Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) (31 page)

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 dear,” 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 remarry?” 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.”