Sea of Christmas Miracles (11 page)

Finally giving up, Caroline sat ignored and
uncomfortable in one of the Queen Anne chairs, wondering when she
could politely excuse herself. She’d just about decided she’d
endured the woman’s silence long enough when Rebecca turned, her
dark head cocked to one side.

“He hates his father, you know.”

“I beg your pardon?” Caroline wasn’t sure if
she heard correctly. For the seemingly unsolicited statement made
no sense.

“Raff. He can’t tolerate Robert for the way
he treated his mother... and the rest of the Cherokee.”

Not knowing how to respond, Caroline studied
the hands folded in her lap.

“He’ll hate you, too. I know he will.”

Caroline swallowed. “I don’t think any of
this is your concern.”

“Oh, but everything about Raff is my
concern.” She smoothed the swaying skirts of her brocaded gown. “I
thought you should know that he’ll never care about you... because
of his father.”

“ ’Tis very... kind of you to tell me.”
Caroline stood, not quite knowing what to say. She smiled, hoping
to relieve some of the tension she felt emanating from the girl.
“I’m very tired. If you’ll excuse me, I think I shall retire.”

“That’s splendid. And don’t worry, I’ll make
your excuses to Raff and my father.”

With a nod of her head, Caroline left the
room, closing the door behind her. The hallway was airy, the door
leading from the back of the house open, and Caroline couldn’t
resist walking toward it. A breath of fresh air might clear her
head and help her make some sense of Rebecca’s remarks. It wasn’t
until she paused in the doorway that she realized Mr. Walker and
Raff were nearby.

She couldn’t see them in the darkness, but
though they spoke in hushed tones, she could hear them. Caroline
was about to turn back inside when something her host said caught
her attention.

“You think there will be war then between the
Cherokee and the English?”

But it was Raff’s response that sent a shiver
up her spine.

“Lyttleton sends talk of compromise. But I
think it is too late.”

written under the name:

Christine Elliott

The Captain’s Conquest,

written under the name:

Christine Dorsey

The Traitor’s Embrace

Southern Nights

Bold Rebel Love

The Captain’s Captive

The Rebel’s Kiss

Sea Fires

Sea of Desire

Sea of Temptation

Sea of Christmas Miracles
(novella)

My Savage Heart

My Seaswept Heart

My Heavenly Heart

Splendor

The Renegade

The Rebel

The Rogue

By the Book

Under His Spell
(novella)

The Way to a Man’s Heart
(novella)

A Bride’s Desire
(novella)

Christine Dorsey lives in Richmond, Virginia
with her proof that there are “happily ever afters”, her husband of
forty-four years, Chip. She has three grown children, a son and
daughter-in-law, and four of the most delightful grandchildren
imaginable... just ask her. She also has a Springer Spaniel puppy,
Stella, who keeps the household more than lively. Besides her
family and friends, reading, writing and love of the sea are her
passions. The author of seventeen books and four novellas with more
to come, Christine loves to share the stories and characters that
had
Romantic Times Magazine
calling her “one of the most
talented authors in the genre.” You can follow her on
Facebook
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and her
website,
www.christinedorsey.com