Beauty and the Beast (Faerie Tale Collection) (12 page)

Cecelia straightened her gown and tucked her legs underneath her. “I don’t know.” She tested the answer over seriously in her mind before declaring, “No. I don’t believe so. I cannot love someone I do not trust.”

His breathing quickened as his heart raced. “Do you trust me?”

She turned and met his eyes. “Definitely. Did you not know that?”

“I wasn’t sure.” He glanced away.

A surprise chuckle escaped from her lips. “Of course I trust you. I would not be out here in the dark, to meet some strange dangerous beast, unless I did.”

He grinned a wolfly grin and raised an eyebrow. “I think you make a legitimate point there.”

“I would hope so!” She giggled and found a tuft of grass to toss at him.

He blew one of the blades away. “So you trust me even on the days you wish to do bodily harm to me?” He loved her smile; he watched her for a few moments as she laughed at his question, and then he sighed as she snuggled back down against him.

“You do realize, do you not, that even when I’m angry at you, it is because I care for you? Because this friendship means that much to me, because I need you in my life.”

“What would you do without me?” was his hushed reply.

She gasped quietly. “I do not know. I don’t want to think about it. The important thing is I have you now and you are more necessary to me than anyone I have ever known.”

“And why is that?”

“I don’t know.” She buried her face in his softness and said, “Perhaps it is because you care. You genuinely care about me and see me differently than anyone ever has before.”

“Cecelia,” his voice cracked.

“Yes?”

I love you. I love you. I love you. He went to open his mouth repeatedly, but it would not come out. He needed to tell her right then. He needed to share with her his true feelings, so she would understand, and yet, something was preventing him from uttering the words. Was this what the old witch had alluded to before she fell to her death? Was this the warning she had meant to speak of? Or was it something worse?

“Apollo?” She stirred, but did not get up.

“Forgive me; my mind was mulling over a problem just then.” When she didn’t respond, he continued, “There is something I wish I could tell you, but this enchantment will not let me speak a word of what I wish to you.”

“There are certain things you cannot say?”

“Yes.”

She turned on her side and buried her hand in his soft coat. “How long have you been an enchanted wolf, your whole life?”

Alexander opened his mouth and realized it was something else he could not speak of. “I am not able to answer that question either.”

Her hand pulled free and she lifted her head. “Honestly?” She giggled. “Are you trying to answer and nothing comes out?”

“Precisely.”

“Oh, dear, that must be incredibly vexing.” And yet she chuckled.

He shook his head and grinned. “You are simply the most sympathetic girl I know.”

“I’m sorry!” She smiled. “But you are quite fascinating, you know.”

“I am? I find myself pretty ordinary.”

She leaned back against his softness. “Dearest Apollo, you are by far the most intriguing individual I’ve ever known.” Quieting for a moment, she then continued, “So, I wonder what questions I can inquire of you.” After thinking for a bit she asked, “Were you always a wolf?”

“No.”

Her mouth gaped open. “You were not?”

“No.” He sighed and laid his head on his paws.

“Oh, Apollo, I’m terribly sorry.” She turned more fully into him and hugged his strong body.

He was certain she would begin to solicit a hundred different questions about what he was before he became a wolf, and how the transformation happened, and who did this to him…all questions he knew he would not be able to answer. But instead, Cecelia surprised him by simply asking—

“Was it difficult to accept this new change?”

He snorted. Was it difficult?
Was it difficult?
“Words cannot describe the effect it had me.”

“How have you endured it—becoming something you were not?”

“Well—” he inhaled a bit of air and continued, “I had to come to the conclusion that my transformation was needed. Desperately needed. And though it has hurt me and harmed my pride most significantly, it is better that I be the sufferer now, instead of those who would have had failed attempts at life, because of me.”

“I do not pretend to understand in the slightest what you are talking of, but if it is in reference to the other night, where you consider yourself a monster, then perhaps it may have been so. But now, my dear, you are anything of the sort I was not mocking you when I said you are more beautiful than anyone I know of.” She moved to sit in front of him, where she could see his reactions.

Alexander’s heart began to race on its own accord.

“If you were a monster, if you were cruel in any way at all, I can attest that part of you no longer exists. You have changed. Referring to your past as you have does indeed prove it. Treating me as calmly and carefully and sweetly as you have has proven it as well. You are generous, you are kind, you are charitable, and you care—genuinely care about me—and I am sure countless others as well. I feel a connection with you I have never felt with anyone before. I do not understand all the intricacies of our relationship, but I promise you, my dear Apollo, I have never known a man as great as the beast you are.”

Her own heart began to triple its speed as she ascertained the significance of what she was saying. What her true feelings were on the subject. It was no accident she was happier this morning when she had woken. It was no accident her mood seemed lighter and at ease with her surroundings. She may be attracted to the prince, but it was nothing compared to the feelings this wolf had stirred in her heart.

Miss Cecelia Hammerstein-Smythe was most definitely in love.

A blush stole across her features at the realization, and she was suddenly very grateful for the darkened sky. It was then she felt that perhaps she had spoken long enough. She needed to be alone, to fully embrace and understand what she now knew to be true, to sort through the emotions cascading about her.

She leaned down and placed a kiss upon his nose and another on his brow, before standing and stating, “Forgive me, but I must go now.”

Alexander sat up as well. “Cecelia?”

She waved her hand in an attempt to brush aside the obvious abrupt nature of her departure. “It’s the time—I did not realize how long I had already been here.” In great nervousness and haste, she dipped a curtsy and crossed the stream.

“Cecelia, wait.”

She turned to look back, the moonbeams streaming all around. “Yes?”

“Thank you.” His eyes pleaded with hers to understand all he could not say.

She smiled a short smile and said, “You are most welcome.” And then on a whim and before she lost her courage, she rushed out the words, “I love you. I don’t care what you look like. I do not love the prince, I cannot love him, because I am in love with you,” before fleeing up the hill and out of sight.

Prince Alexander’s jaw dropped and he would have rushed after her in that moment to stay with her longer, but the transformation began before he had a chance to explain a thing.

She had broken the spell.

He was now forever the prince.

The one she did not trust, the one she did not love.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CECELIA RAN ALL THE way to her house chastising herself for her silliness and immaturity. How could she have just blurted that without waiting to see his reaction? What girl went around proclaiming her love to the male species anyhow? Wasn’t that their responsibility? What must he think of such brash and forward behavior? Her blush deepened at the thought.

Once in her room, she threw her cloak upon the bench and walked to the window overlooking the beautiful forest below her. There was something different in the air. As if her words created some sort of change between the two of them.

Cecelia rested her head upon her right hand and sighed, with the other hand she pulled the shimmering necklace from where it rested under her bodice and examined the way it sparkled and shined in the moonlight. Butterflies fluttered within at the thought of meeting him again on the morrow. What would he say to her? What would she wear? All at once a thousand different questions seemed to invade her mind.

Whether he thought her brash or not did not matter. She needed this, she needed hope and courage and something magical to cling to.

A giggle of mirth bubbled out of her throat before she clamped her mouth shut and closed the curtains. Tonight was the night that dreams were made of. Tonight was when she could allow all of her thoughts to run wild and explore every hidden avenue of a new delightful relationship—a change. What would they do? What would happen from here?

She did not know, she did not care either. The most important thing at the moment was that she was with him forever.

Long after she had gone to sleep, Miss Cecelia Hammerstein-Smythe had a very contented smile upon her lips. The world was hers, if she would but open her eyes and see the great possibilities awaiting her.

***

Prince Alexander dusted himself off and began the long walk home. He was still a bit stunned—complete and utter shock, actually. She had done it. The gel had fallen in love with him. And what had he done to receive such a blessing? Nothing. Nothing of significance. Yet, his most unattainable dreams became reality.

Dear, dear Cecelia! She was indeed the most incredible woman he had ever known.

And what a lesson to him in that moment! The final blow of all his worthlessness and great follies of his youth. Half a year ago, he was nothing but young and selfish—now, she has had made a man of him.

Was it truly that easy to create love? To create great trust?

How many people had he mocked because of their unfortunate looks? How many of his own subjects had he shamed with his insensitive and harsh behavior? And yet, what he believed would never happen because of his own appearance, did.

Oh, what he would give to swing her up in his arms this very second and tell her everything he’d wish to say from the very beginning. He’d been such an idiot, such a complete and utter fool all of his life. And no one save that witch could have proven to him what a monster he’d become. He owed the old woman everything. His life, his love, his great change of heart—she was indeed a saint in his eyes. Without her, he would have never been humbled enough to know the great love of his life. To experience this happiness bursting all around him.

Once within the castle grounds, he rushed to her tombstone. After Alexander had sufficiently seen the wisdom of the old woman, he’d ordered that her body be removed and brought to receive a proper burial within the royal grounds. He placed her right next to the great kings where she belonged. His eyes travelled over the chiseled words he had placed upon the tombstone.

Here lies a wise woman of great worth.

A woman whose deeds changed a nation.

A woman whose life shall be heralded here out

And celebrated for centuries to come.

Thank you for all you have done for your kingdom.

You are blessed. You are loved. You are honored.

Kneeling before the large stone, he thanked her. “I owe you my whole life, may I please come to you and offer my deepest gratitude for all you have taught me and all that I am? Thank you, my dear lady, thank you.” His hands clasped and he rocked slightly forward as he spoke. “She did it. You are probably more amazed than I, but she did it. That sweet, perfect girl broke the spell. I cannot believe it has been less than a year and already I am free. Do I deserve to be free? Have I become all you had wished for me to learn then?”

Turning around he rested his back against the chiseled marble. “I wish you could meet Cecelia. I think you would approve and I know she would have loved you. Anyone who could have put me in my place would have no doubt been highly honored by her.” He smiled.

“Do you know what I will do to thank you? I’ve been thinking about it lately, and I believe I will construct a large rose garden in your honor. A beautiful winding pathed escape, with the finest roses in the world to adorn its walls and beautiful sculptures and fountains to complement the serene nature. I think it’s perfect to represent not only the relationship between me and Cecelia, but also to respect a wise woman who knew greater than I did the importance of humility. Though, the thorns of the rose are prickly and hard to bear—as all great trials are—the delicate petals are velvety smooth and glorious unlike any description, and worth all the thorns it took to create them.

“Thank you for allowing me to see the beauty in the world. It was worth every single prick of the thorns that came my way.”

By the time he’d approached the castle, Alexander had forgotten all about Lord Bellemount and the servants’ search for him earlier. It wasn’t until he was met at the door by an anxious footman that he realized anything was amiss.

“What is it, Tom?” he asked the boy, about sixteen or seventeen.

“It’s Lord Bellemount, your highness. We captured him!”

Excitement and anger simultaneously coursed through the prince, as he recalled the day’s accusations. “You did? Where did you find him?”

“Out in the monument garden hiding behind a statue near the north wall.”

“Take me to him immediately.”

“Yes, your highness. Dalton thought to have him placed in the fruit cellar until you returned.”

He followed the servant as they wound through the halls, into the kitchen and around several other excited staff members, down the stairs and into the cellar.

Alexander ducked his head as he entered the carved doorway into the cold, dimly lit stone-walled room. His cousin was gagged and strapped to a chair with two of the brawny stable boys on either side of him. “Well, well, Frederick, I see we can add trespassing to your list of crimes.” To the makeshift guards he said, “It is fine, boys. I can handle it from here. Please wait outside the door so I can talk to him privately.”