Ravenwood(38)

“Quite.”

“Working hard, are you? Or are you… distracted by pretty objects and shiny things?” Hayter stepped casually toward the desk, running his fingers languorously over a small statue of a wolf that was perched upon the corner. Hayter seemed pleased with himself for a moment, but then he inhaled sharply and turned his head quickly toward Elinore. She flinched at the force of his gaze and felt the sudden urge to cringe backward and perhaps cover her throat. But something else inside her resisted that urge and she met his gaze head on. He watched her for a moment, an unpleased expression on his face, before he looked back at Caleb. With a pointed look at Caleb that Elinore could not comprehend, Hayter pressed a finger against the wolf statue and knocked it over, so that the wolf lay on its side, belly bared.

Caleb scowled at his uncle, but did not say anything in return.

Hayter took a step over toward Elinore and she closed the book she’d been reading and again tucked it into the folds of the chair.

“I wish to take you outside for a walk. It looks to be a lovely day.”

The thought of going for a walk outside with Hayter did not appeal to Elinore in the slightest, but she plastered a smile on her face. His tone had not been that of a question.

“That would be lovely. I’ll grab my shawl.”

“No need. I’m sure I can keep you warm if you catch a chill,” Hayter answered. He presented his elbow to her and she rose from the chair, taking it gingerly, keeping herself a good distance from him even though she threaded her arm through his. He managed to tug her closer and wrap his other hand around her fingers, keeping her by his side.

“Enjoy your work, nephew.”

Elinore turned her head slightly as they left and saw Caleb still standing at the desk, his eyes watching them leave. She straightened her shoulders and matched her stride to Hayter’s as he swept them out of the library, down the hall and toward the front doors of the manor. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs that led upstairs, she tugged on her arm slightly, attempting to pull it from Hayter’s grasp. He tugged her back toward him sharply and she struggled to stay upright and not fall into him.

“I will need my boots. These shoes are hardly more than slippers.”

Hayter paused, looking down at her feet and frowning. He then reluctantly gave her a quick bow. “Of course. I’ll wait here.”

Elinore calmly and quite slowly made her way up the stairs and down the hall to her room. She swore she could feel Hayter’s impatience at her pace, but she vowed she would take as long as she liked to gather her things. She changed her shoes and then looked through her trunk, spying one of her shawls. Despite Hayter’s words about keeping her warm, or perhaps because of them, she gladly swung the heavy fabric over her shoulders and tucked it around herself.

Coming back down the stairs, even at a distance, she could see the slight scowl in Hayter’s expression when he took in her serviceable shawl. It was a drab shade, hardly fashionable, but it was her favorite and she’d had it for years. He presented his arm again, and she took it, allowing him to tug her closer again. It was a tiresome exercise, but Elinore had learned well that young ladies often had to pick their battles wisely. She’d won one by getting her shawl and had to concede another.

“I will have Mrs. Davenport look through Victoria’s things. I’m sure we can find you something far more lovely for you to wear than that.”

“That’s hardly necessary. This shawl is quite warm.”

“Nonsense. I’ll speak to Mrs. Davenport when we return.”

Elinore smiled tightly. “You’re too kind.”

Stepping outside, Elinore squinted at the bright morning sun. It promised to be a glorious day. The air was sharp and crisp and, as she inhaled, she thought she could almost smell that promise in the air. The stones beneath their feet made a lovely crunching sound as they walked and she found herself distracted by it. It seemed sharper and clearer than any sound she’d heard before. Hayter led her to a small, worn path on the grass, the hemline of her dress sucking up the dew of the morning like a thirsty desert traveler. Elinore normally waited for the dew to burn off before walking for just this reason.

“Lovely morning, isn’t it?” Hayter asked.

Elinore, schooled in the ways of pleasant conversation, managed a nod and a smile. “Quite. Do you get many rainy days here at Ravenwood?”

“The occasional storm. In the winter, the snow sometimes leaves us housebound for weeks, but we manage to entertain ourselves nevertheless.”

Across the expanse of the estate, Elinore could see the horse stables and when she turned her head, she thought for a moment she could almost hear the whinny and neighs of the animals inside. But she was too far away and it must have been her imagination.

“Have you many horses?” she asked.

She felt Hayter’s shoulder go up and down with his shrug. “I leave the stable work to my nephew. He’s more interested in animal husbandry than I am. I deal with the larger estate matters, investments and business items, if you will, and leave the mundane tasks to him.”

Elinore wondered if Hayter simply preferred to do the things he thought appeared more powerful, like dealing with money and men, and left the things he considered menial to his nephew. No doubt he thought it made him appear influential and important. Elinore thought it made him seem arrogant and supercilious.