Deceit: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (16 page)

“Not you, too,” I said, slowing down.

She looked at me sadly with her wooden
eyes.

“I wanted to check on you long ago, but he
doesn’t often let me out of his sight. Are you feeling better? I’m
sorry for what happened.”

She shrugged her shoulder and looked back
into the trees. Her male counterpart waited there.

“Are you two together again?” I wasn’t sure
how else to word it.

She grinned widely, understanding, and
nodded vigorously.

“I’m happy for that.”

“Benella!” The vibrations of the beast’s
roar rumbled the ground, tickling the bottoms of my feet.

The nymphs shooed me toward the manor
again.

With a sigh, I slowly turned around and
walked back. He had sounded angry, but his mood didn’t worry me. My
slow pace was so I might enjoy more time outside.

He waited in the laundry room doorway. I
clutched the sheet to me and stopped several paces away.

“What were you thinking, going outdoors
without clothes?” he asked in a calm tone, but I could hear the
frustration and anger underneath.

“I had the sheet.”

He crooked a finger at me. I wrinkled my
nose and didn’t budge.

“I’m tired of being inside. I only wanted to
walk around a bit. I was covered.” I swept my hand down to indicate
the sheet draped around me. “At least the important bits were
covered.”

He left the shelter of the doorway to stalk
close to me. He circled me, inspecting the wrapping then stopped
directly behind me. His breath tickled my hair a moment before his
lips skimmed the exposed skin of my shoulder.

“All of your bits are important,” he said,
moving aside my hair to kiss the back of my neck before continuing
on to the opposite shoulder. “I would like them all covered when
you go out.”

When he finished with the shoulder, he moved
to the side of my neck. With guilty pleasure, I tipped my head to
the side to give him better access.

He growled and pulled me against his chest.
His erection pressed against me.

“If you can stay inside and out of the study
unless absolutely necessary, I will have the letters ready by
morning,” he said, planting a kiss along my jaw.

His fingers closed around my hand, and he
led me back inside where steaming water filled the largest
washtub.

“Please wait until I leave before getting
into the water.”

He pressed his lips to my shoulder once more
then quickly left.

I tingled all over. Pent energies,
indeed.

* * * *

Though I’d hoped to go directly to the
Water, the beast insisted I ride to Konrall first. I had two
letters to deliver there. I couldn’t find it in myself to be too
upset by the stop, however. I wore clothes; a plain dress to look
respectable and underthings. I grinned to myself.

Swiftly brought me to Konrall in record time
and halted before the candle maker’s door. He knelt so I could
dismount with grace and watched as I knocked.

It took a moment, but eventually the door
opened and a familiar smile greeted me.

“Good day, Benella. Regretfully, the
merchant isn’t due for a few more days.”

I realized he thought I’d arrived looking
for payment from the last flower delivery.

“I’m actually here to bring you a letter,” I
said, pulling out the beast’s note. It had the candle maker’s name
on it and a wax seal. Nothing else.

“Oh, from your father?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know. I’m sure reading
it will enlighten you. I have another to deliver to the butcher for
the Kinlyn family, so I’d best be on my way.”

The candle maker nodded absently as he
stared at the seal.

The butcher was just as curious about the
letter for the Kinlyn’s that I left in his care, but I didn’t say
anything more to him than I had to the candle maker.

When I exited the shop, Swiftly was not
where I’d left him. Tennen had his mane and was watering him at the
smithy. The baker stood beside Tennen.

“Convenient for a quiet conversation with
you,” the butcher said from just behind me.

I nodded and looked back at him with a
smile.

“Yes, if I were dull enough to march over
there to claim my horse.”

“Do you want me to fetch him for you?” he
asked.

“No need.”

I called for Swiftly, keeping my voice calm
and pleasant so as not to upset the creature. However, it didn’t
seem to matter.

Swiftly pulled his head out of the water so
abruptly that he yanked his mane out of Tennen’s grasp. The horse
then pivoted on his back legs and thundered toward me. In an
instant, he stopped and dropped to his knees. The practicality of
not using reins became very evident.

The butcher chuckled behind me.

“A well trained mount.”

Already on Swiftly’s back, I agreed.

“Keeps me out of trouble.”

Swiftly stood as the baker called my name. I
smiled my farewell to the butcher then leaned over Swiftly.

“I don’t trust the pair of them. Best not to
let them too close.”

Swiftly bobbed his head and snorted in a
very horse-like fashion. He closed the distance between the baker
and me at a trot then came to a quivering stop, his ears laid back
as he listened.

“Good day, Mr. Medunge,” I said politely
before glancing at Tennen, who still stood in the shadows of the
smithy.

“Thank you for watering my horse,” I called
to him with a sweet smile. Tennen glared at me.

The baker took a step toward Swiftly,
reclaiming my attention as the horse sidestepped.

“Has your father mentioned my visit?” the
baker asked.

“I’ve been away and am just now going to see
my father,” I said.

“Away. Yes, your father mentioned you are an
employed woman now. Such a shame for someone of your beauty to have
to work so hard.” He clucked his tongue. “I spoke to your father of
several other options should you want a better life than a maid,
but I’ll let him discuss them with you.”

I nodded farewell and tapped my heel to
Swiftly. We quickly left Konrall.

The first letter I delivered in the Water
was to the Head. Again, the man didn’t receive me, but his
assistant took the letter and assured me it would find its way into
the Head’s hands later in the day.

The last two letters I delivered in one
stop. One was simply addressed to the Whispering Sisters and the
other to my father. Ila greeted me as usual with tea at the door,
but her smile was hesitant.

“You’ve been gone so long I thought perhaps
Aryana truly upset you.”

I hugged Ila close because I was so happy to
see a friend.

“Not at all. Well, maybe at first, but my
master’s demand on my time is what kept me away so long.”

“Everything is well, then?” she asked.

“Yes. I have a letter for you from my master
and one for my father.”

“I will take you to your father first.”

We walked a familiar hall, and she stopped
before his door. When she opened it, Father looked surprised, but
happy, to see me there.

“Excuse me, please,” he said, speaking
comfortably now to the sisters he taught. He came to me and hugged
me tightly.

“Had you not visited today,” he said,
pulling back, “I would have walked to you.”

“I apologize for the delay.” I reached into
my bag and handed Father the letter the beast had penned. “He asked
me to wait an extra day so he could send a letter with me.”

Father glanced at the seal then tucked the
letter in his jacket.

“I shall save this for later,” he said,
patting the pocket that hid it. “Have you spoken to Bryn?”

“I came straight here. I will visit with her
before I go.”

He nodded and promised to meet me at the
house for the midday meal.

Ila led me to the bathing rooms where Aryana
waited. Since I would join Father soon, I declined a bath and sat
on the cushion beside her tub.

“What brings you today?” Aryana asked.

“I have a letter addressed to the Whispering
Sisters.”

I took the letter from my bag and held it
out for either of them to take. Ila made no move toward it, and
Aryana smiled at her before holding out her hand.

Unlike the rest, she barely glanced at the
seal before breaking it and reading the contents. A moment later
she laughed, low, rough, and amused. She handed the note to me,
surprising me.

Stop educating her. She is a smart, clever
woman and should be left to discover the world and its pleasures
first hand.

I frowned at the letter, then looked up to
meet Ila’s amused gaze as she too read the words.

“So you’ve spoken to your master about what
you’ve learned here?” Aryana questioned lightly.

“I’ve kept my word,” I said. “I’ve only
mentioned that I visit my friends here. What I’ve learned has
stayed with me.”

She grinned.

“I think that’s his issue. Has he tried to
seduce you?”

I blushed.

“And thanks to our education, it didn’t
work?”

I shook my head because it hadn’t been what
the sisters had taught me that had kept me the most safe. I felt a
slight sadness again for Bryn and Sara.

“It wasn’t what I learned here as much what
I’ve learned out there.” They both made small noises of
understanding. “I should go speak with Bryn,” I said with a sigh
and stood.

“No questions for us today?” Aryana
asked.

“It might be better if I didn’t. I wouldn’t
want to cause you trouble.”

Aryana snorted.

“He doesn’t worry me. I worry more about you
under his roof. Take care. We are here if you need us.”

I nodded and left.

Swiftly followed me to my old home and
waited outside while I went in. Bryn sat at the table, speaking
excitedly to a woman I didn’t know. When Bryn saw me, some of the
light left her eyes. The woman turned to me with an expectant
smile.

“Dana,” Bryn said, “this is my other sister,
Benella.”

“Another sister?” Dana said. “My, I didn’t
know there were so many of you. I don’t think she was in the dinner
count. I’d best go and add another place,” she said, standing and
leaning over to kiss Bryn’s cheek.

“It’s not necessary,” Bryn said, standing as
well. “Benella often doesn’t have time for us.”

Her words, though spoken politely, irritated
me. She hadn’t even consulted me to see if I might attend.

“Is this for your wedding dinner?” I
asked.

“Of course,” Dana said with a laugh. “Three
nights from now, your sister will be married to my cousin. It will
be a feast the Water will not soon forget.”

How could Bryn think I would miss her
wedding feast?

“Then I shall be there,” I said, returning
Dana’s smile. She seemed truly excited by the dinner and the
marriage.

“I’ll leave you to visit,” she said as she
moved to the door.

After she left, Bryn turned on me. I didn’t
wait for whatever grief she intended to air.

“Are you well? How is the baby?” I
asked.

She sighed, her expression between anger and
excitement.

“The babe is fine, making my middle thicker.
I told Edmund I suspected I might be carrying. He turned a bit
green but assured me he is excited by the prospect.” She eyed my
dress. “Edmund’s father is well connected with the most successful
merchants in the Water. Dana assured me it will be a formal affair.
Blye has been working nonstop on our dresses. She won’t have time
to make one for you, too. Not this late.”

Was that her only concern? The way I would
dress?

“I’m certain I will not embarrass you.”

She looked at my dress in doubt, and I
distracted her with another question.

“Were you able to fix Father’s coat?”

Her face flushed, and she glanced down at
the table. Guilt painted her face.

“Someone in town saw Father going to the
Whispering Sisters and discovered he worked there. Can you believe
he would purposely tarnish our reputations like that? We spoke
about it, and he agreed it would be best if he did not attend the
dinner or my wedding.”

“You suggested he not attend?” I asked in
disbelief.

“It would have been awkward. His association
with
them...”
She shook her head.

I couldn’t believe my ears. She didn’t want
her own father to attend because he taught whores, giving them an
education they could use to change their profession. The only
reason Father taught there was to provide for us, for her. And,
what about the merchants attending her dinner who visited the
Sisters for other reasons? They were still good enough for
Bryn.

“Who is paying for this dinner?” I asked,
feeling disgusted with her.

“Edmund’s father knows our situation so he
offered to pay a portion.”

“And the rest?”

She didn’t meet my eyes.

“Father assured me he had been saving for
just such an event.”

I thought of the two gold I’d given for the
hair oil. No doubt the change had gone toward Bryn’s feast, but
that wouldn’t have been enough. I swung my gaze to the almost
barren bookshelves. My heart broke for my father.

“You could have helped,” Bryn accused. “When
you forage, you always find something worth trading. I asked you to
come back with something to trade, and you always return with
nothing. It’s as if you think you no longer have a responsibility
to your family.”

No responsibility? I’d sacrificed myself to
save Father’s life and set them all free.

“Tell Father I couldn’t stay, but that I
will visit again soon,” I spoke through clenched teeth as I moved
to the door.

“I understand if you don’t want to attend,”
she called as I left.

So I was an embarrassment to her, too? I
wanted to scream and hit something.

Swiftly sensed my mood and laid his ears
back as I mounted.

“Home, Swiftly,” I said harshly.