get to the old abandoned barn where Henry had taken Mercedes last night. That is…she hoped Henry had been sober enough to take Mercedes there.

Once she’d knocked the bottle over Mercedes’ head, she’d splashed cold water on her drunken man. It took a few tries, but soon he’d opened his eyes. She had changed clothes with her sister. Gabe had stared wide-eyed at her, his mouth agape, but he hadn’t muttered one word. Perhaps nobody had told him about William’s wife’s twin.

Squinting, Kat weaved her way across the floor to the washbasin, holding her head. She fell against the table, nearly knocking over the pitcher of water. Water ran over the fingers of her left hand and she stared down at the ring William had given Mercedes. Once her sister had been knocked unconscious, Kat yanked the ring off her sister’s finger and placed it on her own. She must not give William any reason to suspect she wasn’t Mercedes.

Kat blinked the fuzziness out of her eyes then cursed the early morning. She grabbed a hand towel and splashed water on her face. The cold liquid only made her foul mood worse, and she threw the cloth against the wall.

Where was Beth?

She careened to the closet and yanked open the door. The dresses hanging before her were not the gowns she wanted to see. She gritted her teeth and bunched her hands. Why had Mercedes ruined everything?

Preparing herself for the day took longer than usual, only because of her intense headache, but soon she was dressed and ready. She ran her fingers through her hair, tying the bulk with a ribbon. This would have to do.

She opened the door and peeked down the hall. Hopefully William wasn’t up and about this early. She tiptoed out and closed the door behind her. Taking careful steps, she sneaked over to the staircase, listening to hear any movements from below.

Just as she placed her foot on the first stair, the gentle pitter-patter of feet scurried across the floor. She jerked around and looked into the wide eyes of James and
Lizzy
still wearing their nightclothes. Her hand flew to her chest, thinking to stop her heart from jumping right out.

“Mother? Where are you going?” James asked.

She gasped, anger bubbling inside her. “I am not your
mother
.”

A frown marred James’ mouth, and tears gathered in
Lizzy’s
eyes. James nodded. “Yes you are.”

Kat folded her arms across her chest, tilting her head as she glared down at them. “Listen, you little hindrance, I am not in the mood for arguments this morning. Now leave me.”

The whining little girl choked out a sob and leaned into her brother. He wrapped his arms around her and patted her shoulder. Kat rolled her eyes. Simpletons, the both of them.

“Do not look at me like that, you little fool.” Kat flipped her hand in the air toward them. “And take your sister with you. The sight of you makes my stomach crawl.” She turned around, hurried down the stairs and out the front door. Lifting her dress almost to her knees, she darted across the yard to the stable.

“Hyrum? Make haste and get my mount ready.”

The boy stumbled out of the tack room, fastening his breeches. “
Yessum
,
Miz
Braxton.”

She walked to the door and peeked out. No signs of William. She breathed deeply, keeping close watch.

After what seemed hours, Hyrum led the horse to her. “Here ye go,
Miz
Braxton.”

She grumbled and pulled herself up on top the horse. With a yell, she snapped the reins and took off in the direction of the abandoned barn across the field and over the river.

* * * *

Mercedes forced her eyes open, ignoring the pain slicing through her skull. The room tilted. Nausea spun in her stomach and she clenched her jaw to keep from disgracing herself. She tried to roll over, but her feet wouldn’t move. Even her hands were bound together.

What the devil?

A dirty floor came into view, followed by cobwebs and hay. She squinted against the morning light pouring through the dust-streaked window beside her. She moved her hands, but the ropes burned her wrists. Her mouth tasted of dirty cotton because of the cloth resting between her teeth. She ran her tongue across the material, then gagged again. What was going on?

Deep laughter lanced through her head. Like a spear, the rough sound pierced the already painful tissues. Through squinted vision, she peered toward the sound. In the corner of the barn, leaning up against the wall, Captain Wilkes stood wearing a cocky grin.

“Ah, my dear, you are finally awake.”

She scowled. The imbecile. Of course she was awake.

He pulled away from the wall and sauntered toward her holding a bottle of whiskey. “Thought you might like a drink to dull the pain in your head. Your sister whacked you pretty good last night.”

Although Mercedes would rather not drink alcohol, she needed something to moisten her dry throat—and an excuse for him to take this vile rag out of her mouth. She nodded. The pain in her skull throbbed, making her wince. He knelt beside her and loosened the gag. Once it had been removed, she opened her mouth, stretching her achy jaw.

“
Here.
” He held the bottle to her lips. “Just take a little sip, now.”

She studied his eyes, evil as the devil himself. The liquor touched her tongue, then burned her throat. She pulled away and the whiskey dribbled down her jaw to her neck. She coughed, but the scalding pain in her throat increased.

He threw his head back and laughed. “It would appear you have not formed a liking for spirits.”

She glared at him. “My throat was dry, you dolt.”

“So last night you were just pretending?” he asked.

She bit her lips together, not wanting to even waste her breath on him.

“You know, if not for your sister, I would have never known the difference.” He touched her hair and rubbed a lock between his finger and thumb. He grinned. “I really cannot tell the two of you apart.”

Her stomach lurched again, and this time she prayed something would come up and dump on him. Her prayers went unanswered. She cleared her throat. “Where is my sister?”

“She will be here momentarily. I am certain she is as thrilled to visit with you as you are to visit with her.”

“Not likely,” Mercedes muttered.

He laughed again and stood. “I have no idea what your sister has planned for you, but let me tell you a bit of information. Your lover will be hanged, just as his friend Gabriel.”

She narrowed her eyes. “My lover? Are you referring to my husband?”

“Mr. Braxton is not your husband. He is married to your sister.”

“You are wrong. William Braxton married Mercedes Connolly, and my birth certificate states the name of Mercedes. I refuse to believe my father has lied to me all these years.”

The smirk remained on Henry’s face as he shook his head. “Your sister did mention how sick in the head you are. Now I can see why she would say such a thing.”

Mercedes’ heart sank. The pain from her head moved to her chest, making it hard to breathe. Kat was the sick one, not her. Tears stung Mercedes’ eyes, but she blinked them away. She wouldn’t give Captain Wilkes the satisfaction of seeing her this way.

Thundering hooves neared the stable, making her heart spring to life again.
Please let it be William.

Henry grabbed his pistol and ran to the window. His shoulders relaxed and he sighed. “Your sister is finally here.” He tucked the pistol back in his belt before hurrying out to meet Kat.

Through the opened doors of the stable, Mercedes spied her sister dismounting. Kat ran to Henry, throwing her arms around him. Their mouths met in a hungry, slobbery kiss. Mercedes squeezed her eyes to cut off their hideous display.

Katherine’s shrill laughter made Mercedes snap her eyes open. The woman stalking toward her wasn’t the pathetically ill woman she’d talked to in the asylum, although malice still laced Kat’s eyes. Mercedes’ heart sank further.

Kat crouched to her level and snickered. “My dear, foolish sister. You fell right into my trap.”

“Why, Kat?” Mercedes whispered, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. “Why did you lie to me about being sick…and faking your own death?”

Kat shrugged. “Because I wanted everything. William is a rich man, but I do not want a husband. When I saw the chance to marry him, I took it, but with the intent of making a better life for myself.” She glanced over her shoulder at Henry. “He has offered me that better life.”

“By pretending to die?”

“Of course. I could not have pulled any of this off otherwise.”

“But Kat...you are a spy now.”

“Indeed I am.”

“What about those people who love you? What about me, your own sister?”

Kat laughed. The eerie streak in her voice sent ripples of fear up Mercedes’ spine.

“Oh, my poor, pathetic sister. You still have your head in the clouds.” She leaned in closer. “When are you going to start thinking about you?” She pushed her finger into Mercedes’ chest. “Nobody is going to get you where you want to be in life. You cannot rely on anybody but yourself.”

“I do not think the way you do, Kat. The reason I came here in the first place was for you,” Mercedes explained, “to revenge your death and get your husband to pay your hospital and funeral debts.” A sob tore from her throat and her tears streamed down her face. “You are the only family I have.”

Kat frowned and cupped the side of Mercedes’ face. “Not to worry. I will take care of you.”

Mercedes scrunched her forehead. “You will?”

“Yes. The Blackwood Asylum for the mentally insane is still looking for you.”

Fear pierced through Mercedes like ice. Kat was going to commit her own twin!

William squinted against the sunlight pouring upon his face through the window. Every
 
muscle in his body screamed in pain, even his eyelids ached. An intense throb began in his skull. He jerked his head up from his desk and sat straight. Cursing, he rubbed his eyes as he tried to remember what had caused him to sleep in his study instead of going upstairs to join his wife in their bed. He stretched his stiff neck and rolled his achy shoulders.

The pitter-patter of small feet echoed outside his study mere seconds before the door flung open. James, still wearing his nightshirt, came running toward him. William stood and stepped toward his son.

“Papa,” James sobbed, his eyes puffy and red. “Momma is gone.”