Dark Hero; A Gothic Romance (Reluctant Heroes)

by Silver, Lily

  Traditional wassail punch was served to the staff by the male members of the family and their guests, namely by Donovan, Gareth, Kieran, Mr. Marceau and Mr. Barnaby. Kieran stood at the table and used his one good arm to ladle the punch while the other men held the cups for him and served the gathering of servants for the promised toast. Michael was forced to sit on his cushion and watch the proceedings. Grandfather sat beside him on the sofa. The old earl watched the mingling of staff and servants with quiet disapproval.

  After Elizabeth thanked the servants for their loyalty, toasts were made for the coming year. With Giles help, she had hired a small company of players from Basseterre to provide music so they could dance and make merry at a true Christmas party. The furniture had been moved to the edges of the salon to make room for dancing.

  Captain Jack Rawlings and his nephew, Peter had been invited to the party. Peter had made quick friends with Gavin and Danny, the stable lads. The trio hovered over the food table, sneaking sweetmeats and petit fours, but in truth, no one was paying them any mind as they stuffed their faces and watched the adults cavort about the parlor in pursuit of their own sweets.

  Chloe’s kissing ball, made mostly of berries, had become a sensation. Captain Rawlings stole more than one kiss from her. She didn’t seem to mind his persistence, much to Uncle Gareth’s chagrin. Mr. Duchamp and Mr. O’Leary gave the captain stiff competition as both men had dusted off their somber exteriors to don an unexpected charm as they lined up to dance with the beautiful Miss Ramirez and whirl her under the implied mistletoe.

  Donovan even danced once with the dark beauty, as a matter of honor, since he was her employer, but both he and Chloe stoically avoided the mistletoe. Aside from Uncle Gareth, Captain Rawlings was the only man brave enough to ask Elizabeth for a dance, as he was Donovan’s long time friend.

  Donovan took Elizabeth by surprise as he smiled throughout the evening and dragged her out to the dance floor enthusiastically several times to partner him in the simple country dances. Elizabeth had no idea the man liked to dance. She expected just the opposite, as he hated being around people so and shunned social gatherings.

  *******

  Donovan was happy to encourage his bride’s generosity. The new staff had helped Elizabeth make the empty old plantation house into a true home. More than that, many had befriended her when she was lonely.

  He whirled Elizabeth about the brightly lit salon as the musicians played another English country dance. When planning the party, Elizabeth had wisely decided on keeping the music unpretentious so the servants would not feel out of place. She was giving the party for them, to thank them in the tradition of the old days when the master and mistress of the household would put on a feast in honor of the servants one day out of the year.

  Elizabeth was brilliant in the candlelight. She was wearing a green silk gown that complimented her unusual coloring. Her face was flushed, her red hair glimmering, and her sweet lips were plump and ripe, just ready to be kissed. Donovan guided her toward the conspicuous red ball hanging in the doorway, intent upon plucking yet another of the berries from the sphere to add to his pocketful. Miss Ramirez shouldn’t expect to have all the kisses this night. The maids, he noticed, even brazen Sally, were being rather priggish about the kissing ball. When strategically placed beneath it, they all turned their heads, offering their partners a cheek to peck. Perhaps they were concerned about their reputations, as they were in the company of the family they served. He imagined that 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.

  Donovan had much to celebrate this day. His home had become more than a cold, shadowy refuge from the outside world. It had become a warm, sunny, welcoming place, thanks to the woman in his arms.

  And as for his many guests, Donovan had faith that in the coming months the numbers would shrink considerably. Michael would stay on with them for a time, as Lord Greystowe had made Donovan Michael’s guardian. As would Mr. Marceau, the lad’s tutor. But, Donovan expected Michael would go to school abroad within the year.

  Lord Greystowe seemed to be rallying his strength due to Mr. Barnaby’s special heart tonic. His color returned and he seemed less tired. It was a bit too early to determine if it would be a steady improvement. Yet, the old earl was considering sailing to England when the cane harvest was over, and The Pegasus would make its annual journey to England with sugar cones in its hold. Donovan had been tactfully promoting the idea by promising the earl luxury accommodations on his Galleon should he wish to go through with his plans.

  Yes, soon he would be alone with his darling bride, he mused, as he maneuvered Elizabeth under the hanging berry sphere.

  “So, my lord.” She teased, giving him a dimpled smile. “How many berries are in your pocket? I’ve lost count.”

  “Six.” Donovan grinned back. He leaned in to capture her lips in a sensual kiss. He intended to add many more. He wanted a memento of this Christmas, their first as man and wife.

  Lizzie seemed to have lost her earlier reluctance about kissing him in public. Her kisses this evening progressed in passion each time he whirled her to the enchanted spot that had become the most popular area of the room for the dancing couples. Alas, she’d had several glasses of wine and the wassail punch--not that he was counting, mind you.

  With a little persuasion, he could spirit her away for a secret tryst in the garden.

  First, he had to give her the gift he’d smuggled into the house earlier in the week.

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

  Elizabeth gave him an exasperated sigh. “My lord. We discussed this, remember? We cannot keep sneaking off to empty rooms and . . .” She paused, blushing profusely.

  Yes, she discussed his propensity to sweep her away and have his way with her at odd times, quite often, as he recalled. Donovan ignored her lectures, as any red blooded man worth his salt would do, and just kept kissing her until she succumbed to the rising desire. And they hadn’t been discovered in an embarrassing pose, not once.

  “But I have a surprise to give you, my dear.” He countered, grinning down at her.

  She scoffed with mock annoyance. “Truly, sir? I’d hardly call your intentions a surprise any longer.”

  He shook his head in denial of her implication, amazed at the path her mind moved so easily down. “I’m not teasing, love. There was a package delivered the other day, from England. It took four men and a boy to move it.”

  That captured her attention. The wide look of pleasure and outright 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 Fletcher. The thought came that this lovely young woman hadn’t been given presents by anyone, not for a very long time.

  “Well, let’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 closed her eyes as he instructed. She couldn’t imagine what would be so large that four men would need to carry it here. Surely not more books! Perhaps a piece of furniture?

  “Are you ready?” Donovan asked, guiding her slowly across the carpeted library to the corner, near the window. “I ordered it when we were still in England. There, open your eyes.”

  She did so, slowly, and her eyes had to adjust to the low candlelight. There was one candelabra lit in the room, holding five candles, and it was perched on a gleaming mahogany top of a Broadwood Grand Piano. “Oh--Donovan--you shouldn’t have!”

  “You are displeased?” 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.”

  “Perhaps you could
show me.” Donovan moved to the door to secure the lock.

  *******

  In the salon, the guests were deep in their revelry when a diminutive blonde woman dressed in rich traveling clothes entered the room. She watched for several moments, growing perplexed and frightened by the activities going on about her.

  As the gathering continued drinking, feasting, dancing and making merry, the woman began to shriek. “Oh, Lord! He’s done it, Rose. He’s truly gone through with it!” She turned to her female escort, while the black man at the door struggled with her many trunks. “He’s died by his own hand and no one bothered to send word to me.” Her companion hugged her and tried to comfort her as she took to weeping. “They’ve sold the place. Oh, Rose, where is my son?”

  “Madame?” Giles came to his senses. He put down his near empty glass of brandy he’d been savoring as it had been offered from the master’s hand moments before the count had taken his bride down the hall to present her with her new piano. “Who is your son? Don’t weep, dear lady, we’ll find him. I’ll find him.” Giles put in boldly, casting an appreciative eye at the regal beauty with sapphire blue eyes. She couldn’t be a day older than forty, in his estimation.

  “Who are you?” Her eyes narrowed as she examined him from her companion’s arms.

  “I’m the butler. Lady Elizabeth had me promoted, you see.” Giles explained.

  “Lady Elizabeth!” The blond woman returned with venom. “Just who the devil is she? And who are these people cluttering up my mother’s salon? I demand to speak to the woman. I demand to know what you’ve done with my son’s body. Where is he buried?”

  “Alicia!” Gareth had just returned to the salon. “My dear sister, calm yourself.” He hugged the dainty woman. “Your son is not dead. Au Contraire--Donovan has come back from the dead. Lady Elizabeth pulled him back from the edge of the grave.”

  The End

  About the Author

  Lily Silver lives in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, on the shores of Green Bay. She resides in a lovely old Victorian house with her husband, their German Shepherd and three charming cats, one who is actually named after ‘Puck’, from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Lily loves studying history, and has two bachelor degrees in that discipline.

  She enjoys creating stories about people who must overcome severe internal obstacles in the quest to find true love. Sometimes the obstacles can be psychological, as with Donovan Beaumont in Dark Hero, who is clearly suffering PTSD. Sometimes the obstacle can be emotional, as is the case with Elizabeth O’Flaherty, a survivor of childhood abuse and sexual abuse as an adolescent girl of eighteen. Lily firmly believes in the healing power of true love, and uses that theme in many of her romances.

  Contact Lily Online:

  https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/DarkLily

  http://lilysilver.webs.com

  My Blog:

  http://romancinghistorylove.blogspot.com

  Books By Lily Silver

  Some Enchanted Waltz: A Time Travel Romance Available in June 2012

  While working her shift at a radio station, a lightning storm sends Tara O’Neill back to Ireland of 1798. Tara is severely injured from the lightening strike and suffers a loss of memory. She is taken into the protection of one of the rebel leaders. Viscount Dillon, a handsome, charming rogue, convinces Tara she is his betrothed from America. With no place to go, and no memory of her past, she believes him and marries him. Little does she know Lord Dillon has used her as a pawn to insure his survival among his enemies. As her memory returns she must prevent her lover from becoming a casualty in the infamous failed Rebellion of 1798.

  Bright Scoundrel, Book Two of the Reluctant Heroes Series. Available Fall 2012

  Kieran O’Flaherty, Elizabeth’s older brother in Dark Hero, has made a mess of things since moving to England. The scandal sheets and caricaturists regularly decry his name. He has become infamous among the Ton as a wild Irishman and as a dangerous, womanizing Rake. Kieran returns to the Ireland he left as a child hoping to find his place in the world after failing to successfully navigate the intricate labyrinth of London society. His attempts to reclaim his ancestral home are fraught with challenges, in the physical realm as well as the supernatural. His most challenging task is convincing the Feisty Irish Beauty who steals his heart that he is not the heartless scoundrel the London news sheets make him out to be. Rose de Lacy will not be ruled by any man, particularly a stranger claiming to be the rightful lord of Clan O’Flaherty.

  Coming in early 2013:

  Gallant Rogue, Book Three of the Reluctant Heroes Series

  Captain Jack Rawlings has given a special task by his longtime friend, Donovan Beaumont, (Dark Hero). He is to accompany the beautiful Miss Chloe Ramirez to her relative’s home in Spain, guarding her during the long voyage from the West Indies and delivering her safely into the bosom of her family. As her appointed guardian, Jack isn’t so sure he can protect her from himself.