Ravenwood(29)

“I’d not expected you back this evening.”

“The men were tired. I thought it best to return to Ravenwood.”

“Did you?”

They held each other’s gaze until Caleb’s eyes slipped away from Hayter’s, moving down and off to the side. Caleb turned to face Elinore again. “My apologies, Miss Reed. It’s quite rude of me to interrupt your dinner.”

“Think nothing of it.”

In no time at all, Caleb was served with a bowl of stew and a glass of wine, pulling two rolls off the bread plate for himself.

“Am I to understand you had no luck on your hunting trip?” Elinore asked.

“Not as I had hoped.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“You’ll be out again tomorrow?” Hayter’s tone was dismissive and though he spoke as though it was a question, it was quite clear from his expression that it was not. Elinore shifted in her seat, trying to find a way to sit up even taller and get a deep breath in with the corset.

“Yes, I will.”

Hayter looked duly unimpressed and Elinore tore a piece of bread apart for something to do with her hands. The motion attracted Caleb’s eyes and then, as if seeing her for the first time, he looked her up and down.

“Is that one of Victoria’s gowns?”

Elinore reflexively touched the gown. “Yes,” she answered, eyes flicking to Hayter quickly and then back to Caleb. “Uncle was kind enough to loan me something to wear for dinner.”

Caleb’s expression was tight. “I’ll inquire with the footmen I sent to retrieve your belongings from the carriage wreck. I’m sure you’d prefer to wear your own things.”

She longed to breathe a relieved sigh, but was not able to in the corset. “Thank you. I cannot wait to have my own things.”

“Hopefully nothing was too badly damaged by being left out in the rain. But if so, you have full access to Victoria’s wardrobe, thankfully.” Hayter placed a large bite of stew in his mouth, his jaw grinding the food mercilessly.

“Thankfully,” Elinore repeated, her voice soft and wane.

“How did you find the library?” Caleb asked her.

She couldn’t help the smile that touched her face. “Quite lovely. I met Alice Thistlewaite and I do believe we shall be kindred spirits.”

Caleb smiled and Elinore realized it was the first time she’d seen him do so. It broke across his face like a ray of sun through a cloudy day and her stomach fluttered. He was, as Alice had commented, shockingly handsome.

Caleb took a long inhale of the wine and then looked at his uncle sharply. “This is one of my parents’ finer vintages.”

Hayter smiled at his nephew - a flash of teeth. “I brought it out to commemorate Miss Reed joining us at Ravenwood. Surely you don’t object?”

“Not at all, but it seems Miss Reed is not much of a wine drinker,” Caleb answered, his eyes flickering to Elinore’s glass which was still mostly full.

“I’m not used to wine with dinner,” Elinore felt the need to say, her fingertips playing over the stem of her wine glass. She took a small sip. “But it’s very good.”

Hayter fixed his nephew with an expression that was both disdainful and smug at once. Elinore had another sip of wine. Perhaps she ought to take drinking up as a hobby if this was how dinners would be at Ravenwood. Caleb settled slightly in his chair, turning to face her again and giving her a small smile. It wasn’t as true and bright as his previous one had been - this was more polite and careful.

“If you like it, Miss Reed, then it was not a waste.”

“Fine delicacies are never wasted around me,” Hayter said, shooting back the remainder of his wine and snapping at the servant to fill his glass again. “I’ve a great many appetites.”

His words hung over the table and the rest of the meal passed in awkward near-silence. Elinore had no wish to engage Hayter in conversation and he and Caleb seemed to have no desire to talk with each other. The stew was spicy and she drank more wine than she’d ever had before. Her thoughts took on a floating, fleeting feeling and she could not quite grasp on to any of them.

Hayter suggested they retire to the parlor after dinner and she calculated that she would have to stay there for at least an hour before she could declare to be worn in from the day and make an escape. Hayter led the way and his manner clearly stated he expected to be followed. Her gait was still strange from the tightness of the corset and coupled with the wine she drank, she wobbled slightly on her way to the parlor. At one point, she stumbled and then felt Caleb’s hand on her elbow, pulling her back upright. Her eyes met his and he quickly pulled his hand away and looked ahead again.

Hayter pushed open the doors to the parlor and Elinore’s eyes darted around the room. The walls were unusually bare and it was obvious there used to be paintings hanging, but they’d been removed.

“You must forgive the lack of culture in this room. My brother and his wife had several paintings here. I found them not to my taste. I had them removed and am in the process of having something more suitable brought in.”

Elinore couldn’t help but glance at Caleb. Hayter was referring to Caleb’s parents and their things, but his tone was dismissive and almost cruel. Caleb’s face remained expressionless and Elinore wondered if perhaps he had not cared for the paintings either. Hayter had made his way over to a small pianoforte, tucked in one corner and stood by it expectantly. Elinore felt the first stirrings of dread in her stomach.