Zuleika opened her mouth to tell him that the only men aboard the ships were his own people and the merchant ship's crew, but that would mean confessing to casting the spell that transformed the pirates. Sighing, she closed her mouth again.
Vardan continued, "There is little to see here now. If the boats are carrying cargo, the battle is won. They will work through the night to save what is aboard the ship before she sinks. You should get some sleep, Lady Belle. Ask the headwoman, Birgitte, to find you a bed here, or you can return to my house, if you do not mind the ride."
Yes, sleep sounded quite tempting around now. Spellcasting, especially multiple transformations, was tiring at the best of times, let alone at the end of a long day's ride and feasting.
"Then I shall bid you good night, your Highness, and thank you for a delightful day," she said. She made it partway down the stairs before she heard his response.
"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Belle," he said so softly she suspected he hadn't intended her to hear it at all.
The prince was a strange man to enjoy arguing with her all day. Grinning broadly, Zuleika descended.
THIRTY-ONE
It was almost dawn by the time Zuleika reached the prince's home, but falling into bed was certainly worth the ride. She fell asleep almost instantly, safe in the knowledge that Inga and the other servants would guard her chamber until she awoke.
She slept late into the day, waking only when she heard Inga's voice calling her name. Well, not her name...the one the prince had given her.
"My lady, you must dress for the feast," Inga said.
No, the feast was last night. A noisy affair in the village hall where they served yellow fish, smothered in saffron. And then there'd been pirates...
"My lady, the prince insists that you must sit by his side at the feast. There is always a big celebration after a victory at sea and this one is a double victory, he says, with no men lost. The people are saying it is a miracle, which must be your doing. A lady who can perform miracles can surely lift the curse, is what they say in town. They all wish to see the prince's lady, and you must look the part."
Wonderful. Having hundreds of invisible people staring at her, filled with such hope, when she was still no closer to breaking the spell. She'd never found a curse she couldn't counter until now. How this one could elude her so...
"If you do not rise on your own, I shall tell the master. He will drag you from your bed," Inga announced.
Vardan in her bed? No. Oh, no. His brother had been bad enough.
"My head hurts," Zuleika said, sitting up. "I hope you have willow bark tea."
"'Tis cold, but it should still work," Inga replied, gesturing at the tray beside the bed.
Zuleika gulped down the tea, then tore into the saffron cake sitting beside it. It, too, was cold, but still as delicious as the ones she'd devoured yesterday.
Behind her, the door opened. "I have the dress, my lady," said Greta, breathless with what sounded like excitement.
"Show her," commanded Inga.
Fabric rustled as Greta laid the gown on the chest at the end of the bed, and Zuleika gasped. The dress was made of yellow silk, bright as the sun. She couldn't stop herself from reaching out to touch it, to see if it was truly real.
"It's beautiful," Zuleika breathed.
"It was aboard one of the pirate ships, my lady, in a chest with no merchant's markings. The master's steward said it looked like a queen's dowry, for the gowns are all new, but there was no woman aboard any of the ships."
Perhaps the pirates had killed her, or she had sent her dowry ahead of her marriage, Zuleika told herself, forcing her hand to leave the silk alone. "I am not a queen. It is too rich a gown for me."
"Half the villagers out there are ready to declare you the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Heaven, come to save them," Inga said grimly. "You have already worn the Dowager Queen's gowns, and this belongs to no one now. If not you, then who will wear it?"
"I suppose..." Zuleika began.
"In this gown, you shall light up the room. The master will not be able to take his eyes off you, I promise." Inga swallowed. "If only for one night, my lady, in the hope that you can break this curse...please, would you wear it?"
Once again, Zuleika could not refuse the woman's earnest plea. And wearing the beautiful silk gown was hardly a hardship.
"I will," she declared. If only wearing the beautiful dress would be enough to break the spell, but Zuleika knew it would take far more than that.
THIRTY-TWO
This was a terrible idea, Vardan told himself as he took his place at the high table in his own hall. He'd spent all night overseeing the salvage operation, though it had not been necessary, because he knew without a doubt his dreams would be filled with her when he slept.
He had snatched a few hours' sleep in the afternoon, which had left him feeling more tired than ever as the maiden with the violet eyes had danced just out of his reach, laughing at him. He was afraid to look into Lady Belle's eyes today.
A woman who could discuss war, or at least the weapons used in one, and took pride in victory. A girl who understood shipping and commerce as well as most merchants. A lady who saw his brother for what he was. A remarkable beauty who arrived mysteriously by magical means who yet wished to help free him of his enchantment. Could a man find himself in love with a woman he had known for only a few days? Never had he experienced such desire for a woman. More than beauty, more than brilliance...some sort of magic drew him to her. Lady Belle, the lady who would never give him her hand or her heart, for she did not even trust him with her name.
He wanted to pound the table into splinters with his fist, destroying everything in the hall like the rabid beast he resembled until he quelled his frustration. He might tear the house down before that happened.
Benches scraped and pushed back from tables as the room fell silent.
Lady Belle, haloed by the afternoon sun streaking through the window, looking like an avenging angel in glowing gold. He had no doubt that she was the one who could break the spell. He wanted to fall to his knees in worship.
But that would not do.
Instead, Vardan leaped to his feet, realising that his people were more courteous than he, for they had already moved to stand for the lady.
Her knowing smile seemed to see straight into his heart as she looked right at him for just a moment before her gaze swept the room.
Rolf cleared his throat. In his best sonorous voice, he announced, "The Lady Belle, our guest of honour."
Jealousy blazed through Vardan's body as she turned that smile on his steward before her eyes returned to Vardan.
"The honour is mine, receiving your hospitality as a guest in this hall," she responded in ringing tones. The tones of a lady used to speaking in court, so that she might be heard above the sly whisperings of the other courtiers. She followed this statement with a deep curtsey, spreading her silk skirt so it caught the light even more. Magnificent.
Vardan stumbled forward, feeling every eye upon him as he bowed and offered her his arm for the interminable walk back to the high table. Her hand rested on his arm so lightly it should have felt like no weight at all, but Vardan felt the urge to drop to his knees at every step. How could one woman hold so much power over him? It was almost as if she had cast a spell on him.
If only the curse could be broken by him falling in love instead of her. For his heart, his soul...he had lost all of them to Lady Belle.
THIRTY-THREE
Exhaustion seemed to slow the prince's steps as he escorted her to the high table. Zuleika said nothing as she matched his pace, keeping a happy smile on her face for all the onlookers she could hear but not see. The temptation to cast a quick spell so that she could see them all was almost irresistible, but removing the illusion that hid the prince's people would also reveal his true face, instead of the one he wore now.
Invisible servants helped her into her chair and pushed it closer to the table, as others did the same f
or Vardan. Tonight, they sat alone at the high table, but still close enough to touch. Close enough for conversation, Zuleika corrected herself, which would not be heard by the rest of the hall, who had begun talking amongst themselves again.
"Were there many injuries sustained in last night's battle?" she enquired as she selected some meat from the platter before her.
"None that I know of," Vardan replied. "My men are calling it a bloodless victory, for not even a drop of pirate blood was shed, or so they say. If they did not all tell the same tale, I would doubt it, but fifty huntsmen cannot be wrong. Pirates do not bleed green unless there is sorcery at work."
"If no blood was shed, how can anyone know it was green?" Zuleika asked.
Vardan shrugged. "One moment they saw pirates swarming the Trinity, and the next...they were gone, leaving nothing but some green scum on the deck where they had once stood. Only magic can do that, which means there must have been a witch on the Trinity. She was so close...and yet I let her get away. You are my only hope now, Lady Belle."
She longed to tell him the truth – that the only witch present last night was her, but he would never say her true name the way his voice caressed that silly nickname. He would spit curses, order his men to seize her and send her to his brother.
She would not let that happen.
Zuleika sipped from her goblet. The warm, spiced mead soothed her, reminding her of home, so she drank more.
"Will you give me hope, Lady Belle?"
Her breath caught in her throat at the prince's beseeching tone, barely a whisper away from outright begging. "There is hope, your Highness. All curses can be broken. The only question is...at what price?" she said.
He spread his hands wide. "What can I offer you that will make you love me? The deepest desire of your heart – if I can give it to you, it is yours."
"Love is not enough to break the spell," she said. "Even if I were to..." Those eyes! So much feeling, it was enough to rock her to her very soul. No woman could look into those eyes and be unmoved. Zuleika swallowed and managed to continue, "If I were to give you my heart, it would not be enough. It took magic to cast the spell, and only magic can break it."
"You have enchanted me, Lady Belle. I know no more powerful spell than the one you have cast over me since you arrived at Beacon Isle. You light up the whole island, though the evil enchantress cursed us with darkness." He seized her hand in his. "Please say you will stay."
He would not ask her that if he knew she was an enchantress, Zuleika was certain.
He released her. "I realise I have little to offer you until the curse is lifted, but if you could find it in your heart to help, and perhaps wait a little, I will send my men after the witch. Together, I am sure you can find a solution to this...affliction."
A floating serving platter, borne by an invisible manservant, cut their conversation short, to Zuleika's relief, as she concentrated on selecting something suitable from the selection before her. She had eaten almost nothing all day, and she was famished.
Fortunately, Vardan had a similar appetite, so they ate in silence for a little while, before someone brought more mead to fill her cup.
Instead of resuming their conversation, Vardan rose to give a toast. "To yet another pirate victory, and the health of our beautiful guest."
The hall erupted in cheering as everyone raised their cups and drank. The prince's pledge was the first of many, it seemed, as the other men in the hall took the opportunity to toast the health, good fortune and future of Zuleika and the prince, as well as that of their own people.
Just as Zuleika worried she'd run out of mead, someone blew a particularly loud blast on a horn. A group of musicians she'd neither seen nor heard until now drew her attention to the alcove at the side of the hall. In truth, she still could not see them, but their instruments were visible, and the sounds they made as they tuned their instruments were certainly audible.
At least, it was until people started pushing the tables to the sides of the hall, making enough noise to drown out even the most determined horn blower.
"Would you like to dance, Lady Belle?" Vardan asked, rising from his seat only to bow before her.
Rowdy cheers urged him on.
She opened her mouth to repeat last night's protests.
"Since the curse, we only dance caroles in a chain. You needn't worry about the steps. Simply hold onto those before and behind you, and follow where they lead." He held out his hand. "I will not lead you astray, Lady Belle. You have my word."
This time, she believed him. He was no pirate, or her spell would have turned him into green scum the previous night. Vardan and his people did not deserve the terrible curse Thorn and his pet witch had visited on them.
She took a deep breath. "And I will do everything within my power to free you from this curse. I give you my word, your Highness."
He grinned. "Then let's dance!" He seized her hand, pulling her from the dais and into the crowd below.
THIRTY-FOUR
The warmth of her hand in his sent Vardan's heart racing like never before. No one touched him willingly, but this was so much more. She'd given him her hand. It might only be for a dance now, but he vowed it would be more if he could persuade her to accept him. Once the curse was lifted...
The music changed, signifying that it was time to break the chain they had woven around the room and form up into couples. Without thinking, he placed his hands at her waist and lifted her, spinning around like everyone else in time to the music.
Her laughter swirled around him, the most joyous sound he'd ever heard. Her hands landed on his shoulders, perhaps to steady herself, but he would never drop her. Instead, he set her gently on her feet, and led her through the steps of the couples' dance. Though her brow creased occasionally when she made a misstep, her delighted smile never left her face. Heaven, this was surely heaven.
Yet the song ended and Vardan bowed to his partner. She dipped a curtsey, keeping her laughing eyes level with his.
His voice was hoarse in his throat. "Another dance, Lady Belle?"
The room fell silent, so her breathless answer rang out through the hall, "Oh yes."
The musicians struck up a country dance tune, a lovers' dance that played almost nonstop on the May Day festival, when the winter ended. It should have sounded strange with the island still shrouded in snow, but tonight it was perfect.
Whispers spread like wind through the hall as people shuffled toward the walls, leaving space for the dancers. For the master and the lady he wished was his, Vardan realised.
In a room full of invisible people, he and Lady Belle danced alone. Her skirts flared out as she spun with the steps, before whirling back into his embrace. Every time he released her, his heart died a little, until she returned to him a moment later as the dance brought them back together.
He heard the village women sigh each time, echoing the burst of feeling in his own heart. Country dances were for peasants, not royalty or nobility, but right now he didn't care. The stateliest court dances were dull compared to the sparkle that lit her eyes as she danced in his arms. If the members of the court were ever to dance with such abandon, they would never agree to arranged marriages with people they'd never met.
Vardan would never agree to any woman but Belle after this night. Every moment she spent in his arms, he wanted to extend into forever. Could she...would she ever be his?
The song ended far too soon, and Lady Belle drew him toward where servants stood with trays of drinks.
"I have a thirst that must be quenched, your Highness. I have never danced quite so...energetically before. When my sisters spoke of court dances, they always sounded so...sedate. Not something I wished to take part in. Yet this...this...I feel like I could dance all night, though I shall quite wear out my slippers." A silk-clad foot peeped out from under her skirt, and she clutched at his shoulder to keep her balance.
She might have clutched at his heart, the touch jolted him so much. Vardan covered her ha
nd with his. "With you, I, too, could dance all night, and all day, too. But the curse..."
Her eyes seemed to glow with violet fire once more. "I will find a way. There must be something in my mother's library. If – "
Her mother's library was nothing compared to the collection here, most of it illuminated in the monastery's own scriptorium. And this library held something far more valuable than books. "I have a better idea," Vardan interrupted. "Come with me."
This time when he took her hand, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
"Won't the others notice?" she asked, glancing back. Another song played and from the sound of feet on stone, Vardan guessed that the dancers had returned to the floor.
"Perhaps, but this is not court. We don't stand on ceremony here. This is a feast to celebrate a victory – a victory they won, not I. We shall return before they have finished this dance."
"All right."
She allowed him to lead her out of the hall and into the part of the house that used to be a monastery. He bypassed the monks' cells without a second glance, but Lady Belle slowed.
"Are these...prison cells?" she asked.
Vardan laughed. "No, the monks slept here when it was a monastery. They are sleeping cells, much like in a convent, I imagine. None are held here against their will. Their faith compels them, or so the brothers say. I used to sleep in one when I was studying with them as a boy. For all that they have no fire, they are still warm, for they are above the scriptorium. A fire burns there year round to help preserve the books. I will show you."
"You are taking me to your library," Belle said slowly, her smile dawning once more. "I should like to see that."
"Then come." He tugged at her hand, and she came willingly, her steps quickening to match his. Ah, a lady who liked books. If Vardan wasn't in love with her already, he would have fallen a second time. She was perfection itself.
Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold Page 9