Velvet Chains (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

address, I suspect it's from Captain John Paul Jones."
    Silas stood up, moved to his desk, and removed the letter from the top drawer where he had placed it. He handed it to his nephew and sat down in front of the fire once more.
    The Raven broke the seal and began to read.
    "Yes, it's from John Paul," he said, scanning the letter and then tossing it into the fire. He knew it would be dangerous to leave such a letter lying around. Both men watched the hungry flames lick at the parchment. “Jones is in France waiting to be outfitted with a ship."
    Silas snorted. "He will do better getting a ship from France than from our own country. He has powerful enemies in Congress who are too blind to see Captain Jones is the best damned sea captain they have."
    The Raven nodded. "He wrote of hardships, mutiny, and petty jealousy."
    “What else does he say?"
    “He hints that if I come across someone who is of great importance to the British Crown . . . someone who could be captured and later held for ransom, it would be in our country's best interest."
    Silas leaned forward. "Good lord, in what respect would that be of any help to the United States?"
    "It seems that when our ships are captured by the enemy, the crew are imprisoned as traitors, under the most deplorable conditions. Some are even pressed into the British Navy and forced to work aboard their ships."
    "Yes, I have heard that also," Silas admitted. "But I don't see what can be gained by capturing some high English official."
    "John Paul wrote that the navy is abominably short-handed. He has been obliged to take on Spanish, French, and even Russians to man his ships. It's not being short-handed that he minds so much, but rather the cruel and inhuman treatment our sailors are receiving at the hands of the British."
    "Is he asking you to do this deed then?"
    "I believe he is . . . although he states that if he's ever asked if it was his idea, he will deny any knowledge of it."
    Silas raised his eyebrow. "Will he now, by damn. It would seem he is willing to place your head on the block and hand the enemy an ax to lob it off with!"
    The Raven laughed deeply. "It's not as bad as you may suppose, Uncle. John Paul himself tried to take the Earl of Selkirk as hostage. But on arriving at St. Mary's Isle, he found the earl to be away from home and had to abandon his plan. He says it was the most embarrassing situation he has yet had to endure."
    Silas looked at his nephew suspiciously. "Are you planning to do as the good captain suggested?" Silas asked, fearing his nephew might be considering Jones's foolish notion.
    "I don't think so, Uncle Silas. I believe John Paul's plan has merit; however, I have no stomach for kidnapping. I wouldn't be surprised if John Paul tried again to take some highborn Englishman and then demand the release of our sailors for the man's return. I would imagine all he needs is another likely candidate!"
    Silas' face eased into a smile. Can you imagine John Paul sailing all the way to St. Mary's Isle to take the earl prisoner, only to find the man away from home? Dammit, if that's what our navy has come to, I'm glad you aren't a part of it. I'd sooner see you scuttle the Andromeda and retire her from the sea than use her in such a harebrained scheme."
    The Raven merely looked at his uncle through lowered lashes. "When America is free and we no longer have to worry about that tyrant who sits upon his throne in England, perhaps then I can retire from the sea," he stated lazily. "Until that time, we all do things that are distasteful to us."
    "You are a fool if you think this war hinges on anything you do. The war will be won or lost without your help or interference."
    The Raven nodded his head and laughed, amused by his uncle's blunt observation. "I suppose you are right, but I do what I can, however small the contribution."
    Silas looked into dancing eyes and couldn't help smiling himself. "You are a devil and you seem to thrive on causing me worry. I will no