Disclaimer: I do not own Count Cain and made no money writing this.
Title: The Lucky White Fox; Chap.1 Fox Hunt.
Author: Kreuz Swords
Note: If you want to know more about Cain, visit my site at http://ccmysteries.myerk.com/ (rebuilding it with a partner). Lady Gwen Lawena is my character and also the plot. Humm…I guess I was watching too much animal planet and playing Clue.
On a warm and humid afternoon, Cain and his sister Merryweather were looking for their friend, Lady Gwen. Cain wandered around among the talking people and their neighing and stumping horses. He heard the fox hounds give out exited barks for the coming hunt. Cain stopped and reread the somewhat formal letter that arrived yesterday:
Dear Cain,
I am inviting you and your loved one's to Lord Willington's hunt party in the countryside that will be tomorrow at one. I took the liberty of saving you from the stuffy luncheon that I will have to attend. I am certain that you will enjoy the horse ride than boring conversations with other high borns. I shall wait for you by the stables.
Sincerely,
Gwen
Merryweather was still searching the crowd and finally spotted Gwen as she was riding toward them. Merryweather smiled with a giggle and recited:
Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a white horse.
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She shall have music wherever she goes.
Cain looked up from the letter and followed the direction of his sister's sight. He saw Lady Gwen as a vision all in white. Cain noted that she rode a white stallion with red trappings and was clad all in men's white hunting attire with a woman's hat on as her pale blonde hair was braided down the back while ridding sidesaddle. Cain also saw rings on her fingers and bell tinkled from her horse's bridle. He felt spellbound at the sight.
"Cain, I am glad you decided to come on my invitation to join the foxhunt. It brightens my day now to see you and your sister here," said Gwen was she reined in her horse next to Cain. Her horse butted his nose against Cain's chest. "Oh my, Sean is being friendly with you. He usually ignores other people. Sean must sense that you are a kind person inside."
Cain tried to push away the horse's affections and Merryweather laughed at his attempt. Gwen took pity on him and reined in Sean a bit to make him stop.
"Merryweather was very excited when I told her of your invitation and persuaded me to come. I am very reluctant to appear in very social parties due to my reputation of strangeness," said Cain.
"Do not worry, I will protect you from the nobles that rudely stare at you," and she winked a lilac eye.
Cain smiled and replied, "I will now feel safe under your protection my fair lady."
"Oh Cain, you are as charming as ever and I am just as bad you are!" and she chuckled.
Riff came up to them leading a gray gelding and a brown mare. "Master Cain here are the horses."
"Ah good, Riff." Cain took the reins and mounted the gray.
Riff helped Merryweather into her sidesaddle on the sweet natured mare. Cain sister dress in proper lady's red hunt attire while Cain was all in black with white shirt lace. She handled her mare nicely, but Cain discovered his horse was a little stubborn and he was not the best horseman.
The huntsman gave the horn signal for the hounds to hunt, and the hounds bounded off to find the sent of the fox. The lord of the master of the hunt yelled out that it was time to begin the hunt and trotted off. People followed in the same manner.
"Come Cain and Merryweather, let's compete for the lead and chase the wind!" Gwen's horse reared and galloped off.
Cain's sister trotted off after Gwen. Cain, on the other hand, was having trouble in making his horse move to follow. He tried talking and boot heals, but the gray refused to go.
Riff sighed and shook his head. He came up and swatted the gelding's rump a good one. Cain's horse dashed off with a surprised squeal while Cain hanged on for dear life.
Cain soon caught up and passed his sister. He spotted Gwen at the front. Cain was able to make his horse move up more until he was behind her while startling some of the other riders.
The hunting party followed the hounds through the England's countryside of fields and over fences of stones and brush. Cain was a little jarred everytime they had to jump. The hounds spotted the fox and the pace quickened. Gwen moved up to the very front. Cain was determine to keep up with her and urged forward. The hounds bayed after the fox as it gave a good chase. The crafty fox ran into brush and wooded area, and the hounds tried to follow into the thicket. Gwen brought her horse to a halt when she saw the brush. Cain was lucky enough to be able to do the same. Some other riders passed then and got tangled up in the thick brush. The huntsman's horn called in the hounds and the hunt ended as horses jammed up into a noisy mess. Merryweather was able to find her brother off to the side of the chaos.
"Such fools. They should know better not to run into a thicket that their horse cannot move in," said Lady Gwen.
"At lest the poor little fox luckily got away," said Cain's sister.
"A very smart fox indeed," agreed Cain.
The party got back together and went back to the country mansion. The three chatted about little things that happened from the last time they had met. They arrived latter at the stables. Riff and a girl came to assist the three. Merryweather dismounted with Riff's help and Cain came off on his own and handed Riff the rains. The brown haired girl lead Gwen's horse away as Riff followed her.
Gwen noticed Cain winced in discomfort as he straitens his legs. "I see you do not ride much. I shall send over to Riff some herbal lotion to rub on your legs to relieve some pain."
"I was taught how to ride a horse when I was young. But, I do not own a horse myself and I afraid my horse skills are rusty. Thank you for caring."
"Gwen, I will make sure that my brother uses your lotion. He is sometimes acts like a little kid and can be stubborn on taking medication."
"Merryweather, you did not have to tell her that!" Said Cain as he blushed.
"Do not worry Cain, your secret is safe with me. Well, I myself detest taking pills too." Gwen laughed a little and directed the way back to the mansion while Cain slowly followed with his sister.
Riff greeted them at the back doors and they separated to clean up for dinner. As Gwen promised, the girl came over to Cain's room and gave Riff the lotion. Cain did let Riff apply it and felt relieved. When they were ready, the three left the room and met Lady Gwen near the bottom of the stairs talking to an older gentleman with a goatee.
"Ah, there is your guest that you invited Lady Lawena," said the man.
"Ah, yes, let me introduce you to Count Hargreaves. Cain, this is our host Lord Willington."
"I am glad you came young chap," said Lord Willington.
"I did enjoy myself on the ride of the hunt," said Cain and thought, Why is he calling me young chap?
"A shame we got mixed up in that brush young chap."
Suddenly a high pitch shriek was heard and startled everyone in the hallway. Then a distressed maid came rushing out to the lord.
"Master Willington come quick, I found one of your guest dead in the library when I went to clean out the fireplace!"
Lord Willington hurried along with the maid to the library. Cain and Gwen chased after them as some of the guest followed. When they were in the library, a man without a coat was sprawled out on the floor near the fireplace. The dead man had a knife stabbed into his heart. Crimson blood was boldly seen on his white shirt.
"For all that is holy, it is Mr. White. Mrs. Plum go quickly to get one of the man servants to ride to get the police to come to my house!" said Lord Willington.
Then a male guest fainted in the back of the crowd. Some of the visitors tried to revive the black haired man. The lord pushed his way through his guests.
"What is going on? This is Mr. Kurtis. Let's take him to his room to recover from this awful scene!" Lord Willington and some people left. The rest grouped up and murmured to each other about murder.
Cain and Gwen moved a little closer to the body. Riff had a hold of Merryweather, and they stayed where they were.
"Oh my Cain, you do attract the strange misfortunes to you."
"Well, oddities are part of my reputation, which I mostly avoided to socialize with other people." Cain noticed a gold cufflink with a cross design close to the body. He was about to pick it up when lord Willington returned.
"Everyone please leave my library and go back to your rooms. You will be notified when dinner is arranged," and he motioned to his guest to leave.
Cain sighed, and he rejoined his sister and friend in the hall.
"I will see you three at the dinner table," said Gwen and she went back to her room.
Cain and his companions went up the stairs to return to their room.
Later, the police arrived and removed the body when they were finished searching the murder scene. They questioned the servants and the lord's family. By late evening, the police head officer told Lord Willington that they are leaving now, but an investigator will come in the morning to question the guests. Lord Willington informed his guests that dinner would start soon. The guests came down and sat at a long table in the dining room. They nervously talked with one another while they ate. Gwen was seated at Cain's left and Merryweather was his right as Riff served them their food.
"So Cain, I am guessing that you are staying for the night," and Gwen smiled.
"Most assuredly my Lady. We must see how this morbid situation will be played out."
Lady Gwen laughed and said, "Oh yes, to satisfy some of our eccentric habits."
"I was soo hoping for a normal week. Why do I have a strange brother?" complained Merryweather.
"Now, now, Merryweather. Your life would be too boring with me if I was normal," replied Cain teasingly.
Merryweather sticked her tongue out at her brother and went back to her dinner.
When dinner was finished, the four said their goodnight to each other with a promise meet for breakfast, and they went to bed.
TBC, review please and if you want to barrow my story, e-mail me at csunicorns@yahoo.com