Chapter 7 – Nicholas Wilde

As the days turned into weeks, Judy slowly settled in at Casterly as a member. While she was embraced by everyone there, Sophie most of all, having taken to the doe instantly; a feeling of unknown uneasiness seemed to linger within its dark halls. The autumn cold was welcoming winter to the valley early this year.

"Dear..." Mrs. Otterton called out as she emerged to an unsuspecting Judy around a corner, fastening a warm cloak over her shoulders.

"What?" Judy, emerging out of her daydream, looked over to Mrs. Otterton. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"Yes, dear," Mrs. Otterton fastened her house keys to her waist. "I overheard Tabitha and Mary talking downstairs a moment ago. So I wanted to catch you before you stepped out." The aged otter approached a small entry table and retrieved three envelopes. "Now, I know it's your half-day off, but would you be a dear and place these for me in the post box in the village?" The village of Beaverton was small by many standards but highly functional, encompassing the county, which Casterly oversaw and maintained. Connected by rail and river systems, the village was the primary source of commerce and agriculture for many mammals in the area.

Not finding this a problem, Judy placed the letters from the housekeeper in her cloak pocket. "Of course not. Is there anything you wish me to pick up in the village while I'm there?"

"No, all the deliveries have been received for the week." Mrs. Otterton replied as she walked over to open the door for Judy. "Now, enjoy your time off, dear. But please be careful on your return. I have noticed the evening fog getting too heavy this past week."

Judy, assuring her that she would be extra careful, thanked her and proceeded along the gravel path toward the gate.

Walking along the now-familiar road, she paused to skip a small rock along a shallow brook that shadowed the road halfway from the manor. She could feel the cold, wet ground pressing into the footpads she wore over her feet, passing a clear view of the village. She enjoyed listening to the sounds of the slow-running water nearby as the chilly afternoon brushed along treetops.

Caught by surprise by the sight of a pair of older red pandas, Judy slowed as she approached what appeared to be an older couple, off on a walk, and turned onto the lane. "Good afternoon," Judy called out to the couple who were close to her. One of them, hearing her, turned back to look at her.

"Well, hello there." The female panda replied as she and her partner stopped walking.

"Are you both heading into the village?" Judy asked, narrowing the gap.

"Oh, no, young miss." The male panda spoke for the first time. "We are on our way to call on an old friend a little down the road there." He pointed along the road.

"Would you mind if I were to walk with you for a time?" Judy asked politely.

The female panda smiled at the young doe as she clutched her partner's arm as they all continued on their way. "We would be delighted, my dear." The female panda eyeing Judy carefully whispered something in her partner's ear before addressing her. "It is always nice to meet others from the area. But, I think I have seen you before, Miss..." She asked.

"Hopps, Judith Hopps," Judy answered her. "But everyone mostly calls me Judy, and you are?"

"Judy, it is then." The female smiled at her. "Grace Malaya, my dear." She introduced herself. "Oh yes, now I remember, it was down in the village sometime last week when I saw you. This is my husband, George."

It was then her husband spoke once again. "Where is it you reside, my dear?"

"I'm employed as a governess up at Casterly Manor." Judy, adjusting her cloak a little tighter, answered.

"Lord Wilde's place. He has a kit?" Mr. Malaya asked questioningly, looking at his wife, shocked by this new information. "I never knew of such a thing."

"I'm the governess to Mr. Wilde's ward. From what I've been told, the young vixen arrived at the manor some time ago after her mother's death.

"Oh, stop being so noisy, George." Grace slapped her husband on the shoulder playfully before addressing Judy again. "Well, I'm pretty sure Mr. Wilde is delighted to have you looking after the young vixen for him. He is a very honorable mammal, would you not agree?"

Judy, unsure how to best answer that, hesitated before answering, "I have not had the pleasure of meeting him face to face as of yet." She turned her head away from the Malaya's. "He has not been home since I took up the post. Mrs. Otterton, the housekeeper, was the one who answered my advertisement." Her mind started to wander after finishing these words. She thought of when she would finally meet with the mysterious Mr. Wilde.

As the small party approached a slight fork in the road, the Malaya's shifted to the right of the fork. Mrs. Malay looked back at Judy saying, "Meeting you, Judy, has been such a delight. I do hope we will see each other again." She waved back to Judy, who continued down toward the village. Judy, delighted by the time spent with the couple, waved back.

A few hours later, Judy slowly emerged from one of the smaller seamstress establishments in the village, owned by a pair of cheery female mice. The store was quite popular within the local community, called Perla & Suzy Trimmings. After ensuring the letters given to her earlier by Mrs. Otterton had been received by the postal clerk, she began to make her return trip back to the manor. The now solitary doe seemed to walk more cautiously as an early evening dense fog seemed to have descended on the area. Peering around her surroundings, Judy, her ears raised to their full height, ventured along the empty lane, listening carefully. As she neared a slight bend in the road, boarding the familiar brook from earlier, a soft squeak seemed to echo through the fog. Judy, unsure of the sound, paused for a moment as she gazed around herself.

A faint, almost creaking sound followed by silence repeated as the sound grew more ominous. "Where?" She asked herself as fear from the unknown noises caused her to freeze where she stood. The doe turned her head back over her shoulder, desperate to discover the sound approaching her by the second. Her heart racing, she listened to what sounded almost like a clicking echo as if metal was striking over something. Quickly ascertaining the sound source, Judy spun on the spot as a form suddenly emerged before her.

Powerless to move, Judy, frozen with fear, gave a short scream as the figure, unaware of her at the moment, emerged into view. A red fox tod, riding a dark-colored, medium-mammal-sized bicycle, suddenly jerked in fright, altering his course. The reaction caused the tod to swerve off the road and fall into the shallow brook. The fox, dressed in a charcoal gray tweed suit, hitting the chilly water, collapsed under the weight of the bicycle, his tweed pants instantly becoming soaked. Judy, unsure what to do, covered her mouth in shock. "Damn it too hell!" the tod shouted as he struggled to lift the bicycle off himself. Slipping a little on the brook's bottom, he felt a slight pain in his right rear foot as he collapsed again.

"Are you alright, sir?" Judy spoke as she approached and watched the fox struggle to stand.

"Does it look to you as if I'm alright?" The tod shouted back at her. "Well, are you just going to stand here like an idiot, or will you help me?" Rising to his full height, he struggled to put weight on his now-injured foot. Judy, rushing to the water's edge, reached out with her paw to help support the fox as he steadied himself. "What in god's name were you doing, standing in the middle of the lane in the fog? Are you some deranged mammal? He continued to shout.

"Would you like me to fetch you some help, sir?" Judy asked as she guided the tod onto the grassy area along the lane. "You may have broken something from your fall and..."

"God, no!" The tod replied, letting go of her, struggling to add more weight to his foot as he lifted his tail and began to shake it free of water.

"I live just up the way at Casterly Manor, sir." Judy took a few steps back as she watched him. "I could rush back with someone."

"It's only a sprain, you foolish doe. There is no need to cause more fuss than it already is." He spoke back to her as he bent down to pick up his bicycle. Reaching into his coat pocket, he withdrew a handkerchief, wrapped it around his ankle, and tied it tightly. For a moment, he said nothing but looked over at the doe bunny. Judy, her face showing anger and hostility toward the rude fox, crossed her arms in silence. "And just how long has a bunny like yourself lived at Casterly?" The fox tod asked.

"Since I took up the post as a governess there," Judy replied overbearing, her left brow raised. "Is this how one would talk to someone who helps another?"

The tod, amazed at how the doe spoke to him, smirked as he moved the bicycle back along the lane. "Well, you will forgive me then, Miss. But may I ask, what is a governess doing in the middle of the lane on a foggy evening like this?"

"Walking, sir." She answered back a little more strongly than she may have wanted to.

Not wishing to delay his travel further, the tod looked around himself. "Well then, miss, before you finish your walk this evening, would you be so kind as to pick up my briefcase satchel" It's just there, next to where you are." The tod pointed along the grass.

"Certainly," Judy mumbled angrily, a few words under her breath as she bent down and picked up the satchel before walking over to the fox and handing it to him. The pair stood there, wordlessly gazing at each other for a second. Judy suddenly noticed the handsome emerald green color of the tod's eyes for the first time.

"Thank you." the tod replied, taking the satchel and securing it back to the bike. Mounting the bicycle, careful not to injure the ankle further, the fox pushed off and steadied himself as he peddled slower along the lane. Judy silently watched as the tod took one last glance back at her before being consumed again by the fog, his reddish tail vanishing last.

Her mouth slightly open, Judy stood there, thinking back at what had just transpired. She took a few slow, deep breaths with a paw held against her heart. An unfamiliar sensation forced her to close her eyes as she struggled to clear her mind. "What is wrong with you?" Judy asked herself, resuming her walk as the handsome emerald eyes seemed to return to her thoughts.

Across the open wrought iron gates twenty minutes later, Judy noticed something out of place with the manor as she drew closer. She saw two house staff run and dash inside along the gravel driveway leading up to the house. It appeared as if the whole manor was alive within. Reaching the front doorway, slowly untying her cloak from her shoulders, Judy halted after crossing into the foyer. Never before had she seen the staff members act in such a way, hurrying in and out of multiple locations. Judy listened as Mrs. Otterton's words seemed to echo around her, calling out instructions to everyone.

"Tabitha, go find Fran and have her make up the fire in the bedroom. Tell her to take the coal from the library tonight." Mrs. Otterton emerged from the hallway as the young rabbit acknowledged the order. "Oh, wait, Tabitha, dear, after you have found Fran, he also wants to see Sophie."

"But she's bathing," Tabitha called back to the housekeeper halfway along the main stairs. A look of confusion on her face. "Ms. Hopps instructed that she turn in early for tomorrow..."

"Well, get her out and dry her off, you silly doe. Just get her downstairs as soon as possible." Mrs. Otterton ordered, sounding irritated and exhausted. "I'll talk to Ms. Hopps whenever she arrives back." The aged otter turned to cross the room when she saw Judy appear before her. A sense of relief flushed over her face. "Ms. Hopps, thank the lord," She said before eyeing the male timber wolf out of her eye. "Gregory! Bring the dinner tray straight into the drawing room when ready." After nodding wordlessly, Gregory turned and disappeared through the servant's door to the kitchen. Mrs. Otterton turned her attention back on Judy and hurried over to her, looking exhausted. "Ms. Hopps, Mr. Wilde arrived home while you were out." She ran a paw over her head and scratched behind one of her ears. "He is requesting you to meet with him. I told him you were out at the moment due to it being your half-day today." She placed her paw along Judy's back as the pair moved together. "He said he was firmly set on waiting for you on your return. So I suggest you change and freshen up before seeing him.

"Mr. Wilde has returned home?" Judy spoke, her mind suddenly returning to her encounter earlier, "No, it can't be possible?" She told herself.

"Yes, dear," Mrs. Otterton replied, "That's what I just said." with a confused look on her face. "But I must warn you, Ms. Hopps, he is in quite a state now." The otter sighed at her own words. "On his way home, he took a curve in the lane too fast and lost control of his bike. Apparently, from what he has said, he crashed into the brook and injured his ankle. Judy, her heart racing at hearing this, stood there in disbelief. "I'm about to put in a call to the doctor." Mrs. Otterton carried on. "He can come by in the morning and check to ensure nothing else may be wrong with him." Rushing off, leaving Judy alone, the aged otter crossed back toward the door leading to her office. Looking back at Judy, Mrs. Otterton called out, "When you are ready, Mr. Wilde is sitting in the main living room, off the drawing room, dear." before disappearing.

Frozen to where she stood, Judy blinked as she stared about, unable to think what to do next. Dressed in one of her many simple dark gray day dresses, she looked down at it. "No need to freshen up." She thought to herself. Her attire was the least of her worries if he indeed was the same tod she had caused to crash earlier. "But it can't be true; it just can't be!" her mind shouted. "What have I done?" Smoothing out her dress, she clasped her paws together as she entered the now familiar drawing room and crossed to a set of slightly opened wooden pocket doors. She reached out and slid one of the doors open to step inside the main living room. "Hello, Mr. Wilde?" She called out, finding the space poorly illuminated for her own eyes as she took a moment to search for her employer.

"Ah, yes, it's not the helpful governess, Ms. Judith Hopps." A familiar male voice spoke within the room. "Well, come in, come in, don't just stand huddled by the door. I won't bite you." Nick called to her, seated in a high-backed chair near a roaring fire.

"Maybe not, but you may deceive me again, sir. It would not be the first time today, by your prior actions." Judy spoke as she moved away from the door and toward the sound of Nick's voice.

"That was not my mission, Ms. Hopps, I can assure you." Nick shifted slightly in the chair to see her as she approached him. "I was angry at you for freighting me half to death.

"Why? I was simply only walking..." Judy answered firmly before being cut off by Nick.

"Yes, walking in the middle of the lane, in the fog." He raised his voice. "Enough, it's done now. Sit down." Judy listened as he barked the command, disgusted by his tone to her. Not wishing to say anything that may anger him further, she bit her tongue and took a seat a distance away from him, next to a small end table by one of the room's windows. "No, not over there. Over here on the canapé, where I can see you properly." Again, he ordered out to her, pointing to a dark fabric sofa nearby.

Rising from her spot, Judy slowly walked over and sat as far away as she could on the sofa, her eyes averted to hide the anger burning in them. Resting his foot on a footstool, supported under a pillow, she felt a slight relief that he was taking care to ensure he took as much weight off it as possible. Unable to help herself, displeased by his rudeness, Judy glanced over at Nick's injured foot.

The two of them, silent toward one another, continued to sit tranquil in their company for a short time. Nick, ever watching, studied her from his seat as Judy stared into the crackling fire, its glowing embers dancing and landing on the hearth. "So...tell me, Ms. Hopps," Nick spoke. "Where did you come from before you were hired?"

"Ravenswood, sir." Judy gave him a short reply. "Up in the northern district." She turned to look at him and was caught in his intoxicating emerald eyes. "I placed an advertisement, and Mrs. Otterton graciously accepted me for the position here."

"Indeed, from what Mrs. Otterton has said of you in her letters," Nick replied, rubbing his cheek. "Well, I do hope you are qualified for the position." He adjusted himself in the chair, his voice sounding questionable as he continued. "Ravenswood, you say. No doubt you have to been filled with that late old buffalo's butt, heavy religious teachings, and such, I'm sure." An instant look of surprise appeared on Judy's face at hearing these words. "Yes, I know all about this so-called school, Ravenswood." A smirk formed on Nick's face, seeing Judy's reaction. "That Rev. Bogo, when he was still alive as headmaster. My father always said the mammal thought of himself as nothing less than a saint, which I'm sure you agree with."

"You are mistaken, Mr. Wilde, if you think so." Judy addressed him. "I thoroughly despised the mammal and everything he stood for. Cold and impious, his so-called methods toward learning were disgraceful, let alone his manner in faith.

His brows raised in surprise at this. "Careful now. That sounds a lot like blasphemy." Nick laughed as two heavy knocks could be heard from the adjoining room's pocket doors. "Yes?" Nick called out to whoever was there. Remaining seated, the pair noticed Gregory enter and walked over to where Nick was sitting, followed shortly behind by Mrs. Otterton. "Thank you, Greg," He motioned to the footman to a small stand beside his chair. "You can put my tray down here." Judy noticed as Nick lifted a familiar-looking folder off the table and set it on his lap. After removing a dome cover, Greg put the tray containing a bowl of thick corn chowder beside Nick. With the sweet smell filling the area around them, Judy's stomach let out a slight growl, having missed dinner herself.

"Thank you, Gregory," Mrs. Otterton spoke softly, ushering the timber wolf out. "I can handle everything from here."

"No need to trouble yourself, Mrs. Otterton. I'm capable enough to eat my dinner without your assistance." Nick observed the aged otter as she was about to place a large cloth napkin across him.

Holding the napkin, she stood there, unsure what to do next. "If you are sure?" She turned to smile over at Judy. "I do hope you are finding Ms. Hopps a suitable mammal? I thank the Lord for blessing us with her since she arrived."

Nick, his eyes shifty to Judy, smirked again at these words. "I will still be the judge of that, Mrs. Otterton. Ms. Hopps has already bestowed some of her character on me earlier." Mrs. Otterton, with a now blank look on her face, looked at Nick and then back to Judy, confused at what had been said. Clearing his throat, Nick took this opportunity to eat a spoonful of the thick chowder soup. Wiping his mouth with a finger, he motioned for the napkin in the otter's paws. "You see, Mrs. Otterton, Ms. Hopps here is the reason for this sprain you see before you." He moved a soft, swaying paw toward his propped-up foot. His eyes fixed on Judy; he was not disappointed as he saw a look of concern appear on her face. "Will you check on Sophie for me, Mrs. Otterton?"

"Y...Yes, sir." Mrs. Otterton spoke cautiously, her eyes fixed heavily on Judy as she struggled to comprehend what Nick had just said. "I'll check to see where Tabitha is with her." On the verge of saying something further, the aged female otter remained silent as she turned to leave the room.

Before speaking, Nick waited a few moments, ensuring they were alone again. "I was taken somewhat aback when I came upon this earlier after arriving home," Nick said as he opened the somewhat worn folder he had placed on his lap earlier. "When I was returning a few books to the library." He began to flip through what appeared to be a stack of paw-drawn pictures. "Would it be correct that these are yours, Ms. Hopps?" He stopped at one of the last pictures. "This one, in particular, is quite well done." Judy, silent and disgusted by how he handled her work, felt nothing toward him. She watched as he revealed the sketch of her long-dead friend, Gazelle. "But I feel it seems lacking in something."

Setting the sketch back into the folder and closing it, he lazily set it on the floor beside him. "Mrs. Otterton, in her letters to me, had said several good things about your lessons with Sophie. But tell me, what subjects are you qualified in?"

Her paws held tight together in her lap; Judy moved her shoulders back as she spoke, "I've taught young mammals in classes of no more than ten, Mr. Wilde. But to answer your question, sir, I have studied and have been qualified in history, geography, music, art, and mathematics."

"Very impressive, I must say." Nick continued to gaze at her.

"It's not a means to impress, sir," Judy replied. "It's a fact and nothing more."

"Is it now? A fact, you say?" Nick blinked as he thought for a second. "So, do you play?"

Judy, caught off guard by this question, said nothing for a moment before saying, "A little."

Smirking back at her, Nick said, "Yes, all young females are trained to say that. Well, go on then, play a little for me." He waved his paw over toward a medium-sized pianoforte nearby. "Please," He directed her toward it. "Show me."

Hesitant, Judy rose and walked over to the highly polished wood pianoforte. Unsure of what melody to play, she adjusted the hem of her dress. Judy then remembered the first piece she had learned while a student at Ravenswood. With a slow, deep breath, she began to play. Nick leaned back in his chair and listened to the soft melody as the doe played for him. An honest smile formed as his ears flexed to hear each note played.

"Mr. Wilde!" Sophie's cheerful voice suddenly called out in the room as the young vixen rushed to where Nick sat. "Your home!" Judy suddenly stopped playing as she watched both foxes greet each other.

"Ah, there she is, our little snowball herself." Nick's arms held out and caught Sophie as she jumped onto his lap. Both foxes laughed at one another. "Mind the leg, Sophie. I had a slight misfortune on my way back to the manor." Nick helped Sophie adjust herself in the chair with him. Not stopping, Judy could only smile at the scene before her. Sophie wrapped her paws around Nick's neck as she settled down, placing her head on his chest. Realizing only then that the music had stopped, Nick looked over to Judy. "Continue with your playing, Ms. Hopps," Nick ordered before turning his attention back to Sophie. "So tell me. Have you been a good little kit while I was away?"

"Yes, Mr. Wilde, I have." Sophie laughed. "Ms. Hopps is the best, and I have learned so much from her lessons." Sophie, eyeing Judy, gave her a quick wink, causing the doe to look down as she grinned.

As time passed, Nick, describing his recent adventure with the young vixen, Judy closed the cover over the pianoforte keys after the last few notes from Judy's recent melody finished. She chose to remain seated where she was. Waiting for a few minutes, both foxes engaged with one another; Judy rose and turned to leave.

"Where are you off to now, Ms. Hopps?" Nick's voice called behind her.

Judy, turning around, looked back at Nick and Sophie. "To my room, sir."

"I see," Nick glanced at Sophie and at her. "Getting tired of our company already, are you?" The young vixen giggled at this joke as he smiled at her. Nick looked up and addressed Judy, "Very well, it appears you do only play a little. But never mind, you may go." Nick waved his paw lightly at her, giving her leave to go.

"Goodnight, sir," Judy replied, turning toward the sliding door and walking toward it. As she was about to leave the room, familiar miniature dark grey paws encircled her chest.

Unheard by Judy, Sophie had rushed from where she was with Nick and embraced the grey doe from the back. "Goodnight, Ms. Hopps." Judy felt the soft fur of the young vixen press on her.

Judy turned around as Sophie released her; her eyes swelled with tears at the vixen's affection. She ran a paw along the side of Sophie's cheek. "Goodnight." She took a moment and glanced over toward Nick, noticing again his emerald eyes gazing back at her. Judy felt her heart again race within her, her cheeks flushing slightly. Judy turned back to Sophie. "Don't stay up too late, young lady. Sleep well." Letting go of the young vixen, she kissed her on the top of the head before exiting the room and returning to the foyer.

As the doe crossed the foyer, she stopped before the room's full mirror hanging from the wall. Judy glanced at herself, noticing how flushed her cheek seemed for the first time. She slowly touched her face, moving her paw from one side. Lowering her paw along her chest, she remembered when she and Nick gazed at each other moments before. The feeling of her heart racing within her at the sight of his eyes staring back at her. Her ears dropping behind her, she shook her head, desperate to rid herself of this newly awoken emotion. "What is happening to yourself?" She said out loud. Thinking of Nick suddenly, she forced his face out of her mind, handsome as it may be for a predator. "You are a simple doe, far below his status. He is your employer and nothing more." She turned and climbed the staircase to the second floor and her room.