Page 47 of Of Curses and Beauty

As they stood motionless, staring at one another from across the room, Alaine was surprised to note the flicker of hurt that passed over her mother’s face. It had never been her intention to cause her parents pain. In fact, until this moment, she’d gone out of her way to obey their wishes—had literally thrown away her chance at the life she desired in order to save them.

Her resentment must have shown on her face for her mother simply sniffed and strode to the door, the coachman following close on her heels.

The door whipped open on a gust of air and snow billowed inside like an unwelcome guest. Beyond, the horse stamped with impatience, tossing his head irritably to urge them along.

Her father stepped up to her side and offered his arm, leaning in close as she looped her arm around his. He made no move toward the door. Alaine’s own feet could not be persuaded to initiate the momentum.

“It shames me that I must ask this of you, dear one.” He sounded tired, and Alaine wondered how she had failed to notice the change in his voice these past weeks. The gradual deterioration from age and stress was now a pronounced croaking rasp that hurt her to hear, no matter how welcome his words. “Lord Baxter is not the man I would have chosen for you, were it my decision, and I believe you share the sentiment.”

Their shared look said everything she could not speak aloud.

“A part of me hoped you would not return this morning,” he said boldly.

She was grateful for her father’s steady presence at her arm as she rocked from the shock of that statement. “I must admit, I’ve thought about leaving more often than is proper, but I could never live with myself if I left you to this awful mess.”

Her father nodded sagely. “It is just as well, I don’t know what we could have done if you’d gone. Your mother—“ he sighed, “she wants only what is best for all of us. It’s no excuse, but she doesn’t know Lord Baxter as you and I do. She sees not the tormentor, but the savior, and thus, your impertinence comes as a bit of a shock to her.”

“I understand, but I can’t bring myself to forgive her as I stand on the precipice of marriage to that villain.” Alaine turned to face her father head-on. They were nearly the same height now as he stooped with age. “I’ll not willfully sabotage this wedding, but I want you to know I have—“ she stumbled on the word that felt foreign on her tongue, “friends, who are working on a solution to our problem. One that doesn’t involve Lord Baxter.”

“I see.” Her father’s expression became contemplative as he focused on something over her shoulder. “It would bring me much joy to see you free of all this.”

“Thank you, Father.” Alaine felt relieved to have him on her side through this and she leaned on calm strength to help her move.

With a kiss on her cheek, her father finally ushered her out to the awaiting carriage.

Chapter 41

Alaine

Thedifficultjourneytotown through the storm was made all the more uncomfortable by the thick tension between Alaine and her mother. For half the ride, her mother stewed in silence beside her father, throwing disapproving looks at Alaine, who sat across from them. Either they crossed some invisible threshold, or her mother had reached her limit just as Maribonne appeared in their sights, but as they entered the town proper, she exploded.

“I thought I raised you better than this,” her mother seethed. She waved her hands in the direction of Alaine’s skirts. “This petty protest cannot go unaddressed. You look as though you are headed to a funeral andnotabout to be wedded to a Lord. What happened to the dress I chose for you?”

Alaine opened her mouth to explain, but she couldn’t get a word in before her mother continued her tirade.

“You have been blessed with everything you could ever want. You are beautiful beyond compare. Men line up at our door for permission to court you. We gave you a roof over your head and food to fill your belly without asking you to lift a finger. You have books and clothes and parents who love you. You think you are the first unwilling bride? This is your one duty to your family, for all that we have done for you, and you don’t even have the decency to pretend to be grateful for it.”

Rant over, her mother crossed her arms and turned her head to the ever-falling snow. Alaine looked beseechingly at her father, who only shrugged with an expression that saidI told you so.

Alaine knew if she responded in anger, her words would tear apart the fragile threads still connecting them. They were standing on opposite sides of a raging river, but regret would not repair the bridge if she burned it.

“I am sorry you feel that way.” Alaine kept her voice neutral, leashing her anger even as it threatened to overwhelm her. “I am more than grateful for all that you and Father have provided me, but you need to understand two things. First and foremost, you don’t own me. You may have spawned me, cared for me, and raised me, but I am a grown woman and I belong wholly to myself and no other. Second, I do not owe you a single thing. A child does not incur debt by existing and requiring care. All that I do for you, I do because I love you both and I want to see you happy and well. So, no, Mother, I will not put on a smile and act as though you are doing me a favor by marrying me off to this horrid man. You can sit there and be grateful that I am not cursing you to a winter on the streets, or I can ask them to stop this carriage and you can return home. Either way, I will see that this debt is taken care of by nightfall.”

The horse’s hooves beat a steady pace, the carriage rattling at every bump of the uneven ground. The wind whistled outside the window, but not a sound escaped from the three inside as they sat in stunned silence.

Even Alaine was shocked by her words that still lingered in the air. She examined them for any hint of regret but found them to be sure of purpose and true to her feelings. Try as she might to hate the witch, she was proud of the version of herself that she found in the forest. Being with Daric had turned her into her true self and that, above all else, was what she would miss if she had to marry Baxter.

Her mother sniffled and Alaine had to resist the urge to roll her eyes as her father offered a comforting embrace. Maybe her mother needed to spend some time cursed.

All too soon, the carriage stopped, the coachman opening the door and unfolding the small steps just as the bells began to peal the time. Alaine counted twelve chimes while her father exited and turned to help her mother down. She waited for him to return for her, but her mother pulled him away, already engaging in conversation with the Lord and Lady Ultrich.

She sighed through her nose and lifted her skirts to descend when a familiar hand opened in front of her.

Baxter appeared to step out of thin air as he materialized beside the carriage, an outstretched hand offered in assistance.

“My dear Alaine.” Baxter’s smile was vinegar. It left a bad taste in her mouth as she eyed the proffered hand.

Ignoring him completely, she turned as best she could within the confines of the carriage and backed down the steps until her feet firmly touched ground. She felt Baxter’s assessing stare even before she turned, inspecting the goods before he followed through with his purchase. It didn’t surprise her to find his eyes still dancing over her form when she whirled to face him. Her chin lifted in defiance of his perusal. She made sure to keep her arms tight to her sides, resisting the urge to cover herself, even as the feel of his gaze sent shivers down her spine.

---