previously. There really was something most decidedly different about the man. “I like that you know him, and can vouch for him,” she said as she followed his example and trailed her fingers lightly over the rosebushes as they walked.
“You do?”
“Yes. I do not understand why, but it makes me appreciate you more that we share the same friend.”
“Does he mean that much to you, then?” Alexander stopped breathing as he awaited her reply.
Cecelia paused, her fingers absentmindedly caressing a small leaf. “I don’t know.” She continued to step forward again, allowing the leaf to be plucked. “He has the potential to be someone I care about, yes. So maybe that’s it?”
Could she really be saying what he thought she was? Could this sweet girl before him truly not judge a hideous wolf and see him as an equal, as a friend? As someone she could care for? The prince watched in wonder and silence for a few minutes as he absorbed all the magnificence that was Miss Hammerstein-Smythe. She was an even greater person than he could have imagined.
Cecelia’s thoughts naturally gravitated toward the enigmatic wolf. Never had she met someone so fascinating before, or so kind. A smile played upon her lips as she thought of the passage of poem he had had her read aloud. How had he known the precise thing to say to her when she needed it most? How could anyone, let alone a beast, know her so well?
She walked forward a few more steps and plucked another leaf before her feet stopped altogether. What did he mean when he said today would change everything in my life? Glancing at the profile of the prince she absentmindedly mulled over the cryptic comment from the wolf before she silently gasped. The beast sent the prince. He would not dare do such a thing! She began to walk again. And yet, it would seem he had done just that. Her hands grew cold as she realized that the dear creature she had begun to trust had indeed betrayed her.
“He told you about me, did he not?” she asked rather quietly.
Alexander glanced over. “The wolf?”
“Yes.” She took a deep breath and stopped walking altogether. The more she thought about it, the more bothered she became. Everything they had just been discussing, all the camaraderie she’d felt with the prince, vanished before her eyes. “He told you about me—about what had happened to me—which is why you have come here now, to rescue the poor damsel and make sure all the village believes you are courting her, and in love with her. The beast said before I left last night that today would change everything in my life. He meant you, didn’t he? He meant to come to you and tell you all about my wretched existence, so that way you would take pity and help.”
“Would it be so bad if he did?”
“Yes!” Distressed, she looked away.
He stepped in front of her. “Why?”
“Because—because, it’s you! Because you have never taken a moment out of your life to say one good thing about anyone, least of all me. Because I am humiliated beyond belief you know about my trials and heartaches. Someone who has only ever scorned and mocked me publically now comes in as my great prince on a white horse.”
“Miss Hammerstein-Smythe, please, you said so yourself just a few weeks ago that I have changed. I did not own it then, but believe me, my dear, I have. I know I have.” He shockingly knelt down in front of her, placed the rose she was holding on the ground near her feet, and took her hands. “Allow me this opportunity now, for if you will not accept my friendship, then please accept my apologies. My dearest, most sincere apologies for everything—all those cruel days of my past—I was a monster. I was a horrendous, horrid beastly monster, and I treated you abominably. I will forever be in your debt, Miss Hammerstein-Smythe, if you could but forgive me and see that I am and will always be a changed man.”
She squeezed his hands not quite willing to let the fight go. “You
“You do?”
“Yes. I do not understand why, but it makes me appreciate you more that we share the same friend.”
“Does he mean that much to you, then?” Alexander stopped breathing as he awaited her reply.
Cecelia paused, her fingers absentmindedly caressing a small leaf. “I don’t know.” She continued to step forward again, allowing the leaf to be plucked. “He has the potential to be someone I care about, yes. So maybe that’s it?”
Could she really be saying what he thought she was? Could this sweet girl before him truly not judge a hideous wolf and see him as an equal, as a friend? As someone she could care for? The prince watched in wonder and silence for a few minutes as he absorbed all the magnificence that was Miss Hammerstein-Smythe. She was an even greater person than he could have imagined.
Cecelia’s thoughts naturally gravitated toward the enigmatic wolf. Never had she met someone so fascinating before, or so kind. A smile played upon her lips as she thought of the passage of poem he had had her read aloud. How had he known the precise thing to say to her when she needed it most? How could anyone, let alone a beast, know her so well?
She walked forward a few more steps and plucked another leaf before her feet stopped altogether. What did he mean when he said today would change everything in my life? Glancing at the profile of the prince she absentmindedly mulled over the cryptic comment from the wolf before she silently gasped. The beast sent the prince. He would not dare do such a thing! She began to walk again. And yet, it would seem he had done just that. Her hands grew cold as she realized that the dear creature she had begun to trust had indeed betrayed her.
“He told you about me, did he not?” she asked rather quietly.
Alexander glanced over. “The wolf?”
“Yes.” She took a deep breath and stopped walking altogether. The more she thought about it, the more bothered she became. Everything they had just been discussing, all the camaraderie she’d felt with the prince, vanished before her eyes. “He told you about me—about what had happened to me—which is why you have come here now, to rescue the poor damsel and make sure all the village believes you are courting her, and in love with her. The beast said before I left last night that today would change everything in my life. He meant you, didn’t he? He meant to come to you and tell you all about my wretched existence, so that way you would take pity and help.”
“Would it be so bad if he did?”
“Yes!” Distressed, she looked away.
He stepped in front of her. “Why?”
“Because—because, it’s you! Because you have never taken a moment out of your life to say one good thing about anyone, least of all me. Because I am humiliated beyond belief you know about my trials and heartaches. Someone who has only ever scorned and mocked me publically now comes in as my great prince on a white horse.”
“Miss Hammerstein-Smythe, please, you said so yourself just a few weeks ago that I have changed. I did not own it then, but believe me, my dear, I have. I know I have.” He shockingly knelt down in front of her, placed the rose she was holding on the ground near her feet, and took her hands. “Allow me this opportunity now, for if you will not accept my friendship, then please accept my apologies. My dearest, most sincere apologies for everything—all those cruel days of my past—I was a monster. I was a horrendous, horrid beastly monster, and I treated you abominably. I will forever be in your debt, Miss Hammerstein-Smythe, if you could but forgive me and see that I am and will always be a changed man.”
She squeezed his hands not quite willing to let the fight go. “You
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