Ichabod

The cuff of his ivory blouse began to fray at the ends from the constant way Ichabod fretted it so. He fought against himself and the bouncing of the carriage to tuck the thread instead of ripping it. Pulling it taunt and quickly like how quickly he wished he could get over this moment. But no, he had to hide it in his sleeve and hope to the devils that no one noticed a little wear on his best blouse. Appearances hardly mattered to Ichabod, but that time was over. That time was back home at Twin Oaks, but here in the ‘ton appearances mattered all too much. One uncouth public interaction could easily lead to the closing of doors in the Crane family’s future.

Ichabod sat between his sister Katrina and his sibling Cassius which meant he did in fact not get a window seat to watch the scenery change from calm countryside to the busy city. Across the carriage on the other bench were the two youngest Crane children, Pepper and Rowan who were way too busy bouncing between windows to spy the exciting city life.

Although this seat had much less room it was free of flying elbows and clattering feet, which was good enough for Ichabod as he wanted nothing more than to not lay eyes on this place. He wanted to never see its long blocks of impressive stone buildings, of gasworks lamps, of daring feats of architectural prowess again. But, as head of the family and now the whole damn Crane estate it was no longer about what he wanted and he was forced to ignore the uneasiness clawing around inside him. Wonderment tainted with bitterness itched at the back of his throat.

This would be an adjustment to put it lightly. For him, more responsibility but for the others it was about to be a shock to their system, their very lifestyle. Hudson Hollow always seemed grand and that it held infinite possibilities but behind the shadows, the judging looks, the curt smiles, was restriction. It was now that Ichabod realized he hadn’t prepared his family for this. He spent the last week packing in a hurry, wrapping up correspondence on their move, arranging for a string of helhests to pull their ancient carriage, and other such inconveniences. There was no time to instill the severity of the Pomp and Circumstance of social politics. Ichabod committed to the next few weeks of self-punishment for this oversight.

Ichabod took a breath and cleared his throat, “So, I find it be- “

“How long as it been brother?” Cassius leaned back from the window, letting the gray curtain fall back into place. They never meant to interrupt; it was more like they had forgotten speaking was a thing someone could do until someone else started speaking. It was just an aspect of Cassius that made… well Cassius, Cassius. Admittedly it did frustrate Ichabod at times but that was an Ichabod problem, not a Cassius one.

“Twenty-four years…” Katrina spoke with tensed shoulders.

Now answering for him did in fact frustrate him and Ichabod felt his left eye twitch for a short spell. “And yet still not long enough.”

“Oh, for Michael’s sake, you could at least act like you’re excited to be back. For Rowan and Pepper’s sake.” Katrina scolded Ichabod but her attention was really pulled outside. Ichabod recognized that look. Longing. If there was anything he was more intimately familiar with in his entire existence it was that.

She was right. Mostly. There was amble opportunity for their family and much more than growing up in the fields in isolation of their now summer home. A good provider, a good watchman would make sure to keep those looks of longing off the faces of their loved ones and replace it with looks of pride and accomplishment and hell forbid, contentment. Resolve in achieving this wouldn’t be soft or gentle, it would be hard as the stone buildings lining this block and Ichabod, now a most willing mason. Making sure his family followed their dreams so longing was something he could keep entirely to himself was his new goal. But it would take some adjustments to their expectations. He couldn’t be the only one to straighten up.

“Yes, well on that note it brings me no such pleasure-,” Slight lie. “-to remind you all that although Mother and Father are no longer here among us their knowledge and expectations still very much are.” He was indeed not pleased at their parents’ departure from this plane. But, he did fine pleasure in reminding them of things they’d forgotten.

Cassius leaned forward to meet eyes with Katrina which they rolled them together, not so ready to placate their older brother’s wisdom.

“As one of the founding Houses of Hudson Hollow it is now our responsibility to represent our family lineage.”

“Family lineage or humankind?” Cassius’s shoulders slumped as if the weight of humankind pressed down itself.

“Both really and our reputation has been unfortunately led with whatever Aunt Hazel left behind which if we extend her reputation within the family outward, I believe we can paint a rather colorful picture of what we’re waltzing into.” Nervousness fled his tight chest as if going through this was giving him some sense of order. Is this why all the adults in his childhood were so keen on instructing and telling others what to do? Did it give them a chance to keep their insides from running rampart and confessing they actually had no idea what they were doing.

“So, quite the shit-show.” Katrina spoke thickly.

“Exactly that is what I’m referring to, Katrina. The cursing and inappropriateness is to end here in this carriage.” Ichabod nodded towards her, completely not taken aback by her bluntness.

“You want us to not be ourselves?” She rose a teasing brow as if she could hook him from it.

“Of course not.” Ichabod huffed, “But, perhaps maybe…a little less of yourselves in public. Besides, you’ll have many suitors to check up on you and you wouldn’t want such an attitude to ruin your chances.”

Katrina and Cassius both bared their teeth. It was quite apparent that Cassius learned many of their expressions from Katrina. Where she got them from, Ichabod had no clue.

“Suitors? Absolutely not. I would rather keel over now.”

“I’m afraid that would only increase interest in you, sister.” Ichabod chuckled while still dodging any light intruding from the swaying curtains of the slowing carriage. “Either way, I do warn you Katrina and Cass, there will be those who will call on you and those you call upon yourselves and you’re free to do as you wish but I do warn you both now. With our new standing, there will be those who wish to integrate themselves within the Crane Manor with nefarious intensions.” He straightened in his seat as this topic of conversation seemed to heat his blood with purposeful passion, a welcomed feeling indeed.

“Ah yes, because no one could actually be interested in us.” They rolled their eyes and slumped on the bench. The air grew thick which was impressive when it was already thick from days of travel with five people. Cassius was just a youngling when they left and Ichabod was once pleased, they had no memories of Hudson Hollow but now, it proved the opposite.

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just making note we need to be careful on multiple fronts. A lot is expected of us and personally, I expect everyone to uplift the Crane name no matter the state in which we find it in. And as your brother,” Ichabod reached over to delicately take Cassius’ hands in his, “I care immensely about your heart most of all. I refuse to see it broken.”

“Or what Ichabod? You’ll get really, really mad?” Katrina laughed.

“They would be lucky if that was it. In a valley of supposed monsters, if they should break any of your hearts, they shall witness that this human is the very worst monster of them all.” Ichabod felt a sneer lift over his teeth and fought the chance to become a monster in this very moment.

“Wouldn’t that make you the best monster?” Rowan had stopped teasingly kicking Pepper with no-longer freshly polished shoes.

Ichabod leaned forward, releasing Cassius’ hands and winked at Rowan, “Pray they don’t find out which.

“And what about you Ichabod? Will you be smiting suitors and requests for tea vying for a title from your Crane throne?” Katrina was quick to turn it back to him.

“Exactly my point. I will be far too busy with figuring out our affairs to delve into such things. And if memory serves me right, its not a throne but a gnarled chair with a green cushion…”

“If it hasn’t been sold off…” Cassius’ attention had already returned out the window and they leaned back to draw the curtain back far enough for Ichabod to look. Just what state would he find the manor in, in what way in the last few decades had it changed?

A once proud white stone manor with gold flecks and a red tiled roof was now stained grey with unkept weather wear. Windows were so filthy; Ichabod couldn’t see through them even from the street and the trellises and planters which used to have an abundance of flora were now dry and barren. The Crane estate had faired far poorer than Ichabod had ever thought or even dreamed.

The contrast from destitute condition of their manor to polished riding boots and finely pressed jacket of the man standing politely at their porch was striking. The breadth of his shoulders was wide, and he was a full foot taller than Icabod himself. But that wasn’t the most remarkable thing about him. The most remarkable thing was that he entirely lacked a head.