Lady Sarah Emiline Lucia needs to hide her identity for fear that mobs will kill her and her family after her uncle—Napoleon Bonaparte—is exiled to Melba. She is sent to Hampshire, England to stay with friends of her father. To stay safe, she must play the role of her maid, while her maid assumes Lady Sarah’s identity. Complications arise when she meets the very handsome man, and she suddenly wants him to look at her as a real woman, not a servant. Protecting her life, however, is more important than confessing the truthGabriel Lawrence’s pirate ship is almost captured and this time it was too close. He and his crew need to hide for a few months in hopes that Napoleon’s men who seek revenge, will soon forget about him. During his stay at his aunt and uncle’s in Hampshire, he meets the niece of his enemy. Because she doesn’t know who Gabe is, he will become close to her to see if she knows any more of her uncle’s secrets. But the beauty of her companion, Miss Emmie, captures his attention, and her quirky personality keeps him wanting more. But her over-zealous nature for adventure places both of them in danger and he’s forced to play the honorable rogue.How can he protect them both when an unknown spy is always one step ahead…and wants Gabe dead?
View More“This is perfect timing, don’t you agree?” Emmie asked excitedly as she glanced at her mother sitting across from her in their carriage. “Father’s letter sent to inform us everything was safe for us in France. He decided to come get us and meet us at Mr. Compton’s estate. The timing couldn’t have been better, I think.”Her mother nodded. “I agree.”“Did you tell him about the surprise?” Gabe asked.Emmie look
Gabe’s mind turned numb. And he stopped breathing. This couldn’t be right. His uncle wouldn’t betray Gabe’s trust. Would he?He swung in his uncle’s direction, still holding Emmie against him. Henry, who had been standing with his head lowered, suddenly jerked his head up and glared at Lieutenant Mercer.“How dare you tell that outright lie!” Henry squared his shoulders. “I’m not your good friend, Lieutenant Mercer. And the only reason I agreed to bring Gabe to you was because you threatened to kill my daughter
Gabriel tried not to let the betrayal from his crew member show on his face—or in his speech or actions. He took a sip of his port before answering. “I see. Well, I have changed my mind. Something has happened to the woman I have been trying to protect.”Ben leaned forward on the table, a frown touching his face. “What happened?”“Lieutenant Mercer has captured her and is using her as bait to get to me.”“No! What can we do?”
Gabe combed most of Brighton, 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. Lucia, they couldn’t tell him where Emiline 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. 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 Mercer and the other man told him, hoping there woul
Noises grew all around Emmie 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
Gabe sat at the small desk inside his room at the inn as he wrote correspondences to his friends, William Braxton and Marcus Thorne. Gabe needed all the help he could get in dealing with Mercer, and Braxton and Thorne were as qualified as any man Gabe could think of right now. Over the years, he’d kept in touch with both of his friends, happy to know they succeeded in having such successful marriages. William had two children with Mercedes—twins, a boy and girl, and Marcus and Isabelle just had their first child—a boy. One day Gabe hoped to join the rank of father, and with any luck, Emmie would hold the title of his wife very soon.
Gabe walked into the inn, bypassing the section leading toward the bedrooms, and entered the dining area. Immediately Rufus raised his hand from the table where he sat to get Gabe’s attention. He nodded and proceeded to his friend’s table. “Good evening, Daughtery.”“And a pleasant evening to you.” Rufus motioned to the empty chair. “I have already ordered us the inn’s special for tonight—mutton and potatoes—which I’m assuming they will bring shortly.”
Emmie saw him…and she held her breath. Although he wasn’t glaring at her as she suspected he would, the pain of betrayal on his expression was evident through his dark eyes and rigid jaw. Her heart clenched in sorrow. She really needed to talk to him—privately. But they couldn’t do that now.When Elias noticed Gabe, he waved and quickened his step until he stood in front of him. “Good afternoon, Lord Wilshire.”The frown Gabe was wearing tweaked slightly into a smile. “Good day.”
Gabriel sat at the rickety table inside a tavern, sipping his ale. He wanted to drink himself into a stupor but had learned by now the consequences of drinking were not so good. He needed a clear head to think—and because of his way of life, he had to be cautious from sunup to sundown. A few times in his life he wasn’t cautious, which got him into trouble. One episode nearly got him hanged. Since then, he’d learned to be very leery of everyone. So then why was he idiotic enough to let his heart get involved with a woman? Never had he felt this way about a woman, but he should have known better than to fall in love…
Something was not right. Unrest flittered in Emiline Lucia’s stomach, prickling the hairs on the back of her neck as her carriage rocked to a halt outside the family’s two-story townhouse in Calais. Servants scampered from the house, carrying trunks as they loaded them on a coach.Curiosity, and determination to discover what was going on, enveloped her as panic settled in her chest. She gave her hand to the footman as he helped her down from her carriage, and headed toward the front door. Several French soldiers stood guard near the white wrap-around porch as if they expected trouble at any moment. They eyed her warily until she walked closer, and then their postures relaxed a bit. She was used to being surrounded by some kin
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