force it took for him to spring off the desk with the number of rotations he could make before landing upon the floor. She spent the rest of the time teaching the girls the mathematical difference between the two, using him as an example.
Andalyn was giggling when the maid peeked her head in and announced tea. “That was the most fun we have ever had learning a subject.”
Karielle quickly scooped him up in her arms. “We must show Mother what we have been taught today. Do you mind doing it again?”
With those amazing back legs, he could probably jump eighty times in a row and not get tired. “I would love to, if you think she would not mind.”
“Mother, mind?” Andalyn grinned. “She loves you! She would more than likely allow you to do anything and be happy about it.”
“Then by all means, let us show her your new arithmetic skills,” he said.
“And your splendid flipping skills!” Karielle held him close while the girls rushed down the stairs.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LATER THAT EVENING AFTER supper, Blythe stepped away from the little group in the drawing room. Caspian was now entertaining her brothers with his flipping tricks. The poor guy—he had been jumping and spinning all day. He had to be tired, though from the excited banter behind her, he definitely did not seem to mind much.
She smiled as she opened the balcony doors and stepped out into the moonlight. The soft summer breeze caressed her arms as she walked out toward the edge and set her lantern upon the balustrade. This was quiet and peaceful.
Leaning over the barrier, she looked down to the stream in the valley below the castle. Her great-grandfather had chosen this particular mountain to build his castle upon. The balcony views never failed to impress her. It was so beautiful out here, especially with gentle wind dancing about her. She looked across the valley and mountain directly in front of her. It was such a pretty place, an ideal view for quiet reflection and pondering on oneself.
She sighed and sat upon the balustrade, the blue skirts of her evening gown spreading around her. There was so much about Caspian she longed to find out. So many more questions she wanted to ask him. It was such a surprise that she trusted him enough to share her secret of teaching the children.
If he were really to turn into a prince again in just a couple more weeks, he could very well be someone she could love. No matter how handsome or how plain a prince he was, that did not matter. Her mind flitted over the thought of Prince Nolan, but she quickly dismissed him. She could never feel comfortable around someone of his arrogance and selfishness. She needed more out of life than pretending to be a snobbish girl for him. She needed substance and understanding from a relationship.
Nolan seemed so unstable. She had been forgotten for too long to ever feel settled with a man with his characteristics. And her mother, her brothers, her sisters—her whole family loved Caspian.
Was it wrong of her to imagine a man such as he in her life always?
“What has you so quiet out here?” asked Caspian as he hopped toward her.
“Hello.” She grinned. “I was just enjoying a moment.”
“Would you mind if I joined you?”
Suddenly her heart twisted, and she felt near to tears. There was no reason for such silliness, but it was how she felt all the same. “Yes. Yes, I would love company.”
“And why does your voice take on such a tone? Are you well?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I do not know what is wrong with me, why the unexpected emotions.”
He hopped onto the banister next to her and peered up at her face. “Princess Blythe?”
Just seeing him next to her, so calm and steady and caring—he genuinely cared for her—the tears began to blur her vision.
“Blythe, what is it?”
And then she understood, as odd and as sad as it was. She knew why it was so easy to fall in love with him. “Forgive me.” She dashed at her tears. “It is
Andalyn was giggling when the maid peeked her head in and announced tea. “That was the most fun we have ever had learning a subject.”
Karielle quickly scooped him up in her arms. “We must show Mother what we have been taught today. Do you mind doing it again?”
With those amazing back legs, he could probably jump eighty times in a row and not get tired. “I would love to, if you think she would not mind.”
“Mother, mind?” Andalyn grinned. “She loves you! She would more than likely allow you to do anything and be happy about it.”
“Then by all means, let us show her your new arithmetic skills,” he said.
“And your splendid flipping skills!” Karielle held him close while the girls rushed down the stairs.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LATER THAT EVENING AFTER supper, Blythe stepped away from the little group in the drawing room. Caspian was now entertaining her brothers with his flipping tricks. The poor guy—he had been jumping and spinning all day. He had to be tired, though from the excited banter behind her, he definitely did not seem to mind much.
She smiled as she opened the balcony doors and stepped out into the moonlight. The soft summer breeze caressed her arms as she walked out toward the edge and set her lantern upon the balustrade. This was quiet and peaceful.
Leaning over the barrier, she looked down to the stream in the valley below the castle. Her great-grandfather had chosen this particular mountain to build his castle upon. The balcony views never failed to impress her. It was so beautiful out here, especially with gentle wind dancing about her. She looked across the valley and mountain directly in front of her. It was such a pretty place, an ideal view for quiet reflection and pondering on oneself.
She sighed and sat upon the balustrade, the blue skirts of her evening gown spreading around her. There was so much about Caspian she longed to find out. So many more questions she wanted to ask him. It was such a surprise that she trusted him enough to share her secret of teaching the children.
If he were really to turn into a prince again in just a couple more weeks, he could very well be someone she could love. No matter how handsome or how plain a prince he was, that did not matter. Her mind flitted over the thought of Prince Nolan, but she quickly dismissed him. She could never feel comfortable around someone of his arrogance and selfishness. She needed more out of life than pretending to be a snobbish girl for him. She needed substance and understanding from a relationship.
Nolan seemed so unstable. She had been forgotten for too long to ever feel settled with a man with his characteristics. And her mother, her brothers, her sisters—her whole family loved Caspian.
Was it wrong of her to imagine a man such as he in her life always?
“What has you so quiet out here?” asked Caspian as he hopped toward her.
“Hello.” She grinned. “I was just enjoying a moment.”
“Would you mind if I joined you?”
Suddenly her heart twisted, and she felt near to tears. There was no reason for such silliness, but it was how she felt all the same. “Yes. Yes, I would love company.”
“And why does your voice take on such a tone? Are you well?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I do not know what is wrong with me, why the unexpected emotions.”
He hopped onto the banister next to her and peered up at her face. “Princess Blythe?”
Just seeing him next to her, so calm and steady and caring—he genuinely cared for her—the tears began to blur her vision.
“Blythe, what is it?”
And then she understood, as odd and as sad as it was. She knew why it was so easy to fall in love with him. “Forgive me.” She dashed at her tears. “It is
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