“What is that?”
“Talk to Mercer myself.”
Phillip choked on his food. “What? Are you insane?”
“I must be, but how else are we going to know what he is planning?”
“Do you really believe he will tell you?”
Broderick shrugged. “Perhaps he won’t, but Captain Hawk will find a way to loosen the man’s tongue, even if it means torturing him. I’m sick of his games, and it’s time Captain Hawk gained control once and for all.”
Phillip grinned. “Shall I gather the crew together for a meeting?”
“Yes. As soon as you can.”
“I’ll let you know once I hear from them. There has only been a handful that came after I sent them missives. I suspect more will arrive.”
“Splendid.” Broderick lifted his cup. “I’m feeling better already.”
“As am I.” Phillip clinked his cup against Broderick’s.
Unfortunately, Broderick wasn’t feeling half as good as he should, especially when Emiline might still be in danger.
*
The next afternoon,Emmie visited with her mother in Mrs. Winterbourne’s flower garden. They sat at one of the decorative tables sipping tea, enjoying the fresh air. A warm wind blew against her cheek, stirring a lock of hair against her skin. It didn’t bother her. She vowed not to let trivial things disturb her any longer. Life was too important to waste being upset or sad.
She glanced across the yard to the road on the other side of the fence. Not many people walked by today, but then, she had noticed this part of town wasn’t as busy as the inn where the Cramptons were staying.
Being with her mother had been wonderful. Even Anna relished the fact that she was away from the high-and-mighty Miss Rebecca Crampton. Anna got along splendidly with Mrs. Winterbourne’s servants, as well.
Emmie looked back at her mother, and a similar pair of eyes stared back. A small grimace tugged on her mother’s mouth, and she wore a forlorn expression.
“Mother? What is amiss?” Emmie reached across the table and touched her mother’s hand before withdrawing.
“Not to worry, my dear. I’m fine. I have just been thinking about what could have possibly kept us away from each other for fifteen very long years.”
“I, too, have thought of that very thing lately.” Emiline lifted the cup to her lips and sipped. “How could both of us have gotten the same kind of message?”
“Did your message state that the ship had been attacked by Captain Hawk?”
“Indeed it did, Mother. When Father wanted us to sail here, I worried that Captain Hawk might still be alive and attacking ships.”
Daphne nodded. “That would frighten me, as well. Do you know if Captain Hawk is alive?”
“I couldn’t tell you.” Emmie reached out and grasped her mother’s hand. “When you received the message about us dying, why didn’t you come back to our chateau in France?”
“Because I was told the bodies were lost at sea, so there really was no burial service.” Daphne frowned. “Why did you and your father not come here upon hearing of my demise?”
“The same reason—that your body was lost at sea.” Emmie shrugged. “Not only that, but Father was quite upset with your family for wanting you to visit. At times I think he blamed them for making you sail across the sea to come see them.”
Daphne shook her head. “There were times I blamed my family as well. My mother wanted me to stay with her after Elias was born, but I could not. A few years after that, I was introduced to Estelle Winterbourne. She needed a companion and didn’t mind that I came with a small child. She has grandchildren, but they were never able to visit because they lived in Ireland.”
Emmie released a wistful sigh. “If you would have stayed with your mother, then I would have met you sooner. If not for Grandmother, I wouldn’t have known where you were.”
Daphne squeezed Emmie’s hand. “The Lord was certainly helping us along, was He not?”
“Indeed. But that still doesn’t explain why we received the same kind of notes fifteen years ago.”
