Ravenwood(51)

Alice and her mother were obviously close and it made a thick lump grow heavy in Elinore’s throat, even as she smiled at the two women. Alice kept up a steady stream about the novel she was currently reading, enrapturing the table with her bright expressions and keen emotions. Mrs. Thistlewaite bore a patient, indulgent expression and, when Alice finally took a break to breathe, asked after Alice’s studies in maths, English and history. Alice’s posture slumped and she admitted she’d been neglecting her work. Elinore asked the young stable hand, Theodore, how he found his chores in the stables and he seemed delighted to be included in their small gathering, and even happier when the women all listened to him talk about his love of horses.

Another member of the stable staff drifted in some time after dinner when they were still chatting in the small kitchen, and then one of the maids and then one of the footmen. Elinore could hardly believe it when Mrs. Thistlewaite noted it was far past Alice’s bedtime and they should all be abed if they wanted to rise early on the morrow. Elinore was sad to leave the cozy kitchen with its warm chatter, but everyone started drifting away, one of the stable boys snatching a handful of biscuits before he left. Realizing he’d been seen by Elinore, his eyes went wide and she thought he might either drop the biscuits or put them back. She held a finger to her lips, the well-known gesture for being silent and smiled at him, making a shooing motion with her other hand. She doubted Mrs. Thistlewaite would begrudge him the snack.

Mrs. Davenport came with her up to her room, checking on her wounds again, tut-tutting at finding them black.

“I should have asked Mr. Caleb to get me some more herbs from Haleton on his trip,” the housekeeper said as she applied yet another layer of the foul-smelling poultice.

“Do you think he’ll be gone long?” Elinore asked, not bothering to pretend she wasn’t desperate to know.

Mrs. Davenport looked up at her with mischief in her eyes. “Find yourself missing him already, do you?”

“Oh,” Elinore breathed, looking away, feeling her cheeks flush. “I mean, as much as I should miss anyone at Ravenwood, I suppose.”

“Hmm.” Mrs. Davenport cleaned up her supplies, a smile on her lips.

“He is posting some letters for me and I hope he’s had no trouble with them.”

“Yes, I’m sure you’re quite worried about your letters and not at all about his handsome face.”

Elinore smiled, unable to keep herself from doing so. Her cheeks felt even hotter and she glanced up to see Mrs. Davenport grinning as well.

“He is very handsome,” Elinore admitted. “And kind.” Elinore sighed. “And not at all like his uncle.”

Mrs. Davenport’s smile faded. “No. No, I daresay he’s not. But in some ways, that’s a pity.”

Elinore was surprised by her words. “Why?”

Mrs. Davenport only shook her head and cleaned up the rest of her tray. “It’s late and I’ve chores to do tomorrow. And you should be getting to sleep yourself.” She left without saying anything more, leaving Elinore feeling like her words were hanging in the air, heavy and thick.

She thought perhaps the happy company she’d shared in the kitchen would keep her dreams at bay, but once asleep, she still found herself in the forest. The white wolf trotted out of the thick wooded area and came to rest at Elinore’s side, pushing its head into her leg. Elinore lowered her hand and trailed it through the thick fur, marveling at its softness. The white wolf preened, a low sound of contentment coming from its throat. Petting the wolf was soothing and peaceful. Elinore thought she could spend hours in the forest with the wolf and be happy.

A wolf howl broke through her calm feelings and she frowned as she stared into the deep, dark forest. The sound was off. Discordant and out of tune, just as it had been before. It surrounded her, coming at her from all sides. She wanted to run, but something about the sound made her instead move deeper into the forest. The white wolf nipped at her fingers, as if trying to keep her still. She shivered as she heard the howling again.

Strangely, she awoke - confused, but alert. The howling still echoing in her ear. No, that wasn’t right, she thought. She really was hearing it. Her eyes darted toward the window. That was why the sound had seemed so strange in her dream. It was real. She kicked off the covers and headed to the slightly open window. The moon was not yet full and gave little light. From her window on the second floor of the manor, she didn’t know what she expected to see. Still, her eyes roved over the darkness, looking for… something. The howl came again and the sound went to her bones. Unthinking, she grabbed her robe, throwing it over her nightgown and rushed from her room, down the stairs of the main hallway and out the front door of the manor.

Outside, the ground was sharp and cold on her bare feet. She moved further from the manor and closer to the trees. Elinore didn’t know what she was doing outside, only that she had to come, she had to try and get closer to the sound. Awful, hideous and tuneless as it was, she felt compelled to follow it. Was it the wolf from this afternoon? What if it was the feral one that bit her? Her steps slowed as she moved further from the manor, closer to the forest. She was outside, in her robe, barefoot, with neither a light nor anything with which to defend herself. What on earth was she thinking?

She turned her head slightly, listening in the direction of the forest. Waiting for… something. Another howl? Something else? She didn’t know.