Christmas at Ravencrest: A Dark Hero Christmas Short (Reluctant Heroes) Read Online Free PDF Page B

news to deliver. Surely you didn’t mean your little disagreement with your grandfather?”
    “ That news did take precedence, but no, the bad news is that we won’t have ham or beef for Christmas. It is to be pork, poached fish, crab, lobster cakes and turtle soup for us, I’m afraid.”
    “I favor turtle soup. And pork is the main source of meat on the island. There is always monkey,” He leaned forward to kiss her cheek. “However, I cannot recommend it.”
    “Ugh.” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. His valet had a pet monkey. She couldn’t imagine eating monkey any more than she could eat a beloved cat for Christmas dinner. “My family is accustomed to Roast Goose, Duck or at least a ham for our Christmas dinner. And cherry tarts, not ones made with mangoes. We prefer mince pies and Christmas pudding to cornmeal porridge and we like English beef instead of fish, fish and more fish for every meal. Fritz even suggested using goat as a substitute for beef--“
    “ Lizzie, my love, did you invite your family to spend Christmas with us?”
    “You know I didn’t. They decided to surprise us.”
    “Well , then, I suggest that they should be grateful to have barbequed goat and marinated monkey shanks provided for them at my expense and not complain. If they wanted Roast Goose, mince pies and cherry tarts they should have stayed in England.”
    “ I’m happy they came. We have much to be grateful for . . .”
    “My lord?” Pearl’s high nasal voice called from the outer room. “The workmen from the docks await your approval on the delivery of your new equipment.”
    “ Excellent, tell them I will be right there.” Donovan shouted over his shoulder as he rolled off the bed and reached for his shirt. “And as for your dilemma, my darling Mrs. Beaumont, you might send a note to Captain Rawlings requesting his assistance in the matter. If any man can find a stray ham or a rogue goose in the Indies, it would be Black Jack Rawlings.”
    “ Truly? Do you think he could find suitable meat for our table at such late notice?” Elizabeth sat up on the bed with excitement. She laced her camisole, this time without any interference from her adoring spouse. Captain Rawlings was Donovan’s friend. He lived in Basseterre. More to the point, he and Donovan had been pirates together some years ago.
    If anyone could help her acquire rare goods here in the Indies, it would be a former pirate.

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    “My lady?” Giles, the butler, intercepted Elizabeth as she made her way to her sanctuary, the library, after repairing her appearance and looking in on her younger brother. Michael. “Lord Greystowe is being particularly fractious this afternoon. He’s asking for you. I believe he might rest easier if you looked in on him.”
    Oh, bother. Elizabeth did not relish having to deal with Grandfather when he was in a mood. Yet, his heart condition meant he should not be agitated. She had little choice but to attend him.
    After nearly an hour of listening to his complaints, most of them minimal, she headed for the stairs, determined once more to steal a quiet hour in her library before dinner and the duties of hostess claimed her attention for the remainder of the evening.
    She descended the stairs and was next met by Chloe Ramirez, her female companion.
    “Oh, Madame. Please, you must he lp us sort this out.” Chloe cried with her usual penchant for the dramatics. “The footmen are idiots. I told them to put the kissing ball in the doorway as you instructed. They hung it from the chandelier in the foyer instead. And Maria and Sally won’t help me make more bows. They claim there is too much to be done in the kitchen. We’re short several bows for the greenery . . . oh Madame? What am I to do? You have a broken wrist. You cannot help me tie the ribbons.”
    Elizabeth rose to the challenge. She sat at the small worktable in the parlor and tried to twist the red ribbons into the shape of a bow. She