Still silence reigned, and I received the distinct impression that a large number of people were holding their breath.
Princess Sophie. The Beast remained propped half up in the bed, but he also made no further move to get up. I must check on my horse.
“Do not be ridiculous.” I reached his bedside, trying to ignore the way his eyes stayed fixed on me, dressed as I was in only my nightgown and robe. “You have, I can only assume, a great number of grooms and stable hands, not to mention a highly competent stable master. You would only be in the way, as well as inflaming your wounds and your fever to no purpose.”
Indeed. A mature, weary voice I hadn’t heard before leaped in to back me up. It is just as the princess says. You must listen to Her Highness, Prince Dominic, if you will not listen to me.
I turned toward the sound. “I assume you must be the castle doctor. It is very nice to meet you, sir.”
Oh, no, I assure you the pleasure is all mine. I am Doctor Henshaw, and if you can convince His Highness to remain in his bed long enough to heal, you will be doing him and all of us a great favor.
“Certainly, Doctor Henshaw. There can be no question of his getting up. Perhaps you can give me a brief description of your preferred care regime.”
As the doctor eagerly outlined his recommended diet and wound care, a series of strange noises came from the bed. I ignored them.
When the doctor finished speaking, a final rumble sounded from the bed. I turned to face the Beast. “Yes? Did you wish to say something?”
The Beast was glaring at me. My horse just fought a pack of wolves at my request. I will not rest until I have checked on him.
An unexpected wave of shame washed over me. The Beast showed more care for his horse than I had done for Chestnut on my first night. The thought unsettled me, and confirmed my determination not to allow him to further injure himself.
I rapidly considered the best way to subdue him and then drew myself up to my full height, assuming an outraged expression. “Are you trying to insult me?”
Some of the anger dropped from his face to be replaced by confusion. Insult you?
“I was the one who walked your horse back to the castle and handed him over to your stable. I have just told you that he is unharmed and in good hands. Are you calling me a liar?”
A stifled snort of laughter came from beside me, and the Beast turned wrathful eyes on his doctor. I intervened quickly. “If everyone could please clear the room, His Highness needs the chance to rest. I will remain here with him and will call one of you if need be.” I turned in the direction of the doctor. “Please have the kitchen send up a meal as you have described.”
I’m not eating that. The Beast sounded more sulky than angry, and I knew I had won. I kept the triumphant smile from my face.
“I will ensure he eats it.”
I’m sure you will, Your Highness. We can all be grateful you’re here.
I felt a pang as the last of the servants made their way from the room, talking in whispers. If I hadn’t been here, the Beast wouldn’t be injured at all.
I turned back around to find him glaring at me, but most of the heat had gone from his expression. Do you really mean to keep me prisoner here?
I arched an eyebrow at him, and he actually had the decency to look ashamed, his eyes dropping away from mine. With a sigh, he lowered himself back onto the pillow.
“Would you like another pillow?” I asked, as I pottered around his bed, rearranging the tangled blankets. When he didn’t answer, I looked at him with both eyebrows raised and discovered he was staring at me with fascination.
“What?”
Are you always like this?
“Like what? Right?”
He actually barked a laugh. I grinned back at him. “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I’ve spent a lot of time with my three-year-old nephew. I know all about looking after sulky children.”
He shook his head, but a smile lingered on his face, the first I had ever seen from him. You seem different.
I shrugged and continued pottering around the room. I could hardly tell him the truth. Something had changed; it had changed when I had stared down at him, dying in the snow and considered leaving him there. Before I had felt powerless—trapped, angry and afraid. But when I had chosen to save him, I had changed the balance of power. Even if he didn’t know it.
I remembered now that I would never be powerless over my own actions, and choices. I was no longer here as his prisoner. I had chosen to be here because I believed—had always believed—that I had the ability to save others. And not only my sister and the younger girls of the Tourney, but also the people of Palinar who were caught in the curse. And last night, as the Beast had saved me from the wolves, it had occurred to me for the first time, that maybe Prince Dominic needed saving, too.
Now I just had to believe I was strong enough to do it. When I had lost Lily, I had temporarily lost my way, forgetting that I had been the one to win the Tourney despite her best efforts to stop me. Together we were something of an unstoppable force, but that didn’t mean I was weak on my own. And last night I had shown it, making the decision I knew was right, despite every temptation.
This morning I found that the Beast’s fitful temper didn’t have the same effect on me as it had previously. He was simply another of the many puzzles I had to solve.
Several hours later, while attempting to force him into eating a second bowl of soup, I found my new positivity wearing thin. He had slept most of the morning, waking in a foul mood when he was still greeted with only soup. So, my morning had alternated between boredom and bouts of his disagreeable mood. It had taken all of my willpower not to pull back the curtain and ask the mirror to show me Lily while he slept. Only the fear that it would wake him had stopped me, but the exercise in self-control had put me in nearly as irritable a mood as him.
At last I snapped. “Stop! You are a grown man and a prince. You appear to have no consideration for anyone but your horse, and it is time you learned to think of others, and to act with restraint.” We glared at each other, my chest heaving from my own loss of control. “You will eat the food the doctor sends and stay in bed until he gives you permission to leave. And I do not want to hear another word about it!”
I expected him to shout back at me, but the anger in his eyes slowly faded away. Very well, Sophie.
I eyed him suspiciously. “That’s it?”
Were you looking for some other response?
I narrowed my eyes, still wary of his capitulation.
Perhaps you would be willing to read to me?
“Read?”
He barked another laugh. Yes, you know. Books. Words. Stories.
“You like to read?”
Don’t sound so surprised. I lost my ability to talk, not to read.
I glanced at him, surprised at his light-hearted mention of the curse. How would he react if I asked him about it? Reluctantly I decided not to test it. I didn’t want to ruin the first moment of almost-rapport we’d had.