Bella and the Beast Read Online Free

expound on the connection, or explain her purpose in traveling to Oxford, they were joined by Bella’s sister.
    Carrying a large tea tray, Lila glided into the parlor. She was so much the image of a pretty English girl that Bella felt a swell of pride. Unlike Bella, Lila had a natural flair for fashion. She was quite clever with a needle and had altered her native robes into gowns that would not look out of place at Fothergill’s Emporium. Today, she wore a dress of spangled sky-blue cotton that fit her slim waist to perfection. Her golden-brown hair was fastened with a blue ribbon that matched her eyes.
    Beaming at their visitor, Lila said in a bubbly voice, “Do forgive me, my lady, the water took ever so long to heat.”
    She set down the tray on the table by the fire; then her eyes widened on her older sister. “Oh, my goodness, Bella! You’re sopping wet! Come, let’s go upstairs at once and I’ll help you change your gown.”
    Bella reached up to smooth her damp brown hair. Half of her longed to tidy herself as a matter of vanity; the other half—her prideful half—resisted the notion of conforming to the standards of a noblewoman. A lingering resentment toward the snobs in the shop only made Bella want to dig in her heels all the more.
    â€œI’ll sit by the fire,” she said. “My garments will be dry in no time.”
    â€œBut you’ll catch a chill,” Lila argued. “I’m sure her ladyship won’t mind waiting for a few minutes. Cyrus can keep her company.”
    â€œBe happy to do so,” their brother said, ambling closer to cast a ravenous look at the contents of the tea tray.
    â€œNo, my love, I’m fine,” Bella said firmly, giving her sister a warning look. She stepped to the best chair, the only one without moth holes in the embroidered seat, and motioned to their guest. “Lady Milford, pray sit down. Lila, if you’ll be so kind as to pour the tea.”
    The girl thrust out her lower lip in a pout. But she obediently took up the rose china teapot and began to fill the cups.
    Lady Milford cast a pensive look at Lila before taking a seat and addressing Bella. “Thank you, Miss Jones. I daresay, you strike me as a very practical young woman. So long as you are comfortable, a little dampness won’t matter.”
    â€œI’m quite comfortable,” Bella affirmed, though the truth was, she did feel rather wet and chilled. She took a chair by the fire, arranging her skirt with its drenched hem to take full advantage of the heat. At least the brown fabric served to minimize any mud stains.
    China clinked as Lila passed out the cups in saucers. Bella added a crumb of sugar and stirred the steaming tea with a spoon. Questions crowded her mind. Had Lady Milford come to call on Papa? It seemed she’d expected to find him here. But why would she think he was back in England after nearly thirty years abroad? And why would she travel all the way from London to find out? Why not simply post a letter?
    Before she could ask, Cyrus lowered his gangly form onto a stool and said bluntly, “How d’you know our father?”
    Lady Milford smiled warmly at him. “Sir Seymour and I met some three decades ago. May I say, with your sandy hair and blue eyes, you resemble him quite remarkably. He was a charming man and an excellent dancer.”
    Cyrus nearly choked on a gulp of tea. “Papa, a dancer? But he was always out tromping the countryside or digging up antiquities—when he didn’t have his nose buried in a book.”
    â€œYoung men can be very eager to please when they’re courting. You see, Sir Seymour hoped to win your mother’s hand. Lady Hannah Scarborough was one of the most sought-after beauties of the season.”
    â€œSeason?” Bella asked in confusion. “Was it winter or summer?”
    â€œThe season is always in the spring,” Lila piped up. She was flitting