Her Beast

Chapter 5

Grace was saved from whatever it was the red head was about to say by the reappearance of Mrs Prodger, who walked in at that moment.

"Ah, Miss Richards, I see you have finally managed to crawled out of your black hole and grace us with your .... presence."  Mrs Prodger didn't even look at the woman as she walked over to Grace.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that, you old bat. I'll have your job." 

"Oh please do try, lets see what Luke has to say about that, shall we?" Mrs Prodger spared her a quick glance before she reached Graces side.  "Don't mind Selina, deary.  She thinks the sun shines up her backside."  With that comment Selina stormed from the room, dismissed by the housekeeper of all people.  Grace started laughing all over again at the look of triumph that crossed Mrs Prodgers face.  "Sorry my dear, I didn't think to warn you about Miss Richards. Come on then, we have your room all ready for you."

"Who is she?"  Grace asked as followed the housekeeper out of the living room.

"Unfortunately she is the Masters 'girlfriend' or was, I'm unsure of that status at the moment as well, you're here now."

"Oh my word!"  Grace gasped.

"Now,now don't worry. Lets see what the master has to say about it all when he gets here."

"It's a little difficult not to as she clearly lives here."  The old fears that she had been suppressing were starting break through and the realisation of who she had actually married began to sink in.  She had married a complete stranger, not entirely with her express permission and she was now living in a house, with no other choice, with her husbands girlfriend.

Grace didn't even notice the beautifully designed room as she entered it, she moved quietly straight to the bed and sank down onto the bottom of it with a sigh.  She let her body drop forward till her head was resting in her hands as she balanced her elbows on her knees.  Mrs Prodger must have sensed that she needed a little space as she rubbed her back for a moment before quietly leaving the room and pulling the door shut behind her.   Grace felt the tears begin to spill through her fingers as she sat there but she made no move to wipe them away.  She might have sat there for an hour or more letting herself  weep for all the pain she had gone through and the suffering that was still to come, cause there was no ways this story would every be a fairytale. Not for her, never for her.

~&~

Grace woke from a restless slumber a few hours later to find a light blanket thrown over her body.  Her muscles were stiff from laying curled up in a ball for so long.  She vaguely remembered laying back on the bed at some point and exhaustion must have knocked her out.

Sunlight still streamed through the windows and the house around her was quiet.  Wiping the sleep from her eyes Grace pulled herself upright and for the first took in, what could only be described as delightful, room around her. The colours on the walls were soft and welcoming,  the furniture was delicate and feminine.  Gentle pastel textures were scattered throughout the room giving it a charming, cosy appeal. The carpet was plush and enticing in a gentle grey, running from wall to wall with an even lighter wave pattern that drew the eye towards the other doors leading off the side of the room.. Grace couldn't resist the allure of those doors and tentatively made her way over to the first, gasping in pleasure at the free standing bath framed by yet again floor to ceiling windows.  Whoever had designed this room had taking thought to arrange it in such a way that the building created the privacy while still allowing those inside the room to still take in the scenery outside,  They had also thought to bring the outdoors in and the marble suite was soften by the greenery and the gentle flow of water that ran as some kind of waterfall feature along the left hand side wall and down behind a beautifully around plant bed.  There was a shower to the right that could easily accommodate at least four people and alongside it was a hand basin sunken into side board complete with a dresser and stole.  Every little detail had been considered when it came to designing this room, from the mirrors to the little doorway that was discreetly tucked out of view that led to the walking wardrobe, with all the closet space she would ever need and a beautiful wall of shelves just for shoes and handbags, every woman's dream closet.

The only let down for Grace was that the wardrobe wasn't filled with beautiful clothing, but to be fair she guessed it would have to be her that filled that room. The other door leading from the closet took her back into her room where she found a little tray laid out on the table by the window with a fresh Glass of orange juice and a plate filled with various sandwiches.  Graces stomach did not object to the food and made itself very well known in the quiet of the room.  With a smile she sat down in one of the chairs and picked up the sandwich closest to her.

"Good, you're eating.  I was beginning to wonder if you were going deaf with the amount of protests your stomach was letting out."  Lucy said coming into the room and dropping into the other chair.

"This place is amazing."

"Isn't it just.  You should see my room, nothing as grand as this but I may as well be royalty for the posh set up they've given me."  That brought a smile to Grace's face.

"Well I'm glad you are comfortable, Lucy.  I would have hated it if they had stuck you in some far away dark room after everything you have already given up for me."

"Don't you start Missy.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  Now eat up we have to go get you some new clothes.  The bastard of a father of yours wouldn't let me take anything but the essentials so we need to get you something to wear otherwise you'll be sleeping in those jeans again."