Tales of the Big Bad Wolf: The Red Riding Hood Arc (A Fairy Tale)

Chapter 23, Part A: The Queen's Gambit

Elanore returned downstairs to find the discussion between the lord and her grandmother had concluded. Her grandmother had wandered off while the Count stood in the hallway, tapping his cane on the floor.

“I have more than one bag to transport,” she declared with a certain amount of defiance before placing the items loudly on the floor.

To her surprise he did not even raise an eyebrow at the collection of books and medicines she had decided were necessities she could not do without. Instead he offered his arm. “It is dark outside and difficult to see. If you do not mind, I shall escort you to the coach first.”

“I do mind,” Elanore declared. “I would rather wait upon my grandmother. She may still need my help.”

“Go ahead, dear!” Her grandmother called out from somewhere in the kitchen. “I have only a few more things to attend to.”

Elanore closed her eyes and exhaled, resigning herself to the situation. Again the Count offered his arm. She dawdled over her cloak and gloves, putting them on as slowly as she could before she gingerly accepted the man’s assistance.

A strong wind wrapped around her as she stepped outside, summoned by the cheerful calls of several lions waiting upon her appearance. Given the circumstances, their enthusiasm was unwelcome and problematic. She did not relish having to hold more tightly to the Count and relying on him so much.

The Count did not seem to enjoy their exuberance either. “Quiet,” he snapped.

To the young woman’s relief the wind stopped. She would have let go of the man’s arm then if it had not been impossible to see in the darkness. The light from the inside of the house could barely illuminate her way to the coach.

She was escorted several steps before she caught the sound of the lions whispering to one another in spite of their master’s orders. They were close now -- close enough that if she squinted hard enough she thought she could see them next to a rather large coach. “Are they... attached?”

The Count cleared his throat. “Normal horses would have been hard to manage on such a night. They volunteered to pull the coach for you.”

As if on cue, two voices called to her excitedly. “Elanore, Hello Elanore. Howareyouthisevening, Miss Elanore.”

She raised her hand to acknowledge them, but found herself interrupted. Rather gracelessly she was hoisted up and pulled into the interior of the coach.

A brief exchange of words revealed that it was Giles who had impatiently taken her off Wolfram’s hands. He was now her appointed caretaker, keeping her from further mischief while the Count returned to the house in order to assist Mrs. Winchester with her preparations for departure.

“We meet again,” Giles joked quietly.

At such an hour, Elanore did not find much amusement in being manhandled or wish to entertain such banter. “I suppose you were the one who told the Count about my riding the lion into town?”

“Yes and no,” he chuckled softly at the frigid tone of her voice. “It was Lambegus’ scolding the master first overheard. He sent a few of us off to take a look about and I did have to confirm such a story about a woman riding about wildly. He was not pleased at all Had to keep him from breaking down your door and dragging you women out.”

“You jest,” she shook her head.

“Well, of course.” He humored her. “But why so sour? I would have expected a slightly better reception to our surprise visit. You were anxious to see the Count earlier.”