Page 78 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

Her lips thinned into a straight line. She held her hand out to her. “Come. I will tell you as we walk.” Then her gaze landed on Queen Adele. “I will let you know the outcome of the discussion I have with my husband.”

“Good luck and godspeed,” Queen Adele said.

Something wasn’t right. Rosamund took her mother’s hand and they began walking toward her parent’s private chamber. Her heart pounded in her throat as they walked.

“Mother, what’s happened?”

“Dearest, you know your father has a bit of a temper when he’s pushed to his limits. After you disappeared and we had no idea where you were…” She paused, took a deep breath. “Well, he was beside himself with worry. We both were.”

Guilt pounded through her for putting her parents through that. “I’m sorry, Mother. I shouldn’t have left. But I was just so angry about the betrothal. A dragonfly came to me in the gardens and urged me to run away.”

“A dragonfly?” She halted and turned to her, confusion written on her face.

Realizing what she said, Rosamund flushed. Now she would have to explain. “Yes, well, you see…the dark faery takes many forms. One of them was a dragonfly. She urged me to leave the castle. I shouldn’t have listened but there was something that pushed me into it. It’s difficult to explain.”

She glanced down at their clasped hands, the shame of her past actions burning through her.

Her mother placed her hand under her chin and gently lifted her face up. Their eyes met. She gave her a soft smile.

“I understand. Queen Adele came to me. She told me the tale of how you and Phillip met and how the curse came to be. The dark faery, this Queen Rowena, was determined to make sure you pricked your finger on the thorn. Despite everything we did to keep you safe.” She paused then, contemplation coming over her features. “I daresay no matter what we did would have kept you safe from this vengeful faery.”

“I believe you’re right, Mother.”

They resumed walking.

“When Phillip arrived with you under the curse, you father was furious. He broke the betrothal and told King Reginald to return home at once.”

Her gut clenched in fear. She reached for her mother, placing a hand on her arm. “But you talked him out of that, right?”

Her mother’s expression was the only answer she needed. She gave a slow shake of her head.

“I see…” Rosamund said and glanced down the hallway at the closed door of her parent’s chamber.

“But Queen Adele came to me and told me everything that happened between you and Phillip. And just now, when he broke the curse…” Her words trailed off.

Rosamund looked at her mother. “I love him.”

Her face softened. She gave her a weak smile. “I know, dearest. That is why we must not let the wedding be canceled.” She gripped her hands, squeezing them. “You have to tell him the truth.”

Fear skipped through her. She was never good at talking with her father. She much preferred talking with her mother, who was often a buffer between the two of them.

“Can you do that?” she asked.

Rosamund nodded. “Yes.”

“Good.”

Another quick squeeze of her hands and then she released her and resumed walking again. In the short walk to the door, Rosamund thought about what she would say to her father, how she would say it. She knew her father had quite the temper and so she feared he would never listen to her or take her word as the truth.

Her mother didn’t bother to knock on the door before she pushed it open. She led her inside, pausing to close it behind her.

“Wait here. I will speak to him first.”

Rosamund nodded as she paused there in the main living chamber of the royal private quarters while her mother bustled to her father’s private sitting area. The swish of her skirts was the only sound.

Rosamund shifted from one foot to the other. She realized then she was still dressed as the commoner in the clothes Anne gave her. Her boots were muddy and covered in dirt. Her pants were soiled. Her sleeves tattered from when the goblin attacked her. Her hands had scratches along the palms from that attack. Her forefinger was still sore from where she pricked it on the thorn.

She wondered, idly, where the gold coin had gone that Phillip gave her from the dragon’s cave. The last thing she recalled was having it clenched in her fist.

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