Devastation: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (17 page)

“Would you consider helping with the
harvest? According to what Egrit said, the apples should be ready
any day.”

“Will you be harvesting?”

“Of course.”

A curious expression flitted over his
features then disappeared.

“I will help. Will you read to me tonight?
We can eat in the library.”

I nodded. “I’ll let Kara know we’ll need a
tray.” I turned to go but looked back. “Don’t give up hope.”

I left him by his desk and went to the
kitchen. When Kara saw me, she pointed to the table.

“Sit. You never came back for your biscuit
and left before midday meal. I saved you some food.”

Her concern had me smiling and dutifully
following her order. While I sat, she went to the oven and pulled
out a plate full of fish, carrots, and biscuits. My mouth watered
as she set it before me.

“Thank you,” I breathed just before taking a
large bite of warm fish.

Bryn moved quietly about the kitchen,
ignoring me. Her disregard allowed me to focus on my meal. It was
only when I had a few crumbs left that I recalled why I’d come to
the kitchen.

“Kara, Lord Ruhall has requested a tray for
three for dinner.”

Kara nodded and came for my plate. As I
rose, I noticed Bryn’s annoyed glance in my direction. I left
without giving it thought.

* * * *

My belly was still satisfied when I joined
Father in the library a while later. Alec read in the study.

“I heard there was a disturbance this
afternoon,” Father said discreetly.

I nodded and sat near his desk.

“Rose told him he needs to marry by winter
solstice or suffer enchantment once more.”

“We’d best start considering what
preparations need to be made. Two feasts in a season will be a
strain on the estate.”

“The wedding feast must be simple, then.
There were no requirements made by Rose. Only that he marry.”

Father nodded and studied me for so long I
looked away. Thankfully, Alec joined us and spared me from further
scrutiny. As we ate, we discussed the estate coffers, which hadn’t
changed and shared reports on the feast’s progress.

“I sent a note to the Head asking for
suitable family entertainment,” Father said. “He referred several
local musicians who are happy to play for food, drink, and a bit of
coin.”

Relieved we’d managed yet another piece of
the affair, I reported that the lower level was clean and ready for
guests and the menu was tentatively planned.

“Tentatively?”

“Smoked fish, meat pies, apple pastries, and
cider. I haven’t thought of anything else we might offer without
incurring an unreasonable expense.”

“I think the menu will suffice,” Alec said.
“She seems to know exactly what we do. If it wasn’t sufficient, we
would have heard from her.”

I knew he referred to Rose.

As soon as I finished, Alec stood.

“Would you read to me, Benella?”

He handed me a thin volume, and Father moved
to go back to his desk.

“Of course,” I said, accepting the book. I
went to recline on the lounge, and Alec took his usual place on the
floor. His hands tugged at my hair before I began.

He’d chosen poetry, sad pieces that brought
melancholy more than cheer. I only read a few before closing the
volume.

“Finished already?”

“Egrit has bath water heating. A warm bath
would be more welcome than a cold one,” I said, sitting up.

He accepted the volume from me.

“Will you read to me again tomorrow?”

I nodded and left, wondering what Father
thought of how we behaved. It wasn’t inappropriate, exactly. Yet, I
still felt Alec’s fingers in my hair.

* * * *

The bed dipped. Alec pulled me close. I
sighed and sank deeper into sleep as his fingers trailed my
arm.

* * * *

Tam had baskets waiting at the base of the
trees when Alec, Swiftly, and I joined him. The other men were
fishing, trying to catch as much as possible to smoke for the
feast. With only four of us to harvest, the task before us was
daunting.

Alec stripped off his coat and neckcloth and
rolled up his sleeves as Tam started to explain how to use the
poles. I found myself glancing at Alec too often and missing bits
of the instruction. The marks on his shoulder and the reason behind
them were never far from my mind.

Tam handed us our poles, and Alec followed
me as I selected a tree on which to start.

Within minutes, it was obvious I would be of
little help with the pole, so I set it aside and picked from the
lower branches. Alec worked the top branches. He never moved far
from my side, and our time together was reminiscent of our times
before the enchantment broke.

It was well past midday before we had our
first tree picked clean.

“We’ll carry the baskets to the wagon,” Alec
said, looking at me. “Will you ask Kara to prepare us something to
eat? We’ll join you after we finish.”

I willingly left them to carry the heavy
baskets and walked the distance to the manor. Kara wasn’t in the
kitchen this time. Hiding my reluctance, I turned to Bryn.

“Could you please prepare four servings of
something? We’ve finished with the first load of apples.”

She glanced at me, marched to the stove, and
pulled four biscuits from the oven. Setting them on a single plate,
she handed them to me.

“Perhaps you should have eaten a few of the
apples.”

I will not break this plate over my sister’s
head, I thought to myself. I took a calming breath before I spoke
aloud.

“I’m sure Lord Ruhall will be grateful for
the lunch you’ve provided.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she snatched
the plate back.

I watched as she grabbed three more plates
and put a biscuit on each. Then, she sliced thick wedges of cheese
and placed them along with pieces of smoked fish on the plates. By
the time she finished, Swiftly had joined us.

“I’ll bring them to the table, Miss,” he
said to me. “Go sit.”

He joined me at the table and set a plate
before me. Tam and Alec came in a moment later. Alec sat beside me.
Bryn brought us water and fawned over Lord Ruhall, asking if he’d
like more of anything. She had obviously forgotten his disdain of
her when he’d been a beast and had us all hanging in vines.

As soon as we finished eating, Tam, Alec,
and I returned to picking while Swiftly delivered the apples to
Edmund. It didn’t take Swiftly long to return with the empty
baskets.

“He said that was more than twice what he
needed and thanked us for it.”

I eyed all the trees that still hung heavy
with fruit. Letting the harvest fall to waste on the ground wasn’t
an option. What we couldn’t use, we would sell.

Alec came to stand behind me as I stared up
at the heavy branches.

“Are you tired?”

“A little,” I admitted.

“We can continue without you.”

“No, I prefer this over dusting,” I said,
reaching for my next apple. In truth, I didn’t want the men having
to work harder because of my absence.

When we returned to the manor several hours
later, Alec went directly to the study, assured by Tam and Swiftly
that they no longer needed his help. The two then brought the
baskets of apples around to the kitchen, and I followed. Kara knew
of our plans to press them for cider and directed the men to take
them into the cellar. While Bryn prepared a tray for me to take to
the study, Kara pulled me to the side.

“Your sister is very helpful. However, with
all these apples, I’m not certain the two of us can prepare meals,
smoke fish, press cider, and—”

“I will speak with Egrit and see if she and
Mrs. Palant can help. The rooms on the first floor are clean, as
are a few on the second floor. It should be enough to suit our
needs.”

With relief, Kara thanked me and went down
to the cellar to check on Tam and Swiftly.

I turned to get the tray from Bryn. She
stared at the door in shock. I followed her gaze and found Patrick
and Sara there. Sara kept her attention on the ground.

“We’re here to see Lord Ruhall,” Mr. Coalre
said. “My wife is seeking a position.”

Anger heated my face. They’d stood idly by
as the baker rutted over me and now wanted help? Hate had me
clenching my fists at my side as I stood there stiffly.

Mr. Crow stepped from his office and eyed
the pair.

“There are no positions currently open,” he
said.

Sara’s face fell while the smith’s grew
red.

“I asked to speak with Lord Ruhall.”

“Mr. Crow handles Lord Ruhall’s staff,” I
said, drawing his attention. “There is nothing for Sara.” Her face
flushed. I noted the tears starting in her eyes, and I hated myself
for the pity I felt. “However, there is work for you and your
sons.”

“And what would that be?”

“There are apples to harvest. We’ll pay a
copper for a filled basket.”

“My time at the forge is worth more than
that. As is Tennen’s. I’ll send Splane to help. Sara, too.”

“It’s the three of you or none. The forge
lies cold most days, and Tennen has too much time on his
hands.”

The look Mr. Coalre gave made my knees weak
with fear, but I didn’t stop.

“Work for your bread or don’t eat.” I turned
and left the kitchen before he could respond.

When I reached the laundry door, I stopped
to lean against the wall and catch my breath. My hands shook.

“Miss Hovtel?” Mr. Crow approached me with
concern, and I quickly straightened from the wall.

“Yes?”

“The smith and his sons will be here in the
morning. Why did you offer them work?”

“Why did you and Father invite them to the
feast?”

“Your father suggested them. I had the
impression he was unaware of their involvement in what transpired
and didn’t speak out against it, fearing he’d want to know why.” He
glanced down. “I’d thought it the right thing to do. Was I
wrong?”

I knew his doubt not only stemmed from his
worry about me, but also from his past silence.

“I apologize if I sounded harsh. You were
not wrong. I chose not to burden my father with all the details. I
am glad you did not, as well.” I sighed as I considered how to
answer Mr. Crow’s original question. “I offered them work because
they should feel what it’s like to labor for so little. The smith
has not been a good husband and helpmate to his wife, and his sons
are learning from his lazy and disrespectful ways. If they work
hard, they could easily earn a blunt silver tomorrow. The choice is
theirs.

“But warn Tam and Swiftly to keep close
watch on them at all times and have Kara prepare a simple meal for
Tam and Swiftly to take with them in the morning so they have no
reason to leave the Coalre men unattended.”

“You’re concerned they will do
something?”

“My past experiences have taught me to be
cautious of them.”

“Very well. I’ll bring the tray to the
library, Miss, if you’d like to wash first.”

He left to fetch the tray; and after a hasty
wash in the laundry, I joined Alec and Father in the library where
the tray already waited.

“We’ve made such wonderful progress
harvesting that Kara has asked for extra help in the kitchen
tomorrow,” I said, sitting. Father served me a plate, and we began
eating. “And, interestingly, I also found help to harvest tomorrow.
The smith and his sons.” I held Alec’s gaze as I said it and
witnessed his grip tighten on his fork. “I agreed to pay them a
copper per filled basket. After we press what we need for the
feast, we can bring the rest of the apples to the Water to sell,
making the expense of their labor profitable.”

Alec studied me for a moment then
nodded.

“A splendid idea, Benella,” Father said. “I
was thinking of having Kara press three times as much as we might
need or as much as she can before she thinks they will go bad. I’ve
come across a book on making wine and spirits, and it has detailed
instructions on making hard cider. We could use the drink for
future feasts or sell it to local taverns.”

He was thinking of Lord Ruhall’s commanded
wedding. Such a celebration usually required wine, but a hard cider
would do.

“You’re right. We should use whatever we
can. I plan to stay here to help Kara in the kitchen tomorrow.”

“I’ll do the same,” Alec said. “With five
men harvesting, it will likely take the three of us pressing the
apples to keep up.”

“Three?” Father said.

The genuine smile Alec gave my father warmed
me.

“You have the knowledge, sir. We wouldn’t
know what to do without you. Kara and Bryn would be able to keep on
their tasks with our help.”

We ate the rest of the meal; and after
reading to Alec, I excused myself and retired early. The day had
exhausted me. I had barely lay in bed before sleep claimed me.

I only roused slightly when Alec joined me.
And again later, when the languid caress of his fingers shifted
from my arm to my exposed stomach. Too tired to speak, I simply
rolled away from him, and his touch returned to my arm.

* * * *

Father, Alec, and I ate early in the study.
We listened to Father explain the pressing process and then went to
the small courtyard outside the laundry. While Alec brought up the
baskets, Father and I worked the press. It was an interesting
contraption with a large metal wheel and connecting crank. The
apples went into the top holding chute; and as the wheel turned,
the apples fell into the inner workings that crushed them. The
juices and fine pulp slid down the exit chute and the peels and
seeds fell into the waste bucket.

We all took turns working the wheel and
feeding apples into the chute. When it was my turn at the wheel, my
arms grew weary quickly, and I paused to watch the ease with which
Alec lifted a full basket closer to the chute.