Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) (8 page)

She refused to believe he was enamored with Anna because she was pretty. Men only wanted to court Emiline because of who her father was, so it had to be the same with Anna. It just had to be.

“Do you think that’s why he gave me so much attention?” Anna asked sheepishly.

Emmie fisted her hands as she stormed to the drawer to retrieve a nightdress for Anna. “It is. That’s why everyone acted the way they did tonight. Out here in this country town, they have probably never met a duke’s daughter before.”

“Oh.” Anna’s excitement sobered drastically.

Inwardly, Emiline cringed. Obviously, she’d hurt her friend with the way she snapped at Anna. But something needed to be said to deflate her friend’s enthusiasm. “After I get you ready for bed, I am going to go outside and take a walk, all right?”

Anna shrugged. “Why are you asking me?
You
are the duke’s daughter, after all.”

Irritation flowed through Emiline and she sighed. “I was just letting you know my plans for the evening.”

“Fine,” Anna snapped as she sat on the chair in front of the vanity and pulled out the pins in her hair. “I do not care if you go for a walk in the dark this late at night without a proper chaperone.”

“You forget,” Emmie countered, picking up a brush, “everyone thinks of me as a lady’s companion. They are not going to wonder why I’m by myself.”

As she finished brushing Anna’s hair, silence grew in the room and became insufferable. Emiline realized she shouldn’t be so upset, but it was hard not to feel like this. She didn’t want her maid to think it was her fault because Emmie was angry. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to smile.

“Anna, I forgot to tell you that I think you performed well this evening. Nobody could tell you were not the real Lady Sarah.”

Hesitantly, Anna’s gaze lifted in the mirror and met Emiline’s. “Indeed? You really think so?”

“I do. I’m certain my father would have complimented you as well.” She chuckled. “You do look more like my family than you think.”

Suddenly, Anna’s eyes widened. “Oh, I just remembered something I overheard tonight.” She grasped Emiline’s hands. “I heard rumors that Mr. Hampton is related to Captain Hawk.”

Confusion filled
Emmie’s
head and she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around what Anna was saying. “Captain Hawk?”

“Yes, the captain of
The
Avenger
—the pirate ship that attacked the very ship your mother sailed on and was killed.”

The shock of the news gushed out of Emiline’s lips as she lost her breath. The brush fell from her hand, thudding to the floor as an icy chill ran through her blood. “That cannot be right,” she whispered in disbelief. “Mr. Hampton is friends with my father. Would my father not know this?”

“I’m thinking he does not, Emmie.”

“But why…why would Mr. Hampton agree to have me stay here knowing it was his relative who killed his best friend’s wife?”

“I don’t’ know—unless Mr. Hampton is not on speaking terms with his relative now, and he must have thought you would not ever know.”

Emiline’s heartbeat gradually returned to normal as she tossed the idea back and forth in her mind. “What you said makes sense, Anna. After all, I believe the pirate is fighting for the Patriots, and Mr. Hampton obviously sides with our Mother England.”

“Yes.”

Emmie sighed and nodded. “That must be what happened. I shall not blame Mr. Hampton for something his relative did.”

“You have a forgiving heart.”

After Anna climbed into bed for the night, Emmie quickly left the room and made her way down the stairs. Her maid had said she had a forgiving heart, but Emmie didn’t feel like she did at this moment. She wanted to know the truth. Who was this so-called relative of Mr. Hampton’s? And why was her mother killed so violently? The mystery to her mother’s death was never fully explained.

Outside, the cool air stroked
Emmie’s
face, relaxing her slightly. Breathing in deeply, she hoped it would cool her temper as well. This whole night had been an emotional ride for her. First with watching Mr. Lawrence woo Anna…and now hearing the news about the relative. Hopefully, she would be able to collect herself and continue as she’d had thus far.

If they had only stayed in England instead of coming to the Colonies, none of this would have happened. Her father wouldn’t have had the insane notion of Emmie playing the role of lady’s companion, and she wouldn’t have had to discover Anna’s talent for acting. Moreover, they wouldn’t have met the very handsome Mr. Lawrence, and she wouldn’t be having these strange feelings of jealousy. Emiline always envied her friend for being pretty, but had never let it get this far out of control.

She wished now they could return home and everything would be the way it was. She missed her father and her other friends. This was really the first time she had been so far away from home. However, time away would be good for her, she just needed to have patience…which was something she never had.

In her wandering, she found herself on the back terrace. Most of the guests from the party had left, and only a few servants milled about cleaning up. Luckily, a few lamps were still lit on the lawn, giving her the lighting she needed for her walk. Pausing, she leaned against the railing and looked up at the moon. It appeared so big tonight, much larger than she had ever seen, and she had looked at the moon quite a bit in her lonely life.

“Now, why am I not surprised to find you out here this late after dark, and all alone?”

The man’s deep voice from behind made her jump. She whirled around to face the intruder. When Gabe walked closer, her heart pounded faster. Automatically, her hand flew to her bosom as if to stop the wild beating beneath her chest. Being alone with him out here was certainly not proper. Yet, leaving was not an option!

“Mr. Lawrence, you frightened the wits out of me.”

He chuckled. “Forgive me, but I thought you would have heard me coming. I made enough noise to wake the household.”

She grinned. “I suppose I was lost in thought and didn’t hear.”

He moved closer until he stood next to her, leaning his hip against the railing. “What, may I ask, were you thinking of? It must have been enthralling to keep you from hearing my loud entrance.”

“No. It was not that intriguing. I was just thinking of home.”

“Are you homesick?”

She nodded. “I have never been this far away.”

“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do to help you keep your mind off home?”

A teasing glimmer sparked his eyes, letting her know he wasn’t serious in trying to give comfort. This look was definitely different from the way he looked at Anna tonight. “I thank you for your thoughtfulness, but there is nothing you can do.”

He grinned then glanced over her. She shifted, uncomfortable under his close scrutiny, yet a heated chill ran over her, warming her considerably.

“I have to admit,” he said, “you do look different somehow.”

She arched her eyebrows in question. “Is that good or bad?”

He laughed deeply. “If you don’t mind my candidness, I think your dress looks slightly outdated, and it’s a little large on your small frame. This particular style of dress does not fit you, either. It doesn’t match your bold personality.”

She couldn’t hold back from laughing. Wouldn’t he love to know why… “Well, I’m sorry you don’t approve. Maybe Lady Sarah and I can travel into town tomorrow to find a dressmaker. Would that make you happy?”

He shrugged. “I would have to see what style of dress she picks for you first.”

She shook her head. There was no point trying to convince him what kind of dress she would look better in. It would just waste her time if she tried. She ran her gaze over his attire, noticing he had discarded his coat, make her realize just broad his shoulders really were. Very masculine, indeed!

She grinned. “I hope you do not think I’m forward in saying that you look just as superb in fancy clothes as you do when donned in a towel.”

His eyes widened mere seconds before he tilted back his head and howled with laughter. “Oh, you are a humorous one, Miss Emmie. And although it was rather forward of you to say, I appreciate your boldness. It’s not very often I find a woman who is so openly honest.”

One side of her mouth lifted in half of a grin. “Now, is
that
good or bad?”

“That is good.”

She smiled fully. “I thank you, then.”

He continued to boldly scan her with his enticing gaze, wearing his all too cocky grin. “You probably noticed I had spent a lot of time with Lady Sarah tonight.”

Emmie lost her smile. “Indeed, I did notice.”

He turned, leaning his back along the railing as he looked up into the night sky. “Lady Sarah is a very beautiful woman, but you have probably heard men say that about her before.”

“I have,” she mumbled.

“She doesn’t talk much, though.”

“She is a little demure.”

He looked down at her. “She really didn’t tell me that much about herself and so I cannot understand why she is like that.” He paused briefly then continued. “You must know why she’s so shy. Couldn’t you give me a little information about her?”

Pulling herself away from the railing, Emmie slowly walked along the side of the terrace, sliding her fingers along the wooden gate as she went. “Forgive me, Mr. Lawrence, but I cannot help you. Lady Sarah is always reserved around people she doesn’t know.”

“Why?”

She shrugged without looking his way. “That’s just the way she is.” Emiline didn’t want to tell him it was because she couldn’t trust men. Usually when they proclaimed their love, it was only to be the duke’s son-in-law.

“How long have you been her lady’s companion?”

Emiline stopped at the end of the railing to where a rosebush was in full bloom, and gently ran her finger around one of the yellow petals. “I don’t know if she told you this, but we are distant relatives. I became a lady’s companion a few years ago when I needed to find employment to help provide an income for my poor family. Her father was very generous to allow me this position in his household.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “Why do you ask?”

“I just wondered why some of your personality didn’t rub off onto her, since the two of you had been together for a while.”

She shrugged, turning her attention back to the rose. “We have only been together a few short years, as I’d mentioned. She grew up with more privileges and I did not. Whether or not that gave me a bolder personality, I couldn’t tell you.”

“Do I hear resentment in your voice?”