Chapter Twenty-One

B roderick sat at the small desk inside his room at the inn jotting down notes for how he would bring Lieutenant Mercer to him, and, in return, find the location of the lord chancellor to capture him. There were few ideas floating around in his head, but he was determined. Wanting to be a normal man again and marrying Emiline was his motivation.

He was certain that all the men who played the role of Captain Hawk had felt the same as Broderick. There was still need for the fearsome pirate, yet soon he would fade away.

The knock on the door brought Broderick out of his thoughts of the future. "Enter."

The door opened and Uncle Henry peeked inside. "Are you busy?"

"I'm just finishing some correspondences. Why? What is wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just bored."

Broderick chuckled as he set his quill back in the ink bottle. "I would invite you in, but this room is small." He pushed away from the desk and stood. "Would you like to venture downstairs to visit? Or take a walk instead?"

"I think we should take a walk."

Nodding, Broderick grabbed his overcoat and shrugged into it. "A walk sounds refreshing."

They moved down the stairs in silence. "Where are Aunt Martha and Rebecca this afternoon?"

"Aunt Martha has a headache, so has taken to her bed, and Rebecca has been in a fit ever since she found out Lady Sarah's role was played by Emiline's maid all this time." Henry rolled his eyes. "Rebecca left a little while ago with her personal maid to do some shopping. That is what your cousin does when upset, you know."

Broderick laughed. "And chumming up with a maid and treating her like an actual person is so far beneath her that she has to throw a temper tantrum? Really, Uncle. That is just absurd."

Henry threw back his head and laughed. "Well said, dear boy. But yes, she has been in a foul mood for a few days."

Broderick scratched his head. "I pity the man who marries her."

Henry chuckled. "Watch your tongue—she is my daughter, you know. But…" He glanced around the spacious room. "I, too, pity the man," he ended softly.

They walked out of the darkened inn and into the sunlight. Broderick squinted against the brightness until his eyes could adjust. "Speaking of marriage…"

Henry looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"I'm going to ask Emiline to be my wife," Broderick said happily.

Henry beamed and slapped him on the shoulder. "What an excellent choice. She is a wonderful young lady, and I think you and she will be very happy, indeed."

"I believe we will, Uncle. I do love her, and have for a while now, even though I didn't want to admit it."

"Admitting our love is very hard. It means we must commit to a relationship, and for some men, that's nearly impossible to do."

"So true, Uncle. I'm glad to know it's not just me who thinks that way."

"But marriage to Emiline is a good thing, I assure you."

"No need to assure me, Uncle. I know how special Emiline is."

Henry slowed his footsteps and leaned closer. "You are not marrying her because of who her uncle is, are you?"

Broderick stopped, his head spinning. Strange, but he really hadn't thought of that since he'd confessed his love to her. Even though Emiline agreed with him about her uncle's actions, the man was still Broderick's enemy. He prayed she wouldn't think he wanted to marry her to get closer to capturing her uncle.

"Actually, I want to marry her —not her family. Although I must remember to be very careful about what I say around her father."

"Yes, you don't want to slip and say something that might give away your secrets."

Broderick shook his head. "Not to worry, Uncle. I have been hiding secrets for a few years now."

Henry's jaw hardened. "I honestly don't know how you or others can live your life in such a way—always cautious, for fear of being captured." He placed his hand on Broderick's arm and squeezed. "But I do admire you for being so dedicated to helping your country any way you can."

"I only want to make our country stronger, Uncle. I want a better life for my posterity."

"As it should be."

Up ahead, he noticed a woman hurrying up the street toward him as if dogs were nipping at her heels. Beside her was Emiline's brother. When they spotted Broderick, Daphne's footsteps quickened, and Elias aimed a glare in Broderick's direction. It surprised him to see Emmie was not with them.

"Good day," Broderick said when they met.

"Lady Langston, what a pleasant surprise," Henry added.

"Mr. Worthington, Mr. Crampton." Daphne's tone was clipped. Elias continued to glare. "Mr. Worthington, do you know where my daughter is?"

Broderick frowned. Worry started to grow in his chest. "No, my lady. I thought she was with you."

"She was with us earlier today, but then suddenly she stated she had to see you and rushed out of the house before I could stop her."

"When was that?" Broderick asked.

"Not more than an hour ago."

"I assure you, I have been in my room at the inn until my uncle and I left for a walk." He studied their worried faces before glancing at Henry, who wore the same type of expression. Panic filled Broderick completely.

Elias stepped up to him, and the lad poked his finger into Broderick's chest. "I demand you tell me what you have done with my sister."

Broderick held up his hands. "Whoa there, Elias. There is no need to get testy. I assure you, I have done nothing with your sister. I have not even seen her today."

"You are lying!" Elias accused.

"Pardon me," Broderick snapped as the worry to find Emiline expanded, "but why would I lie? I love your sister and want to protect her." He switched his attention to Daphne. "Tell me what happened. I need to know so I can find her."

Lady Langston studied Broderick for a few silent moments before her face relaxed and moisture coated her eyes—eyes that looked so much like Emiline's that it tugged at Broderick's heart. Helplessness settled in his gut, and he didn't know what to do about it.

"I wish I knew, Mr. Worthington. My daughter and I were having a most serious discussion, and I could see how upset it made her. I bade her to rest in my room for a little while. After several minutes, she came back down in a fit and said she needed to find you posthaste. Before I could discover what was wrong, she ran out of the house." Her lips trembled as she placed a shaky hand on Broderick's arm. "Please help us find my daughter. I cannot lose her again."

He grasped her hand and squeezed. "I assure you, I will locate Emiline. I love her, and I don't wish to lose her either."

"You do not love her," Elias snapped. "You only want to use her."

Broderick released Daphne's hand and glared at the boy. "Why are you saying such lies? What have I done to make you hate and distrust me?"

"Because… Well, I know about you." Elias narrowed his eyes. "I know who you really are."

Broderick's heart sank like a boulder in the sea. He glanced at Henry, and the color on his face had disappeared as well. His eyes were wide with fright.

Broderick swallowed hard and looked back at Elias. "And who do you think I am, really ?"

"Two men told me you were Captain Hawk."

He licked his suddenly dry lips, his mind scrambling for something intelligent to say. He snuck a peek at Daphne, who, thankfully, didn't look as condemning as her son.

"From the stories I have heard about Captain Hawk for many years," Broderick began, "the man would well be into his eightieth year, wouldn't he?" He swept a hand around his face. "Do I honestly look like I'm that old?"

Slowly, the angry expression on Elias's face changed. No longer was he cocky and assured—now doubt snuck across his creased forehead and tight lips.

"Well, I suppose you aren't that age, but the men assured me—"

"Who were these men?" Henry said. "Why do you trust them over the man your sister loves?"

Elias shrugged. "The naval officer was so convincing."

Fear clutched Broderick's heart once again. "A naval officer, you say? What did he look like?"

Elias shrugged again. "A middle-aged man, I assume. Freckled face, with an abundance of burnt-orange hair."

Sickness rolled in Broderick's stomach, making him want to throw up. Somehow Mercer had connected the pirate to Broderick. But how? And that still didn't explain why the lieutenant would take Emiline. Was it to bring Captain Hawk out of hiding?

Taking a deep breath to control his fear, Broderick nodded. "Tell me everything these men said. I need to find Emmie. She is in grave danger."

"Oh," Daphne groaned as she swooned. Henry rushed to hold her up. Thankfully, she hadn't lost consciousness.

"Not to worry, Lady Langston," Henry said, patting her arm. "My nephew will find Emiline and bring her home safe."

"I will. I promise." Broderick helped to hold up Emmie's mother then looked back at Elias. "Hail a hackney to take you two home. Your mother is in no condition to walk."

Nodding, Elias scampered down the street.

Broderick and Henry exchanged worried glances. Perhaps the only way to get Emiline back was for Broderick to turn himself in—which he could not do. But she depended on him to rescue her, and right now, she was more important.

There was only one decision to make. He loved Emmie with all his heart, which meant he would find her. He prayed his crew would be able to come up with a rescue plan, because he feared he wouldn't be able to save both himself and the woman he loved.

*

Noises grew all around Emmie as she slowly became alert. 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 at her back, and her feet were secured tightly to the chair in which she sat. 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 to clear her head of the fog she'd just left.

"How soon do you think he will come?" asked a woman.

Although the woman's voice was low, Emmie suspected she'd heard it before. But where?

"If I know Captain Hawk, he will come today."

Forgetting that she was going to keep quiet, Emmie sucked in a quick breath. Captain Hawk? Impossible! Why would he come? Her head pounded for different reasons now. Was he somehow connected with her uncle?

All these unanswered questions were so frustrating. She wanted to know what was going on now, but she continued to act as if she was still unconscious. She prayed her captors believed that.

"And when will I get my money?" The woman's voice came out stronger now, and more determined.

"Not to worry, my sweet lady," the man said charmingly. "When Hawk arrives, you will be paid accordingly."

Emmie didn't like the sound of that. She wondered if the woman was way in over her head as well. Apparently, this man wasn't someone to be trifled with.

"I better be paid very well. I didn't stick my neck out for you for nothing, you know. If Broderick Worthington knew what I have done—"

"He won't, I assure you."

Once again, Emmie gasped. Broderick? How was the man she loved involved in all of this? Somehow there was a missing piece of the puzzle, and she didn't know what it was.

"My dear Miss Crampton. Your cousin will never know." Once again, the man spoke with confidence.

Inwardly, Emmie groaned. Rebecca? What had that wretch of a woman done? Emmie had never liked Broderick's cousin, and now she knew her first instincts were correct. Rebecca was definitely the hind end of a mule. Worse, actually. She was the devil's own child. Obviously, Broderick had done something very damaging to her cousin that hopefully Emmie would discover soon.

Another set of footsteps pounded on the floor. "I believe everything is in place, Lieutenant Mercer. The trap has been set. When Worthington arrives, there is no way for escape," the man said with quick breaths.

Emmie boiled inside, knowing that Broderick would be as helpless as she was now. And that second man's voice… Why did it sound familiar?

"Splendid," the man referred to as Lieutenant Mercer answered gleefully. "Finally, after all these years, Captain Hawk will be mine."

Emmie's mind skidded to a halt. They were just discussing Broderick, and now the pirate's name had been mentioned again. It sounded like Broderick and Hawk were the same person. But that definitely couldn't be correct. Broderick was too young to be that pirate.

Wasn't he?

Dread washed over her like filthy water. Broderick was probably in his mid- to late twenties. Fifteen years ago, the pirate would have been about the same age or older. Yet the lieutenant seemed to think Broderick was Hawk. Could it be possible that Broderick had taken over as Captain Hawk after a friend or family member? She knew his father was dead, so what were the chances that the original pirate was Broderick's father?

Not only that, but Broderick had promised her that Captain Hawk didn't attack passenger ships. And she believed him. So, why was Captain Hawk being blamed for things he didn't do?

Her headache grew worse the longer she pondered all these confusing questions. But one question remained. If Broderick was indeed Captain Hawk, then the pirate couldn't be as ruthless as rumors indicated. Broderick Worthington was now—and had always been since she first met him—the kindest and gentlest man she'd ever known. There would be no way he could be anything else. She had gotten to know the real man, the man who fought with his fellow countrymen trying to keep their country safe from the controlling lord chancellor's grasp. Broderick was the man who would do anything to help the woman he loved locate her mother. And he would do anything to help Emmie now.

Once again, panic wrenched her heart. He didn't know he was walking into a trap. She must not allow that to happen. She needed to figure out where she was, and how to get out of these ropes that bound her to this very uncomfortable chair.

She tried to smell the things around her. As she took a deep sniff, she nearly gagged. Wherever she was being kept prisoner, it was moldy and dusty. She prayed she didn't sneeze.

The more she concentrated on her whereabouts, the more she realized the floor rocked slightly, and she felt off-center. A ship? She'd gone sailing enough times with her father when she was younger to know the feeling well. Without a doubt, she was on some kind of ship, and by the fetid scent, she was below deck in a room that wasn't used very often.

Her mind returned to the group still talking. Oh, why hadn't she been paying better attention? She trained her ears on what the other two were saying.

"Whatever happens, I cannot be here," Rebecca said. "I don't want my cousin to see me."

"What will it matter?" the lieutenant asked. "He will die soon enough."

Rebecca huffed. "It's the principle of the matter."

The second man laughed, and once again, Emmie felt she knew him from somewhere.

"Oh, Miss Crampton. You are so two-faced, it's almost laughable. You are the very reason we can capture Broderick Worthington, yet you think all you have to do is use a little soap and your sins will be washed away?"

"How dare you insinuate—"

"Miss Crampton, I don't need to insinuate . Your actions speak loud enough."

"Lieutenant Mercer?" Rebecca stomped. "Are you going to allow this man to speak to me in such a condescending tone?"

Mercer chuckled. "Miss Crampton, you act as if you are royalty. You're not, so if I were you, I would shut my mouth and keep it closed."

"I don't need to stand here and take this kind of treatment."

"No, you don't," the lieutenant answered, "but if you want your money, you will."

If Emmie wasn't so upset over Rebecca's betrayal, she would have laughed. Indeed, Rebecca was two-faced, and Emmie was glad the other men knew it. Still, deep down inside, she felt Rebecca's life might be in danger now because of what she'd done.

"As for you, my friend," the lieutenant continued, "I think you should depart posthaste. You don't need Mr. Worthington seeing that you are working for me. And our prisoner doesn't need to see you, either."

"You are correct, Lieutenant Mercer, as always. From what I have heard of Lady Sarah, she is a little spitfire." The other man chuckled. "I will definitely be in touch, soon, to find out how everything transpires."

"I'm in hopes that our plans will flow smoothly."

Irritation grew inside her. Whoever this man was, surely he hadn't heard the correct information about her. She was not a spitfire. Still, it bothered her that she hadn't pinpointed his identity.

After the unknown man left, silence stretched in the room for a few moments. Emmie tried to keep her breathing slow instead of what her quick heartbeat was dictating. She was certain the other two were watching her now. She must not appear as if she'd been awake this whole time.

"So, Miss Crampton, I suppose we should see to our prisoner now."

"As long as you don't remove her blindfold. I don't want her seeing me."

Mercer chuckled. "You are so typical. Always thinking of yourself."

Rebecca huffed again. "Well, considering I'll continue to live a normal life, as well as Lady Sarah, I don't need her knowing the identity of the one who planned her kidnapping."

"Actually, my dear, confused woman"—the lieutenant's voice turned charming again—"I was the one who planned her kidnapping."

Their footsteps neared Emmie. She feared they would notice the bodice of her gown moving so fast due to her erratic heartbeat. Silently, she prayed they would not. She remained in the same position she'd been when she had awoken, with her chin resting on her chest. She smelled them near her, and although the man didn't stink, he definitely didn't smell as pleasant as Broderick.

Calloused, dry fingers pressed against her neck, and it was all she could do not to jump out of her own skin.

"She is alive. I worried that when I hit her to knock her out, it might have been too hard."

"It's what she deserves, if you ask me," Rebecca answered matter-of-factly.

When Emmie was finally free of these binds, she'd be sorely tempted to claw the other woman's eyes out for that comment.

Two hands grasped Emmie's shoulders and shook. Her head rocked with the movement and made her headache that much worse. She groaned loud enough for them to hear her this time.

"She is waking up now," the lieutenant said. "Lady Sarah? Can you hear me?"

She moaned again. "Yes." Struggling against her ties, she tried to put on a good performance. "What… what is going on? Why can't I move? Where am I?" she ended, her voice pitched higher than before.

"Lady Sarah, you are my prisoner. Where you are is of no consequence, since you cannot do anything about it."

"Why am I here? What have I done to become your prisoner?"

"You have done nothing—except capture the heart of the notorious pirate, Captain Hawk. Because I would like to kill him, I'm using you as bait."

She struggled against her ties again for show. "I'm afraid you are wrong. I don't know Captain Hawk. I have never met the pirate."

Mercer laughed loudly. "Oh, you have met him, I assure you. His real name is Broderick Worthington."

She paused for effect, and then slowly chuckled. "As much as I know you might not like me proving you wrong, I fear I must. I heard stories of Captain Hawk fifteen years ago. The man would have to be at least eighty years old. Mr. Worthington is certainly not that age."

"Lady Sarah, you must believe me to be addled. I assure you, I'm not. Would I have made it to the rank of lieutenant if I were that futile? Mr. Worthington wasn't the first Captain Hawk, and I'm certain that after he dies, another man will take his place."

"Then why are you so willing to kill Mr. Worthington if you know another man will take his place?"

"Because I want the recognition of capturing the elusive man. Since he has stepped into the role of pirate, he has captured many of my men. My brother was one of those who lost their life at Mr. Worthington's hand. Several years ago, I vowed to do all I could to stop him and slowly torture him until he dies."

A cold shiver ran over her. Lieutenant Mercer's voice was evil and unfeeling. She didn't need to be told how ruthless he was. Indeed, he would do as he'd planned. But who would stop him? Did Broderick know what kind of danger he was in?

And most importantly, would she be able to save him?