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Elle waited as Emele collected herself She placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder, ood, middle class family, Emele wrote My father is a well-to-do horse breeder, and er days My family hoped I would marry well, especially after I secured a post in Severin’s house where I would be exposed to his sister--the Princess--and assumedly whatever lady he chose to marry I, Emele hesitated before she wrote I was beautiful

"You still are," Elle said

Emele shook her head Only you would think that Before the curse I are ofI scorned Marc and the servants below ht that I was better than them, and I mocked Marc behind his back for his looks and mannerisms

Emele looked up at the sky and deeply inhaled the cold air before she wrote again And then ere cursed I lostme all removed their suits, and my family disowned me They first came to the palace to see if it was true When they saw me…

"But it wasn’t your fault," Elle objected "The curse fell on you because you were ato deserve it"

My parents feared what having a cursed daughter would do to their social standing When they caht My father moved to strike me and Marc--whom I had mocked and looked down upon--heard my parents’ yells and stepped in on my behalf

Elle adjusted her crutches "That was honorable of hihed as she tried to brush a frozen tear from her eyelashes Honorable, kind, coirl who had done nothing but mock him, and he saved me The ladies maid hesitated for a moment I know Marc would not be considered handsome by most, but it is his heart I fell in love with Beauty fades, but the heart reirl who openly scorned them?

Elle found that she couldn’t speak The sadness and sweetness of Emele’s story had rendered her speechless

Physical desire is a lie, E, but it blinds a person andin love is a matter of the heart, not of the exterior

Elle nodded, and E, What kind of heart do you think His Highness has?

Elle reardens "I’lance at Marc

"Why don’t you greet hiested

Emele clutched her broom and slate close before she nodded and set off down the cleared ay, heading for the burly gardener

Elle watched her go, observing the aard pair interact with new eyes After a few moments she shifted to look at the chateau "What kind of heart does Severin have?" Elle wondered "Beforebut…," Elle trailed off as she thought of her new pony, of Severin housing and feeding her even though she was nothing more than a prowler She remembered the way he allowed Heloise to think her affection for Jock was secret, his obvious sorrow that his servants were doohout her entire stay he had never expected anything froentleness

"I don’t know," Elle repeated

Everyone at Chanceux Chateau took it for granted that Elle and Severin spent tier just dinner, but all hours of the day If Elle wanted to escape Eforced to read sermons inscribed by his personal valet, the two could be found together

A Severin from his study Servants would find the his work at a table while Elle triumphantly walked up and down aisle ways, crutch-less and looking for books--in different salons--Burke once found the cards in the recreation salon--the stables were a regular spot--Fidele and Rosemerry had to be brushed after all--and, of course, in the evenings the pair was aluaranteed to be found in Severin’s study

They were not together for the day in its entirety Rather, they spent a few hours together in the ether and sequestering therew late

A week after Elle’s originally scheduled--and canceled--departure, Severin and Elle spent thein the Gold salon, which was used as a ht the library was the er sure," Elle said, thoughtfully studying a huge harp that was aleold haired children--was an assortment of smaller lap harps