Loved by the Beast

by T E Elliott

  She nodded her head absently and turned to go. As she wandered down the hall, she realized she was in the west wing again, forbidden ground. Where was Duchesse d'Aramitz? Now that she could see with several lamps lit, she noticed the beautiful paintings of various size and subject that lined the walls. She stopped in front of several medium-sized portraits. One was of a man who could easily have been Audric, with the same shape of the face and eye color, though with normal amounts of hair. He was handsome, with distinguished cheekbones and straight Grecian nose. His dark hair had an attractive semi-curl to it. Down the line was a younger Duchesse d'Aramitz, then a boy, this was Audric. Next to his was a portrait of a baby in a flowing white gown, Lisette, surely. She came back to the first one. It must be the father.

  She finally made her way to the library and found Lisette curled up on the settee, weeping, while Jacques had his arm around her. When Léa came in, relief washed over his face at the sight of her. He pressed Lisette’s shoulder, and she lifted her head. The girl ran to Léa and they embraced long and hard.

  “Is he dead, Léa?” she whimpered.

  “No, not dead, but badly injured. He is being attended to now.” They returned to the settee and sat down with Jacques. Léa reached out her hand for Jacques’ and squeezed it, “Thank you,” she mouthed over Lisette’s head. Jacques smiled tenderly and nodded his head.

  “Where is Marie and Madame Beaumont?” Léa asked with concern.

  Jacques answered, “They are at home with Father. We went there first when the crowd took Monsieur Rousseau away. Then we took a horse and rode here to fetch help. We’ve been waiting for news since.”

  “It’s all my fault, Léa,” Lisette cried, “I knew he shouldn’t have gone to the village, I knew he shouldn’t…” A wracking cry of regret kept her from finishing.

  “No, Lisette, if anyone is to blame for this it’s me.” She stood up and walked to the cold fireplace, tracing the images along its frame. “If I’d only stayed, if I hadn’t said all those horrible words to him, if only…” she stifled a sob. Looking over, she found Audric's coat still on the chair where he’d thrown it the night everyone was in the city. She picked it up and held it close, breathing in his scent.

  Jacques squirmed and struggled with whether or not to speak, then couldn’t hold it in anymore, “Stop this. Who is to blame? No one and everyone. An impossible situation was presented to him, choices were made, words were said. Were there mistakes made? Surely! But as far as I’m concerned, there's no way to look at it but to move forward from here. The man made a choice knowing full well what it entailed, and the worst has happened. Now there is nothing to be done but to hope, pray, and support him as he recovers. As a brother and as a man, I’m positive that’s all he would want you both to focus on now.”

  They both stopped and stared at him, then burst out sobbing uncontrollably and snuggled up to him on either side.

  “Yes, well, there, there,” he sighed, and patted them both on the arms.

  The ladies were both asleep when Madame Villeneuve came in a few hours later. Jacques roused them and they attempted to rub away the grog so they could hear what she had to say.

  “My husband and Édouard have done all they can do. Monsieur is still unconscious and could be that way for some time, it would appear he took several blows to the head. Only time will tell. Once he wakes our greatest fear will be whether or not his body has enough fight left to see him through,” she told them. She was clearly concerned, but it would seem nothing could break the calm that seemed to be a permanent fixture of who she was.

  “May we see him now?” Lisette asked.

  “Yes, you may.”

  As they all started for the room, Jacques hesitated, not wanting to intrude. Madame Villeneuve turned to him and said, “Why don’t you stay the rest of the night, Monsieur Du Bois. I can take you to one of our guest rooms.”

  “Thank you, much appreciated,” he replied.

  Lisette turned and bowed her head in thanks and he gave her a small bow in reply.

  The room had a solemn stillness to it as they entered and found the broken man lying on the bed, bandaged in several places. Lisette stopped at the door, worry and fear contorting her face. Léa turned to her and slipped an arm around her waist as they walked together to the bed, then sat on either side of Audric. Bandages were wrapped around his chest and his arm was set in a splint and bandaged. His face was splotched where hair was missing and where they had to trim to clean wounds and place bandages on his face. Swelling was already forming in multiple places there.

  Neither of them said anything for a time, until Léa noticed how weary Lisette seemed.

  “Why don’t you go lie down for a while? It’s late and you should get some rest,” she urged her.

  “What about you? You need rest too.”

  “I will soon, I’ll just stay a little while longer.”

  Lisette nodded her assent and walked out wearily. Léa took Audric's hand in her own, sniffing past the impending tears.

  “Why would you do this for me? Why risk so much? If only God had sent you someone more worthy of your love.” She gently laid down next to him, resting her head on his chest to hear that his heart was still beating and wrapped his arm around her. It didn’t take long for sleep to overtake her.

  Sometime later a noise startled Léa awake. She sat up to find Madame Villeneuve knitting in a chair on the other side of Audric's bed.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you, Dear,” she spoke tenderly.

  Léa rubbed her eyes. “I must have fallen asleep. What hour is it?” she asked.

  “It’s still late in the night. I thought it best to leave you be, but if you’d like to move to your room, I’ll keep watch here.”

  Léa looked over to see Audric unchanged, he hadn’t seemed to have moved at all. She grew contemplative, then asked, “Do you and the others blame me for what has happened?”

  Villeneuve stopped her knitting and set it in her lap. “No, no one blames you, how could we? We’ve known Audric all of his life and he’s not one to do anything by measure, especially love. He’d found something worth holding on to and he wasn’t going to give her up so easily.” She smiled at her.

  Léa watched Audric again and exclaimed, “Oh, Madame, how can people be so cruel, so fearful of someone as gentle as Audric!”

  “Fear turns all people into beasts. Primal instinct takes over and overrules rational thought and human compassion. People fear what is different, what is unknown.”

  “Cannot that fear be overcome, somehow?”

  “It can. If there is a willingness to face the unknown and make it known. But there’s an even greater force that overcomes fear.” She leaned forward and gazed deep into Léa’s eyes, “You’ve found that way, my dear.”

  Surprised, she blinked and asked quietly, “What way is that?”

  “Love,” she answered simply.

  Chapter 25

  It took two days before Audric opened his eyes. Léa stayed at the château, not wanting to leave until she knew he was out of danger. The senior staff discussed whether or not to write to Duchesse d'Aramitz about Audric's condition, but in the end Lisette encouraged them to wait until they knew one way or the other what his condition would be. Though he was awake, it took a few more days before he was alert enough to remember what happened and why he could barely move.

  Léa knocked at his door on that day when he was fully awake and aware. She entered to find Lisette sitting in a chair beside his bed and Audric propped up with pillows, looking piqued. Édouard was checking on some of his wounds.

  “Good morning, Audric.” She stood before him uneasily, much had happened since they last spoke.

  “Good morning.” He took in a sharp breath and winced.

  “Careful, Léa, he’s in a foul mood today,” Lisette warned her.

  “Are you in pain?” she asked, concerned.

  “Do you have to ask?” He struggled to speak, every breath brought another stab of pain.
<
br />   “Do you want some laudanum? I can fetch some for you.”

  “No laudanum.” He shook his head.

  “If there isn’t any here, I can go to the apothecary, it’s no trouble.”

  “I don’t want any laudanum!” he spoke sharply, then groaned and set his head back on the pillow behind him. “I’m sorry, Léa,” he sighed and winced again.

  Lisette explained, “Our father died after being given too much laudanum for a mild illness.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

  Lisette eyed her brother, then turned back to her, “We know, Léa, think nothing of it.”

  Léa eased onto the bed. “Are you hungry?” she asked.

  He nodded his head but didn’t speak. She picked up a bowl of broth from a side table and fed him a spoonful. He managed one more before shaking his head.

  “Audric, you have to eat to get your strength up,” she urged him.

  “Let Francine do it,” he answered gruffly.

  Léa sat up defensively, “Why Francine?”

  He turned his head on the pillow, “Because she’s standing behind you.”

  Léa turned to find Francine waiting to take the bowl from her. “Oh,” she lowered her eyes. “Can I read to you?” she perked up.

  “Lisette was about to do that,” he answered.

  “Well,” she started quietly, “If I’m not wanted…” She turned to leave.

  Audric grabbed her arm. “Wait,” he breathed, “Wait.” He looked at the others and nodded his head to the door. He waited until they were gone to continue, “It’s not that you’re not wanted,” he strained to speak, “but why do you want to serve me?”

  Taken aback by the question, her brows came together and she answered quickly, “Because you’re hurt. If it weren’t for me you wouldn’t be lying there in pain. Because I want to help you be well.”

  “Yes, but why?” he asked again with feeling.

  Tears stung her eyes and she abruptly stood up and left the room. She didn’t stop until she came to the hedged garden. The air was cold and she hugged her arms around herself, sniffing at the sting of Audric's words. Why did it hurt for him to say that? Why did it matter to her that Francine was the one taking care of him right now?

  Léa walked over to the cottage and fond memories of times they’d spent together came back to her, her birthday picnic, watching the stars, long talks about anything and everything. Turning to the rose bushes, she realized they had been torn out and the broken branches left spread out on the ground.

  “No, no!” she cried, bending down to gather the pieces. A thorn pricked her finger and she sucked in a breath, then she remembered the scars on Audric's hands. He’d torn them all out! She sat back on her heels and let her tears flow.

  Léa looked up to the heavens and spoke hesitantly, “Holy Father in Heaven? I’m not used to talking to you like Audric does. I don’t think I’ve ever heard your voice speak to me.” She lowered her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She paused. “That is, do you speak on the wind sometimes?” A gentle breeze tickled her cheek. She touched it and smiled, looking up again. “I’ve always thought to love a man meant romantic looks of longing and undeniable sparks; is it not so? All I feel right now is an ache within me, and the idea of never seeing him again…” She shook her head. “Do I love him enough to marry him? Has it been there all this time?”

  She stared at the clouds for a moment, then sighed. As she turned her head down, something red at the base of the cottage caught her eye. There, growing on a remnant of a vine, was a single crimson rose. She laughed in shock. There was no need to look up this flower, she knew the meaning already: Love in full bloom.

  Francine took up the now empty tray and went to the door to bring it back to the kitchen. Lisette was reading to her brother, who was still struggling with pain, but had eased slightly having something to focus on. As Francine opened the door, something fell from the outside handle. She shifted the tray to her hip and stooped to pick up the object.

  “Mais oui, Monsieur, it is one of your flowers!” She brought it to him, before turning to leave.

  “What does it mean, Brother?” Lisette asked.

  He twisted it between his finger and thumb as a broad smile formed on his face. “It means I need to get better, and that you need to teach me how to dance!”

  Chapter 26

  Léa packed her bag that day with the things she’d left behind the first time she’d left, then went back home to her father and siblings. Audric didn’t need or want her help, so there was nothing more she could do there. She thought perhaps it was for the best. She needed time—without the oppression of forced circumstances, without the pressure of needing to get away. Time to think things through and just feel whatever she naturally felt without the need of thinking of others’ well-being or even her own.

  Jacques went nearly every day to hear how Audric got on, though Léa soon suspected there was someone else he was going to see as well. Juliette avoided Léa at first, but whenever they did happen to cross paths, she was pensive and wouldn’t look her in the eye. Finally, Léa sought her sister out and found her sitting by the well, staring out over the fields.

  “Juliette?” Léa said her name as she approached.

  Juliette turned. She looked down and hugged her arms around herself, feeling trapped.

  “I’m sorry for what happened,” Léa started. “Do you blame me for Olivier’s death?”

  Juliette’s eyes shot up. “No! No, of course not!” She shook her head and gazed intently at her sister. “It is you that I fear blames me.”

  “Oh, Juliette,” Léa came to her then and wrapped her arms around her older sister. “I don’t blame you. Perhaps I did for a time, but I know why you did it and have only felt how much of a loss you must be feeling yourself.”

  Léa stepped back and Juliette quietly watched her. “I suppose I didn’t love Olivier so much after all. I just loved to be admired, and that’s something he never did. If I had thought about it, I would have known.” She looked down and laughed without mirth. “I’ve caused so much harm by my vanity and jealousy, how can you be so calm and forgiving?”

  Léa couldn’t answer at first. She looked out over the fields and the orange swirl of clouds as the sun was setting. “I suppose,” she said without turning, “I have been shown so much love myself even when I didn’t return it,” she turned to her sister, “that I can’t help but extend that to you, even though perhaps you don’t deserve it.” She eyed her sister playfully and they both laughed.

  After a minute Juliette grew serious, “I don’t deserve it, Beauty. Do you love that…man?”

  “Yes. I do,” she answered confidently. “And I can’t help but feel that somehow all that has happened was a part of God’s plan. Not that he has been the author of the evil that was done, but that he used it for the plan he already had.” They were both silent for a time when Juliette turned to her and asked hesitantly, “Do you not find him ugly?”

  “Audric? I suppose I did at first, and that’s partially why I didn’t think I truly loved him. But now, all I see is him—the gentle tenderness of his touch, his eyes that pierce my soul,” she laughed. “I see the depth of his love and the constancy of his companionship. His other qualities have made his appearance more attractive to me.” She shrugged. “And now, I must admit, the only thing I can think of is having his warm, loving arms wrapped around me again.”

  “Again?” Juliette teased.

  Léa blushed and gave her an embarrassed smile, “Yes, again.” She thought for a moment then asked, “Speaking of undeserving, can I ask you something, Juliette?”

  Juliette laughed. “Of course.”

  “I do love Audric, but what about his awful mother?”

  “Would you marry the man or his mother, Beauty?” Juliette smirked.

  “In truth? Sort of both. I can’t have one without the other, I fear.”

  “I suppose that’s part of the bargain then. Is your love strong en
ough to endure the storm that is his mother?” They both laughed heartily, though Léa did feel it was something worthy of consideration.

  At first, Léa’s absence bothered Audric. He feared the words said in pain had driven her away, but when he looked at that crimson rose fully bloomed in the middle of winter, peace would fill his heart again. As his pain slowly became more manageable, a thought came to him, which formed into words and sentences until he couldn’t help but write them down. He wrote and wrote, the words flowing from him like a fountain, then like a flood.

  That night he dreamed. That final demon loomed in front of him. Audric stood before it without fear and proclaimed, "Chosen." The demon cried out before vanishing away, and Audric slept peacefully for the first time in many nights.

  When he was able to move some without tremendous pain, he was aided to the library on occasion. He sat and rested in front of the fire, lost in thought. Lisette and Jacques sat on the settee together, Lisette chattering away and Jacques softly playing his lute. After a while, she turned to him and asked, “Are you listening to me at all, Jacques?”

  He turned to her and said, “Of course I’m listening, your voice supplies the words to my song.”

  Lisette beamed, grabbed his face and kissed him soundly. Caught off guard, Jacques just sat there, a stupid grin on his face. Audric laughed silently from his chair by the fire.

  When he returned home, Jacques found everyone in the sitting room. He leaned against the wall, a small smile playing on his lips.

  “How is Audric today, Jacques?” Léa asked him.

  He didn’t answer.

  “Jacques?”

  “Hm, what?”

  “I asked if Audric was any better today.”

  “Oh, yes, of course. He’s looking better, yes.”

  Marie watched him, then smiled deviously, “He’s moonstruck!” And the sisters laughed.