The Christmas Unicorn: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Christmas Short Story

by Summer Hanford

Miss Kitty Bennet has a terrible, embarrassing secret...she is afraid of the dark. When the sister she shares a room with marries, Kitty must finally confront her fear, a confrontation she's losing. At least, until she gets a little help from some unlikely her older sister Mary and the Christmas Unicorn.

The Christmas Unicorn is a Pride & Prejudice variation short story about sisterly love and acceptance. Made to be read in about an hour, but with twists and turns to keep you guessing, this Christmas tale is the perfect just-before-bed read.

Genres: Audiobook

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

About the author

Summer Hanford writes best-selling Pride and Prejudice retellings, swashbuckling Historical Romance, and gripping Epic Fantasy. She lives in the lovely Finger Lakes Region of New York with her husband and compulsory, deliberately spoiled, cat. The newest addition to their household, an energetic setter-shepherd mix, has been trying, and failing, for eight years to gain acceptance from the cat, but is adored by the humans.

Since the moment she read her first novel, Summer’s passion has always been writing, and epic adventures. As a child growing up on a dairy farm, she built castles made of hay and wielded swords made of fence posts. She is also passionate about animals, travel, and organizing her closet. Nothing pleases her more than a row of tops broken down by sleeve length and ordered by color…except working on her latest novel with her cat in her lap, her dog lounging on the rug dreaming of squirrels, and a cup of tea at hand.

For more about Summer, visit www.summerhanford.com.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pride and Prejudice vaiation where unfortunately Kitty has night terrors as she now sleeps alone, as Lydia has married Wickham. But Mary is there to help. Can Kitty in return help Mary.
An entertaining and well-written short story

[Donna Beveridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried!

I usually don't cry when I read stories, but this one was so sweet I cried. Never having had a sibling, I often wondered what having one would be like. Mary Bennet was the sister everyone often forgot. Thank you for giving her and Kitty their happy story.

[James S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of time with Mary and Kitty

Mary and Kitty are the only Bennet daughters left at Longbourn. Will they become true sisters and friends? Pleasant story about two not featured characters. I liked it.

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sweet and poignant short story.

“Belief was the true secret to the power of the Christmas Unicorn.” (quote from the book)

Kitty and Mary Bennet are the last two sisters at home. Kitty, who experiences night terrors, is now back to the small bedroom where they all started. Deeply embarrassed and with the help of her sister, Mary, tries to overcome them.

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

An endearing sisters story.
Stevie Zimmerman gives a lovely performance in this seasonal story which finds Kitty and Mary as the sole sisters remaining at Longbourn. It’s very short at just over an hour long, and so enjoyable as they each reveal their hearts and come to the other’s aid in their own way.

Recommend.

[Terri M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, short, read. Good bedtime story material.

When only Mary and Kitty are left at home who is there to bond with as a sister and a friend but each other? Is such a thing possible? Can these sisters give each other the thing that both desperately need at this time? This little tale seems to be based on “The Gift of The Magi.” Definitely a lovely read.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty and Mary Bennet, being the only sisters still living at Longbourn, find their way to help and support each other as Kitty faces night terrors and Mary fears that the man she is corresponding with is only coming to Longbourn to retrieve a narwal horn, which was thought to be a unicorn horn at first by Kitty. Loved how these two formed a more sisterly bond than what we read of in canon.

[Jael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming for Youth

The story did a great job implying the personalities of the main characters of Pride and Prejudice.

Age for the belief of the character of Kitty may add to her silliness. Therefore the 4 stars.

The tender thoughtfulness between sisters Kitty and Mary was special.

[Georgia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfect Christmas Story

Just like drinking chocolate and biscuits, a perfect snack for Christmas time! Thank you, Summer, so much, for this sweet, sincere, touching story. I loved it!

[Maria Escarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short variation featuring the less focused Bennet sisters

A story of Sisterly concern and love. It’s nice to read about the lesser known sisters, Mary and Kitty Bennet have their own happy ending at Christmas time.

[CharlotteReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Unicorn was so sweet and so heartfelt. It was lovely seeing the remaining sisters get their own spotlight. Maybe I will go look for the Christmas unicorn some night. Sweet dreams <3

[Terri L. McClelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty and Mary Bennet are the only unmarried sisters still left at home. They have never been close, but try to make friends since they are the only ones left. Kitty is suffering a true embarrassment—she is afraid of the dark and can’t sleep since the sister she shared a room with is gone. Mary tries to help when Kitty recalls a story that Mary used to tell her and Lydia about a Christmas unicorn and wishes. Can these sisters ever become true friends and, if so, what will it cost them?

This short “bedtime” story has a touch of “The Gift of the Magi.”

[Craftyhj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet.

[Madenna U · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of sisterly affection between Mary & Kitty who are the only two sisters still at Longbourn.

[Mrs Alison Gauld · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and interesting story.

Too short, but drew you on, and I was surprised that it ended when it did. Read it and tell the author that you enjoyed it.