Page 39 of Once Upon an Enchanted Castle

The girl remained mute and for a moment, it looked as though her face might collapse into tears. Bella stood and reached for her.

“Are you all right? Was he unkind to you?” she demanded.

“N-no, miss. It’s just that…well…”

Her shoulders slumped as she dropped her hands to her side. “He told you, didn’t he?”

Her bottom lip quivered as she nodded.

Fury boiled through her as she turned away from the girl and stepped to the window, staring down at the mess of thorns and vines that had overtaken the garden. How dare he tell her. The mess she, herself, created. Somehow, she would have to find the strength to clean it up.

“He didn’t tell me to be cruel. He told me because he wants me to look after you, to make sure you have someone to lean on.”

Was that true? What she knew of the man was that he had a fabulous library in a lovely manor in port. He was a widower, possibly looking for a new wife. He was never unkind to her. Always pleasant. And there never seemed to be gossip about him. Perhaps hewasconcerned about her and wanted only the best.

“After you left, I walked him to his carriage. That’s when he told me. It was nothing more than a mention that your father is in a bit of trouble with the Port Authority.”

Perhaps, then, the girl didn’t grasp the tragic situation. Best not to tell her yet. She would find a way to continue with the household and make sure everyone was taken care of. Emmaline included.

Finally, she turned from the window and plastered on a smile. “I’m glad you told me of his concern, but there’s really nothing to be worried about. All will be well. You’ll see. Now, I think I’m ready for some morning tea.”

She sounded far more confident than she felt. Emmaline nodded and headed to the wardrobe to select a fresh gown for the day. Bella’s discarded gown was in a heap on the nearby chair under the window. Her slippers remained in the middle of the floor. But she ignored all that as they moved about the day as though it were any other ordinary day.

As Emmaline finished helping her dress, she said, “There is one more thing about Lord Vincent, miss.”

“Oh?” She slipped on her shoes and turned to face the girl.

She flushed, her cheeks turning pink as she cast her eyes downward. “He asked if he could call again to see me.”

Bella was not surprised. A part of her was glad he had taken an interest in her. She was a lovely young girl and would do well in high society with the proper preparation.

“What did you tell him?” she asked.

“I didn’t tell him anything,” Emmaline replied, lifting her gaze to hers. “I wanted to speak to you first about it.”

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She hooked her arm with Emmaline’s. “I think it’s a fine idea. Write to him and have Gerald post the letter. We can have him for tea one afternoon if that suits.”

Her face lit with beaming joy. “That sounds wonderful.”

Bella left her to tend to her room as she headed downstairs to the dining room. Her stomach rumbled since she had skipped dinner the night before. After breakfast, she decided, she would return to the garden and clean up the mess she left behind the day before.

As she was finishing breakfast, Gerald appeared at her side.

“Miss, there is a gentleman caller in the parlor. He asked to see you.”

Surprise edged through her as she glanced up at the butler. “Lord Vincent?”

“No, miss. He said his name was Thornhurst. He brought this valet.”

She froze.

Her heart slammed against her chest in a wild, wicked beat. Her breath caught in her throat. Her breakfast immediately turned sour and threated to rise but she swallowed hard, keeping it down. What the devil was he doing here?

She hadn’t even thought of going into town. Hadn’t thought of the carriage, or the return to his shadow-drenched castle. Gods, she hadn’t even thought of the book. The cursed thing still sat on the writing desk in the library like it belonged there.

How had she let herself forget?

No—she hadn’t forgotten. She’d buried it deep down in the dark recesses of her mind. Ignored it. Pretended for one blissful moment that her life was normal again.

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