As they entered the dress shop, Duncan's jaw fell when he beheld the face of Magnolia, the witch who'd cursed Eglantine, Ovinia's mother. She appeared different in almost every way—her countenance lighter, her skin almost radiant, the old floral dress and cloak gone, replaced by a clean, soft blue linen frock and white apron, her hair pulled back.
After giving him a look of glad surprise, she approached them.
"Searching for a dress?"
"Yes, ma'am," Ovinia said.
Magnolia walked to her daughter, measuring her upper back and the line from her shoulder to her waist, and then from her waist to the floor. "What is the dress for?"
"It's for the royal wedding," Duncan said, keeping a close eye on the woman as he continued to wonder why she was there, and if it had been by coincidence or her own devising. He thought it strange to see her dressed in only a plain floral dress without the usual black cloak.
"Oh, how lovely," she crowed, standing tall once more. "I'll be back with a few choices."
Relaxing somewhat when she returned, Duncan retreated to the front of the store, glancing back at them every once in a while as they conversed or if Ovinia wanted his opinion.
Other than the color, Duncan could barely tell one from the other, but he liked the dark purple the best. Keeping his opinion to himself, he allowed her to make the decision on her own, stating that he liked them all.
Ovinia chose the dark gray one, and Magnolia wrapped it up for them. "Have you made arrangements for her hair?" the woman asked.
"No, do you have any recommendations?" Duncan inquired.
"May I do it?" The small older woman locked eyes with him, and Duncan could see how much she wanted to, how much hope she carried in her heart. "Please?"
"I don't mind," Ovinia stated.
"If you'll step into the back room, I have a small vanity." She gestured with an open hand to the door.
Looking around the room, Duncan could see she had planned for this, or at least hoped. Several combs and brushes rested on the vanity desk, as well as a bowl of tiny, white flowers and two spools of ribbon—one white and one the exact dark gray of the dress.
Ovinia glanced at Duncan through the mirror as she sat down, a small smile on her brave face.
Magnolia grabbed a brush and started to work it through Ovinia's hair. Mesmerized, Duncan studied the scene: the look of love and gentility on the old woman's face, Ovinia's smile and occasional laughter at something the woman said, the gradual coming together of braids, ribbons, flowers, and swoops of hair, the tenderness of a mother giving her daughter whatever she could, no matter how meager.
Upon leaving the shop, Ovinia remarked about how kind the woman had been. Magnolia had seen them to the door and urged them to come back again.
"Do you mind dressing at the castle?" Duncan asked. "It will save your new gown from soil and give me the chance to visit with Henry before the ceremony."
"Will it be all right?" Her brow furrowed with worry again.
"Of course it will, my love. Remember, this is my former home, a place where I am sure we will always be welcome."
Careful to avoid Northeast Alley, and any memories associated with the prison there, not to mention any possible confrontation from the guards, Duncan led her to the castle.
"It's beautiful," she said, pausing once inside the front garden gate and looking up at the tower.
"Not the grandest castle in the world," Duncan remarked. "But it's enough."
After locating Marie and asking her to help Ovinia get dressed, Duncan found Henry standing before a mirror in his room. "Hello, Brother."
Henry stopped fastening the buttons on his velvet doublet and rushed to embrace his brother, patting him heartily on the back in the process. "I'm so glad you've come." Henry pulled away slightly, only enough to look at his brother while still keeping a grip on his arms. "Did you bring the girl?"
"Ovinia."
"Right, I knew that," Henry said, finally releasing his hold. "Did you bring Ovinia?"
"Of course. I couldn't have left her alone."
Henry returned to the mirror to finish adjusting and arranging his hair and attire. "You know, the two of you could tie the knot while everyone's gathered." Henry gave Duncan a playful smile through the mirror.
Duncan picked up a seashell from the writing desk against the wall, examining it for a moment. "We're already married."
Henry scoffed. "That's funny because I don't remember receiving an invitation."
"Well, I didn't want anyone to know. That is, I'm afraid of the people of Gilumck finding out I'm a prince. I don't want them to think me a coward. Besides, our landlord would not rent us his place unless we were married." Duncan returned the playful smile, setting the seashell back down.
"Well, allow me to give you a gift then, in honor of your lovely bride." Coming away from the mirror, Henry approached his brother once more. "Take the carriage Worston brought you in. A carriage is a great asset to such a small village."
"Oh, we couldn't do that. Besides, the people would get suspicious. Scribes do not earn enough to purchase carriages."
Frowning, in the expert way only Henry could, he tried to convince his brother otherwise. "There is no shame in renouncing what you do not love. But please remember you are my brother, part of my very soul. Take the carriage. Do not worry so much if people know who you are. Please keep me with you as you press forward in your new life."
"What would we do with a carriage?"
"Come to visit once in a while." Upon seeing his pleas were not working, Henry persisted with a threat. "If you do not, I will send Worston to check on you every week."
Straightening his back, and pretending as if none of this conversation had happened, Duncan replied, "I change my mind, we'd love the carriage."
"I thought so. Thanks for coming to say hello. It's almost time. Meet me in the ballroom?"
Duncan descended the tower stairs, and upon peeking in the ballroom, found Ovinia standing with Marie at her side. Blessed Marie! Duncan couldn't imagine leaving Ovinia alone in this room full of people. Taking in the sight of her, Duncan found it hard to believe he had ever preferred the purple dress.
"You do belong in a castle," he whispered in her ear once he reached her side.
Ovinia's cheeks radiated a hint of warmth after, and Marie excused herself to return to the food preparations.
Duke announced the arrival of Henry and asked everyone to take their places. When an aisle had cleared, and all chatter had stopped, Duncan got his first glimpse of Eglantine since that day on the battlefield when she'd only been a vision. Wearing an ivory, jeweled dress, her hair a cascade of curls down her back, she walked with the queen of Cray on her right arm, and the king on her left. Duncan mused over how tragic this must be for them, to lose the daughter they'd lived without for so many years. Both of them had tears streaming down their faces, and seemed to find it difficult to release her into the waiting arm of the king of Fallund.
Duncan thought the short ceremony appropriate, since it was only a technicality after all; he'd witnessed their first wedding with his own eyes. But what caught his observation the most, was Henry. Usually so proud, so serious, so stern, he looked completely changed as he stared into the eyes of his new bride, and then cupped one side of her face before slanting down to kiss her.
After the stillness of that moment, a slow-rising din began to echo throughout the room, followed by louder conversations and the clanging of glasses. Ovinia, having held fast onto Duncan's arm through the entire thing, bravely slipped away, promising to return in a moment with drinks.
In her absence, Eglantine approached him, looking everything like the queen she now was. Her warm smile crept under his skin, finding a permanent place in his memory, heart and soul, in only the way a sister's could. Awestruck by the idea of having a sister, he smiled back at her, adding a little wave. Suddenly he realized how it had come to pass, how Eglantine had been released from the curse. She'd married Henry just before h
e'd set Ovinia free. Henry had provided her with a brother after all. Feeling even more fond of her, and glowing with a satisfaction that he'd been the one to release her from the clutches of the curse, he reached out to receive her with an embrace. Eglantine approached him, nodded gracefully at first, and then smacked him on the shoulder.
Duncan checked on Ovinia to make sure she had not seen (or if she had, was not about to attack the queen) and found her speaking to one of the servants who held a tray of half full wine glasses. Returning his attention to Eglantine, Duncan asked, "What was that for?" It hadn't really hurt, but had been an insult nonetheless, especially given his new realization.
"That was for always ignoring me just because you couldn't see me."
"I didn't always ignore you," he began to argue, a chuckle escaping his lips.
"Don't . . . make me hit you again."
Duncan put his hands up. "Okay, you win."
Henry joined them, sipping on a glass of wine and interlocking arms with his new and improved bride. "What have you won, darling?"
"I've won me a brother," she said.
Duncan smiled at her comment, then turned his head toward the exit, where a woman slipped out just before the door closed shut. Though she wore an elegant blue dress and had pinned up her hair, Duncan knew it was Magnolia.
"Excuse me for a moment," he said, rushing after the woman. Catching her softly by the elbow, he asked "Why have you come?"
Turning around to face him, she smiled and answered softly. "I just wanted to see her one more time. I didn't think you'd have much call to come back to the dress shop from here on out. I was lucky to find employment there. How I'd hoped you would bring her when I heard about the engagement." She took a moment to glance back at the wedding party. "It's strange, isn't it? That Eglantine's awake. I wonder if it happened because I gave up my status as a witch, denouncing the practice and taking off my cloak forever."
Duncan pondered this momentarily, but held fast to his theory about Henry giving her a brother who freed the woman's daughter. "Well, you're always welcome in Gilmuck."
"Thank you. Perhaps I could visit now and then. Take care of her?"
"Of course."
Magnolia reached for his hand, gave it a loving squeeze, and then left the castle.
Returning to the ballroom, Duncan witnessed Henry introducing Eglantine to Ovinia, wondering if they'd ever realize, if he would ever come to tell them of their history, their bond through the curse, how they'd helped each other to freedom. For now, it was enough they were all at last a family.
The end.
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Sleeping Beauty and the Beast
Acknowledgements
I am so grateful to God for His help in writing this book. I truly feel like He has been there every step of the way. Special thanks to my family for their encouragement and support, especially my husband for his help formatting because trying to format a book is sort of like summoning a one way ticket to the insane asylum. I could not have done this without my amazing beta readers Misty Pulsipher and Amy Johnson, and my proof readers Jamie Carrier and Sharee Morrey. I would also like to express appreciation to Cindy Canizales for her beautiful cover design work. Finally, I am so grateful for family, friends and fans who continue to encourage me to write books.
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Sleeping Beauty and the Beast
About the Author
Melissa Lemon is the author of Cinder and Ella and Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem. She lives in Maryland with her husband, three daughters and cat named Matilda.
Visit Melissa on the Web:
http://www.melissalemon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authormelissalemon
http://lemoninkwell.blogspot.com/
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