“What would you like to read?”
There’s a book in the drawer of that table next to my bed. You can start back at the beginning, if you like.
I pulled it out and examined the cover. “Large Scale Economics?” I groaned. “Mathematics—my favorite.”
You’re a princess, aren’t you? Aren’t these sorts of things compulsory in Arcadia?
I sighed and sat again. “Yes, unfortunately. That’s the problem.” I opened to the first page and then looked back up at him. “I’ll read you this one if you promise that you’ll find me a volume of fairy tales to read next.”
Fairy tales?
I raised an eyebrow, and he shook his head. Fine. You can choose the next one.
And despite the boring topic, reading turned out to be an inspirational move. It gave us both something to focus on other than our frustrations, and the Beast even ate his simple evening meal with minimal complaint. As had happened earlier when we discussed his nobles, the Beast surprised me with his intelligence and balanced perspective on governance.
I had never forgotten that he had once been a regular prince—his arrogant attitude made such a thing impossible—but I hadn’t considered that he had been a prince trained to rule the largest of these kingdoms. Apparently, his lessons had included more than just ordering his subjects around.
The sour note of the evening came just before the doctor arrived to relieve me. I had stood up, ready to leave, when the Beast reached out from the bed and grabbed my hand. I stilled, realizing his intention a second before he spoke.
Will you marry me in the morning, Sophie?
I ripped my hand away and hurried from the room without speaking. Obviously, I had been foolish to think that anything had changed between us. But in the doorway, I paused and looked back. “Can I recommend that next time you go with ‘Thank you, Sophie’? You might find it’s better received.” I didn’t wait to see his response.
Chapter 16
The next morning, I was still fuming and considered abandoning the ungrateful Beast to do himself whatever harm he wished. But the thought of ingratitude made me hesitate. While it was true that he had neither apologized for driving me from the castle with his temper, nor thanked me for saving his life and then spending my day nursing him, the same could be said of me.
The day before we had carefully avoided all discussion of the cause of his injuries, and I had neither apologized for trespassing in his room after I had assured him I would not, nor thanked him for coming to my rescue in the forest. If I truly believed that I had power over my own actions and choices, then my apologies and thanks couldn’t be conditional on his.
The thought made me squirm all the way through the morning meal, and I changed my mind about which gown I wished to wear so many times that I had to apologize to Lottie. The truth was that I did not want to do it. He may have saved me, but the Beast was still an arrogant, imperious, thoughtlessly cruel…
Princess Sophie?
I jumped. “I’m sorry, Lottie, I wasn’t paying attention.”
You have no need to apologize to me, Your Highness. I merely wished to know if you wanted your cloak.
I shook my head. “I won’t be going into the gardens this morning.” As painful as apologizing would be, it was still the right thing to do. And my family had taught me that it was the role of royalty to do the right thing regardless of how much it might cost.
You seem…distracted this morning, Princess Sophie.
The mild comment was the nosiest Lottie had yet been, so I tried to think of a way to not answer her question, but in an encouraging way. I might have admitted my struggle to Lily, but I didn’t wish anyone else to know about my internal tantrum.
Thankfully, before I could think of something, Tara burst into the room, already talking at full volume. You’ve won a friend for life in Doctor Henshaw, Princess Sophie. The servants are saying you kept the prince from the stables and got him to eat the broth the chef prepared. The poor man was terrified of sending it up. She giggled. I think he was afraid the prince might bring it back down himself and throw it in the chef’s face. But the doctor made him prepare it, anyway, assuring him confidently that the ‘plucky young princess’ would see he ate it.
I flushed at this evidence of the doctor’s belief in me. My remaining hesitation fell away. My gratitude for his rescue was not contingent on his gratitude for my rescuing him back. The Beast might not deserve my good attitude, but I did. I wanted to be a royal who earned respect, not one who demanded it.
When I arrived in the Beast’s chambers, however, a murmur of low voices greeted me.
“Good morning.” I walked into the room but stopped short when I saw the bed. The Beast lay against the pillow with his eyes closed and a sheen of sweat across his face. His body was rocked by spasmodic shivers, but he never opened his eyes. The murmurs stopped at my entrance.
Your Highness. The doctor’s greeting sounded polite but distracted. One of the white bandages began to unwrap itself and I saw a fresh splash of red across it.
“What happened?” My mind raced frantically through the previous day. Had I done something wrong?
I’m afraid the fever has taken hold. And his wounds have resumed bleeding.
“But he stayed in bed the whole day yesterday, I swear it.”
The bandages paused for a moment and then continued to move. And I have no doubt he would be in a much worse situation today if he had not done so. The situation now was unavoidable. I thought he meant to continue, but he fell silent.
Unavoidable? It didn’t seem like a natural progression of an illness to me. I frowned. “Does he have a weak constitution?” It would be surprising given his physical strength, but curses could work in strange ways.
Weak? No, indeed, he is exceedingly strong. And so we must hope he will recover from this setback.
I bit my lip. I had often daydreamed through Lily’s healing lessons, perhaps I was wrong about his illness. The doctor must surely know better than me.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
We have sufficient nursing staff at the castle to attend to his needs, there is no reason for us to trespass on your time, Your Highness.
I hesitated, and he moaned. Stepping forward without thinking, I dropped to my knees beside his bed. He moaned again, and I placed a hand on his forehead. “You must be strong, Beast,” I whispered.
He stilled instantly beneath my touch, and some of the tension seemed to leave his face. A soft whisper passed through the servants in the room that I did not try to decipher.
Well. It seems you have a soothing effect on the patient. Perhaps we could do with your services, after all, if you are willing. For a short time, at least.