A Beast Sees No Beauty

Chapter Ten

LuLu knew the minute she heard yelling in the dining room that she should have warned Miss Chambers that the Master of the house was up and moving. She was so stupid to think that they could be civil with one another for one moment, but no. They were constantly at each other's throats. It was endearing at first, but now she was worried about Vincent's health.

LuLu entered the space without knocking, only to find that they weren't exactly fighting with each other, more like having a heated debate. She still kept an eye on Vincent, worried about him wasting all his energy too quickly and all at once.

"I don't see why I can't come! I've never been anywhere but Mabelle-"

"Exactly! You'd do something stupid and embarrass me. I have an image to uphold-"

"An image? Ha!" LuLu watched the girl laugh, letting them continue their debate until she needed to intervene. "And I don't? What about me is embarrassing anyhow? I am a perfectly refined young lady-"

"Ha!"

"-who you just so happen to showcase the worst of!" Juliet fumed in her seat, knowing her argument was somewhat weak. She couldn't remember the last time she had acted like a lady in front of Vincent McCoy. Or rather, she couldn't remember the last time they were both proper and civil with one another. "If you acted more like a gentleman, then perhaps I would act more like a lady."

"I am nothing short of a gentleman," Vincent glared at her, daring her to interrupt him once more. Juliet's heated glare was almost as strong as his. Almost. "at least in front of those that matter."

A chord snapped in Juliet's mind, quickly followed by the echo her chair falling backward as she charged towards the other end of the table. LuLu made to step forward but stopped to see what Juliet had planned to do exactly. "Nothing short of a gentleman? You are nothing but short-tempered, rude, arrogant, condescending, improper, selfish and-and so many other things that I can't even remain calm enough to exclaim them all!"

Her palms slammed down onto the table from beside him, yet Vincent McCoy did not even flinch. Calmly, he lifted his glass and sipped on his juice, taking notice of LuLu. He concluded that she was worried about the stupid chit, ready to stop him if he raised his hand against her. It seemed even his beloved mother figure could think so little of him.

"You've gained quite a bit of confidence storming across the room and basically threatening me with that stance of yours," Vincent grinned when he saw the girl slouch back in resignation.  She was too caught up in the moment to even realize what she was doing. "What? Are you suddenly afraid of me now? Imagining how easily I can over-power you? I am Vincent McCoy after all - you never know what I'll do."

Juliet remained silent for several moments before shaking her head. "No."

Vincent wondered what had gotten in the girl's mind for such a short response. If there was one thing he could give her credit for, it was being well-spoken. She knew how to go about making her point, so hearing a one-word response was nothing short of shocking to him."No?"

"You'd never hurt me, not on purpose. Never once have you raised a hand towards me or anyone else that I've seen. You can act rude and selfish and like a brute, but that won't change the fact that you are good on the inside. You are secretly kind and generous, but you prefer to hide that beneath several layers of masks. That's fine though - you can hide all you want, but that doesn't change what I know about you, Vincent McCoy." Juliet stood up straight once more, running her hands over her dress skirts and clearing her voice. "I do hope you will reconsider my request. Good day."

Vincent watched in stunned silence as she swiftly exited the room in a flurry of skirts. His hands clenched, but he did not make any other moves. His jaw tightened, but he did not speak. She was too good at getting to him. Would he regret taking her to New York with him?

LuLu continued to study him before shaking her head. "Looks like she's got you figured out. The only problem is that she's a complete mystery to you, isn't she?"

"She does not have me figured out! Kind and generous? Under what definition am I kind and generous? I am cruel and mean! I'm holding her here captive for heaven's sake!"

LuLu stepped forward and began to clear away the dishes on the table. The maids had dispersed long ago when the two first began shouting. No one wanted to be around them when they started going at it. "You're only being hard on yourself to prove her wrong, but she's right. You just need to push away your pride and you two-"

"I have no pride here in the South! Don't you understand? The minute she finds out who my mother is-"

"Will be the minute she loves you even more." LuLu carefully placed the dishes to the side, leaning her hip against the tablecloth as she waited for him to respond.

Vincent scoffed and fell back into his chair dramatically. He contemplated everything. Could someone as marvelous as Juliet grow to love him despite everything? Could she truly forgive what his family is? "Love? She doesn't even love me now, much less when she finds out the truth."

LuLu paused her work, staring at the boy she raised with lifted brows. "Oh? I'm not hearing anything about you not wanting her love. If anything, it sounds like you're more worried about losing it after you gain it."

Vincent said nothing in response and instead focused on swirling the contents of his drink. He stared into the rippling liquid like it was a portal to another world. He wanted nothing more than to be swallowed up at that moment and transported far, far away from his home. He desperately wished to be somewhere where he could be accepted for who he was.

"Perhaps I am worried about such a thing. More so because I know that the two of us could never make each other happy. We'll be miserable for the rest of our lives. I can't do that to her." His dark brows furrowed together, knitting his worry onto his face. LuLu couldn't remember the last time he was so serious about being unhappy. The boy had gone through so much, yet he refused to accept the one thing in life he deserved the most.

"You should take her with you anyway. Prove to yourself, and to me, that you care absolutely nothing towards that girl. If you come back here, with another woman, or with another on her way behind you, or any circumstance of that nature, then I'll never butt my way into your business again," LuLu leaned over the table to be eye level with him. Once she was level with him, she pointed her finger at his chest to emphasize her point. "But I promise you, I swear on the faith I have in the Lord, that you two will fall in love and make each other more than happy."

Vincent kept his thoughts locked away behind his clouded eyes. LuLu had never come to him with such a serious proposition before. He was half tempted to deny her offer simply because he was afraid. He was afraid that he would fall in love, and he would be hurt in the end. He was afraid that the truth would come out eventually, and they'd both get hurt.

Vincent McCoy was simply afraid of the outcome. He wasn't proud to admit it to himself, and it was something he would never dare to admit aloud. It was what it was.

But he couldn't help but imagine happier moments with Juliet Chambers. He couldn't help but imagine times yet to come, times that will be much simpler. All the little things that they could do to make one another happier. It was a fantasy, he knew that, but it was still worth the dreaming.

"Fine. In a week, I'm leaving for New York. I expect my bags, as well as Miss Chamber's to be packed. Am I understood?" LuLu nodded respectfully, unable to keep the silly grin off her face. She stood up straight once more, gather the dishes she had previously collected before heading towards the kitchen.

"Indeed you are."