THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER -Chapter Sixteen (Patreon)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

The next day, the two noted an ease between them. Were it not for Beast’s slight cough still, Beauty could have said that the two were now passing their days as they had always been with nothing tense or hidden between them.

And yet, she knew in her heart that it was not the case. She was reminded of the secret she was keeping from him with every laboured breath that he took or cough that softly issued from him. So that afternoon, she had to tell him.

“Might I say something and you not grow cross?” she murmured nervously as they sat enjoying the warmth of the fire in their favourite sitting room.

“You have my solemn vow,” he reassured, “And I do mean it.”

“It is just... Perhaps I... Well...” Beauty took a slow breath in and out, “Please do not grow cross it is just that I... I was not trying to disobey you or go behind your back to purposely spite you in any way but I...”

“Beauty it is quite alright,” he assured softly, interrupting her stammering, “I already vowed I shall not be cross with you.”

She took a deep breath in and sighed out through her nose. “It is just that, for the past while as you have been sick I have tended to the roses...on my own...” She gazed at him; awaiting a change in his expression to anger or frustration or disappointment but instead it appeared almost as though his eyes softened.

Beauty suddenly felt the need to explain herself: “I just, I know you said I shouldn’t help you, but I—well, after awhile I grew worried that that the roses would begin to whither or...or something and I just—

On the nights that you would say you were going out to water them only to fall asleep in your armchair or...or when you would retire to your room early and... and all the times that you said you would tend to them but never got around to it I-I on those days, I—Afterward I would go outside and using, well... I would tend them and care for them using the instructions from the manuscript you are writing. I am sorry that I did it without your knowledge but I did not wish to cross you and yet I-I’m sorry but I should not have done it.”

“No, Beauty; it’s alright,” Beast reassured, “I am just... I’m more surprised you took such initiative; such...such... action and resourcefulness into your own hands and went ahead to care for the roses as you did.”

There was a brief period of silence as the two looked at one another and Beauty wondered what he was thinking. She was certain that their previous disagreement over the roses was still fresh in his mind and how she’d all but accused him of trying to keep her here by means of the roses. “Please—please don’t think it was some sort of selfish desire; not completely, it’s just... That is to say, I, well, I do wish to return home; I do not wish to delay the blooming of the roses but I also, well, I...I did not wish for the roses— for anything unfortunate to befall them. I wanted to be sure that, ehm, that nothing terrible would happen as a result of anything to do with the roses not being cared for. You see, I realized how treasured they are to you and well I couldn’t help but think —forgive me but—but because they are so treasured to you, I feared that perhaps should anything terrible befall them: if they were to stop blooming or if they were to wither away or, or heavens forbid begin to die simply because they had not been cared for as tenderly and as thoroughly and diligently as they once were and... I feared what it might do to you being as ill as you were. I grew concerned that perhaps should they not be as they were when I came here... well, that your health would perhaps take a turn and not for the better. I know how it is to be ill and need hope you see so... And knowing how treasured and important they are to you I did not want to take the chance it would send your health into a worsened state as a result.

I am also sorry that I went behind your back in my actions, but you should know that the instructions in your manuscript; the way you describe how you’ve cared for them, well it’s a thing, of...well, beauty and you’ve done a wonderful job with it. But, I am truly sorry for going against your wishes. Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive, dear Beauty; nothing at all. Thank you... sincerely...sincerely from the bottom of my heart thank you. I do not know how else to say it or what to say but your...your initiative is... it is... Well... I do not know what to say but thank you. For you concern as well, I... Thank you.” He truly felt speechless. He felt humbled and moved — and suddenly shy— from her words.

Some time passed between them; both feeling humbled and grateful for the other’s words and actions –though neither expressed it further.

Finally, Beast sat up a little in his chair and spoke, “Would you mind if we took a walk now together and beheld your handiwork?”

Beauty felt shy. “Y-yes. Certainly,” she replied bashfully; feeling a blush come to her cheek.

The two walked together to the garden; Beast offering his arm to her although it was she who seemed to be supporting him as they made their way. But she would never make mention and he didn’t either.

They slowed then paused as they came to the first rose bush and looked at the blooms there. A smile tugged at his lips. She could see it and it gave her both relief and a warmth in her heart that he should be pleased. Without a word the two moved on to the larger bush that had the most roses growing upon it.

They all looked healthy; perhaps even more beautiful than he remembered them actually, and his brows moved slowly together at the thought.

This disheartened her. “Ha-have I done something wrong?” she managed to whisper in apprehension. He was frowning; it couldn’t be good tidings.

“Oh! No, no,” he reassured softly, “No I just...” He fought within himself for a moment. “The roses they... they look beautiful and I... I can’t remember whether they looked this lovely in my recent memory or not. You’ve... you’ve done magnificently and I just feel... contrite in this moment.”

“Oh,” she murmured, “Why is that?” she asked softly after another moment had passed.

He drew in a deep breath of the air around them before he spoke again to her; turning his head to make eye contact. “Beauty, you... You have taken care of my roses; my treasured possessions. And not only that, you’ve...” He gently took in another breath. “You have made them flourish. Thus I feel regretful that I have been so... inattentive. And I feel compunctious that I should be... That my roses are so well and by your hand Beauty. I am thankful and sorry that such actions had to be taken that the beauty of these roses I behold before me should be the result of my guest— my companion and not myself,” he mumbled.

“Beast...” she began but paused; unsure of what it was she wished to express, “Do not...feel those feelings of regret or...or apology. I understand that yes I did exude myself into a territory that has strictly been your own until this point but please do not feel regretful about your roses. I only wished that they would continue to bloom and thrive as you have let them under your care. I wasn’t... I did not mean to attempt to encroach on your territory and by any means make you feel like I was trying to surpass you in any way,” she told him gently. “Please forgive me.”

His paw took her hand gently into it. “Beauty. You need not ask forgiveness for something such as this. There is truly nothing you need be forgiven for but if it assures you and puts you at ease for me to say so then you are indeed forgiven.”

She smiled gently at him in thanks.

A moment later, his gaze wandered to the roses. It pained him to admit what he came to realize a moment later but he stated it anyway: “I appears this bud has almost bloomed. I should wonder whether it and its cousin will be ready soon to greet the sun,” he murmured softly.

“Oh, um, yes,” she agreed with a small smile and a soft voice.

“I suppose we should then begin planning for when you shall return home,” he noted.

“No note sent to Father until they bloom,” Beauty spoke up, “It is only fair.”

He looked at her in curiosity and a bit of confusion.

“Should we send the letter to him now, who is to say that the roses will have bloomed by the time he arrives to fetch me?” Beauty expounded, “That would go against the terms of the arrangement and then Father would be required to leave or perhaps stay here for a time and... I do not know that we —that you— would wish that. Therefore let us be sure that the buds bloom before sending him word. Would that not be the most sensible and prudent way?”

He nodded in acquiescence of her words.