Beauty's Mirror- Paranormal Regency Beauty and the Beast

Chapter Nine

Bella sagged into her bed at the end of a long day. She had been home for a week and immediately cast into her old position of servant and housekeeper for her family. Her sisters seemed barely shocked that she arrived without notice, or without them writing to her, and instead seemed annoyed at her being away at all. That she came with no gifts for them, they found equally insulting.

Her father did not seem as ill in truth as she had seen in the mirror. Or perhaps she was merely finished with treating him as an infant for every minor ailment. Yesterday, he admitted the reason she had been requested as governess was because he had tried to take Rosie from the house.

Bella could understand how it must have seemed to her father, but she could not excuse his deceit in leading her to believe the arrangement was because of George's debt. When she defended Leo and his relationship with Rosie, her father insisted she was wrong and sent her to the kitchen. As far as Bella could tell, the only person that seemed to appreciate her presence was Cook.

She rubbed her aching feet and then stretched her back. The truth was, she had eagerly launched herself into Leo's troubles. It seemed she felt some innate need to rescue people. The difference was she felt appreciated at the Castle and Leo never took her assistance for granted.

"Enough about him. You knew him only a few days and in the end..." Bella trailed off. For, in the end, he proved exactly what she had seen in the beginning. Perhaps not exactly, but neither was he what she had believed him to be.

"George was right," she mumbled before she fell asleep. She needed to find some way to live life on her terms.

The next morning, Bella awoke at her usual time and immediately began chores. By mid-morning, she had accomplished much of her to do list. The difference between planning a fine meal and ball for a duke and scrubbing in her father's house was stark, however. Unexpectedly, she heard a vaguely familiar male voice calling out in the hall.

"I will see to it," Bella told Cook.

Arriving upstairs, she stopped in her tracks. "Lord Morgan?" She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

"Miss Beauley," he executed a perfect bow, even as his eyes scanned her stained apron. "Forgive me. No one answered my knock."

Bella hastily wiped her hands on the offending garment and then attempted to untie it. "Allow me," he said and came behind her to undo the string. His presence unnerved her. Freed from the apron, she invited him to the drawing room.

"This is a fine home," Morgan said, and Bella felt the weight of ridiculous small talk.

"May I ask why you are here, Lord Morgan?"

"You suddenly vanished, Miss Beauley. One minute we were enjoying each other's company at Erroll's ball and the next you left without a word."

Bella blushed but raised her chin. "I would not say it was so sudden as that. I had previously left your side."

Morgan nodded his head. "Yes, to dance with Erroll but you did not return to the ballroom. I worried."

His tone sounded almost hurt and deeply concerned. "I apologize," Bella said before recalling his plans with Leo. She would not be made to feel the villain here. "However, I believe you spoke with His Grace and did not seem concerned about my whereabouts then."

Morgan's eyebrows raised high. "You heard my conversation with Erroll?" Bella nodded her head but would not explain how. "And that offended you in some way?"

His incredulity was obvious to her. "That you both should consider I would marry a man I had just met, with knowing very little of his character or temper, yes. That I would marry him without so much as being asked, moreso. I suppose you believed I would marry you based on your rank and wealth alone. To me, that is the highest insult."