she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around what Anna was saying. “Captain Hawk?”
“Yes, the captain of The Avenger —the pirate ship that attacked the very ship your mother sailed on and was killed.”
The shock of the news gushed out of Emiline’s lips as she lost her breath. The brush fell from her hand, thudding to the floor as an icy chill ran through her blood. “That cannot be right,” she whispered in disbelief. “Mr. Hampton is friends with my father. Would my father not know this?”
“I’m thinking he does not, Emmie.”
“But why…why would Mr. Hampton agree to have me stay here knowing it was his relative who killed his best friend’s wife?”
“I don’t’ know—unless Mr. Hampton is not on speaking terms with his relative now, and he must have thought you would not ever know.”
Emiline’s heartbeat gradually returned to normal as she tossed the idea back and forth in her mind. “What you said makes sense, Anna. After all, I believe the pirate is fighting for the Patriots, and Mr. Hampton obviously sides with our Mother England.”
“Yes.”
Emmie sighed and nodded. “That must be what happened. I shall not blame Mr. Hampton for something his relative did.”
“You have a forgiving heart.”
After Anna climbed into bed for the night, Emmie quickly left the room and made her way down the stairs. Her maid had said she had a forgiving heart, but Emmie didn’t feel like she did at this moment. She wanted to know the truth. Who was this so-called relative of Mr. Hampton’s? And why was her mother killed so violently? The mystery to her mother’s death was never fully explained.
Outside, the cool air stroked Emmie’s face, relaxing her slightly. Breathing in deeply, she hoped it would cool her temper as well. This whole night had been an emotional ride for her. First with watching Mr. Lawrence woo Anna…and now hearing the news about the relative. Hopefully, she would be able to collect herself and continue as she’d had thus far.
If they had only stayed in England instead of coming to the Colonies, none of this would have happened. Her father wouldn’t have had the insane notion of Emmie playing the role of lady’s companion, and she wouldn’t have had to discover Anna’s talent for acting. Moreover, they wouldn’t have met the very handsome Mr. Lawrence, and she wouldn’t be having these strange feelings of jealousy. Emiline always envied her friend for being pretty, but had never let it get this far out of control.
She wished now they could return home and everything would be the way it was. She missed her father and her other friends. This was really the first time she had been so far away from home. However, time away would be good for her, she just needed to have patience…which was something she never had.
In her wandering, she found herself on the back terrace. Most of the guests from the party had left, and only a few servants milled about cleaning up. Luckily, a few lamps were still lit on the lawn, giving her the lighting she needed for her walk. Pausing, she leaned against the railing and looked up at the moon. It appeared so big tonight, much larger than she had ever seen, and she had looked at the moon quite a bit in her lonely life.
“Now, why am I not surprised to find you out here this late after dark, and all alone?”
The man’s deep voice from behind made her jump. She whirled around to face the intruder. When Gabe walked closer, her heart pounded faster. Automatically, her hand flew to her bosom as if to stop the wild beating beneath her chest. Being alone with him out here was certainly not proper. Yet, leaving was not an option!
“Mr. Lawrence, you frightened the wits out of me.”
He chuckled. “Forgive me, but I thought you would have heard me coming. I made enough noise to wake the household.”
She grinned. “I suppose I was lost in thought and didn’t
“Yes, the captain of The Avenger —the pirate ship that attacked the very ship your mother sailed on and was killed.”
The shock of the news gushed out of Emiline’s lips as she lost her breath. The brush fell from her hand, thudding to the floor as an icy chill ran through her blood. “That cannot be right,” she whispered in disbelief. “Mr. Hampton is friends with my father. Would my father not know this?”
“I’m thinking he does not, Emmie.”
“But why…why would Mr. Hampton agree to have me stay here knowing it was his relative who killed his best friend’s wife?”
“I don’t’ know—unless Mr. Hampton is not on speaking terms with his relative now, and he must have thought you would not ever know.”
Emiline’s heartbeat gradually returned to normal as she tossed the idea back and forth in her mind. “What you said makes sense, Anna. After all, I believe the pirate is fighting for the Patriots, and Mr. Hampton obviously sides with our Mother England.”
“Yes.”
Emmie sighed and nodded. “That must be what happened. I shall not blame Mr. Hampton for something his relative did.”
“You have a forgiving heart.”
After Anna climbed into bed for the night, Emmie quickly left the room and made her way down the stairs. Her maid had said she had a forgiving heart, but Emmie didn’t feel like she did at this moment. She wanted to know the truth. Who was this so-called relative of Mr. Hampton’s? And why was her mother killed so violently? The mystery to her mother’s death was never fully explained.
Outside, the cool air stroked Emmie’s face, relaxing her slightly. Breathing in deeply, she hoped it would cool her temper as well. This whole night had been an emotional ride for her. First with watching Mr. Lawrence woo Anna…and now hearing the news about the relative. Hopefully, she would be able to collect herself and continue as she’d had thus far.
If they had only stayed in England instead of coming to the Colonies, none of this would have happened. Her father wouldn’t have had the insane notion of Emmie playing the role of lady’s companion, and she wouldn’t have had to discover Anna’s talent for acting. Moreover, they wouldn’t have met the very handsome Mr. Lawrence, and she wouldn’t be having these strange feelings of jealousy. Emiline always envied her friend for being pretty, but had never let it get this far out of control.
She wished now they could return home and everything would be the way it was. She missed her father and her other friends. This was really the first time she had been so far away from home. However, time away would be good for her, she just needed to have patience…which was something she never had.
In her wandering, she found herself on the back terrace. Most of the guests from the party had left, and only a few servants milled about cleaning up. Luckily, a few lamps were still lit on the lawn, giving her the lighting she needed for her walk. Pausing, she leaned against the railing and looked up at the moon. It appeared so big tonight, much larger than she had ever seen, and she had looked at the moon quite a bit in her lonely life.
“Now, why am I not surprised to find you out here this late after dark, and all alone?”
The man’s deep voice from behind made her jump. She whirled around to face the intruder. When Gabe walked closer, her heart pounded faster. Automatically, her hand flew to her bosom as if to stop the wild beating beneath her chest. Being alone with him out here was certainly not proper. Yet, leaving was not an option!
“Mr. Lawrence, you frightened the wits out of me.”
He chuckled. “Forgive me, but I thought you would have heard me coming. I made enough noise to wake the household.”
She grinned. “I suppose I was lost in thought and didn’t
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