Christmas at Ravencrest: A Dark Hero Christmas Short (Reluctant Heroes) (8 page)

“
Wonderful. Donovan is devoted to me.”

“
I guess that leaves only the sea as a mistress for me, doesn’t it?” Rawlings replied with a sigh.  “Unless your handsome companion would let me pay court to her? Miss Ramirez is a fine, elegant woman. Think she’d have an old salt like me?”

“She has formed a
tendre
for Uncle Gareth. They’ve been courting for some time.” Elizabeth told him as they came together and walked in a circle with palms raised together after a brief parting.

“My
ill luck.” Rawlings complained.  “All the attractive women keep getting snatched up.”

“Then
you’d best stop lingering in my parlor pining for what you cannot have and set about snatching a woman of your own.” Donovan’s deep voice intruded behind them. He took her hand, cutting in to take the captain’s place as Elizabeth’s partner. 

Donovan
surprised Elizabeth as he appeared cheerful throughout the evening. He dragged her out to the dance floor several times with genuine enthusiasm to dance simple country dances. Elizabeth had no idea her husband actually liked to dance. She expected him to stand on the sidelines and brood, as he hated society gatherings. And yet, this was a simple party, with plain folk, not the nobles who betrayed him in the French court.

*******

Donovan was happy to encourage his bride in her generosity towards his retainers. The new staff had helped Elizabeth make the old plantation house into a true home. He whirled Elizabeth about the brightly lit salon as the musicians played another English country dance.

Elizabeth
was brilliant in the candlelight. Her face was flushed, her red hair glimmering, and her sweet lips were pink and moist, ready to be kissed. Donovan guided his bride to the kissing ball hanging in the doorway, intent upon plucking yet another berry from the sphere to add to his pocketful. He had a wager to win with his uncle, after all.

And
Miss Ramirez shouldn’t expect to have all the kisses this night.

The maids
were being priggish about the mistletoe tradition, he noted. When strategically placed beneath the mock mistletoe ball by their dance partner, they turned their heads, offering a cheek to kiss. Perhaps they were concerned about their reputations as they were among the family they served. Donovan imagined if the same women were at a party in the village, they’d be much more robust in their responses to the men seeking their affections.

All except bold Sally and
young Johnny O’Reilly. Those two were giving Miss Ramirez and Uncle Gareth a run for their money--or berries, as it were. Johnny was infatuated with the buxom maid, who was a few turns around the dance floor past his green, untried age of eighteen. Donovan hoped Sally wouldn’t break his stable master’s heart, but such vexations were part of growing up for a young man, part of learning how to dance with the fairer sex.

Donova
n had much to celebrate this Christmas. His home had become more than a cold, shadowy refuge. It was now a warm, welcoming place, thanks to the woman in his arms.

And as for his many
houseguests, Donovan knew that in the coming months their numbers would shrink as they returned to their homes. Soon he would be alone with his darling again, he mused as he maneuvered Elizabeth under the hanging berry sphere.

“How many berries are in your pocket? I’ve lost count.”
She teased, giving him a dimpled smile. “Not counting the two you stole this morning, my lord.”

“Six.”

“And how many does Uncle Gareth have?” 

“A lot more.”

“T
hen you’d best get busy, my lord.”

“
I decided to be the better man and let him win.”

“S
urely you jest?” Elizabeth’s adorable smile brought an answering call in his loins.

“W
hat good are a handful of berries? I have something better, right here in my arms.” He leaned in to capture her lips in a sensual kiss, and was surprised when she didn’t rebuff him.

Lizzie
seemed to have lost her reluctance regarding kissing him in front of others this evening. Her kisses progressed in length and passion each time he guided her to the kissing ball. Alas, she’d had several glasses of wassail punch--not that he was counting, mind you.

Wi
th a little persuasion, he might spirit her away for a secret tryst in the garden.

First,
he had to give her the gift he smuggled into the house yesterday.

“Let’s
go to the library. It’s quiet there and you can rest for a few moments.”

Elizabeth gave him an exasperated sigh. “My lor
d. We’ve discussed this. We cannot keep sneaking off to empty rooms and . . .” She paused, blushing profusely.

Yes,
as he recalled it, she discussed his propensity to sweep her away and have his way with her many times in the past weeks. Donovan ignored her lectures, as any man would do. His only response was to just keep kissing her until she succumbed to their rising desire. And he was careful with his darling. They hadn’t been discovered in an embarrassing pose, not once.

“
I have a surprise to give you.” He whispered, grinning down at her.

“
I’d hardly call your amorous attentions a surprise any longer.”

He shook his head
, amazed at the path her mind moved easily down. “I’m not teasing, love. There was a package delivered here yesterday. It arrived from England. It took four men and a boy to move it.”

The
look of pleasure and surprise on her sweet face was worth several fortunes. Donovan’s pleasure had a bitter tang as he recalled her recent poverty while living in exile with her stepfather. The thought came that this lovely young woman hadn’t been given any presents, not for a very long time.

“L
et’s have a look, shall we?” He took her by the arm, urging her to accompany him to the solitude of the library so he could present her with the gift he knew she would adore.

*******

Elizabeth allowed him to spirit her away from their guests.

She had her own surprise
, and she wanted give him the news when they were alone. 

They hurried down the corridor
arm in arm to the library at the back of the house.  Once they were outside the door, Donovan prevented Elizabeth from entering. He stood in front of her and took her hand. “Close your eyes, sweetheart.”

“This is silly.
”

“
I’ve been planning this for some time. Just indulge me a little. Close your eyes.”

She did as he
asked. She heard the door latch and then he took her hand to lead her forward.

Elizabeth
kept her eyes closed. She couldn’t imagine what would be so large that it would require four men to carry it here.

“Are you ready?” Donovan asked, guiding her slowly across the carpet
ed library by holding her hand in front of her. “I ordered this when we were still in England. There, open your eyes.”

She did so
. Elizabeth’s eyes had to adjust to the low candlelight. There was one candelabra lit in the large, shadowed room. A candelabra with five glowing candles perched on the gleaming mahogany top of a Broadwood Grand Piano. “Oh--Donovan--you shouldn’t have!”

“You don’t care for it
?” He teased, as the high pitch in her voice told him the opposite.

“It’s beautiful.” She turned to him with tears. “Mama had a Broadwood Grand at our home in Mayfair. Fletcher sold it to cover his debts. You have no idea what this means to me.”

“I may, but to dispel all doubt perhaps you would show me.” He started to move away from her, toward the door.

Elizabeth knew
he intended to lock it. She grasped his wrist, stopping him, bursting to tell him her blessed news.

Donovan gazed at her, sensing something was in the offing. “What is it, love?”

“Go, lock the door.” She said, dropping her hand from his wrist.

He looked at her with
uncertainty.

“Go
. Then you must let me give you your gift, my love.” 

He left her side and quickly moved to the door to secure it against intrusion. Elizabeth hurried to the piano-forte and opened the lid covering the ivory keys. She plinked out a short ditty with one hand, finding it awkward and annoying to be so constrained. “How long do I have to have this nuisance strapped to my wrist?”

“Three or four weeks.” Donovan replied, wrapping his arms about her from behind her as she stood at the piano-forte. His chin rested on her shoulder. “It takes time for the bone to mend, love. If we rush it, you’ll not have full recovery of your wrist.” His lips travelled from her shoulder, along her collar bone and up her sensitive neck to nibble at her ear. “What is this surprise you have for me?”

Elizabeth leaned back against him, treasuring the solid of feel of him behind her and his strong arms circling her waist. He was like a fortress, a tower of strength she could lean against and
depend upon. He would make a wonderful father. “I love you, Donovan.”

“I love you, sweet Lizzie.”

“I’m with child.” She said, not knowing quite how to lead up to such a momentous declaration. “We’re going to have a baby, in the autumn.”

Donovan gasped aloud. He whirled her about to face him. “Are you c
ertain? How do you know? It hasn’t been that long since your last purge. Lizzie, dearest--”

“Kier
an told me. He saw the child, last week when we were doing our magic ritual. He sensed the presence of a third O’Flaherty. He said, bound by blood, by the power of three. I asked him what that meant, and he told me. Three O’Flahertys in the sacred circle.”

Donovan’s eyes were round with amazement. He appeared
shocked. Not joyous, as she’d hoped, just purely and utterly shocked.

“
You aren’t upset, are you?” She felt a rush of panic.

Perhaps she shouldn’t have told him so soon. What if he didn’t want a child? He didn’t like people, as a matter of course. He didn’t like having people disturbing his home. Perha
ps a child would upset his need for peace more than she realized. Still, he had never said anything about children, one way or the other. All men
desired
children. Didn’t they?

“
Elizabeth.”  He murmured, reaching up to cup her cheek. “My sweet girl.” Donovan’s fingers caressed her cheek and glided through her hair. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like a girl. I want a little girl with red hair and sea green eyes. With this perfect little nose.”  He kissed her nose. “And that fearful O’Flaherty temper.”

“A girl?” She sighed with relief
. “I thought all men wanted a son to carry on their name.”

“Yes, I’ll take one of those,
too. All in good time. First, a girl. I want a little girl to spoil.”

“
Kieran said it’s to be a boy.” Elizabeth replied. “He saw a boy with red hair. My red hair and I suppose my nose and my temper, too.”

Donovan laughed and
hugged her against him. “This time, my love, I’m betting your brother’s fortune telling is a little off.”

“Kieran is never wrong.” Elizabeth countered. “It will be a boy, I’m sure of it.”

“There’s a first time for everything, my sweet.” Donovan whispered against her hair. “Now, then, I believe you were about to thank me for something, weren’t you?”

Elizabeth
didn’t answer. She was too busy kissing him.

Donovan removed his jacket and started to unlace the ties of her gown. He
guided her in a slow whirling dance until they were at the chaise near the fireplace. Her dress dropped to the floor and she was standing before him in her camisole and petticoats again. 

“
Lovely.” He whispered. He reached up to pull the pins from her hair, letting it cascade about her shoulders. He smiled and hugged her flat belly with the palm of his hand as he gazed down at her. “Aphrodite in the flesh. My own sweet Venus rising from the foam.”

An insistent pounding
on the door disturbed their repose. “My lord, my lady?” It was Sally, the maid. “You must come.”

“In a moment.” Donovan returned, frustration simmering within him. “
Damn it, why can’t I have ten minutes alone with you in my own house?” He glared at the door.

“
Sir, your mother just arrived, and she’s very upset. You’d best come, sir. She thinks you’ve died and the house has been sold to strangers. Please, sir, she’s very upset, she’s crying and carrying on so, near hysterics.”

“
Is this a joke?” He shouted at the door and then glanced at Elizabeth.

“No, I don’t believe so.” Elizabeth said quietly. Sally was many thing
s, but she was not one for dramatics. If Chloe came to the door with such news, that would be another matter. Chloe was highly excitable. “Help me get dressed, quickly.”