Ravenwood(56)

“Caleb said he’d send the doctor from Haleton and I’m sure we’ll hear good news about his progress,” Alice said, looking at her father fondly.

At Caleb’s name, Elinore’s heart beat a little faster. “Does he often stay away long?” she asked, wondering when he would return.

Alice thought about it. “Sometimes. I think he meets with people on behalf of Hayter. I think Hayter likes the important meetings, but sends Caleb for the check-ins or lesser meetings.”

“Of course,” Elinore murmured, not feeling at all surprised. Though her spirits had been lifted visiting Alice, the news that Caleb could be gone for longer than she’d thought made her heart sink in her chest. She forced a smile and changed the subject. “We should plot out the rest of our tale, if your father is up to hearing it,” she glanced at Thistle with a teasing look in her eye.

He gave the happy sigh of a beleaguered, but content father. “Listening to you two chatter is like listening to birds - bright and cheerful.” He paused. “And very high-pitched.”

Mrs. Thistlewaite came by a little after noon with some cut-up sandwiches and some of the spicy tea that just that morning, Hayter insisted they were out of. After their quick repast, Elinore and Alice left Thistle to rest and decided to enjoy the fresh air outside.

The air was crisp against the insides of her lungs and Elinore breathed it in deeply, smelling the moss from the forest, the horses in the stables, the grass under their feet and perhaps a touch of rain coming on the wind. She’d rather thought herself an urban girl before coming to Ravenwood, but now, standing outside and seeing the sprawling expanse of the estate, she wondered if perhaps she’d been rural in her heart all along. Alice snatched her hand and tugged at her, pulling Elinore into a light run, dashing for the stables. Once there, Alice showed Elinore where the sugar cubes and carrots were kept and they each took great big handfuls and made their way to the horses. Elinore recognized a few of the staff in the stables - Jonah, the young boy from earlier, and some other men whose names she did not know yet. They nodded at her, offering her tentative smiles, which she brightly returned. Her eyes were drawn by a pale grey horse with a white mane and she drifted toward it, pausing when it seemed to whinny and neigh as she got closer.

“It just takes a while for Storm to warm up, but she’s one of Caleb’s favorites. I daresay she’ll take to you as well.”

Elinore wasn’t sure what that had to do with it, but true to Jonah’s word, after a few more hoof stomps, Storm jerked her head one last time and then exhaled loudly through her nostrils.

“There you be. She’ll take some sugar from you now.”

Elinore spared a glance to Alice who appeared busy visiting a soft-faced foal hiding beneath its mother in another stall. Tentatively, Elinore moved closer to Storm, holding her hand out with the sugar cube. She almost jumped when she felt the soft, velvety touch of nostril on her palm, but stayed still until the mare had neatly and gently plucked two cubes from her hand. Elinore grinned at Jonah.

“We didn’t have horses in the city. I mean, I saw them pulling carriages and such. I’m not a stranger to them, but… not so close as this.”

Jonah cradled Storm’s face and ran a palm over it. “They’re lovely creatures. We like to train them young at Ravenwood. Get them used to things.”

“Like what?”

Jonah shrugged, looking away. “Just the way of things here. Some horses are too skittish to be Ravenwood horses.”

Elinore reached out and touched her fingertips to the short hairs on the horse’s muzzle. As her eyes wandered over the horse and then the stables, she noticed some carved figures on the frames of the doors. Ravens and wolves.

“Because of the wolves?” she asked suddenly. Jonah flinched at her words, watching her with careful eyes. Nervous, she continued, “Alice said Ravenwood has always drawn wolves.”

Jonah nodded slowly. “That it has, miss. That it has.”

Storm nudged her hand, a breath of hot air running over her skin and Jonah laughed.

“We’re not paying enough attention to her.”

Elinore grew slightly braver, running her hand over the soft muzzle of the horse, stepping in closer. “She’s beautiful.”

“Do you ride?”

Elinore laughed. “I’m not sure if you can call what I do ‘riding.’”

Jonah grinned in return. “If you’d like to give it a go, we’ll set you up right.”

Looking at Storm’s calm, serene face, Elinore wondered if she dared. She could go out on the grounds, maybe even the forest, ride among the trees and feel the wind in her face. The thought created a deep longing within her - not necessarily to ride, but just to be out in the woods. To be free.

“I’ll think on it.”

Spending a wonderful afternoon with Alice, visiting the stables and going for a walk, should have fortified Elinore for dinner with Hayter, however, she dreaded it. It passed similarly to breakfast with his hand lingering on her as he placed her chair, and then moments where he openly stared while she ate. The food was outstanding as always and Elinore was ravenous from her day outside, eating larger portions than she normally would. Hayter beamed, declaring it refreshing to see a woman with an appetite - as though she were eating for his pleasure. He reached out to pat her on the hand and she had the urge to snap at him - make a low sound or hunch over her food, like an animal in the wild. She took a calming breath and the urge passed. She told herself she was simply under a lot of stress, being constantly on her guard with him.