Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) (33 page)

“I’m assuming it was because he wanted to look important and powerful in front of you, so that you would leave me alone.” Emmie chuckled.

“He should not have done that.” Elias pouted.

“Why? It worked, didn’t it?”

Both Emmie and her mother laughed while Elias rolled his eyes, turned and walked ahead of them.

Her mother linked her arm around
Emmie’s
and patted her hand. “So tell me, what are your feelings for Mr. Lawrence? Is there something I should be concerned about?”

Emmie shrugged. “What makes you think I have any sort of feelings for him?”

“My dear, I’m not blind. I can see you both have feelings for each other.”

“No, Mother…we
had
feelings for each other. Gabe is upset with me right now, which I’m certain was obvious by the way he looked at me.”

“Why is he upset?”

“Because I never got the chance to explain to him why I lied about who I was.”

Daphne slowed her steps and looked into
Emmie’s
eyes. “Then you need to find the chance to tell him, or both of you will be miserable. What if I invite him to Mrs. Winterbourne’s home tonight, and—”

“No, Mother. I doubt he will come.”

Daphne frowned. “Then we shall give him a few days to think about how miserable he is before finding a way to talk to him.”

Emmie couldn’t stop the smile sneaking on her face. “Yes, I think that is a splendid idea. And it will serve him right to be miserable right now.”

As they continued their walk, she prayed that she would find a time—and a place—to speak with Gabe. And she hoped it would be soon. She couldn’t go on being so happy with her mother, yet at the same time unhappy because of Gabe.

* * * *

The night was late, but Gabe didn’t care as he walked toward his room at the inn. The run-in with Emmie earlier this afternoon had left him in a fit of despair.

She was now
Lady Sarah,
and he felt like such a buffoon—as if everyone was laughing at him, knowing she’d played him for a fool.

He certainly didn’t like feeling this way. Captain Hawk would have
never
allowed a woman to treat him as such, so why Gabe was letting one do so now, he didn’t know.

Only a few candles were lit in the hallway, but he found his room without any problem. He opened his door and walked in—then stopped. A brighter candle lit his room. Strange, since the only time he’d been in his room today was to wash up and change his clothes after his night of drinking.

Then a movement from the end of his bed drew is attention as a woman came toward him from that direction of the room. As she walked into the light, he recognized her. Relief sprang from his throat in a sigh, yet the beating of his heart started another worry in his chest.

“Emiline. What are you doing here?”

“I must speak with you in private.” She motioned her hand around the room. “We cannot get any more private than this.”

He opened the door again. “I wish you would leave. We have nothing to discuss.”

“Close the door, Gabe. I’m not going anywhere, and if you try to make me leave by force, I shall scream and wake the whole inn.”

Frowning, he closed the door and glared at her. “What makes you think I would use any force? Don’t you know me by now?”

She shrugged and stepped closer. “I thought I did. But apparently, we both have secrets.”

“Besides being the duke’s daughter, what else are you hiding?”

“My reasons for playing the part of lady’s companion.”

“Then I suggest you keep them hidden, because I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” He unbuttoned his overcoat and shrugged it off, laying it over the back of a wooden chair which stood near the window.

“You may not want to hear, but I’m going to tell you, anyway.”

Her tone of voice was stern.
Stubborn woman!
Then again…that came as no surprise. She’d always been that way.

“Gabe, I did what I did not to play a trick on you and your family, but because I had to. My father was fearful of the danger I would be in if people knew I was Oliver Townshend’s niece. He trusted your uncle and aunt, but since he could not trust anyone else, Father had me play the part of Lady Sarah’s companion. Then when you told me about the driver of our coach wanting to harm Lady Sarah—and then those men who came to your uncle’s estate when we were riding the countryside—I knew I had to keep my identity hidden.” She took a deep breath. “I know I should have trusted you since we were growing close, but for years I have longed to feel normal—for someone to treat me normal instead of a duke’s daughter. In London, men courted me, but I knew the only reason they were interested in me was because of my large dowry.”

He really didn’t want to hear this, because the longer he listened to her sultry voice and looked upon her beauty, his heart was softening. He didn’t want that kind of reaction. She lied to him, no matter what her excuses were.

“Emmie, you must give yourself more credit than that. You are a very lovely woman.”

She laughed lightly as a small blush touched her cheeks. “Apparently, only to you. Out of all the sonnets and flowery words told to me, my beaus never once called me a lovely woman.”

“Then the men in London must be blind.”

She shook her head. “Or perhaps you like me a bit more than they did.” Stepping closer, she kept her eyes locked with his. “Gabe, I know you like me, and I also know how upset you are right now. But I knew I must talk to you before the day passed.”

“Emmie, a lie is a lie no matter how much you sweeten it up, and I cannot condone it, or forgive you.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Can you stand there and tell me you have never lied to me?”

He scowled. “What do you mean?”

“Or is it just the Earl of Wilshire who lies?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not an earl.”

“Yes you are, you just haven’t accepted that fact yet.”

“Who told you?”

“Your aunt.”

More anger shot through him. “Did my aunt tell you why?”

“No.”

Growling, he scrubbed his hand over his chin. “What else has she told you that I have not given her permission to disclose?”

“She told me a little about your family. She also told me that you spend a lot of time on a ship—”

“Exactly! I spend time on a ship because that’s what I enjoy doing. I love the taste of the salt air on my tongue, and the sea breeze blowing through my hair. I love commanding a crew, as well.”

“Pardon me?”

“Oh,” he shouted, flipping his hands in the air. “Let me guess… The high and mighty duke’s daughter doesn’t approve of a ship’s captain? Is that too far beneath you?”

Fury shot through her eyes and her lips thinned. Before he could say another word, her hand sailed through the air, and her palm met his cheek dead center. The sound of the slap echoed through the room.

“That was uncalled for,” she snapped.

He rubbed his stinging cheek, and continued, “Well, if that was uncalled for, I’m sure you will be very happy to hear that I cannot stand people like you. I loathe the people in England. I hate the King and all that he is doing to the American colonies.” He stood straighter and lifted his chin. “And like it or not, I’m a Patriot! Now my dear,
Lady Sarah,
what do you have to say about that?” He pointed to his other cheek. “This one hasn’t been slapped. Feel free to release your anger on this side as well.”

She gasped, her hand flying to her throat. Wide, surprised, eyes stared at him for a few awkward minutes as her bosom rose and fell quickly in uneven breaths. He had certainly caught her off guard with that confession. Thank heavens his anger didn’t loosen his lips to tell her that he was also Captain Hawk and part of the group called
The Sons of Liberty.
That bit of information would have her running back to Boston to tell her father and political uncle.

Finally, she took a deep breath and released it slowly. Within seconds her expression changed, and anger was nowhere in sight. Instead, she looked almost…pleased.

“You want to know what I
have to say about that
?” she inquired sweetly.

She stepped closer until she was right in front of him. Her gown even brushed against his legs. Now he could see her striking eyes better…and they were definitely not shooting out fireballs from hell this time.

Emiline toyed with the buttons on his waistcoat while staring up into his eyes. “Are you sure you want to hear my answer?”

What game was she playing with him now? He wanted to hear her answer…although he still waited for her to deliver another slap on the face—one he definitely deserved this time. “Yes.”

“I think your confession was the most wonderful thing I have ever heard.” Her gaze dropped to his lips from a brief moment before bouncing up to meet his eyes. “Although I’m from England, I feel the same way you do about our King, and I sympathize with those over here in the colonies. If only there was something I could do to help—”

Gabe cut her off by grabbing her and pulling her against him as he captured her mouth in a fiery kiss. Never had he expected such a confession from her, and hearing her sweet words melted his heart faster than a roaring fire could.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hungrily returned his kiss. His heart burst in his chest as love poured out. He rubbed his hands over her back, pulling her closer—so close as if to make her part of him.

As she caressed his hair and neck, each touch, each stroke let him know what was in her heart—better than any words could at this moment. Then again, he didn’t want to break the kiss to find out. He took pleasure in the way her mouth fit with his as their bodies practically melded together.

He lifted her and carried her the few steps to his bed, before laying them both on the mattress. She broke the kiss and smiled. He caressed her hair as he stared dreamily into her eyes.

“Does this mean you have forgiven me for being a donkey’s hind end?” he asked.

“I don’t know… I’m still considering it.”

“Will a few more kisses help you make up your mind?”

Her eyes twinkled. “It certainly could not hurt.”

He placed his mouth over hers again, but this time kissed her with such gentleness it nearly had him going insane for more. A soft groan escaped her throat as she cuddled closer.