“Are you afraid of him?”
Amelia hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
It was what Elinore suspected. She squeezed Amelia’s hand. “We’ll say I broke it.”
Amelia’s eyes went wide and she shook her head slightly. “Oh, no, miss. That wouldn’t be right.”
“He won’t be angry with me. He…” Elinore paused, not sure how much she should tell the young girl, how much would be proper. Throwing propriety out the window, she pressed on. “He fancies me and tries to impress me. He won’t get mad and if he does…” Elinore shrugged. “It will burn out quickly enough.”
She could tell Amelia was tempted - it was in the way she bit her lip, staring at the broken pieces of the vase and then back at Elinore.
“What if he’s awfully angry anyway?”
Elinore felt something curl in her belly, but it was not fear. No, it was more like anticipation. What if Hayter was angry? What would she do? She wasn’t sure and almost wanted to make him angry to find out.
Just then, the young footman came back with a brush and a dustpan. Elinore looked up as he entered. “Good, just the thing we’ll need to clean up this vase I broke.”
His eyes were like that of a rabbit seeing a large, dangerous predator just out of the corner of its eye. “Miss?”
“You and Amelia are so kind to help me clean it up. I’ll have to find my uncle and let him know I’ve broken one of his vases. But, I’m sure he won’t be too upset. I’m still his niece and quite new to Ravenwood. These things happen.”
He stood there, still frozen, his large dark eyes blinking at her. Elinore ushered him forward with her hands, in a gentle ‘come here’ gesture.
“Let’s have that dust bin and get this taken care of.”
“George,” Amelia urged. Young George snapped back into action, crouching down and sweeping at the mess, his eyes darting between the two women as he worked.
“There,” said Elinore once it was cleaned up. “If you would be so good as to dispose of that, I’ll head downstairs for breakfast and see if I can find my uncle.” Her wish for a breakfast without Hayter had probably been foolish at any rate. She stood and was heartily surprised when Amelia threw herself into Elinore’s body, hugging her tightly.
“Oh, thank you, miss.”
To be honest, Elinore felt a little out of sorts - probably as much as George still looked, holding an apron full of broken china, a dustbin and a brush. Elinore patted Amelia on the back. “You’re most welcome.”
Amelia pulled back, wiping at her face with the cuff of her dress. “I should get back to work.”
“That sounds like a good plan and think no more about this accident. It’s all taken care of.”
Both Amelia and George looked unsure, but managed to nod and smile at Elinore as she left. Elinore resumed her way downstairs, moving quickly and quietly over the floorboards.
At the bottom of the grand staircase, she thought she heard Caleb’s voice - angry, tight. She paused, one hand still on the banister and tilted her head. She could almost make out his words. If she just listened harder….
“…Signs the feral wolf has been prowling around the grounds, but no, I didn’t catch it.”
“Do you mean to tell me some omega wolf still has you confounded?”
That was Hayter’s voice, his tone mean and insulting. This must be another one of the strange sound spots of the house, places where she could hear things she shouldn’t be able to, for surely Caleb and Hayter were too far away for her to be listening in on their words. She felt quite exposed standing in the middle of the foyer, but she didn’t want to move in case it disturbed her hearing. Glancing around, she didn’t see anyone else about and so continued to stay where she was, poised at the foot of the stairs.
“I will find the omega.”
“And then? I doubt, dear nephew, that you have the stomach for what must be done. You should leave it to me.”
“Perhaps I would if I thought you were giving it your full attention.”
There was a pause and then a loud sound, as though a book hit a table or the floor. “Don’t test me, boy. You would do well to respect your place.”
“I do respect it, but that does not mean I must remain silent. My father welcomed counsel on all matters.”
“Perhaps that is why he is no longer here.”
Elinore’s eyes widened at Hayter’s words to Caleb. Speaking ill of the dead was… crass. Caleb did not call his uncle out on his words, but continued on, his soft tenor tone even and smooth.
“I am… concerned at your judgment. Elinore should never have been traveling on the night of the full moon.”
“Ah, yes, I noticed you were on a first name basis. It’s ‘Elinore,' is it? Not Miss Reed?”
“She gave me leave to use her familiar name, yes.”
“And is that all for which she’s given you leave?”
Outrage surged through Elinore. How dare he? First of all, to imply that Elinore would in any way be improper and secondly, even if she had been improper, she wasn’t his daughter, or truly even a close member of the family! She’d been his ward for less than a month, with half of the time spent packing her things and traveling to the manor. Elinore’s fingers clenched into tight fists at her side and she winced when she realized that one of her short, ragged nails pierced the flesh of her palm, leaving a bright red mark that oozed a tiny bit of blood. Looking down, she saw her nail was longer than she’d thought - the sharp edge of it stained crimson with her own blood.
“The bite is turning black,” Caleb continued, not answering Hayter’s vulgar insinuation. “Mrs. Davenport has applied the remedy, but it may have been too long after the bite and the teeth marks were deep.”
“Mrs. Davenport’s remedy can work wonders. Give it time.” Hayter’s tone was dismissive, almost careless.
“If we find the wolf that bit her-“
“Then we can pursue other options. Until then, Mrs. Davenport will keep applying her poultice and you can keep hunting for the omega since you’re so concerned.”
“You’re not?”
“I will keep Ravenwood safe. I can continue running the estate during the day and assist in the search for the omega at night. Clearly you’re not up to the task, little pup.”
It was hardly a term of endearment. Hayter’s voice was snide and disdainful, tossing the words out as though they were bits of rubbish. Elinore heard footsteps and before she could decide if they were coming toward her or not, she raced back up four stairs and then slowly came back down again, as though she’d just arisen and been on her way to breakfast.
Hayter came around the corner from the hallway that led to his den, where presumably he and Caleb had been arguing. “Ah, dear Elinore. Have you come for our morning sojourn already?” His voice was like thick syrup - over sweet and sticky.
Elinore stammered slightly. The last thing she wanted to do was be trapped alone with Hayter, but she doubted she could avoid it entirely. “I’d hoped to have some breakfast first.”
“Of course, how thoughtless of me. Allow me to escort you to the dining room.”
She managed a small smile, threading her arm through his offered elbow. As he did yesterday, he pulled her in close to his body, inhaling loudly as he did, as though he were scenting her.
“I trust you slept well?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“If there’s anything I can do to make your nights more comfortable, please let me know.”
The man was completely distasteful. “I wouldn’t want to trouble you,” Elinore answered.
“It would be no trouble at all.”
Elinore felt slightly cold and clammy from the way his words slithered of his tongue. “I’m afraid I have something to confess,” she said, deciding to break the news about the vase to him. Better to get it done quickly than to worry that she’d forget.
“What could a lovely girl like you possibly have to confess?”
“I broke a vase.
In the second room on the right, just off the stairs.”
Hayter paused, forcing Elinore to come to a stop as well or jerk her arm out of its socket to free it from his firm grasp. “How?”
Elinore shrugged, forcing her face into what Charlotte had always called her most vapid expression. “Oh, I was still dreaming I suppose and knocked it off its perch. I’m dreadfully sorry.”
Hayter’s hand tightened on her arm and she winced, staring at where his fingers were digging into her skin. “Most of our possessions here at Ravenwood are quite costly.”
With his icy blue eyes fixed on her, Elinore could well see why Amelia feared him so. In that moment, he was like one of the heads hanging in his den - deadly and frozen still. Elinore couldn’t back out now, nor did she want to. “It was an accident, Uncle.”
He adjusted his fingers on her arm, flexing them and then gripping tight again. “You should take more care in the future, my dear.”
Elinore was certain she’d have bruises on her arm that night in the shape of his fingers. “Of course. It was quite foolish of me.”
Hayter did not let go of her arm even once they were inside the dining room, leading Elinore directly to her chair and then pulling it out with his other hand. As gracefully as she could, she took her seat, exhaling when Hayter finally released his grip. The place he’d grabbed on her arm felt hot under the fabric of her dress. Hayter went directly to the serving board, cursing over something. He shouted for Mrs. Thistlewaite, who came immediately into the room, her surprise at seeing Hayter evident.
“You’re up early this morning, sir. Would you like your regular meal?”
“Of course,” Hayter snapped. “And coffee.”
“Yes, sir.” Mrs. Thistlewaite had a kinder look on her face as she turned to Elinore. “And you, miss. Same as usual?”
“Yes, thank you. How is Mr. Thistlewaite? Alice mentioned the doctor would be by again today, correct?”
“He does a mite better every day. You’re a love to ask after him. I’ll be sure to mention it to him. And yes, the doctor’s coming out today.”
“I should love to stop in and see him, if he’s up to it. Will you let me know when I may?”
“Of course, love. Would you like me to pour you some tea?” she gestured to the side-board where a pot of the fragrant tea Caleb, and now Elinore favored, waited.
“She’ll have coffee,” Hayter interrupted. “Coffee that is not currently making itself,” he added pointedly. Mrs. Thistlewaite hesitated, looking between Elinore and Hayter. Elinore smiled at her and nodded. She was quite capable of getting her own tea, despite Hayter’s resolve that she should drink coffee. Mrs. Thistlewaite bustled out of the room while Elinore rose, feeling Hayter’s eyes burning into the back of her skull while she poured a cup of tea, pausing to inhale the fragrant steam. She heard the sounds of Caleb’s footsteps coming down the hall a moment before he entered the dining room and she nearly sagged with relief. She’d thought she would have to bear breakfast alone with Hayter and a walk with him on top of it.
Breakfast with Hayter was akin to eating next to a large, looming mountain precipice that may topple over at any moment. Elinore kept her eyes mostly focused on her food, but was quite aware of Hayter’s presence beside her. Though she’d just overheard the two men arguing, they still seemed to have a number of business items to discuss. Though, ‘discuss’ was probably not the correct word. Hayter gave direction, Caleb would clarify and then Hayter would switch topics. It was clear that Hayter was displeased, both with Caleb and Elinore. Caleb glanced over at her once or twice, likely trying to ascertain what she could have possibly done to anger their uncle. Elinore, in the manner of young ladies everywhere, had perfected the art of a serene expression on her face while she sipped her tea and ate her breakfast.
The food was as marvelous as the day before. Elinore was ravenous, as she had been yesterday, and ate all that was on her plate and considered the remainder of the breakfast rolls in the center of the table. She was already looking forward to a mid-morning snack, hopefully with Alice by her side.
“Perhaps we should go for our walk now, Elinore, if you’re done your breakfast?”
Hayter’s voice caught her by surprise and she glanced down at her empty plate, wishing for more food, not only for her belly, but to stave off a morning walk.
“We’ve an appointment in Haleton,” Caleb said sharply and Hayter fixed him with a glare. It seemed for a moment, as though his eyes were no longer blue, but golden yellow. The two men stared at each other and Elinore felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She had a strong urge to push her chair away from the table slowly, so slowly, and perhaps creep quietly from the room. Finally Hayter smiled, at least, with his mouth, flashing his white teeth. His eyes stayed cold and distant.
“Ah yes, with young Mr. Brock and his… undomesticated associates.”
Caleb’s jaw worked slightly at Hayter’s words and Elinore wished she understood.
“I’m afraid our morning sojourn will have to wait until tomorrow.” Hayter reached over and squeezed her hand too tightly, causing her fingers to go white with the pressure. She was surprised by the desire to snap her teeth at him or run her nails down the back of his hand. That would teach him not to put his hands on her. What on earth was coming over her? She took a deep breath and managed a weak smile.
“I shall head up to my room for a bit. Perhaps do some needlework,” she said, pulling her hand sharply out from underneath Hayter’s grip. She nodded crisply to him and then turned to Caleb, offering him a real smile. Both men stood as she pushed herself back from the table and took her leave.
Halfway down the hallway, Caleb’s voice caught her attention and she turned to see him coming behind her, his long graceful steps eating up the distance between them.
“Yes?” she asked.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, but I’ve forgotten the last few times in my haste. That is, your post,” he said, blurting the words out. “Do you have any letters you wish me to post while I’m in town?”
“Oh yes!” she exclaimed, reaching toward him in her excitement and resting a hand on his arm. They both stared down for a moment where her fingers rested on him and then she snatched her hand back. “Thank you for remembering.” She changed direction and made her way to the library, finding three letters to Charlotte, another to one of her late mother’s friends, one to her late father’s solicitor and one for another female acquaintance. The three to Charlotte where practically bulging at the seal and Caleb raised an amused brow at her. His expression held no malice and she found herself smiling in return.
“You’ve been quite busy.”
“It’s got some new pages for our writings as well as some changed pages from our last correspondence.”
“I shall take good care of it,” he said, his fingers brushing over hers as he took the letters. She felt her heart thump hard at the contact and her cheeks flush with color. He carefully tucked the letters into the inside pocket of his jacket, patting it once. She had a completely foolish notion that her words now rested close to his heart. How fanciful and impractical. Still, she gave a longing look at his coat, wishing that she could be as close to him as those letters.
“I hope you have a safe trip to Haleton.” Feeling bold, she held her hand out in the most proper way she could, hoping that he was every bit the gentleman she thought him to be and he would take it.
He did. His fingers were large and warm around hers and she felt a delightful shiver run down the back of her neck and across her shoulders as he enclosed her hand in his.
“Thank you. I hope you have a lovely day here at Ravenwood.” He bowed slightly, and then, to Elinore’s delight, he raised her hand and brushed his lips perfunctorily over her knuckles. The entire thing seemed to happen slowly and impossibly fast all at once. She watched as the pink of his lips touched against the pale ivory of her skin, the soft flesh of his mouth flattening slightly as it met the resistance of her bones. His mouth was e
ven hotter than his hand, and there was a hint of moisture from it, but not at all unpleasant. Her stomach turned over in the most exquisite way and his eyes flickered up and she could see the blue of his irises from underneath his black, sooty lashes. She was slightly out of breath, though she’d done nothing but stand there.
“Thank you,” she replied, her words coming out as a whisper.
“Good day.” Caleb straightened upward and his fingers released hers and she had the mad thought that she should launch herself at him, bodily and press herself against him. Instead, she stayed perfectly still, thinking that if she so much as twitched, she would lose the war against her impulses and do something terribly impetuous. He nodded and she barely managed to nod her own head in return, staring at him, surely looking like some sort of open-mouthed fish.
The most extraordinary thing happened then. He blushed. His cheeks flushed pink, high on the apples and it was the most wondrous sight. It brought a smile to her lips, wide and full of teeth and she laughed nervously. He smiled at her laughter, eyes crinkling at the corners and nose wrinkling slightly.
He turned and left the library with quick steps, pausing for a moment at the door to turn and smile at her again. She curtseyed again, not caring that she’d just done so only moments before. She’d curtsey a thousand times if it made him smile like that.
After Caleb closed the door behind himself, Elinore flopped down most gracelessly on her reading chair, reveling in the delicious feeling in her chest and belly. She bit her lip thinking of the warm press of Caleb’s lips against her hand, holding her hand up in the sunlight and memorizing exactly where his lips had been.
Feeling as though she needed time to herself, Elinore took the mythology book she’d been reading from the library and headed up to her room. Not knowing where Alice was, Elinore made sure to let every servant she passed know that she was heading to her room and should Alice look for her, that’s where she would be. With both of the Vollmond men gone, the manor felt solemn and still, as though the house somehow thrived on their energy as long as they were in it or on the estate.
Ravenwood Page 15
