The confusion inside Gabe deepened and he shook his head. “What does knowing the duke have to do with Emmie’s mother?”
Henry growled and scrubbed his hand over his chin. “Oh, good grief. Will you stop asking so many questions?”
“I would, Uncle…if you were making any sense at all.” He folded his arms. “But I don’t see how knowing the duke relates to Emmie’s long-lost mother.”
“Augh!”
Henry threw up his hands and marched away from the inn. Gabe followed, wondering what made his uncle so irritable.
“I should not be the one saying this,” he grumbled as if talking to himself.
“Uncle, I think you should tell me. That will stop both of us from being confused.”
Sighing in defeat, Henry slumped against the side of the building, holding his head as if it would explode at any moment. “But you don’t understand…it’s not my confession to give.”
“Uncle,” Gabe said sternly. “If you don’t tell me now, I may just beat it out of you.”
Dropping his hands, Henry looked point-blank at Gabe. “This evening I met a young man who claimed to be the son of my good friend, Forester Townshend, Duke of Penrose. After the confusion of him thinking my footman was a girl, the lad continued to perplex me even more. My first thought was that my good friend had sired a child out of wedlock, but the more the lad talked, I realized his mother was Forester’s deceased wife, Daphne…and she was not dead at all.”
As Henry’s words registered in Gabe’s brain, shock spread through him like icy fingers, numbing him quickly. The pain in his heart he’d had about Emiline leaving him changed and left a different hollow feeling—a pain that only deceit could create.
He swallowed the dryness consuming his throat. “If Daphne is Emiline’s mother, then the duke is really her father?”
Reluctantly, Henry nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“Emiline is…Lady Sarah?”
“Yes.” He shrugged. “Why she wanted to disguise her true identity, I don’t know, unless it was a way to protect herself.” He placed a hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “I have known about her switch for a little while now.”
“Is her name really Emiline?”
“Yes. Her full name is Sarah Emiline Townshend.”
Gabe’s mind swam in different directions, and he had a hard time putting two thoughts together let alone trying to deal with all of this information right now. “Who is the woman playing Lady Sarah, then?”
“I’m assuming she is the maid.”
“And the young man who found her in the tree…that’s her brother?”
“Yes. He was attending the dinner party with a young lady and her parents.”
Gabe rubbed his eyes, realizing the dull throb was moving from his forehead down his face. “I can’t understand any of this,” he muttered.
Henry squeezed Gabe’s shoulder. “My dear nephew, have you perhaps given your heart to Emiline?”
Gabe hardened his jaw and glared at his uncle. “I cannot abide women who lie, so giving my heart to her would be fruitless, wouldn’t it?” he snapped.
“But Gabe, I’m sure Emiline—”
Gabe flipped his hand in the air, breaking the contact between them. “It does not matter, Uncle.” He breathed slowly, trying to maintain his anger. “I will do as I promised and help her locate her mother. After that, I will leave her in your capable hands of keeping her safe, just as her father wished.”
He spun around and marched away from his uncle. With any luck he would be able to leave Emiline within a day’s time and never see her again.
Chapter Fourteen
Emiline couldn’t sleep. Knowing she’d get to see her mother—and speak with her—kept Emmie dreaming of their meeting all night long. Once in a while she was able to think of Gabe and how wonderful he’d been to her, but then her thoughts returned to her mother. Today was not the day to stress about her feelings for Gabe and what she was going to do about it, and especially what she was going to say when she explained to him why she had to lie to him.
An hour ago, Rebecca took the fake Lady Sarah out to stroll through the town with one of the servants. Emmie was invited—which surprised her greatly—but she declined. How could she enjoy the town of Salem when her mind would be preoccupied?
But now as she paced her room, she rethought her answer. Perhaps she should have gone with Rebecca and Anna after all. At least she could have had something to do besides sit, pace, and create daydreams of how things would transpire with her mother.
When someone knocked on her door, she jumped, but rushed to open it. Mr. and Mrs. Hampton stood in the hallway, both wearing sweet smiles. Remembering the roll she was still playing, she curtsied and tried not to look at them in the eyes. “Good day.”
“Emiline,” Mr. Hampton began, “my wife and I would like a word with you, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.” She moved to step out of the room, but instead the older pair walked inside her room and closed the door. Emiline hurried to bring over two chairs, but she only managed to get one because Mr. Hampton retrieved the other. She sat on the bed as each took a seat.
“Emiline, my wife and I would like you to know that—” He paused, scratching his neck just under his collar, “—um, well…we know you are really the duke’s daughter, Lady Sarah.”
Emmie nearly choked on her gasp. Her gaze moved between the pair, trying to read their expressions. They should be very upset at her, yet, they still wore the same tender smiles they had moments ago.
She wrung her hands together on her lap. “How…how did you find out?”
Mr. Hampton glanced briefly at his wife, then chuckling, looked back at Emiline. “It wasn’t until we played that game with you and your maid on the lawn that one afternoon with Gabriel. Because both Mrs. Hampton and I were friends with your parents, we recognized the resemblances right away, especially with your maid referred to you as Emiline.”
Emmie licked her suddenly dry lips. “And you are not angry with me?”
“Of course not, dear.” Mrs. Hampton reached over and patted Emmie’s hands. “We understand why you did it. We know you were only trying to protect yourself.”
Emiline shrugged. “Yes. The idea was actually my father’s. He worried for my safety, even though I would be with you. That’s why he wanted me and my maid to play different roles.”
“I can sympathize, my dear. Being a Father, we strive to do all we can to protect our daughters, but—“ Mr. Hampton paused briefly, tapping his shoe against the floor. “But I hope you will want to return to being Lady Sarah today. I have arranged to pay a visit to Estelle Winterbourne’s estate to see your mother, and I would like for you to join me so that I might present you to her.”
Emmie’s jaw dropped. She literally felt it. “You…also know about my mother? You knew she was alive?”
Mr. Hampton shook his head. “Not until last evening while we were at Mr. Phillips’ party.”
Tears stung Emmie’s eyes and she quickly blinked away the moisture. “I would love to see my mother today, I just don’t know how—” Her voice cracked as a few tears slid down her face.
“Not to worry, dear.” Mrs. Hampton’s smile shook this time as if she battled with her emotions, too. “Mr. Hampton and I will get things in order.”
Emmie nodded as tears continued to fall. She wiped them away as she gave the Hampton’s her best grateful smile. “You will never know how much I appreciate your help.”
They stood, and she stood with them and walked toward the door. Just as Mr. Hampton rested his hand on the doorknob, she quickly touched his arm.
“Will you do one more thing for me?” she asked.
“What is that?”
“Please don’t let Gabriel know who I am.”
A bright pink blush covered his face, and his wife’s coloring looked almost identical. Emmie’s heart sank and she frowned. She knew their answer before they could say anything.
“Forgive me, my d
ear,” Mr. Hampton muttered. “I confronted Gabriel last evening, and well…I did let it slip about your identity. I honestly felt I could not lie to him.”
Emmie breathed deeply, her hopes dropping by the second. “Was he very upset that I had lied to him?”
“Yes, but I think if you explain things to him, he will understand.”
“I will.” She nodded. “Thank you again for everything.”
Mrs. Hampton grasped Emmie’s hands. “We will leave to go see your mother at two o’clock this afternoon. Do you need me to help you get ready?”
Emmie forced a laugh. “No. I shall have Anna assist me.”
“Anna?” the Hamptons asked in unison.
“Yes, my maid—the one who has been playing the part of Lady Sarah since we came to stay with you.”
“Then I shall make certain Rebecca has her back soon.”
As Emmie watched the Hampton’s walk down the stairs, her heart wrenched with the thought of confronting Gabe. Although she wanted to talk to him to explain why she lied, she couldn’t worry about that now.
Tomorrow would be soon enough.
* * * *
Emiline paced the hallway just outside Mrs. Winterbourne’s parlor door, half insane from the wait. Mr. and Mrs. Hampton were in that room talking about her with her mother. Emmie’s legs shook and she flexed her fingers, impatient for the moment that the door would open and she would be invited inside to meet her mother.
It surprised her that she was not bothered by Mrs. Winterbourne’s servants, or the widow herself. But that was all right because Emmie didn’t want to explain who she was. Introductions would come later.
Pausing by the door, she breathed deeply and smoothed her hands down her dress. For today’s visit, she had chosen to wear the same burgundy velvet dress had a black lace over-bodice her grandmother gave her. Would her mother recognize it from her sister’s collection? Emmie shrugged. Probably not. Still, she loved the way the burgundy brought out her eyes…eyes that were the same as her mother’s.
Emiline took a deep breath and slowly released it as she pressed her ear to the door, hoping to hear something…anything that would calm her jittery nerves right now.
Mr. Hampton’s voice boomed through the room. From what she could gather, he was discussing last night’s dinner party at Mr. Phillips’.
Then she heard the loveliest voice…sweet and tender. Mother. Tears collected in Emmie’s eyes and her throat grew dry. Feelings she hadn’t experience blossomed in her chest, craving for the moment she would be in her mother’s embrace.
“Daphne,” Mr. Hampton said, “there is something I must tell you, but I have avoided doing so thus far in our conversation.”
“Why, Henry? What is it about?”
He cleared his throat. “As I had mentioned earlier, it was quite a shock to discover you are alive, when fifteen years ago we heard your ship had been attacked by a fearsome pirate. Anyway, I’m here to tell you that there have been others who thought you were dead, too.”
“Henry, this is all such a shock to me, too. But my family knew the truth.”
“Well…um, not all of your family did. There are a few family members who still thought you had died.”
There was a pause, and Emiline held her breath.
“What do you mean by that, Henry?”
“Well, you see…um…as miraculous as it sounds, um…” He cleared his throat again.
“Henry,” Mrs. Hampton’s voice interrupted. “Why don’t we just bring her in?”
“Uh, yes. Splendid idea,” Henry answered.
Emmie’s heartbeat nearly knocked right out of her bosom. Her hands were cold, yet sweaty at the same time. And she feared her legs would not be able to hold her up much longer. She took two steps away from the door, squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, preparing herself for when the door would open.
Finally, the door opened and Mrs. Hampton smiled, and then motioned for her to enter.
On shaky legs, Emiline walked the best she could into the room. When she rested her gaze on her mother, a knot of emotion caught in her throat, and immediately, her eyes watered. Never had she seen a lovelier woman. Dressed in a silver and white gown, the older woman had her hair tucked up neatly into a white cap, but her grayish-brown hair still shown around her forehead. Big brown, wondrous eyes watched Emmie carefully.
Then her mother’s eyes widened and her face paled slightly. Her gaze ran over Emiline from the top of her ringlet hair all the way down to her heeled boots. When her mother’s attention landed on Emmie’s again, they too, were watery.
“You…you look like my sister, Victoria, but I know you are not—” She stopped with a gasp, her hand flying to her mouth as a tear slipped down her cheek. “It cannot be…” She took a deep breath. “Emiline? My sweet, little Emmie?”
Emiline’s heart sang with gladness upon hearing the name she’d missed being called all these years. Tears swam in her eyes, impairing her vision. “Yes, Mother. I’m your little Emmie.”
Her mother stood and slowly walked to her, tears streaming down her face as well. She gently touched Emmie’s hair, and then her cheek. “Is it really you? Or am I dreaming?”
“If you are, then I’m having the most perfect dream as well.”
“Oh, my little Emmie.” Her mother sobbed and threw her arms around Emmie, pulling her in for a tight hug. “I thought I had lost you.”
“Mother,” Emmie cried, circling her arms around her mother’s waist. “We thought you had died. If we had known you were still alive—”
Daphne pulled back and looked into Emmie’s eyes. “We? Who else are you referring to?”
Emmie offered a shaky smile. “Father and I.”
“Your father is alive, too?”
“Yes.”
“Ohhh…dear. I had better sit before I swoon.” Daphne pulled Emmie to the sofa where they both sat, still in each other’s embrace. “But this does not make any sense. I was told you and Forester were on a ship coming to join me here when your ship was attacked and everyone on board was killed.”
Emmie gasped and blinked, trying to absorb what her mother had just told her. “But…that is the same story we heard happened to you.”
Daphne shook her head and pulled Emmie against her, once again. “We will find out the truth, but right now I want to hold my little Emmie.”
Emiline breathed a sigh of relief and cuddled against her mother. Her mother smelled like fresh flowers. Lilies. She smiled—just as she’d remembered from fifteen years ago.
As she glanced around the room, she realized Mr. and Mrs. Hampton had left them alone. How very thoughtful.
Her mother stroked Emmie’s hair and kissed her forehead. “Sweetheart, I need to tell you something that will come as a shock to you. But if I don’t tell you now, you will find out soon enough.”
“What is it, Mother?”
“You have a brother.”
Emmie sucked in a quick breath of air and sat up, breaking her mother’s hold. Her mother clasped Emmie’s hands in hers and nodded.
“Yes, my dear. You have a brother. From what he has told me—and from Mr. Hampton said about last evening’s party, I think you have already met Elias.”
“I have?”
“Yes. He was the one that caught you climbing a tree.”
Stunned, Emiline couldn’t speak for a few moments. I have a brother? Why did it have to be him? “But Mother, he was very rude! I cannot possibly have a brother who is that spiteful.”
Daphne laughed. “When Elias told me about the girl he found in the tree last night, he said she was very ill-mannered, and he could not believe how disrespectful she was—for being a footman.”
Although Emmie should be insulted, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, Mother. I was only pretending to be a footman so I could spy on Mr. Phillip’s party to find you.”
Daphne cupped her daughter’s face and smiled. “And now you have found me.” She kissed her.
“But…did you rem
arry?” She held her breath, hoping her mother hadn’t.
“No, my dear. I was pregnant with Elias when I sailed here to visit my family—although I didn’t know I was with child. It wasn’t until a month after I had heard you were dead when I realized I was going to have a baby.”
Emmie grinned. “Father will be very pleased. He always wanted a son to pass on his title.”
Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) Page 20