Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series)

by Higgins, Marie

  As the sun began its descent, Gabe didn’t know if he could give up tonight. But what else could he do if he couldn’t find her? He’d asked Elias over and over again what exactly Billingsford and the other man told him, hoping there would be a clue to where they had taken Emmie, but they had left no clue.

  Feeling so frustrated, Gabe wanted to scream…to find a random person in town and shake them until he got some answers. But he feared that wouldn’t work. Billingsford must know of Gabe’s love for Emmie, which was why the commodore taunted him now and played the game of cat and mouse. Gabe didn’t like this game. He wanted to be one step ahead of Billingsford, as he’d always been. Unfortunately, the naval officer had now bested Gabe.

  Humiliation was a hard emotion to swallow.

  From down the street, a familiar face caught his attention. Without making a scene, Gabe hurried toward his friend. When Rufus noticed him, his eyes widened first, then mere seconds later, his forehead creased in worry.

  “I’m so relieved I found you,” Gabe said breathless.

  “Good heavens, Captain. What is wrong? You don’t look like yourself. Your face is white.”

  Gabe nodded. “I’m not myself at all. Emmie has been taken…by Billingsford.”

  A loud gasp exploded out of Rufus’ mouth. “No, tell me you are jesting.”

  “I’m not. I have been searching for her for hours, and I cannot find her.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  “I don’t know. My uncle and I have been all over town.” Gabe shook his head. “But I know that when I do locate her, Billingsford will be waiting to capture me.” He took a deep breath. “Can you locate as many crew members that you can find? We must formulate a plan for my escape.”

  “I can. But…as I told you last night, only a handful are here.”

  “Gather them and meet me at the tavern at midnight.”

  “Aye, Captain. I will try to find them.” Rufus turned and hurried back up the street.

  A small ounce of relief was taken off Gabe’s shoulders, but not much. There were still so many things that had to be done. Growling, he raked his fingers through his hair. This madness had to stop immediately, or he would not be able to think straight.

  He’d been captured and thrown in jail before while staying in Philadelphia with his friend William Braxton, but that was only to draw out some of the Sons of Liberty to rescue him. At that time, he knew he was only used as bait. This time was different. Billingsford would literally kill him. And what worried Gabe even more was that the evil man might kill Emmie as well. Gabe could not allow that to happen.

  The air had turned slightly cooler, so Gabe bundled his overcoat tighter around his neck. Standing in front of a shop, he closed his eyes and mentally tried to focus on what his next course of action would be. He’d help Rufus find his crew.

  Gabe hurried to the closest inn and asked to speak to the person in charge. When he met the man, Gabe explained he was looking for some friends, and gave him his crew member’s names. The owner shook his head and told him he’d never heard of that person. Even when Gabe described them, the owner kept to his story that he had never seen them.

  Not wasting time, Gabe hurried toward the next inn, praying that Salem didn’t have many inns, because he was losing daylight fast.

  From across the street, a lad scurried across the road before a carriage whisked by. Just as the boy reached Gabe, he lifted his eyes. A shocked gaze clashed with Gabe’s immediately, and the lad gasped. Quick as lightning, the boy broke into a run.

  It took only a second for Gabe’s mind to register the identity of the boy, and only a split second to realize the kid should not be in Salem, but back at Henry’s house taking care of the stable.

  Gabe chased after Levi, determined not to let Henry’s servant get away. But the boy was fast, and it took all of Gabe’s willpower to keep on him. It wasn’t until Levi tripped and fell that Gabe was able to catch up.

  Levi sprung to his feet and was off again, but this time Gabe was close enough to reach out and grab the kid’s jacket. A rip tore in the sleeve, but at least it helped Gabe in capturing the lad.

  Gabe tightened his fingers around Levi’s arms, imprisoning him as he glared into the kid’s frightened eyes. “I demand to know what you are doing in Salem—and why you chose to run from me when you realized my identity.”

  “Let me go!”

  “I shall when I receive some answers.”

  “I’ll scream!”

  “Then scream. I’m certain the constable will side with me.” He gave Levi a hard shake. “Now start talking.”

  “No. You can’t make me.” Levi struggled, but to no avail.

  Gabe arched an eyebrow. “I may not be able to make you, but I’m quite certain my uncle can. Do you, or do you not, want to keep your employment with Mr. Hampton? If you do, you had better start talking.”

  Levi scowled; his mouth in a tight line.

  “Why are you in Salem?” Gabe raised his voice, turning it more threatening. After a few moments of silence, he gave the boy another bone-rattling shake. “Tell me now, or so help me, you’ll wish you were never born!”

  “I’m here to keep an eye on you. I’m being paid well.”

  That was definitely not the answer Gabe thought he’d get. He met the boy’s glare with one of his own. “Who is paying you to watch me?”

  “The man who came looking for Lady Sarah that one day you were gone.”

  “Billingsford?”

  Levi shook his head. “I don’t know his name.”

  “You told me the man had bright orange hair. Is this the same man paying you?”

  “No. The man paying me has black hair.”

  Shock vibrated through Gabe, but he kept his tight hold on the boy. Two men? But Billingsford was too cowardly to play this game of cat and mouse with the fearsome Captain Hawk alone.

  “How do you know we are in Salem? None of the servants—save for the ones who traveled with us—know where we were going.”

  “I overheard Miss Hampton telling one of the maids.”

  Gabe gnashed his teeth. Leave it to his blabber-mouth cousin to put a kink in things. “So tell me why would the man with black hair want you to follow me?”

  Levi’s eyes turned a darker color, coated with malice. “You are a traitor! I don’t want a traitor in Mr. Hampton’s house—family or not. You should be hanged for your crimes.”

  Gabe nodded. “I commend you for being so devoted to your employer, but the man paying you is wrong. I’m not a traitor. Perhaps you should have talked to Mr. Hampton about my loyalty before condemning an innocent man and feeding him to the wolves.”

  Within seconds, the anger fled from the boy’s face replaced with a white color. “But he assured me—”

  “And he was wrong.” Gabe released Levi. “I promise not to say anything to Mr. Hampton about this if you hurry back to Salem as soon as possible—tonight, even.”

  “I—I—I promise, Sir. Please forgive me. I was only trying to do my civic duty—”

  “I understand, Levi. I’m quite certain you will hear things about people’s character quite a bit in this day and age, but unless you seek out the truth before you lay judgment, you are no better than the traitors themselves. Please remember this in case it happens again.”

  “That I will, Sir. Thank you for understanding.”

  “Now be off with you before Mr. Hampton sees you here.”

  Nodding, the boy turned and fled as fast as he could. Gabe prayed Levi would take his advice and leave posthaste. There were already enough problems happening at this moment. He didn’t need a snot-nosed kid around to cause more.

  * * * *

  Emiline’s body ached terribly. They hadn’t moved her from this tied-up position on the rickety chair. And to make matters worse, she had to use the privy. Although she seriously doubted they had one on this ship. Still, if she waited any longer, well…she didn’t want to think of the consequences.

  Billingsfor
d and Rebecca had moved away from her. Emmie assumed they were sitting at a table because earlier she’d heard other chairs scraping the floor as if someone was moving them out to sit. And she heard their whispers. Unfortunately, this time she didn’t know what they were saying, but Emmie suspected that because they knew she was awake, they were going to be more secretive.

  As she opened her mouth to get their attention, the bang of a chair being knocked over rattled the floor and echoed in the room.

  “Miss Hampton, I grow tired of your constant complaining. You shall receive the money once Mr. Lawrence arrives, and not a moment sooner.”

  “But you promised me—” Rebecca whined.

  “I said enough!”

  A hard slap resounded through the air mere seconds before Rebecca wailed. Emmie shook her head, knowing something like that would happen to Gabe’s cousin at least once during Emmie’s time as captive. Billingsford was correct…Rebecca complained a lot. Emmie was the prisoner here, yet she hadn’t complained once.

  Although, now was a good time because she really needed to use the chamber pot.

  “Pardon me, but I need some help over here.” Emiline still couldn’t believe that her captors would forget about her. Apparently, they didn’t know how to handle women prisoners. “I know you are there, even though I’m blindfolded. I can hear you…and I most certainly can smell your foul scent.”

  Footsteps pounded on the floor, coming her way. She cringed, wondering if Billingsford would hit her, too.

  “What do you want?” he demanded.

  “I need…um, well, I have womanly necessities I have to take care of.”

  “What in the blazes are you talking about, woman?”

  Inwardly, Emmie groaned. He was really simple-minded. “I need to use the chamber pot, you jackanapes!”

  She held herself still, readying for his hard hand across her face. Instead, he started chuckling.

  “You definitely are the spitfire we heard you to be. I suppose I will allow you this necessity, but you will remain tied and blindfolded.”

  She nodded, not really wanting to upset him, but if he was too stupid to figure it out, she must spell it out for him. “I see…then how can I see to my problem if I cannot move my hands or legs—or see?”

  “You make a good point, so I will untie your feet only. Someone else can assist you.”

  A gasp sprang from across the room. “You want me to act as her maid? I refuse! I will not help Lady Sarah do…that!”

  Emmie groaned silently. Had Rebecca not learned her lesson yet?

  Billingsford marched across the floor away from Emmie, then came Rebecca’s shriek. “Stand up and go help our prisoner, or you will not see a shilling of the money I promised you.”

  Rebecca’s soft sobs grew closer to Emmie, followed by Billingsford’s heavy footsteps. Emmie’s legs jumped as he untied the ropes securing them to the chair. Feeling rushed to her feet, making them tingle…then burn. She wouldn’t complain. At least she could feel them now.

  “The chamber pot is in that corner,” the commodore growled. “Go get it.”

  Rebecca’s sobs turned louder as she did as the man instructed. For a moment Emmie almost felt sorry for her.

  “Where shall I take her?” Rebecca asked in a compliant tone.

  “Behind that stack of crates will work just fine.”

  A strong hand grasped Emmie’s arm and yanked her up. She almost couldn’t stand, and so stumbled when they started walking. She feared she would fall into some object and not be able to brace herself with her hands tied behind her. But thankfully, she made it to their destination without any problems.

  “I shall allow you only five minutes to take care of things, then I’ll be back.”

  “Thank you, Sir,” Emmie answered. “You are most gracious to allow me such luxury.” She ground her teeth through the out-right lie.

  Chuckling, Billingsford’s footsteps moved away from her and Rebecca and then the door closed. Emmie breathed a relieved sigh.

  “I know this menial task is not something you usually do,” Emmie told Rebecca, “so if you will untie my hands, I will see to my womanly needs by myself.”

  “As much as I would like to comply, I fear it would take me five minutes just to untie you. So I must help you as much as I hate doing so.”

  “I thank you,” Emmie whispered.

  Within minutes, Emmie felt much better. After she was finished, and she stood, Rebecca helped put Emmie’s clothes back together.

  “I know who you are…Miss Hampton.”

  The other woman gasped as her hands stilled. “How do you know?”

  “Although we have not talked much, I still know your voice. And I feel I must let you know, you are in danger the longer you stay here.”

  “You know nothing!” Rebecca snipped.

  “Yes, I do. I know that Billingsford is not going to release you, even if he gives you the money. Greedy, controlling men like that are not nice, and they never follow through with bargains they make. You need to escape, Rebecca. Get away from him and tell your father what you have done so he can protect you.”

  “Quit trying to frighten me.” Rebecca shoved her.

  Emmie stumbled, praying she wouldn’t step in the chamber pot. Thankfully, she didn’t. “Miss Hampton, I’m not trying to frighten you. I’m telling you the truth.”

  “What do you know anyway? Nothing! You are a pampered daughter of a duke and have no idea about things like this.”

  Emmie now wanted to slap the woman herself. No, she’d let Billingsford do it—little good it would do, anyway. Rebecca was hardheaded and wouldn’t believe anyone. “Fine. But if we both live through this, I expect to hear an apology from you when you realize I’m right.” If Billingsford didn’t kill them both first.

  “Just hush up and let me take you back to your chair.”

  Rebecca tugged on Emmie’s arm. She followed, trying to keep up with Rebecca’s quick steps as they moved back to the chair. When Gabe’s cousin pushed Emmie, she feared she would fall once again, but thankfully, the chair stopped her and she was able to sit. Seconds later, Rebecca’s fingers gripped painfully into Emmie’s shoulders.

  “This is a warning, Lady Sarah, but if you do happen to live through this, you had better not tell my father I was the one who turned Gabe in. Know now, that I will deny it until I’m old and gray. And my father will believe me over you, anyway.”

  Good grief! This woman was unbelievable! Rebecca was acting more like the pampered spoiled child now than a grown woman.

  “If your father will believe you over me, then why threaten me at all?”

  Rebecca growled and slapped Emmie across the face. Her cheek stung for a moment. She wouldn’t give Rebecca a reply. It wasn’t worth Emmie’s breath, anyway.

  Billingsford returned and tied her feet back to the chair. Tears stung her eyes, and she prayed that God would send someone to rescue her. Anyone but Gabe. If he came, he’d be killed, and she couldn’t live knowing he’d risked his life for her.

  * * * *

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, Gabe scrubbed his chin as he scanned the streets, trying to remember what he was doing before he’d spotted Levi. Ah…now he remembered. He was looking for his crew members.

  Not far from him was another inn. Gabe hurried toward that establishment. As he walked in the building, his foot caught on the rug and he stumbled into a man. Righting himself, he gained his footing and opened his mouth to apologize as he looked into the other man’s eyes.

  “Pardon my clumsiness, Sir—” Recognition hit as excitement shot through Gabe. “Benjamin Spencer! Just the man I came looking to find.” He grasped the man’s shoulders. “You don’t know how happy I am to see you.” It was then when he noticed a traveling satchel in Ben’s hand as if he were leaving.

  “Mr. Lawrence. What a pleasure it is, indeed. I was just on my way out, but we could sit at the table and order drinks if you would like.”

  “I would like that very much.�
�� Gabe turned to the barmaid who stood not far from them. “Miss? Would you bring some goblets of port to our table?”

  “Aye.” She bobbed, then hurried off to the kitchen.

  Ben led the way and found and empty table. Once they were both sitting, Ben smiled. “I’m curious to know why you are looking for me, Captain.” He lowered his voice.

  “Not as curious as I am to discover why you are leaving.” Gabe motioned toward the black, worn satchel.

  Confusion crossed Ben’s forehead as his gaze narrowed. “Well, Captain…you ordered us to leave Salem, that’s why.”