Devastation: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (21 page)

“Roast isn’t typically served here?” Blye
asked.

With my mouth full, Alec answered her.

“A stew is much easier for the kitchen to
prepare while they try to shore the winter stores.”

“I’m honored you had a special meal prepared
for us, Lord Ruhall,” Ila said.

Blye’s lips thinned again. Her distaste for
Ila was obvious, and I wanted to kick my sister under the
table.

“I’m honored you could join us, Ila,” Alec
said. “Tell me what news you have from the Water.”

And with that, he let Ila lead the
conversation and Blye sulk quietly in her chair.

* * * *

Egrit woke me with a knock on my door. The
place beside me still held Alec’s heat. He always managed to come
and go without being caught. Too many years prowling as a beast had
honed his nocturnal skills.

“Good morning,” she said softly when I
opened the door. “I started water heating in the laundry so the
children can wash before the feast. Tam is bringing bath water to
Lord Ruhall’s room. Would you like him to bring some to your old
room, too?”

“Would he mind?”

“Not at all. Mr. Crow said that we have no
duties today other than setting up for the feast. Tam and I still
milked the goats and collected eggs, though.”

“Tell Tam thank you for his hard work. You
too,” I said, reaching out to touch her arm.

“You’re welcome, Benella. The water should
be in your room in an hour.”

I nodded, and she walked away. Down the
hall, another door opened and Ila stepped out to wave to me. I
joined her and saw my dress laid out on her bed.

“Should we take it to your room?”

“I’m going to use the Lady’s room to bathe.
Let’s take it there.” Better she thought me overreaching than for
her to see I had no bed in my room. She picked up the dress, and I
carried the underskirt and matching slippers.

“This is truly amazing.” I spoke softly in
the hallway, not wanting to wake Blye or Father.

“I cannot wait to see you in it. Let me know
as soon as you have it on.”

I opened the door to the large room. It was
just as I’d left it. We set everything out on the bed, and I pulled
the tub out from under its table.

“Let’s see if there’s anything to eat in the
kitchen,” I said, ready to leave the room before Alec heard
something.

Ila agreed, and we left the room to search
out food. Giggles echoed in the laundry as we passed the room. I
caught sight of Otta in the doorway and waved.

Kara was alone in the kitchen, frantically
moving about.

“Where’s Bryn?”

“She hasn’t arrived yet.”

I hoped everything was all right.

“Can I help?” I said, moving to stir
whatever bubbled over the fire.

“Please. I have biscuits in the oven, eggs
boiling over here, stew boiling over there for the remaining meat
pies, I need to roll out the dough...”

She looked ready to cry. Ila stepped
forward.

“I’ll watch the biscuits and eggs and set
the table for the children. You roll out your dough.”

Between the three of us, we settled the
kitchen to its typical morning rhythm. In no time, we had the table
set, the eggs in a bowl, a pitcher of fresh milk ready, and the
biscuits from the oven. The children started to trail in; and when
Egrit saw us, she shooed us to the table.

“Eat,” she said. “I wonder where Bryn is. I
saw her walking down the lane earlier.”

I frowned, wondering what might have
happened to her, and sat at the table. The children were excited
for the feast. Otta and Retta spoke in quiet tones about the
possibility of dancing with boys their ages.

“I promise there will be a few in
attendance,” I said, thinking of the Kinlyn boys.

As soon as Ila and I finished, we started
the trek back to our rooms. When we passed the dining room, I
stopped short at the sound of both Bryn and Blye’s voices. I waved
Ila to go without me and waited until she was out of hearing before
I stepped into the room.

They both sat at the table, one on each side
of where Alec usually sat.

“Is breakfast almost ready?” Blye asked.

They were waiting to be served breakfast. I
closed my eyes and took a calming breath.

“Benella? Are you well enough to fetch Blye
and me a tray?”

I opened my eyes, looked at them once more,
then turned to leave, swallowing what I would have liked to say to
Bryn.

When I spotted Mr. Crow in the entry, I
hurried to his side.

“Bryn is sitting in the dining room while
Kara is struggling to prepare the feast.”

“I will address the issue immediately, Miss
Hovtel.”

“Thank you, Mr. Crow. If more help is needed
in the kitchen, please let me know. Kara looked near tears this
morning.”

I stalked to the ballroom, seething because
my sisters were so arrogant and selfish. After closing my eyes and
counting backward for several moments, I calmed enough to view the
progress within the room. Tables lined the wall near the north
parlor. Linens already covered the tables. A mountain of napkins
and small plates waited at one end.

Chairs lined the wall near the fireplace and
several more near the garden doors for the musicians. Someone had
thoughtfully gathered fall’s last wildflower blooms and placed them
in vases on the tables and around the base of each wooden candle
stand. The simple decorations were beautiful.

Satisfied everything was ready, I went to my
room to grab my brush and hair oil. With the items in hand, I
returned to my old room. The tub waited, full of steaming water.
Setting everything within reach, I stripped my clothes and slid
into the water with a sigh. Less than a minute later, a door
opened.

I turned my head and met Alec’s gaze. While
he crossed the room, I cursed myself for not thinking to lock the
door. Ila’s company had too successfully distracted me from my
troubles with Alec.

“Stop there,” I said quietly.

“It has been more than two months since I
watched you in the bath.” He stepped close and circled the tub.

I crossed my arms to shield what held his
attention. It only encouraged him to squat beside the tub.

Keeping my gaze, he leaned close.

“You are most precious to behold as you are,
without clothes and pink from the water.” Closer still he came, his
intent clear when his gaze dipped to my mouth.

I lifted one hand and flicked water in his
face.

Angrily, he leaned in, held the back of my
neck, and pressed his lips to mine. I turned my head, unwilling to
part with a single bit of affection for the impertinent man, and
splashed him again. He quickly stood and stepped out of danger.

“Behave yourself tonight,” I said in a harsh
whisper. “There will be plenty of cider for me to douse you.”

“Me?” He plucked at his wet shirt. “I will
behave if you behave,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“If you cause issues, such as throwing
anything at me, or disagreeing with me in front of the assembled, I
will ruin the feast.”

With that, he left me. I frowned after him,
trying to understand his threat. What did my behavior have to do
with the feast? His was under scrutiny, not mine. And why threaten
with the ruination of the feast when that would result in the
return of the enchantment?

Still puzzling over it, I continued my
bath.

* * * *

I didn’t attempt to put on the dress until
I’d combed my hair dry, which seemed to take ages. The soft
material danced upon my skin as I let it fall down my raised arms
and over my head. The bodice had a double panel, so I went without
my bindings. The lacings, once tightened, pushed my breasts up so
they mounded ever so slightly over the top. Even through the
stretched material, I could see the shape of each breast. The full
underskirt provided a bit more modesty.

After stepping into my slippers, I left the
room to show Ila. She opened the door after my first knock. Her
dress was equally beautiful. Dyed a deep red-brown, the fine
material was edged with cream lace at her sleeves. White threads
created a swirling pattern along her hem.

“It’s beautiful,” I said. “Perfect for fall
or winter.”

She smiled, stepped aside, and waved me in.
“Your dress fits nicely. Come in. Let me braid your hair.”

I sat on a low stool while she stood behind
me and patiently created braid after braid within my loose hair.
Then she swept the mass up and started pulling out the braided
sections to weave them into unbraided sections. When she finished,
she handed me a mirror.

“Ila, you are very talented. I would offer
to help braid your hair, but it would look nothing like this.”

“Don’t worry. I plan to wear mine in a
simple braid. You should go now and check that everything is
ready.”

Chapter 10

Mr. Crow stood ready at the door but waved
me over when he saw me.

“You are most lovely, Miss Hovtel.”

I smiled at his sincerity.

“Thank you, Mr. Crow. You look very fine
yourself.” He wore his usual dark jacket and pants but had taken
care to polish his shoes until they reflected even the tiniest bit
of light.

“I want to keep you apprised of your
sister’s behavior. She has been warned. If she ignores her duties
again, she will be dismissed. She also lost half a day’s
wages.”

“A fair consequence for her actions,” I
said. “I’m going to check on the kitchen and see when Kara thinks
we should start bringing out the food. How much longer until you
expect guests to arrive?”

“Within minutes, Miss. There are always
those who want to be early.”

I hoped the candle maker was among them.
While heading toward the kitchen, I checked the rooms I passed and
found everything in order. After weeks of preparation, it seemed
the estate was ready to hold its first feast in fifty years. I
hurried my steps.

Kara stood alone in the kitchen. Trays of
carefully stacked meat pies crowded the table.

“I sent Bryn to get ready with your other
sister,” she said as soon as she saw me. “I’m just waiting for this
last batch of pies to come from the oven.”

“It smells like heaven in here,” I said,
leaning over the pies. Heat radiated from them. “How did you get so
many done so quickly?”

“I under baked several batches yesterday, so
I would only need to brown them today. I had crust ready in the
cellar, too, for rolling this morning.”

Flour dusted her apron and face.

“I will watch the oven. Go ready yourself.
Mr. Crow says he expects guests soon.”

“I have everything right in here,” she said,
pointing at the servant’s room. “Call out if you need
anything.”

After Kara ducked into the room, Ila entered
with her hair plainly braided. I was glad for her company. Worry
over Alec’s threat kept churning through my head, and I needed a
distraction.

“I thought you might be here,” she said,
studying the meat pies as I had.

“Though I have no love of cooking, I do so
enjoy eating,” I said with a grin. “Kara is dressing while I watch
the oven for her.”

Ila kept me company until Kara reappeared.
She wore a plain, light grey dress very similar to the one she’d
worn before. Her hair remained in its typical bun.

“Do you have any hair ribbons?” Ila
asked.

“Yes. A black one and a grey one. Do you
think I should use one of them?” She reached up to touch her
hair.

“Yes, but not in your hair. Let me show
you.” Ila stepped into the room with Kara and a moment later Kara
reappeared with a black ribbon tied around her neck with the bow in
the back.

“Lovely,” I said. “That such a simple thing
can so enhance one’s appearance amazes me.”

“I agree,” said Kara. “Where did you learn
this?”

Ila gave a small smile.

“I have many sisters who are well
traveled.”

“You are lucky, then, to have them.”

“I agree,” Ila said.

“Are we ready to start carrying the food to
the ballroom?” I asked.

“Yes,” Kara said. “The cider should probably
go first. I imagine the guests who choose to walk will be
thirsty.”

Ila stayed in the kitchen while I went off
to find help. Tam and the other men returned with me and carried up
more than a dozen small barrels before starting on the trays.

Outside the kitchen door, I heard the rumble
of a wagon and went to see who had arrived. Edmund waved at me then
set the brake and jumped down from his seat. Beside him, the candle
maker held several thick pillars in his arms.

The men, having just returned from the
ballroom, helped Edmund unload his pastries and took the pillars
from the candle maker. Satisfaction coursed through me at seeing
everything coming together so nicely.

“Where’s Bryn?” Edmund asked after the last
of his trays disappeared. Kara and Ila were carefully arranging the
last meat pies on a tray.

“Dressing with Blye.”

“Shouldn’t she be helping?”

“Kara said she could dress.”

“You’re dressed and helping.”

“I am.” I patted his arm. “How have things
been going without the extra help in the bakery?”

“Fine. It’s quiet, though.” His expression
said he missed her.

“If you’d like, perhaps your wife should
stay home with you for the next few days. I expect it will be quiet
enough here.”

“I would like that. I think she would,
too.”

“Go find her and tell her. And enjoy
yourself tonight, Edmund.”

He walked out, leaving Kara, Ila, and me in
the kitchen.

“Are we ready?” I asked them.

“We are,” Ila said, coming to hook her arm
through mine.

“Thank you for your help. I truly appreciate
it.”

“It’s what a friend would do.”

We walked out of the kitchen and soon heard
the buzz of voices from those guests who had already arrived. In
the main entry, I gave a warm greeting to the butcher and
introduced both Ila and Kara. His daughter found Retta, and the
pair went off to the ballroom.