Read Online Beast Lord: (Beauty and the Beast) (Tangled Tales Book 3) by Elizabeth Rose - Free Book Online Page A

stretching. She yawned, and then stretched again. “Is it morning already?”
    “You slept late and I didn’t want to wake you.” Sibeal walked over and pulled the tapestry away, and sunshine spilled into the room. Bonnibel scooted up higher on the bed and peered into the basket of food.
    “Is it to your liking, my lady?”
    She giggled. “Oh, yes. Everything you have brought me for the past two days in secret is to my liking. I can’t remember when I’ve eaten so much good food or had such fine wine. If Sir Stefan knew, he would probably explode with anger.”
    “Why do you call him Sir instead of Lord?”
    “Because he is not lord of this castle, my father is. I will never call him lord.”
    “I saw Lord Stefan leaving his room early this morning with a book under his arm.”
    “He did?” She took a bite of bread, looking up to the girl in interest. “That’s my book. Where did he take it?”
    “I don’t know for sure, my lady, but he was seen heading toward the east tower.”
    “The east tower,” she repeated in thought, taking another bite of bread. Then she slowly nodded her head. “That’s where I’ll go then.” She put the basket down and slipped off the bed. Her feet were bare and she’d slept in her shift. Walking over to the chair that held her clothes, she reached for her gown.
    “Let me help you,” said Sibeal, acting as her handmaiden. “And if I may ask - why are you going after him?”
    “Because, he has my book and I want it returned.”
    “But he’s locked you in your chamber, my lady, or have you forgotten? You can’t go anywhere.”
    “I haven’t forgotten. And this is my father’s castle and I’ll not let him hold me prisoner any longer. I’m going to go out through the tunnels.”
    “Won’t he be angry?”
    “Of course he will. Everything seems to make him angry. But did he really think I’d stay in my room for two days without food and water?”
    “He did send a bit of bread and a flask of water with his squire,” Sibeal reminded her.
    “Two days ago!” She donned her waist belt and dagger, and then wound her hair into a knot at the back of her head. “I never should have waited so long and don’t know why I did.”
    “Let me brush your hair, Lady Bonnibel. I’m sure there must be a boar’s bristle brush somewhere in this chamber.”
    “No time,” she said, picking up the leather flask of wine and taking a swig. The liquid slid down her throat and also went to her head. She liked that, and drank some more. If she were going to face the beast head-on, she needed to have something to relax her nerves.
    “I’ll go with you,” said Sibeal, following Bonnibel to the secret passageway.
    “Nay, you’ll go back to the kitchens and stay with the other servants. I will not endanger anyone’s life, now go.”
    “Aye, my lady, but at least take the candle to guide your way. I know my way back in the dark without it.” Sibeal handed her the candle and then curtsied quickly and disappeared through the tunnel toward the kitchens. Bonnibel stepped through the hearth and stood up in the dark passageway. The air felt cool and very heavy. Immediately her heart started beating faster. Just what was it that frightened her so much about these passageways? If only she could remember.
    She made her way through the tunnel, gliding her hand over the rough stone wall to guide her. The tunnel smelled like musty earth and there were spiderwebs everywhere. The path was dirt with some occasional stones, and wasn’t a level pathway at all. Every so often a root from a tree stuck up from the floor or poked its way through the stonework of the walls.
    She headed toward the east wing, passing by the solar that was her father’s – where Stefan was staying. As a child, she’d never been tall enough to use the peepholes in the wall, but she could reach them easily now. She held up the candle and peered into one of the peepholes, able to see that Stefan was not in his room, just