Free Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) by Marie Higgins Page A

thing handed to them. You are a very fortunate man, Gabriel.”
     
    Shaking his head he walked to the window and looked out into the yard, gazing upon the predawn sky scattered with billowy clouds. “I’m aware of that, but I have made my own life here in the colonies. I cannot just throw my hands up in the air and forget everything I have done and leave for London without a second thought.” He heaved a sigh. “Will you give me time to think this over?”
     
    “Yes, but do not take too long.”
     
    “But Uncle, I cannot make a rash decision.” He looked back at the older man. “This is my future. If I step into an earl’s life, I would surely be expected to take a wife and have heirs myself.”
     
    Henry nodded. “Just as it’s supposed to be.”
     
    “But I’m not ready for such a responsibility.”
     
    Henry slapped his hands on the desk and stood. His eyebrows creased with irritation. “Then it’s time you took on that challenge. You are not a lad, living the carefree life any longer. You need to bring respect back to your father’s name, and this is the only way you can accomplish such a feat.”
     
    “But I enjoy being who I am. I want to be my own man. I want a normal life.”
     
    The corner of Henry’s mouth lifted in a smirk. “Gabriel, I believe you have never had a normal life, especially now.”
     
    Curiosity got the best of Gabe and he wondered exactly what his uncle knew. But he couldn’t ask. He didn’t want to admit he was a traitor to the crown when he knew his uncle was a devoted loyalist.
     
    “So Gabriel, what do you plan to do?”
     
    Closing his eyes, Gabe rested his head against the window. “I don’t know, Uncle. Please don’t rush me. Allow me to stay here a few more weeks to clear my head and think rationally.” With another heavy sigh, he pulled away from the window and stepped to the door, resting his hand on the brass door handle.
     
    “Gabriel, I want you to think of your future. You cannot live a carefree life forever, you know. And for heaven’s sake, get rid of that awful brown color in your hair and return to the vibrant auburn that reminds me of your mother, my dearly departed sister.”
     
    Chuckling, Gabe opened the door and left, not bothering to give his uncle an answer. He certainly couldn’t tell him he wore this hair color to hide from the King’s Naval Officers.
     
    Gabe’s long strides carried him to the stables, and within moments, he was atop one of his uncle’s stallions and riding away from the estate. It irritated him to think his uncle would reprimand him, yet he could see how much Henry worried about his welfare. As his uncle pointed out, it wasn’t every day a title was handed over to a commoner—especially one who was a traitor to the crown.
     
    He growled in frustration and pushed the horse faster. Ideas of what he could do with a title such as this floated through his mind, but he didn’t want to be in London amongst the enemy. True, he could collect information and send it to the Patriots here, but living that kind of life in London was dangerous. His home was here in the colonies. The Sons of Liberty and his crew members were his brothers, and Gabe didn’t want to give up a family like that.
     
    Gabe slowed his horse to a trot as he wandered aimlessly along the path ahead, canopied by the trees. A gentle breeze blew across his face, bringing with it the heady scent of wildflowers nearby.
     
    His thoughts drifted back over the years to the great men he’d worked with. William Braxton, a strong dedicated family man who only wanted freedom for his children as they grew. Marcus Thorne—also known as Captain Hawk—was a great businessman who cared for his fellow Patriots, even if it meant giving his own life.
     
    Because Gabe had such wonderful examples, he wanted to be like his friends. He didn’t want to cower under a pompous title or yield to the way the aristocrats wanted him to live just because he was the only