“You cannot let her near him,” one of the men said. “He is a dangerous man. There is a reason Captain Hawk’s name strikes fear into women and children.”
She sucked in a breath and quickly slapped her hand over her mouth.Captain Hawk is still around after all these years?
“But how can I stop her from seeing him if you don’t want me to let her know what is going on?” Elias asked.
“That, Mr. Langston, you will have to figure out on your own. We just came to inform you of what might happen to your sister.”
“Does she know about Captain Hawk?”
“No, and I don’t think you should tell her. Just protect her the best you can, and whatever you do, keep your sister away from him.”
“As you wish. I shall try my best.”
The two men left, but she couldn’t see them very clearly as they walked up the street. Elias stood watching them for a few brief moments before he turned and headed back toward the house.
Her heart pounded fiercely. Why would they discuss her and Captain Hawk in the same conversation? Nothing made sense, and fright consumed her, almost as much as it had when she was younger and thought about sailing across the sea. At this moment, she felt vulnerable, which was something she couldnotfeel.
Broderick will protect me.
Yes, she must go tell Broderick.
As she hurried out of the bedroom to find her mother, Emmie’s mind was scrambled with thoughts about why her name would be connected to Captain Hawk’s. Helplessness washed over her. If asking her brother would help, she would do it in a heartbeat, but she received the impression from listening in that her poor brother was nearly as confused as she was.
She found her mother quickly as she was coming from the kitchen. Emmie ran to her and clutched her hands.
“I must leave immediately. I need to talk to Broderick.”
“Why so suddenly?”
“I don’t know exactly what is going on,” Emmie continued in a rush. “I shall explain later. I must leave.” She tore away from her mother and strode toward the front door.
“My dear, let me come with you.”
“Not this time, Mother. I shall be fine.” She hurried out the door before her mother could say any more.
Halfway down the street, Emmie realized she hadn’t grabbed her shawl or her bonnet. Nevertheless, she couldn’t turn back now. She must find Broderick and tell him of what she’d heard, and she prayed he would be able to figure out this most confusing puzzle.
She turned a corner and quickened her steps, anxious to walk the five blocks to the inn. She passed couples strolling down the street as if they were standing still. At the moment, she didn’t care what people thought of her. They didn’t know her and wouldn’t remember her once she left this town to return home to Devonshire.
As she passed an alleyway, she recalled there was a shorter way to get to the inn. Without giving it another thought, she turned up the alley and hurried faster. But from the echoes of quick footfalls stomping behind her, she wasn’t the only person going this way.
She glanced over her shoulder briefly to see who it was. There was something recognizable about the man coming at her—besides the fact he had stood beside the man with orange hair that her brother had talked with.
Emmie stopped suddenly and faced him, ready to speak her mind and ask him why he would think Captain Hawk would be after her. “Why are you following—”
The man snickered and threw a blanket around her head, then wrapped his beefy arms around her so tightly she didn’t think she could breathe. As she struggled and tried to scream, the man cackled.
“Now Captain Hawk will be mine very soon.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Broderick sat atthe 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?”
