Beauty and the Beast by Wendy Mass Read Free Book Online Page B

the door bangs shut behind him.
    Joan bursts into tears, pushes her way through the crowd, and runs down the street wailing.
    â€œI trust you took your own firing with a tad more dignity?” Handsome whispers.
    â€œWhich one?” I joke.
    The crowd begins to break up. I turn to go, too. “Wait,” Handsome says, pulling me toward the entrance to the store. “The apothecary needs an assistant now.”
    Before I can respond, I find myself pushed inside the door. The man sits on a wooden stool while Master Werlin spoons what looks like honey or molasses into his mouth. Judging by the large pan set on the floor at the man’s feet, the apothecary must be trying to get him to vomit. I try to turn back around, but Handsome holds me firmly in place. I clear my throat.
    Master Werlin looks up at us, then scowls. “You are not the doctor. What do you want?” Up close, I can see the worry sketched onto his forehead.
    â€œIf you are looking for an assistant,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady, “I would like to apply for the job.”
    The poisoned man gags and makes a retching sound. We all jump back in case the retching leads to worse. I glare at Handsome, but he motions me to keep talking. “Um, I can read quite well, and I am reliable and trustworthy.”
    Master Werlin spoons more of the syrupy mixture into the man’s mouth, then turns back to me. “You are the book merchant’s daughter, correct? What do they call you?”
    Handsome nudges me from behind. “My name is Beauty,” I force myself to say as I step forward.
    Master Werlin raises a brow, then coughs. I figure I have gotten off easy.
    Then the poisoned man vomits all over my shoes.

I can hear Alexander and Father coming up the stairs so I duck into the first door I come to — the castle library — and hold my breath. I have no intention of being seen with assorted squash, corn, yams, potatoes, nuts, and berries hanging off my back and down my sides. I would never, ever, hear the end of it. Why would Mother wish me to wear this? Clearly I am being punished. Was it because I blew up the lab?
    Alexander says something and Father laughs. It sounds like they are right outside the door! Why will they not move on? Why choose this spot to have a conversation? As quietly as possible, I slide the lock closed.
    Since I’m stuck in here, I might as well pick out a book. Father collects rare, old books, and has many that are unequaled in their beauty, even in kingdoms far larger and richer than our own. More arrive each month, too. I walk slowly around the room, careful to avoid the one window. I don’t want a gardener snipping the hedges to spot me.
    â€œIt’s really not that bad,” a voice behind me says. I am so startled that I grab on to a random book, yank it out, and hold it over my head like a club. I whirl around to find myself facing Freddy. I look from him to the still-locked door, and back again. “How did you do that?”
    â€œDo what?” Freddy replies.
    â€œEnter the room without coming in the door. And how did you find me?”
    Ignoring the first question, he holds up a small ear of corn. “I found this in the hallway. I know you do not want to go, but it is tradition for a visiting prince to have the honor of dressing as the ceremonial symbol of the harvest.”
    â€œI cannot wear this,” I argue, lowering the book that I had still been holding over my head.
    â€œNow that we know it fits, you do not have to wear it on the ride, but they will expect you to put it on when you arrive at the ball. We must get back to your room now, for the royal caravan is to set out very soon.”
    I shake my head. “I cannot possibly go. I happen to be right in the middle of this excellent book, and I make it a habit never to put down a book mid-chapter.” I wave the book in the air for effect.
    Freddy leans forward to examine the cover of the book