Excerpt from The Widow's Christmas Wish, copyright Lily Silver, 2013
Giles St. Vincent entered carrying the Christmas pudding. The
flaming dish was hefted high on a silver platter. The brown ball encased in vivid blue flame of
burning brandy was indeed a grand sight to behold.
Donovan’s bride rolled her lips and glanced about the table
quickly. This was her first attempt at entertaining as a married lady. The
gathering was comprised mostly of family, so there was little chance of social
repercussions if the pudding wasn’t right. And yet, family was less forgiving
of one’s shortcomings than strangers were, in Alicia’s experience.
“It’s not like Mama’s.” Elizabeth cautioned, glancing at her
younger brother with worry. “I’ll warn you, the flavor will be more of St.
Kitts than of Mayfair, Michael.”
“A new tradition, for a new household.” Mr. Barnaby put in boldly. “I’ve never had
the English dish so I doubt I’ll mark the difference, my lady.” The apothecary
bestowed a charmed grin upon Elizabeth, the youthful mistress of Ravencrest.
“We don’t eat it while it’s aflame, do we?” Gareth frowned,
drawing back a little as the dish was set in the center of the table for all to
observe the lovely blue fire.
“No.” Michael replied. “It will burn itself out. Just watch. It’s this mystical moment --whilst we’re waiting for the Yule flame to wane--that makes the difference. It’s the defining moment of our Christmas feast.”
Alicia’s brother gave the youth a quizzical look, as if to
imply the flaming dish were a nuisance more than a magical delicacy.
“The spirits will burn quickly.” Donovan assured them.
“Oui, if a bearded
man were to linger close it would set his whiskers afire.” The French tutor put
in. “Ah, here comes the Bûche de Noël, what a welcome sight in this far
away land.” He remarked as a footman carried in the Beaumont family tradition.
“How kind of you, my lady, to honor the French traditions along with your
English ones.” The man gazed at Elizabeth
with more emotion than was appropriate for a man of his years to exhibit toward
a young woman. T’was obvious the tutor formed a tender for Donovan’s darling.
“It was not my doing.” The countess informed him. “You must
thank the cook. Fritz did it to honor my lord’s mother.” The girl turned to
glance across the expansive table at Alicia with a smile. “Merry Christmas,
Mother Beaumont.”
“Thank you, dearest.” Alicia responded, surprised by the tightness in her throat.
“Let’s eat. The flames are dying.” Michael insisted. He
gestured toward the sputtering fire encased cake. “And whoever has the silver
coin is the Lord of Misrule. You did remember to insert the charms I brought
you, didn’t you sis?”
“Yes.” Elizabeth replied. “Be aware there are silver charms
in the pudding. Everyone look over their piece carefully before eating it. I
should not wish anyone to choke. The old traditions called for a silver wishbone,
a thimble, an anchor, a ring and a coin. So, good fortunes to all.”
The pudding was placed before Elizabeth. She sliced it and
began serving the assembly. The head footman stood at her ladyship’s side. His
gloved hands held out a plate and when a slice was set upon it, he carried it
round the table and set it before Michael with great pomp and ceremony. Another footman took his place at Elizabeth’s
side with a plate ready to receive a slice of the cake.
“Take this one to Lord Greystowe. And remind him about the
charms.” Elizabeth directed. “Where is he?”
“In the front parlor, my lady.” The footman replied, taking
the plate away.
The rattle of forks scraping plates was the only sound in
the room as everyone examined their portion for the prospective charms.
“What does the thimble symbolize?” Captain Rawlings asked,
holding up his treasure for all to see.
“Thrift.” Michael and Elizabeth said at once.
“Blimey.” The captain groused. “Poor luck at cards this
coming year, I wager.”
“I have the anchor.” Mr. O’Flaherty displayed his trinket.
“I am to set sail, I take it?”
“Yes, to England.” Michael replied. “You’ll go to Kent to
take your place as the heir to Lord Greystowe.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Mr.
O’Flaherty shrugged. “Suppose I set sail in the opposite direction? It doesn’t say where I will go, Michael, only
that a journey is imminent.”
“You wouldn’t do this to me.” Michael countered.
“Oh, I might.” Mr. O’Flaherty returned with an amused grin.
“I should like to know what the ring symbolizes,” Gareth
asked, “As Miss Ramirez seems to have acquired that one.”
“A marriage in your future!”
Elizabeth said with glee, glancing at her female companion with the
shared excitement of young ladies at the prospect.
“And who is the fortunate bridegroom? Eh?” The French tutor,
who by this time had had more wine then he could possibly manage, put in. “A
man at this table or a secret admirer, a man of mystery, perhaps, ma Cherie?”
Gareth looked as if he’d swallowed the ring whole while the
rest of the party speculated about the mysterious suitor entering Miss Ramirez’
life in the coming year.
“A brave Spaniard?” Mr. O’Flaherty suggested. “Or a Dutch
merchant.”
O’Flaherty’s speculation was not beyond reason. The West Indies were diverse, with neighboring
islands belonging to rival nations and often changing flags annually. There was
the opportunity to meet a suitor from nearly any European nation for the lovely
woman.
“Mayhap a fierce
buccaneer will carry Miss Ramirez away.” The blond child seated next to
Elizabeth, Captain Rawlings’ nephew, said with excitement.
Everyone laughed at the boy’s suggestion. Alicia examined her slice of cake to see what
good fortune would be her portion for the coming year. A silver wishbone charm was
within. “Oh my!” She exclaimed, lifting it between her fingers for all to see.
“And what does the wishbone signify?” She looked to her daughter-in-law for an
explanation.
Elizabeth looked uncertain. In fact, the girl appeared oddly
disorientated as her eyes grew dark and distant. She took to staring off into
space.
“Elizabeth.” Donovan took her hand, sandwiching it between
his own and began rubbing it roughly. “Elizabeth!” He repeated sharply. She
blinked and came round at the sound of his voice. He smiled at her, but the
worry in Donovan’s eyes was obvious.
“The charm is for wishing upon.” Michael answered for his
sister. He seemed to be trying to divert Alicia from his sister’s odd lapse. “What
do you wish you could have most of all, Mrs. Beaumont? Make your wish. It is
supposed to come true within the next year.”
Alicia gazed at the small silver charm between her thumb and
forefinger.
What did she desire in life, more than anything?
Her eyes darted to her son. Alicia wished him to be happy—and he was.
She wanted him to come back to the land of the living—and he had.
Those things had come to pass without the magic charm in her
grasp.
All of her hopes had been fixed upon Donovan’s future for so
very long. Today, he was blessed with a wife who loved him and he was expecting
his first child.
Perhaps, this once, she could make a wish for her own good
fortune.
She closed her fist about the small charm, shut her eyes,
and silently made a wish. What did she want most of all? A companion of the
heart, someone she could share her hopes, her fears and her dreams
with again, as she had with Gaston, her son’s father.
“What did you wish for, Mother?” Donovan asked pleasantly.
Alicia opened her eyes. Standing in regal silence behind her
son was the Ravencrest butler—the man Alicia had made a secret assignation with
for later this evening.
Giles held her searching gaze. And at his look, she felt
girlish again, beautiful, desirable and light-headed. The warmth infusing her
cheeks was a tell-tale sign that she might be giving herself away. She looked
away quickly and down at her plate.
“Don’t ask.” Elizabeth said. Apparently she was recovered
from her queer lapse. “You cannot to tell someone what you wished for, it’s bad
luck. Isn’t that right, Peter?” Elizabeth grinned at the boy beside her.
“Yes. And I have the coin!” Peter blurted, holding it up
high for all to see. “I’m the lord of misrule!”
“That you are.” Captain Rawlings agreed, chuckling at his
lad. “And you hardly need any encouragement on that score.”
End of Excerpt.
The party begins with Christmas at Ravencrest, the first story in the trilogy. It is free on all platforms for a limited time.
Each story is it's own romance and can be read as a stand alone novella featuring the Christmas hopes and expectations of one lovely lady. Elizabeth's story is book one, Alicia's is book two, and Chloe's is book Three. Read all three for a complete picture of the romancce bubbling forth at Ravencrest Plantation as hearts old and new are affected by the magic of the season.
Continue the Ravencrest house party with The Widow's Christmas Wish, and A Christmas Kiss.
And find out what happens when a magic spell goes awry for Miss Ramirez in A Christmas Kiss, to be published Dec. 22, 2013.
The party begins with Christmas at Ravencrest, the first story in the trilogy. It is free on all platforms for a limited time.
Amazon.com
Each story is it's own romance and can be read as a stand alone novella featuring the Christmas hopes and expectations of one lovely lady. Elizabeth's story is book one, Alicia's is book two, and Chloe's is book Three. Read all three for a complete picture of the romancce bubbling forth at Ravencrest Plantation as hearts old and new are affected by the magic of the season.
Continue the Ravencrest house party with The Widow's Christmas Wish, and A Christmas Kiss.
Amazon.com
And find out what happens when a magic spell goes awry for Miss Ramirez in A Christmas Kiss, to be published Dec. 22, 2013.
Amazon link
