Prize of My Heart Read Online Free PDF

not every fellow,” she said, “but why not a handsome, smart fellow like George? You did seem to favor him well enough once. Has he done something to displease you?” She picked at the pristine lace edging on one of Lorena’s short puffy sleeves, her voice dropping to a soft, wistful tone. “Or do you refuse George because he is sailing for England, and you would not wish to be separated from us?”
    “Temperance, if ever in my foolish youth I imagined affection for George Louder, I can assure you, I have long since grown to feel otherwise. England, bah. Under no circumstance would I wish to abandon my family.” And then Lorena remembered to add, “And in referring to family, you know I include your mother and yourself?”
    Words Temperance had been waiting to hear, for the corners of her mouth curled into her full cheeks, widening into a smile that fairly reached her ears.
    Then, as though seeking further reassurance, Temperance narrowed her hazel-green eyes in a keen, assessing stare. “George hasn’t done something to upset you, has he, Lorena? You wouldn’t keep secrets from me?”
    Lorena dismissed the notion with a giggle. “Temperance, I do not have a secret,” she assured and did not lie, because thanks to this morning’s misadventure, she had two.
    Temperance grinned, content to let the matter drop. “In that case, Lorena, I beg you to make your chocolate custards. Shall I tell Mother you’ll join her in the summer kitchen?”
    Lorena summoned what little patience she had in reserve. “Very well. Chocolate custards. Though not for the sake of Captain Talvis. I am doing this for my father.”
    Temperance gave no reply, save for a smile and the prim satisfaction on her face. She’d gotten exactly what she’d come for and excused herself with a nod.
    As Temperance bounded down the staircase, Lorena admonished herself for being so easily persuaded and continued on to Drew’s room. As quickly as she stepped inside, however, the boy was upon her.
    He threw his arms about her legs and mumbled incoherently into her skirts.
    “I cannot understand you, Drew.”
    The child lifted his face. “The giant is come. Come to get us.”
    Lorena refused to get unnecessarily alarmed. She took Drew’s chubby hands and held them tightly in her own as she leaned forward to search his face. “You’re telling me you’ve seen the man from the shipyard again?”
    He nodded.
    “Where, Drew?”
    The boy stomped his foot angrily on the carpet. “He is here.”
    “Here. Here in our house? You’ve seen that man in our house?”
    Drew nodded, vigorously this time, as shock washed over her. Lorena could barely think straight. First in the shipyard, now in her home. Who was this giant? she wondered, knowing full well he was no giant, but a man.
    The same striking figure of a man who had impressed Temperance, with eyes she could not describe, and as Lorena feared, her papa’s client—Captain Talvis.
    “He is a dangerous giant,” Drew warned. “I can tell by the looks of him.”
    “Did he speak to you?”
    “He smiled like it was Christmas and he had found a present under the tree. He tried to get me, but I ran away.”
    Get him? Lorena hardly thought so—not in their home, surely. Doing her best to hide her confusion, she squatted level with the boy. She braved him a smile and ran her fingers through his soft white-gold curls. “No one is going to get you, I promise. We needn’t fear the giant. He is our papa’s client, Captain Talvis. Remember your papa Huntley telling us about him? He’s master and owner of the largest ship built in our yards.”
    Drew considered her words carefully. “Captain Talvis?”
    “Yes. I imagine the captain was anxious for a look at his finished ship. That would explain his presence in the shipyard this morning.”
    Where I had the misfortune of meeting up with him , Lorena thought wryly.
    She gave the child her most serious face. “Drew, if anyone were to find out about what