This Heart of Mine Read Online Free PDF

remember the incident, but I want you to think back. Think hard. When you were barely five years old, your parents betrothed you to the heir of the Earl of BrocCairn. The earl was an old friend of your papa’s from his childhood, and the two of them thought it would be a wonderful thing if their families could be joined by blood. It was the summer that your grandparents came from France with practically all of your French relatives. Willow went into premature labor during thecelebration and delivered your nephew, Henry, right here at Queen’s Malvern. A few days later at the christening the Earl of BrocCairn was the baby’s godfather, and you were allowed to carry the holy oil. Don’t you remember? They say it was such a lovely family party!”
    “Were you and Uncle Conn married then?” said Velvet. “Were you at this party?”
    A shadow passed over Aiden’s face for a moment, but then smiling, she said, “Yes, Velvet, Conn and I were married then, but we were not able to come to your betrothal party. Your mother often spoke of it, however. Try and remember.”
    Velvet furrowed her brow in genuine concentration. “I do remember Henry being born and carrying the oil, and that Grandmère and Grandpère were here. But, Aunt Aiden, I remember no betrothal! It cannot be true! Mama has always said that I should never marry without love!”
    “I am quite sure the new earl will love you, Velvet,” said her uncle helpfully, and his wife bit her lip to prevent her laughter.
    “But I may not love him!” came the explosion. “Oh, why are Mama and Papa not here now? They have been gone over two years! They must come home soon, Uncle! I shall marry no one until they do! And even then I shall marry no one unless I am in love!” With a flounce of her silk skirts, Velvet stamped from the room.
    “Oh, Lord.” Aiden St. Michael sighed, “Your sister Skye would be away. What are we to do, Conn? I don’t have to tell you what your niece is like when she sets her mind against something. Why did Adam and Skye plan such a long voyage, before Velvet was settled in her own home?”
    “They didn’t plan the trip, my love. They were asked by Her Majesty to undertake this voyage in order to ascertain the possibility of England’s opening trade with the Grand Mughal. The Portuguese have a very strong grip on India right now, and its riches are beyond belief. Why should only the Portuguese, and the Spanish, who control them, profit? They are rich enough!”
    “But why not send one of the large trading companies? Why the O’Malley-Small fleet?” Aiden was curious for she was descended from a family of London merchants.
    “There were several reasons, I suspect,” Conn replied. “For one thing the O’Malley-Small shipping company is small and wealthy, but holds no official position with Her Majesty, so they won’t arouse the Portuguese’s suspicions. Also, the fact that Skye is a member of the old faith may be an advantagesince the Jesuits are strongly involved in the Portuguese colony in India and have even insinuated themselves in the Grand Mughal’s court.”
    “I still don’t understand why Skye and Adam had to go. Robbie Small has been doing all the voyaging for years now.”
    Conn smiled at his sweet wife. “Robbie is growing old, and my sister had been landlocked since her return to England,” he said. “Up until they came home from France, Skye always lived near the sea, but a condition of her return was that she must live here in the heartland of England. The queen, wily wench that she is, would never again allow my sister to be a threat to her. Still, when this voyage was proposed, Her Majesty insisted that Skye go. Bess must have needed her badly,” Conn chuckled.
    “More than likely the queen felt such a voyage with a beautiful noblewoman in evidence wouldn’t be considered threatening by the Portuguese, or even taken seriously,” Aiden remarked wisely.
    “By God, you could be right!” Conn said. “Ah,