Beauty's Beast by Sophie Starr

Author:Sophie Starr
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781927866238
Publisher: Tara Brown
Published: 2015-05-14T04:00:00+00:00

7

I sighed in relief as I put the dress on. It sagged everywhere and hung on me like I was a child in my mother’s old gown, but I didn't care. It covered every inch of me, apart from my hands and face. The assault I had suffered at the hands of Gaston had made me uncomfortable in my skin. As if I was somehow to blame for his acting that way by leading him to believe that was acceptable behavior.

I knew it to be a falsehood, and yet I couldn't shake the terrible feeling. He had made me feel guilty for his sins.

I looped the ties around myself several times and then fastened them in a bow at my waist.

It would have to do.

A tall brunette with an incredibly slim build walked into the room. She blushed and winced when she saw my reflection. “Merde! What are you wearing?” she asked in an incredibly thick provincial accent. Her generous red lips and ample bosom had me wondering what her purpose was in the castle. I could have guessed, had I given the master less credit, but I didn't want to tarnish her without her first implying what she was.

Staring at her crossing the floor to me, it was easy to assume.

She wore a black dress, a black slip dress to be exact. Her thin body was completely visible in shape and contour under the trifle of material she wore. Her long, pale legs were completely observable with every step she took, and made longer by the ridiculous shoes she wore.

She wrinkled her long slim nose at my dress and plucked it with two slender fingers. “What is zis?” She scowled, narrowing her dark-blue gaze. She might have been the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, even with her scowl. “Why are you wearing zis terrible dress? I had many dresses put in zee room for you. My dresses are much prettier!”

My jaw dropped. The clothing had been hers?

“You seem shocked at zis? You thought zey had appeared from nowhere?”

I shook my head slowly, not certain what to say. I had thought the master put them in my room intentionally. No wonder he had assumed I was there to service him when he saw my dress.

“Are you mute?”

“No, miss.” Was she a miss? She didn't look much older than me.

She stared at me, perplexed or angry, but then laughed and threw a hand into the air. “My name is Babette. You must follow me and allow me to dress you in zee fashion more suited to your body. It is what is best for everyone.” She offered me one of her pale hands.

I pulled back, almost a little afraid of her offer. “I was actually hoping to go outside and your beautiful dresses might be ruined by my walking outside and I might be cold.” The words were lacking confidence and rambling.

Her look didn't improve. “I see. Well, perhaps you will remember to change before dinner so zee master doesn't disapprove of your attire.

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