Depravity: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (A Beastly Tale Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

facing his desk while he circled around me, clucking his tongue.  Behind me, he lightly touched my back where Tennen’s branch had ripped into my skin.
    “Looks like something scraped you, hard.  Luckily, it didn’t break the skin.  A branch, perhaps?”
    He circled around me once more to sit in his chair, studying me as he moved.  I kept my face relaxed, even though I fought a growing tension.  The branch had cut me, I knew it had, but somehow father only saw a scrape.  The only explanation I could form was the beast’s tongue.  Had he really healed me?  If so, to what purpose?  And why throw me into the hay on my second trespass?  Everyone knew that being caught a second time meant some kind of injury.
    “Tennen swung a branch at me, and Splane threw a rock while I was setting traps near the estate,” I said, speaking the truth.
    “Why would Tennen do such a thing?  I thought he liked your sister.”
    I snorted softly before I could stop myself and glanced at the door.  Father rose quietly and peered out the door.  I caught a glimpse of Blye’s skirt as she turned the corner to our room.
    He shut the door and raised a brow at me, encouraging me to speak.
    “I saw something I wish I wouldn’t have.  The baker is trading for bread, but has no interest in produce.  He...wanted something from Sara.”  A flush crept into my cheeks, and I couldn’t say more.
    “I see,” my father murmured in surprise.  “And Tennen?”
    “When I fled from the baker’s alley, Tennen and Splane were there, waiting for Sara.  They knew I saw something I shouldn’t have, and they have been making my life difficult since.  They said I think I’m better than them.”  I met my father’s eyes earnestly.  “I’ve never knowingly given them cause to think that.  We’re just as poor as the rest thanks to Bryn’s stealing and Blye’s hoarding.”
    He didn’t act surprised by what I said.  Instead, he seemed saddened, and I knew then that I had been right.  Father was aware of both my sisters’ activities.
    “I’m sorry you are the one to suffer for our failings.  I can begrudge neither Blye keeping the coin that she works so hard to earn, nor Bryn the coin she sets aside since she keeps my house.  I only regret there is nothing I can give you for your care of us.”
    He looked away to stare out the window for several long moments while I squirmed under my guilt for thinking poorly of him.  Of course, he knew what went on in his house.  I should have trusted he had a reason to allow it.
    “Perhaps there is something I can do for you, now,” he said.  “Blye. Bryn,” he called loudly, startling me.  He never raised his voice.
    The door opened moments later, and they crowded into the study with us.  I wondered how much my sisters had heard.
    “Bryn, your sister has suffered some injuries that require a hot soak.  I know it is an effort, but—”
    Bryn waved away the rest of what he would say.
    “I’ll ready a bath for her.”  She turned and left.
    “Blye, your sister has so little in the way of clothes and cannot afford to lose a shirt.  Can you mend it?”
    Blye stepped behind me, tisking.  “I could, but she’ll look like a beggar.  Better to take the shirt apart and use some of my spare cloth for a new back panel.”
    “How long will that take?” Father asked.
    “I should have it done tomorrow evening.”
    He thanked her and waved her away before turning back to me.
    “Go clean up and let your sister have your shirt.  Tomorrow you’ll have to suffer your dress.” He gave me a small grin, knowing I preferred my trousers.  “The day after, I will have an errand for you, so do not make any plans for that day.”  He stood and planted a kiss atop my head.
    Knowing I was dismissed, I stood and left his study to find a waiting Blye.  She didn’t look angry, so I didn’t think she’d heard the part about her hoarding her coin.
    “Bryn’s heating water in the kitchen.