A Beast's Tale

Chapter 49

Two weeks later, after a long day of work, my feet carried me to her room. She was up late studying again, judging by the light under her door. I knocked at the door, waiting impatiently for her invitation. When it came, I walked in and joined her on the sofa.

"It's been two weeks," I said, with no further explanation.

Her smile was as bright as the sun. "And the doctor gave me a clean bill of health today."

"Good." I stood and headed for the door. "I'll wait outside."

Her new wardrobe was stunning - or rather, she made it stunning. The tightly corseted bodices, the gentle flare of the skirts at the hips, did her figure more justice than the former maid's uniform. Various alterations in neckline, sleeves, skirt length, and adornment served to emphasize different aspects of her beauty with fantastic effect. The gown she wore today was a pale pink, the color of her lips, with a wide neckline baring most of each shoulder, short sleeves barely more than thin ruffles about the tops of her upper arms, and matching gloves extending up past her elbows. A single large bow at her right hip decorated the full skirt, which ended just above her ankles to reveal a matching pair of high-heeled shoes. A beautiful dress for a beautiful woman, but hardly suitable for horseback riding. And there was something special about her wearing a more simple outfit, one that I bought for her before her status had improved.

"I'm ready."

I turned around to meet her shining green eyes, her radiant smile. She wasn't a princess anymore, wearing the simpler dress. She was just Ivetta, the innocent young woman who had stolen my heart. I leaned down and kissed her, limiting myself to just one before I took her hand and led her through the darkened halls to the lawn outside. It was a clear night, well-lit by a full moon and a million stars. We passed the church in silence, and the Hill of Remembrance spread out before us, row after row of the white monuments, so bright that they almost glowed in the moonlight.

"He bowed to me, and he called me milady," she said softly.

"As was his duty," I replied. "I assigned him to you. He needed no further explanation to know that you were important to me."

She bit her lip, lost in thought for a moment. There would probably be a lot of that tonight. But she needed to get it all out. I suspected that her late night study sessions were a way to avoid the nightmares that were beginning to plague her sleep again.

"I wish...I wish I'd gone back with you. If I had...he wouldn't have died."

I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It was my mistake to send him alone."

She shook her head, blinking tears back. "Then there would have been two bodies for me to trip over. And maybe the neighbors would have woken up, and..."

I stopped and turned her to face me, tilting her chin up while maintaining a firm grip on her hand. The moonlight reflected off the tears in her eyes, tears that she was steadfastly refusing to let fall.

"It's in the past, Ivetta."

"I know," she said miserably, stepping forward and leaning her forehead on my chest. I released her hand and wrapped my arms around her, kissing the top of her head, but she still didn't cry. She took a deep, shaky breath, and then she asked, "How much further is it?"

"Not far. Can you make it?"

She looked up at me and nodded. "Let's go."

I slid one arm down around her waist, and then we started walking again. Blade was waiting where I'd left him, saddled and tied to a tree branch a few feet away from the grave of the knight in question. He stamped his hoof and nickered as we approached.