Page 13 of Once Upon A Bear

“I didn’t realize that Alexander struggled with a similar issue,” he said, testing to see if he kept things vague enough, the curse would let him speak about it.

“Oh, yes,” Guinevere nodded. “Ridding him of his ailment was my first experience with such things, and it was quite an interesting endeavor. It gave me good practice, and hopefully it won’t take so long to help you with your predicament. I suppose you’ll have to thank him for being my first patient in that regard.”

“Do you think—” Gideon cut himself off, shaking his head slightly. He shouldn’t ask her.

Guinevere looked at him with understanding in her eyes. “I think Alexander and Beatrice would be more than happy to speak with you about it,” she said quietly. “In fact, I think we should go have dinner with them right now.”

“Right now?” he asked.

She nodded brightly. “We’re not far, and showing up unexpectedly always makes Beatrice happy and makes Alexander roll his eyes, which is quite fun to do.”

Gideon laughed, and it felt so freeing. “You are very unexpected.”

“I know,” she said brightly. “Now, shall we head toward Eldenwilde and surprise my friends?”

“He’s my friend too, you know,” Gideon said as they turned and began walking north. “Alexander and my brothers and I were playmates before his parents died.”

“Ah yes,” Guinevere nodded sagely. “When he was first cursed.”

As another piece of the puzzle slid into place, his eyes widened. “His was that long? How did he not go mad?”

“I think it was probably a near thing,” Guinevere admitted, “until Beatrice came along. She changed him. I’d noticed a difference when he married, but I assumed it was simply because he was married. We didn’t see him much for many years, though. He became quite the hermit.”

“He stopped inviting us over.” Gideon remembered asking his mother why they couldn’t go see Alexander anymore, and his mother explaining that Alexander was now Lord Dunham and they couldn’t just go without an invitation.

If he’d known that his friend was under a curse…he would have gone anyway.

“But he’s free now?” he asked, the words catching in his throat. If Guinevere had broken Alexander’s curse…perhaps she truly could break his.

“He’s free, and he’s happy,” Guinevere said, her eyes shining brightly. “He and Beatrice may have married for convenience at one point, but their marriage is among the happiest I know.”

“I’ve seen the happiness in the brief moments I’ve seen them since their wedding, but, as you know, I’m not one for spending time in drawing rooms and with people right now.”

He couldn’t go to places where he didn’t know exactly how to escape unseen.

But maybe that would change.

Leaves crunched underneath their feet as they made their way to Eldenwilde, passing through the gates and walking up to the grand manor house. Eldenwilde seemed far more imposing to Gideon than his own family’s estate, partially because it looked grander, and partially because it had not been overrun by children in many, many years.

Not to mention, something about the estate having its own name made it seem fancier.

“We had such fun here,” he said wistfully as they walked up the front steps, and Guinevere rapped on the door before letting herself in.

“Shouldn’t we wait?” he asked, his eyes widening as Guinevere reached back, took his hand, and yanked him into the entry.

“Of course not,” she said. “If you think I’m waiting for Jenkins to find us from wherever he is—”

“I’m right here, Guinevere,” Jenkins said with a sigh as he appeared. If he was surprised to see Gideon with her, he didn’t show it. “May I take your coats?” he asked, holding his hand out.

Jenkins must have been used to Guinevere showing up and doing what she wanted, because his reaction to her waltzing into the manor like she owned it was far different than his reactions had been when they’d been boys running all over the estate.

Gideon tugged his coat off and handed it to the butler, who nodded as he took it. “They are in Lord Dunham’s office,” he said to Guinevere, who immediately grinned.

“Wonderful,” she exclaimed. “Let’s go interrupt them.”

Gideon couldn’t believe this was happening as he followed Guinevere toward the back of the house. She knocked on a door and announced, “Coming in whether you’re ready or not,” but she paused a moment before opening the door and making her way in.

Gideon entered the room and saw his friend Alexander sitting behind his desk, with his wife sitting on the desk in front of him, her cheeks a rosy shade of pink.