The Beast (21 page)

“Then you and I shall make quite the attractive duo tonight.” She moved to Belle’s side, hooking her arm with Belle’s and started to steer her into the crowd.

Another series of bangs called everyone to silence, but this time the sound came from the other side of the room. From a source that Belle could not see. “Dinner is served!”

“You will sit next to me, won’t you, Darling?” Liv asked as they walked with the steady flow of the crowd, heading toward the dining hall.

“Of course, you won’t be able to get rid of me.”

Liv laughed. The sound was delicate and soft. The epitome of the saying music to one’s ears. Liv was everything a lady should be and for the first real time in Belle’s life, she envied another woman.

“Now you must do away with the sheepish behavior I saw just a moment ago. Everyone here is your better, but such behavior is for the servants,” she whispered seriously into Belle’s ear as they walked. “Are you a servant?” Belle barely shook her head. “No, you’re not. You’re a guest of his Royal Highness, Crowned Prince Regent, Aleksander the First. Show them the confidence that comes along with such an honor and you’ll fit right in. I’ve been told by many sources that you have confidence in bounds, so let’s see it.”

One long table filled the regal hall. It was set with the finest of dishware, but no food or wine had yet been brought out. Belle followed Liv, who seemed to know exactly her place at the table. Servants weaved themselves throughout the crowd, helping those who needed it. In moments, everyone was seated and through the doors came a long stream of platter-laden servants.

They walked in a perfect line around the table. There was one tray-carrying servant for each guest. Their hands swooped down, like a perfectly choreographed dance, to place the first course.

Smiling, Belle glanced over at Liv, who wiggled her eyebrows. That’s when Belle noticed that the head of the table was empty, yet a servant was still there to place a setting. Liv saw where she looked. “That is where our host would sit. Since he cannot be here, against his will, a place is set in his honor.”

“That’s a nice sentiment.” Belle watched the servants making the rounds, filling glasses with red wines. “It shows a great deal of respect.”

“His Royal Highness has our respect and admiration, there is no doubt about that.” Liv sipped her just poured wine.

Soon she introduced Belle to those seated closest. Two of them were the infamous Lord and Lady Dahling that Belle had heard so much about. They seemed to treat each other with as much disdain as one would treat an enemy. They were all polite to Belle, asking her many questions about the world outside. Every now and then the Lord and Lady Dahling would make a quip at the other’s expense, which everyone else would pretend not to hear.

Course after course came and Belle learned not to eat so much of any single one or she would fill up far too soon. The food was divine and her wine glass was kept full. The conversation was also free flowing. If anyone was uncomfortable at Belle’s presence, they were too well mannered to show it.

Belle learned a fair bit about Liv as the meal drew to an end. She was as intelligent as Laramie had said, as she was highly educated. She was also nothing like her brother, whom Belle hadn’t seen all night. Liv admitted that she had little in common with Audun and they rarely spent time together. He had his duties and lessons growing up and she had hers, they were as good as strangers. Liv also admitted that she envied her brother’s position and his future running their family’s estate. Being a Lord’s wife didn’t seem to be as stimulating, she said.

When dinner ended, they relocated to the ballroom. Aside from the library, it might have been Belle’s favorite room. White walls with heavy and elaborate gold moldings to match. From the ceiling hung immense chandeliers with dangling crystals and burning candles. Great windowed doors surrounded the whole ballroom. They could be opened during the few warm summer months to let guests mingle in the courtyard, but now they were shut tight allowing only a marvelous view of the surrounding mountains. An orchestra played upon a stage at the far end of the room. The ballroom was perfect for the music, it held onto the notes and let them swirl their round sounds among the guests.

Liv introduced Belle to many more people and some came over with the pretense of greeting Liv, but with the intention of meeting the strange outsider. Belle curtsied more times than she could count and she was grateful that Edvina had been helping her practice over the last week. Reading all day made her muscles ache and aside from her walks with Charming in the evening, it was the only exercise she got. It had certainly paid off. Belle was able to greet each new person comfortably without fear of embarrassing herself. Liv stayed by her side, discreetly giving advice and encouragement.

Eventually, Belle was asked to dance and she was much grateful for it. Though she could hold a good conversation, she quickly grew weary. Dancing? That she could do all night. And she did. As soon as one song ended and she curtsied a farewell to her dance partner, another came to take his place. They were young men, old men, handsome, and not so. Liv was kept just as busy and occasionally they smiled at each other in passing.

These dances were not like the heart-pounding routine that Jack had performed with Belle back at their Noël party. They were more reserved and contained like Gastone’s dance had been. She was twirled in a waltz and smoothly guided into a two-step. A few times, the dancers formed long lines that meant for them to weave throughout one another. With their partner, but often separate.

Belle was just about to accept a dance from a rather portly man when Liv intervened. “I’m afraid, Lord Gaubert, that the mademoiselle and I have reached our feminine limits. You gentlemen have provided us with far too much entertainment tonight.”

She gave him such a sweet smile that he accepted the refusal with a gracious bow.

“Have you truly reached your limits, Liv?” she asked as the young lady took Belle’s arm and started escorting her out of the ballroom. “Because I could certainly dance for many more hours.”

“Oh certainly could I, Belle, but we’ve already consumed several hours of the night.” Liv patted her hand, as they casually walked. At some point, they’d started using each other’s first name and Belle hadn’t even notice it happen. “We don’t want to give the wrong impression by being the last young ladies to leave, do you take my meaning?”

Belle nodded and Liv said a quick goodnight to some guests but didn’t stop their pace. They left the ballroom and two sets of guards took up positions around them. Liv ignored them like a woman who’d dealt with it her whole life.

“Have you heard, Belle,” Liv said after awhile of quiet walking. Aside from the guards and a passing maid, there was no one around to hear them. “My brother received quite the thrashing?”

Belle tensed, afraid of how much Audun might have admitted to her. “I did see him last night. It was apparent that he’d been through an ordeal.”

“Indeed, he told only my father what happened and that only seemed to make my father mad at
him
.” She raised her eyebrows at Belle to emphasize the point. “I’ve tried to coax the servants into talking because they know everything that goes on in this castle, but all they would say was that he got what he deserved.”

“Oh dear,” was all Belle could think to say. She really didn’t want to lie or hide things from Liv, but she also had no desire to reveal the events of that day.

Liv shrugged. “He likely did. The man is a pompous, self-entitled git.”

Belle laughed in surprise. Most likely that was a proclamation that Liv wouldn’t have made in front of others, but Belle was glad she felt comfortable enough to say it around her. “You know, Liv, I think I like you very much.”

Liv pulled Belle closer until they walked shoulder to shoulder, and squeezed her hand. “I am so glad to hear that because you are the most interesting person in my life.”

Not wanting Belle to be caught without a chaperon in the hall, Liv followed Belle back to her bed chambers and then bid her a goodnight. Belle stepped into her room to find it dimly light by only a few candles and the fire. Edvina was asleep in an armchair, her mouth hanging open.

Belle noticed something on the bed. It was a box; a box wrapped and tied with a satin red ribbon. Belle picked up the package, being careful not to wake Edvina. She turned over the small note card. In cursive writing it read:
Joyeux Noël, Aleksander.

The gift was early, as Noël wasn’t for another five days. But Belle’s heart warmed at the gift all the same. She sat down on the bed’s edge and placed the gift upon her lap. Sliding the ribbon free, she dropped it next to her. The box’s top was removed next. A fist-sized, silver heart sat beneath, within the center of a red cushion.

Pulling the heart from the box, she realized that it was heavy and thicker than it first looked. Upon closer inspection, she saw that the heart’s surface was carved into roses, vines, and various elegant designs. On the bottom were three small pegs for the heart to rest upon. Between them was a small hole for a key. Belle ran her fingers along the seams and crevasses of the satin box, till she found the brass piece. It fit perfectly and turned several times with ease.

At first Belle was confused when nothing happened, then she realized that the top of the heart was actually a lid. Slowly, she lifted it and music began to twinkle out. Within the heart, beneath a glass face, were hundreds of tiny gears. They clicked, turned, and spun together.

The song it played was a waltz, but not one she was familiar with. Most popular waltz songs reminded Belle of young, flippant love with their upbeat and short notes. But this song was slower—heavier somehow—with long notes.

It made Belle think of warm nights and starry skies.

He was nowhere in the dining hall, but that wasn’t a surprise. The food in a moon dream would be a disappointment compared to the real thing. Passing it by, Belle walked to the grand ballroom. At the room’s center, there he was.

He looked much like the first moment she saw him. His soft hair was loose but combed back, falling behind his shoulders. Only one medal draped from around his neck; a combined cross and star. A white-gloved hand sat formally before him.

Somehow, standing there in the middle of the ballroom, he reminded her of a lion. So regal. So awe-inspiring.

Walking toward him, Belle couldn’t hold back her smile. She truly looked and felt like a princess, and was about to dance with the most interesting and beautiful man she’d ever known. Her heels clicked against the marble. Thousands of candles illuminated the room with light that chased shadows and flickered off gold inlays. Blackness filled the windows, but brilliant stars rested among them. It was just like the night before but, with only Aleksander before her, the beauty of it all was enhanced.

“Mademoiselle,” Prince Aleksander said with a formal bow.

“Your Royal Highness.” She curtsied, long and graceful.

“You are every bit as beautiful as I had imagined.” His eyes rested on her with a loving softness, making her heart skip.

“Thank you for the gift.” Belle looked him in the eyes, unable to look anywhere else. “The music box is lovely and the song is enchanting. What is it?”

“It is titled
A Starry Waltz,
composed by a budding talent. He was lost to the curse, but he at least had the chance to present the composition to my parents on their anniversary.”

“I am honored that you would give the song to me then. I’ll treasure it always.” Thinking over the last week, she added, “Thank you for so much more than that. This dress, the jewels, the library, the garden—you’ve given me so much that I will hold dear forever.”

“Then your presence here was a gift to both of us.” He extended his hand, smiling down at her. “May I have this dance?”

“You may.” Belle took his hand and he led her into position.

They separated and bowed. There was a moment, when they stood, where they just looked at one another. Then he stepped up to Belle and took her hand in his, with one strong hand at her waist. Aleksander closed his eyes, took a deep breath. The moment he moved to begin the dance, glorious orchestral music lilted into the air.
A Starry Waltz
and it was even grander in its true form. If this song was love—it was forbidden, but it was forever.

He maneuvered her effortlessly, like gliding on air. Any inexperience she had in dancing was lost in his elegant movements. Belle twirled, her satin skirts floating around her. Aleksander brought them close together, their chests just barely touching. She could hardly breathe as she looking into his eyes. Her whole body felt light and tingly.