Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series)

by Higgins, Marie

  “Pardon me, Mr. Townshend,” Gabe snapped as the worry to find Emmie expanded in his chest, “but why would I lie? I love your sister and want to protect her.” He switched his attention to Daphne. “Tell me what happened. I need to know so I can find her.”

  Mrs. Townshend studied Gabe for a few silent moments before her face relaxed and moisture coated her eyes—eyes that looked so much like Emiline’s that it tugged at Gabe’s heart. Helplessness settled in his gut, and he didn’t know what to do about it.

  “I wish I knew, Mr. Lawrence. My daughter and I were having a most serious discussion, and I could see how upset it made her. I bade her to rest in my room for a little while. After several minutes she came back down in a fit and said she needed to find you posthaste. Before I could discover what was wrong, she ran out of the house.” Her lips trembled as she placed a shaky hand on Gabe’s arm. “Please help us find my daughter. I cannot lose her again.”

  He grasped her hand and squeezed. “I assure you, I will locate Emmie. I love her, and I don’t wish to lose her, either.”

  “You do not love her,” Elias snapped. “You only want to use her.”

  Gabe released Daphne’s hand and glared at the boy. “Why are you saying such lies? What have I done to make you hate and distrust me?”

  “Because… Well, I know about you.” He narrowed his eyes. “I know who you really are.”

  Gabe’s heart dropped like a boulder in the sea. He glanced at Henry, and the color in his face had disappeared, as well. His eyes wide with fright.

  Gabe swallowed hard and looked back at Elias. “And who do you think I am, really?”

  “Two men told me you were Captain Hawk.” Accusing eyes glared back at Gabe.

  He licked his suddenly dry lips, his mind scrambling for something intelligent to say. He snuck a peek at Daphne who thankfully, did not look as condemning as her son.

  “From the stories I have heard about Captain Hawk for many years,” Gabe began, “the man would well be into his fiftieth year, wouldn’t he?” Gabe swept a hand around his face. “Do I honestly look like I’m that old?” Thankfully, he remembered when his friend had played Captain Hawk’s part and had said these very words.

  Slowly, the angry expression on Elias’ face changed. No longer was he cocky and assured, but now doubt snuck across his creased forehead and tight lips.

  “Well… I suppose you are not that age, but the men assured me—”

  “Who were these men?” Henry said, almost in a shout. “Why do you trust them over the man your sister loves?”

  Elias frowned and shrugged. “The naval officer was so convincing.”

  Fear clutched Gabe’s heart once again. “A naval officer, you say? What did he look like?”

  Elias shrugged again. “A middle-aged man, I assume. Freckled face, with and abundance of burnt orange hair.”

  Sickness rolled in Gabe’s stomach, making him want to hurl. Somehow Billingsford had connected the pirate to Gabe. But how? Yet, why did the Commodore take Emmie? Was it to bring Captain Hawk out of hiding? That had to be the only reason.

  Taking a deep breath to control his fear, Gabe nodded. “Tell me everything these men said. I need to find Emmie. She is in grave danger.”

  “Oh,” Daphne groaned as she swooned. Henry rushed to hold her up. Thankfully, she hadn’t lost consciousness.

  “Not to worry, Mrs. Townshend,” Henry said, patting her arm. “My nephew will find Emiline and bring her home safe.”

  “I will. I promise.” Gabe nodded as he helped to hold up Emmie’s mother. He looked at Elias. “Hail us a hackney to take you two home. Your mother is in no condition to walk.”

  Nodding, Elias scampered down the street in search of a hackney.

  Gabe and Henry exchanged worried glances. The only way to get Emmie back was for Gabe to turn himself in—which he could not do! The Sons of Liberty depended on Captain Hawk. But Emmie depended on Gabe to rescue her, too, and right now, she was more important.

  There was only one decision to make. He loved Emmie with all his heart, which meant…he would find her and free her. He prayed the Sons of Liberty would find a way to rescue him, just like they had several years ago when he’d been caught by the enemy spy who happened to be a woman.

  Then again, he wasn’t in Philadelphia any longer. Would the Sons of Liberty around these parts be able to free him at all? Or was his head hanging by the end of the rope in his near future?

  * * * *

  Noises grew all around Emiline as she slowly awoke. Her head pounded, and she recalled the moment one of the men who had taken her had hit her, rendering her unconscious.

  Groaning, she shifted, but couldn’t move. As sounds and feelings slowly came to her, she realized her arms were tied in back of her, and her feet were secured tightly to the chair in which her captors had placed her. Even a blindfold had been placed over her eyes. Her body ached from being in this position, and panic welled within her chest.

  Voices from not far away, echoed in the room. She kept still and listened intently as she tried to clear her head from the fog she’d just left.

  “How soon do you think he will come?” asked a woman.

  Although the woman’s voice was low, Emmie suspected she’d heard it before. But where?

  “If I know Captain Hawk, he will come today.”

  Forgetting that she was going to keep quiet, Emmie sucked in a quick breath. Captain Hawk? Impossible! Why would he come? Her head pounded for different reasons now. Was he somehow connected with Uncle Oliver? Was that why her uncle falsely blamed the pirate for attacking her mother’s ship and killing all on board?

  All these unanswered questions were so frustrating. She wanted to know what was going on now! But she continued to act as if she was still unconscious. At least she prayed her captors believed that.

  “And when will I get my money?” The woman’s voice came out stronger now, and more determined.

  “Not to worry, my sweet lady,” the man said charmingly. “When Hawk arrives, you will be paid accordingly.”

  Emmie didn’t like the sound of that. She wondered if the woman was way in over her head, as well. Apparently, this man was not someone to be trifled with.

  “I better be paid very well. I didn’t stick my neck out for you for nothing, you know. If Gabriel Lawrence knew what I have done—”

  “He won’t, I assure you.”

  Once again, Emmie gasped. Gabe? How was the man she loved involved in all of this? He couldn’t possibly be! Somehow there was a missing piece of the puzzle, and she didn’t know what it was.

  “My dear, Miss Hampton. Your cousin will never know.” Once again, the man spoke with confidence.

  Inwardly, Emmie groaned. Rebecca! The voice she recognized was Gabe’s cousin. What had that wretch of a woman done? Emmie never did like Gabe’s cousin, and now she knew her first instincts were correct. Rebecca was definitely the hind end of a donkey. Worse, actually. She was the devil’s own child! Obviously, Gabe had done something very damaging to her cousin that hopefully Emmie would discover soon.

  Another set of footsteps pounded on the floor. “I believe everything is in place, Commodore. The trap has been set. When Lawrence arrives, there is no way for escape,” the man said in quick breathes.

  Emmie boiled inside, knowing that Gabe would be as helpless as she was now. And that second man’s voice… Why did it sound familiar?

  “Splendid,” the man referred to as commodore answered gleefully. “Finally, after all these years, Captain Hawk will be mine.”

  Emmie’s mind skidded to a halt. They were just discussing Gabe, now the pirate’s name was mentioned…again? And the way the commodore made it sound, Gabe and Hawk were the same person. That definitely couldn’t be correct. Gabe was too young to be that pirate.

  Wasn’t he?

  Dread washed over her like filthy water. Gabe was probably in his mid to late twenties. Fifteen years ago the pirate would have been about the same age or older. Yet, the com
modore seemed to think Gabe was Hawk. Could it be possible that Gabe took over as Captain Hawk after a friend or family member? She knew his father was dead, so what were the chances that the original pirate was Gabe’s father?

  Not only that, but Gabe promised her that the pirate Captain Hawk did not attack passenger ships—only Naval ships. And she believed him. So, why was Captain Hawk being blamed for things he didn’t do?

  Her headache grew worse the longer she pondered all these confusing questions. But one questioned remained… If Gabe was indeed Captain Hawk, then the pirate couldn’t be as ruthless as rumors indicated. Gabriel Lawrence was now—and had always been since she first met him—the most kind and gentle man. There would be no way he could be anything else. She had gotten to know the real man…the man who fought for his fellow countrymen in trying to free themselves from the greedy King’s grasp. Gabe was the man who would do anything to help the woman he loved locate her mother. And he would do anything to help Emmie now!

  Once again, panic wrenched her heart. He didn’t know he was walking into a trap. She must not allow that to happen. She needed to figure out where she was and how to get out of these ropes that bound her to this very uncomfortable chair.

  Using her senses, she tried to smell around her. As she took a deep sniff, she nearly gagged. Wherever she was kept prisoner, was moldy and dusty. She prayed she didn’t sneeze.

  The more she concentrated on her whereabouts, she realized the floor rocked slightly. A boat? She’d gone sailing enough times with her father when she was younger to know the feeling well. Without a doubt, she was on some kind of boat, and by the fetid scent, she was below deck in a room that wasn’t used very often.

  Her mind returned to the group still talking. Oh, why hadn’t she been paying better attention? She trained her ears to what the other two were saying.

  “Whatever happens, I cannot be here,” Rebecca said. “I don’t want my cousin to see me.”

  “What will it matter?” the commodore asked. “He will die soon enough.”

  Rebecca huffed. “It’s the principle of the matter.”

  The second man laughed, and once again, Emmie felt she knew him from somewhere.

  “Oh, Miss Hampton. You are so two-faced, it’s almost laughable. You are the very reason we can capture Gabriel Lawrence, yet you think all you have to do is use a little soap and your sins will be washed away?”

  “How dare you insinuate—”

  “Miss Hampton, I do not need to insinuate. Your actions speak loud enough.”

  “Commodore Billingsford?” Rebecca stomped. “Are you going to allow this man to speak to me in such a way and in a condescending tone?”

  Billingsford chuckled. “Miss Hampton, you act as if you are royalty. You are not, so if I were you, I would shut my mouth and keep it closed.”

  “Oh! I do not need to stand here and take this kind of treatment.”

  “No, you don’t,” the commodore answered, “but if you want your money, you will.”

  If Emmie wasn’t so upset over Rebecca’s betrayal, she would have laughed. Indeed, Rebecca was two-faced, and Emmie was glad the other men knew it. Still, deep down inside, she felt Rebecca’s life might be in danger now because of what she’d done.

  “As for you, my friend,” the commodore continued, “I think you should depart posthaste. You don’t need Mr. Lawrence seeing that you are working for me. And our prisoner doesn’t need to see you, either.”

  “You are correct, Billingsford, as always. From what I have heard of Lady Sarah, she is a little spitfire.” He chuckled. “I will definitely keep in touch, soon, to find out how everything transpires.”

  “I’m in hopes that our plans will flow smoothly.”

  Irritation grew inside her. Whoever this man was, surely hadn’t heard the correct information about her. She was not a spitfire! Still, it bothered her that she hadn’t pinpointed the identity of the other man.

  After the unknown man left, silence stretched in the room for a few moments. Emmie tried to keep her breathing slow instead of what her quick heartbeat was dictating. She was certain the other two were watching her now. She must not appear as if she’d been awake this whole time.

  “So, Miss Hampton, I suppose we should see to our prisoner now.”

  “As long as you don’t remove her blindfold. I don’t want her seeing me.”

  The other man chuckled. “You are so typical. Always thinking of yourself.”

  Rebecca huffed again. “Well, considering I will continue to live a normal life, as well as Lady Sarah, I don’t need her knowing the identity of the one who planned her kidnapping.”

  “Actually, my dear, confused woman,” the commodore’s voice turned charming again, “I was the one who planned her kidnapping.”

  “But it was I who suggested you talk to her brother.”

  “Yes, I shall give you credit for that one, but nothing else.”

  Their footsteps neared Emmie. She feared they would notice the bodice of her gown moving so fast due to her erratic heartbeat. Silently, she prayed they would not. She remained in the same position she’d been when she had awoken with her chin resting on her chest. She smelled them near her, and although the man didn’t stink, he definitely didn’t smell as pleasant as Gabe always had.

  Calloused, dry fingers pressed against her neck, and it was all she could do not to jump out of her own skin.

  “She is alive. I worried that when I hit her to knock her out, that it might have been too hard.”

  “It’s what she deserves if you ask me,” Rebecca answered matter-of-factly.

  When Emmie was finally free of these binds, she’d be sorely tempted to claw the other woman’s eyes out for that comment.

  Two hands grasped Emmie’s shoulders and shook. Her head moved with the movement, and made her headache that much worse. She groaned…loud enough for them to hear her this time.

  “Ah, I think she’s waking up now,” the commodore said. “Lady Sarah? Can you hear me?”

  She moaned again and whispered, “Yes.” Struggling against her ties, she tried to put on a good performance. “What…what is going on? Why can’t I move? Where am I?” she ended as her voice was higher pitched then before.

  “Lady Sarah, you are my prisoner. Where you are is of no consequence, since you cannot do anything about it, anyway.”

  “Why am I here? What have I done to become your prisoner?”

  “You have done nothing—except capture the heart of the notorious pirate, Captain Hawk. Because I would like to kill him, I am using you as bait.”

  She struggled against her ties again for show. “I’m afraid you are wrong. I don’t know Captain Hawk. I have never met the pirate.”

  Billingsford laughed loudly. “Oh, you have met him, I assure you. His real name is Gabriel Lawrence.”

  She paused for effect, then slowly chuckled. “As much as I know you might not like me proving you wrong, I fear I must. I had heard stories of Captain Hawk fifteen years ago. The man would have to be in his fiftieth or even sixtieth year by now. Mr. Lawrence is certainly not as old as my father.”

  “Lady Sarah, you must believe me to be addled. I assure you, I’m not. Would I have made it to the ranking of Commodore if I were that futile? Mr. Lawrence was not the first Captain Hawk, and I’m certain that after he dies, another man will take his place as the fearsome pirate.”

  “So then why are you so willing to kill Mr. Lawrence if you know another man will take his place?”

  “Because I want the recognition of capturing the illusive man. Before he stepped into the role of pirate, he was an active member of the Sons of Liberty—a group I plan on destroying as well. Your wonderful Mr. Lawrence has killed many of the King’s soldiers in Philadelphia and in New York. My brother was one of these men who lost their life at Mr. Lawrence’s hand. Several years ago, I vowed to do all I could to capture him and slowly torture him until he dies.”

  A cold shiver ran over her. Commodore Billingsford’s voic
e was evil and unfeeling. She didn’t need to be told how ruthless he was. Indeed, he would do as he’d planned…if someone didn’t stop him first. But who would? Did Gabe know what kind of danger he was in?

  And most importantly…would she be able to save him at all?

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gabe combed most of Salem, even going into every shop just to inquire about Lady Sarah’s whereabouts. For those few who knew her or had seen her with Mrs. Townshend, they couldn’t tell him where Emmie was, and they certainly couldn’t remember when they had seen her last. As the day passed, his hopes of finding her sank lower, and he feared he would never find her. Thankfully, Uncle Henry helped him search. If Gabe had to do this all by himself, it would have taken him longer.