◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ OH, IF I COULD BUT SHIVER! cont:
I never thought to see you alive again," said he; "have you learnt now what shivering means?"
"No," said he; "it is all of no use. Oh, if any one would but tell me!"
The second night he went up again into the castle, and sitting down by the fire, began his old song, "If I could but shiver!"
When midnight came, a ringing and a rattling noise was heard, gentle at first and louder and louder by degrees; then there was a pause, and presently with a loud outcry half a man's body came down the chimney and fell at his feet.
"Holloa," he exclaimed; "only half a man answered that ringing; that is too little."
Then the ringing began afresh, and a roaring and howling was heard, and the other half fell down.
"Wait a bit," said he; "I will poke up the fire first." When he had done so and looked round again, the two pieces had joined themselves together, and an ugly man was sitting in his place.
"I did not bargain for that," said the youth; "the bench is mine."
The man tried to push him away, but the youth would not let him, and giving him a violent push sat himself down in his old place.
Presently more men fell down the chimney, one after the other, who brought nine thigh-bones and two skulls, which they set up, and then they began to play at ninepins.
At this the youth wished also to play, so he asked whether he might join them.
"Yes, if you have money!"
"Money enough," he replied, "but your balls are not quite round"; so saying he took up the skulls, and, placing them on his lathe, turned them round.
"Ah, now you will roll well," said he.
"Holloa! now we will go at it merrily."
So he played with them and lost some of his money, but as it struck twelve everything disappeared. Then he lay down and went to sleep quietly.
On the morrow the King came for news, and asked him how he had fared this time.
"I have been playing ninepins," he replied, "and lost a couple of dollars."
"Have you not shivered?"
"No! I have enjoyed myself very much; but I wish some one would teach me that!"
◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇
Bella put down her book. She knew how to shiver. Being in the basement all evening made her shiver.
Zane was reading more documents. She took them from him and pulled him to bed.
He jumped in the shower as she cleaned her self up and changed into her nightgown. They still did not say a word as they got into bed. He pulled her up to his chest and he let her fall asleep.
He had made a promise to himself he would never say I'm Sorry again.
◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇
Bella woke her heart still hurt at what her sister did to her. Zane was asleep and she watched him.
He loved her, she knew this. It was unfair of her to lash out at him yesterday. She was the one that left.
Marrying him would be grand. She wanted a wedding with her father giving her away. Her sister and brothers standing up with her.
Nothing fancy just a little church wedding. Would he go for that?
"Morning my Beauty. How do you feel?" He asked.
"My heart is still broken by my sister's actions. But my body feels better only a little sore." She said.
"Good, I need to go to the office today for a few meetings. Will you be ok today?" Zane asked.
"Yes... Zane" she paused.
"What is it Bella?"
"Did you mean it when you said we should get married?" She looked down.
"Yes, But I won't force you. I need you by my side." He said.
"Then could it be a small church wedding with friends and family?"
Zane grinned from ear to ear, "Yes my Bella it can. As long as it's soon. Plan it out and talk to me tonight about it."
She was giving in and his heart raced.
Zane left and Bella sat down with a list.
Wedding dress for me ♡♡
Maid of honor ???
Bridesmaids ♡ Babs
Groom suit ♡ Zane
Best man ???
Groom man ???
Father of the bride ♡ Dad
Parent of the groom ♡ Zane's mom and dad
flowers ¤¤¤ blue roses
cake☆☆☆
minister ◇◇◇
Guest list ???
She needed a mother's help or her big sister's help.
She still could not figure out why Betty hated her.
Zane watched her through the cameras and seen her go from smiled to sad.
He finished up his meeting fast and as he was leaving his secretary stop him.
"Sir, you need to contact the officer in charge of the Miss' case. He said it was important." She said.
"This is Zane Heart may I have Officer McGee?" Zane was put on hold but not for long.
"Mr. Heart, Thank you for getting back to me. We found Miss Beauté purse and wallet. The strange thing is nothing is missing. I need to talk to her about enemy's she might have."
She was targeted!! "I'm headed home now. So please stop by." He could feel his beast wanting to come out.
"Thanks, I will be there with in the hour."
Zane rushed home. To find his beauty reading.
◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ OH, IF I COULD BUT SHIVER! cont:
On the third night he sat down again on his bench, saying in great vexation, "Oh, if I could only shiver!"
When it grew late, six tall men came in bearing a coffin between them.
"Ah, ah," said he, "that is surely my little cousin, who died two days ago"; and beckoning with his finger he called,
"Come, little cousin, come!" The men set down the coffin upon the ground, and he went up and took off the lid, and there lay a dead man within, and as he felt the face it was as cold as ice.
"Stop a moment," he cried; "I will warm it in a trice"; and stepping up to the fire he warmed his hands, and then laid them upon the face, but it remained cold.
So he took up the body, and sitting down by the fire, he laid it on his lap and rubbed the arms that the blood might circulate again. But all this was of no avail, and he thought to himself if two lie in a bed together they warm each other; so he put the body in the bed, and covering it up laid himself down by its side. After a little while the body became warm and began to move about.
"See, my cousin," he exclaimed, "have I not warmed you?"
But the body got up and exclaimed, "Now I will strangle you."
"Is that your gratitude?" cried the youth.