Charming, Volume 2 by Jack Heckel Read Free Book Online

on the ground, which was really adorable, and the hood slipped off her head. As she said something else, he found himself admiring the way her short hair curled about her ears and framed her face.
    She reached up to adjust her hood again, “Please, Lord Protector.”
    The earnestness of her plea brought him up short and made him realize what an ass he was being. “I apologize, Lady Rapunzel. Let me begin by swearing that, as far as I know, the Prince still lives. He and the King had a falling out and the King has disowned him.”
    If possible, this seemed to shock her even more. She let the hood fall back again and instead started absent-­mindedly tucking the stray ends of her hair behind her ears.
    â€œI never imagined. Charming was conceited and a fool, but I never thought the King would do such a thing.” She stroked her chin thoughtfully. “There is more to this than the story you’ve told, probably more than you or I know. Perhaps the court has been putting pressure on King Rupert.”
    Elle stood, lost in quiet contemplation of some intrigue, which Will didn’t quite follow. It was clear that Lady Rapunzel was a thoughtful woman, like his sister. But she was also pretty, much prettier than Gretel, and he realized in an instant—­even prettier than the Princess. He found himself, again, distracted by her and furtively admiring more than just her intelligence.
    â€œI know you’re not listening to me anymore, so what are you thinking about?” she asked. It was an accusation.
    Will paused and swallowed. He had been caught ogling her, and he knew there was nothing to be done because, if he took the time to think of something clever to say, she would know. But even the time he’d taken to consider whether to consider what to say, seemed to have taken too long, because she stepped toward him, hands on hips.
    â€œI confess that I was just thinking that you are smart like my sister, but prettier than any girl I’ve ever known,” he blurted. His hand twitched, demanding that he bite it, and Will felt the blush hit his face and burn incredibly hot. He closed his eyes, awaiting the brutal tongue-­lashing that he would surely receive. Why am I so bad at this?
    After a pause, Will opened his eyes to see Rapunzel’s emerald eyes staring into his. They glistened with unshed tears, making them even more beautiful, and there was a pale confusion on her face.
    ELLE’S HEAD WAS a muddle of half-­formed thoughts. He thinks I’m smart? That’s a first—­for a man. And he thinks I’m pretty, even though he’s seen my hair? Could he actually be interested in me? She had been having such a good time with Lord William, but she had also thought him far out of her league and certain to think her a lunatic after her behavior at the ball. But he hasn’t mentioned the ball once, and he doesn’t even seem to be aware that I ever had long hair or to be concerned that I threw my virtue at Prince Charming. And, when you come to it, he’s not bad-­looking. Granted, he was impossibly vague and obnoxiously stubborn, but he was also honest and kindhearted—­two qualities that were hard to find in courtly men. Indeed, she had been taught from an early age that at court romance and intrigue were always intertwined, and that every encounter with a man was a contest of wits, with disgrace and ruin the punishment for losing—­at least if you were a woman. This felt different, just a boy and a girl talking to each other.
    Still, standing there with him looking at her like that, she didn’t know what to say. She’d had a lifetime of being told that she should set her expectations low, and praised, on those rare occasions when she was praised, only for her looks, and, truth be told, mostly for her hair. In the moment, words couldn’t find their way past her lips. She stood and gaped. Tears fell across her cheeks, and she