The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 8, The Slaves' Hall Summary

Chapter 8, The Slaves' Hall Summary

Beauty wakes in the afternoon to arguing between Lord Gregory and the Prince. Lord Gregory warns the Prince of becoming too enraptured with Beauty. The Prince acquiesces to Lord Gregory taking Beauty for the day. As Beauty is prodded forward with the paddle by Lord Gregory, she resents the blows coming from someone other than the Prince, but obeys Lord Gregory when he instructs her on posture as she crawls forth. When they arrive in the the Slaves' Hall, Lord Gregory instructs Beauty to sit back on her heels. Beauty takes in the large room filled with people occupied in varied tasks. Three walls of the room are fitted with pallets, where many other slaves are sleeping.

Beauty quickly takes to her groom, Leon, as he treats and speaks to her gently. When Leon questions Beauty if she has been punished severely, he smiles at Beauty's quiet blush in...
(read more)