Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) (32 page)

Emmie grinned. “Father will be very pleased. He always wanted a son to pass on his title.”

Her mother arched an eyebrow. “His
title
? What, pray tell, is his title?”

“A couple years after we thought you had died, father inherited a dukedom. He’s now a duke.”

“Oh, heavens.” Daphne placed a hand to her chest and breathed deeply. “That is quite a surprise.”

Emmie laughed and hugged her mother once more. “Oh, Mother, I’m so happy I found you. This time I will never let you go.”

“And neither will I.”

* * * *

Gabriel sat at the rickety table inside a tavern, sipping his ale. He wanted to drink himself into a stupor but had learned by now the consequences of drinking were not so good. He needed a clear head to think—and because of his way of life, he had to be cautious from sunup to sundown.

A few times in his life he wasn’t cautious, which got him into trouble. One episode nearly got him hanged. Since then, he’d learned to be very leery of everyone. So then why was he idiotic enough to let his heart get involved with a woman? Never had he felt this way about a woman, but he should have known better than to fall in love…

Groaning, he tipped back his mug and gulped down the remainder of the ale. When he slammed his mug back on the table, he called out to the barmaid, “More ale over here!”

As he waited for the wench to bring him more, he gazed around the room at the other drunks. They were well into their cups, and it was still early afternoon. Apparently their lives were more pathetic than Gabe’s.

The tavern door opened and he squinted against the blinding light. Once the door closed, he focused on the man coming his way. He smiled and motioned his hand. “Rufus, would you like to join me?”

“I would, indeed.” Rufus waved to the barmaid. “Bring me a mug, too.” He sat next to Gabe and grinned. “It’s been a while since we were able to drink like this.”

“It has been quite a while, my good friend.” Gabe patted his friend’s shoulder. “What’s wrong with us? All work and no play?”

Rufus laughed. “Well, we are in hiding, so why should we not play as well?”

“Exactly!”

The barmaid brought the drinks and left.

Gabe lifted his mug in a toast. “Here’s to playing.”

He raised his mug and then clinked it against Gabe’s before gulping it down. “So tell me, what has crawled into your head lately to get you like this? Not very often do I see you this way. In fact…” He tilted his head, his narrow eyes studying Gabe. “If I’m not mistaken, I would think you are acting like a lovelorn fool.”

Shaking his head, Gabe laughed. “Your eyes are not mistaken, Rufus.” He frowned and stared at his mug. “What a fool I have been.”

“Do you wish to talk about it?” Rufus’ eyebrow lifted in curiosity.

“No.”

“Come now, my good man. How else are you going to work through your pain?” He pointed to Gabe’s mug. “You have learned by now that ale is not going to help you through this.”

Gabe nodded. “You are wise beyond your years, Rufus.” Sighing heavily, he raked his fingers through his hair as he stared at the grimy table. “Once again, in my wretched life, I have let a woman’s lies woo me. I have only found a few women who could turn my thoughts to love, but they have lied to me. Now, I find a woman I can easily talk with who makes me feel…desirable, only to discover she has lied to me as well.”

“What are you saying? You have charmed many women, Gabe. Have none of these others made you feel desirable?”

“Not one. Most of them were brainless twits, and conversing with them became futile. But then I met…
her.
She’s well educated and she knows how to make me laugh.” A wistful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, so he quickly took another drink.

“Are you talking about the woman I caught you kissing last night?”

“Aye. The very same.”

“But…I thought you were interested in wooing Lady Sarah.”

Gabe snorted a laugh and looked at his friend. “I discovered an interesting tidbit last night after Mr. Phillips’ party. Apparently, my Emmie has been masquerading as a lady’s companion since the first time I met her.” He shook his head. “She is the
real
Lady Sarah—not the woman we have come to know as Lady Sarah Townshend.”

Rufus’ jaw dropped and he set his mug back on the table. “Are you jesting?”

“Not in the least.”

“Why did she do that?”

Gabe shrugged. “I wish I knew. After my uncle told me of the switch, I didn’t care to hear anymore.”

Rufus blew out a heavy breath. “Indeed, this is quite a shock.”

“That, it is.” Gabe drank down the rest of his ale. “But why am I so surprised that she lied to me? After all, I have not met a woman who hasn’t.”

Rufus leaned in closer. “Did you tell her who
you
really are—about Captain Hawk?”

Gabe scowled. “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“So you lied to her as well. Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know.”

“But I
had
to lie to her. I cannot have people knowing where my loyalties lie,” he whispered.

“Then I assume she has her reasons for keeping the truth from you.”

Gabe smacked the table. “Whose side are you on? Why are you defending her?”

“I’m not, my friend. I’m trying to make you see that sometimes people have reasons for lying to those they love.”

Growling, Gabe pushed both hands through his hair, wishing the confusion in his skull would disappear.

Rufus slapped Gabe on the back. “Come. Let me get you out of here before you are too drunk to walk.”

Nodding, Gabe dug in his pocket and threw some coins on the table to pay for both of their drinks. “I would appreciate that.”

As Gabe stood, the room tipped for a moment. Groaning, he rubbed his forehead. He shouldn’t have had that last mug of ale. Slowly, he walked to the door. When Rufus opened it, Gabe squinted against the bright light, but he moved outside, nonetheless. He took in several deep breaths of the fresh air before proceeding to walk.

After a few minutes, Gabe’s head began to clear, and when it did, thoughts of Emiline returned—as did the pain in his heart. His heartache, and his frown, would be his constant companions until he figured out how to forget about her.

“Oh, um…Gabe. You had better prepare yourself,” Rufus muttered, glancing up the street.

Gabe focused on that direction until his fuzzy vision could see clearly. Up ahead, walking with her mother and another man, was Emmie…
Lady Sarah
, he reminded himself. Adorned as lovely as she had that day they left her grandmother’s house, Emmie was wearing the same dress—the same one that had him tongue-tied and feeling like the luckiest man alive.

He certainly didn’t feel that way now, and he certainly didn’t want to see her, let alone talk to her. Unfortunately, her little troupe was heading right for him. Fortune wasn’t on his side today, because her gaze met his, and held.

How could he get himself out of this now?

Chapter Fifteen

Emiline saw him…and held her breath. Although he wasn’t glaring at her as she suspected he would, the pain of betrayal on his expression was evident through his dark eyes and rigid jaw. Her heart clenched in sorrow. She really needed to talk to him—privately. But they couldn’t do that now.

When Elias noticed Gabe, he waved and quickened his step until he stood in front of him. “Good afternoon, Lord Wilshire.”

The frown Gabe was wearing tweaked slightly into a smile. “Good day.”

Emmie and her mother stopped beside Elias. Gabe looked dreadful, wearing wrinkled clothes—the same ones he wore last night—with unkempt hair, and… She took a deep sniff. Smelling like he bathed in ale. Her heart broke even more, knowing he was this way because of her.

“I hope you remember me from the party last evening.” Elias beamed.

“I do.”

“Let me make proper introductions, then. I’m Elias Townshend.” He bowed.

Both Gabe and his friend’s eyes widened in shock.

“And this,” Elias continued as he pointed to Daphne, “is my mother, Mrs. Townshend. And this lovely lady is—“ He stopped then chuckled. “Oh, but I suppose I don’t have to introduce my sister to you since she was your footman last night.”

Being the gentleman Emmie knew him to be, Gabe took her mother’s hand and bowed. “Mrs. Townshend, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

She smiled and curtsied. “If my little Emmie was your footman last night, then you must be Mr. and Mrs. Hampton’s nephew.”

“I am,” Gabe replied. He motioned to his friend. “And I would like you to meet Mr.
Daughtery
.” Gabe looked at his friend. “Rufus, this is what Emiline looks like wearing a dress.”

Although they all chuckled, Emmie knew Gabe’s remark was meant to hurt. She curtsied and smiled at his friend. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr.
Daughtery
.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” He bowed.

“We were all out for a stroll on this lovely day,” Daphne said. “Would you two like to join us?”

“I thank you for the offer, Mrs. Townshend,” Gabe answered, “but I must decline. My friend and I have some business matters to take care of. I hope you understand.”

“I do.” Daphne smiled. “Once again, it was nice to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.”

“I’m sure you will.” Gabe and Rufus bowed again before walking away.

Emiline watched them leave, her heart dropping with each step Gabe took away from her. Then, he glanced back, and her heart lifted. But seeing his frown and distrustful, judging eyes, made her want to cry. Quickly, she broke the contact by looking ahead of her as she continued her walk with her mother and brother.

“Strange, but I do not remember Henry or Martha telling me they had a nephew with a title.” Daphne’s forehead crinkled in confusion.

Emmie shook her head. “They don’t. Well, let me rephrase that, Gabriel was offered a title, but he hasn’t decided on whether he wants to use it or not.”

“Indeed?” Elias asked. “So then why did he introduce himself as the Earl of Wilshire last night?”