Page 16 of The Beauty and the Griffin

“I cannot meet you tomorrow, but I’ll be free again Saturday morning before the big Cup race.”

Happiness flooded through me. “Won’t you be occupied with security?”

“They don’t need me for that.”

“Same time as today?”

“Sounds perfect.” His voice was a happy rumble.

I reached for where I thought his arm must be and tucked my hand into its crook. He was quite tall, I knew, and his sleeve was warm. I felt his power, physical and magical, and for the moment I could pretend he was my sweetheart. Even if someone saw me extending my arm in a strange position while I strolled, they would never guess why.

I knew this happiness must soon end, as it always did, but I was determined to spend every possible minute in his company.

Arabella

Just as I settled down for an afternoon nap (at my age, I’m entitled), Pukai popped into my hermit hideout, looking even more irritated than usual and quite glamorous in red satin. “How can you sleep at a time like this?”

“A time like what? I don’t enjoy crowds and couldn’t care less about flying-horse races,” I grumbled, peering up at her from under my forearm.

She huffed. “Do you know that the royal idiot went for a stroll with your great-great-grandniece this morning? What is he waiting for?”

I sat upright, still mentally fuzzy. “They walk together nearly every day.”

“Not arm-in-arm like a courting couple, they don’t.”

This was news. “Hmm. What if he asked and she turned him down? How would we know? You should have notified me sooner. Did you see what happened or only hear about it?”

“I didn’t know until I received a message from Tasha, one of the gardener dwarves—”

“I know who Tasha is,” I grouched. “What did she say?”

Pukai seemed to grow two inches in an instant. “If you’ll stop being rude, I might tell you.”

I scowled. “Fine.”

“Tasha saw the Gamekeeper and Beatrice chatting with Rosa, and then they walked on together, arm-in-arm. Tasha has suspected for years that Beatrice is sweet on him, but this time she seemed certain.”

I swung my feet to the floor. “Why would she suspect that? And why would she send you a message? You haven’t told her about . . .”

“I’ve never said a word about it,” Pukai snapped. “She’s just a romantic. And our time is running out, Bella. What is that fool waiting for?”

“Guess I’d better talk to him and find out,” I sighed.

When I arrived in the topiary garden, the Gamekeeper was pacing like a caged . . . well, what he is. He barely glanced up when I appeared.

“I figured you’d come.” He sighed. “I promise I’ll ask her Saturday morning, Bella. Today, I just . . . I couldn’t. And tomorrow my schedule is packed from dawn to midnight. Briar and Rosa will take over on Saturday, so I can spend the day with her.”

“Faint heart never won—”

“Quoting proverbs won’t help me,” he growled. “And I’m well aware of torn-off calendar pages and ticking clocks.”

“We placed no limit on the number of proposals—”

“If I keep asking after she turns me down, she’ll view me as a stalker.”

“Or maybe she’ll appreciate your persistence.”

He gave me a look, his lip curled.

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