Wow, have I really been posting this story for over a year?! Why on Earth is it taking me so long to write it? It’s still not even finished. But at least I’m getting to the really good parts now! At least, the parts I really want to write. Originally published August 7, 2019 A work in progress based on Beauty and the Beast that will hopefully be finished. Unedited and for your amusement. Chapter One Linda was beautiful. Beautiful and elegant and sophisticated. Nineteen to my seventeen, she was every guy’s dream. Poetry fell from her lush red lips. Her blue eyes twinkled with naughty secrets. Her hips swayed like a…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 41
Chapter Thirteen, continued Rose was not the most predictable person, but Robert knew her better than anyone else. It happened when you were cooped up with the same person for years on end. There were only a handful of people on staff, and Nigel. Well, he was technically a member of the staff, but Robert had grown up with him so he was really Robert’s best friend who happened to be paid by Rose to keep her son looking presentable. As he expected, Rose was in her favorite room, a little unassuming study in a corner of the Hall. It was sparsely furnished with a small writing desk, an uncomfortable…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 40
Chapter Thirteen, continued In hindsight, he should have checked the library first. It would have saved him a lot of walking around. He knew the Hall was massive, but wandering around it trying to find one young woman made it seem bigger. Of course, he should have remembered which young lady was in residence. It would have made things so much easier. Robert had expected to find Elaina’s nose buried in a book. Instead, she was seated, with her hands folded in her lap, her eyes fixed on the wall of books before her. He blinked in surprise, wondering how long she was going to sit there before she selected…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 39
Chapter Thirteen continued “Do you think Elaina is falling in love with me?” “Sir?” Nigel asked as he crouched down beside his master to pry the weed from his grasp. Robert’s eyes strayed back to the sky as he let Nigel take possession of the cursed plant. “Elaina is so different. Even though countless women have served as my companion, she’s still, somehow, different. I like her. I just wish I knew if she liked me, too.” “She hasn’t fled the Hall yet,” Nigel pointed out. Robert didn’t say anything. Nigel didn’t know about his agreement with Elaina. He didn’t know she was only staying because of the promise of…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 38
Chapter Thirteen Emily was sweet and young, a perfectly effusive young lady, but Mother constantly called her uncivilized and drove her from the Hall in tears. I never really got to know her since she was only my companion for three days before Mother had had enough. I planted the __ for her out of duty. Robert yanked hard at a weed. He wasn’t sure where they were all coming from. It felt like he spent every other day weeding the garden that grew more weeds than roses. He sat back on his heels, glaring at the green stalk that bobbed and wove and taunted him for not being able…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 37
Chapter Twelve continued Elaina’s hands automatically flew to her hair, which hung down around her shoulders in soft tangles, clearly not recently brushed. Her stomach turned over, the nibble of the cookie suddenly not sitting well. She really should have paid closer attention to the time. She couldn’t bring herself to look directly at Rose’s face, afraid of what she would see. “Well, uh, Robert thought a quiet afternoon in, um, the library would be good for me. You know, especially since he was busy this afternoon. He thought it might, er, help calm my nerves.” “And has it?” Elaina giggled a little. “Well, I did lose myself in a…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 36
Chapter Twelve continued Elaina had done as Robert had suggested: she’d lost herself in a book. She’d become so lost that, by the time her head had emerged, she’d had exactly five minutes to get to Rose’s study for tea. She’d gasped and flung herself from the plush armchair, hoping fervently her hair wasn’t too untidy and her green gown not too wrinkled. Rose was, of course, perfectly coiffed and attired. Elaina couldn’t help but feel like a scullery maid next to her. But Rose only glanced over her with her usual cool expression before silently indicating she should take the seat opposite her at the dainty round table. While…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 35
Chapter Twelve continued “Your mother is inviting me to tea this afternoon,” Elaina said as her eyes re-read the words for the third time. “My mother is what?” “Tea,” Elaina said, looking up at him. “Rose wants me to have tea with her. Just her and me. Should I be worried?” Robert scratched at his ear, an uncomfortable look on his face. “I don’t know, Elaina. I really don’t.” Elaina carefully laid the invitation alongside her plate. She pressed her fingers down firmly over it to stop them from shaking even a little. Rose hadn’t been particularly unpleasant, but neither had she been anything more than a frigid ice sculpture,…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 34
Chapter Twelve Isabelle didn’t know who I was. It was refreshing. She’d been dragged to Mother’s latest garden party by her roommate. She’d just moved to the area and hadn’t heard about the recluse in Roderick Hall. She was able to get to know me with fresh eyes and heart, but she had moved here after having her heart crushed. Her heart was not ready to let go of the man who had shattered her. She was a wonderful friend, but couldn’t see us being anything more. I planted the __ in her honor. And I mean that. It was an honor to have been her friend. Lunch was nearly…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 33
Chapter Eleven continued Elaina took a hasty sip of her ice cold water. Then her eyes wandered back to where Robert was still poking at his food. “It’s not poisoned, you know,” she said, perhaps a little too rudely. He started slightly before looking up with a sheepish look. “Sorry, Elaina. I’m just lost in thought.” He took a sip from his own glass. “I apologize for not being a good dinner companion.” Elaina closed her eyes briefly. “Just tell me why we can’t paint your study a lovely shade of blue or green.” Robert sighed. “I just can’t. It doesn’t feel right.” “I swear, Robert,” she said, her voice…
