Christmas at Ravencrest: A Dark Hero Christmas Short (Reluctant Heroes) Page 4

  “Oh, yes. They go walking in the gardens every night, they do. Holding hands, and then he kisses her. Or sometimes she kisses him first. Isn’t that disgusting? Do you think they’ll marry? Can you tell them not to be kissing no more?”

  “Gavin!” Elizabeth chastened. “What did you do to yourself?” Some of the mysterious spots were smearing onto her hand as she touched them. They were painted on. “What is this trick you’ve played on me?”

  “I told you, they made me do it. She painted them speckles on me. It was to draw you out of the house, mum. They didn’t think you’d come out here to see me otherwise.”

  “Of course I would.” She stood and rumpled his brown hair. “What is this red substance?”

  “Juice, from the truckle berries out back.” The boy confessed.

  Elizabeth went to the small washstand. She poured water into the basin with her good hand and dipped a cloth into it. Returning to the bed where the boy sat, she began wiping the red berry juice from his face and neck. He sat quietly, allowing his mistress to wash his false spots away. “Why did you play such a nasty trick on me? Gavin, this was not funny. It was very naughty.”

  “We were just following orders, my lady. Don’t be mad at us. His lordship set us to it.”

  Elizabeth stopped scrubbing his arm. Donovan put them up to this? She stared sternly at him. “You aren’t making this up. I will ask his lordship, so don’t lie to me.”

  “I’m not lying, my lady.” His lip quivered. A rush of tears rimmed his eyes.

  She set the cloth aside, deciding it best to let his brother clean him thus. Yes, now that she remembered it, Donovan did have some berries and a bowl of red liquid on his worktable when she’d visited him a few hours earlier. What was he about? Vexing man. It was a prank, clearly.

  Donovan was not the sort of man to stoop to such antics.

  “Why did they lure me out here with the pretense of you being ill?”

  Gavin shrugged, and looked away from her. He seemed determined to avoid her gaze. “He just said we were supposed to keep you busy today, Madame. Don’t tell ‘im I told you.”

  “Put on your shirt, young man. Tell Sally she is to supervise you and Danny in your preparation for the party tomorrow night. I want you boys to bathe, comb your hair and have your face scrubbed clean. I expect you both to be wearing your best clothes. Understood?”

  “Yes, mum.” Gavin quickly shrugged into his shirt. The freckles sprinkled over his nose and cheeks were more pronounced now that he’d had his face freshly scrubbed. “I have a surprise for you, my lady. A Christmas surprise. It’s hidden in the stables. Can I show it to you, mum?”

  Despite her annoyance over the prank, Elizabeth wanted to hug the little boy.

  He was speaking again. She wanted to cry. She wanted to laugh. And she wanted to shake him and his accomplices for frightening her so with their pretense of an impending illness.

  She nodded her agreement and followed him to the main room. The guilty couple stood side by side, looking down at their shoes so as not to have to gaze directly at their mistress.

  “You two have much to account for.” She said as she stood before them.

  “Yes, Madame.” Johnny agreed, reluctantly meeting her eyes. He looked very sorry indeed. “As my brother said, his lordship put us up to it.”

  “Do you have any idea how frightened I was? Good heavens, I’ve an entire family wounded or ailing and then you give me news that a member of the staff might have a dangerous illness? Have a care. And mind that your brothers are scrubbed from stem to stern for tomorrow night’s ball and presentable.”

  The pair nodded and mumbled apologies to Elizabeth.

  “Now then, Gavin, show me this surprise of yours.” She said brightly to the child, taking his hand. Donovan would get an earful from her. The man was behaving most strangely today.

  Gavin led Elizabeth to the back of the stables to an empty stall with clean, fresh hay on the floor. “I wanted to give you something special for Christmas but I don’t have no coin and I never gets to go to the port city to shop, even if I did. But Gracie, here, she done solved it for me, she did.” He knelt before a nest made from a pile of horse blankets. The boy grinned at the contents and gestured to Elizabeth to come closer.

  Elizabeth moved away from the door to the interior stall.

  “Oooohhh!” She exclaimed as she knelt beside Gavin with awe and wonder. Gracie was a lovely milky white cat with red and grey calico markings. She was purring proudly, presiding over a litter of newborn kittens. “Oh, my word, they’re adorable.”

  “Yep. They were birthed three days ago. Their eyes ain’t even opened yet.” Gavin, like Elizabeth, was staring at the delightful little fur balls. They were squirming and mewing, fighting over their mother’s teats.

  He picked one up for her to hold. It was a little black kitten with one white forepaw, and a white tip on its tail. It had a white moustache as well. It meowed pathetically, distressed to be away from its mama. “Oh, you’re a sweet thing.” Elizabeth rubbed his tiny head with her thumb. The mewling stopped as the tiny creature began to purr softly. “Oh, my gracious, listen.” She held the kitten to Gavin’s ear. He grinned.

  They admired the family for a time. The kittens were a mix of colors. One was striped orange with white spots here and there in odd arrangements, making him look rather comical. One had grey tabby stripes that reminded her of a tiger and little white mittens on all four paws. Another was black with one white ear and one black, a milky white chin and white whiskers peeking out of its black face. Only one kitten ended up being completely black from ears to tail.

  “My goodness, Gracie, who did you meet up with to have such silly looking offspring?” Elizabeth remarked with amusement.

  “Yep, Gracie’s my cat, but I’ll let you have the pick of the litter. I know you got a cat up at the house, but you can have another one out here, your own kitten waiting for you out here in the stables.”

  “Thank you.” Elizabeth was touched by the boy’s offer. Her eyes were stinging. She wanted to hug the child, but knew better. She was the mistress and he was a stable boy. Grandfather had already chided her several times during his stay regarding her habit of being on too familiar of terms with the servants. Still, Gavin was just a child and his gift was the best one she could have hoped for at Christmas. After being kidnapped and nearly choked to death, frightened out of his mind, Gavin was finally talking again.

  And he was sharing his most valuable possession with her, his newborn kittens.

  Giving a gift from the heart and sharing good tidings of great joy.

  Wasn’t that the true essence of the Christmas Season?

  Chapter Four

  Elizabeth never did make it to her library. Mrs. Radcliffe’s novel would just have to wait until after the Christmas festivities were over. Once she returned to the house after attending Gavin’s mysterious condition and admiring the new kittens, it was time to dress for dinner.

  There was a full table even with her younger brother and her grandfather not present, and so she had to perform her duty as hostess at dinner. Donovan was at the head of the table. Elizabeth took her place beside him, as he preferred. Uncle Gareth sat across from Chloe Ramirez. Kieran O’Flaherty, Elizabeth’s older brother, and his friend, Mr. Barnaby were in attendance, along with Michael’s tutor, Mr. Marceau. Donovan’s steward, Mr. Duchamp, also joined them for dinner. Elizabeth did her best to keep the conversation flowing and make sure each guest felt welcome at her table. She marveled at the relaxed, amiable atmosphere with her grandfather absent.

  After dinner, they retreated to the salon. Uncle Gareth and Elizabeth entertained the gathering by playing Christmas carols while the rest sang. Elizabeth played the pokey old harpsichord while Gareth accompanied her on his cello. It was perhaps the most sorry Christmas concert she’d ever heard, akin to mewling barn cats. The harpsichord was not in the best of condition due to neglect. If Michael were present, he could augment the sounds of the harpsi
chord and the cello, perhaps bring the two instruments closer to a reconciliation with his violin. Alas, he was upstairs, still recovering from his wound. Elizabeth wished she had a piano-forte to play. Her mother had had a fine piano-forte when they lived in London, but her stepfather sold it to pay for some of his debts. The chorus of men singing Christmas carols helped mask the missed notes and the gathering seemed to be having such a good time she soon forgot her concerns about the mediocre instrumental accompaniment.

  After the six men finished singing a hearty rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Chloe suggested they play a game of charades. Mr. Duchamp chose that moment to make his escape, as he was not one for socializing very much. They all bid him a kindly good night as he did not live at the plantation house but must return to the steward’s cottage.

  The game of charades was lively, even if they had an odd number. Kieran, Barnaby and Mr. Marceau made a team of three, whilst Chloe and Gareth formed their own team. Elizabeth was pleased to have Donovan as her partner as his clever wit kept the company guessing until they had to beg him to reveal his word choice. It was hospitality. Everyone grew flummoxed as he kept giving clues that everyone mistook as being of a medical nature instead of the correct meaning. The party broke up close to midnight.

  * * *

  The following morning, Elizabeth was up early. She hurried to the kitchens to make certain things were progressing well. When she attempted to go into her library to enjoy her usual pot of hot chocolate and her book before the well members of the family emerged to share a communal breakfast, the butler brought another minor crisis to her attention.

  Puck, her cat, had gone missing. No one recalled seeing him since last night. This brought real panic. Puck was still a kitten. He was four months old, but still capable of getting into a lot of trouble. Elizabeth rallied the staff and they made a search of all the rooms downstairs. The kitten was nowhere to be found. He was a sturdy red tabby. Elizabeth had been given him as a gift during the voyage here by the cabin boy on The Pegasus.

  She searched every possible closet on the ground floor with the help of the maids. There had been so much preparation going on in recent days for the holiday it was possible he’d crawled into a closet and been shut in.

  Elizabeth’s heart pounded in her chest. She kept imagining all manner of nasty things that might have happened to her pet. Had he wandered outside and been hurt by one of the dogs? No, the Mastiffs were big and obnoxious and yet they didn’t attack the stable cats, they knew better. Still, if he wandered outside, a snake may have found him. The gardener had reported a large snake was observed hiding beneath some of the heavier undergrowth.

  Her cat was very dear to her. Giles, the butler, knew this, as did most of the staff. The footmen were directed to continue the search upstairs in the guest rooms. After nearly an hour of searching the butler took his mistress by the elbow and gently directed her to the salon, explaining the chubby feline had been recovered. Lo and behold, sitting in the chair was her husband, Donovan, who was calmly holding her cat. Also, her morning chocolate and her novel were sitting on the table, having been moved from her usual spot in the library.

  “Good morning, my sweet.” Donovan said, holding Puck against his chest. The tabby was purring contentedly.

  “Where did you find him?” She asked in wonder. “We’ve been looking everywhere.”

  “In Michael’s room. It seems he slept with your brother last night. I found him when I was checking Michael’s progress.”

  “That is not possible. I distinctly recall Puck lying on my feet last night.” She insisted, crossing her arms over her chest. What was Donovan about? He was behaving oddly, sending her out on false errands and delaying her in her household schedule.

  Was the man trying to keep something from her? Or was he just trying to get into the Christmas spirit for her benefit, albeit in an obnoxious fashion.

  Donovan shrugged at her comment and behaved as if he hadn’t inkling as to how the cat could have been in two places at once. He chucked the happy tom beneath his chin. Puck purred louder in response. Donovan didn’t look at her. He kept gazing contentedly at the cat as he stroked the tom’s bright orange striped coat. “Do you have a twin? Or are you living up to your name? Your mistress named you after a very naughty little forest sprite, as I recall.”

  “And furthermore, I’d like to know why you played such a rotten prank on me yesterday. Having the servants take part in it, honestly, Donovan. You’re acting like a schoolboy with your odd antics. I thought you well beyond such childish behavior.”

  He actually laughed. “You’ve been distracted with our house guests and planning the Christmas festivities of late. I wanted you to see that the boy has recovered his speech.” He smirked. “It worked. You went rushing out to see what was wrong with little Gavin. I was able to accomplish some Christmas magic while you were out of the house.”

  Elizabeth wanted to smack him. He was so self assured, so confident. And she wanted to hug him, too. The man was charming and exasperating, all at once. How peculiar she found it that he had such a contrary effect upon her.

  She moved from the door to the man she loved. She bent down to kiss him on the cheek and to take her precious kitten from him. “You shouldn’t involve the servants in your mischief. They can hardly decline to participate when you order them about and pay their wages.”

  Donovan’s self satisfied grin annoyed her. He wasn’t one to take correction from others. Why should he? The man was a nobleman. He was rich and owned the island they resided on. However charming he may be, at times, life with Donovan Beaumont could be trying.

  Sensing her annoyance, he gazed up at her. The look he gave her made her insides do a queer little flip. He was a clever, handsome devil, with dark hair and eyes as bright as the sky on a cloudless day. “I told Gavin if you seemed angry to show you his surprise in the stable. Did he show you the new kittens?”

  “Yes.” She said, feeling the tension leave her body at the thought of those delightful furry little bundles. Oh, he knew her well, this complex and demanding man. “Yes. He showed me the kittens. And he has promised them to me. The entire litter, if I wish.”

  It was stretching the truth. Elizabeth didn’t care. She would have a small revenge on this man. And to think she was carrying his child? Would she be forever at the mercy of her spouse and a very precocious little boy?

  She sat next to her husband and allowed him to pour her morning chocolate. With a smile Elizabeth continued her fabrication. “I told Gavin I’d take them as soon as they are weaned, in about--hmm---six weeks. We’ll be moving them to the house. They can keep Puck entertained. And, they can sleep with us. All five. And Puck, of course. You know how I adore cats. Just imagine six kittens in our room at night, not just one.”

  Donovan’s brow darkened. “I think not.”

  “They will be in my room, in my bed.” She insisted as she gave him an impervious look she had been practicing for some time in the mirror. “Whether you choose to be there or not is entirely up to you, sir.”

  He didn’t say anything, but his brow was furrowed. Deeply furrowed. Elizabeth sipped her chocolate and smiled pleasantly at him, enjoying her own prank. Perhaps later she’d recant. Not too soon, however. If he wanted to play tricks on her, then she’d repay the favor in kind.

  Show her the kittens, indeed!

  Elizabeth assumed an air of dignity and outrage as she sipped her chocolate. She tried, very hard, to not smile at his suggestion to the boy. Show her the kittens to soften her anger! Oh, darn the man. Donovan knew her very well.

  At last, her mouth softened and an unwilling smile replaced her hard frown. Kittens. Yes, just thinking of the soft furry little darlings made her feel light and happy again.

  Uncle Gareth and Chloe came down the stairs. They paused at the entry to the sunny yellow salon and peered inside. Seeing the inhabitants therein posed no threat to his amour, Gareth bent his ebony head toward Chloe. As he did so the thick serpentine lock
s he had twisted into clumps moved like snakes about his shoulders. His dark face hovered beside Chloe’s pale lips and they shared a quick kiss beneath the mistletoe. Once the kiss was ended, Uncle Gareth reached up and snagged a berry from the bunch and stuck it into his vest pocket.

  “So, nephew?” He grinned, his brilliant white teeth flashing against his dark lips. “Care to wager which one of us will collect the most berries by midnight tonight?” His good hearted chuckle echoed in the room, breaking the tension between Donovan and Elizabeth. Gareth had that effect on everyone. His natural warmth and pleasant humor were contagious. Few people could remain sullen in his presence, Donovan included.

  “Yes. I’ll take twice the number as you.” Donovan replied to the challenge.

  As if to goad him, Gareth kissed a distracted Chloe on the cheek and then reached up to pluck another berry with his long, lean brown fingers. “I have two berries now, how many do you have?”

  “None, but the day is early.” Donovan stood. “Breakfast awaits, my lady.” He offered Elizabeth his hand. She rose from her chair, set her kitty on the seat and took Donovan’s arm. He led her under the doorway and stopped. The wide grin on his face told Elizabeth what was coming. Sure enough, he leaned close and engaged her in a searching kiss, that, had they been alone, would have quickly led to more kissing and less clothing.

  As it ended, he reached up and snatched two berries. “That’s worth two.”

  “Stop it, both of you.” Elizabeth chided as Chloe giggled and the men grinned at her like impudent rogues. “This is for tonight. No more kissing under the mistletoe until the party, understood?”

  Gareth sighed and shook his dark ebony head at her censure. “It’s going to be a long day, I fear.”

  “You can kiss me.” Chloe put in boldly, as it was only the four of them gathered. “She just meant you couldn’t do it here and steal all the berries before the party starts.”

  That livened Gareth’s eyes.

  “Oh, I’ve plenty for you to do, Uncle Gareth.” Elizabeth informed him. “And you as well, my lord. You can help Chloe and I hang the greens after breakfast. And I would like to have a Yule log in the fireplace even if it is too balmy here for a roaring fire. It’s tradition. The two of you could ride out and search for one this afternoon. You could take Mr. Marceau with you and Mr. Barnaby as well. They are our guests. They need to be properly entertained. You are the hosts, so you can have the task of entertaining them today. Kieran can’t ride with his arm in a sling, however. He’ll have to stay behind.” Elizabeth bit her lip, realizing her impromptu plan to entertain their male houseguests left out her older brother.