Placing his mouth over hers, he sealed the promise with a kiss. A kiss that started out simple, but soon turned into more. Much more.
Chapter Twenty-One
“This is perfect timing, don’t you agree?” Emiline asked excitedly as glanced at her mother sitting across from her in their carriage. “Father’s letter to inform us everything was safe in Boston and for us to return, couldn’t be timed better.”
Her mother nodded. “I agree.”
“Did you tell him about the surprise?” Gabe asked.
Emmie looked at him and smiled. She reached over and patted his hand. The coach they were riding in seemed cramped since her mother and brother were sharing the same vehicle. But her mother wouldn’t allow Emmie to ride with Gabe alone…it would ruin her reputation, her mother had said. It didn’t matter if Emmie and Gabe were going to get married soon.
“When I replied to Father’s letter, I told him I was returning from New Hampshire with a couple of surprises for him.” Emmie grinned. “So Mother, you and Elias stay in the carriage until Gabe comes to get you.”
Her mother nodded as she twisted her hands in her lap. This was all so exciting for Emmie—and nerve-racking—and she could only assume her mother felt more jittery than the daughter at this moment.
Emmie looked out the coach’s window as they came upon her uncle’s home. Frowning, she suddenly wished she didn’t have to see that man. Once she and her mother convinced her father that Uncle Oliver was the person who’d kept them apart for fifteen years, Emmie knew her father would take his family back to England and never set eyes on his brother again.
“Do you suppose your uncle is at home this evening?” Daphne asked in a small voice.
Sighing heavily, Emmie shrugged. “I wish I knew. He probably is, but I don’t want him around when we tell Father how Oliver was involved in all of this.”
Gabe had his arm around Emmie’s shoulders, and he squeezed lovingly. When she met his eyes, he winked. “I will take care of your uncle while you tell your father about Daphne and Elias.”
She smiled. “Thank you for your help. We would not have been able to do any of this without you.”
He kissed her forehead and pulled her against him tighter. Across the seat, Daphne tried to hide a grin as she looked away. Elias, however, chuckled as if it was funny to see his sister kissing a man.
When their coach stopped, Gabe opened the door and hopped down before assisting Emmie out. She glanced at the second coach that had a few of her mother’s servants along with Anna as they rode with the trunks. Emmie didn’t want to wait for Anna to climb out as to instruct her in what to do, so she hurried toward the house, Gabe following closely behind.
When their coach stopped, Gabe opened the door and hopped down before assisting Emmie out. She glanced at the second coach that had a few of her mother’s servants along with Anna as they rode with the trunks. Emmie didn’t want to wait for Anna to climb out as to instruct her in what to do, so she hurried toward the house, Gabe following closely behind.
When they reached the door and she knocked, she peeked over her shoulder at Gabe. “Let me do all the talking.”
He chuckled. “Yes, dear.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
The door was opened by Oliver’s servant, and when he saw her, his eyes widened as much as his smile had. “Welcome home, Lady Sarah.”
“Thank you, Hendricks. Is my father here?”
“Indeed, he is. I believe he is waiting for you in the study.”
“Splendid.” She walked in, then quickly stopped and turned toward Hendricks again. “And…is my uncle at home as well?”
“Actually, he is attending a political meeting this evening. He should not be home for at least two more hours.”
Emmie released a slow sigh. “Perfect. Thank you again.”
She forged on ahead to the study. When she entered, her father stood from the heavily cushioned brown chair by the fireplace. His face beamed with happiness as he held out his arms. “Welcome home, my little Emmie.”
She rushed into his embrace and hugged him tight. “Oh, I have missed you so.”
“Not as much as I have missed you.” He kissed her cheek, then pulled away.
It was then when his attention moved behind her. “Father,” she said quickly before he could ask, “I told you I was bringing you a couple of surprises, and this is one of them.” She motioned to Gabe. “Father, meet the Earl of Wilshire, Gabriel Lawrence. He is Mr. and Mrs. Hampton’s nephew.”
Gabe stepped forward and offered his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir. I feel as if I know you since your daughter has talked non-stop about you.”
Her father shook Gabe’s hand. “It is always a pleasure to meet Henry’s family. I fear it’s been years since I have seen my good friend. How is he faring?”
“Quite well. I shall let him know you inquired after him.”
Her father nodded. “I would certainly appreciate that.”
She dared to move closer to Gabe, and even right up next to him. Slowly, Gabe’s arm slid around her waist. Her father watched every movement, until his eyes widened in understanding.
Once again, she quickly offered up explanation before her father said anything. “And Father, Gabriel and I have become…um…very close lately. And he would like to ask you a question.”
Gabe cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. “Your Grace, I have fallen deeply in love with your daughter, and I would like your permission to marry her.”
Emmie held her breath as her father’s focus darted between her and Gabe. Smiling, she cuddled closer to him and laid her hand on his chest. “Father, I love him with all my heart, and I cannot imagine life without him.”
Blowing out a gush of air from between his lips, her father scratched his black hair, sprinkled lightly with strands of white. Thankfully, he wasn’t wearing the white periwig that she loathed so much. His hand drifted down as he scrubbed his chin, studying Gabe closely.
She removed her attention from her father and gazed lovingly at Gabe. He had colored his hair brown again to hide the natural red. He did this as so not to get noticed. One of these days she would like to see him with his natural color. Their children would have red hair, too, she just knew it.
“Well,” her father finally said. “I must admit this is quite a surprise…a shock, in fact. Emmie, my dear, I had no idea your surprise would be bringing home a man.”
She chuckled. “Actually, I brought home more than that, but right now, I wanted to have you meet this wonderful man who risked his life to save mine.”
Her father’s eyes widened. “What is this you say?”
Shaking her head, she waved her hand through the air. “That’s another story, for which I would gladly tell, but for now, we are anxiously waiting an answer from you.”
He paced in front of the hearth with his hands behind his back. “I suppose I need to know where the earl plans to live if I give you both my blessings.”
“Your Grace,” Gabe said, “we plan on living in London. I have recently been given this title and some lands. I know I have a country estate and a townhouse in London. For now, this is all I know until we reach England.”
Finally, her father stopped and faced them, a smile stretching across his face. “Now that’s the answer I was seeking.” He stepped forward and clapped his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “Welcome to the family, son.”
She sighed in relief, and hugged her father. Gabe moved to shake his hand again, but her father gave him a hug instead. They all laughed together. It was then when she realized Gabe was even taller than her father, and she’d always thought her father was a large man. And even though her father’s shoulders were wide, Gabe’s were even wider.
Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself to give him the next big surprise. “Well, now that is all settled, do you want your next surprise?”
Her father titled his head, his eyes narrowed in s
uspicion. “It depends. Is it anything like this surprise was?”
“Oh, no, Father. This surprise is much better.” She glanced at Gabe, giving him the nod to go fetch her mother and brother. Once Gabe left the room, she took her father’s hands and held them. “This trip to New Hampshire has opened my eyes to a lot of things, which Gabe was all part of. But one of the things I discovered was how your brother, Oliver, has tricked you and me for several years now.”
Her father’s forehead creased, his brows drew together. “How so?”
“Well, fifteen years ago he told us some disturbing news…news, that was nothing but a lie.”
Slowly, color faded from his cheeks. She knew he was thinking of her mother.
“Oliver made us believe that my mother—your wife—had been killed. But the truth is exactly opposite.” She took another deep breath. “Father, Mother is alive. I found her living in Salem.”
Her father swayed slightly, and he stumbled to the chair where he’d been sitting. Tears collected in his eyes as he stared at her. “Daphne…is alive?”
“Yes.” Emmie sat on the footstool and took his hands again. “Uncle Oliver orchestrated this whole thing, Father. He gave us the note that said Mother had died, and he gave Mother a similar note that told her we had died.”
“Are…are you certain Oliver did this?”
“Yes. He was the one who gave you the note, was he not?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he also went to the colonies to give Mother the same kind of note. Oliver has kept us from Mother all these years.” Emotion stuck in her throat, making it crack. “I fear if Oliver knew Mother was still alive, he’d try to keep her from us again.”
Anger blazed across her father’s expression. “He will not! If he tries, I will turn him into the law and let them handle it.”
“I’m so glad you think that way,” she said.
Silence stretched in the room for several moments. The only sound was the wood crackling in the fireplace, and her father’s ragged breaths as he tried to hold back tears. Then she heard the floor in the hallway groan, and she knew Gabe had returned.
Emmie stood and walked to the door then opened it. She smiled at her mother and brother, motioning them to enter.
When Daphne glided into the room, looking lovelier than Emmie could remember, her father jumped to his feet. His gaze nearly devoured his wife. Tears streamed down Daphne’s cheeks as she held her hands out to her husband.
“Oh, Forester.” Daphne’s voice broke. “You really are alive!”
Emmie’s father released a sob and ran to his wife, sweeping her in his arms. Emmie placed her fisted hand to her mouth to keep the cries from spilling forth from her own throat as she watched her father and mother hug and kiss—something she’d missed seeing for all these years.
The presence beside her alerted her that her brother was also seeing his father for the first time. She took hold of Elias’ hand and squeezed. “What do you think of him?” she asked softly.
“He’s amazing.” Elias’s voice even choked on emotion.
Daphne turned, still in her husband’s arms, and reached her hand out for Elias to take. “Forester, I want you to meet your son, Elias Forester Townshend.”
A hoarse laugh escaped her father’s throat as he pulled Elias in for a hug. “I have a son!” he shouted for joy.
Everyone laughed, still with tears in their eyes.
Standing beside Emmie, Gabe wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear.
She smiled up into his eye. “I love you more.”
He bent and kissed her lips briefly. “I love you higher than the sky.”
“I cannot beat that, now can I?”
“Not unless you are an angel in heaven.”
She turned and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You are my heaven.”
* * * *
Three months later…
“I’m really going to miss the colonies.” Emmie frowned as Gabe helped her down out of the carriage.
“Not to worry, my adorable wife, we shall return one day to visit everyone.” He tucked her hand in his as they stepped away from the vehicle and glanced upon the ship they’d be sailing back to London in. Gabe would also miss being a pirate and commanding The Avenger, but Emiline was more important to him, and loving her for the rest of his life and starting a family meant more than anything.
“Are you certain this is what you want to do?” she asked, gazing up into his eyes. “After all, you will be entering the lion’s den by going to England. Patriots usually like to live here in the colonies where they are a little safer.”
He chuckled. “Safer? Have you forgotten I could have been killed a few months ago? And while I was in hiding, no less.”
“So true.” She shrugged. “I just want to make certain you know what you are doing.”
“I do.” He caressed her cheek. “I will try not to act like a spy in England, but if I hear something that is important to help my Patriot friends, I will send them the information.”
She nodded. “I would not have it any other way.”
“Well, Lady Wilshire. Are you ready for our journey?”
“Indeed, I am, Lord Wilshire.” She winked.
As Gabe took his first step toward the ship, a carriage rode up beside them, going way too fast. He wrapped his wife in his arms to protect her. Suddenly, the vehicle came to an abrupt halt. Gabe glared at the driver, ready to give him a verbal scolding, when the door opened and out jumped someone he thought he’d never see again.
Gabe’s jaw dropped as he watched a longtime friend stride toward him.
“You don’t know how relieved I am. I thought for certain you would climb on that ship and sail away into the sunset without even saying farewell.” William Braxton ran his fingers through his tousled chestnut hair as a smile claimed his face.
Gabe blinked, not believing his eyes. His friend hadn’t changed at all in the three years since Gabe had last seen him.
“William? What are you doing here?”
“You sent me a letter, or had you forgotten?” William stopped in front of him.
“Aye, I sent you a letter, but…that was three months ago.”
“So I’m a little late. Have you forgotten I have a wife and children who need to be taken care of now?”
Laughing, Gabe hugged his friend then stepped back. “I’m…I’m just so surprised.”
“That, my good man, I can see with my own two eyes.” William looked at Emmie. “And who is this lovely woman?” He took her hand, placing a kiss on her knuckles.
“Oh, forgive me. William Braxton, meet my wife, Emiline. Her father is the Duke of Penrose.” He glanced down at his wife. “Emmie, my dear, this is—”
“There is no need to explain, Gabe.” She grinned. “You have told me plenty of stories about Mr. Braxton.” She curtsied. “It’s a pleasure to meet the longtime friend of my husband.”
William bowed. “The pleasure is all mine.” He met Gabe’s gaze again. “And, I brought someone else with me.” He motioned toward the carriage.
“Mercedes?” Gabe asked, swinging his attention to the vehicle in hopes of seeing William’s wife.
“Of course not.” William shook his head. “She is early in her pregnancy and didn’t want to travel, but she sends her love.”
“Then who—” Gabe started to say until a second man stepped down from the carriage. Once again, Gabe was left speechless.
Marcus Thorne—the same man who had been Captain Hawk before Gabe—strode toward him wearing a wide smile. Marcus hadn’t changed much, either. Still had raven hair, still very muscular, but appearing much happier than Gabe had ever seen him.
“Marcus?” Gabe shook his head. “This is wonderful! My two best friends in the world are here at the same time.” He hugged Marcus then stepped away. “I didn’t think you two had met before.”
Marcus chuckled. “We hadn’t until yesterday when we took the same hackn
ey on our way to see you. As we got to talking, we realized we had a friend in common.” He shrugged. “And I must say, Lawrence, you pick some mighty impressive friends.”
William nodded. “Actually, Thorne, I was thinking the same.”
Gabe laughed, then quickly made the introductions for Marcus and Emmie.
“I’m happy to see you have finally found the right woman.” William arched his eyebrow. “Maybe now you won’t be after my wife.”
“What?” Emmie gasped. “Gabriel Lawrence, you have some explaining to do,” she said jokingly.
Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) Page 28