Read Online Christmas at Ravencrest: A Dark Hero Christmas Short (Reluctant Heroes) by Lily Silver - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lily Silver
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baking in the kitchen. This year, she would not have pine boughs, mistletoe or cedar greens festooning her new home. Perhaps she had worked and planned this past week for naught. All the important things she remembered about Christmastide as a child were missing.
By the time they returned to the manor house, Elizabeth’s insides were roiling with uneasiness. Tonight, she was to play hostess at a party for the first time in her married life. Tonight and tomorrow, she was responsible for providing a pleasant and memorable Christmas holiday for her household as the new mistress of Ravencrest Estates.
For the first t ime, Elizabeth began to fear her plan would fail.
Chapter Five
The clock struck the hour of eight o’clock in the evening.
The family was gathered together in the salon. The feast was laid out on a large dining table. The greenery was hung about the walls and on every shelf, including the mantle. Michael w as seated near the open windows with a cushion beneath his sore bum. Grandfather was seated next to him. The musicians were at the ready in the corner. Donovan and Uncle Gareth stood near the doors, and Kieran O’Flaherty was standing behind the punch table, ready to serve their guests. His left arm was in a sling due to his injured shoulder, but he would be ladling punch with his good hand into cups Donovan and Uncle Gareth would hold for him. Together, they would serve each servant their first cup of Christmas punch. After Elizabeth made her speech they would all lift their cups in a toast to good health, good friends and good fortunes.
At Elizabeth’s signal, Donovan and Uncle Gareth opened the closed salon doors to admit their guests--the household staff and all of her husband’s retainers on the island.
Elizabeth stood near the musi cians in the far corner, surveying the proceedings. The candles had all been lit and the mock Yule Log, a rather large piece of dried driftwood, was in the hearth. They would not light it until midnight, after the air had cooled. The Yule Log was a wonderful symbol for this year’s Christmas. Burning the Yule Log meant burning away the past year’s mistakes, faults and bad luck in the flames and starting the New Year with a clean slate. As it was fitting for this First Christmas at Ravencrest, as they needed a fresh start and a chance at happiness.
She was dressed in green silk brocade ball gown. Her hair was swept up in a chignon. A beautiful set of pearls with matching earrings completed Elizabeth’s attire. She hoped the silk gown would not be too hot with so many people in the room. It was the tropics, after all and they would be dancing. This was her first ball as Mrs. Donovan Beaumont. She’d been dying for an opportunity to wear this lovely gown.
Donovan was dashing in his coat of blue superfine. It brought out the blue of his eyes. He wore white breeches, a white linen shirt, and of course his gleaming black Hessians. His hair was secured by a black bow. He was without question the most handsome man in the room. Elizabeth may be slightly prejudiced, but as the other men in attendance were either her family or servants, she didn’t think she was too far off the mark in ranking her husband above the rest as attractiveness went.
Elizabeth’s spirits soared as the room filled up. She was anxious to have her part over with quickly so the dancing and feasting could begin. There were over fifty people gathered in the salon; the household staff, the stable hands, the guards kept about the estate to protect the family. The villagers from the wharf were arriving as well.
Captain J ack Rawlings entered the room at the end of the line and took his cup from Donovan. He stood a head taller than most men, a rugged blond Viking with golden hair and deep blue eyes. He was several years her husband’s senior, yet the captain was still very handsome. Captain Rawlings came to greet Elizabeth. The cook informed her earlier that he had brought not one but
By the time they returned to the manor house, Elizabeth’s insides were roiling with uneasiness. Tonight, she was to play hostess at a party for the first time in her married life. Tonight and tomorrow, she was responsible for providing a pleasant and memorable Christmas holiday for her household as the new mistress of Ravencrest Estates.
For the first t ime, Elizabeth began to fear her plan would fail.
Chapter Five
The clock struck the hour of eight o’clock in the evening.
The family was gathered together in the salon. The feast was laid out on a large dining table. The greenery was hung about the walls and on every shelf, including the mantle. Michael w as seated near the open windows with a cushion beneath his sore bum. Grandfather was seated next to him. The musicians were at the ready in the corner. Donovan and Uncle Gareth stood near the doors, and Kieran O’Flaherty was standing behind the punch table, ready to serve their guests. His left arm was in a sling due to his injured shoulder, but he would be ladling punch with his good hand into cups Donovan and Uncle Gareth would hold for him. Together, they would serve each servant their first cup of Christmas punch. After Elizabeth made her speech they would all lift their cups in a toast to good health, good friends and good fortunes.
At Elizabeth’s signal, Donovan and Uncle Gareth opened the closed salon doors to admit their guests--the household staff and all of her husband’s retainers on the island.
Elizabeth stood near the musi cians in the far corner, surveying the proceedings. The candles had all been lit and the mock Yule Log, a rather large piece of dried driftwood, was in the hearth. They would not light it until midnight, after the air had cooled. The Yule Log was a wonderful symbol for this year’s Christmas. Burning the Yule Log meant burning away the past year’s mistakes, faults and bad luck in the flames and starting the New Year with a clean slate. As it was fitting for this First Christmas at Ravencrest, as they needed a fresh start and a chance at happiness.
She was dressed in green silk brocade ball gown. Her hair was swept up in a chignon. A beautiful set of pearls with matching earrings completed Elizabeth’s attire. She hoped the silk gown would not be too hot with so many people in the room. It was the tropics, after all and they would be dancing. This was her first ball as Mrs. Donovan Beaumont. She’d been dying for an opportunity to wear this lovely gown.
Donovan was dashing in his coat of blue superfine. It brought out the blue of his eyes. He wore white breeches, a white linen shirt, and of course his gleaming black Hessians. His hair was secured by a black bow. He was without question the most handsome man in the room. Elizabeth may be slightly prejudiced, but as the other men in attendance were either her family or servants, she didn’t think she was too far off the mark in ranking her husband above the rest as attractiveness went.
Elizabeth’s spirits soared as the room filled up. She was anxious to have her part over with quickly so the dancing and feasting could begin. There were over fifty people gathered in the salon; the household staff, the stable hands, the guards kept about the estate to protect the family. The villagers from the wharf were arriving as well.
Captain J ack Rawlings entered the room at the end of the line and took his cup from Donovan. He stood a head taller than most men, a rugged blond Viking with golden hair and deep blue eyes. He was several years her husband’s senior, yet the captain was still very handsome. Captain Rawlings came to greet Elizabeth. The cook informed her earlier that he had brought not one but
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