Deceit: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (12 page)

I caught a glimpse of something in their
depths, but it disappeared quickly. It made me feel vulnerable, as
if he knew my game.

I nodded, acknowledging his answer, but said
nothing.

“Have you ever danced, Benella?”

“Yes,” I said, wondering why he asked.

“I want to show you something.” He reached
for my hand and wrapped his fingers around my own.

Frowning at our joined hands, I followed
where he led, to a large cavernous room with a polished wood floor.
The curtains were pulled back and the windows thrown open. A pair
of songbirds perched on the sill of one window and picked up a soft
melody, and I added birds to the list of creatures who may have
once been human. With a quick sinking dread, I thought of all the
traps I’d set near the estate and hoped I’d never accidentally
eaten someone.

The beast spun me about and caught me tight
to his chest. I tilted my head back to look up at him as he swept
me into a twirling dance that swirled my skirts around my legs. My
feet skimmed the floor as he guided me through unfamiliar moves.
The quick turns he executed made my head spin, and I laughed, which
spurred him to twirl me faster. One of his hands rested on my lower
back, its heat penetrating my dress until I could barely focus on
the dance. I found the sensation...odd. Not disturbing, just
different.

During moments like these, I liked the beast
most. He seemed playful and earnest and willing to please.

The birds ended their song, and the beast
guided me to a halt but did not release me. I looked at him
expectantly, still smiling.

“I recall thinking dancing tedious,” he said
slowly. “A social requirement. I believe I may have misunderstood
it. It has so much more potential.” A small grin tugged his lips.
“Especially when I know my partner isn’t wearing her
underclothes.”

My brows shot up before I could stop
myself.

Using the hand not anchored to the small of
my back, he reached up and began to untangle my braid, reminding me
he was no tame beast.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s been a month,” he said with a slight
purr in his voice. “I can touch you now.”

My heart froze and panic claimed me.

“Breathe, Benella,” the beast said
softly.

“Stop.” The word came out strangled, but I
found the strength to push against him.

His iron grip tightened for a moment before
he withdrew his hands. My release eased my fears a little.

“You will not use me like you did—” I took a
calming breath. “If you abuse me, I will leave,” I vowed. “And no
threat will incite me to return.”

The beast scowled at me.

“You have the ability to ruin a perfectly
good day,” he said.

“How did I ruin it? I wasn’t the one
contemplating forcing myself on another.” I glared back at him.

He growled at me then looked out the window,
clearly frustrated but keeping his distance.

“You have Rose if you recall,” I said. “Save
your attentions for her. I’m only your inspiration.”

“You haven’t been very inspiring,” he
replied, referring to his last attempt.

“If I’m too inspiring, people get hurt.”

He had the grace to flinch, showing he truly
regretted his actions. He needed better control. How could I teach
him self-denial, though?

“What is something you find completely
uninspiring?” I asked.

He scowled at me and remained silent. I
understood his meaning.

“If you can find something that uninspires
you, something you can use to calm yourself and prove to me that it
works, I will make an effort to be more inspiring.”

I left him in the sunlit room.

He absented himself from my presence the
remainder of the day and the two days following. I kept myself busy
in the library, reading a book I’d found about fishing and the
various baits to try depending on the weather and time of day.
Occasionally, I would feel as if someone watched me; but when I
looked up, no one would be there.

Trays would appear beside me at random
times. Looking at the dishes, I knew he had made several of them
himself, and I fought not to grin triumphantly. Cooking did not
indicate reform, but it did show progress.

* * * *

On the third morning, I discovered the
garden fully weeded and walked back inside, confused. After that, I
began an exploration of the manor and found several things changed.
Poorly washed linens hung in the laundry, there was a large supply
of firewood in the kitchen, and it smelled as if someone had
scrubbed the floor in the main entry.

“Sir?” I called loudly.

The mist rolled along the floor almost
immediately.

“What?” The clipped word and his volume
spoke his irritation.

“I’m curious what you’ve been doing these
last few days.”

He snorted.

“Trying to find something uninspiring.”

“Any luck?” I kept any trace of humor from
my voice.

“What do you think?”

I ignored his sarcasm.

“Have you tried reviewing the ledgers of
past Lords to determine what in that year made the estate
profitable and what lost the estate money? I wouldn’t start with
anything recent. Perhaps two generations back? Look for a pattern
and try to determine what you would have done differently.”

He didn’t reply. Instead, he stalked off,
taking his mist with him.

I endured another uneventful day.

* * * *

The beast woke me by barging into my room.
He wore trousers and a mostly unbuttoned shirt.

“I’m ready to try again today,” he said.

I sat up slowly, letting the covers fall
away. The gossamer gown left little to the imagination.

“The ledgers proved uninspiring?” I asked as
I lifted the covers off my legs and slid from the bed.

The mist quickly gathered around him.

“Yes.”

I went to the wardrobe and picked out
another plain gown.

“I’m ready to try again,” he repeated as if
I’d not heard him.

Smiling over my shoulder, I nodded then
turned my attention back to the gowns.

“You may be, but I require proof before
prancing about you naked again. Please excuse me while I change,” I
said calmly. “And no mist today,” I added when he moved to
leave.

He growled and slammed the door, leaving me
to dress.

A few minutes later, I emerged. He paced in
the hallway, the mist completely absent.

I smiled in greeting.

“I thought we could play a game in the
library.”

Not waiting for him, I moved down the
hallway toward the library. His heavy footfalls sounded behind me
after a moment.

When he saw me move toward the game board,
he gave a slight growling groan of frustration.

“I tire of that game.”

Sitting on a padded chair, I looked up at
him.

“But I do not. Please, sit,” I said, my tone
more command than invitation.

His lip curled, but he sat. Several minutes
into the game, I could sense his impatience boiling and decided it
time to distract him. I’d selected the gown with care that morning.
Most of the simple, appropriate gowns had two layers in the bodice,
a finely woven soft underlay and a coarser overlay. The underlay,
typically white, prevented the neckline from gaping if tied
properly. I had tied it loosely.

Placing my elbow on the edge of the table, I
leaned forward to rest my chin on my hand. After a moment, the
beast ceased moving. I waited a heartbeat longer, then moved my
piece with a satisfied smile before straightening.

When I looked up, his eyes studied the board
intently.

In seven moves, the play had shifted to the
far side of the board. I wanted to laugh at his wit. He could have
ended the game but played his pieces for another purpose. I gave
him what I knew he hoped for and stood slightly, bending at the
waist to make my next move. He made a small noise, and I quickly
looked up, a true frown on my face.

He met my gaze.

“Sir?” I questioned softly.

“Go eat,” he said.

I looked beyond him and saw a tray on the
table.

“We will continue afterwards,” he said.

Only once I stood and moved away from him
did I realize his growl had been missing. When I looked back at
him, he was gone. Through the doors to his study, I caught a
glimpse of him as he sat at his desk.

I grinned.

* * * *

The bed dipped, waking me enough that I
rolled over. The beast’s hand smoothed my hair from my face.

“Sleep,” he whispered.

Instead of sinking back to sleep, his voice
roused me further. He sounded sad.

“Restless dreams?”

“Yes.” He pulled me close to his side with a
sigh.

I snuggled in, resting my head on his
shoulder, and my hand on his chest. I gently patted him as I fell
back to sleep.

* * * *

I debated over what to wear the next day and
decided for normal. I’d tempted him enough with a bit of skin the
day before. Today, I would try to tempt him through words.

Twisting my braid, I pinned it up in a knot
at the back of my head then opened my door with a smile. The beast
waited for me just outside, dressed again in trousers.

“No games today,” I promised.

His mouth turned down in a slightly
disgruntled expression, and I quickly turned away to hide my
smile.

In the kitchen, I set about making breakfast
and asked him to help in little ways: starting the fire, fetching a
bowl, stirring the eggs. He did it all without complaint. When we
sat to eat, I gave him a large portion and thanked him for his
help. He said nothing in return. We ate in silence for several
moments while I contemplated flirting and the sisters’ advice. I
struggled to find something to say.

“You’re unusually quiet,” he said, studying
me closely.

“As are you.”

He looked back at his food.

Aryana’s recommendation to be myself made me
want to wrinkle my nose. I decided on an honest compliment.

I reached over and lightly touched his
arm.

“I think I’m starting to like living here,”
I said quickly and sincerely. “Without your growl...well, I like
spending time with you.”

His gaze bored into mine as if trying to
find some hidden meaning.

“Do you?” he asked softly, but his tone
hinted at anger.

I tilted my head with a frown.

“Was it wrong of me to tell you so?”

“Why are you telling me?”

My lips twitched at his suspiciousness, but
my amusement quickly faded when a rumble started in his chest. I
slowly withdrew my touch from his arm.

“How can I expect honesty from you if I
cannot give it myself?” I asked, confused at his reaction. Instead
of holding his gaze, I looked down and took another bite.

He continued his soft growl as I chewed and
swallowed.

“Have you thought of any of your prior
pastimes, yet?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“In fact, I have,” he said with a purr.

Before I realized his intent, he pulled me
to my feet and sat me in his lap. I didn’t react other than to
glance at him. For some reason, telling him I liked it here had
annoyed him. I didn’t understand why but understood that his
volatile mood couldn’t be trusted. I reached for a misshapen
biscuit and pinched off a bite, calmly eating it as if I were
sitting in my own chair.

The pastime he’d recalled currently bruised
my backside. I wondered what exactly I’d done to cause it. Whatever
the issue, I did not intend to remain to see where his current mood
led.

I pinched off a larger portion and met his
hungry gaze.

“Open your mouth,” I said softly.

Surprise lit in his eyes a moment before he
did so.

Instead of putting the large bite in his
mouth, I shoved in the remainder of the biscuit. He grunted then
loosened his hold to cough into his hand. I quickly slid from his
lap and stood by my chair, watching him warily as he continued to
cough and sputter.

“Are you trying to kill me?”

“Hardly. But I am trying to reason out why I
angered you.”

He stood with menacing slowness, and I
grabbed my plate of cold eggs and threw the contents at him.

“Would you stop throwing your food at me?”
he roared.

The frustration in his tone eased some of my
fear, and I laughed at my own audacity. His eyes narrowed. I
squealed and scrambled for the outer door, barely closing it behind
me. Something heavy thudded into it. I sniggered.

“I can still hear you,” he bellowed.

He was truly angry, yet something possessed
me to laugh again. It was an open challenge, and I took off at a
sprint, barefoot through the weeds. Behind me, the door crashed
open. I laughed louder and ran faster. A path around to the front
of the house opened before me. Behind me, I heard it close and the
beast’s angry bellow as he tore through it.

“I recall a pastime from
my
childhood,” I called, slowing. “I was fairly good at it. Let us see
if I still am.”

He roared in response, obviously still
angry.

Moving forward, I burst into the front yard
and onto the gravel drive. The stones bit into the soles of my
feet, but I didn’t slow. On the other side, the male wood nymph
waved to me. I smiled and ran his direction. He pointed the way to
another open path.

“Thank you. Warn the others to stay out of
his way and to keep the path open, please.” He nodded as I ran
past.

I ran until I found a large tree right on
the path, which I quickly climbed. Seconds later, the beast ran
under the limbs, and I grinned at the egg that still clung to his
fur.

I jumped from the tree and ran back the way
I’d come. The nymph was nowhere in sight. I ran up the steps to the
manor, eased open the door, and slipped inside. I didn’t slow as I
sprinted up the steps to my room or when I opened the doors to his
room. I closed everything behind me before diving under his
bed.