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

regardless.”
    The slip of Madison’s tongue caused her eyes to grow wide. She diverted the observation by exclaiming, “Oh! This means Sophia is my niece!”
    “Bloody hell,” Nicholas mumbled. Leave it to Madison to add more fuel to the fire.
    “Oh, dear,” Elizabeth stated as she walked in Madison’s direction. As she was walking, her thoughts began to race. Robert had a second grandchild with a third on the way. She stopped and turned to face Max. His presence still reeked of agitation and anger. She took a step towards him and placed her hand on his arm. “Should you chose to accept it or not, young man, you must think of your family. Your daughter. I . . . I . . .” she closed her eyes and opened them again. “I welcome you to the family, should you so choose.”
    “I have already welcomed you, should you choose to accept what I have told you. I just hope that you can forgive me,” Robert said as he walked to his wife.
    “Bloody hell,” Owen stated. “Does this mean Max is going to be an Earl?” He was finding humor in this serious situation.
    Nicholas laughed again. “If so, I want to go to the House of Lords and witness that. One look at Max and that entire group of pompous assed upstarts would think the devil has come to collect their souls.”
    “You’re all heart,” came Max’s droll reply.
    Robert gave a small smile. “No. The title can only pass to a legitimate heir.”
    “Sorry, old man,” Noah consoled as he looked at Eli. “You get to hang onto that title.”
    Eli said nothing as he sipped his drink. Leave it to Noah to make this announcement worse by reminding him of something that he had no desire for. Eli looked at Max. The man had a dangerous aura to him, but when he picked up his daughter, it was as if she calmed him. Eli wished he could trade places with this man now. Max had a wife and child whom he protected and loved. Eli had no doubt in his mind that Max would kill anyone who attempted to cause harm to his family. He watched as Kristina stood and placed an understanding hand on her husband’s arm.
    “Are you all right, Son?” Robert asked, his voice bringing Eli back to reality.
    Eli took a frustrated breath. “Fine. Why?” His words were cold and caustic.
    “You haven’t said a word during all of this.”
    “What do you want me to say?”
    “I don’t know.” Robert looked at Max. “He is your brother. Why don’t you welcome him to the family?”
    Eli stood. He leaned just inches away from his father. “Why don’t you? He’s your bastard.”
    “Eli!” Robert yelled to his oldest.
    “Don’t lecture me, Father.”
    “Eli, what has gotten into you?” Elizabeth asked.
    “He’s just being his normal bastardly self, Mother,” Oliver said as he held up his glass. “To the newest member—no, members—of our family.”
    “Cheers to that,” Owen replied. Nothing made the two youngest boys happier than giving their eldest brother a hard time.
    “You want to toast to something, how about to your death?” Eli questioned as he headed towards his younger brothers.
    “Eli!” Elizabeth yelled again, stepping in front of her oldest son.
    “What?! Am I supposed to be thrilled about this announcement? Are we to open our arms and welcome Max and his family into the bosom of ours? I like you, Max. You are a valuable business arrangement, but I don’t think I could tolerate you as a brother.”
    Max handed Sophia back to Kristina.
    “Max,” Kristina warned as she grabbed her husband’s arm.
    “Speak ill about me all you want, St. John. But if you slander my wife or child, I will kill you, family or not.”
    “I’ve been duly warned. But truth be known, there is something about you I don’t trust. You have an overly familiar look to you. I have thought so since I first met you. I can’t help but wonder if we haven’t met doing battle at sea.”
    Kristina and Madison looked at each other with a newfound sense of panic.
    “What are you saying, St.