Page 93 of Beauty's Beast

“How can you be so sure?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Kristine reached for his hand and held it tight. “Let’s go back to the house. I’m cold.”

With a nod, he lifted her in his arms and carried her swiftly down the path toward the house.

Inside the back door, he paused. Almost as if he was sniffing the air, Kristine thought.

“My mother and Caddaric are in the parlor.” Gently, he placed Kristine on her feet.

When he turned to go back outside, she caught him by the hand yet again. “Don’t run away from us, Erik. We love you.”

He lifted a hand to his face, then shook his head. “No.”

“You needn’t hide from us. The servants have all gone to bed. There’s no one to see you but us. Please. It’s not good for you to be so alone.”

For a moment, she thought he would refuse; then, with a sigh, he placed his hand in hers.

Lady Trevayne looked up as they entered the room, her surprise at seeing her son evident in her eyes. “Erik.”

“Mother.”

“I’m so very glad you’re here. Come, sit beside me.”

Feeling self-conscious, he padded across the floor and sat down on the damask-covered sofa. Kristine followed him, taking the seat on his other side.

He drew a deep breath and loosed it in a long, slow sigh, aware of their eyes upon him, aware that they were trying not to stare at his feet, his left hand, his face. He was a freak, he thought bitterly, a thing to be stared at, pitied. Anger boiled up inside him, and with it an urge to strike out against them, to rail against the fate that had brought him to this. And then he saw the tears in his mother’s eyes, felt Kristine’s gentle touch on his arm, and the anger drained out of him.

Taking a deep, calming breath, he looked at the wizard. “How long will you be staying?”

Caddaric glanced at Edith before answering. “I’m not sure. Do you wish me to leave?”

“No. If it would not be an imposition, I should very much like for you to stay until … until I can no longer take care of my own affairs. When that time comes, I would consider it a great favor if you would make certain that my wishes are carried out as planned.”

“You needn’t worry,” Caddaric said. “I shall stay as long as necessary.”

“My thanks.”

“I only wish I could do more for you.”

“Nothing can be done for me. My only worry now is for my family.”

Caddaric looked over at Edith again. She met his gaze, a faint smile curving her lips, and then she nodded.

“You need have no fear. I have asked your mother to be my wife,” the wizard said. “And she has accepted.”

“Oh, but that’s wonderful,” Kristine exclaimed softly, and then she looked at Erik, wondering how he would take the news.

“I hope we can have your blessing,” Caddaric said.

“You have it,” Erik replied. He took his mother’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I hope the two of you will be happy.”

“Thank you,” Edith replied. “We had thought to wait until … to wait, but now, if you have no objection, we should like to be wed tomorrow afternoon.”

“On Christmas Day,” Erik murmured. He felt a rush of guilt at having denied Kristine and the household the chance to celebrate, but he’d been so caught up in his own misery, he’d given no thought to the holiday.

Edith nodded. “And I should very much like for you to give the bride away.”

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