A Beast's Tale

Chapter 42

 "It was just a simple lunch!" Ivetta was exclaiming when I walked into the library. She was polishing a candlestick with her back to Belle, but I could see her face, and it bore an embarrassed blush. Belle was sitting at a desk with a book open before her, as had been the case at this time almost every day since she'd arrived here. Her impish grin faltered somewhat when she saw me.

"Hello, Prince Chevalier."

Ivetta looked at me with an expression of pure relief and dropped everything. "You'll have to excuse me, Belle—"

"Rio left to get the tea, remember?"

Ivetta's shoulders slumped.

"Maid," I called.

Her shoulders straightened again. I hid my smile until I entered the back room. She closed the door behind her and looked up at me, and then she bit her lip, and her eyes darted away. The pink deepened to red. "You know I can't help it, Prince Chevalier."

"Yes, I'm aware." I smirked and reached for a book at random, using it to tilt her chin up until she looked at me. "If it were 'just a simple lunch,' you would have no reason to blush."

Her eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't if people would stop implying it was something more, Prince Chevalier." She pushed the book away. "Did you call me back here to tease me, or is there an actual reason for me to be here?"

So impudent. The lack of reprisal for her recent tongue-lashing had emboldened her when we were alone, and far from irritating me, it amused me. But she was correct in assuming I had a better reason for summoning her here, and I felt my smirk fading as the mood shifted.

"Did Jumbo say anything unusual to you yesterday?"

Her expression softened. "He's still missing, Prince Chevalier?"

"Yes."

She pressed her lips together, and her eyes drifted away from me as she thought. "He seemed normal on the carriage this morning, but he was talking about his little sister a lot yesterday." Her eyes came back to mine. "He always talks about her, but this was different. Everything went back to her, and he was really clingy. I had to remind him I'm not her. Maybe he was missing home too much and went back for a visit?"

I forced myself to set aside the image of Luke clinging to Ivetta and focused on the rest. She thought his sister was alive because he spoke of her in such a manner. Interesting. That indicated an inability on his part to accept her death, and it made me wonder if his grudge against royalty had more to do with what happened to her on Bloodstained Rose Day than with the general ruination of his village and his family.

"It's possible."

She bit her lip. "While we're talking about missing people, do you know what happened to George? The librarian? I haven't seen him for days."

I studied her hopeful expression, considering what to tell her. The pure trust in her green eyes reminded me yet again of how much she relied on me. I could tell her anything, anything at all, and she would believe me. It was a power I wasn't sure I should wield.

Perhaps he'd let his guard down around her and made the mistake of allowing something to slip.

"He was an Obsidianite spy," I finally said.

She gasped. Those brilliant green eyes widened. "What? But he never..." Her eyes wandered away again, and she shook her head, returning direct eye contact to me when she said, "He never said or did anything strange, Prince Chevalier. Not that I can recall."

This was all serious business, but I was enjoying watching her ever-changing expressions far too much. I'd just increased the danger to her unless she kept her mouth shut, however, and it was too late to take that back. "If you remember anything, let me know, but tell nobody else. There is one other matter to discuss." I poked her stomach with the book. "From now on, when you make my breakfast, make your own as well."