The Frog Prince by Jenni James Page A

the other way, but she did not. Instead she quite happily followed him.
    Nothing had ever felt more right and wonderful than this moment.
    “Aleck?” she asked as they slowly made their way to the flower garden.
    “Yes?”
    “I know this is highly improper and I will most likely get scolded if I am to be caught walking with you, but thank you for doing so.”
    His gaze met hers again. “It is my pleasure.”
    She nodded and glanced away, a faint blush stealing across her cheeks. All at once, the parasol began to twirl twice as fast as it had before. “Sir, you flatter me.”
    “I do not mean to flatter, Princess,” he said with a grin, loving this new game of theirs. “Indeed, I only mean to speak the absolute truth. This is by far the most pleasurable moment of my day.”
    She gasped and glanced his way before biting her lip and looking away again.
    He could not believe his eyes. If he did not know better, she would seem to be genuine in her response to him. “Why did you ask to hold my arm?” he brazenly asked, curious as to how she would reply.
    She kept her profile to him as they continued to walk. “Because I knew you would never think to offer, and so I asked for myself.”
    “Because?”
    “Because I wanted to,” she replied.
    “Fair enough.” He let the subject drop. “And have you had any news to impart? Any reason for us to be thus engaged?”
    “News?”
    “Yes. For when your mother asks why you have been traipsing the grounds with a lowly gardener, you will have a much better reply to give her than because you wanted to.”
    She blushed again and then shook her head. “You are incorrigible.”
    “I know. I think it is why you like me.” He said the last looking straight at her again.
    She gasped in shock. “I have said no such thing!”
    He stopped, his back toward the many windows of the castle, stepping forward and hiding her for a brief moment. “You did not have to say anything to me. I can tell by your actions.” His heart grew a bit heavier. “Princess, as much as I wish to keep you near me to learn every possible secret of yours and gain your trust, I fear for this.”
    “I have come outside every single day for the past several months in hopes of …” She trailed off.
    Speaking with me. “Aye. I think I understand, but it will not do. I am merely a gardener. And as much as you would be scolded for doing such a thing, I would be dismissed from my post completely if this were to continue.”
    “No.” Her breathing became labored. She truly looked distraught over this declaration.
    Did she honestly have no idea that such things were frowned upon? “What is it?”
    “-Tis not fair,” she said after a few moments. “I—I do not know how to express myself, or why. It does not make sense to me. But there is something about you that calls to me. Something I cannot dismiss.”
    She did feel it too! He clutched her hand. “Princess Cascadia!”
    “Please, call me Casey. I have abhorred that name my whole life. Casey is what I prefer.”
    “I cannot. I do not dare. You know the help is not allowed to speak so casually of you,” he whispered as he glanced around, making certain they were alone.
    She squeezed his fingers. “Please?”
    How could he deny her anything? He took a deep breath.
    “Please?”
    “Casey,” he said. The name was so profound, it was as if it echoed between them for several seconds.
    And then she smiled. Truly, her whole face lit up. “Thank you.”
    At that moment he saw the head gardener walking toward them. “Give me a reason to be standing here with you. Tell me something important so that I may continue working here.”
    Her eyes frantically searched his before they lit up and she said, “I have it! There is a great secret happening in the house. And who knows, perhaps you will be the one to solve the mystery.” She grinned. “Yes! Father is to send out a proclamation within a week asking for brave men to solve the puzzle of me and my