Beauty Beheld: A Retelling of Hansel and Gretel (The Becoming Beauty Trilogy Book 3) by Brittany Fichter

Author:Brittany Fichter
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Skye Scribbles Press
Published: 2016-10-07T23:00:00+00:00

“Oh... Oh dear!” Olivia’s face went so white that Isa nearly ran to fetch Ever, but Olivia just shook her head and lowered herself onto a large boulder. “I’m fine. I just need a moment to think.” She looked out over the water, rubbing her belly as she did. Isa felt a stab of guilt for telling her sister-in-law about their newfound danger in such a disorganized fashion. If she hadn’t, though, Olivia would have continued to insist that they take a long walk by the river. Isa didn’t want her to take a walk at all, but at least Olivia had stopped now just at the edge of the camp. Isa kept her hand on the hilt of her sword, but all seemed peaceful for the moment. If only it could stay that way.

“How are you both doing?” Isa forced a smile and nodded pointedly at Olivia’s burgeoning belly.

“Huh?” Olivia looked up. “Oh, thank you. The sickness has abated, it seems, but now I can never get enough to eat.” She looked down at her belly and grinned. “The little thing is always hungry, and if I don’t eat enough, likes to kick me in the ribs. My nurse says this is good, though, since it means the child is strong.” She sighed and placed her hands behind her, leaning back and closing her eyes as the sunlight washed over her. “But sometimes, what I wouldn’t give though to be a tad less round.” She laughed then, her warm brown eyes opening to meet Isa’s. “There are days when I fear I will always be this large. And I still have a long way to go!”

“You look beautiful,” Isa assured her. And truly, she did. Olivia’s fine olive skin had always glowed somewhat as though she’d been touched by a sunbeam. But now her eyes were alight with excitement whenever she talked of her baby, and though she had filled out quite a bit, it wasn’t unbecoming. The loose yellow and orange wool dress that Olivia wore flowed over her soft curves, giving her the look of an ancient queen. Many of the old queens had once worn dresses like Olivia’s, according to the paintings in the Tower of Annals. As much as Olivia might be tired of her new size, it made Isa happy, for it meant her niece or nephew would be healthy and strong.

“Isa.”

Isa squirmed under Olivia’s gaze. She’d thought she’d been concealing her feelings decently, but the concern in Olivia’s warm eyes told her otherwise. “Are you well?”

“To be honest...” Isa hesitated. It was not considered queenly to share one’s entire burden, for the weights of the monarchs were theirs alone to bear. Or so her etiquette instructor had told her. But Olivia was also a royal. And more importantly, she was Isa’s sister now. “I know Ever is only being practical. He always is.” Isa stared into the river as it flashed by, wishing she could toss her burdens into it and watch them be carried away.

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