Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 59

Charlotte looked at the ring on her finger, feeling very anxious to use the it's magic to bring her back to Alastor's castle. She would have left at that very moment but she didn't feel right about leaving without informing her family. She knew that they would most likely object to it but if they did they would just have to accept it because she was determined to return to Alastor no matter what.

"Charlotte come quick!" She heard Helsa call. "Father's collapsed!"

"What?"

Charlotte hurried into the drawing room to meet her sister.

"Helsa what's happened? What do you mean Father's collapsed?"

"He had just walked through the door when he suddenly dropped to the floor." Helsa said. "Baxter helped him into bed and he's gone for the doctor. I fear he might be ill."

"Father ill? Oh no!"

Charlotte immediately went to Lucifer's bedroom where she saw him lying in bed. His face was both red and sickly pale while his body was sweating tremendously.

"Oh Father!" She kneeled at his bedside. "Father are you alright?"

"Charlotte!" He coughed. "Charlotte I...I feel so weak. I hardly have enough strength to breathe."

"Don't worry Father, Helsa told me that Baxter has sent for the doctor." She gently took hold of Lucifer's hand, silently praying that he would be well.

When Baxter returned, he told Charlotte that the doctor had gone to the village on the other side of the forest to see to an ailing relative and it was unknown when he would return.

"We cannot possibly leave Father in this condition." Helsa said. "I think it be best if Baxter and myself extended our visit here. To help you take care of him Charlotte."

"Thank you Helsa." Charlotte replied. "I really need your assistance now. Normally I would be the one to tend to father when he is sick but tomorrow I'll be going for a short visit."

"Visit? Charlotte how can you even think of leaving Father when he's so gravely ill?"

"It's just for one day." Charlotte twisted the ring on her finger. "No, a half day. I'm worried about my friend Alastor and I want to make sure he's alright. Once I see that he's fine I'll come right back."

"Come, come, Charlotte your beastly friend is so much stronger than the average man. He'll be just fine without you. But look at how frail and weak Father is. He's barely keeping a float as it is, if you were to leave even for half a day he would surely die."

Charlotte looked upon Lucifer's face and he did indeed appear to have one foot in the grave. He probably wouldn't last very long if she left his side even for a short period of time. Perhaps her sister was right. Perhaps she should stay just a little bit longer. Just until she knew what was wrong with him and how she could heal him.

"Very well." She sighed. "Baxter you will send for the doctor as soon as he returns, won't you?"

"Of course." Her brother in-law answered. "It'll be the very first thing I do and if I have to I'll go to the other village and retrieve him myself."

"Thank you Baxter. We're so lucky to have a man like you join our family." She turned to give Lucifer a loving gaze. "Just rest Father. I'll fix you some tea and later a hearty stew to help you regain your strength."

"Oh my Charlotte." He said caressing her cheek affectionately. "What would I do without you?"

Little did the maiden realize, that her father was not ill at all. Helsa had placed flour on his face to make it appear pale then he sat close to hot burning coals so the heat could turn him red and cause sweats. Also unbeknownst to her, the doctor had not left town but the family couldn't risk a physician unraveling their lie. A terrible lie to ensure that she would not return to the beast.