Moody and the Beast

by Kristen Painter

  He took a breath. “There is. Do you think Emeranth would be willing to befriend Theodora? Show her around a little?”

  “Did I hear my name?”

  He turned to see Theodora walk in. She was in black leggings and an oversized shirt, her hair braided back at her temples in a traditional style, and she was smiling. Did she have gloss on her lips? He wasn’t sure, but she looked beautiful. He stood. “Yes. You did. Theodora Middlebright, this is Amelia Marchand.”

  Theodora approached, then stopped and looked like she wasn’t sure what to do next. “Ms. Marchand, His Lordship has said such wonderful things about you. It’s an honor to meet you.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Middlebright.”

  “Please, call me Theodora.”

  “Join us,” Robin said.

  She sat on the same couch as him, but at the other end. She was still smiling, but there was tension in her expression. She was uncomfortable. Nervous, maybe.

  Amelia said, “Robin was just telling me about your situation. I understand you’re going to be here for a year.”

  Theodora nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Now, Theodora,” Amelia began, “we can’t have that. Call me Amelia. Please. I want us to be friends. More specifically, I’d love to introduce you to my niece, Emeranth. I think you’d get on well. She’s a witch, like me. And I believe you’re close in age.”

  Theodora glanced at Robin. “That’s very nice of you, but I won’t have much time for socializing.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll make sure you have time. You should go out and see the town. Emeranth could show you around.”

  Amelia nodded. “You girls could go out to lunch. Em could even invite a few of her friends.”

  Theodora sat up straighter, still looking at Robin. “If that’s what you want.”

  “What I want is for you not to feel like you’re in the same prison I am.” He sighed. “My life is not something I’d wish on anyone.”

  She interlaced her fingers, keeping her hands in her lap. “May I speak freely, Your Lordship?”

  “Of course.”

  She cleared her throat softly. “I know you’re unhappy because of the restraints on your freedom. I know you’re lonely. No one could blame you for that. But don’t you ever have parties? Don’t you invite people in?” She looked around. “With all this space, you could have a party and probably invite everyone who lives in this town.”

  Amelia snorted. “She’s not wrong, Robin. But you could certainly start with something small. A dinner party. A cocktail party. A garden party. You do have that beautiful, and may I add, unused pavilion out there. What do you think?”

  Before Robin could answer, Elswood pushed in a tea cart. He stopped when he reached them, his narrow-eyed gaze flitting over Theodora. “I didn’t realize Miss Middlebright was joining you. Mrs. Applestock only prepared enough for two.”

  Robin laughed. “I doubt that.”

  “There might be enough food, but I only have cups and plates for two.”

  Robin gave him a sharp look. “Then bring another set. Problem solved.”

  “Yes, Your Lordship.” With a bow, he left.

  The platters of food, teapot, cups, and plates were all still on the cart.

  Theodora jumped up. “Let me help.”

  Robin made a little face. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “Someone does. It might as well be me.” She set the food platters on the coffee table, put a cup, saucer, and plate in front of Robin and Amelia, then held up the teapot. “Tea?”

  “I would love some,” Amelia said.

  As Theodora was pouring, Elswood returned. This time, he had a tray. “I informed Mrs. Applestock that you’ve included Theodora, and she sent me with this.”

  He put the tray on the far end of the coffee table. It held the requested third setting, plus a plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries, shrimp salad sandwiches, and a cheese plate.

  Robin spread his hands out. “See? She can’t do anything in small portions.”

  “Then just imagine,” Theodora said, “what she could do for a party.”

  Elswood’s brows lifted, but he said nothing. Robin knew the butler’s questions would come later, worked into some innocent conversation. Elswood had his ways of finding out what he wanted to know.

  “I don’t know,” Robin said. “I’ll think about it.” But he already had. Many times. A party sounded like such a simple thing. A way to get to know people and expand his circle. It would bring him the friends and interaction he so desperately craved.

  But as those friendships deepened, he’d be invited places. Places he couldn’t go. And then he’d be stuck either making excuses that would eventually turn his new friends against him, or he’d be forced to confess that his cruel ex-wife had imprisoned him. Made him a pawn in her political game.

  It was flat-out embarrassing to think about the whole town knowing how he’d been so cruelly betrayed by the woman who’d shared his bed.

  Now they just thought he was a strange recluse who was bitter about losing his crown and kingdom. He could bear that.

  Theodora took a cup of tea and went back to her seat. “You already have thought about it, haven’t you?”

  He looked up at her, unable to find an answer that wasn’t a lie and knowing the truth wouldn’t be well received.

  She turned her cup on the saucer, then set both on the table. “If you wanted to throw a party, you would have already. So there’s obviously a reason you don’t want to. It’s okay. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

  “No,” Amelia said. “It was a good idea. It still is.”

  “No,” Robin said. “It’s not. I don’t need company at the expense of my dignity.” He got up, suddenly overwhelmed by the burden of his life. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”

  He walked out, aware of how small his actions were and how petty he looked. But while this life might not look miserable to anyone else, he was on the verge of losing his mind. And would be until his wretched curse was lifted.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I’m sorry for ruining your visit,” Theo said to Amelia. “I didn’t mean to upset him. That’s something I’ve been actively avoiding. If he rejects my indenture…” She exhaled. She was talking too much. It wasn’t her way, but she felt like the important woman across from her deserved an explanation, though she didn’t need to also hear Theo’s problems.

  Amelia stared after Robin, looking less than pleased. “He won’t cancel anything. He likes you. He might even go so far as to realize he needs you.”

  Theo glanced at Amelia. “Forgive me, but I don’t think that’s true at all.”

  Amelia turned her attention to Theo again. Thankfully, curiosity had replaced the displeasure on the woman’s handsome face. “How long have you been here?”

  “Two days.”

  “Did you start out as his companion?”

  “No. As general household staff.”

  Amelia nodded as if the picture was becoming clear. “And in that short amount of time, he’s changed the terms of your service, elevating you to upstairs, and decided that you should be trained in a useful skill. All of that, and you don’t think he’s come to any conclusions about how he feels about you?”

  “Respectfully, all of that is because my mother was his pastry cook when he was newly crowned king. He’s very sentimental about that time in his life, and due to that, he’s also sentimental about her. I believe that being reminded about her passing and finding out what her loss did to me has left him with the feeling that he needs to do something for me. That’s all.”

  Amelia pursed her lips and nodded. “I see. You’re wrong, but I understand why you’d believe that.”

  Theo frowned. “You can’t think I mean anything to him in such a short amount of time.”

  “I’ve known Robin for as long as he’s lived here. This is the first time I’ve come to visit him that he not only looks well but seems genuinely excited about so
mething. I’m pretty sure it isn’t this new seam of opal, no matter how much fire it might contain.” She smirked slightly. “He likes you.”

  He liked the little cat who’d come to visit him, Theo knew that much. “I don’t know…”

  “I do.” Amelia helped herself to one of the small lavender cakes on the three-tiered serving stand. “Do you like him?”

  “I…that is…it doesn’t matter what I think of him. We’re not equals.”

  “Why not? He’s no longer king. The only reason anyone still calls him your lordship or sire is out of respect.”

  Theo shook her head. “But he was king. And I’m common-born.” Though, so was he. He’d told her as much. The difference was she hadn’t risen above that. And never would.

  “Theodora, how do you feel about him?”

  She took a breath, unsure why she felt compelled to answer this woman she didn’t even know, except that she didn’t want to cause trouble for Robin. “I like him more than I thought I would. He’s surprisingly kind and generous and funny. He’s also a little…”

  Theo struggled to find a word that didn’t paint Robin in a bad light.

  After a moment, Amelia filled in the silence. “Sad?”

  Theo nodded. She’d been reluctant to say it. “I think because of that, I feel for him. And I definitely didn’t expect that. I came here mad. Angry that I had to spend my next year here, angry at my father, angry at Robin. Just angry about all of it.”

  “You don’t seem so angry now.”

  “I’m mostly resigned to it, I think. But it’s so different than what I thought it was going to be.” She looked out the window toward the garden. “I’m not happy to be spending so much time away from my father, but that can’t be helped.”

  “What would your father want you to do in this situation?”

  Theo thought on that for a few long, introspective moments. “He’d want me to make the best of it.”

  “Did he give you any advice before you came here?”

  “Not really. He just told me to be safe and not to worry about him. And to try to have some fun.”

  “But you can’t turn off your worry that easily, can you?”

  “No.” Mrs. Oakhill, their next-door neighbor, had promised to look in on Theo’s father every so often, but Mrs. Oakhill was getting up there herself. It was a help, but not enough to ease Theo’s worry. Not when her father’s track record of taking care of himself was sketchy at best.

  “Then you’ll have to do your best to follow the other guidelines he gave you. Be safe. Have some fun. Two out of three isn’t bad.”

  Theo squinted at the woman. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying Robin needs someone to spend time with. Someone who cares about him. I think that person could be you. Even if you have to dig deep to find that care. I’m not saying lie to him. Just try to understand his position.” Amelia shook her head. “This life wasn’t his making.”

  “You believe that Vesta did all this to him? That he’s innocent of the crimes she’s accused him of?”

  Amelia nodded. “Absolutely. When I first met him, the taint of fairy magic on him was undeniable. Still is. It surrounds him and this place. And the more I’ve gotten to know Robin, the more I understand what a good man he is. What Vesta did to him, not just taking his throne, but the way she’s limited his movements here, only further proves that she’s the monster. Not Robin.”

  Did Amelia have any reason to lie for Robin? Theo didn’t think so. But they were clearly friends. Still, Theo was glad to have someone else confirm what she’d already been thinking. “I want to help him. I really do. My mother liked him very much. At least, she liked her job in the palace very much. And I don’t think she would have felt that way if he’d been the monster Vesta makes him out to be.”

  Amelia nodded. “That’s an astute observation.”

  “So how do I help him?”

  Amelia smiled. “You already are helping by spending time with him. But I also think your party idea deserves more of his attention. Don’t let go of that.”

  “I won’t. Anything else?”

  Amelia put her hands on the couch as if she was about to get up. “I know his movement is restricted, but he needs to get out of this house. Going to the mines doesn’t count. Maybe you can get him to go out for a walk? There has to be some room for him to move on his own grounds.”

  “We’ve talked about that, so a walk will be easy.”

  “Good. One more thing. You’ll soon hear, if you haven’t already, about a magical book hidden in the enchanted forest. A book with the power to remove the curse of the person who writes their name in it.”

  Theo gasped softly. That was just what Robin needed.

  Amelia held her hand up. “Unfortunately, it won’t work for fairy magic that was created in another dimension like Limbo. That magic is so strong and so powerful that not even I could break it.”

  “Then what would?”

  She shook her head slowly. “Other than Vesta’s own command, I don’t honestly know.”

  “Is there any way to find out?”

  Amelia tipped her head. “I can certainly research it again. I did, years ago, but came up empty. Doesn’t mean I can’t give it another shot.” She smiled. “I do love a challenge.”

  “That would be wonderful.”

  “No promises.” Amelia stood. “If you need anything, you call me. Mrs. Applestock has my number, as does Robin. In the meantime, I am going to see about my niece taking you into town for lunch.”

  Theo got to her feet. “Thank you. It was lovely to meet you.”

  “You, too. Be well, changeling.”

  Theo stiffened, and her mouth fell open. “I’m not—”

  “You are, but don’t worry. I won’t tell him. But you’d better before he figures it out on his own.”

  “How did you know?”

  Amelia laughed softly as she headed for the door. “Nothing stays secret from me for very long, my dear. Especially not magic. Especially not in my town.”

  * * *

  Robin realized he’d lost his temper in a fit of self-pity. It was embarrassing, and yet he couldn’t quite bring himself to do anything about it besides hide in his room. Theodora probably wished more than ever that she could go home.

  The thought filled him with sadness.

  He should apologize to her and Amelia. If Amelia was even still here. Regardless, he’d send her flowers. A big bunch of the purple roses she’d been admiring in his garden. Those, along with a note of apology, should get him back in her good graces.

  As for Theodora, he wasn’t as sure with her. But he could start with sorry.

  He took a deep breath before leaving his quarters. She had every right to be upset, but he had a feeling she might hold back because of her situation. How awful that must be to have someone else in control of your future. But then, he knew a little about having someone else in control of your life.

  He turned down the hall and toward the big curving staircase that connected the upstairs and the main floor. Theodora was at the other end of the hall in front of her bedroom door, about to go inside.

  He lifted his hand in greeting as he walked toward her. “Did Amelia leave?”

  Theodora nodded. “She did.”

  He grimaced and put a hand on the back of his neck. “Was she terribly mad?”

  Theodora turned toward him. “No, not mad at all. But…” She stared at the marble flooring for a moment before looking at him again. “I owe you an apology. I didn’t mean to upset you and—”

  “You don’t owe me anything.” He closed the distance between them with a few more steps. She was about as perfectly beautiful as any woman he’d ever seen. “My reaction was uncalled for. I need to apologize to you and Amelia for storming out.” He exhaled hard. “The idea of a party is wonderful. Having people around would be amazing.”

  She tipped her head slightly as if waiting for the rest. “But?”

  She was even smarter
than she was beautiful. Those green-gold eyes missed nothing. “But people tend to reciprocate when you issue an invite. They ask you to their house or out for dinner or to a movie or something that requires you to leave your house. How do I explain that I can’t because I’m a pawn in my ex-wife’s political games? That I was too dumb to see through her manipulations and realize that I was being played for a fool?”

  “Your Lordship—”

  “No.” Enough ranting. Enough explaining himself. He shook his head. “I don’t want to be a laughingstock. Call that ego or arrogance or whatever you want, but there it is. I have had enough humiliation. I don’t want more.”

  Was the pain in her eyes on his behalf? That couldn’t be.

  “Oh, Robin. You poor—” She froze, her brows bending in distress, which did nothing to detract from her loveliness. “Forgive me, Sire. I didn’t mean to be so familiar.”

  “Enough of that nonsense, too. I am no one’s king. Call me Robin. To be honest, I hate being reminded of who I once was, but I’ve put up with it because Elswood has always insisted it’s proper. Mrs. Baton, too.” He snorted. “Proper can go to Hades.”

  It occurred to him that maybe, if Theodora stopped referring to him as sire and your lordship, she’d think of them as equals.

  He’d like that very much.

  Her distressed expression turned to amusement, and she laughed. The sound intoxicated him so much he leaned in and kissed her. Gently at first, but she tasted so good and her lips were so soft that his need for her increased, and his mouth grew insistent.

  He wanted more of this woman. But then, hadn’t some part of him known that the moment he’d laid eyes on her?

  Her startled gasp broke them apart. He backed up, realizing just how bold and brash his actions had been. “I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t mean to—no, that’s a lie. I did mean to kiss you. But I shouldn’t have. I’m not sure what made me think that was acceptable. I promise it has nothing to do with you being my companion. It’s just that you laughed, and you looked so beautiful that I lost my head, and…”

  She wasn’t saying anything. Just staring at him. Eyes sparkling, lips still parted. Perfect for more kissing.