Once Enchanted

by Marie Higgins

She’d changed so much in the past two years: her eyes had grown brighter, her hair more golden, and he found as he was staring at her, that he’d forgotten to breathe. She had been quite lovely in her youth, but now as a woman...he had no words. He couldn’t stop gazing at her. Now, more than anything, he wanted to rekindle the friendship they had enjoyed as children.

  They rode side-by-side through the forest for a few miles, chit-chatting about the weather and other mundane things, but he longed to converse with Princess Clarissa as casually and easily as he had in school. They had been good friends, and he wanted that closeness back. But how to jump back into a friendship like that after such a long hiatus?

  Of course, it didn’t matter how close they had once been. She was a princess and he was a commoner. Nothing would ever happen between them.

  Although he had to admit that he hadn’t stopped thinking about her since she had hurried down the palace stairs toward her horse this morning. The cool breeze had touched her cheeks, turning them a light shade of pink. She’d worn a bronze colored cloak and matching gloves, but it was her turquoise eyes that lingered in his mind. When she recognized him, her eyes sparkled, lighting up her whole face. The wider she smiled, the more the dimples in her cheeks deepened.

  She’d been on his mind the whole time she was inside the hospital with the children, and even during her walk with her father. Not once did he think about going back to being her friend like they were in school. Instead, he thought of ways he could turn their friendship into something more.

  It wasn’t a secret that the king and queen wanted to see their daughter married. There weren’t many mysteries inside the palace gates. Servants gossiped, and the guards heard everything. And he was an eligible bachelor, right?

  “Ryder?”

  He quickly snapped out of his thoughts when he realized she had asked him a question. He should have been paying closer attention. “Oh, forgive me, Princess. What did you say?”

  She laughed lightly. “Was I boring you with my rendition of traveling through Greenville?”

  “Absolutely not.” He adjusted himself on the saddle. “I’m always happy to hear you talk.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Yes, I noticed.”

  “You did?” He hoped she didn’t think he was being sarcastic since it was obvious he hadn’t been paying attention.

  “Of course. While I was telling that story to the children I could tell you were enthralled.”

  Relaxing, he nodded. “You are a very good storyteller.”

  She shrugged. “It’s easy to tell stories that have really happened.”

  Shaking his head, he wasn’t sure he heard her right. Yet, he must have, because he had been paying attention this time. “Your tale was real?”

  “Yes, the story about the man picking the Rapunzel flower, and the witch, and the little girl...” She turned her focus toward the path ahead of them. “That was about my father and me.”

  He studied her expression to see if she was teasing him, but she appeared sincere. He slowed his horse until it came to a stop. She stopped hers and held his gaze.

  “Your father picked the flower to give to your mother?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you were kidnapped by the witch?”

  A bird flapped its wings as it took flight out of a tree. She raised her gaze to the bird and nodded. “Yes, that was me.”

  He was speechless. It was as if his mind refused to help him open his mouth.

  “Are you going to say something?” she inquired hesitantly.

  A squirrel darted across the path, and his attention moved briefly to the animal. “Of course I’m going to say something,” he switched his focus back to her, “when I can think of something to say.”

  She laughed. “Sorry if my surprise shocked you.”

  “I...I just never realized the story was real.”

  “It is.”

  “Why didn’t you share this with me when we were in school?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because my mind had blocked it for a while. But I assure you that it all happened to me and my father.”

  “That’s amazing, and yet, it’s scary at the same time.” He reached out and brushed off a leaf from her dress as it draped over the side saddle. “How can you speak so cheerily of a memory that had to have been quite an ordeal in your life?”

  “I actually don’t remember much about it.” She drew an invisible line on the skirt of her gown, where Ryder’s hand had just been. “I only recall a few vivid details about that time. I remember being in the large tower. There wasn’t a lot of heat, and there was only one window in the room she’d kept me in. When I looked outside, the ground seemed so far away. It made me sick to my stomach because I was afraid I’d fall out. Father says I’m repressing those memories, which is why I suppose I created a fun story to tell the children. Perhaps if I imagine it being a children’s story, I can deal with it better.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “But lately, I’ve been having a recurring dream about someone sneaking into my room in the middle of the night.” She shrugged. “I’m about five or six in the dream, but the person comes to my bed and caresses my hair.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “The voice is scratchy, and most definitely a woman.”

  Worry flowed through him, not just because he was a guard, but because he was her friend. He shifted on his saddle and rewound the reins in his hand, wishing he could comfort her physically. “Do you think that’s another memory coming through?”

  “Could be.”

  “I wonder why you are having that dream now?”

  “I don’t have any idea.” She swished her hand through the air before urging her horse into a trot. “Anyway, I didn’t mean to turn our conversation sad. I’d just wanted to remark on how I know you enjoy hearing me talk.”

  He laughed. Indeed, she was quite a woman, especially since she could read him so well. “I’ve always enjoyed sharing moments with you. If you’ll recall from our childhood days, we had many secrets.”

  “Oh, yes. I remember. We could have gotten in a lot of trouble if people knew we were the ones who caused such problems in school...instead of the classmates we blamed it on.”

  His heart softened from the memories. “I’m particularly relieved that nobody told your father I was your partner in crime. He wouldn’t have allowed us to be friends.”

  She nodded. “You’re correct there. I’m glad nobody knew.”

  Clarissa studied his face for a few silent moments, then grinned. Moving her attention to the road, she steered her horse up the path. He followed, wondering why she’d decided to end the conversation there.

  Her horse broke into a gallop. The thick braid resting on her back bounced crazily. She leaned forward and gripped the reins as if she were struggling to stay seated.

  His heart dropped. Giving a shout to his horse, he kicked it into a run...praying she wouldn’t fall off and injure herself.

  That wouldn’t look good since he was supposed to be protecting her.

  FOUR

  Ryder pushed his horse faster. Thankfully, the princess still held on tight. The horse turned away from the trail that led to a cluster of houses and headed toward the woods.

  He frowned and urged his horse on faster still. He would lose his job for sure if he lost the princess somewhere in the woods. Thankfully, before long her horse slowed and stopped beside a small lake.

  When Ryder caught up, he saw that her expression wasn’t one of fright, but instead, she was grinning...and laughing!

  “Oh, Ryder, you should see your face.” She stroked her horse’s mane. “By chance, were you worried that I couldn’t control my horse?”

  Inhaling slowly, and exhaling even slower, he tried to calm his racing heartbeat. “Actually, yes. You had me extremely worried, Princess.”

  “You’ll have to forgive me. All this talk of when we were in school gave me the urge to be reckless.” She swept her hand in his direction. “And you can’t te
ll me you didn’t enjoy it, at least a tiny bit.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “I would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t think you were going to get injured, on my shift, no less.” He shook his head. “I should be very upset with you now—”

  “But you won’t be,” she added quickly, “because you like me too much.”

  It was hard to be upset with her when she grinned so innocently at him.

  She offered a sweet smile and batted her eyelashes. “I hope you don’t mind staying here with me for a little while. The lake is so calming and pretty today.”

  “Of course not, Princess. But I thought you wanted to see some of your friends.”

  “Maybe later. I’m in the mood for a stroll around the lake. How about you?”

  The gleam in her turquoise eyes made him curious. This was the kind of expression she wore when they were children and she’d wanted to do something that was forbidden. Then again, after that stunt she pulled a few minutes ago, he’d be on guard and watch her every move now.

  Being alone with her here in the woods caused his heart to leap with excitement. Man, she was beautiful. If he tried to do something as inappropriate as kissing her, would he lose his job? Or worse, their friendship?

  He dismounted and tied his horse to the nearest tree before assisting her. Reaching his arms out to help her, she leaned forward, placing her hands on his shoulders. As he lifted her down, her gaze stayed on his face. Her playful, teasing smile had been replaced with one more serious.

  “I must say, Ryder, I never realized you had such wide shoulders before.”

  He grinned. “I didn’t when we were in school.”

  When her feet touched the ground, she slowly slid her palms down his arms. “Indeed, you are not the boy I remember from back then.”

  He kept his arms around her a second longer. “And you, Princess, are not the girl I recall.”

  “Will you do me a favor, Ryder?”

  “Anything,” he answered so softly that his words were little more than a whisper.

  “When we are alone together, please call me Clarissa. In school you always treated me as an equal, and I really liked that.”

  “I would love to do that again...Clarissa.”

  “Thank you.”

  Her focus dropped to his mouth, and his heart hammered quicker. Did he dare kiss her?

  But her expression changed back to the teasing seductress again, and she stepped back. Sashaying away from him, she unhooked her cloak. As she took off the garment and placed it across her side saddle, she peeked at him over her shoulder with that come-hither look in her eyes. Slowly, she removed her gloves.

  The little minx! He wanted to laugh from her obvious cat-and-mouse game, but he would follow her lead...for now, anyway.

  “So tell me, Clarissa,” he said as he caught up to her. “What are your plans now that you’re back home?”

  “Plans? You think I should have some sort of plan now?”

  He chuckled, wanting to play the flirtatious game she’d started. “You forget, I work for your father. The guards hear all the gossip, and the latest gossip is that you need to find a husband.”

  A frown claimed her face, and he wanted to kick himself for making the light disappear from her eyes. “Forgive me if I spoke out of turn,” he quickly apologized.

  She shook her head. “There’s nothing to forgive. I just don’t like this particular subject.”

  “May I ask why?”

  “Because I don’t feel as though I’m ready to marry, but my parents feel differently.”

  “Why don’t you think you’re ready?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t think being a wife and mother would be very exciting for me right now.”

  “Do you believe the queen has a boring, tedious life?”

  “Of course not.” She rolled her eyes. “My mother is very active and loved by all.”

  “Do you not think you’re like her?”

  Stopping, she huffed and placed her hands on her hips. “Really, Ryder. What a ridiculous thing to ask. There is no way I’m like my mother, and you should know that about me by now.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “The girl I once knew was exciting, adventurous, and sweet-natured. All the other children in school adored her. I couldn’t tell you this then, but all of the boys wanted to marry you. And not just because you’re a princess.”

  She laughed.

  “You were nice to everyone,” he continued, “and you willingly gave of your time. If someone was sick, you arranged to take them a basket of food. If someone in the village couldn’t afford to buy their children clothes, you created a volunteer group to find materials and seamstresses to make them clothes.” He cocked his head. “Tell me, Clarissa, how is this not like your mother?”

  Her face flamed with a crimson color. “All right, so maybe I’m a little like the queen.”

  “Are you afraid of being a mother, Clarissa?”

  One of her shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “I don’t know. I fear I won’t know how to teach them or be a good example for them.”

  He moved in front of her and took hold of her hands. Her eyes widened and she sucked in a quick breath.

  “Clarissa, I think you will make a wonderful mother, mainly because you had such a great example. I’ve seen you several times throughout our childhood caring for those less fortunate, and don’t forget the children in the hospital. They love to see you and they feel your love for them.” He rubbed his thumbs across her knuckles.

  She offered a tender smile. “You are too kind.”

  “I’m just being honest.”

  “Well, perhaps I’m scared of the unknown. Meeting men, and deciding if they are going to be the right man for me, is frightening. What if I choose the wrong man and I’m miserable for the rest of my life?”

  He held his breath, not believing what he just heard. She’d said man. Not prince, or king, or lord...but man. Dare he hope he had a chance with her?

  “I don’t believe that will happen. I’ve always known you to achieve whatever you set your mind on. You have never let anyone sway your way of thinking before, so why would you in this particular circumstance?”

  “Ryder,” she shook her head, “you are making it very difficult for me to feel bad about this new phase in my life.”

  “Did you want to be alone while you sit on the pity-pot?”

  She chuckled and tugged her hands away from him. “You are just awful, Ryder Grey. Did you know that?”

  “Actually, I think you like me.” He took hold of her hands once more. “But tell me if I’m wrong. Tell me that my words didn’t stir something inside of you that made you think differently about your situation.”

  She narrowed her gaze as though to scowl, but the grin on her mouth let him know she was being playful again.

  “What I think, Ryder, is that you know me entirely too well.”

  He laughed. “Yes, I believe I do. However, I would like to get to know the woman you’ve become to see if she’s anything like the girl I once knew.”

  Her smile appeared genuine this time as she nodded. “I would like that as well.”

  She didn’t try to pull away from him, and her actions encouraged him further. “Would you allow me to court you—as long as it’s approved by your father?”

  Her cheeks reddened. “Yes.”

  “Then I shall ask him tomorrow.”

  “No. I think you should ask him today.”

  He was elated knowing she was as eager as he. “Then I shall talk to him today.”

  Reluctantly, he withdrew. It was cozy being with her like this, but he knew he should do the gentlemanly thing and pull away first before they became closer physically. He offered his arm. “Shall we continue our stroll?”

  “Not yet.”

  Confusion filled him. What was she up to this time? “Why not?”

  “Because if I don’t do this now, I will lose my nerve.”

  Stepping toward him, she closed the space between th
em and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly on the lips.

  Shock was a mild description for what washed over him, but the emotion was quickly replaced with desire. Being gentlemanly could go to the devil. His thoughts now were filled with passion.

  OH, MY!

  Clarissa had only kissed one man in her life, and it was someone she’d met while visiting her cousin. The memory of that brief moment had quickly disappeared. Ryder’s kiss was so toe-curling thrilling, she could hardly breathe.

  When she’d first placed her lips to his, they were stiff, but now—only seconds later—his mouth softened and he slid his arms around her, pulling her closer. Tingles shot through her body, moving at an incredible speed, starting at the top of her head and going all the way to her toes. Nothing had felt better in her life. It was so exciting, and yet so frightening at the same time. What scared her was knowing that if she didn’t stop this madness soon, she would never want to stop kissing him.

  Yet, the moment she should pull away kept getting postponed. Especially when she ran her fingers up his neck to his soft hair and compared the feel of that to his facial hair rubbing across her face, which was nearly as soft. His lips were very tender as he slowly and meaningfully partook of what she had to offer.

  Serenity surrounded them, and all she could hear was the quick beat of her heart and the occasional gasps for air. Once in a while, he groaned and tightened his arms around her, which made her respond with the same throaty sound as she pressed closer.

  But then the snap of a twig disturbed the silence. The sound was quickly followed by another. Ryder jumped and swung, still with one arm wrapped around her waist, which was a good thing or she would have crumbled onto the dirt.

  “Who’s there? Make yourself known,” he demanded as his hand rested above his sword.

  She listened for sound of someone running nearby, but, once again, silence stretched through the area.

  “Was someone watching us?” Clarissa whispered shakily, feeling unsettled not only from their kiss, but also from the fear pumping through her. She glanced around them, seeing only thick trees and fallen branches. She knew Ryder would protect her.