It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“And am I to presume that you are not, as the deal I made with your father specified, his eldest daughter?”
“In fact I am the youngest, sir. If you come in I will show you your room.”
The Beast turned and walked into the gloom beyond the door, and after a moment’s hesitation, Rose followed. If you wish to attract my attention, then a simple ‘excuse me’ will suffice. From where do you hail? I apologise for my thoughtlessness. “That’s why I came. “Ah, the merchant’s daughter,” he said. “Of course,” said The Beast. In every direction, flowers of all forms and hues competed for the admiration of the observer. He was dressed in a suit of what once might have been fine cloth, but it had been inexpertly tailored with irregular, ugly stitches. Slightly built and lacking society’s trained grace, she was dressed simply in a cotton dress and jacket, covered over by a plain riding cloak, its hood thrown back.
