The Frog Prince (3 page)

“Blythe!” Her mother sighed. “Why? What is so fascinating that you must continuously traipse down to that murky place?”

“It is beautiful, and I feel calmer once I am there.”

“Yes, but must you go every week?”

Blythe glanced at her. Did her mother actually believe she only went to the pond once a week? “Yes. I must. I love it as much as you love your embroidery.”

The queen clicked her tongue in disapproval before declaring, “Well, at least it allows you exercise. The walk alone is—”

“Is a mere jaunt. A quarter of a mile is nothing.”

“In this heat?” Her mother seemed appalled. “If you do not manage to ruin every gown you own with this odd habit of yours, you shall surely develop a great case of the megrims, the way you enjoy gallivanting around in the blazing sunshine.”

It took every ounce of control Blythe had not to roll her eyes at her mother. But honestly, did the woman really live in such backwards times as all this? Instead, she smiled politely. “I am sorry.”

Her mother huffed. “No, you are not. But never mind that now.” She waved her hand and motioned to the tea cart. “Pour us all a cup. Your brothers will be joining us as well.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Blythe dipped a quick curtsy and walked over to the heavy-laden cart. It was full of the necessary tea items, but also had plates of scones, sandwiches, tarts, and fruit. If she had not heard that her brothers would be coming down, she would have known they were by the cart alone. Cook did like to outdo herself when it came to the princes. She was always telling Blythe how wonderful it was to have such strapping lads about the place to feed, since they would be sure to eat every scrap.

Her brothers were on their summer holiday now, but would soon begin the hunting season and so would head north to the royal lodge to host large hunting parties with their friends in the surrounding areas.

Blythe took a deep breath as she sat down and began to pour the first cup. Why was it that everyone else seemed to have something to do? How she longed to have her own party or adventure to look forward to. But no, every single day was the same—endlessly pouring tea for her mother and whoever happened to join them.

Who cared for tea when she could take a picnic lunch and go to the pond and read a book, or even better—have a real adventure and do something still more fun? She paused as she began to pour the next cup. Though she did have one secret all her own. However, she was not quite sure how much of adventure it was—it was more of a necessity, and it was kept in such concealment that only two of the castle servants knew what she did.

But no, it was not that she longed for. She wished more for an activity to do openly and share with a friend. But what could a mere girl do? Ugh. It was always the men who had all the adventures. Carefully she poured the cup, but then nearly dropped it when her brother Jeremiah burst in the room.

“I am in love! I am in love!” he announced as he walked over to the queen.

“My goodness! What are you on about?” she asked as he gave her cheek a quick kiss.

He plopped onto the settee and grinned. “Love, Mother. You should really learn the meaning of the word. It is simply magical.”

“Who are you in love with?” Blythe asked.

“Do not listen to a word Jeremiah says,” David said as he came into the room and kissed the queen’s cheek as well. “Hello, Mother. Before he sets you in a tizzy, know that he is simply in love with Thunder—nothing more.”

“Thunder?” She pulled back.

“Yes, Thunder!” Jeremiah sighed. “Thunder is only the greatest horse that has ever been ridden and I must own him—I must.”

David walked over to the tea cart and quickly filled a plate. He winked at Blythe as he took the cup she offered. “Thank you.”

“Whoa! You had better not eat it all. I have not had mine yet.” Jeremiah jumped up and fetched a dish.

“None of us have,” their mother declared. “We have been waiting for you wastrels to show up.” She walked over to Blythe. “And if you two snatch every bit before we have our own servings, you will be sent to your rooms without anything to eat at all—and Blythe and I will have a merry feast to ourselves.”

Jeremiah groaned and set a few scones back upon the platter. “Well then, hurry up so we can see what you do not want.”

Blythe laughed. “Goodness! The way you two act, it is as if you have never eaten anything in your lives before now.”

David grinned and opened his mouth to say something just as the butler appeared and announced, “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but there seems to be a strange guest who has come to speak with Princess Blythe. I had thought perhaps you would like to visit with him first, as it does not appear at all the thing for the princess to have such connections.”

“Me?” Blythe asked.

“Well, what do you mean? Is there anything untoward about the fellow?” Her mother walked toward the butler.

He opened his mouth and then shut it again. “I do not know how to say this, Your Majesty. But it would appear as though Princess Blythe’s caller is a rather unusual talking frog.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“A WHAT?” ASKED BLYTHE’S mother. “I beg your pardon—what did you say?”

Blythe set her cup and saucer down and stood up.

The butler cleared his throat. “A talking frog.”

“Mother, let me go and speak with him. I know why he is here.” Blythe rushed forward and was about to walk out the door.

“Just a moment!” The queen stormed up to her. “What is this nonsense about a frog?”

Jeremiah laughed. “Yes, what type of riff-raff have you been keeping company with?”

“Perhaps she is in love with it.” David grinned.

She could have boxed their ears. “Very humorous.”

“Hey, if you are half as in love with the frog as Jeremiah is with the horse, this could be fun. Let us all go and meet him,” David said as he sat his plate upon a nearby end table.

“Now this I have to see—little Blythe’s gentleman caller.” Jeremiah’s laughter grew louder as they came toward her.

“You would not dare!” Blythe blocked the doorway. “You will not go and mock him. He came to see me, not you.”

“Aye, perhaps she does love him!” Jeremiah whispered loudly behind his hand. “Do you see how defensive she has become?”

David waggled his brows. “He must be quite the looker.”

“If you take another step, I will flatten you both!” Blythe glared as her brothers attempted to remove her hands from their vice grip upon the doorframe. “Mother, help me.”

“Boys!” the queen chided. “Get your plates and eat your food, or you will be sent back outside to muck the stalls.” She turned toward Blythe. “Remove your hands from the door. You may have unusual animal playmates, but kindly do not act like a monkey in this castle.” When Blythe lowered her arms to the snickers of her brothers, her mother brushed past her and said, “Come now. We shall meet this toad together.”

“He is a frog.”

Her mother gave her “the look” as she waited for the butler to lead the way. “Well, thank the heavens! A frog! And here I was worried it was a toad. I am so much more relieved now.”

If ever there was a woman who had mastered the art of sarcasm, it was the queen. “He is an enchanted frog,” Blythe replied as they began to follow the butler down the long hallway.

“Better and better,” her mother mumbled. “Honestly, Blythe, tell me this instant if he is a pet you found at the filthy pond.”

“Yes. He is.”

“And why did he come? Did you not explain to him that you were not in the habit of entertaining animal callers? Or did you invite him along to try my patience even more?”

“Mother! Must you be so against everything?”

“When it comes to slimy toads coming to speak with my daughter, yes, I will be against it!”

“He is a frog.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Well, yes. A toad is at least three times bigger.”

Her mother shuddered. “Mercy, do not say another word!”

The butler stopped at the small waiting room near the great hall and swung his arm out. “He is just through here, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you,” she said as she swept into the room.

Blythe quickly followed to find the frog perched quite respectably upon the blue chair by the window.

“Hello,” the queen said as she folded her arms. “My butler has informed me that you can speak. Is this true?”

“Yes,” answered the frog.

“So you are enchanted?”

“I am, Your Majesty.” He bowed his head.

“And you are here to converse with my daughter?” They both glanced at Blythe.

“Yes. She has made me a promise and I have come to remind her of it.”

Blythe rolled her eyes. This was just wonderful. Things became so much more awkward once one’s mother knew about them. Could he not have come in another way and allowed her to keep her pledge secretly so as not to alarm her mother? Already the queen looked as if she were about to explode.

“I beg your pardon—did you say my daughter made you a promise?”

“Yes.”

“And when was this?” She placed her hands on her hips. “How well acquainted are you two?”

“We have only just met today.”

“And already my daughter has pledged herself to a
frog
?”

Oh, for heaven’s sake! “Mother, I did not pledge myself—it is not that type of promise. He did not ask to marry me—my word!”

“Well!” Her mother waved her hand in front of her face like a fan. “Then before I draw too many more false conclusions, could you please explain, in detail, why you have come and are even now sitting upon one of my nice chairs with your pond-soaked bottom?”

His face took on a look of shock. “I am perfectly clean, Your Majesty.”

“Just so. Now answer my question before I toss you out on your ear.”

He grinned. “I think you mean flippers,” he said cheekily as he waved a foot. “I do not have ears.”

The queen began to tap her shoe.

“Do not tease Queen Mary Elizabeth,” Blythe said. “She is quite serious.”

“Or I could always give you over to the cook, if you would prefer.” Her mother smiled. “Frog legs are such a delicious treat.”

The frog laughed. “Oh, you are much more fun than I anticipated!”

Blythe glanced at her mother and was surprised to see a smile upon her lips.

“Now, speak, toad.” The queen raised an eyebrow. “Blythe, you will remain silent. I wish to hear what he has to say.”

He cleared his throat. “Well, in exchange for fetching her ball of crystal from the deepest part of pond, the princess promised to allow me to stay here with her in the castle as her special guest. Except once I returned with the ball, she immediately collected it and ran here without me. So I have come to guarantee that she upholds her part of our bargain.”

“I see.” The queen turned to Blythe—she did not look pleased. “Is this true?”

Blythe glanced at him. “Yes.”

“And you could not have promised something else? To treat this frog as a special guest was the best you could come up with?”

“It was the payment he requested. I wanted my ball back and I could not have gotten it without him.”

“And if you felt this way, why did you abandon him? A princess should never take promises so lightly.”

“I am sorry. I heard the triangle ringing for tea and ran as quickly as I could. I had forgotten about the pledge until I was nearly to the castle.” She looked at the frog. “Once I remembered, I planned to come and collect you after tea.”

“Tea?” He hopped a bit closer on the chair. “Did you say you came home for tea? I love tea! And I am incredibly famished. Do you perchance have tarts as well?”

“He really is enchanted, is he not?” her mother exclaimed. “For would a simple frog know what tea was?”

“Aye. I am.”

“He claims to be a prince,” Blythe said.

“A prince?” Her mother stepped closer. “And if you are indeed an enchanted prince, may I ask what kingdom you hail from? And just who are your parents?”

CHAPTER SIX

“NO, YOU MAY NOT. This charm does not allow me to reveal who I truly am,” Nolan easily lied.

Blythe’s mother put her hands on her hips. “And we are supposed to go on your word only in accepting that you are an enchanted prince?”

“Well, no matter whose name I gave, you would have been going on my word anyhow, since I clearly do not look like my parents.”

She huffed. “Very well. What should we call you, then?”

“Uh …” He blinked. “Well, since I cannot tell you my real name, what if Princess Blythe picked a name for me?”

The princess gave him a funny look as if she were trying to figure something out—something besides a new name for him.

“Have I said anything amiss?” he asked.

She brought her head up. “No. Forgive me. I was merely curious about a small matter. A name for you? Hmm …” She tapped her chin as if she were thinking. After a few moments, she said, “Perhaps Caspian?”

The Caspian Sea. A very nice choice for a frog. “I like it very much.” He grinned.

“Caspian it is,” the queen said. “And how long do you plan on staying?”

“My charm will wear off in thirty days.”

“Good heavens!” Blythe exclaimed. “And you mean to stay with us that whole time?”

Her mother sighed and looked at the princess. “Well, I hope receiving that ball was worth this.” Then she glanced at him and sighed. “You are welcome to stay as long as you wish. I promise my daughter will treat you with the utmost of respect at all times. And if she does not, you are to inform me of her actions. You are our guest, and I am determined to teach Blythe some responsibility.”

“Mother, I have no difficulties in seeing that he is well treated.”

“You say that now,” she said. “But after a few days, you may find it quite tiresome to always have a frog about, near your plate at the dining table, constantly with you wherever you go, etc.”

Blythe looked at him and he smiled a very cheeky froggy smile. She blinked and he chuckled. What he would give to discern what she was thinking. Even though she did not seem overly kind, at the same time she was not as repulsive and rude as he expected her to be. Perhaps it was time to get to know her a bit more.