Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series)

by Marie Higgins

  She focused on the captain. A half empty bottle of spirits sat on the table and she smiled. “Good evening, Henry,” she whispered.

  “Take off your cloak.”

  Steadying her hands, she unhooked her garment and let it fall to the floor. Henry’s quick intake of breath told her he approved of her choice of dress. It had taken three servants to alter one of Kat’s old gowns to make it more alluring, more scandalous.

  Henry dropped the stick from his fingers and his mouth hung agape. From the corner cell, Gabriel groaned. He rested his head against the bars. Her heart wrenched for this man and what he must be thinking of her.

  “Woman, you are beautiful.” Henry’s gaze attached to her. “Come here.”

  She swallowed hard and took her first step toward him, and with each step, her heart hammered faster. By the time she stood in front of him, her chest heaved so hard from fear she thought she’d lose what little was in her stomach. When he reached out, she held her breath, willing herself to remain strong. He grasped a lock of hair and caressed, then let his fingers slide down the strands.

  “You are very lovely tonight, my dear.”

  She forced a laugh. “Thank you.” She let an uneasy breath out. “But I think I need a drink. Are you going to share that bottle or horde it all night?”

  He tore his hand away and grabbed the bottle, bringing it up to his lips. He gulped back a good amount before handing it over to her. She took it, brought it to her mouth and tipped it back. She pretended to swallow, but kept her lips firmly pressed together so nothing would enter her mouth. She hoped Henry could not tell the difference.

  She glanced at Gabriel. His mouth was pulled into a frown and he shook his head. “Why are you doing this? I thought you loved William.”

  Pain gripped her heart, and she wanted to tell him the truth. But now was not the time. He’d understand...soon.

  After placing the bottle on the table, she stepped closer to Henry. “Are you ready for what I have planned?”

  Henry nodded. As he reached for her, his body swayed. She prayed he’d lose consciousness soon. Her wish had been granted, because just as he gave her a lazy grin, his body crumbled to the floor.

  She let out a deep sigh. “Oh, thank the Lord.” She looked back at Gabriel. “Do you honestly think I would betray William? I love him completely.”

  Gabriel nodded, a smile slowly stretching across his face. “Thank you, Mercedes.”

  She knelt beside the captain and grabbed the set of keys off his belt then threw them to Gabriel. “While you find the right key to get out, I shall remove his clothes. You will need to dress in them so we can walk out of the jail together. The other soldiers will not realize you are their prisoner that way.”

  “I can certainly do that.” He jiggled each key in the lock, but nothing was opening the cell. He growled. “I cannot find the right key.”

  Behind Mercedes, shrill laughter echoed through the room. Chills of fear scattered throughout her body, making her heart sink. She spun around just as a figure of a cloaked woman walked out from the shadows.

  “And you will not find the right key, either.” The other woman held up the brass object in her hand. “Sorry, but your rescue plan will not work, Mercedes. There is nothing you can do to save William’s friend.”

  Mercedes gasped, her cold, shaky hands flying to her mouth. That voice. It sounded like…but couldn’t be. Kat was dead! And the woman stalking toward Mercedes had blonde hair. She couldn’t be her deceased sister. “Who...are you?”

  The woman’s shriek of laughter made Mercedes’ stomach churn. Dear Lord, no!

  The other woman drew nearer and yanked Mercedes to her feet. “Who am I? I am the woman in charge now, and I am the one who will destroy your dreams.” She raised the bottle Henry had been drinking and slashed it through the air and down on Mercedes’ head.

  Pain pierced her skull and her world turned black.

  Chapter Nineteen

  William sat forward and focused his gaze out the carriage window, waiting for his wife and Gabe to exit the jail. The silvery full moon gave him plenty of light to keep a close eye on the soldiers from down the street, and thankfully, most of them had passed out minutes ago. Any time now, Mercedes and his friend should leave the jail. There was no room for their plans to go awry.

  Then why did his gut clench as if something had gone seriously wrong? He wiped the moisture from his palms against his legs. His heart hammered, and all he heard was the pounding in his head. What if Mercedes screamed and he couldn’t hear?

  Growling, he slid off the seat, pushed open the door and jumped out of the carriage. The driver’s head snapped his way and he leaned forward as if ready to spring into action. William held up his hand and stopped him. “No need to fear, Timothy. I am merely a little anxious.”

  Timothy nodded. “I am nervous, meself.”

  “Have you heard anything?”

  The older man shook his head. “Not a sound, sir.”

  William let out a frustrated breath and raked his fingers through his hair. “Do you think everything is all right?”

  “Aye, sir. If I know Mrs. Braxton, she will get the task done.”

  “Yes, but I am worried about her.” William flexed his hands as he paced the length of the carriage. He looked toward the jail every chance he could. What was taking them so long?

  A shadow drew his attention. He stopped and stared. He narrowed his eyes toward the movement by the door. When the figure of a cloaked woman hurried outside, he sighed and relaxed his hands. But where was Gabe? Something terrible must have happened.

  Hurrying inside the carriage, he waited for his wife to join him. When the door opened, he took her hand and helped her in.

  “Where is Gabe?”

  She sat across from him and lowered her hood. Her eyes were wide as she shook her head. “Everything proceeded as planned.” She wrung her hands against her stomach. “Captain Wilkes became intoxicated and passed out.” She sniffled. The moon’s glare through the window showed tears in her eyes. “But we could not find the key to Gabe’s cell. When one of the other soldiers came in, I knew there was nothing I could do.” She shrugged. “I hurried and left before they suspected my true purpose for being there.”

  William balled his hands and hit the seat. It wasn’t Mercedes’ fault, yet the plan should have worked. “Did the soldier say anything?”

  “Thankfully, Captain Wilkes was mostly undressed, so I pretended to act intoxicated, also. The soldier didn’t have to ask what was going on. He knew.” She moved next to him on the seat and touched his hand. “But now what will we do?”

  He raked his fingers through his hair, his chest tightening. Time was running out. The soldiers had scheduled the hanging two days hence.

  “I will think of something, my love.” He caressed her cheek. “I appreciate your willingness to help. You have been very supportive, and I love you for it.”

  “I wish I could do more.”

  He took her in his arms. She rested her head against his chest and he closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. But she didn’t smell the same. Of course, alcohol overpowered any other smell about her, but there was also something different. Yet he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

  Silence stretched through the carriage during the ride home. He wracked his brain with ideas, but every one of them had a flaw. Whatever the Sons of Liberty did to break Gabe out of jail, they would have to cover their tracks. They couldn’t afford to get another man arrested.

  Mercedes’ silence bothered him. It wasn’t her fault the plan hadn’t worked. No doubt she blamed herself. He’d have to ease her worries. But how could he do that when he feared for his friend’s life?

  Timothy pulled the team to a stop in front of the house. Mercedes moved to leave, but William grasped her arm. She swung her head and looked at him.

  “My darling, it is not your fault. Please do not blame yourself for tonight’s mishap. I shall find a way to release Gabe, I promise.”

>   “I know you will.”

  Timothy opened the door and helped Mercedes down. William climbed out behind her.

  “Thank you, Timothy.”

  The older servant’s wide-eyes followed Mercedes. Unease pricked up William’s spine. Why was he looking at her that way? “Timothy? Is something amiss?”

  The man blinked and shook his head. “No, Mr. Braxton. Nothing. It is just that...well, Mrs. Braxton seems out of sorts this evening.”

  “That, she is. Rest assured, I will take care of the problem.”

  Timothy nodded, then turned and climbed back on top of the carriage.

  William hurried inside. Mercedes stood next to Beth as she shrugged out of her cloak. The maid bobbed once, then turned and left the room. He ran his gaze over the very provocative dress his wife had altered for tonight’s purpose. Although sensual, she looked too much like Kat at this moment. That, in itself bothered him.

  She turned and caught his stare. A smile stretched across her face and she hooked her hand around his elbow, and pressed against his arm. “Shall we retire for bed?”

  “Yes.” He kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you go on ahead? I shall be up momentarily. There is too much on my mind right now to sleep.”

  She giggled. “Who said anything about sleep?”

  “No, my dear. Not tonight. I need to think of a way to release Gabe.”

  She huffed and folded her arms across her bosom. He narrowed his eyes, a slight throb beginning in his forehead. Why was she acting in this manner? She should be as upset as he right now...so why did she act like nothing had gone wrong this evening?

  He stroked her cheek. “I promise not to stay up too late.”

  “I shall await you.” She closed the space between them and linked her arms around his neck. “I will need you to keep me warm tonight.” She stood on her toes and placed her mouth over his. The kiss wasn’t the same as when he’d kissed her before. Perhaps it was because Mr. Percy’s homemade brew stained her lips.

  He broke the kiss and pulled back. Through her half-closed eyes, he detected a glaze. “Mercedes, I thought you were not going to drink with the captain tonight.”

  She shrugged. “I had to act my part. Captain Wilkes would not believe me any other way.”

  He nodded and kissed her forehead. “Go to bed and sleep it off, my love. Have Beth help you to bed.” He chuckled. “I fear you will have a headache in the morning.”

  She pouted and turned away, stomping up the stairs.

  Strange behavior for certain, but then, he’d never seen his wife intoxicated before.

  * * * *

  The following morning, Katherine groaned as she held her head. The constant throb had gotten worse, and it wasn’t from last night’s entertainment, either. She suffered from some kind of illness, but so far, no physician could tell her why the headaches remained constant and happened more frequently.

  Forcing her eyelids open, she glanced around the bedroom and scowled. Her sister had moved into William’s room, and it took all of Kat’s willpower to crawl into William’s bed last night. Thankfully, he didn’t join her.

  Her father had wanted Mercedes to marry William, and thought Kat was her twin. Kat didn’t correct the mistake because she needed this adventure. She chuckled. When Kat first laid eyes on William, she thought him handsome, yet the mere idea of marriage appalled her, as if invisible bands tightened around her, suffocating her. She wanted to be free—free to be with whomever she chose. And William was not on that list.

  She yanked off the blankets and climbed out of bed. Early mornings were not her forte, but it was imperative to get to the old abandoned barn where Henry had taken Mercedes last night. That is…she hoped Henry had been sober enough to take Mercedes there.

  Once she’d knocked the bottle over Mercedes’ head, she’d splashed cold water on her drunken man. It took a few tries, but soon he’d opened his eyes. She had changed clothes with her sister. Gabe had stared wide-eyed at her, his mouth agape, but he hadn’t muttered one word. Perhaps nobody had told him about William’s wife’s twin.

  Squinting, Kat weaved her way across the floor to the washbasin, holding her head. She fell against the table, nearly knocking over the pitcher of water. Water ran over the fingers of her left hand and she stared down at the ring William had given Mercedes. Once her sister had been knocked unconscious, Kat yanked the ring off her sister’s finger and placed it on her own. She must not give William any reason to suspect she wasn’t Mercedes.

  Kat blinked the fuzziness out of her eyes then cursed the early morning. She grabbed a hand towel and splashed water on her face. The cold liquid only made her foul mood worse, and she threw the cloth against the wall.

  Where was Beth?

  She careened to the closet and yanked open the door. The dresses hanging before her were not the gowns she wanted to see. She gritted her teeth and bunched her hands. Why had Mercedes ruined everything?

  Preparing herself for the day took longer than usual, only because of her intense headache, but soon she was dressed and ready. She ran her fingers through her hair, tying the bulk with a ribbon. This would have to do.

  She opened the door and peeked down the hall. Hopefully William wasn’t up and about this early. She tiptoed out and closed the door behind her. Taking careful steps, she sneaked over to the staircase, listening to hear any movements from below.

  Just as she placed her foot on the first stair, the gentle pitter-patter of feet scurried across the floor. She jerked around and looked into the wide eyes of James and Lizzy still wearing their nightclothes. Her hand flew to her chest, thinking to stop her heart from jumping right out.

  “Mother? Where are you going?” James asked.

  She gasped, anger bubbling inside her. “I am not your mother.”

  A frown marred James’ mouth, and tears gathered in Lizzy’s eyes. James nodded. “Yes you are.”

  Kat folded her arms across her chest, tilting her head as she glared down at them. “Listen, you little hindrance, I am not in the mood for arguments this morning. Now leave me.”

  The whining little girl choked out a sob and leaned into her brother. He wrapped his arms around her and patted her shoulder. Kat rolled her eyes. Simpletons, the both of them.

  “Do not look at me like that, you little fool.” Kat flipped her hand in the air toward them. “And take your sister with you. The sight of you makes my stomach crawl.” She turned around, hurried down the stairs and out the front door. Lifting her dress almost to her knees, she darted across the yard to the stable.

  “Hyrum? Make haste and get my mount ready.”

  The boy stumbled out of the tack room, fastening his breeches. “Yessum, Miz Braxton.”

  She walked to the door and peeked out. No signs of William. She breathed deeply, keeping close watch.

  After what seemed hours, Hyrum led the horse to her. “Here ye go, Miz Braxton.”

  She grumbled and pulled herself up on top the horse. With a yell, she snapped the reins and took off in the direction of the abandoned barn across the field and over the river.

  * * * *

  Mercedes forced her eyes open, ignoring the pain slicing through her skull. The room tilted. Nausea spun in her stomach and she clenched her jaw to keep from disgracing herself. She tried to roll over, but her feet wouldn’t move. Even her hands were bound together.

  What the devil?

  A dirty floor came into view, followed by cobwebs and hay. She squinted against the morning light pouring through the dust-streaked window beside her. She moved her hands, but the ropes burned her wrists. Her mouth tasted of dirty cotton because of the cloth resting between her teeth. She ran her tongue across the material, then gagged again. What was going on?

  Deep laughter lanced through her head. Like a spear, the rough sound pierced the already painful tissues. Through squinted vision, she peered toward the sound. In the corner of the barn, leaning up against the wall, Captain Wilkes stood wearing a cocky grin.

  “
Ah, my dear, you are finally awake.”

  She scowled. The imbecile. Of course she was awake.

  He pulled away from the wall and sauntered toward her holding a bottle of whiskey. “Thought you might like a drink to dull the pain in your head. Your sister whacked you pretty good last night.”

  Although Mercedes would rather not drink alcohol, she needed something to moisten her dry throat—and an excuse for him to take this vile rag out of her mouth. She nodded. The pain in her skull throbbed, making her wince. He knelt beside her and loosened the gag. Once it had been removed, she opened her mouth, stretching her achy jaw.

  “Here.” He held the bottle to her lips. “Just take a little sip, now.”

  She studied his eyes, evil as the devil himself. The liquor touched her tongue, then burned her throat. She pulled away and the whiskey dribbled down her jaw to her neck. She coughed, but the scalding pain in her throat increased.

  He threw his head back and laughed. “It would appear you have not formed a liking for spirits.”

  She glared at him. “My throat was dry, you dolt.”

  “So last night you were just pretending?” he asked.

  She bit her lips together, not wanting to even waste her breath on him.

  “You know, if not for your sister, I would have never known the difference.” He touched her hair and rubbed a lock between his finger and thumb. He grinned. “I really cannot tell the two of you apart.”

  Her stomach lurched again, and this time she prayed something would come up and dump on him. Her prayers went unanswered. She cleared her throat. “Where is my sister?”

  “She will be here momentarily. I am certain she is as thrilled to visit with you as you are to visit with her.”

  “Not likely,” Mercedes muttered.

  He laughed again and stood. “I have no idea what your sister has planned for you, but let me tell you a bit of information. Your lover will be hanged, just as his friend Gabriel.”