Keeper of My Dreams (St. John Series Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

don’t cha think?” Nicholas answered with a sparkle to his blue eyes.
    Max laughed. “A hell of a ring.” He looked around the room wondering how this family would react if they knew the real meaning behind the name. Years ago, Max and Nicholas were pirates and Nicholas went by the name of Alexander Xavier. They even plundered Emerald Shipping vessels to throw the scent off their trail. There would be hell to pay if it was found out that the governor’s son was a pirate—and not just any pirate, but the one who had kidnapped Madison.
    Robert looked at Max and then at Kris. “Good. All are here, and no, this does not involve Jonathan.”
    “So what is so important, Daddy?” Madison asked as she sat down beside Kristina.
    Robert motioned for all to have a seat. Once all were seated, he looked around the room. A somber expression crossed his face.
    Elizabeth drew her brows together. “Robert, what is wrong?”
    He looked at his wife and gave a pained smile. “Nothing. But I have an announcement to make.” He looked at Eli, “and it has nothing to do with you getting my title . . . not yet. I plan on living for many more years.”
    At Eli’s nod, Robert looked back at his wife. “I hope you all will understand and forgive me.”
    “Robert?” Elizabeth questioned with concern in her voice.
    Robert looked around the group again. Madison was seated on the sofa with Kristina. Kristina was now holding Sophia. Nicholas was standing behind Madison holding Alexandra. Max was standing behind his wife. Elizabeth was sitting in a high back chair beside Madison. His other children formed a semi-circle around the others.
    “As you know, I resided at Governor’s Harbour for about a year and a half before I met your mother. We were betrothed, but I had never met her—or so I thought, but that is a different story. Anyway, I left England in hopes that her parents would break the engagement. I was twenty-one at the time, young and stupid. I was afraid of marriage and the responsibilities that came with it. I was also out to seek my own fortune. I knew my father’s title would come to me, as well as his wealth, but I wanted to prove to all that I could make it on my own. The Caribbean seemed to be a perfect place to start. When I arrived, I was penniless and homeless. I took odd jobs to earn a few coins.”
    “But what about Gramps?” Madison asked. “He didn’t disown you, so why were you lacking for funds?”
    “I left without his knowledge. I had enough to pay for my passage and food on the voyage but no more. But even if he knew, I would not have asked for assistance. I needed to do this on my own.
    “After a while, I started to save a few coins here and there. I bought a small schooner and began transporting goods from here to New Providence. The more I transported, the more I made. I met Jonathan then. He ran a small store and was in need of merchandise to sell and trade. He agreed to donate to help me acquire a larger vessel so I could transport more goods. And thus my shipping business began and money started flowing in.
    “But I was lonely and a man with needs. I frequently visited the taverns and brothels at both ports—an action that haunts me to this day,” he said as he looked at his wife. Her green eyes sparked with anger as he spoke. He took a deep breath and continued. “Once I started making substantial funds, I began frequently visiting Eliza’s, a more elite brothel. I decided to keep a woman on retainer there. It was more expensive than a mistress or a tavern wench, but mistresses expect marriage and wenches have diseases.”
    Kristina’s eyes grew wide with knowing as she shifted her position slightly. She looked up at her husband and could sense his tension. She placed her hand on his. Max looked down at Kristina, his eyes revealing none of his thoughts. Both already knew what Robert was about to announce.
    “Many months later she presented a child to me and told me he was mine. I