Flutter

Flutter: Six

And so, the wicked wolf fell upon Little Red Riding Hood, and ate her all up                        

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

That week and the next passed in the same fashion for Nora.  The routine was: wake up, have breakfast, entertain the children, have dinner, repeat. The weekend passed similarly to that. Quinton would trap himself in the office until Monday and when he did show his face, it seemed that his mouth was always in a firm, grim line. Nora was content at first. She was more than happy to keep Quinton at bay. However, life seemed a bit humdrum.

On a Friday Nora had asked to be excused after dinner, claiming that she was tired. She was tired, (not physically), but definitely tired of the routine she'd found herself in. 'Is this all there is?' Nora wondered, while curled up on her bed, listening to the rain hitting her window pane. It's not like the house was devoid of things to do, but what was available wasn't of interest to Nora. Plus, not being off the property for two weeks was unnerving. Gillians was a gorgeous estate but there had to more to life than a couple of acres.

Nora rolled over onto her back and huffed. There was no one she could truly communicate with here. The children were darling but they were just kids. Nora had befriended Mary and a few other maids, but they could only chit-chat for a moment before taking off to dust or mop. The only time Nora could have conversation was after dinner with Blaine, but Quinton was always interrupting them. She'd talked to her father and brother recently and talking to them made her realize how deeply she missed Wicks and her old life. In Wicks there was deep fellowship and community.  Back at Wicks, the week she was leaving, people had told her how fascinating life here was going to be and that she'd be privy to things she'd never imagined. 

They didn't know how wrong they were.

Nora sat up, frustrated.  Nora couldn't let this be her life. Tomorrow, she was going to take the kids and go visit to the nearby town. Mary did say after all that this wasn't a prison. Nora knew though that she'd have to talk to Blaine and Catherine first, just to get their o.k. . Glancing at the clock, Nora saw that it was ten o'clock and they'd probably be heading to bed now. She figured she could catch them now before they settled into bed.

Nora stood up and wrapped herself in her robe. She swept her hair into a bun and went to exit the bedroom.  It was dark in the hallway, the only light coming from the window at the end of the hall. Nora stepped out into the hall and walked down the corridor. Blaine's and Catherine's room was down the East wing of the hall,  past the staircase. She approached their doorway and pressed her head against it, trying to hear if anyone was inside. Usually, Catherine took to bed early, leaving Blaine and Quinton to converse by themselves after dinner. Nora heard nothing, though and knocked a couple of times, just to make sure. No one came to answer the door and she supposed that they were all still chatting downstairs.

Nora turned her head, hearing someone on the stairs. Hoping that it was Blaine or Catherine. Getting closer, Nora picked up the person's scent. Neither Blaine nor Catherine smelled like the air before an impending storm. Nora tried to scurry past the staircase before he got to her.

"Ah, ah ah. Where do you think you're running off to?" Quinton rumbled.

Nora stopped and turned and saw Quinton at the top of the stairs. Light from downstairs crept up the staircase, tangling with the shadows in the hall. It was hard to see the details of his face.

"I was just going back to my room." Nora said quietly. She was nervous. She hadn't been alone with him since that day at the field. He was just as ominous and intimidating now as he was then.