Page 20 of Once Upon an Enchanted Castle

“I’m sure I won’t.”

“She has a book, Dickens. A book, I believe, that can at last break the curse. I saw the pages myself. It matches this.”

He dropped his arm to shove up the sleeve of his white shirt revealing the rose that was branded on the inside of his forearm. The blood red rose caught in a snarling twist of brambles and thorns. The same symbol that was embossed on cover of her book.

Dickens’s brows rose to his receding hairline. “Indeed.”

“So, make the castle ready. For tomorrow, Miss Isabella Rinaldi arrives.” He headed for the stairs, then halted, turning back. “And one more thing, Dickens. First thing in the morning, send the carriage to meet her in town.”

This elicited another shocked expression from the old valet. “As you say, my prince. It will be done.”

Bella and Emmaline hurried back to Hawthorne Hall. She remained quiet as she considered Leopold Thornhurst and his invitation to stay at his residence during her translation work. She had no certainty regarding her father’s response to the news; she doubted it would be proper for her to depart Hawthorne or remain with the gentleman without an escort. He said he lived south on the outskirts of town, not far from Hawthorne as it turned out. She chewed on her lower lip as she considered how to break the news to her father.

She half-heartedly listened as Emmaline chattered endlessly about everything she saw in town. Her step had a definite bounce as she talked about the shops she saw, the flower cart with an array of bright-colored flowers, the baker with his scones, and how the clock tower in the old chapel chimed the hour.

“Everything all right, miss? You seem distracted.”

She clutched the basket tight in her hand as she glanced up at Emmaline, wondering if she should tell her about her encounter with Leopold. She wanted to. Sheneededto tell someone.

“Was your trip to the bookshop successful?” she asked.

Bella pressed her lips together into a thin line and kept her gaze forward. “I suppose you could say that.”

“Oh? Were you able to sell the book?”

“No,” she said, almost too quickly. She came to a jarring halt in the middle of the road and turned to Emmaline. “Em…” she started, then shook her head and started walking again, changing her mind about telling the girl.

“Yes?” she asked, bouncing alongside her. “Did something happen at the bookshop?”

“Oh, Em, I’m not sure what to do.” Again, she came to a halt, both hands clutching the handle of the basket now as she held it in front of her. “I met someone.”

Her eyes lit with joy. “You did? Was he as handsome as Lord Vincent?”

He was ever so handsome, but that wasn’t the point. A business transaction formed the sole connection between them. She intended to translate the book for him. What he decided to do with that translation did not concern her. She was going to use his extensive library. Excitement skipped through her at the thought of once again being in her element.

“He hired me to translate the book,” she blurted.

Confusion shifted over her face as she tipped her head to one side, trying to understand. “Translate the book? Why?”

“I’m not sure. But he was quite interested in it. And there was something…” She paused, searching her mind to find the right words. “It appeared there was a bit of sadness about him. But when he looked at the book, his demeanor changed. I shouldn’t have told him I was a translator, but it slipped out.”

Emmaline considered her words as she looked at her from under the brim of her bonnet. She adjusted it a bit to see her better. “Well, are you going to translate it for him?”

“I want to.”

A breath escaped her as she thought, once again, of hisextensive library. Her imagination ran wild with what that library looked like. How many books did he have? A hundred? A thousand? More? Did he have stained glass windows like Lord Vincent? Comfortable furniture? A butler who served tea and cucumber sandwiches?

She shoved all those spiraling thoughts away. There was no guarantee she would be able to take on the position, even though she jumped at the chance when speaking to the man.

“But I must speak to my father first.”

And even then, he might refuse to release her, as he had the right to do. She remained a maiden, after all, and it could cause quite the scandal. Still, relinquishing the notion of a book-filled room’s appeal proved difficult.

Emmaline hooked her arm in hers. “I’m sure he’ll say yes. Let’s go tell him!”

Bella giggled at her enthusiasm. “Yes, let’s!”

But when they arrived home, everything changed.

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