She shook her head and struggled to sit upright, swimming in the blankets on the bed she shared with Belle. There was a candle lit on the nightstand nearby, and Belle sat next to her on the bed, still dressed in her ballroom finery. Pippa had changed out of hers hours ago and was in her chemise, her hair down. The rose that Duncan had given her was safely tucked away in Pippa's things. She wanted to keep it. "Belle? What is it?" Her sister's lovely face looked troubled in the candlelight. "We need to talk." Uh oh. This is my fault, Pippa thought grimly. She was the one messing everything up in this fairy tale. She sat up and leaned against the headboard of the large bed, instantly awake. "What's wrong?" Belle sighed heavily. "I didn't want to have to say this, but…you ruined my party." "Excuse me?" Pippa stared at her 'sister.' "I ruined your party? How so?" Belle blinked wide blue eyes at her. "I was supposed to be the center of attention the entire night, but then you went into the closet with the beast and no one could talk about anything else after that.
