Page 97 of Disenchanted

“No,” I cried, finding my voice at last. I entwined my fingers through his to prevent him drawing away from me. “I am not offended.” I released a shaky breath. “I am just a bit overwhelmed and— and cannot understand why.”

Horatio’s expression was lightened with hope, but confusion as well. “Why what?”

“Why would you ever fall in love with me, Horatio? I never cause you anything but trouble. You had to battle that huge brute on my behalf. I got you entangled in that situation with the Hansons, and you even got hurt in the fight.” I touched the bruise on his cheek. “And then you caught me and my sister in the banned part of the palace, but you protected us and helped me get Amy to safety.”

And I lied, deceiving you about the real reason I was in the forbidden area.

I still could not bring myself to confess that to Horatio. I concluded miserably, “I do not see in the least why you should love me at all.”

Hope had returned to Horatio’s eyes, but he blew out a deep breath as he sought an answer for my question. “Well, I—”

“And please do not say it is just because you think I am beautiful,” I warned him.

“All right, although I do.”

I pulled a face. “Even the way I usually look, tearing about in my faded gowns, my hair a flyaway mess?”

Horatio released my hand to caress his fingers through my hair, smoothing out a tangle as he did so. He smiled tenderly. “I prefer you with your hair down. It makes you look softer, approachable. I was rather in awe of you tonight at the ball. You were so dazzlingly beautiful in that silken gown, your hair pulled up in that crown of ringlets. You looked like a fairy princess far beyond the reach of a mere Scutcheon officer like me.”

“Nonsense.” I shook my head deprecatingly. “You should know by now that was not the real me. As for my appearance, there are many other women, even in Midtown, far more beautiful and elegant than me.”

“Are there? I have never noticed.” Horatio caressed my cheek, sending a shiver of warmth through me. “When I first was assigned to Midtown, it was your lovely face that attracted my notice. It gave me pleasure just to look at you as I rode by, making my rounds. As time went by, I observed you more closely and saw how kind you were, to your family, to others, even to me.”

“Oh, come now, Horatio,” I protested. “You cannot claim that you ever found me sweet. I recall more than one sarcastic remark that I made to you.”

Horatio chuckled. “No, you are not sweet. But you do possess a sharp wit that I admire.”

“But surely no man falls in love with a woman for a reason like that.”

“No, not entirely. I was attracted by your beauty, your kindness and intelligence. But as to what caused my feelings for you to deepen?” He frowned. “I suppose it has more to do with the effect you have on me when I am with you. I cannot explain it.”

“Please try.” I rested my hands upon his shoulders and peered earnestly up at him, seeking to convey to him how important this was to me. Prince Ryland had once composed songs in praise of my beauty and charm. When his love for me had proved to be weak and fleeting, my world had been shattered. If I was ever to risk my heart again, I needed to know that Horatio’s feelings were stronger than that.

Horatio sighed and lifted his gaze heavenward as though desperately seeking inspiration, struggling to find the words to answer my question. The glimpse of sky through the latticeworkof the pergola had lightened to a pearly grey. I could hear the distant call of a lark announcing that daybreak was almost upon us.

But time seemed to have stopped for me as I breathlessly awaited his answer. Finally, Horatio lowered his eyes to meet mine. He said haltingly, “I am a plain man, Ella. I tend to view things in black and white, occasionally shades of grey. But when I am with you, you make me see the world in vibrant color and— and it’s glorious.”

“Oh!”

If Horatio had overwhelmed me before, this time the sincerity in his eyes and his voice nearly moved me to tears. And humbled me as well as I fully realized the impact I had had upon the heart of this stern, proud and lonely man.

Once again mistaking my reaction, Horatio sought to apologize. “Forgive me, Ella. I am sure you wanted something far more eloquent than that. But I am not good at expressing my emotions or paying compliments to a lady or—”

I pressed my fingertips to his lips to silence him. Smiling up at him, I said in a voice thickened by emotion, “Yes, you are, Horatio Crushington. That is quite the most wonderful thing any man has ever said to me.”

“Then there is a chance you might learn to return my regard?”

“Yes,” I stammered. “I believe that I could.”

I can hardly describe the expression that came over Horatio’s face when I said this. A look of heartfelt wonder as though he could not believe his good fortune, as though I had indeed made his world erupt with a burst of color. Another man might have whooped with joy and snatched me up in his embrace.

But Horatio took my face between his hands, just drinking in the sight of me for a long moment before he touched his lipsto mine. As though he feared if he was not careful, I could slip between his fingers and vanish.

But when I wrapped my arms around his neck and melted against him, that was all the encouragement he needed to kiss me in earnest. Passionately, tenderly, fiercely. If I had found magic the first time he had kissed me at the ball, this time it was pure enchantment. His lips moved over mine, causing my blood to sing through my veins, making me feel as though I was floating off the ground.

I did experience a twinge as I recalled I still had not told Horatio the truth about the stolen orb. And another pang as I thought of Mal, of how devastated he would be when he realized I was encouraging Horatio’s pursuit of me. Would our friendship survive it?

But I determinedly thrust all thoughts of Mal and the orb out of my head. Because I refused to allow anything to spoil the magic of this moment, the wonder of what was happening to me. I had not just opened my arms to Horatio, I had opened my heart as well. That door I had slammed closed years ago to protect myself from ever being hurt again, slowly inched open, letting in the prospect of hope, joy, and love.

I reflected that in all the old romantic tales, this was where the story would end with “and they lived happily ever after.” But I was still too practical to believe in that. I was sadly familiar with the kind of tragic things that can happen to shatter dreams, death and betrayal and the difficulty of merely trying to survive under the harsh rules of our kingdom.

The romance that had blossomed between Horatio and me was new and fragile. It had yet to be tested by time and hardship, perhaps even divided loyalties. We still had so much to learn about each other, so many discoveries to make and secrets to reveal, mostly mine.

For now, I was content just to lose myself in the magic of Horatio’s kisses. We broke apart only long enough to catch our breath and to beam at each other before we fell to kissing again. I was still locked in his embrace when the sun rose over my garden, full of the promise of a bright new day.