Chapter 4
Leona did not spend long in the laboratory that day. After their talk, the beast grew reclusive, pensive even. He sent her away in a growl shortly after. Most days that followed continued as such- she would clean up the castle, occasionally glancing over her shoulder to find a pair of coal eyes observing her as she worked. Always watching, silently marking her every move, catching her unawares as she sang softly to herself as she mopped or dusted this or that.
Other days she would walk into the brightly lit laboratory to find the beast cloaked once more in his shadow, brooding, eyes grave as he tried one potion after the other, searching, yet never quite reaching it. His frustration would rise and eventually Leona would be sent away, with a wave of a paw and a diversion of the eyes, and then a low growl as the door shut behind her. It was those times that Leona had been afraid of at first- and then she had come to realize, with a heavy pang in her heart, that each time his attempt at humanity failed, he could not look at her. For she was human. She was his goal, standing right in front of him, handling the tubes and frustration with ease.
And each day she came to respect him more.
She saw after only a short while why he could never be a beast- why he strived so valiantly to achieve a human form. Because, deep inside, deep in his heart where each growl of frustration or surprise would emerge, was a human soul. She couldn’t understand how she saw this- just about as much as she couldn’t understand the companionship she felt with him. She hadn’t ever felt this even with Destin or the twins- it was almost a bond, a feeling that even without words she could understand what he needed, what he was saying to her. It probably came from the fact that she could hear his thoughts- but then again, that didn’t explain how she could be staring intently into a tube, the beast scribbling furiously behind her, and just as a faint bubble would rise form it, she would smile and look up, and just then the beast’s eyes would rise, and they shared for a small moment the smile and success together.
It was unnerving…and yet pleasant all the same.
Leona sighed as she continued to mop the kitchen floor. This was one of her cleaning days; of course she would rather be in the lab helping the beast, but she had decided that at the very least she should have the kitchen clean; after all, it was the warmest place to be during the harsh winter nights.
“You are troubled.”
Leona looked up quickly. She wiped her brow quickly, and opened her mouth; Mrs. Kingsley held up a hand.
“Please. Spare me your words.”
Leona’s jaw hung limp in her dismay. Mrs. Kingsley was carrying a heavy tea tray, loaded down with half-chewed crumpets and sticky cups. “Here,” Leona said quickly, walking forward quickly to grasp the other end of the tray. “Let me help.”
Mrs. Kingsley made no reply as they carried the tray together to place it next to the large copper sink. “I have spent many years adjusting to such loads,” Mrs. Kingsley said crisply as the cups rattled.
Leona scowled, staring at her. Mrs. Kingsley did not turn to face her. She stood staring at the sink. She huffed, and then glanced around, spying each corner. She raised her eyebrows briefly and then started to sweep past Leona.
“You missed the cobwebs over there,” she threw back loftily.
Leona threw up her hands. “Why!” she cried. “Why do you hate me so!”
Mrs. Kingsley stopped. She did not turn around as she spoke. She sighed. “My dear…there have been many that pass through these doors,” she said, motioning to the thick oak dividing the kitchen and hall. “None have bothered to see beyond them.” She continued to walk out.
Leona quickly chased after her. “And?” she prompted.
This time Mrs. Kingsley turned around. She looked hard at Leona, before shaking her head briefly and then saying, “Would you be here if you didn’t need it?”
Leona wrinkled her brow. “Would you?”
Mrs. Kingsley gave her a sad smile. “Eternally.”
Leona stared at her, looking into her eyes. For the life of her she could not understand this woman. Utterly bewildered, Leona cried out, “If he needed me, I would answer!”
Mrs. Kingsley raised her eyebrows. “Who wouldn’t? After all, as the prince of-”
“Not him,” Leona sighed. “He’s not who we’re talking of and you know it. The Prince is…not the true power.”
Mrs. Kingsley leaned back a little as she surveyed Leona. “I heard you will be working with him. In there.”
Leona knew what she was talking about. She nodded. “Like I said. If he needs me, I will answer.”
“Why?”
Leona shrugged. “Why would you? Why would anyone?”
Mrs. Kingsley snorted. “Oh come dear, that is the worst answer I have ever heard in my life. Why would anyone, you ask? Well, the truth is they wouldn’t. They’d take one look at his fur, his teeth, and label him a beast. As you have.”
Leona narrowed her eyes. She waited for more, but Mrs. Kingsley merely waved her hand and turned to walk away. “You know,” Leona said softly. “You know he desires to be human.”
Mrs. Kingsley stopped. Only her profile was given; still it was enough to tell that slight tears were forming in her eyes. “He told you?” she whispered.
Leona nodded.
Mrs. Kingsley closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “He is no beast, Leona. He is already human.”
Leona narrowed her eyes. “Perhaps.”
Mrs. Kingsley turned back to Leona. “There is no perhaps about it. You’ll see.”
Leona shrugged. The she asked, “Mrs. Kingsley…you tell me not the call him a beast, yet…what other name-”
“If you do not know I cannot tell you,” she stated flatly.
Leona made a small, frustrated sound in her throat. “All right! So don’t blame me for not understanding! But please…try. Try to understand that I’m doing the best that I can!”
Mrs. Kingsley sighed. Her eyes wandered back to the kitchen, and she gave a small smile. “Apparently.” She sighed. “All right Leona. Prepare yourself. Dinner awaits.”
Leona raised her eyebrows. “Dinner? For whom?”
Mrs. Kingsley chuckled as she walked into the kitchen. “Now that is quite a story.”
“A story?” Leona asked, walking to wash up her hands and put on an apron. “Tell me.”
Mrs. Kingsley opened the cabinet doors, taking out flour, eggs, butter. “Well. I must say; with you here it might not be quite as tiring anymore…ah, well. You see, by now you must realize that the Prince…is of course a recluse.”
Leona nodded, dipping her hands in flour.
“So instead of looking for prospective brides…prospective brides come looking for him. Of course…none get very far. For you see there is a prophecy. ‘Noblest rose of true blood born, she alone will hear the curse, and with it lift him free.’”
Leona frowned. “Which means…?”
Mrs. Kingsley laughed. “Exactly. Well, in our words, it means whichever noble-woman can hear the beast will set the Prince free, so to speak. Will be the one.”
Leona looked up sharply. “But I can hear the beast, and-”
“Yes, yes,” Mrs. Kingsley said with a wave of her hand. “You understand why I was so surprised of course?”
Leona nodded. She supposed she couldn’t begrudge the Prince his belief in fate; not with knowing a talking beast, anyway. That did sort of add credence to the deal.
“We’ve another prospective...suitor, tonight. Who shall dine with the beast.”
Leona felt a small stab in her gut. Could it possibly be jealousy? She shook it off quickly. “And who,” Leona cleared her throat, “who is she?”
Mrs. Kingsley gave a dramatic roll of her eyes. She leaned in close. “A woman I personally believe to be a complete fake. But how can I judge? I cannot hear him, so if he says she is the one…” she shrugged.
Leona frowned. “You believe me.”
Mrs. Kingsley laughe
d, placing a hand on her shoulder. “But you, my dear, are not the most selfish ninny I have ever met. We shall leave it at that, hmm?”
Leona smiled. She looked down at her hands as she kneaded dough. “This is a lot of bread for just two,” she remarked.
Mrs. Kingsley gave a short bark of laughter. “Two! Good gracious if only! Lady Carolyn, of course, could never live without all of her ladies in waiting!”
Leona’s mouth dropped. “All of them! That’s bloody at least-”
“Oh, she compromised with ten,” Mrs. Kingsley sighed.
Leona looked to the door, her eyebrows raised.
Leona didn’t know what to expect. If she had thought that the dining hall would be filled with dust and cobwebs like the rest of the palace…she had greatly underestimated the power of Lady Carolyn. The dining room was, in fact, a fairy tale. Flickering candles lit the room not only in wall sconces, but also in chandeliers positioned at every corner of the room, and on both ends of the enormous table. At least thirty chairs surrounded the rectangular table, two high-backed chairs at each end. Like the rest of the palace, thick, burgundy velvet drapes hung across the windows, blocking light. The walls were papered in gold, reaching up to the ornate carvings on the walls, and on the ceiling… Leona once more had to stop and gape.
The sky was still present, but this time, it was day. The sun shone down brilliantly on the fluffy clouds…and cherubic faces of the angels. Each eye twinkled, each cheek glowed, each chubby finger seemed to bend out and reach for her as Leona stared, breathless.
Have you never before seen art? Again you gape.
Leona smiled slightly as she continued to stare. “Not like this,” she whispered.
“Please, dear, do not speak,” Mrs. Kingsley hissed.
Leona looked down quickly. “Oh, no, I was just-”
“Are we being served?”
Leona’s mouth dropped open. Her legs seemed to shake, her hands reaching out quickly to steady herself with the dinner cart. How could she have possibly missed her? Seated, one hand extended lightly, other resting comfortably on the arm-rest of the high-backed chair, was the most beautiful woman Leona had ever seen.
Thick black hair hung down in waves and curls to her waist, adorned in gold. Azure eyes shone behind thick lashes that fell to briefly kiss pale cheekbones highlighted in the palest of peach. Full, red lips were set in a tight pout. Her throat gleamed with blood-red rubies, matching the red silk gown that flowed over her curves. Gold was sewn into the dress in a delicate design of flowers. All around her sat similarly adorned ladies, though all paling in the radiance of her beauty.
“Yes, m’Lady,” Mrs. Kingsley said quickly.
Lady Carolyn arched her fine brows in mockery. “Excellent,” she murmured. Then her eyes glanced behind Leona, to the beast.
The beast was cautiously working his way forward to sit in the other high-backed chair at the other end of the table. He was nearly fifteen feet away from the rest of the ladies. Leona frowned, finding this a bit odd. Why should the beast sit so far, if this was a type of...test?
Serve, Leona.
Leona quickly moved to the tray to bring it closer to pile food on his plate, but Lady Carolyn shrieked out, “What are you doing!”
Leona froze. “I was just- he just- I-”
“We are here, not there, you twit!”
Leona looked quickly at the beast. Which was when she noticed that there was no dinner place set up for him. “You do not eat?” she asked quietly.
Not here, he said, surprised.
Feeling foolish, and more confused than ever, Leona wheeled the cart down to the other end of the table, trying to ignore the stares.
“Look at her, she’s so filthy,” one of the ladies whispered loudly.
Leona looked up quickly, but at the harsh look from Mrs. Kingsley, hid her temper. Together, Mrs. Kingsley and Leona served them, waited on them, and tried their best to ignore them. This was really the kind of behavior a lady guest displayed? She wondered how Lady Carolyn would act in front of the Prince; this was ridiculous.
It wasn’t until half-way though dinner that Leona truly began to lose her temper.
“So I was about to take a ride today when the awful- what was that?” Carolyn had been engrossed in her own conversation, when suddenly, she stopped, staring directly at the beast. The beast had so far been doing nothing but stare at her during the entire meal. “Oh,” Carolyn’s teeth spread in a false smile. “Why thank you.”
Leona couldn’t help it. Without heeding Mrs. Kingsley, Leona burst out, “But he didn’t say anything!”
The entire room fell silent. Carolyn turned her icy blue eyes directly on Leona. “Not to you, dear,” she said, ice dripping from every word. “Why would he? Only I, the noblest born, can hear him.”
Leona’s brow wrinkled.
“Honestly; these servants!” Carolyn hissed to her maids. Thinking she had put Leona in her place, Carolyn turned away, but Leona was still utterly confused. She opened her mouth, and then suddenly the beast cut in.
Leave it be, Leona.
Leona turned to him, a question in her eyes.
Carolyn had since turned to face the beast. “You horrid creature, how you could let her treat me like this! I am your savior!” Her ladies chorused her indignantly.
Did you not hear what I thought, lovely?
Leona realized he was not speaking to her. She turned to see Carolyn’s reaction.
The princess smiled, and then said, her words dripping honey, “Of course I did not mean to call you horrid.”
Leona frowned deeper. “But that had nothing to do with-”
“Hush, Leona,” Mrs. Kingsley said quietly, grabbing her arms as she looked back and forth from the beast to the lady. She started to push Leona out of the room, oblivious to Carolyn’s insults.
“But Mrs. Kingsley she-”
“Why don’t you head on up to check on your mother then dear,” she was saying, finally shoving her out the door.
Once Leona was out of the dining room, she shut the doors quickly in Leona’s face, Leona’s mouth still open to argue.