Finding a new love (68)

Bella read until almost time for Zane to come home, then she went to his office to finish up some assignments for her classes.

Zane walked into her studying and watch with amazement in his heart at this beauty he has found.

Just standing there his energy seem to flow back into to him. When she looked up and smiled he walked over and pulled her up for a kiss.

"Did you have a good day?" She asked.

"Long. I missed you." He said.

"Mine too. I cleaned the roses today and finished all my home work."

"Go change then, I will take you out for dinner." He let her go with one last kiss.

Bella chose a long floral sundress with with sandals. He tired her hair up in a matching scarf.

They headed out to dinner.

While out, they seen Mary Ann and Mr. Beauté also having an intimate dinner for two.

"Did you know about my father and Mary Ann?" Bella asked.

"I had know idea. How do you feel about this?" Zane said.

"Ok, My dad needs to be happy. Mom's been gone a while and Mary Ann is a good person." Bella stated as they sat down at their table to eat.

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"Robert, I am so glad you asked me out tonight. I needed to unwind a little." Mary Ann said.

Robert looked at this lovely woman. He felt a little guilty but his wife had been gone for many years.

"I'm glad too. The past few weeks visiting with you about my family have made feel not so lonely." He said.

"I know what you mean."

They ordered their food and as they waited Robert asked, "I would like to ask if you have ever been married before?"

"No, I was 22 when I started taking care of Zane and that has been my life. Now that he has Bella my job is now done." she said.

They then talked of many different things and even some dreams. After dinner they went for a walk on the beach.

As they were walking Robert reached down and took Mary Ann'a hand in his.

"Can we do this more often?" he asked.

"Hold hands or walk on the beach?" she laughed.

"See each other. Sorry it been a long time since I asked a girl to go steady." he smiled at her.

"Steady? I think I would like that." She said blushing.

Robert the pulled her into a hug then kissed her.

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After dinner Bella and Zane went back home. It was still fairly early so he read to her.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ BRIAR ROSE cont.

She was, however, so much afraid of the step-mother, that she begged him not to stop more than one night in the castle.

The poor Maiden thought to herself, "This is no longer my place; I will go and seek my brothers"; and when night came she escaped and went quite deep into the wood.

She walked all night long, and a great part of the next day, until she could go no further from weariness.

Just then she saw a rough-looking hut, and going in, she found a room with six little beds, but she dared not get into one, so crept under, and laying herself upon the hard earth, prepared to pass the night there.

Just as the sun was setting, she heard a rustling, and saw six white Swans come flying in at the window. They settled on the ground and began blowing one another until they had blown all their feathers off, and their swan's down slipped from them like a shirt.

Then the Maiden knew them at once for her brothers, and gladly crept out from under the bed, and the brothers were not less glad to see their sister, but their joy was of short duration.

"Here you must not stay," said they to her; "this is a robbers' hiding-place; if they should return and find you here, they would murder you."

"Can you not protect me, then?" inquired the sister.

"No," they replied; "for we can only lay aside our swan's feathers for a quarter of an hour each evening, and for that time we regain our human form, but afterwards we resume our changed appearance."

Their sister then asked them, with tears, "Can you not be restored again?"

"Oh, no," replied they; "the conditions are too difficult. For six long years you must neither speak nor laugh, and during that time you must sew together for us six little shirts of star-flowers, and should there fall a single word from your lips, then all your labor will be in vain."

Just as the brothers finished speaking, the quarter of an hour elapsed, and they all flew out of the window again like Swans.

The little sister, however, made a solemn resolution to rescue her brothers, or die in the attempt; and she left the cottage, and, penetrating deep into the forest, passed the night amid the branches of a tree.

The next morning she went out and collected the star-flowers to sew together. She had no one to converse with and for laughing she had no spirits, so there up in the tree she sat, intent upon her work.

After she had passed some time there, it happened that the King of that country was hunting in the forest, and his huntsmen came beneath the tree on which the Maiden sat.

They called to her and asked, "Who art thou?"

But she gave no answer.

"Come down to us," continued they; "we will do thee no harm."

She simply shook her head, and when they pressed her further with questions, she threw down to them her gold necklace, hoping therewith to satisfy them.

They did not, however, leave her, and she threw down her girdle, but in vain! and even her rich dress did not make them desist. At last the huntsman himself climbed the tree and brought down the Maiden, and took her before the King.

The King asked her, "Who art thou? What dost thou upon that tree?"

But she did not answer; and then he questioned her in all the languages that he knew, but she remained dumb to all, as a fish.

Since, however, she was so beautiful, the King's heart was touched, and he conceived for her a strong affection.

Then he put around her his cloak, and, placing her before him on his horse, took her to his castle.

There he ordered rich clothing to be made for her, and, although her beauty shone as the sunbeams, not a word escaped her.

The King placed her by his side at table, and there her dignified mien and manners so won upon him, that he said, "This Maiden will I marry, and no other in the world;" and after some days he wedded her.

Now, the King had a wicked step-mother, who was discontented with his marriage, and spoke evil of the young Queen.

"Who knows whence the wench comes?" said she. "She who cannot speak is not worthy of a King."