Page 57 of Once Upon A Bear

“You do look beautiful,” Linnea offered. She had apparently sensed that this was something she should stay out of, because she had tucked herself away in the corner, far away from where Guinevere looked as if she might murder Beatrice. “Can I fix your hair for you?”

“Of course,” Guinevere said, smiling at her friend as she took a seat in the chair Beatrice offered. “This is just like when I helped you get ready for your dance,” Guinevere teased. “For your fundraiser with Conrad.”

“Is this going to end with you kissing one of the Rendon boys?” Linnea said playfully, but her eyes widened when she saw the look on Guinevere’s face. “Is it really?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Guinevere admitted, burying her face in her hands.

“Which one?” Linnea asked.

“Gideon,” Guinevere said, her voice sounding strangled as it came out. “I know I shouldn’t.”

“On the contrary, you absolutely should,” Beatrice said. “I have no personal knowledge, but I can only assume that Gideon Rendon would be great at kissing.”

Guinevere mumbled into her hands, and Beatrice and Linnea pounced.

“You’ve already kissed him?” Beatrice asked, pulling Guinevere’s hands away from her face, while Linnea grabbed her shoulders from behind and exclaimed, “What?”

“After I broke his curse,” Guinevere mumbled. “He was so excited that he kissed me.”

The words came out so quietly, she wasn’t sure they could hear her.

“And it was wonderful,” she admitted, speaking louder. “But how can I let it happen again? I can’t marry him. I have to let him go.”

Beatrice knelt in front of her and squeezed Guinevere’s hand.

“Why do you say that?” she asked gently.

“He’s a member of the nobility,” Guinevere pointed out, “and I am an illegal magic user. I—”

“Just because you use illegal magic does not mean that you are the problem.”

“I don’t think that a judge would see it that way.” The words stuck in her throat. “I’ve spent my whole life being afraid of being caught, of being found, and I don’t know how to escape that fear.”

“Have you talked to him about it?” Beatrice asked gently. “Because I imagine that Gideon would have something to say about all of this.”

“I’m sure he would,” Guinevere said dryly. “He has things to say about a lot of things.”

“Does he?” Linnea asked, her eyes widening a little. “He seemed so focused when I spoke to him about the bees, though I can’t say I spoke to him very long. I mostly talked to Lord Kellan.”

“Lord Kellan seems very nice.” Guinevere laughed when Linnea wrinkled her nose. “I know Eugenia was trying to set the two of you up. But after spending a little time with him, I can say he is very kind. And if you weren’t completely in love with Conrad, I could see why Eugenia would try to put the two of you together.”

“Eugenia doesn’t know what she’s talking about all the time,” Linnea said. “But if she was trying to set you and Gideon up, she knows exactly what she’s talking about. You should kiss him again.”

“I don’t know,” Guinevere said with a sigh. “I still think I might need to just leave him alone. He doesn’t need me.”

“On the contrary, I think he does,” Beatrice said. “I haven’t known the Rendon boys for very long, but my husband has, and he said that watching Gideon with you was the best he’s seen Gideon in a very, very long time. And that is what I want for you and Gideon. You both deserve to be happy, and if you find that happiness with each other, then I want you to hold on to it for as long as you possibly can and not let go of it because you’re afraid.

“I was afraid when I married Alexander, but I knew that there was something there, and I wanted to see what it was. Without facing my fears, I never would have married the love of my life. And I think that you and Gideon could have something very special, and I don’t want to see you lose it.”

Beatrice looked down at her kindly. “And I know you’re not going to listen to a word I say, but if I can convince you of anything, let it be this. It’s okay to be afraid, but it’s not okay if you let the fear rule your life. I want you to be brave.”

Then she clapped her hands. “Now, are you ready to go to a ball?”

Guinevere took a deep breath.

She was not ready—not in the slightest—but perhaps bravery could begin now. Maybe with practice she would get better at it, and maybe with practice she would be able to feel safe, because she had felt safer with Gideon Rendon than she had in a very long time.

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