Beauty Conquers the Beast by Jenny Schwartz

Author:Jenny Schwartz [Schwartz, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-21T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“A kiss didn’t break the curse,” I explained my reasoning to Alex as he led me to the castle’s chapel. “So maybe we need to try something with more commitment. A betrothal is almost as binding as a marriage.”

“We can’t marry,” he said seriously. “There’s no priest at the castle, and none are willing to risk the Sighaway Forest. The servants occasionally venture through the forest into town to attend services.”

“A betrothal will be sufficient,” I said absently. “Mother would kill me if I got married without a grand wedding.”

A small smile parted his lips, revealing sharp teeth. “A valid consideration,” he teased me.

I swatted his arm.

A sense of awe and solemnity, and the weight of what I would promise, settled on me as he opened the chapel’s main doors.

It was built of the same honey-gold sandstone as the castle. Inside, the light was multi-colored as it streamed through stained glass windows. Dust motes floated on the still air.

“Do you have a ring?” I asked Alex.

He jolted to a halt. “No.”

I reached into my pocket. “I thought we might need to try a betrothal to break the curse, so I came prepared. I wasn’t sure how large your beast form was so I took a thumb ring from Father’s treasury—with his approval.” I showed him the simple gold ring with its wide gold band.

An unhappy growl rumbled in his chest. “I should have a ring for you. Wait here.”

“Alex!” But he was gone, moving inhumanly fast. I left the second gold ring, one sized for my finger, in my pocket and sat on a pew, turning over and over in my hand the thumb ring.

How much my life and future had changed in a day. Alex wasn’t the man I’d thought him. He was far more sensitive and gentle than I’d guessed. And he liked me. That was the biggest surprise: that he’d been awkward with me because I was important to him.

Three years ago, he’d wanted to court me!

Now, in a few minutes, we would bind ourselves in a betrothal. “Dear God, bless and keep us.” A shiver of fear and hope slid down my spine.

I heard the scuff of Alex’s footsteps and stood to join him at the front of the church with its fine engravings and the painted biblical scenes on the walls and ceilings all around us.

His focus was solely for me. “Is there a ritual we need to follow? Certain words we should say?”

I shook my head. “I think we just need to mean our commitment.”

“I do.” He took my hand and we knelt together. His voice was deep and low. “Nora, I don’t have fancy words, but I give you all that I am and have. I give you my heart and body, my dreams and fears. I will be faithful, always.” He slid the ring, a delicate yet strong, woven gold band onto my finger. “I am yours.”

I could feel tears shimmering in my eyes and blinked them away. “That was beautiful.” I sniffed, and he handed me a crisp white handkerchief.

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