Read Online The Silk Weaver's Daughter by Elizabeth Kales - Free Book Online

father. Can you tell me what it was like?”
    “I thought it was great. There were two ships, neither of them large. We slept in a small cabin along with the ship’s officers—behind the Captain’s quarters. Alas, there’s no place for a lady on board most of these merchant vessels. Otherwise, I would take you with me when we’re married.” He smiled down at her.
    “I’d love to go. I think it would be so exciting. Why two ships, Marc?”
    “Because of the Corsairs—the Barbary pirates. They’re all around the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea as well as down in the Spanish Main. For safety, we go in pairs. We followed the trade winds south to the Canary Islands and across the Atlantic to the Caribbean where we visited the Island of Martinique. How I would love you to see that sea. It is a most magnificent blue—azure I think they call it. It’s so warm; we swam every day. And on the islands, they grow these amazing trees—with large fronds—they sway in the wind like gigantic fans.”
    “It does sound wonderful.”
    “The trade winds blow all the time, so you’re never too hot. The breeze keeps it comfortable. And the flowers, Louise, you cannot believe the colours—so vivid. Strange, though, the white ones have the most magnificent scent. Jasmine, I think they call them. There’s no winter, so there are blooms all year long.”
    “It must be like paradise. I long to see such places.”
    “Someday, I’ll find a way to take you. From there we sailed north through the Caribbean Sea, again with the trades, and stopped at a Spanish settlement called St. Augustine, which used to belong to France. It’s pretty but hot and humid in the summer. I don’t think you would survive long there, Cherie. Once summer arrived, we sailed north again. A long, rough voyage along the American coast, until we reached a river called the St. Lawrence. You cannot believe how wide that river is—more like a channel until it gets to Upper Canada.”
    “What is Canada like then? Papa had thought to go there. It was Uncle Jacques who discouraged him.”
    “It is rough, my petite. There are many fur traders there. They call them the Coureur des bois. They are explorers who travel the rivers of North America, and trap the animals for their beautiful pelts. We met with one who is a distant relative of ours—yours also. Did you ever hear of him? His name is Henri Garneau.”
    “Not that I can remember. Who was he, then?”
    “He’s sort of a cousin, I guess. His great-grandfather was our greatgrandfather’s brother. The two of them were so distressed with life in La Rochelle after the siege, that they left for the new world. Their silk business here was ruined, and they wanted to get away from the reminder of all the death and horror. Great-grandfather left his three sons with his father on the farm. So he eventually came back, but the brother stayed. This Henri Garneau was born in New France. He’s part native and quite uncivilized. But most interesting.”
    He stopped speaking for a moment to urge forward the little horse, which had stopped to eat some grass.
    “In Ville Marie, we traded cognac for fur, some of which we took to Versailles. As you heard, King Louis was pleased with our gift. I still have a few left. When I get back, I’ll have a cloak made for you to survive the London winters.”
    She nodded up at him. In her entire life, she had never felt happier. She was certain he was the only man she could ever love.
    “We stayed there through the winter, and I’ve never been so cold in all my life. No, no, your family would not have liked it there. In any event,” he smiled down at her again, “you must be where I can come to you. As soon as this next trip is over, I’ll come to London, and you and I will marry. Oh, Cherie, it’s going to be so difficult to leave you again.”
    By now, they had come to a place where the track ran close to the ocean. “Here we are. This is where we can have our lunch, so