Bethany laughed louder and then said, “Oh! Goodness. I was not sure what to say—but you have helped me so very much! Thank you, Caspian.” She sighed and wiped at her eyes. Apparently she had been so nervously laughing, tears had formed.
But it would seem she had received his silent message to let him speak for himself. Nolan released his own breath of relief just as she continued to talk.
“However, since my son is not here, I feel it is my duty to relay the following …” She looked directly at Blythe. “He has frankly not been impressed with your letters and feels you are the last person he would ever wish to marry.”
Blythe and her mother both gasped.
Nolan groaned. Oh, my word! This was worse than he could have imagined.
“I beg your pardon?” Mary exclaimed. “My daughter is a fine example of an exemplary princess. It would take a complete moronic beast not to see the wonderful qualities she possesses! It is your son I worry about.”
“Mother!” Blythe looked upset. “Please do not. It is fine.”
“Well, I was only relaying what he has said to me,” Bethany said with a huff. “It is why I came, to see for myself if she truly was the spoiled child he believed her to be.”
“Spoiled?” Mary stood up. “My Blythe spoiled?”
“Wait!” Blythe called out from the settee.
Bethany quickly stood up too. “And willful and arrogant.”
Mary took a step forward, her face redder than Nolan thought possible upon a human being. “Take it back!” she snapped. “Your son must be the epitome of the most uncouth louse who was ever born!”
“Nolan?” Bethany inhaled sharply and pointed her finger at the other queen. “I will have you know there is not a greater man in all the surrounding kingdoms than my son, nor is there a better judge of character!”
“Wait!” Blythe said again as she stood up.
Mary took another step forward. “Your son would not know how to judge a pig’s backside from a superior stallion’s rump!”
“Take it back!” Bethany raged. “You have no right!”
“And you have no right to say such things of my daughter!”
“I have every single right, if it pertains to the happiness of my son. Those are his feelings on the matter and therefore what is the truth. If you did not wish to hear the truth, I suggest you raise your daughter to become a bit more pleasing to the rest of the world!”
“Do not say such things about her!” Caspian shouted.
“Wait! Halt!” Blythe stepped in between the two livid women. “Enough!”
Caspian tried again. “You do not know—”
Mary interrupted. “Blythe, move out of the way. Bethany and I have much more to discuss.”
“No, you do not!” Blythe put her hands on her hips.
Bethany’s jaw dropped. “Well, I never! To see such rudeness and blatant disrespect in a princess! It would definitely seem my son was wholly correct in his assumption of you.”
“No,” Caspian called, but Bethany glared.
“Please!” Blythe put her hand up to stop her mother from retaliating and turned to Queen Bethany. “It is perfectly all right. I do not wish to marry Prince Nolan, and I am grateful that he does not harbor such ideas about me. Indeed, I truly believe we would be much better suited if we were each to marry someone else entirely.”
“Very well!” Bethany exclaimed, smirking. “I can see that perhaps we were hasty in this betrothal. Your promise can definitely become dissolved. What do you say, Mary?”
“I find that completely satisfactory. As of right now, Prince Nolan and Princess Blythe will never wed!”
“Perfect!” Blythe genuinely smiled, her eyes sparkling. “For he is truly the last man I would ever wish upon myself.”
Nolan’s heart dropped.
She would never like him now.
And all of this was for naught.
Everyone seemed to be celebrating the fact that the two of them would never wed.
If only they had thought to ask him.
He watched the women make up and apologize to each other in stiff politeness. With a final glance at Blythe’s happy face, he hopped off the settee and slowly made his way out of the room and down the long corridor. Perhaps it would be best if he just headed home. There was a coach waiting for him, which would provide a much quicker way home. Besides, now that everyone else was so cheerful, perhaps he could find a way to become joyful too.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BLYTHE SMILED AND GLANCED toward Caspian. He was not there. Where did he go? She looked around the room—the floor, chairs, tables, everywhere. He was most definitely not there.
It was not like Caspian to leave without mentioning where he was going first. She shrugged. Perhaps he would be back shortly.
As her mother rang for tea, Blythe sat on the settee, knowing she would be expected to pour for the queens. She was also very well aware that the frog would not miss the opportunity for tea and would come hopping back into the room very soon. Then she would be sure to quiz him on where he had been.
“Where is the frog?” Bethany asked when she looked up and noticed he was missing.
Mary glanced up as well. “Is Caspian not with us?”
“No, I think he went out for a few minutes. I am sure he will be back shortly,” Blythe said.
“He is more than likely playing with the girls upstairs,” Mary said.
“Probably. He will return soon.”
However, when tea came, there was still no Caspian.
In fact, after an hour of boring, tension-filled polite talk, since the two queens were desperately attempting to appease the other after their horrendous start that afternoon, Blythe finally excused herself.
She made her way up to the nursery where her sisters were doing their studies. Peeking inside the door, she saw that they were both reading quietly while the governess searched through papers. There was no sign of Caspian anywhere. After a few seconds, she caught Karielle’s attention and beckoned her to come.
“Have you seen Caspian?” she asked quietly.
“No. Not since this morning at the pianoforte. Why?”
“I was just curious. I have not seen him for a little while, so wondered if he came up here with you two.”
“No.”
The governess looked up and Blythe whispered, “Very well, thank you. Perhaps he is taking a nap.”
Shutting the door, she quickly made her way to his room and was surprised to see that it looked tidier than usual. Her pillow was tucked nicely against the wall and everything looked to be in order. The room also felt eerily empty, as if he were actually gone and not just hiding away somewhere.
Her heart began to beat faster and she took a deep breath as she reminded herself to remain calm. This meant nothing. He could be anywhere. She was just allowing her imagination to get the better of her.
After checking her room to see if he was there, and then the music room, Blythe decided her best course of action was to run down to the pond and see if he opted for a swim or something. He was indeed a frog, after all, and more than likely needed a nice cool soak. He had come often to the pond with her over the last couple of weeks as they talked and babbled about life. He would swim while she tossed her ball.
As she headed there, she kept an eye on the ground to see if she could find him. There were so many bushes and dips and dangers along this path. Any sort of threat could have lurked and snatched him up, like a hawk or woodland animal. She took a deep breath. Worrying was not going to do anything but make her worry more.
With her stomach in knots, she approached her favorite rock and leaned over the pond. It was still and sparkling and completely empty.
“Caspian?” she called. “Caspian? Are you here?”
She was not going to panic. She was not going to panic.
Her hands began to shake as she sat down upon the boulder.
What had happened? Did she do something to frighten him away? Did he not wish to be
with her anymore?
She knew these were irrational thoughts—he was most likely somewhere very rational and fine—but she could not help thinking of him.
He was gone.
She buried her face in her hands and began to cry.
If she were perfectly honest with herself, she would see he was truly her best friend. The only creature who knew her secrets, and who she loved with all her heart.
Blythe gasped and wiped at a few tears.
She loved him. He was annoying and demanding at times, but so sweet and dear and funny and wonderful. He was just wonderful.
Her Caspian. He could not leave her now.
He could not! Soon he would change back into a prince, and she had no idea who that was. She gasped again. She would never be able to find him! Oh, no!
She groaned and kicked at a pebble near her foot. She should have kissed him that day when she had the chance! Never mind that she did not think she was ready. She was ready. She was more than ready. She needed him.
“Caspian? Caspian?” She stood and called. “My frog prince! Come back. Please, tell me where you are.”
Plopping back down upon the rock, she said, “I need you. I cannot return to a life where I am forgotten. Please, please do not go.”
She could not accept this. She could not! There were still many other places he could be. The castle was huge! He could be trapped somewhere and needed her. She would not sit and become a watering pot now, not when the prince she loved was missing.
She rushed back to the palace and arrived just as the Hollene coach was leaving.
Queen Bethany halted the carriage and had the coachman draw up near Blythe. “Goodbye, my dear,” Bethany said. “I hope I did not offend you with my son’s thoughts earlier.”
“No. Not at all.” Blythe curtsied. “I wish you safe travels.”
“Why, thank you.” She smiled and then asked suddenly, “May I ask something?”
“You may.”
“Tell me honestly. How did you become friends with the frog? How can you do it? Does he not repulse you?”
“Caspian?” Blythe was shocked. “Of course not! Why, he is the dearest, most wonderful person I have ever known.”
“Person? You think of him as a human?”
“I simply cannot think of him in any other light. He is as dear to me—no, more so—than any man I have ever known.”
“My!” The queen sat back in her carriage. “Well, then. You have surprised me. Perhaps you are not what my son believed you to be.”
Blythe let out a short chuckle. “Or maybe I have some more learning to do. Whatever the case, I am grateful Caspian came into my life because he taught me how to truly love someone from the inside out.”
“Then I wish you luck! I wish you both luck.” The queen grinned and then winked. “Do not forget to kiss him. And give him a kiss from me as well.”
Baffled, Blythe stared at her.
Bethany giggled and then said cryptically, “I am sure we will be seeing each other soon. Farewell, Princess Blythe.” And with that, she tapped upon the roof of the carriage with her cane and off it went.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BLYTHE WOULD NOT ALLOW herself much time to contemplate the words of Queen Bethany. Instead, she scoured the castle, looking for Caspian. She even went as far as to enlist the help of several maids and her sisters, but to no avail. He was simply not anywhere to be found.
After a couple of hours, she was worried and tired and so very confused. It must have been her. Something about her exchange with the two queens must have caused him to leave. But what? Was it so miserable here that he would wish to run away without another thought? Without even a good-bye?
If only she could pinpoint the problem, maybe she would be able to find the proper solution. She opened the door to her room and wiped at her eyes. It seemed they would be filled with silly tears for quite some time. She sighed and crossed to the looking glass, staring at the weary girl before her. One by one, she pulled the pins and ribbons from her hair, allowing it to fall in long waves to her waist.
She had so much hope that morning when she dressed in her village attire. And yet, now all that happiness and brightness was gone.
Blythe groaned and turned from the mirror, ready to throw herself across her bed, when there sleeping soundly upon a pink satin pillow was Caspian.
What?
“Caspian!” She ran to him, not caring if she woke him up. “Where have you been?”
He groggily opened an eye and smiled. “Hello to you too.”
“None of your silliness now, sir!” she scolded. “I have been frantic with worry searching everywhere for you. I have even looked in this room a few times today and you were never found.”
“I am sorry,” he said as he stretched his limbs and sat up. “I was a fool.”
“Where did you go?”
He glanced away and took a deep breath before his eyes met hers. “I left. I felt it was best if I did.”
She leaned against the bed to help hold up her suddenly weak frame. “But why?”
“That does not matter as much as the motive for why I returned.”
Not wishing to argue the point, for his reasons for leaving were very important to her, she asked, “And why was that?”
“Because after an hour or so of deep contemplation, I realized that no matter how harsh the reality of my life was at the moment, my heart could not bear to be without you.”
All at once her breathing stopped. “What did you say?”
“I found the prospect of being alone much worse than being here with a woman who will never love me.”
But it was not true! “Caspian, wait—”
He continued. “You have told me repeatedly what you think of me. You have even told my mother and celebrated the fact that we will never wed. I could not bear it another moment—I had to go. The idea of this transformation was to see if you were truly what I believed you to be. And instead, I found a stunning, kind, generous, adorable princess waiting to be loved. I could not help myself. I fell hopelessly and madly for a girl who will never wish to have anything to do with me.”
Oh, my word. Nolan! He was Prince Nolan. “Can it be true? Are you my betrothed?”
He hung his head. “Yes.”
“Prince Nolan!” She giggled, shocked and stunned. And then in the next instant, it hit her. “You have been Nolan all along!” She gasped and covered her mouth. “You have heard everything! I have allowed you to know everything. My thoughts, my dreams, my …”
“Yes. Yes, I know.”
“But …” She shook her head. This could not be happening to her. Not now. Not when she had just decided she was in love with him.
“And the worst part, the part that eats me alive, is that while I misjudged you and thought you selfish and spoiled and all things horrid, yours was an act—a treatment of what I no doubt deserved. My assessment of you was false, but yours was undoubtedly correct in every aspect.”
“No.” She could not believe it. He was not that vain man, he was not—or he would not have cared for her as he did.
“Yes. And I know that while Caspian and Blythe have gotten along famously, I am afraid I am actually and will always be the foolhardy and arrogant Prince Nolan in your eyes.”
She stared at him for a long moment, allowing all he had said to fully process. There were so many things she wished to convey, but first she needed to think. He left the drawing room because he was Prince Nolan. His mother’s visit must have upset him greatly as well, which is why she behaved so oddly toward him and he toward her. He was attempting to stop her from revealing who he was because he did not want Blythe to know. He wanted to keep this a bit longer, this peace.
She blinked and took a deep breath.
He came back because he loved her as she loved him. He was not the man he believed he was. Any man who would risk his comforts for a silly girl and turn himself into a frog to truly get to know her character and then fall in love with her goodn
ess was not an arrogant man. Indeed, this was a man who acted on true character and principles of the finest order. He might not know how to woo a woman properly, but he could love. And he could show love and make a girl feel as though she belonged in ways she had never known.
What a farce this was! Blythe suddenly giggled again. “To think that all this time, I thought Prince Nolan was the enemy, and he was not. He was the man I love.” And then, surprising even herself, she leaned over and quickly kissed Caspian on the top of his smooth froggy head.
“Blythe!” was all he said before a great flash of bright yellow light exploded in her room and nearly blinded her.
In fright, she ducked her head and then when the light dissipated, she slowly raised it to find the unbelievably handsome prince sitting on her bed.
He was dressed to the hilt in his royal green-and-gold Hollene court clothes.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
PRINCE NOLAN GLANCED DOWN at his princely form and let out a relieved sigh. “Thank heavens! I am human again.” He looked up at her amazed features and grinned. “Though I did enjoy riding upon your shoulder. I may actually miss that.”
Blythe continued to stare at him, her mouth forming an enchanting O of surprise.
“Hello,” he said. He had forgotten for a moment that they had never actually met. Though he knew her well, she was just now seeing him in all his handsome glory for the very first time. He attempted to smother a chuckle. She really was one of the most adorable women he had ever known, and her confusion at his looks only added to her charm.
Indeed, he was raised knowing how fortunate his striking face was. He knew the reactions of the courtiers and other princesses he had met—they each responded exactly as poor Blythe was now when in his presence for the first time.
He took after his father, who also had the same effect on women. It was this silliness that did make it rather hard for him to decide if they were truly interested or only pretended to be because of his looks.
He grinned and attempted to snap her out of her reverie as he moved a bit closer. “Princess Blythe,” he said as he took her hand in his. “Please allow me to properly introduce myself.” He brought her hand up and kissed the back. “I am Prince Nolan of Hollene Court, your intended, and I would like to honor that betrothal, if it would suit you as well.”