I couldn’t focus properly on her words, distracted as I was trying to keep track of the Beast from a distance. I had expected to see more signs of consciousness from him now that we had arrived back to such a hubbub of people. But he lay unnaturally still, only the rise and fall of his broad chest assuring me he still lived.
Our strange procession made it into the entrance hall, and the chorus of voices seemed to swell even louder. I decided to risk an invisible collision—if such a thing were possible, I wasn’t even sure—and approach the Beast. But I had no sooner taken a step in his direction than warm heavy material settled around my shoulders.
I looked down to discover I was now wearing a cloak. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, a bone deep shudder rocked me. When had it become so cold?
Oh, Your Highness! Apparently, Lottie had joined us, and she sounded horrified. She must have seen the Beast’s injuries, then. Half of your dress is soaked, and your face looks blue. You’ll catch your death! Come quickly, and we’ll draw you a bath.
Oh. Not the Beast, then. I looked down and discovered to my surprise that I was indeed wet and racked with constant shivers. Somehow in the excitement of talking to Lily and the fear of the wolves, I hadn’t noticed the temperature, or my own state.
You’re in shock, I expect, offered Tara. I saw a similar thing when Gordon went skating on the small pond in the east gardens and fell through the ice.
Skating! Surely, he must have known it wasn’t safe.
Well, he did after he fell through. That child is always stumbling into mischief, though he always means well enough. But the doctor told us to warm him up and to keep him awake.
I had been certain of my intention to check on the Beast but, somehow, I found myself in my room, soaking in a hot bath, while Tara and Lottie fussed over me, instead. Night had fallen outside—the first night since my arrival that the Beast had not asked me if I would marry him in the morning. Would he even be alive come morning?
Chapter 15
I slept long and deeply, exhausted on every possible level. I woke to several new aches and a couple of bruises and immediately thought of the Beast. What was his state this morning?
When I slipped out of bed, a sleepy voice greeted me.
Good morning, Princess Sophie.
“Lottie?” A sudden suspicion entered my mind. “Did you spend the whole night in my armchair?”
I wanted to be here in case you needed anything in the night. You might have become ill after your ordeal.
“That is very considerate of you, but now you need to go to your bed. Just, on your way out, if you could please let Tara know to bring me some food?”
I couldn’t possibly sleep during the day, Your Highness. Let me fetch your morning meal myself.
I shook my head. “Absolutely not. You need your sleep and Tara can look after me well enough without you. That’s why I have the two of you, remember.”
Very well—if you wish it. I could tell from her tone that she doubted my assertion that Tara could manage on her own, but I pretended not to notice anything unusual in her demeanor.
I paced the room while I waited for Tara to arrive, alternating between staring out the window at the gardens and sitting on my bed chewing my hair. The previous morning, when I had been planning how to sneak into the Beast’s chambers, felt like another lifetime. So much had happened since then. It was hard to process it all.
Tara must have arrived at a run because I was sitting down to a hot meal within minutes. I had planned to ask her what the kitchen gossip had to say about the Beast’s condition, but she didn’t need any prompting to start sharing.
I’m so glad to see you well this morning, Princess Sophie. You gave me and Lottie a fright last night. I would have insisted on staying with you, except that Lottie assured me she preferred to take the night shift, and I didn’t like to make her uncomfortable.
It was the first sign I had seen of any such consideration, but I refrained from comment.
And I think it turned out for the best anyway, since Lottie’s absolutely hopeless at ferreting out news of any kind. This airy conclusion made me snort and reminded me why I had asked for Tara in the first place. The ex-serving maid didn’t feel the need to temper her view of reality.
The doctor popped down for a bite to eat around sunrise, poor man. He looked exhausted and, of course, the kitchen staff all mobbed him. We’d already guessed from various requests sent down for supplies that His Highness must have a high fever, but…
“So, the Beast is alive still?” I asked, unable to wait through her meandering story for that crucial piece of information.
Oh, yes, certainly. We have an excellent doctor. It’s the prince himself who’s the problem.
“What do you mean?”
He’s a terrible patient, he always has been. He can still barely stand but is apparently insisting on going out to check on his horse.
I put down my fork and rose to my feet. “Where is he now? In his bedchamber?”
Yes, for the moment at least.
I threw a robe around my shoulders and headed for the door. Pausing in the doorway, I looked back into the empty air of the room. “You’re not going to protest? Or try to stop me?”
Well, I feel sure Lottie would tell me that I ought to do so. Tara giggled. Especially since you’re wearing your nightgown. But to tell you the truth, I’m just planning to follow you and see what happens.
I laughed. “I applaud your honesty and your spirit of adventure.”
Hurrying down the corridor, I made my way to the Beast’s chambers as I had done such an astonishingly short number of hours before. I had never had the same interest in healing as Lily, but I had tagged along for enough of her sessions with our castle doctors to know a few basics. For instance, that someone with a raging fever and significant blood loss shouldn’t be stumbling around in the snow.
When I reached his corridor, I slowed and then came to a complete stop in the open doorway of his bedchamber. The sound of voices told me that the room must be full of people, but my view of the Beast was unobstructed. I assessed his appearance, hoping that, for him, a servant blocked his view of my rude stare.
He was naked from the waist up, white bandages covering the deep cuts on his arm and shoulder. I bit my lip at the sight of his bare chest, covered with a thick layer of hair, and then forced myself to look up to his face. He had propped himself up on one arm and was arguing with someone about getting up. His eyes looked glassy and strange, and his face flushed.
A low growl silenced the rest of the voices. I am getting up, and there is nothing any of you can say to prevent me. So get out of my way.
“Absolutely not,” I said loudly.
The silence seemed somehow to grow deeper, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up from the certainty that an unknown number of invisible eyes were trained on me. But I maintained a calm facade as I moved forward into the room.
“It is quite apparent, even without the assurances of your doctor, that you are extremely ill. You will remain in bed until such time as he gives you leave to rise.”