Depravity: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (A Beastly Tale Book 1) by M.J. Haag Read Free Book Online Page B

mildly, seeing me whole and healthy.
    “An unplanned event to be sure,” I said.  “I ran into a bit of dirt and will need another bath.”
    Bryn gave a small, exasperated huff.
    “I can’t haul water for you again, Benella.  I’m supposed to go with Tennen to—”
    “Bryn,” Father said softly.  “I’m sure it wouldn’t over trouble you to help with two small buckets, just enough to rinse the dirt from your sister’s hair.”  As he spoke, he circled me and lifted the hair on the back of my head.
    “Surely this unplanned event had a few interesting turns,” he murmured for my ears only.
    I gave the barest of nods, and he stepped back from me.  I appreciated that he didn’t question me further.
    “At least the dress survived unscathed,” he said.
    Blye harrumphed from the doorway of our room.  She’d joined us so quietly I hadn’t noticed her.
    “Its hem is stained with mud.  I wouldn’t call that unscathed.”
    “Better than ripped,” Father said in a tone that didn’t allow for argument.  “Benella, I would speak with you before I leave about an errand I need you to run.  Would you mind stepping into my study before you wash?”
    “Of course, Father,” I said, more than willing to escape my sisters’ pique.
    He surprised me by not asking of my night once he closed the door behind us.
    “I apologize for asking this of you, but I need a message delivered to the Head in Water-On-The-Bridge as soon as possible.”
    The request disheartened me.  The walk would take me most of the day there and back, and sleeping on the ground the prior night had done little to leave me feeling rested.  But, I reasoned with myself, a whole day with no other obligations might be nice. I rolled my shoulders, feeling the ache in the joints, and tested my stomach.  Nothing I couldn’t handle.  So, I nodded my agreement.  Outside the window, a crow squawked.
    “Fetch your mended shirt from Blye.  I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable in it,” he said.  “See me when you’re ready to leave.”
    I nodded and quietly crept to my room.  After carefully closing the door, I looked around the room.  My shirt lay neatly on the thin comforter of my narrow bed.  Something about it looked odd, but I couldn’t determine what when I lifted it up.  As usual, Blye’s stitches ran small and straight, making it impossible to see where she’d made any change.  I slipped out of the dress and pulled on my trousers then bindings.
    Outside, I heard a flutter of wings; and as I looked up at the partially shuttered window, the crow used his beak to make room for himself on the ledge.  Blye opened the door behind me before I could shoo the crow away.
    “Did you try it on?” she asked impatiently.
    I turned away from the voyeuristic crow and shrugged my arms into the shirt.  It fit, but it pulled snugly from shoulder to shoulder across the back.  Frowning, I closed the front and began to button it up, seeing the problem immediately.  The shirt buttons strained to close the gap between the front two panels and created small spaces where anyone could see my bindings or stomach for that matter.
    Disappointment clearly on my face, I looked up at her.  Her expression remained impassive.
    “Well, I tried.  The cloth I had didn’t match, and you would have looked like a patchwork.  Perhaps Father can save for a new one.  Until then, you do have the dress.”
    I stared after her as she glided from the room and closed the door.  The dress?  In a disbelieving trance, I walked across the room to one of the compact chests sitting on the floor at the foot of the larger bed that Blye and Bryn shared.  There was one chest for each of my sisters, gifts from our mother, who’d died before giving one to me.  She’d meant them as a place for us to store the things we would collect for our own homes.
    Carefully lifting the lid of Blye’s chest, I gazed at the yards of folded fabrics stacked neatly on top of each other