Beatrice
By the time Guineverearrived in Beatrice's bedchamber, Beatrice had returned from Alexander's room and was sitting at her boudoir table, waiting for her.
“Good morning, Guinevere,” Beatrice said cheerfully as Guinevere walked in.
“How can I help you this morning, my lady?” Guinevere asked, standing behind her and reaching for the comb.
Beatrice met her eyes in the mirror. “You can tell me what sort of curse you think my husband has gotten tangled up in.”
Guinevere froze. “He told you?”
Beatrice shook her head. “You know he can't, but I figured enough of it out when I overheard him having a nightmare last night. He was talking in his sleep.”
Guinevere’s eyes widened. “He can talk about it in his sleep? That means the curse probably had something to do with not telling anyone else and isn’t specifically about stopping the words. I wonder if he can tell the cat.”
Beatrice grinned at the thought of Alexander baring his soul to Rose the dragon. “I don't know,” she said. “Maybe he’s tried it, but I don't know what the result was.”
“So what do you know about it?” Guinevere asked as she began working the comb through Beatrice's hair.
“Not much,” Beatrice admitted. “I know that he is under a silencing curse and that we have until his birthday to prepare for whatever is going to happen that he can’t talk about. I just can't believe he’s under a curse. I didn’t think curses were real.”
“There are many things that most people in Galamere don’t think of as real,” Guinevere said.
“Like what?” Beatrice asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes.
Guinevere shrugged a shoulder. “I wouldn't know.”
Beatrice took a deep breath. There were too many secrets here. “All right, then, keep your secrets, but know that I'm on to you,” she said, “and I will figure it out.”
“I have no doubt,” Guinevere said with a smile. “So now that you know, what do you intend to do about it?”
Beatrice sighed. “I’m not sure. I plan to start in the library as soon as we are done breaking our fast and look for any books that have anything to do with magic.”
“And sorcery,” Guinevere said darkly. “It’s the most likely culprit for a curse.”
As if that wasn’t suspicious. “You seem to know more than you're letting on,” Beatrice said.
Guinevere said nothing.
“Are you under a silencing curse too?” Beatrice asked.
Guinevere shook her head. “No, I just know that magic is illegal in our country.”
Beatrice took a deep breath. “Of course,” she said. “Forgive me, I ought not to pry. But if there is anything you know that will help my husband—”
“Of course,” Guinevere said. “Lord Dunham has done many things for my family and for me, and if there is anything I can do to help him, you can be sure that I will do it.”
“And if there's anything else you think will help me to begin my search in the library—”
“Maybe I will join you in the library,” Guinevere said. “It may be helpful for both of us. And I’m working on something else that I hope may help.”
When Beatrice opened her mouth to inquire, Guinevere shook her head. “No. I am not ready to share what it is yet, because it may come to nothing.”
Beatrice sighed but stopped asking questions as Guinevere helped her get dressed. She made her way down the grand staircase and was relieved that she didn't slip or fall on her face this time, and it only took her a moment to remember the way to the dining room.
She wasn't sure how she would react when she saw Alexander again.
It had been a little awkward when she had to leave his bed to go back to her room. Even though nothing had happened and they were married…it still made her unsure of what would happen next between them.
