The Beast's Bride (15 page)

"If you cared for me," she told him, "you'd marry Belle. You have no idea how much it would mean to me."

"You cannot ask that of me," he said in a harsh voice. "Either agree to marry me, or leave."

She left. She had no other choice.

9

~~***~~

It took Pippa some time to compose herself. Every time she got close to returning to the room she shared with Belle, she would be hit by emotion — anger, jealousy, sorrow — so great that she had to turn away and compose herself. So she walked the castle grounds by herself, careful to stick close to the wall as she did on her walks with Duncan, and avoided the maze.

She desperately wished for the fairy godmother to show up, but true to form, Muffin was nowhere to be found. Pippa suspected that Muffin would only return when Pippa least wanted her to. That seemed to be how things went. Still, she had to figure this out, somehow.

Belle finally wanted the beast because she liked being the center of attention.

The beast wouldn't marry Belle because he wanted Pippa.

Pippa couldn't marry the beast because his curse would not be lifted. Not only that, but she'd destroy the fairy tale, and thus her own second chance at life. Was it worth destroying everyone's happiness for another day or two of her own?

Yes
, she wanted to scream.

But she wasn't that selfish. She knew how lonely Duncan was, and she wanted to make things right for him, even if it meant giving him up herself.

So she walked the grounds and tried to think of a way to make things right.

And after hours of stewing and fretting, she came up with a plan.

It was a mean plan. It would mean betraying Duncan to ensure his happiness. He'd never forgive her, and it made her heart ache just to think about how betrayed he'd feel once he discovered the truth of her plan.

But it had to be done. So she went back to the room she shared with Belle to discuss.

~~***~~

"Duncan is going to marry me," Pippa said, seated on the bed with her sister. When Belle looked upset, Pippa raised a hand to explain. "At least, he's going to think he's marrying me."

Belle tilted her head, curious. "I don't understand."

9"We need you to marry him," Pippa explained. "He's being stubborn and says he wants to marry me." When Belle looked hurt at this, Pippa changed tactics and placed her hand on Belle's, soothing her. "I think he just doesn't realize how incredibly amazing you are, Belle. He's being very stubborn. We have to show him what an incredible catch you are. Just think of how happy he'll be when he realizes what we've done and that he's gotten the sister that's the true prize?"

That made her sister brighten a little. "So how do we do this?"

Well, that had been easy. Pippa launched her plan. "We'll tell him that I'm going to marry him and set things in action. On the day of the wedding, we'll switch gowns and you'll put on a heavy veil. He won't realize that it's not me until it's too late. Then you'll be married and he'll realize just how happy he is that he has you." The words felt sour in her mouth. "The real treasure."

Belle considered this thoughtfully. "You don't think he'll be mad?"

"Not when he sees how lovely you are," Pippa said honestly. "Not when he finds out how marrying you will make all of his dreams come true." Curse lifted, beautiful bride, and happy ever after. He'd forget all about Pippa within a day or two.

Which was good, because she planned on leaving the castle before the wedding ever hit. She didn't want to be there to see the fury on his face. And she didn't want him to see the agony on hers.

So she clasped Belle's hand. "This will just involve a little deception ahead of time. You'll have to pretend like I'm marrying him until the wedding arrives. And I'll pretend too. Do you think you can do that?"

Belle nodded and gave Pippa an exaggerated wink. "We'll be very good at pretending.

You've already been perfect at it, Pippy."

That startled her. Did Belle know that she wasn't the real Pippa? "What do you mean?"

"Why, pretending to like him," Belle said with wide eyes. "He's revolting to look upon but you're able to hide it remarkably well. I have to commend you on that."

Pippa gritted her teeth. "I'm not pretending. I genuinely like him, Belle. You will too, once you realize what a good man he is. Just trust me."

"If you say so," Belle said skeptically.

9So, later that day, Pippa returned to Duncan's chambers. And she told him she would marry him. The look of joy on his face nearly made her weep, as did the tender way he cupped her cheeks in his paws and lightly kissed her mouth. He told her that she'd made him the happiest of men.

She felt like the biggest asshole alive—or dead.

9

"I don't know how you did it," the teapot told Pippa, "But you, my girl, turned this train-wreck around. I'm astonished. I'm shocked. I…hey, can you scratch my nose again?"

Pippa absently scratched the base of the teapot's spout. "I feel like such an awful person, Muffin. He was so happy at the thought of marrying me. He's going to be so betrayed when he finds out that it's not truly me after all."

"He's a man and Belle's gorgeous, so he'll get over it fast. Don't you worry about a thing, honey," the teapot told her, giving a little bounce on the serving tray and making the dishes rattle. "This is all working out according to plan."

"Great." Pippa tried to smile and failed. "So what happens with me once they're married and starting on the happy ever after?"

"Well, you have a few choices," Muffin said cheerfully. "The fairy godmother ranks are always looking for more capable candidates. And since you've done such a bang-up job on this case, I'd put in a good word for you."

"Thanks, I think." She didn't feel as if she were doing a great job. If anything, she felt like she'd done nothing but make things worse since she'd gotten there. "What are my other options?"

"Well, if not that, we'll consider witness protection."

"Witness protection?"

“You know, new name, new face, the works. Blank slate and all that. It’s what’s easiest for everyone involved. You can’t go back to your old existence because, for everyone you knew, the Pippa they used to know is long gone.”

That did not sound appealing in the slightest. "So I don't get to go back to anything familiar?"

"Nope. It's a fresh start no matter which way you go."

Pippa sighed, thinking of Duncan. She wanted to stay here with him…but perhaps it was for the best if he was going to be happily married to Belle. That would drive a knife into her heart each and every day she had to witness it. Happiness for him…but misery for her. "Let me think about it a few days, Muffin."

9"Take your time, sweetie," the teapot said, and her voice was strangely gentle. "But keep scratching."

~~***~~

The wedding was scheduled for a week out. That would give the castle enough time to prepare for the event, for their father and the village priest to arrive, and for her dress to be made.

The castle seamstresses (women with the heads of birds) measured her for the dress and sewed the pieces together, and every night, she and Belle would sneak into the rooms and let the seams out at the bust, so Belle could actually squeeze into it. Seeing as how Belle was quite a bit more ample in the chest area than Pippa, they decided that they would bind Belle's breasts on the wedding day to ensure that everything fit.

As the days passed, Belle and Pippa spent their time with Duncan in his chambers. Pippa and Duncan played chess together and chatted as if nothing were amiss. Duncan was quietly affectionate with her, though he gave Belle annoyed looks from time to time that told Pippa that he regretted her sister's presence. She couldn't tell Belle to leave, though. Not if it meant that Duncan would sweep Pippa into his arms and kiss her senseless.

Pippa wanted that more than anything, but she couldn't. Not if she was going to keep her resolve. So she dragged Belle everywhere with her, and Belle was quite happy to go, since she knew it would keep her husband-to-be apart from her sister. She amused herself with sewing, instead, as Pippa played chess with Duncan, and they talked about anything and everything.

Even when she was present, Belle ignored Duncan, and that made Pippa's heart ache as she thought of their marriage. Would it change after she was gone? Or would Belle continue to pursue her own happiness at Duncan's expense?

It wasn't her problem anymore, Pippa told herself. She couldn't think about things like that.

She had to concentrate on the future.

~~***~~

The night before the wedding, Pippa couldn't sleep. While Belle snored next to her and mumbled in her dreams, Pippa stared at the ceiling in misery.

9Tomorrow, she'd be gone. Tomorrow, she was going to betray the man she loved, a good man that wanted nothing more than to marry the woman he'd come to love. The woman who wasn't who he thought she was. She wasn't the real Pippa. She was a fake from another time and place.

All of this felt so incredibly wrong that it kept her up at night.

When Belle rolled over and smacked Pippa in the face with a sleep-sweaty hand, she decided to get up from the bed and go for a walk. Maybe some fresh air would clear her thoughts. At the very least, maybe a brisk walk would make her tired enough to fall asleep.

So she got up from bed and paced the dark halls of the castle. It felt muggy and warm inside, and she desperately wanted to feel a breeze, so Pippa headed out to the gardens. The air there was slightly better, the chill damp of the evening refreshing. The grass was wet with dew and she'd forgotten her shoes, lost in thought, so she gathered the long skirts of her flowing chemise in her hands and held it above her knees as she walked, idly pacing the grass.

A noise crackled in the brush behind her. Pippa went cold, thinking of the gigantic rat in the gardens. Who knew what else wandered out here at night? She paused and glanced around.

The beast emerged from the shadows, stalking toward her.

Pippa exhaled in relief, shoulders sagging at the sight of him. "You scared me."

"I should scare you," he said protectively, moving to her side. "It's dangerous to be out here at night." His words were stern but his fingers tenderly brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes.

"What do you do out here, sweet Pippa?"

She gave a small shrug. "I couldn't sleep."

"Thinking of tomorrow?" Duncan moved closer to her, his large, bulky figure a comfort.

"Thinking of nothing but that," she admitted.
Though probably not for the same reasons as
you.

"Tomorrow will be my greatest joy," Duncan told her, his hand sliding to her waist in a possessive caress. "I will finally marry the woman I love and then…" He paused, stopped.

"And then what?" she asked innocently, though she knew. He had to marry for love to break the curse. And since he'd never mentioned the curse to her, she assumed he was under the same crazy rule that she was - no mentions of the curse.

Of course, that brought another crazy worry to her mind. He loved Pippa, but Belle didn't love anyone but herself. Would that mean he'd still be cursed after tomorrow? It was a wretched 9thought, but she pushed it aside. She had to trust in the process. Muffin said that Belle and the beast had to get together for things to work correctly. She had to assume that meant that Belle would fall in love with him and the curse would be broken. Somehow.

Duncan brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers, his yellow eyes glittering in the moonlight. "This has been the longest week of my existence. It seems we have not had a moment alone together since you accepted my proposal."

"No," she admitted with a faint smile. "Belle has been chaperoning. She wants us to wait for our wedding night." The words stuck in her throat.

He was going to have a wedding night with
Belle
.

Oh god, she was going to break down and cry if she thought about that much more.

"Ah, the wedding night," he murmured, moving closer to her. His large, clawed hand cupped her cheek and tilted her face up to his. "I admit I have thought of nothing but that night to come as well."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes sad. "I wish we didn't have to wait until tomorrow night."

Tomorrow, when he'd be all Belle's and not hers anymore.

His thumb stroked her cheek. "Then let us not wait, sweet Pippa. Will you…" he cleared his throat, his voice strangely gruff. "Will you come to my bed tonight and be with me?"

Her eyes widened and she stared up at him. If she went to his bed tonight…

It changed nothing. He'd still marry Belle tomorrow. She'd still be written out of the fairy tale tomorrow. She'd never see him again. "It'd be incredibly selfish of me," she admitted in a soft voice.

"I do not mind if you are selfish," he murmured, leaning close. She closed her eyes as he leaned in to kiss her, and she felt his lips press to her forehead in a tender caress.

"You would think less of me come tomorrow." When he found out the truth.

"I could never think less of you." He kissed her closed eyelids, tenderly kissed her nose. "Let me love you tonight, Pippa. I ache for you."

Oh god, she wanted this so badly. Torn by temptation, she hesitated in his arms. Would it truly be so terrible if she slept with him? Belle would be mad, but she wouldn't see Belle after tomorrow, would she? Belle would be here in the enchanted castle, and Pippa would be gone.

Muffin would be mad…but would it matter? Not as long as Belle married him.

9And Duncan would feel utterly betrayed by her. But in time, maybe he'd understand why she had to do it.

Because she loved him. Completely and utterly loved him, and she wanted—no, needed—

this one night with him to carry with her as a memory.

When he kissed her cheek with feather-light touches, she turned her face so the next brush of his lips was over her mouth. "Take me to your bed and make love to me, Duncan," Pippa told him in a soft voice.

He groaned and hugged her close, his big hand stroking her hair. "I love you, my Pippa."