My Bonny Heart (Pirate's Progeny Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

with the smile she gave him.
    “Yes, my boy, that’s right! A horse.” The British accent was thick, and the older lady looked up into the doorway to see Anne standing there, her eyes questioning.
    Holt turned to see who stood in the doorway. His tousled auburn hair framing a chubby, tanned face. Deep emerald eyes sparkled with happiness, and dimples dotted each cheek.
    He was the most beautiful lad she’d ever set eyes on.
    “Mummy?” His eyes were curious, but he knew her. How, she did not know.
    Anne sobbed, placed the basket on the floor, and sank to her knees, arms outstretched. She nodded.
    He ran into her arms, and the feel of him there, cuddled to her chest made her sob harder. The tears flowed without hindrance, happiness and wholeness filling her. “Yes. Yes. I’m your mother. I've missed you so.” The ache in her chest that she’d had upon leaving the child she birthed those years ago began to ease, just by holding him.
    She leaned back enough to smooth his riotous auburn hair—hair so like her own.
    He smiled up at her, touching the wetness on her cheek. “Mummy.”
    Nodding again, she smiled. “Yes, forever.”
    He turned from her and ran over and swiped the horse figurine from the nursemaid. The woman's kind smile transformed her wrinkled face. She was fleshy and soft looking, with brown hair streaked throughout with gray. Her eyes were a gentle brown, too, the opposite of Sarah’s. Anne found herself chuckling inside at the thought.
    “He’s a good lad, Miss. Knows your face from portraits your uncle showed him.”
    “Never would I have thought I would be grateful for those troublesome portraits. I had to sit for hours and hours, all those years ago.”
    Anne swiped at the tears on her cheeks and walked over to the older lady, extending her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Anne Morgan.” The lady stared at her hand a moment before realizing she needed to shake it. She put her hands in Anne’s. “Thank you for looking after him while he’s been here.”
    The woman’s face lit up with a large smile; a smile that reached her generous eyes. “It’s my enjoyment, Miss. He’s a smart and sweet child.” She looked in Holt’s direction. “He says your name every day, and has for the past year.”
    Anne blinked, shocked. Her father had found her son that long ago and kept him hidden away? She must find out how he came to know of Holt and his whereabouts. She'd worried for his safety every day. Upon her capture in Cuba, that worry consumed her.
    “Extraordinary. Bless that man.” A shaky breath escaped her.
    “Yes, Miss. He is a good man.” She walked back over to the chair in the corner and grabbed a box full of different figurines. “I’m Eliza Teach, been with this boy his entire stay here at Cranford Hall.”
    Holt examined the horse. Anne raised her brows, curious. She’d known another Teach once, interesting and testy fellow some people called “Blackbeard”.
    Luckily, Eliza's sweet countenance assured she wasn’t related to the most notorious of the sea pirates.
    “Does my Uncle reside here?” She knew not to ask the household servants too many personal questions, so holding them back was becoming difficult.
    Eliza shook her head, walking over and pulling the blanket away from Garrett’s basket. “No, but he visits from time to time. He lives in a nice manor house on the other side of Charles Town.”
    The older woman’s warm smile went all the way to her eyes when she saw Garrett’s chubby face. “Another charmer, I see, with bright, green eyes like his mother. His name?”
    Anne smiled down at her youngest son. “Garrett. I've another babe, Frederica. Sarah has taken charge of her downstairs. Her mother, Mary, died not long after giving birth to her. She was my friend and I promised to raise her daughter as my own.”
    The older lady gave a nod as if acknowledging Anne had done the right thing. “Hard work, these young ones, but we’ll do the best we