CHAPTER 7: A Foe in the Woods

Eve slipped out of the house early the next morning to meet up with Sarah, as they had planned to the day before, for a walk along the river. Sarah's father was away on business, leaving her brother in charge of the house. He loved to sleep in late and Sarah found much freedom during her father's absence, usually slipping out in the morning with her mother's knowledge. With no maid or a man to keep an eye on her she was able to stay out as long as she wished, within reason. Her and Eve met each other in town and walked down the rocky path to a spot by the water where they could sit on the massive boulders and gossip.

"My father invited Mr. Villeneuve to stay with us for the week," Eve said as they stared at the water.

"The two of you made quite a lovely pair, " Sarah said boldly, "Though he is older than you and the both of you are on different sides when it comes to tempers and appearances."

"Apparently my father thinks so too," Eve said unenthusiastically.

"Oh dear goodness, he can't possibly be starting his old habits of matchmaking again?"

"I don't know. It might be that this time, he's just genuinely in need of male camaraderie."

"I believe your father just wants to catch up with his old friend. From what I've heard, they were good friends before the wars."

"Oh dear goodness, don't speak of war," Eve laughed, "It's all they talk about at the table during meals."

"The way Mr. Villenueve walks reminds me of a belligerent peacock strutting into battle," Sarah said randomly after a few moments of silence.

The two girls started laughing at the image Sarah had conjured up of the man. He did have a proud walk about him but he didn't really reflect it in his treatment of those around him. He was polite but he was most definitely not shy in the least bit.

"He did save me from a hard fall, though," Eve said after they finished laughing, "which I found to be very heroic."

"I'm sure his saving you is nothing compared to what he's done in war."

"I'm sure. They usually don't speak of the bloody details when I'm around. It must be too bad for my constitution, they think."

"Oh heaven forbid we hear what men talk about when we're not about," Sarah laughed.

...

Eve and Sarah parted ways in town. Eve briskly walked back down the path that led through the dense woods. It was very chilly that morning. Eve's cheeks were bright red as she walked against the snappy wind. Her hair was out of place and she kept picking up her pace to get home faster. Her cloak flapped in the wind and she tried to hold it against herself more. She longed for the nice day that had allowed her and Sarah to take an early picnic just a few days before. The trees may not have had their leaves at the time but it had been warmer than usual. Now Eve found herself huffing into her hands to keep them warm. The sun was shining beautifully at least, casting wonderful shadows of dancing branches onto the path. It was very quiet in the woods and Eve usually loved to escape there but on this chilly morning, she began to question why she wasn't at home, curled up in bed. She came to the conclusion that sarah was a maniac and desperately wished to get out of the house too much. She couldn't blame her, it could be very stuffy when one was forced to stay inside most of the time.

Eve heard something in the distance. A dog was barking. She stopped walking and listened for it again. She began to worry suddenly. She hoped it wasn't a hunting party, or, even worse, one of Lord Douglas' hunting dogs, which would mean he wasn't far away. She groaned to herself and kept walking down the path. She snapped a sharp twig off of the side of a tree as she walked by it in hopes that it would serve as a "weapon". The barking was growing closer but Eve kept walking. It wouldn't do her any good to stop. She heard a horse neigh behind her and that's when her worst nightmare came to be.

"It's a bit cold for you to be walking in the woods, Miss Cromwell," a deep voice sounded from behind her. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head in realization of who it was: Lord Douglas.

"I find it refreshing," Eve said. She waved her stick gently beside her, letting it brush against the small trees close to the path as she passed them.

"That's a bit strange, isn't it?" he joked. He thought it was funny.

"I'm a strange girl, Lord Douglas," Eve gently snapped back, looking up at him, "I assumed you already knew that, or, at least that's what you told my brother not too long ago."

He fell silent but didn't stop his horse. He looked down at her and tried to say something but she wasn't giving him the attention he wished she would.

"Come now, Miss Cromwell," he retaliated, "the are things a man says in jest from time to time. Perhaps a little forgiveness would let us live in peace?"

Eve looked away and didn't respond to him.

"That was years ago," he laughed, "I was merely cracking a joke with your brother."

"Oh, what a hilarious joke it was," she said sarcastically.

The woods cleared away and Eve saw her home from atop the hill. She stepped off the path, hoping she would get home quicker, thus freeing herself from Lord Douglas sooner. She could have just waited to walk a couple hundred more yards to where the path bent into a fork and led to her home but she wasn't extremely patient in situations like these. She didn't realize that the ground was beginning to thaw, making the soil on the hill soft. She realized her mistake too late and lost her footing when the heel of her shoe stuck into the ground…

...

Mrs. Cabbett was looking out the window from Eve's room as she tidied up a bit. It was nearly nine in the morning and Mr. Cromwell would be awake soon. She hoped Eve would be home before he was up. He would badger Mrs. Cabbett with too many questions is he didn't see his daughter that morning, playing at the piano forte as usual. Even though he meant well, it was very annoying. She strained her eyes to see the small figure in a dark green cloak walking on the path up the hill, followed by man on a horse. She let out a little gasp when she realized who it was but when she saw Eve tumble suddenly, Mrs. Cabbett dashed out of Eve's room and rushed down the stairs, throwing the door open.

...

Eve tumbled quite hard. When she came to a stop, she was on her back. She sat up and winced in pain, looking down at her feet. She gasped to catch her breath as her heart beat rapidly. Her shoe had slipped off and her ankle was in pain. She glared over at Lord Douglas, who had thrown himself off his horse to retrieve her shoe. He jogged over to her and offered it back. She didn't take it and instead grabbed her ankle to examine it. It was sprained but thankfully not broken. She realized Lord Douglas was knelt beside her, looking at her ankle too. He put her shoe in his pocket and, despite her objections, picked her up, placing her on his horse. She could grumble all she wished, but he wasn't going to let it get in the way of his chance to show her he could be a gentleman. He mounted the horse and sat behind her. He, of course, took the opportunity that was presented to him, to put his arms around her, quite happily. She painstakingly endured the uncomfortable horsehide to the manor very quietly, knowing that if she started yelling at him or tried to slap him, she might spook the horse and then she'd be even more injured. She saw Mrs. cabbett running up the path, flailing her arms. She caught her breath as she walked next to the horse and looked up at Eve, who looked very rigid and cramped.

Mrs. Cabbett knew how much Eve hated Lord Douglas. It always came up whenever her father would mention him as a possible husband for her. She could feel the tension between Eve and her "rescuer". Mrs. Cabbett stood by, wishing to help, when Lord Douglas stopped his horse. Eve reluctantly took his hand and let him carry her but Jean suddenly came running from the stables with her father.

Jean could see the pinched look on Eve's face and then saw Lord Douglas. Their history was also a tumultuous one, Eve would discover later, which pained her to no end with questions and wonderment until the night Jean told her. She could see a sudden hatred in Jean's eyes. It was like a hot coal had suddenly fallen out of him.

"I wouldn't wish to keep you from your business in town," Jean lied, "I'll take it from here."

"Oh no, Mr. Villeneuve," Lord Douglas replied, "you should know me well enough to realize that business waits for me."

"I'll take her," Jean said with an undertone of force.

Eve's eyes were jetting back and forth between them. She was hoping Jean would just take her and leave Lord Douglas outside. After the two men glared at one another for what seemed an eternity, Lord Douglas relented and gave her to Jean. Eve watched the man she so loathed walk away but when he turned around to say something to her, she kept herself from groaning.

"I will check up on you tomorrow, Miss Cromwell," he said politely as he tipped his hat to everyone. With one last glare farewell towards Jean, he rode off. Jean felt Eve relax as the man rode away. However, it was no time to worry about histories between people. Eve's ankle was hurt and they needed to get her inside and away from the cold.