Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) (36 page)

“But my dear, let me come with you.”

“Not this time, Mother. I shall be fine.” She hurried out the door before her mother could say anymore.

Halfway down the street, Emmie realized she hadn’t grabbed her shawl. Nevertheless, she couldn’t turn back now. She must find Gabe and tell him of what she’d heard, and she prayed he would be able to figure out this most confusing puzzle.

She turned a corner, and her steps quickened, anxious to walk the five blocks to the inn. She passed couples strolling down the street as if they were standing still. At the moment, she didn’t care what people thought of her. They didn’t know her and wouldn’t remember her once she left this town to return to England.

As she passed an alleyway, she recalled there was a shorter way to get to the inn if she took a different path. Without giving it another thought, she turned up the alley and hurried faster. But from the echoes of quick footfalls stomping behind her, she wasn’t the only person going this way.

She glanced over her shoulder briefly to see who it was. There was something recognizable about the man coming at her. Until she remembered this man with orange hair had been talking to her brother earlier.

Coming to a quick halt, she faced him, ready to speak her mind and ask him why he would think Captain Hawk would be after her. “Why are you following—”

The man chuckled loudly in the most evil tone she’d ever heard and threw a blanket around her head as he wrapped his beefy arms around her so tight she didn’t think she could breathe. As she struggled and tried to scream, the man cackled.

“Now Captain Hawk will be mine very soon.”

Chapter Seventeen

Gabe sat at the small desk inside his room at the inn as he wrote correspondences to his friends, William Braxton and Marcus Thorne. Gabe needed all the help he could get in dealing with
Billingsford
, and Braxton and Thorne were as qualified as any man Gabe could think of right now.

Over the years, he’d kept in touch with both of his friends, happy to know they succeeded in having such successful marriages. William had two children with Mercedes now—twins, and Marcus and Isabelle just had their first child—a boy. One day Gabe hoped to join the rank of father, and with any luck, Emmie would hold the title of his wife very soon.

The knock on the door brought Gabe out of his thoughts of the future. “Enter.”

The door opened and Uncle Henry peeked inside. “Are you busy?”

“I’m just finishing some correspondences. Why? What is wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. I am bored.”

Gabe chuckled as he set his quill back in the ink bottle. “I would invite you in, but this room is small.” He pushed away from the desk and stood. “Would you like to venture downstairs to visit? Or take a walk instead?”

“I think we should take a walk.”

Nodding, Gabe grabbed his overcoat and shrugged into it. “A walk sounds refreshing.”

They moved down the stairs in silence. At the bottom, Gabe asked, “Where are Aunt Martha and Rebecca this afternoon?”

“Aunt Martha has a headache, so has taken to her bed, and Rebecca,” he paused, rolling his eyes, “she has been in a fit ever since she found out Lady Sarah has been played by Emiline’s maid all this time. Rebecca left a little while ago with her own personal maid to do some shopping. That’s what your cousin does when she’s upset, you know.”

Gabe laughed. “And chumming up with a maid and treating her like an actual person is so far beneath her that she has to throw a temper tantrum? Really, Uncle. That is just absurd.”

Henry threw back his head and laughed. “Well said, dear boy. But yes, she has been in a foul mood for a few days.”

Shaking his head, Gabe scratched his head. “I pity the man who marries her.”

Henry chuckled. “Watch your tongue, she is my daughter, you know. But…” He glanced around the spacious room. “I, too, pity the man,” he ended softly.

They walked out of the darkened inn and into the sunlight. Gabe squinted against the brightness until his eyes could adjust. “Speaking of marriage…”

Henry looked at him with raised eyebrows.

“I’m going to ask Emiline to be my wife.”

Henry beamed and slapped Gabe on the shoulder. “What an excellent choice. She is a wonderful young lady, and I think you and she will be very happy indeed.”

“I believe we will, Uncle. I do love her and have for a while now even though I didn’t want to admit it.”

“Admitting our love is very hard. It means we have to commit to a relationship, and for some men, that’s nearly impossible to do.”

“So true, Uncle. I’m glad to know it’s not just me who thinks that way.”

“But marriage to Emiline is a good thing, I assure you.”

“No need to assure me, Uncle. I do know how special Emiline is.”

Henry slowed his footsteps and leaned in closer to whisper, “You are not marrying her because of who her uncle is, are you?”

Gabe stopped, his head spinning. Strange, but he had nearly forgotten about her political uncle. Even though Emiline confessed to being a Patriot, her uncle was still the enemy. Gabe prayed she wouldn’t think he wanted to marry her to get closer to Oliver Townshend.

“Actually, Uncle Henry, that had not even crossed my mind. I love and will marry
her
—not her family. Although, I must remember to be very careful around both her father and uncle.”

“Yes, you don’t want to slip and say something that might give away your secrets.”

Gabe shook his head. “Not to worry, Uncle. I have been hiding secrets for a few years now. The only time I was ever caught was because of a woman who fooled me into believing she was a Patriot, and like an idiot, I let her seduce me.”

Henry’s jaw hardened. “I honestly don’t know how you or others can live your life in such a way—always cautious for fear of being captured.” He placed his hand on Gabe’s arm and squeezed. “But I do admire you for being so dedicated to the pursuit of freedom.”

“We only want to make our world better, Uncle. We want a better life for our posterity.”

“As it should be.”

Up ahead, hurrying up the street as if dogs were nipping at her heels, was
Emmie’s
mother and Elias. When they spotted Gabe, Daphne’s footsteps quickened, and Elias aimed a glare in Gabe’s direction. It surprised him to see Emmie was not with them.

When he reached the two, Gabe stopped, as did Henry.

“Good day.” Gabe bowed.

“Mrs. Townshend, what a pleasant surprise,” Henry said.

“Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Hampton.” Daphne’s tone was clipped. Elias continued to glare. “Mr. Lawrence, do you know where my daughter is?”

Gabe frowned. Worry starting to sprout in his chest. “No, Mrs. Townshend. I thought she was with you.”

“She was with us earlier today, but then suddenly she stated she had to see you and rushed out of the house before I could stop her.”

“When was that?” Gabe asked.

“Not more than an hour ago.”

“I assure you, I have been in my room at the inn up until my uncle and I left for a walk.” He studied their worried expressions, then glanced at Henry, who also wore the same type of expression. Panic grew in Gabe’s chest.

Elias stepped up to Gabe, and the nearly fifteen year old lad poked his finger into Gabe’s chest. “I demand you tell me what you have done with my sister.”

Gabe held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa, there, Elias. There is no need to get testy. I assure you, I have done nothing with your sister. I have not even seen her today.”

“You are lying!” Elias accused.

“Pardon me,
Mr. Townshend,
” Gabe snapped as the worry to find Emmie expanded in his chest, “but why would I lie? I love your sister and want to protect her.” He switched his attention to Daphne. “Tell me what happened. I need to know so I can find her.”

Mrs. Townshend studied Gabe for a few silent moments before her face relaxed and moisture coated her eyes—eyes that looked so much like Emiline’s that it tugged at Gabe’s heart. Helplessness settled in his gut, and he didn’t know what to do about it.

“I wish I knew, Mr. Lawrence. My daughter and I were having a most serious discussion, and I could see how upset it made her. I bade her to rest in my room for a little while. After several minutes she came back down in a fit and said she needed to find you posthaste. Before I could discover what was wrong, she ran out of the house.” Her lips trembled as she placed a shaky hand on Gabe’s arm. “Please help us find my daughter. I cannot lose her again.”

He grasped her hand and squeezed. “I assure you, I will locate Emmie. I love her, and I don’t wish to lose her, either.”

“You do not love her,” Elias snapped. “You only want to use her.”

Gabe released Daphne’s hand and glared at the boy. “Why are you saying such lies? What have I done to make you hate and distrust me?”

“Because… Well, I know about you.” He narrowed his eyes. “I know who you
really
are.”

Gabe’s heart dropped like a boulder in the sea. He glanced at Henry, and the color in his face had disappeared, as well. His eyes wide with fright.

Gabe swallowed hard and looked back at Elias. “And who do you think I am,
really
?”

“Two men told me you were Captain Hawk.” Accusing eyes glared back at Gabe.

He licked his suddenly dry lips, his mind scrambling for something intelligent to say. He snuck a peek at Daphne who thankfully, did not look as condemning as her son.

“From the stories I have heard about Captain Hawk for many years,” Gabe began, “the man would well be into his fiftieth year, wouldn’t he?” Gabe swept a hand around his face. “Do I honestly look like I’m that old?” Thankfully, he remembered when his friend had played Captain Hawk’s part and had said these very words.

Slowly, the angry expression on Elias’ face changed. No longer was he cocky and assured, but now doubt snuck across his creased forehead and tight lips.

“Well… I suppose you are not that age, but the men assured me—”

“Who were these men?” Henry said, almost in a shout. “Why do you trust them over the man your sister loves?”

Elias frowned and shrugged. “The naval officer was so convincing.”

Fear clutched Gabe’s heart once again. “A naval officer, you say? What did he look like?”