Moody and the Beast

by Kristen Painter

  “You won’t. You’re not the one Vesta cursed.”

  She still didn’t look convinced. “Any mime can pretend there’s a wall when there isn’t one.”

  “You want more?” He took his hands down, put his shoulder against the barrier, and leaned in against it to the point that it would have been physically impossible to stay upright without help. Then he smirked at her from his slanted position. “Could a mime do this?”

  She stepped back, eyes widening ever so slightly. “There really is a wall.”

  He pushed off the barrier to straighten himself. “I have no reason to lie about this.”

  “And this exists everywhere you go?”

  “Everywhere. In some places, it’s as narrow as the breadth of my outstretched arms. In my house, I can go anywhere I want. Thankfully.”

  “How did you figure it out?”

  “Trial and error. Years’ worth.” Why not tell her the whole truth? In for a penny and all that. Or maybe he was just happy to share his burden with someone after so long. “Upon imprisoning me here, Vesta told me I wouldn’t be able to leave the house. I argued with her until she allowed me a little more freedom than that. Little did I know how confined I was still going to be.”

  “How awful. Have you sought help from anyone?”

  He wasn’t sure if she genuinely cared or was just trying to make him feel better, but speaking the truth was so freeing he didn’t care. “When Amelia came to welcome me, I confided in her, but she’s powerless to do anything against a fairy curse. Same with another man who tried to help me here in town. Not long after Amelia’s visit, she offered me the job as foreman.”

  “Her way of helping?”

  “I think so.” He thought back to that day. “When I told Vesta about the job, she laughed. She thought my working like a common man was some kind of downfall, so she loosened the restraints enough to make it possible. But I was happy to do it. Happy to have something else to fill my days with.”

  “I can imagine.” Theodora tilted her head as if she was doing just that.

  He hoped it wasn’t lost on her that Vesta’s opinion of the common man was less than favorable. He went back to the path and picked up the basket. “We should go back.”

  She just nodded and joined him on the path. “All right.”

  Then she put her hands out, eyes squeezed shut. “Forgive me.”

  “Why? For what?” He peered closer. She was very pale. “Theodora? Are you—you don’t look so—”

  She tilted toward the ground.

  * * *

  She awoke with no sense of the time that had passed and realized very quickly she hadn’t hit the ground because he had caught her.

  She was in his lap. In his arms. Resting against the trunk of a tree where he must have carried her and sat. It was only two steps off the path. The basket was next to them.

  He was gazing down at her with concern. “There you are. How are you feeling? You passed out.”

  “Oh no, this won’t do.” She tried to get up.

  “I don’t think you’re in any position to move just yet. Now, again, how are you feeling?”

  She shook her head. He was so near. Too near. His scent filled her nose, and she was all too aware of his body beneath hers. “I’m fine.” She was reluctant to tell him the reason for her fainting spell.

  “That’s clearly not true. Why did you faint? It’s not that warm. People who are fine don’t faint for no reason.”

  She shrugged and refused to make eye contact. If she told him his staff had failed to offer her something to eat, she might get them in trouble. And they, in turn, might take that out on her. “There’s nothing wrong with me. Just tired, I’m sure. We should go.”

  He inhaled like realization had struck him.

  She looked at him and saw what might have been horror in his eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Are you pregnant? Is that why you took your father’s indenture? Are you using this year away to hide the truth from him? Or from the father? Who did this to you?”

  “No! You have definitely been left alone with your thoughts for far too long. Not that it would be any of your business if I was.” She laughed suddenly at the ridiculousness of it all. Then something occurred to her. “Why did you look so terrified when you thought I might be pregnant?”

  He blinked rapidly, like he was trying to sort out his words. “Because you’d have the child while you were here. Which would mean a baby. In the house. I don’t know anything about babies.”

  Her laughter became uncontrollable to the point she could barely speak. “And you think…you’d have to raise it?”

  “Well, I… That is…” He frowned. “It’s not that funny.”

  Except that it was. She finally caught her breath. “I’m not pregnant, I swear. Just hungry.”

  His frown deepened. “Didn’t you eat?”

  “Not since I finished the last of my food on the bus here, no.” She had to get off his lap. She shouldn’t be on it to begin with, and now she was lingering. She rocked forward onto her knees.

  “No one offered you anything at the house?”

  “I’m sure they all just assumed I’d eaten.” She still felt weak, but she’d had enough rest. And staying here wasn’t doing her any good.

  “Unacceptable. Someone should have asked you.” He immediately stood and held his hand out to her. “Can you make it back? Would you like me to carry you?”

  “Yes. And no.” Reluctantly, she took his hand and let him help her up.

  “Good. We’ll go at your pace. As soon as we arrive, we’ll get you fed. And you’re joining me for dinner tonight.”

  A wave of panic swept through her. “What? I’m sorry, Your Lordship, but I don’t think dinner is such a good idea.”

  “Why not? You’re the daughter of a woman I liked very much. Practically a guest.”

  “Forgive me, but I am not your guest. I am your servant. Indentured or not, that is my position in your household. Treating me any differently will at the very least cause resentment in the rest of your staff. I don’t want that. I just want to serve my year without incident and be done.”

  He let go of her hand. “I see. Of course. How foolish of me to think differently.”

  Had she hurt his feelings by turning down his offer? Or worse, offended him? Royal egos were so fragile. Or was he that starved for company? Regardless, she felt for him, but she couldn’t change the reality of her situation. She leaned against the tree they’d been sitting under. “I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t appreciate your kind offer. I do. Perhaps under different circumstances…”

  His expression remained unchanged, and he said nothing.

  She had to do something to salvage the moment. “Queen Vesta actually poisoned you?”

  “Yes. She also laced my soup with sleeping powder. When I woke up, I was here in Shadowvale in the home I’d built for us. I felt like I was about to die. I’ve never been so sick in my life. That’s when she told me that if I wanted the antidote for the poison, I’d have to agree never to return to Limbo.”

  “So you agreed.”

  He nodded. “What other choice did I have if I wanted to live to fight another day?”

  “None,” Theo answered softly. Had she misjudged him? Had Queen Vesta lied about him? About what he’d done? “Why would Queen Vesta do that if you weren’t guilty of betraying the kingdom?”

  “Because she wanted the throne for herself. It’s that simple. She doesn’t want an equal union between the sister kingdoms. She believes, like many of the fae, that Limbo should once again belong to Livion and be ruled by the fae. Which it is now.”

  “Then you didn’t plan on turning all of us into orc slaves?”

  His gaze narrowed. “I captured the orc king. That’s how I won the throne. The last thing I would have done was arrange anything with the people who most wanted to remove my head from my shoulders.” He leaned in, obviously angry. “So no. I did not plan on turning all
my countrymen into orc slaves.”

  He sounded convincing, but she still didn’t know if she believed him. After all, she’d grown up knowing he was a traitor. Changing that belief in a split second wasn’t the easiest thing to do.

  He held his hands up. “I know. You don’t believe me. I get it. But if you’re going to live in my house for a year, you’d better at least give me the benefit of the doubt.”

  She thought about that for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right. I can at least do that much for you.”

  “Thank you.” He picked up the basket, then offered her his arm. “Let’s get you home.”

  Gallow House wasn’t her home and never would be, but she kept that to herself as she accepted his offer of help. She didn’t want help. Especially from him, but she still felt a little unstable. And turning him down might only anger him further. Better to let him help her and soothe the tension between them. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before they walked back into his house. He took her directly to the kitchen, where he made her sit at the island.

  Mrs. Applestock greeted them with her cheery smile, taking the basket and giving him back his hard hat. “Biscuits gone, are they?”

  “Gone and greatly enjoyed,” Robin answered. He put the hat on a hook near the door. “But we have a problem.”

  “Oh dear.” She knotted her hands in her apron. “Was there not enough jam?”

  “Plenty of jam,” he said. “The problem is Theodora hasn’t eaten in days. She fainted on the way back.”

  Theo shook her head. “It hasn’t been—”

  “Oh my stars. You poor child. I’ll take care of that immediately.” Mrs. Applestock rushed to the wide, double-door refrigerator and started pulling things out, piling food in her arms and on the island behind her.

  Robin took the seat next to Theodora. “I wouldn’t mind a sandwich myself.” He looked at Theo. “What do you think? Ham and cheese?”

  Mrs. Applestock waved a long, crusty baguette in the air without missing a beat. “I have just the thing for that!”

  Theo nodded, amused by all the fuss on her behalf. “I’m not picky. Ham and cheese would be perfect.” Her stomach growled in agreement.

  “Excellent,” Mrs. Applestock said. “I’ll make you both a picnic for lunch.”

  In what felt like mere minutes, Mrs. Applestock spread an array of food in front of them. Ham-and-cheese sandwiches made with the loaf she’d shown them. Red and green grapes. Deviled eggs. Three kinds of pickles—sour, sweet, and hot. Cucumber salad. Potato salad. Macaroni salad. Smoked salmon and cream cheese pinwheels with little sprigs of dill. Pita chips with fish dip. And lastly, a chopped salad of cold shrimp and vegetables with vinaigrette.

  And then came the desserts. A platter of chocolate chip walnut cookies. Little cheesecakes each topped with a cherry. Half-sized iced lemon scones. Chocolate pots. White chocolate raspberry truffles. Rhubarb pie with a visibly flaky crust. All accompanied by a bowl of freshly whipped cream.

  Theo had never seen so much food in one place. She was frozen by indecision and, despite her incredible hunger, just stared at it all, trying to decide what to eat first.

  Robin didn’t have that problem. And when he saw that she had yet to put anything on her plate, he started helping her. “Here. Have a sandwich. That’s the main thing, right?”

  She looked down at the serving he’d put on her plate of crusty baguette with ham and cheese and nodded. She didn’t need to be told twice. She picked it up and tucked in.

  She ate the sandwich and kept eating. Everything was so delicious. And there for the taking.

  Robin did the same, but she was aware of him watching her, too. Was she eating too much? That couldn’t be it. Every time she slowed down, he pushed her to try something new. Was he just curious about how much she could eat? He was hard to read.

  Mrs. Applestock beamed. “Would you like something else? I could make some tuna salad. Or there might be some cold chicken left. Or some salmon mousse, maybe? Oh! Cheese and crackers?”

  Theo’s mouth was full, so she just shook her head until she could swallow. “This is more than enough. I am overwhelmed with food. And it’s all so good. Thank you.” She glanced at Robin. “And thank you, Your Lordship.”

  “Where is that girl?” Mrs. Baton’s voice rang out from the hall. “She should have been back by now. If she thinks she can—” Mrs. Baton walked in. As soon as she saw Robin, she smiled. Tight-lipped. But a smile all the same.

  She glanced at Theo. “There you are, Theodora.” Her gaze flicked to the spread of food on the island, then to His Lordship, then back to Theo. Her smile left her face. “Miss Middlebright. Staff does not eat with His Lordship.”

  Theo’s mouth was too full for her to respond, and Mrs. Baton kept on going so that Robin couldn’t even answer.

  “I am so sorry, Your Highness.” Mrs. Baton bowed her head. “I promise this impropriety will not happen again.”

  Robin seemed amused. “The only impropriety was that no one bothered to offer Miss Middlebright anything to eat upon her arrival at Gallow House. And as it happened, she hadn’t eaten in quite some time. Because of that, she fainted on our return from the mine.”

  Mrs. Baton stiffened.

  All traces of his amusement disappeared, and his countenance became stern. “I find that lack of care and hospitality alarming. Don’t you, Mrs. Baton?”

  She paled. Then nodded rapidly. “Yes, Your Lordship. It won’t happen again.”

  “I don’t suppose it will, seeing as how I don’t foresee any new staff coming to work here. Unless you’re leaving us, Mrs. Baton, and we need to replace you?”

  Remarkably, she paled even further. “No, Your Lordship.”

  His smile returned in a flash. “Excellent news, Mrs. Baton. I would hate to lose someone as competent as you. Ham-and-cheese baguette? We have plenty.”

  “No, Sire, thank you.” She bowed again, then caught Theo’s eyes. “When you’re done, Miss Middlebright, if you could come to my office?”

  Theo nodded. “I will.”

  Mrs. Baton left. Quickly.

  As entertaining as that had been, Theo had to wonder how much trouble Robin had just gotten her into. Whatever it was, she would manage. And be grateful that he cared enough to see that she’d been fed. She’d had enough food to last until tomorrow, if need be.

  His kindness had her second-guessing everything she’d thought about him. With each passing minute, he was even less like she’d imagined. But more time in this house, and more time with him if possible, would help her decide.

  Until then, she’d do what her mother had told her. Listen to learn.

  Fortunately, listening was easy. Especially when those you were listening to didn’t know you were there.

  Chapter Eight

  Robin reclined on the wide, two-person chaise on the balcony outside his bedroom and watched twilight overtake the sky. It was especially beautiful in Shadowvale, because dusk meant the clouds slipped away to let the stars and moon shine through.

  Seeing that happen never got old. And sometimes, that glorious reveal of the night sky was the only thing that got him through the long days.

  He smiled suddenly, because that didn’t feel exactly true anymore. Not with the curious Miss Middlebright in the house. He already wondered what tomorrow would bring with her. Funny that he was actually looking forward to tomorrow. When was the last time that had happened?

  Not in many, many days. Years, even.

  He’d signed the indenture document as soon as he’d returned to his quarters. The red clock, ticking away on the paper, had vanished. He wondered how the rest of her day had been after he’d left her.

  No doubt Mrs. Baton had put her to work dusting rooms that really ought to be shut up altogether from lack of use. Or maybe polishing the ballroom floor that had never actually been danced on. Perhaps ironing tablecloths meant for a dining table that would never see a meal?

  He leaned his head in his hand as he dug his elbow in
to the cushion a little more. He’d been foolish and impetuous to ask Theodora to dine with him. And while he knew what a stir such an evening would cause among the other staff, he still wished it was possible.

  Oh, Mrs. Applestock and Lolly wouldn’t care. Neither would Henry. Fenwick, the gardener, wouldn’t give it a second of thought. But Mrs. Baton and Elswood would definitely think it improper. And they wouldn’t be quiet about it either.

  In different circumstances, he wouldn’t care. But if anyone on his staff was reporting back to Vesta, something that was an absolute possibility, he couldn’t risk making Theodora or her father a target of the queen’s anger.

  Maybe not a big thing if Theodora was already on the queen’s payroll. But if she wasn’t…that could be very, very bad.

  Such a shame, because he longed for company. And he liked talking to Theodora. Even more so now that she’d agreed to give him the benefit of the doubt about his past. He ground his teeth together in frustration. What other terrible things had Vesta made people believe about him?

  She was the one who ought to be imprisoned. That wretched fairy hag. Why couldn’t she fall into the moat of Fangmore Castle, where she would be devoured by the eels that lived in it?

  Things like that never happened to the right people.

  “Good evening, Sire.” Elswood walked out from the bedroom, carrying a tray. Somewhere in the forest, a raven cawed. “Your evening repast.”

  “Thank you. Just set it on the table.” He wasn’t all that hungry, even for his usual before-bed snack of a hot toddy and cookies. He glanced at the tray as Elswood put it on the small side table. Mrs. Applestock had included more than the standard amount of cookies. And they were iced oatmeal, his favorite. Maybe he’d have one.

  A little movement caught his eye, and he realized he was being watched. He smiled at his unexpected visitor. “Hello there, little cat.”

  The sleek black cat, glossy even in the dim light, sat on the balcony railing. Robin’s quarters were on the second story, so the creature had put in some effort to get here.