by Jenni James
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.”
Blythe gasped. “What? Me, cheat? I would never!” She put her hands on her hips. “Very well then, Mr. Frog Prince, I shall accept your challenge. I am in no way a good player at chess, but your ego has brought out the champion in me. I can tell already I shall beat you soundly in record time—without cheating!”
“Oh, ho!�
� He laughed. “Well, then, my fair princess, lead the way! I am all eagerness to see such a woman best me.”
Blythe had never had more fun losing such a silly game in her life. He was honestly the most humorous companion she had ever had. Their game soon became a nightly ritual—full of laughter and howling and mad bantering skills.
And she lost every single match.
They were still teasing one another about chess as they walked back from the village a week or so later. Blythe had a splendid day teaching again, but was now enjoying the sparring Caspian was quick to induce.
“You are so awful at chess that my blind, lame grandmother could soundly whip you!” he taunted.
“Me? Me?” She giggled, knowing full well he had no such grandmother. “And what of your ego, sir? That head is so large, I fear another win of yours and it may explode and a whole clump of green mess will land upon the game and me.”
He pretended to gulp. “I believe you would like to see such a thing happen!”
She was just about to reply when they rounded the back corner of the flower garden and walked into the castle stable yard.
They both gasped in unison.
There sat a beautiful white coach and four with the royal Hollene family crest painted in bright green and gold on the side.
Prince Nolan! What in the world was he doing here?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BLYTHE’S STOMACH DROPPED AND her hands began to shake as she stepped into the side entrance of the castle. Why would Prince Nolan show up now, of all times? She was not certain she was ready to meet him. Not yet. Not when things were beginning to make sense with Caspian. Ugh. If her mother were to take a fancy to Nolan, there would be no stopping the wedding ceremony.
And then she would have to leave the castle, for there would definitely not be a bride in attendance during the reading of the nuptials.
What did Prince Nolan want?
Goodness! Perhaps he was worried about why she had not written him back. She had forgotten to after tossing his letter into the pond. Well, how was she to remember something like that? Especially with the arrival of Caspian—everything else seemed to have been forgotten. For the last couple of weeks, all she had thought about was the frog.
“If you drop me off here,” Caspian said, “I will distract your mother and the guest until you can change out of your village attire.”
“Yes, Mother will no doubt want me in attendance immediately.” Blythe set the frog near the arched entry of the grand corridor. The drawing room was just down along the way from where they were. Already she could hear her mother’s laughter coming from within it. “Let her know I am freshening up before I make my appearance,” she said as she watched him hop down the hall.
As swiftly as possible, she made her way up the servants’ stairs and into her room. Her maid met her there and helped remove the brown frock and stash it in the bottom of the chest beneath the extra blankets at the foot of her bed. It was where they had first decided to hide the plain dress in case the queen ever went through her wardrobe. It was this particular maid who had first told Blythe of the children’s lack of a schoolteacher, and together they formed this plan.
Blythe removed the flowers from her hair and the maid was quick to replace them with pretty gold ribbons. They brushed at her green gown as Blythe stood at the looking glass and turned from side to side to see if any of the day’s dirt could be found upon it. Once she was deemed presentable enough, she thanked the maid and nervously walked down to the drawing room.
She took a deep breath just before the footman opened the door.
There, perched charmingly upon the high-backed chair, was a plump woman in rows of lavender ruffles. Her mother sat on the adjoining seat, with her back to the door, and Caspian was on top of the settee.
Her mother turned at the woman’s smile in Blythe’s direction. “Blythe, you are here at last!” she said in a gently scolding tone. “My goodness, I sent for you nearly three-quarters of an hour ago.”
Blythe curtsied. “I beg your pardon. Caspian and I were outdoors.”
Her mother waved her hand. “Yes, yes. No doubt down at your pond. Now come here—I would like to introduce you to Queen Bethany of Hollene Court, Prince Nolan’s dear mother and one of my most particular friends from our school days.”
“How do you do?” Blythe walked across the room and deeply curtsied before Queen Bethany.
“My! You are quite lovely!” she said as she crooked her finger to gesture Blythe in closer. “If I am not mistaken, you look exactly like your grandmama, Queen Mary Elizabeth I.”
“Aye, she does. My mother was an exceptional beauty,” stated Mary. “At supper, you shall meet my two elder sons and my two younger daughters as well. Then you may gauge who is the most like whom.” Her mother grinned and waved Blythe toward the settee. “Sit next to your companion, dear. Bethany and I were just laughing at some of the amusing things Caspian has said to keep us entertained while we waited for you.” Another soft ring of annoyance came through her tone of voice at the last few words.
“I hope he did not frighten you,” Blythe said to Queen Bethany. “We are so used to him now, I did not even think how you must have felt when you saw him hop in.”
“He is fine, dear. And quite a charming rascal as well.” She grinned at the frog, and Blythe was surprised to see her slip in a sly wink.
Mary laughed. “Oh, do not let Bethany fool you! She jumped as high as anyone I have seen when he first came in and said hello.”
“’Tis only because I was not prepared to see him like that.”
“Do you mean, to see a talking frog? Or just to see a frog in general going about the place?” Blythe asked.
“No, I meant to see him like that.”
“Well, you have yet to tell us why you came, Queen Bethany,” Caspian declared, a bit overly loud. “And I am sure it does not have anything to do with secrets of Prince Nolan’s that you should be keeping, does it?”
Blythe glanced at him. Why was he behaving so oddly? “Are you implying that she is keeping something from us?”
Mary laughed before Bethany or Caspian could reply. “What heaviness is in this room! I will not have it. We are a merry party who are together now and that is all that matters.”
“’Tis true,” Caspian said. “Forgive my rudeness, Queen Bethany.”
“No matter,” she said. “I have simply come to see for myself what Princess Blythe is like. I have heard so many things about you from my son, my dear.” She grinned. “And I decided it was about time to come meet you personally. I find it is the best way to truly get to know someone—face-to-face like this. Do you not agree?”
“I do.” Blythe chuckled, liking her already. “Though I cannot imagine what Prince Nolan has relayed about me.”
“Yes, but I am sure you would not be interested in hearing any of it,” Caspian said.
“No, on the contrary. I am very curious to see how my betrothed speaks of me to others. I feel any woman would be. It is only natural.” She looked at Queen Bethany. “Would you mind sharing what has intrigued you so that you have come out to meet me?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
NOLAN GULPED. HIS MOTHER would not really be that brainless as to actually tell Blythe what he had thought of her, would she?
She glanced at him and gave him another wink. Good grief. She really was that dim. Of course she would tell everything. Somehow, someway, she probably believed it would help him. He opened his mouth to intervene and stop the inevitable, but she was much quicker.
“Oh, you know how young men talk to their mothers. You are never fully clear on what they are truly thinking. He will say one thing today and then tomorrow tell me the direct opposite.”
Nolan breathed a sigh of relief. It would seem he was safe after all.
“I can agree with you there!” Mary laughed. “My boys will forever tell me one thing and I will believe it is truly their opinion on the matter. Yet, when I relay such things to someone else
, it is all they can do to contradict me at every turn, specifically clarifying that they had never meant their original opinion after all.”
“Are you saying he has changed his mind about me?” Blythe asked, her features scrunched in confusion.
“Oh, goodness, no!” Bethany leaned forward. “No, his opinion of you has always been the same. If anything, it may have become more fervent throughout the last few months or so, but he has always portrayed the same interest in the arrangement as ever before.”
“Well, that is fine then,” Mary exclaimed with a look at her daughter. “It is nice to know there is a steadfast man in your home.”
“Steadfast?” Blythe shook her head. “But moments ago, you implied he was not firm. Have I perchance missed something?”
“Oh! I did, did I not?” All at once his mother began to giggle nervously. “So it would seem I have. Well, then!” Her giggle continued and rose several notches.
Nolan closed his eyes. This did not bode well for his future happiness.
“Is there something you wish to say to me?” Blythe asked as Bethany continued to laugh.
Nolan could not imagine what Blythe must think of his mother, for truly she was behaving as a woman caught in a lie.
The look his mother gave him clearly begged for support of some kind. At least she was wise enough not to wish extra trouble upon him. He sighed. How was he supposed to get her out of this mess? One thing was for certain—he needed to make sure she realized that his opinion had changed. “Well, I for one wish Prince Nolan was here with you now. Then everyone would know the truth of his feelings and we would not be in such confusion,” he said.