A Beast Sees No Beauty

Chapter Eight

Juliet feared the confrontation she would receive the next time she spoke to Vincent McCoy. Even now as she went through her morning ritual of walking through the garden, Juliet could see his stone-cold stoic face telling her that he was under the influence of feverish delusions and nothing was meant by the gesture. He would probably claim that she had enjoyed it and would have pushed him away faster had she not.

Or, even worse, he would come to her red-faced with fury, berating her and using her as a scapegoat for the event. After all, her guard should have been up. She never should have let what happened to happen. He might even be so bold as to say she kissed him!

Juliet scowled, annoyed that she wouldn't be able to enjoy her garden escapade. Her mind was still reeling, trying to come up with all the plausible responses Vincent McCoy would have to see her again and any defenses she could come up with should he accuse her of anything. There was no way for her to be at peace without knowing what he would say about the matter.

It was all one big bonafide mess.

"Miss?" Juliet turned to face the voice, dismayed to see Doctor King standing several feet away with his leather bag in hand. He had just finished tending to his patient when one of the women brought up an odd event from the night before. He was worried about the girl's safety. That and his wife had been dying to hear what all was happening at the McCoy plantation.

Juliet quickly pulled her robe tighter across her body, embarrassed to be caught in such an unbecoming situation. "I'm dreadfully sorry about my appearance! I wasn't expecting-"

"No! No, I should have warned someone that I wished to speak with you and sent them ahead, but I saw you out here and... well, I have a few questions if you don't mind," the middle-aged man removed his hat and took two or so steps forward, but left more than enough room between the two for polite company.

"Questions? I'm sure I'll be of little help, but I will gladly answer them." The man smiled as he set his bag on the grassy floor, carefully balancing his hat on top. He made sure the two items would remain well balanced before he began.

"I would like to start with how he was yesterday and last night? Any changes?" Of course, he knew the answer to this. Vincent McCoy was awake this morning, which meant at some point last night he became conscious and coherent.

At some time yesterday night, Miss Chambers left her post to call upon a certain Ms. LuLu to take watch over the man. The occurrence was odd considering how adamant Miss Chambers was about staying with Vincent McCoy over-night. Something must have happened to make her change her mind so suddenly.

"Not really, no." Her gaze lowered to the ground where she studied the blades of grass beneath her slippers. "He remained just about the same throughout the day."

"According to Ms. LuLu, he was awake when she arrived last night. Was Mr. McCoy conscious when you left the room?" Juliet knew that she had to tell the truth now. There was no point in stating all the details, but she couldn't lie to the doctor.

"Yes, Vincent McCoy was awake when I left the room. I decided it best to let someone else take over because he seemed very... out-of-sorts." Juliet lifted her gaze, hoping that nothing else needed to be asked. She was afraid that she wouldn't answer much else. Or worse, he'd bring out the rude side of her.

"He didn't do anything to you? Harm you in any way?" So that's what he thought. Juliet couldn't help but laugh a bit, shaking her head at the assumption. "What's so funny? I am asking a serious question!" The doctor pulled at his collar, cheeks red in what Juliet could only assume to be embarrassment.

"What's 'funny' is that everyone is under the impression that Mr. McCoy is doing some sort of harm to me. I'm sure that the rumors spreading are a factor in your questions, but I'd like you to add a little something to them for me, will you?" Juliet took several steps forward, close enough for her to see the whites of his eyes. "Be sure to explain that I'm here as payment. I am the price that must be paid for my family to remain living their lifestyles. Now, I do believe you have overstayed your welcome."

Dr. King quickly set about collecting his things, flustered at the brashness of Juliet Chambers. He lowered his hat in her direction before scampering off, feeling as though nothing was fast enough to get him out of there.

~~

Vincent couldn't help but watch Juliet as she held what seemed to be a heated conversation with the doctor. There was something about their interaction that made Vincent want to leave the room and confront the situation, but he was now forced to live in only the confines of his chamber. 

Though his fever has broken, his body hasn't finished healing yet. It was aggravating to feel perfectly fine but still be caged up like the soon to be deceased.

"Now that we're done here," he groaned at LuLu's voice, knowing she wouldn't let him rest so easily. She had come in the night before, gently easing him to sleep before waking him for the doctor's arrival. "I'd like to know what happened last night."

He didn't have it in him to lie. Vincent hardly had his wits about him after being delirious most of the night. Lying seemed to take up too much energy at the moment. "I may or may not have taken advantage of a situation that was not meant to be taken advantage of."

LuLu crossed her arms and began to tap her foot, something that meant he needed to give her more information. He wasn't sure if she'd be overjoyed at his confession, or disappointed in his brash and ungentlemanly behavior.

"I kissed her." What more needed to be said? He took advantage of her! The poor girl was only so close to him to check on him, and he took it as an invitation to kiss her.

"Now, I know you did not just say that you kissed her. So I'm just gonna stay right here and wait for you to tell the truth," she waited in silence for a moment before sighing. This boy was both insanely stupid and smart all at once. "I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life."

Vincent's eyes followed the retreating doctor until he disappeared around the corner. Once he was sure the man wasn't going to turn back around, he returned to watching the girl as she turned her emerald gaze back to the flowers with a grin. Vincent couldn't help but be surprised. He misjudged how much the girl enjoyed toying with people.

"I expected you to be more excited by the prospect, instead you sound demeaning. What changed?"

"Changed?" Vincent knew that tone well. He couldn't keep the grimace off his face as he turned back around in his chair to face the only mother-like figure he had left in the home. "Let me tell you somethin' boy; I ain't changed one bit. No, I never have and never will be excited when a man takes somethin' as precious as a kiss from an unwilling woman. I don't care if you will end up with her one day, 'cause I just know you'll find a way to win her over, it still doesn't change the fact that you're an ass when you want to be."

Vincent could swear he heard her mutter an "also when you don't want to be." He chose to ignore it for the time being. He didn't know what to say anyway. She was right, he knew, but he still felt as if this anger shouldn't have been directed at him. He was delirious after all.

"Listen, son, this is the kind of thing your father would shake your hand for-"

"You and I know that I didn't do anything that bastard would have done! How could you accuse me of such a thing?!" LuLu watched his face break apart in a mixture of hurt and rage. It was never a good sign when the vein popped out of his forehead. Perhaps she had crossed a line, but she knew better than him what all his father was capable of.

"I didn't accuse you of nothin'! Now calm down and get back in bed," Vincent contemplated not moving, but eventually found he didn't want to evoke LuLu's rage any more than he wants to evoke his own. So, he followed the command and stretched his limbs before standing and laying across the mattress. "All I'm sayin' is that you have a lot to apologize for when you get better."

Apologize. Vincent McCoy doesn't apologize.

No, he'll just pretend that he doesn't remember what happened. Hopefully, the girl will forget soon enough - if no one brings it up again. They can both move on and pretend nothing happened. Nothing should have happened to begin with.