Ravenwood(19)

“How gauche of me,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat as she pushed her bowl away slightly. The same servant appeared again and whisked it away.

Hayter’s eyes gleamed. “Not at all. It’s wonderful to see a lady with such a healthy appetite.” He tipped his head at the arrangements of meats and cheeses on the table and although she was still hungry, she couldn’t possibly help herself to more just yet. It would be unseemly. Hayter smiled again at her and she shivered.

“Are you cold, my dear?” Hayter asked.

“No, sir. I mean, no, Uncle,” she corrected at his look. She finally gave into her urge and raised a hand and covered her neck. The neckline was perfectly demure, but she felt terribly exposed in the borrowed gown.

“Please don’t stop eating on our accounts. We don’t hold to much formality around the manor.”

“Only if you’re still hungry, of course,” Caleb interjected. His voice was softer than Hayter’s, more modest, but still firm.

Hayter smiled, his teeth bright white. “I merely wished to let dear Nora know that we would not think her… savage or untamed should she wish to eat more.”

“Do you generally shorten your name to ‘Nora?’” Caleb asked, turning to look at her, piercing her with his pale eyes.

He was like a large bird of prey, watching her with his unyielding jaw and unblinking gaze, but no malice. Elinore darted her eyes over to Hayter who, on the surface, looked amused by the whole exchange, but underneath, something else lurked in his expression. She was afraid to answer either way. She didn’t wish to insult either of them. The truth was, she never went by any shortened form of her name, save for when Charlotte called her Ellie. She had a fond nickname for Charlotte in return, Lottie. It was something only between the two of them, shared since childhood. But it would be horribly rude to comment on her uncle shortening her name. However, to lie would be an even greater rudeness.

“Not generally, no,” she managed finally.

“My apologies, Elinore,” Hayter said smoothly, using her full name once again. “I admit, I’m quite fond of pet names, rather appreciating them for their informality. Indeed, I called your Aunt Victoria, ‘Tori,' from the moment we met. You quite take after her, you know.”

Elinore took another drink of tea, finding it cooling quickly and wondered if the frigid feeling between the two men had something to do with it. She longed for something to break the tension between the two of them. Eyeing the plate of meats and cheeses, she cleared her throat. “It is a horrible loss that I never had the chance to make her acquaintance. My mother commented on our similarities.”

“Yes,” replied Hayter. “Quite similar.”

Silence fell across the table and Elinore wanted to fidget in her seat, but also felt as though she needed to stay as still as possible, not wanting to draw attention. She finally broke, saying, “I believe I will have some of the cheddar after all.”

Eating passed some small measure of time in which Elinore needn’t worry she was expected to make conversation. She was surprised by how hungry she still was after the soup and vowed to only have a few small bites, but Hayter placed a large quantity of items on her plate and she found herself finishing them all. Neither gentleman seemed horrified by the amount she’d eaten and she certainly wasn’t going to mention it.

“Perhaps you would like a tour of Ravenwood,” Hayter said after she was done eating. The thought of spending more time with her uncle had Elinore pausing before she answered.

“You are meeting with Mr. Nethers this afternoon, regarding his concerns over security,” Caleb said, his voice quiet and low. Elinore nearly sagged with relief.

A grimace passed over Hayter’s face. “I could reschedule.”

“This is his last day in our county before he’s off to the northern area,” Caleb countered.

Hayter set his cup down with a loud clatter. “It would have been a pleasure to show you around the estate, dear Elinore, but I’m afraid my nephew is correct. I must attend this meeting.”

Though she wanted to exhale in relief, Elinore managed to school her features into a modicum of disappointment. “Of course, I understand. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“And your plans for the day, dear nephew?” Hayter asked. Elinore found her eyes drawn again to Hayter’s teeth, flashing as he spoke.

“I’m heading out into the forest with some of the men. We’ll be… hunting for the wolf that bit Miss Reed last night.”

Elinore’s fingers trailed over the bandages. She could feel the heat of the wounds rising up through the cotton. “Mrs. Davenport says that hydrophobia is not a concern out here on the estate. Is that true?”

The men exchanged a look and Elinore felt her stomach roll over with dread. Perhaps Mrs. Davenport had been mistaken.

Hayter reached over and patted Elinore’s knee, causing her to startle and stiffen her spine. It was most inappropriate for him to touch her in such a way. They were family, but they’d only just met. She leaned back slightly in her chair.

“Not to worry my dear, Mrs. Davenport’s poultice should take care of all your worries.”

Elinore’s eyes darted over to Caleb who watched carefully. She felt not at all assured. She drank the last dregs of her tea, grimacing at the tepid taste.

“Of course.” She swallowed thickly. “Mrs. Davenport indicated there was a library. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to avail myself of it?” she asked, hoping that it was well-stocked with books that would take her mind off her troubles.