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

“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. 
    A nd 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
     
    E lizabeth 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.
    T here 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