Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) (19 page)

Glancing down at the picture, she tried to keep herself from crying. The lady she stared at was indeed her mother, except an older version. Her father had kept a picture of her in his bedroom, which helped Emmie to remember. This was the same woman.

She forced herself to breathe normally again. “I—I—would like to meet her one day,” her voice squeaked.

“Yes. I’m sure I could arrange that. Daphne is living near the border of Salem, Massachusetts now. She’s the companion to a wealthy widow, Mrs. Estelle Winterbourne.”

Emmie’s
eyes rose and met her grandmother’s. “Is your daughter...married?”

The old woman’s face fell in sadness. “Not any longer. She was married once with a child, but the ship that carried her husband and daughter was attacked by pirates, killing all on board.”

What?
Emmie’s
heart stumbled in rhythm as her mind came to a screeching halt. This couldn’t be right. Georgia had just explained the same way Emmie was told Daphne had died. What was going on here?

“I suppose I should let the two of you get some rest,” Georgia said, taking back the miniature portrait. “Sleep well young ones and I will visit some more with you in the morning.” Georgia left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Emmie remained silent as she thought over everything Georgia had told her. This was so much to take in. This was her mother, for heaven’s sake, and her mother was still alive!

* * * *

Something was wrong! Gabe had been studying Emmie since the older woman handed her the picture. Being hungry had nothing to do with what ailed her now.

“All right, my darling Emmie. Are you going to tell me what is amiss now?”

She turned and met his gaze. “What do you mean?” Her voice shook.

Gabe gave her a sympathetic look, then reached up with his thumb and wiped her tears falling down her face. “You are crying, my dear. Tell me what ails you. I’ll not relent until you do, and you know how stubborn I can be.”

Her mouth cracked a smile, which made him smile. She was so pretty, even crying.

Biting her bottom lip, she looked hesitant to speak, but finally she took a deep breath. “The picture Georgia just showed us is a picture of my mother.”

Confusion filled him and he creased his forehead. “But I thought you said your mother was dead.”

Emmie shrugged. “I don’t understand any of this.” She sniffed and wiped the tears still streaking down her face. “For fifteen years, I have believed my mother was dead. Yet, Daphne is my mother. That miniature is my mother—but older.” She shook her head. “Nothing makes sense to me.”

He clutched her hands. “Then we must bring Georgia back and have her explain.”

Emmie tightened her hands on Gabe’s fingers. “No. Not yet. There is much I need to straighten out in my mind first.”

“But, Emmie—”

“Gabe, please. Trust me on this.”

Uncomfortable silence stretched between them as Gabe’s mind scrambled to sort this story out.
Emmie’s
actions were not making sense. He stroked his thumb over her knuckles, enjoying the closeness they shared—almost as much as he relished in holding and kissing her.

“Emmie, are you embarrassed that your mother will disapprove of your station in life?”

One of her perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted. “My
station in life
?”

“Yes. Because you are a lady’s companion and your father is poor.”

Uncertainty flickered in her brown orbs before she shook her head. “That’s not all of it, Gabe. Please do not ask. I’m not ready to tell you.”

Gabe leaned against his pillow, folding his arms across his chest. “You will feel better if you talk about it.”

“Soon I will.” She touched his arm. “Just not right now.”

“Oh, my sweet Emmie.” He took her in his arms and gently rocked her, while caressing her back tenderly. “My heart is breaking because I don’t know how to help you.” He rubbed his lips across her forehead.

“Holding me is helping.”

“Then I shall hold you all night if that is what you wish.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest, as sobs wracked her small body. Snuggling them down into the bed, he held and comforted her, all the while cursing the uncontrollable urge to become intimate with her. They were definitely closer now than they were before, and he had always been a ladies’ man…

He inwardly groaned. Now was certainly not the time to act like a love-sick boy. She needed his comfort right now no matter how badly he longed to kiss her. Unfortunately, holding her like this would be his downfall.

Indeed, tonight would be torture.

* * * *

Emmie pulled herself from a deep slumber. It took a lot of strength just to peel her eyes open. Exhaustion had taken its toll on her last night, and she felt as if she’d been running for three days straight. Her eyelids were heavy, and her head throbbed, yet at the same time, exhilaration blossomed in her chest. Her mother wasn’t dead after all, and the thought of finding her lifted
Emmie’s
spirits. Finally, they could be a family again! Perhaps then her father would cease this inane idea of bringing mayhem to the colonies alongside his brother.

Awareness surrounded her, and she realized she wasn’t in the bed she occupied while staying at the Hampton’s house. As her mind started working properly, she recalled being in Gabe’s arms and kissing him. He’d held her so tenderly last night, and just the thought made her sigh with happiness.

She turned her head to look at him, but he wasn’t on the bed. Propped against a cushioned chair, Gabe slumbered on the floor with a blanket over him near the fireplace. He looked so handsome lying there in an awkward position, and her heart melted to think he’d chosen to stay on the floor. Even though he didn’t act like it at times, he really was a gentleman. It pleased her to know he wasn’t going to take advantage of her situation and try to seduce her.

He’d been so gentle with her last night—so caring. It would be hard for her not to let her heart get involved. But she must stop this insanity now. Loving this man would come to no good. It didn’t matter if kissing him felt so right, loving him would be so wrong.

Quietly, she slipped out of bed and threw on a wrapper Georgia had brought to her last evening. What a dear woman—to be so kind to two strangers. And to think, this woman was Emiline’s grandmother!

Once the garment was around
Emmie’s
waist and tied, she tiptoed to the full length mirror in the room, fixing her hair so it wasn’t so disheveled. For some reason, the weather over here must be helping with her fullness because she hadn’t had such wavy hair before. Acting as a lady’s companion she naturally wanted it pulled tightly back in a bun, but as she stared at her reflection, she realized that she didn’t want it that way ever again. She wanted to be the enticing woman Gabe suggested she could be.

“Good morning, my lady.”

Gabe’s voice startled her. She jumped and turned around. He was still on the floor, stretching. His eyes met hers, and he smiled tenderly. Panic surged through her. Why did he refer to her as
my lady
? He couldn’t possibly know her true identity…and she prayed he hadn’t gone to talk to Georgia sometime during the night to discover the real story.

“Um…forgive me. Did I wake you?” she asked.

“Not at all, my lady. I didn’t sleep well, so hearing you awaken was quite a relief.”

Good grief! He called her
my lady
again. Had she talked in her sleep? “Gabe…why are you calling me
my lady
?”

Rubbing his forehead, he closed his eyes. “Oh blast it. I’m not quite awake, forgive me.” He looked at her again. “I should have called you Princess, instead.”

“But why?”

“Because of our wager. Remember? Today starts the beginning of the week.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s right. I had forgotten.”

“Well, luckily I have not.” He whipped off the blanket and stood. Thankfully, he was back to wearing his regular clothes.

After another stretch, he ambled over to her and kissed her forehead. “How do you feel this morning, my darling?”

Her heart fluttered from his endearment. “I have a headache.”

“That’s to be expected. You received quite a shock last night.”

She nodded. “I also did a lot of thinking.”

“What about?”

“I want to find my mother.”

“Of course you do.” He winked.

“Will…you help me?”

His expression wavered between panic and confusion as silence hung thick in the air. She waited for him to tell her he couldn’t help her, but the longer he stared, the softer his gaze became.

“Yes, I will.”

“Even if it means going to Salem with me? I recall you saying how much you loathe places like that.”

He chuckled lightly, sat on the edge of the bed and took her hands loosely in his. “I cannot believe you remembered that. But, yes, I will go with you.”

She smiled. “Thank you. You are such an exceptional man. You may not be of noble birth, but your actions show you should be.”

Gabe’s expression changed slightly. The color of his eyes turned darker—just the way she liked them—as he circled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. His gaze held hers captive even as he lowered his head, and placed his lips on hers. The kiss started out soft, but when sparks ignited inside her, she clung to his shoulders and answered his passionate kiss. This was what she needed. This would help her feel better again. He definitely knew how to kiss a woman to make her swoon. Dizziness assailed her.

She participated fully in the kiss. With every breath she seemed to draw closer to his body. She loved sliding her palms over his muscular shoulders and threading her fingers through his thick hair. Although she took pleasure in kissing him, she knew she shouldn’t. Nothing could ever become of her love if she chose to give her heart to him. He lived here, and she in England. And her father would definitely not approve of the match because Gabe didn’t have a title.

Emmie slowed the kiss before pulling away and gazing into his eyes. So dreamy they made her knees weak. “As much as I would love to stay and continue this, I need to find Georgia.”

“What for?” he asked, his voice deeper than she’d ever heard.

Heat bathed her face. “Uh…womanly needs.”

Chuckling, he withdrew and stood. “Then by all means, go find Georgia.”