Page 26 of The Beauty and the Griffin

The man standing behind the old lady’s chair glanced our way, then gripped its handles and began to turn it toward us. When the old woman squawked in protest, Gillian’s brow crinkled. “The poor little thing’s overtired.” She turned back just in time to glimpse my incredulous expression, and regret filled her eyes. “Oh, Beatrice, I’ve been hoping for an opportunity to apologize for all the cruel things I’ve ever said to you.” She spoke in an undertone. “I was horrid, and it took a lot to smack some sense into me.”

I had no time to respond since the wheelchair quickly approached us, and Gillian turned to make introductions. “Lady Beneventi, you might remember Miss Beatrice de Callen. Beatrice, my grandmother-in-law, Lady Beneventi.”

The woman gave me a cool up-and-down survey. “You’re a tall one. Passable looks. Magnificent hair. Pity it’s brown.”

“I’m pleased to see you again, Lady Beneventi,” I outright lied.

Before the old woman could continue voicing the criticisms I read in her eyes, Lady Gillian quickly asked, “May I introduce you to my husband, Raoul Trefontane? I call him Manny.”

I must have stammered some acceptable response while greeting the good-looking business tycoon. “Isn’t Princess Eddi your friend?” he asked. “I remember you from the summer before last.”

Gillian groaned. “The summer of my greatest idiocy. But Manny still loves me, even though I was horrid to him.”

I blame my overtired state for what followed. “Oh, yes, I remember you!” I blurted at Raoul. “You were ‘the Beard!’”

Eddi had called him that because of his bushy black beard.

A startled silence followed. Horrified, I clapped my hand over my mouth just as Gillian snorted and Raoul chuckled. “I’m so sorry!” I groaned. “It just—”

“Don’t worry about it.” He ran one hand over his clean-shaven chin, eyes twinkling. “Sometimes I think I might grow it—”

“You will not!” Gillian gently whapped her husband’s arm, then turned back to me. “Really, he isn’t offended. I called him much worse back then! Someday I might be brave enough to share my whole story with you.” She made a rueful grimace. “But for now, let’s just say I’ve eaten lots of humble pie since that summer.”

Lady Beneventi, who had been muttering to herself, abruptly snarled, “Stop pulling my hair!” and waved her withered hands around her head. “I want to enjoy the party. Manny, get me some of those chocolate petit fours and lots of macarons.”

“Yes, Nonna.” With a good-natured shrug, Raoul headed toward the array of sweets while his grandmother talked to herself, her voice sometimes rising in irritation.

Gillian gave me a concerned frown. “She’s been overwrought all day. I think the trip was too much for her, but she keeps telling us her fairy is terribly upset and wants to go home.”

“Her . . . fairy?” I echoed.

A lock of Lady Beneventi’s wispy hair suddenly fell into her face. While straightening the old lady’s hair amid a slew of ungrateful complaints, Gillian gave me an apologetic little shrug. “I know it sounds crazy, but a tree fairy lives in Lady Beneventi’s hair. The two of them started out as enemies, and the fairy gave us all a ton of trouble for a while there, but she has promised to behave, and they’re quite fond of each other now.”

Keeping a wary eye on the old lady’s hair, I leaned in to ask, “Aren’t fay beings evil?”

“Some are, but flower fairies and tree fairies are native to this dimension. Either that, or they came into our world so long ago that their descendants don’t remember.”

Since Lady Gillian’s evident concern for her obnoxious grandmother-in-law was nearly popping a circuit in my brain, it took me an extra beat to recall her earlier words. “Why does the fairy think she should go home?”

“She, the fairy, I mean, told Lady Beneventi that something bad is happening. Here, at Faraway Castle.” Her brow creased. “Do you think . . .?”

As Raoul returned with a plate of sweets, I noticed the old lady’s hair whipping about as though a high wind had caught it. “Stop that this moment!” Lady Beneventi snapped.

Once again, her hair dropped limply over her face.

“I think youshouldtake her home immediately,” I said firmly.

“Do you?” Gillian’s husband met my gaze, his eyes intent, his voice low.

I lowered my voice to respond: “I don’t know exactly what, but something strange is going on here. The fairy’s right. You should get out of here while you can. Tonight.”

After a shared glance, Raoul and Lady Gillian told me they would set off for home within the hour, excused themselves, and hurried Lady Beneventi out of the ballroom.

For a snarky moment I pondered the possibility that the world might be ending. After all, I’d just received a goodbye hug and sincere thanks from one of the most self-absorbed people I’ve ever met. If Lady Gillian could transform into a kind and thoughtful person, well . . .

Definite food for thought.

It was well past midnight when I gave up trying to fall asleep. I had no idea what might be going on, but the ambient magic I sensed felt almost as chaotic as my thoughts and fears.

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