“How dare you accuse my son—”
“Ask him,” Clarissa finally spoke up, pointing to the awkward man trying to hide behind his mother. “Ask him if he didn’t visit with Cordelia Brewster to have her place a spell on the Rapunzel flowers. And let me remind you, Ormond,” she continued, changing the tone of her voice to a warning, “my future husband, Mr. Ryder Grey, the Commanding Officer of the Royal Guards, talked to Cordelia and she told us all about it.”
As she figured, Ormond wrung his hands. “Well, I...I saw you andthat mannear the lake and I could tell you were falling in love with him. I...I needed you for my wife. I needed you more thanthat mandid. Marrying you would save our kingdom from financial destruction.”
Queen Ruth gasped. “Ormond! How could you?”
The prince finally lifted his gaze and met his mother’s shocked stare. For the first time since meeting him, the prince showed everyone an expression Clarissa never thought she’d witness. The man glared at his mother. His shoulders slowly lifted as anger filled his face.
“I was only doingyourbidding. If you hadn’t been so desperate to find me a wealthy wife, I wouldn’t have had to find a witch to cast a spell on the flowers.”
Clarissa held in the laugh that bubbled up from her throat. No, she couldn’t laugh now. But she was so surprised to see the prince stand up for himself. Perhaps he would find a woman, after all. Just not in this kingdom.
The king huffed and folded his arms. “There, you have it. Now I suggest the two of you leave posthaste before you ruin my daughter’s engagement party.” He motioned his arm toward the double doors. “Although your kingdom may need financial help, mine does not. Go find your son some fool to marry, because my daughter will not be his bride.”
“How dare you—” Queen Ruth snapped again.
“Excuse me, Your Highness?” Ryder stepped between Queen Ruth and the king. “Is there trouble here?”
“Indeed there is.” The king threw a scowl toward the intruders. “Kindly show these two out of the palace, and see to it that they never darken my door again.” He paused before adding, “And if she gives you grief, I give you permissionnotto be kind.”
“Oh!” Queen Ruth threw up her hands. She turned. “Come, Ormond. We are not going to stay here a moment longer.” She tugged on her son’s sleeve as she marched toward the door.
“Even a moment is too long,” Clarissa called out, and then quickly slapped her hand over her mouth. She shouldn’t have said that, but sometimes her temper can’t help but make its debut.
Her mother slid an arm around Clarissa’s shoulders and squeezed. “Now, now. You must show a bit more kindness to people like that.”
“Yes, I know, Mother.” She offered her mother a weak smile. She wanted to become like her mother, really she did. She just had too much of her father’s temper. Thankfully, Ryder understood that and loved her anyway.
She watched for him to return, and when he walked through the doors into the ballroom, Clarissa broke away from her parents and hurried to him. He took her loosely in his arms and smiled down into her eyes.
“I shouldn’t admit this,” he said, “but do you know how happy that made me to be able to kick them out of the palace?”
Laughing, she stroked his trimmed beard. “Probably as happy as it made me watching you do it.”
“Yes, probably.” He chuckled. “Are you finished standing in line with your parents?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I want to be with you. I want to dance all night with you and only you.”
She motioned her arm toward the middle of the ballroom. “Lead the way, my brave warrior.”
She felt so proud to be escorted to the dance floor by the most handsome man in the kingdom. If only she could have realized she loved him when they were in school, they wouldn’t have had to spend so much time apart.
Once they started moving together to the music, she stared dreamily into his eyes. “You really are perfect, you know?”
“No, my darling, Rissa, but I am perfect with you, just as you are perfect with me.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “I’m so very happy that we were able to break Prince Ormond’s spell. I didn’t like thinking you were once enchanted by him.”
“Ah, but I’m still enchanted, my love.” She grinned. “By you.”
He gave her a wink. “Thank goodness, because I am also enchanted by you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. It always did when he was being so endearing. “We make a good pair, do we not?”
He nodded. “Theperfectpair. Now and forever.”
THE END
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