Ravenwood(13)

The housekeeper’s eyes went wide, her lips thin and tight. Her gaze darted to Elinore and Elinore had the strange feeling like she should apologize for being set upon by a beast in the woods.

“I see,” the housekeeper said stiffly. She smiled at Elinore, the sentiment not quite reaching her eyes. “Come, dear. Let’s get you settled and I shall make a poultice for your wounds.”

Caleb’s hand on her elbow directed Elinore to enter the manor. She hesitated crossing the threshold, feeling as though that one last step would sever her from the life she knew before.

“Mrs. Davenport will take care of you,” Caleb said, his voice low next to Elinore’s ear.

The housekeeper reached forward, beckoning Elinore into the house.

“Yes, of course,” Elinore replied. She hardly heard her own words, so soft was her voice.

“You must be quite overcome from the night.” Up close, Elinore could see the brilliance of Mrs. Davenport’s eyes - a sharp blue framed by the redness and glassiness that often accompanies age. She smiled again, this time her eyes going soft and kind. Her eyes travelled over Elinore and she saw the moment Mrs. Davenport’s gaze reached her arm. “Oh, my,” she whispered. Elinore tucked her bitten arm back under the cloak. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

Elinore turned to look at Caleb once more. He stood still outside the front door appearing to have no intention of coming inside.

“I will fetch my uncle,” he said and Mrs. Davenport nodded. Something exchanged between the two of them before Caleb turned to head back outside, pulling the front door shut behind him.

Mrs. Davenport drew Elinore close, coming along her side. “Now, Miss Reed, let us get you upstairs and we can see to getting you warm and dry.” She moved forward, taking the lamp with her. The idea of being left alone was enough to have Elinore find her footing and start after her. There were still several lights lit in the foyer, showing a grand entrance that led to an even grander staircase. There seemed to be some activity about - darts of movement out of the corner of her eye. Possibly waiting for the men to come back from their night’s journey, Elinore thought.

Their night’s hunting. What could possibly be hunted so late at night?

Mrs. Davenport seemed to think nothing of being up so late and she continued to speak, her tone warm as she led Elinore to the stairs. “Of course we were expecting your arrival, though I daresay not under such circumstances. I’ve got a room made up for you and I’ll have some hot water brought up. I’ll see if we can find you a gown and then I shall take a look at your… injury.”

Now that she wasn’t moving, trudging along through the forest following Caleb, Elinore could feel the chill settling deep in her bones, causing her shoulder to ache more and her body to shiver. Mrs. Davenport, though she looked frail, wrapped a strong arm around Elinore to guide her. Elinore’s teeth chattered with the chill and she nodded.

“This is not a night for anyone to be out. I wish Mr. Hayter hadn’t requested you be brought tonight.” They started up the long staircase and though there were lamps lit along the way, the staircase was so massive that each step was only illuminated by Mrs. Davenport’s lamp as they reached it. Elinore had the sudden, incredible thought that there was nothing at all in front of her except for floating stairs and once the stairs ended, she would reach the top and find there was no floor in existence, only a perilous drop to the marble floor below. Mrs. Davenport kept her arm around Elinore’s shoulder as they climbed, the only thing only thing keeping her grounded. At the top of the stairs, Mrs. Davenport led her down a darkened hallway, pausing as they went for the housekeeper to light some of the wall sconces. Elinore was surrounded by stone and wood. Perhaps it was because it was dark, or perhaps it was because of the night she’d had, but Elinore felt the manor pressing in on her. The housekeeper stopped in front of a closed door and paused only long enough to unlock it with a set of jangling keys kept on her waist.

“Here we are now, my dear.” She bustled into the room, lighting a few candles and Elinore was struck by how fine the room was. She’d never had such a space before. It seemed almost cavernous. There was a large bed against the wall with a towering armoire standing guard next to it. Heedless of the grandeur, Mrs. Davenport set her candle down and opened the armoire with a flourish, pulling out a long robe.

“I know it’s not the same as having your own things, but this dressing gown will keep you warm enough while I see if one of the servant girls has something to loan you. I hope a lady such as yourself won’t mind borrowing from the girls.” She pulled a long tassel next to the bed and Elinore heard the faint ringing of a bell from elsewhere in the house - no doubt alerting the other servants.

Elinore shook her head. “No, ma’am, I should be grateful for anything dry and warm.”

“Listen to you, calling me ma’am,” Mrs. Davenport said with a smile, seeming amused at Elinore’s words. “Come now, let’s get you out of your dress and see if it can be salvaged.”

It took some work getting Elinore out of her wet dress and underthings. Mrs. Davenport had to unwrap the handkerchief Caleb had tied around her arm and Elinore feared the wounds would start bleeding again. Pulling her dress away from her skin, Elinore could see puncture marks from where the wolf’s teeth broke the flesh. Her arm was puffy and hot to the touch - feeling tender and raw. Mrs. Davenport’s lips went thin and tight again, her eyes roving over the wounds even as she worked to help Elinore out of her gown. She realized Elinore was staring at her and curled her lips in a small smile, tutting at the state of Elinore’s dress.