The Frog Prince (7 page)

“Besides,” he spoke softer. “If I was a prince, I would have to go home, and I am not ready to leave yet. Do you mind if we give this just a bit longer?”

She let out a relieved chuckle. “Yes! Yes, please. Let us stay just like this a little while longer. I am not ready to lose you either.”

It was settled then. His heart warmed at the glow he saw within her gaze. They were beginning to understand each other. This truly was the perfect disguise—he was grateful he had done it now. However, he must find a way to ease her into accepting the fact that he was her intended before the spell was broken, or who knew how well she would understand why he had been pretending not to know her all along.

Besides, now that he knew she had been pretending because of his ill manners, he had to work through his own presumptions of her. He had to realize that all he despised about her was truly his own making. Prince Nolan was, indeed, the pompous monster she had always believed him to be. Yet, after today, he knew without a doubt that she was not nor would ever be the spoiled princess he thought.

No, she could not kiss him. There was no way he was ready to reveal himself at the moment, for how could he? To do so now would only expose the fact that he was the man she detested. The man he was beginning to detest as well.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

AS THEY HEADED BACK to the village, Nolan wrestled within himself on how to reveal who he was. He hoped to be able to ease it in slowly without startling her, but quite frankly could not think of the best way to go about it.

Blythe stopped to purchase a few things for them to munch on at the farmers’ market and then continued uphill to the castle after a quick luncheon.

Once they were far enough away from the bustling town, she pulled him out of her swaying skirts and set him on her shoulder so he could see better.

“Do you always make this long trek on foot?” he asked when they were about halfway. He could not imagine either of his sisters walking this far of their own free will.

She gave a little shrug. “Yes. I prefer to walk—I find it invigorating. Besides, though I have horses at my disposal, they would be recognized as castle property immediately. I would be much more noticeable on a horse than a girl on foot.”

“You do seem to blend in remarkably well.”

“I do.” Her voice had a questioning tone to it, almost as if she could not believe how she managed it. “Sometimes I wonder if the villagers know who I am and are grateful, allowing me to continue in peace. And then other times I wonder if it is because they have grown so used to seeing me that they do not question my appearance anymore. I am just a regular part of the community. Whichever it is, I am grateful for the anonymity,” she said as she continued forward.

He felt the briskness in her step and remembered the contented smiles upon her face throughout the day. “You really do love this, do you not?”

She took a deep breath. “I do. I do so very much. I needed a means to feel appreciated. I needed something to break me free from the confines of life and learn to live. Helping people like this is a passion I never knew I had. And to fall so in love with serving these brave children, it is truly the most rewarding experience I have ever known.”

He had so many comments to make to such a speech, but what fumbled its way to the top of the list of questions and replies was simply, “You will become a magnificent queen one day.”

Blythe’s foot caught upon something as she stumbled a bit. “I beg your pardon?” she said as she began to walk again.

Why did she seem so amazed? “You do not believe me? After being in such close proximity to you for as many days as I have been, and now being involved in one of the most enlightening experiences, it is quite simply an easy assessment to make. You will be a grand ruler indeed.”

All at once, she halted. He looked up to see her purse her lips and turn her head away.

“Blythe, what is it? Have I said something to wound you?”

She raised her head and looked at the looming castle before them, and then twisted to see the village below. Still she would not say a word.

His heart began to beat hollowly at her curious behavior. “What is wrong?”

Her voice cracked. “I—I am sorry.”

Not knowing what to say, he waited for her to continue.

After a few moments, she explained, “I am overcome right now. It is nothing.” She waved her hand. “Truly, nothing you have done wrong. Rather, it is hearing words I never imagined I would hear that has caused such emotions to spring forth.”

“You did not believe you would be a good queen?”

“No.” She turned more fully and looked out over the rooftops below them. “I did not know it was an aspiration to achieve. I just knew it as my life, my reality, that I would more than likely be queen to some kingdom somewhere.”

“Hollene?” he asked, naming his own kingdom.

“Yes, if I decided to accept Prince Nolan’s proposals, though that possibility is becoming less and less every day. I do not have a mind to accept him at all now.”

“It is?” Nolan’s stomach clenched and suddenly he felt ill. “Why?”

She threw her arms out. “How could I marry such a man now?”

“Are you sure he is truly that vile?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I am not sure. However, with each day that passes, I am convinced more wholly that is the direct opposite of anything I would be comfortable with.”

“How long have these thoughts been plaguing you?”

She chuckled. “Did I not make myself clear weeks ago? For at least a couple of years now.”

“So why did you not call it off before then, if you have felt so strongly?” He was genuinely curious.

“Because—because I had hope.”

“And you do not now?”

“No. I do not need it anymore. Now I have you.”

The full force of her words had not sunk in before she became a flurry of emotion again.

“Let us continue on home or I will say things I may regret later,” she said as she tittered nervously. “My goodness, I might have already revealed too much.”

He remained quiet. It was clear by her actions that she was greatly relieved when he did not speak as they made their way up the path to the castle, but silence did not stop his mind from racing even more. Had she nearly revealed that she was in love with him? Could that possibly be where her thoughts had been? Or was he reading too much into the situation? One thing was for certain—he had never felt more misery than when she announced she would not marry Prince Nolan, so he must be developing feelings for her beyond what he could have ever imagined. For why else would his heart race so happily now if it were not the case?

Could she have actually fallen for him in this silly frog shape?

Was she really that incredible of a woman?

All these thoughts and more continued to churn in a great tumultuous whirlwind in his mind, causing him some moments of astonished excitement and even more confusion than clarity.

He continued to ponder it as they crept into the castle. Nolan had Blythe set him down near the nursery so he could torment her sisters a bit before tea while she went in to freshen up and change in time to pour for her mother. At half past three there was not much time to tease the girls, as tea was always served at precisely four o’clock. However, one should never underestimate a frog.

He hopped into the room to the delighted squeals of the girls and then promptly disrupted the lessons on writing to focus on his flipping skills. The governess, however, was quick to adapt her lesson to include arithmetic and the amount of force it took for him to spring off the desk with the number of rotations he could make before landing upon the floor. She spent the rest of the time teaching the girls the mathematical difference between the two, using him as an example.

Andalyn was giggling when the maid peeked her head in and announced tea. “That was the most fun we have ever had learning a subject.”

Karielle quickly scooped him up in her arms. “We must show Mother what we have been taught today. Do you mind doing it again?”

With those amazing back legs, he could probably jump eighty times in a row and not get tired. “I would love to, if you think she would not mind.”

“Mother, mind?” Andalyn grinned. “She loves you! She would more than likely allow you to do anything and be happy about it.”

“Then by all means, let us show her your new arithmetic skills,” he said.

“And your splendid flipping skills!” Karielle held him close while the girls rushed down the stairs.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LATER THAT EVENING AFTER supper, Blythe stepped away from the little group in the drawing room. Caspian was now entertaining her brothers with his flipping tricks. The poor guy—he had been jumping and spinning all day. He had to be tired, though from the excited banter behind her, he definitely did not seem to mind much.

She smiled as she opened the balcony doors and stepped out into the moonlight. The soft summer breeze caressed her arms as she walked out toward the edge and set her lantern upon the balustrade. This was quiet and peaceful.

Leaning over the barrier, she looked down to the stream in the valley below the castle. Her great-grandfather had chosen this particular mountain to build his castle upon. The balcony views never failed to impress her. It was so beautiful out here, especially with gentle wind dancing about her. She looked across the valley and mountain directly in front of her. It was such a pretty place, an ideal view for quiet reflection and pondering on oneself.

She sighed and sat upon the balustrade, the blue skirts of her evening gown spreading around her. There was so much about Caspian she longed to find out. So many more questions she wanted to ask him. It was such a surprise that she trusted him enough to share her secret of teaching the children.

If he were really to turn into a prince again in just a couple more weeks, he could very well be someone she could love. No matter how handsome or how plain a prince he was, that did not matter. Her mind flitted over the thought of Prince Nolan, but she quickly dismissed him. She could never feel comfortable around someone of his arrogance and selfishness. She needed more out of life than pretending to be a snobbish girl for him. She needed substance and understanding from a relationship.

Nolan seemed so unstable. She had been forgotten for too long to ever feel settled with a man with his characteristics. And her mother, her brothers, her sisters—her whole family loved Caspian.

Was it wrong of her to imagine a man such as he in her life always?

“What has you so quiet out here?” asked Caspian as he hopped toward her.

“Hello.” She grinned. “I was just enjoying a moment.”

“Would you mind if I joined you?”

Suddenly her heart twisted, and she felt near to tears. There was no reason for such silliness, but it was how she felt all the same. “Yes. Yes, I would love company.”

“And why does your voice take on such a tone? Are you well?”

She chuckled and shook her head. “I do not know what is wrong with me, why the unexpected emotions.”

He hopped onto the banister next to her and peered up at her face. “Princess Blythe?”

Just seeing him next to her, so calm and steady and caring—he genuinely cared for her—the tears began to blur her vision.

“Blythe, what is it?”

And then she understood, as odd and as sad as it was. She knew why it was so easy to fall in love with him. “Forgive me.” She dashed at her tears. “It is nothing. Just the surprise of being noticed, I believe.”

“What do you mean?”

She took a shaky breath. What
did
she mean? “You came. You looked for me. You found me.” She glanced back at the door that was ajar. “I step away from my family and come here, usually tossing my ball, many a warm night to reflect on life only to return to find the room empty and dark.”

“No one has sought you out before?”

She wiped at her eyes again. “No one has ever joined me on the balcony.”

“Until now.”

Her eyes met his green gaze. “Until now.”

His face took on such an image of sadness and pity for brief moment that she blinked and looked back out toward the valley below them.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“I do not know about you, but, uh, this prince prefers the company of an enchanting princess much more than he does her siblings and mother. I would always find you. You are the reason I am here.”

She glanced back at him, her heart beating strangely within her chest. “Truly?”

“Yes.”

“Caspian, what are we to do when you transform back into a prince? What happens then?”

“Well, I suppose I go back to my old life.”

“And were you happy in that life?” she asked, eager for his answer.

“Of course. I enjoyed myself very much.”

“Oh.” If he was so content, how could she wish him to change that for her?

He hopped a step toward her until he was right next to the lantern. “What exactly are you asking? You seem troubled.”

“I am, I think.” She stood up and leaned against the edge. “My family is so keen on me marrying Prince Nolan and I just cannot do so. I clearly cannot. I fear even the sight of him will induce me to become ill.”

“Well, I am sorry to hear you say that.”

She looked at him. “You are?”

“More than you will ever know.”

Did he wish her to marry Nolan then, and not think of himself as a suitor? Did he feel as if he had intervened somehow? She tried again. “Caspian, it does not matter. I will never marry him. I did not wish it to begin with, and I simply cannot. I prefer a man so much greater than he is.”

“I see.” He hopped from the banister onto the ground. “Come and let us go inside now. I wish to spend these last days with you perfectly. It is not time to think of the future—it is time to enjoy the present. Besides, I have a mind to beat you soundly at chess.”

“Chess? Are you mad?” She chuckled and walked a step toward him. “You do not even have hands.”

“’Tis true. I will have to depend upon your mercy to move my pieces for me. But since I am quite the champion at home, I fear your only defense will be to cheat and move them in the exact place I would not wish them to be.”