Beauty and the Beast (Ivar x OC)

PART FOUR

Most of Charlotte's day was spent in a half dazed state of mind, distracted by the events earlier that morning. Distracted by the constant thought of fingers sweeping so gently across her arm like a feather. The mere memory left goose flesh in its wake. It was perplexing to have such a strong reaction to a man she barely knew. The Duke had been charming, kind and made conversation but had never tried to get close to her or speak to her as Ivar did.

They were two very different men, and Charlotte wasn't sure why Ivar had such an effect on her. The very presence of him made her skin feel warm, her cheeks hot and her heart quicken.  

"You look lost, dear."

Her mother's voice ripped her from her thoughts and Charlotte came back to her senses to find most of her siblings staring at her from their places around the table. She cleared her throat, picking her cutlery up and resuming eating without a word, worried she might not find her voice or say something preposterous with her recent thoughts.

There was an awkward silence around the table before her family resumed their meals; her father's absence was felt. He usually kept the conversation flowing but without him, her mother preferred they keep chatter to a minimum.  

***

Charlotte sunk down into the bath with a heavy sigh; she loved the luxury of a late night bath. For years now she opted to take the last spot in the filing order for bathing. It meant her siblings were all retired and quiet and she could stay in longer and enjoy the water.  

Lucy sat on a stool by the side of the bath, reading quietly to herself from a book. Charlotte and Lucy didn't really let others know that the maid had learned to read as Charlotte had over the years. Her mother, for all her warmth, treated people by their stations. A maid was a maid to her.  

She lifted a foot out of the water and wriggled her toes, placing it over the rim of the bath.

Lucy glanced up from the book and smiled at her. "Did you enjoy the art gallery today?"

Charlotte raised one fine eyebrow at her.  

"Did you?" she replied. Lucy blushed, knowing exactly what Charlotte was referring to. Her friend nodded but didn't say anything. "They're handsome, it is hard not to notice."

Lucy's smile fell. "You and Prince Ivar?"

There was a question there that Charlotte found hard to discern. A heavy silence settled as the two women watched one another. Lucy finally looked away, her worry evident. "His brothers asked me not to interrupt. He, he did not hurt you?"

There it was. Charlotte had been curious about how no one had discovered them today. She reached out, leaning against the edge of the bath, and taking hold of her friends hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. She weighed her words carefully, as much as she trusted Lucy, she was unsure of how to voice what happened today in total honesty.

"He did not," she said softly. It wasn't a lie, he hadn't harmed her, just confused her, made her unsure of herself. She felt the shiver creep up her spine at the memory of him.  

Lucy sighed, as though relief washed over her. "He frightens me."

In a way, Charlotte understood. He frightened her though not in the same way as Lucy felt. He frightened Charlotte because she felt drawn to him in a way a moth was to an open flame. He'd burn her, she could feel it deep down and it terrified her.

***

Neither of his scheming brothers asked him about what happened, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to explain it. He could still feel the softness of her skin as if he was still running his fingers along her arm. They had let him be for a while at the gallery, a slight gift as Ivar had dropped down onto the bench and been lost to much of the world around him.