The Beast (Harry Styles)

Chapter Twenty-One: Part Four

Safety came while Adeline slept,

And the coachman had secrets he so easily kept.

But back to the castle, a reunion is in need;

Will it be sappy and cute? Well, you'll see. . .

~.~

The first thing Adeline should have noticed was wrong was there was heat.

She was warm, exceedingly warm, and if she had remained outside all night, she would not have felt this way. Instead of the uncomfortable, harsh whisper of wind in her ear, there was a steady purr and buzz at Adeline's feet. It alarmed her at first, but she quickly realized it was Belle.

Belle?

Adeline's eyes shot open and she sat up as if she had been electrocuted, forcing her alert and awake. She was in her room at the castle, all the furniture right where it should be along with a tea kettle and cup to her right on the side table.

The only one not startled seemed to be Belle, who lazily rose and stretched. Her purring increased as she waddled up on Adeline's legs and onto her chest, rubbing her face against Adeline's face. Adeline couldn't help but giggle at the small kitten's happiness. 

"You either slept well or terrorized Lum accordingly and happily," Adeline spoke to the kitten as she gently pet her head. Belle continued to purr in content, leaning her head up for Adeline to continue petting.

Adeline rolled her eyes lightheartedly at Belle's eager persistence to gain her attention.

There was a knock on the bedroom door.

"Come in!" Adeline called before laughing at Belle attempting to climb on her shoulders. 

Mrs. Potter appeared in the doorway with Cobbs, a smile dancing on both their lips.

"Well you too look quite satisfied this morning," Adeline joked as they completely entered her room.

"So do you, considering the conditions of what happened last night upon your arrival," Mrs. Potter said almost incredulously.

"What do you mean?" Though she kept her smile, Adeline was unsure of what she was saying. . .hadn't the coachman found a way back to the castle while she was asleep and they helped her to bed?

"You were completely unresponsive when you arrived in the carriage. . .the horses were sitting on the ground exhausted with no coachman around. You're lucky you didn't suffer any injuries, but you were perfectly fine, aside from being out of consciousness," Cobbs explained with slight disbelief. 

Adeline's smile completely fell and her eyebrows furrowed.

"No, no no," she insisted. "The horses had grown tired in the middle of the forest, and the coachman had told me to just go into the compartment and sleep. He said we would arrive at the castle by morning; I didn't believe him, because even he said that the horses would be too tired---why are you looking at me like that?"

Mrs. Potter and Cobbs shared a concerned look. Mrs. Potter walked over to the bed and sat down, taking Adeline's hands in her own.

"Adeline, dear, we hadn't even sent for a coachman to get you yet; we were waiting until morning to collect you," Mrs. Potter spoke softly with caution.

"What do you mean? It was an older gentleman, with grey hair and a beard, and---" Adeline stopped mid-sentence when Mrs. Potter just stared at her.

"Timothy is the coachman: he's about twenty, dear, you must have been hurt." Mrs. Potter took her hands from Adeline's and pressed them to her head. "You're not running a fever. . .are you sure this is what happened?"