The Count of Caudebec

II.

Screams...

Blood...

A dark shadow on the road.

A demon.

So cold...so, very cold. I cannot stay here, I must run! Run!

RUN!

~~~

At once I was roused from the dream by a knocking on the heavy chamber door.

"Yes, coming," I strangled out from my constricted throat, my body feeling heavy and strange.

Wrapping my shawl around the thin shift I wore to bed, I unlocked the door and saw a servant standing in the hall. Dressed in plain, gray wool and white linen, the servant didn't look like a housekeeper. No, she was young - perhaps early twenties - with complacent, hazel eyes.

"Mrs. Leroux invites you to the parlor for tea, ma'am," she recited plainly, making a swift exit down the corridor before I could reply.

How odd.

A little unusual; servants generally would be required to wait and then escort me to meeting place. Left by myself, I was comforted only by the fact that it was well past noon, and that I would not have to go too far to find this Mrs. Leroux. Closing my door, I immediately began to get dressed, unpacking my hairbrush to brush out the tangles from my long, brown hair. Noticing a little vanity with a mirror, I sat on the plush seat before it, allowing my mind to wander as the sturdy boar bristles pulled through each section. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw the door creaking open.

Did I not latch it?

Having the excuse of still being half asleep, I rose from the vanity and crossed the room, only to see the door snapped shut!

What on earth?!

Heart hammering against my ribs, I opened the door to find the hallway empty. A knot of unease settled deep in my gut. I was not the kind of person who 'saw things', I had grown out of children's tales long before I'd reached adulthood. All things fantastical and mythical had no place for me. Brushing off my alarm, I finished making myself look decent and left the room. It wasn't too difficult for me to find the parlor again, as I had tried to memorize the way last night, when the master had shown me to my chamber. Down a winding stairway and across several halls, I marvelled at the beauty of my new home. Rapping against the door as was polite, I waited until I heard an elderly woman's voice bidding me to enter.

"Welcome, Miss Dante. Or do you mind if I call you Marguerite? We have so few visitors here and it can sometimes get lonely. Oh, do come sit by the fire, dear. I didn't mean to leave you standing at the door."

Smiling brightly, Mrs. Leroux looked stately in her pressed black silk dress and white, lacey kerchief.

"Thank you, Mrs. Leroux," I replied as I closed the door behind me and took the seat across from her by the fireplace.

Glancing around the room, it looked so much less imposing in the light of day.

"How did you sleep, dear? I heard from the master that he found you quite precariously very early this morning?"

I smiled, thinking of the master's reaction when he first saw me.

"Yes, I'm afraid I might have startled him a bit."

Mrs. Leroux's eyes widened.

"I mean to say that, the driver met with an unfortunate accident and I had to walk the rest of the way."

"Oh, dear girl! Are you alright? What happened?"

Her shock surprised me. Hadn't she heard from the master?

"I'm all right, thank you, but the driver-"

"Has been found and is being taken care of," said a distinctly familiar voice.

Both Mrs. Leroux and I turned in our seats to see the master himself standing by the door. How had we not heard him enter? As was decorum, we both rose to curtsy in respect.

"Master Gabriel! I didn't see you standing there! Thank heavens the poor man is safe and sound. Miss Marguerite was just telling me that she walked all the way here from the road, poor thing."

The master looked displeased at her usage of his first name, no doubt a habit the housekeeper had cultivated over the years of his upbringing. I wondered then if she'd been employed when he was a child?

"Miss Dante," he pronounced, enunciating each syllable as if he were scolding me, "if you would come with me."

He bade me to follow as I thanked Mrs. Leroux once more before catching up with the mercurial count. Meandering through twists and turns, he led me into a study that I supposed was for his own private use. Unbidden, a thrill slithered down my spine at the thought of being alone with him. I had to fight down a blush as he turned to face me, leaning casually against his desk. His stance was plainly defensive, his arms crossed and one leg folded over the other, a hard look in his sharp eyes.

"Miss Dante," he said again in that patronizing tone, "I would appreciate it if you did not spread gossip amongst my servants."

Gossip?! Surely he was joking.

"Master...Roche, I apologize if I have offended you, but I do not recall having ever done such a thing."

I was careful to use his surname and not his given name, lest I prod the angry bear even further.

"And what," he began, stepping closer to me, "pray tell, were you talking about with my housekeeper just now?"

The underlying accusation was preposterous! I hadn't made up a thing - nor had I told Mrs. Leroux the gruesome details.

"I do not gossip," my voice was firm and I met his steely gaze, "sir."

Had we been this close a moment ago? I couldn't quite remember as all I could see now was his mouth. A light stubble shadowed the lower half of his face, his breath tickling my face as we stood only a foot apart. His eyes searched mine, either for lies or ill-intent, as if he were sizing me up. A moment later and he moved away from me to the other side of the room, by a window. He paced a few times like a tiger in a cage before stopping and looking back at me. Whatever answer he'd been looking for, he'd found it.

"You're right," he sighed, his tension leaving him, "you were only relaying what you knew. But know this; I do not want you talking of this to anyone, especially your new pupil."

"Evangeline?"

"Yes," his tone darkened, "her. You will not utter a word of this to anyone. There is no reason to scare the entire household over something that has already been handled. Do you understand?"

Scare? They should be scared! There was a rabid beast lurking along the roads! They should at the very least be warned. Somehow, I felt the master had less noble reasons as to why he didn't want anyone to know...

"Do I make myself clear, Miss Dante?"

I hesitantly spoke up, feeling not only belittled but a little suspicious.

"Forgive me, but I do not understand why it is you wish me to be silent? Is it not concerning to you that any one under your employ may be in danger? Or that of your charge? What if that - beast - attacks someone else?"

"Leave that to me, Miss Dante. I think I know what's best. Certainly not stirring up panic is also one of my duties as master of this estate."

He was close again. Very close. Clearly at an impasse, I knew I would have to compromise to keep on good terms with my new employer.

"Then, Master Roche, I trust you will do what is best."

Moving away from him toward the door, he stopped me.

"Swear."

I couldn't look back at him, knowing my confidence would evaporate.

"I swear," I acquiesced, "excuse me, Master Roche, I should be getting on to my lessons."

Before he could say anything else, I made a swift exit, finding my way back to where I hoped to still find Mrs. Leroux. Perhaps she could show me where I was to teach the girl I'd traveled across the country to teach. 

~~~