“If possible, I would leave and not exhaust your hospitality, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t make it very far,” I said, wondering if he would insist I leave regardless.
“Very well,” he said, seemingly mollified. “Another night then, unless you’d rather stay indefinitely. There are many rooms much more suited to a permanent guest.”
I opened my mouth to deny him, but he continued.
“Beds soft enough to sink several inches and drapes thick enough to keep away the deepest winter’s chill. And wardrobes filled with dresses of supple cloth to caress your skin. You would want for nothing,” he assured me.
“Why are you so desperate to keep me here?” I asked.
“Why do you refuse me so insistently?” he countered with a growl.
“Because you’ve given me no reason to stay,” I said without meaning to. Perhaps being ill prevented my good sense from filtering what came out of my mouth. “You don’t know anything about me. Now, tell me why you want me to stay.”
He roared loudly, during which I caught a curse on all women, then he left in a fury. He slammed the door so hard it tore from the hinges and fell flat to the floor. I was glad the chamber pot wasn’t near it. It would have been a mess to clean up.
I rolled to my side, facing the door, and noticed a tray with bread and a bowl of broth on the chair. Guilt swamped me for aggravating him so much when he’d obviously been taking care of me. I ate the bread, dipping it in the broth, while I tried to arrive at a reasonable explanation for his insistence that I stay.
Though he’d always seemed angry, he did provide for me. Yet, the night I’d run from Tennen and the vines pulled me to the estate—the night the beast had asked to see me naked—made me doubt that his care was due to compassion. However, since then, he’d asked of nothing improper from me, only that I clean...and one time that I read to him. Could he just be lonely?
What about the other enchanted creatures, though? And the old woman he’d brought me to when I’d hit my head on the pole? I recalled the conversation I’d heard while dreaming of the flesh-eating demon. Though I knew the demon was only a product of my fevered mind, I felt that conversation had been real. She’d given him the medicine I needed, and he had promised something in return.
The beast truly did provide for me. But why? I fell asleep before I could arrive at any conclusion.
When I woke next, I heard the crackle of a fire from the kitchen and noticed its soft glow illuminating the floor where the door had lain. Someone had removed the door while I slept. My stomach rumbled, and I looked to the chair, hoping for more broth. Instead, a gown draped over the back of it. The dress had more ruffles than I cared for, but I knew the beast meant for me to wear it as an example of what he could offer.
I pulled myself upright and quickly shed the shirt to tug on the dress. It fit snuggly, its supple material clinging and caressing my skin as he promised. When I stood, it fell to the floor in an overabundant cascade. It brought back memories of trying to run through the woods with Tennen right behind me.
Trying not to scowl, I treaded lightly to the kitchen. A crisp, white linen covered the new table. A feast lay out upon it, and the smells of roasted fowl, creamed soups, baked vegetables, and warm bread perfumed the air. Forgetting the dress, I moved to the only setting at the table and pushed back my chair, kicking my skirt slightly to move it out of the way as I sat.
Picking up the fork, I didn’t hesitate to start eating. Everything looked and smelled so good my mouth watered with anticipation.
I didn’t realize the beast had drifted into the room until he passed before the fire and momentarily blocked the light.
“Are you pleased?” he asked.
“The food is delicious. Thank you,” I said after swallowing a bite. I broke off a hunk of steaming bread and smeared soft butter on it. My eyes rolled back.
“And the dress?” he asked.
“Suitably ruffled for such a fine meal,” I said.
“Have you given my offer further consideration?”
Letting silence fall as I chewed a large bite, I wondered how to answer his question. Had I thought on his offer? Yes, but only to try to determine why he repeatedly asked, not to give it serious consideration. After all, I knew nothing of significance regarding the beast to give his proposal serious thought.
“Do you want to know why I consistently say no?” I didn’t wait for him to respond. “How can I offer to stay, to obey your commands, when I see the considerable amount of cruelty and anger in you? How will you turn that on me when I am yours to command?” He growled ominously but didn’t move closer to the table.