"She's never been in love before, and she doesn't know how," he explains. "And I don't know, a month? Two?"
"Neither had I, neither had any of us," says Angela. "A month or two - well, if she'd done it already she'd be quick but not the quickest, I think that was me. How long do you have?"
"I think you'll be all right. If you're a Whistle. I wonder if anything bad would happen if I magicked you into what you looked like before you were cursed, to check? Would you like me to try?"
And: "Oh dear." And another wish and he's in a set of clothes like something Micaiah might wear.
Micaiah is now eyeing the newly identified Whistle speculatively.
"Do you want more advice about Belle or do you want to go borrow my husband for a while?" inquires Angela archly.
"I want more advice about Belle," he decides, if reluctantly. "Then I want to borrow your husband."
"For one thing," Angela says, "it will almost certainly come as a surprise to her that you are the husband-borrowing type. If you've made no commitments to her, there will be no particular consequences from borrowing Micaiah even after she finds out, but it's not the sort of thing you should spring on her."
"There's no one else around to borrow," he snorts. "I'll be sure to tell her all about this dream when I wake up."
"Yes, do that. As for the trying to fall in love - you know - I'm not sure that's a good idea. The others managed it quite naturally - I was encouraged, after a fashion, but not under anything like a year and a half time limit. What will happen if you run out the clock?"
"I stay in my castle alone and fluffy forever, unless she can break the enchantment from outside."
"If I were her," she says after a minute, "which in one sense I am, I would be worried about half-succeeding at falling in love with you. Enough that I'd be very upset over your fate when it was not quite enough for the curse to break. And I would be worried about what you'd think of me if I couldn't manage it."
He shrugs. "I don't know what I'd think of her. I don't think it would change much. She hasn't managed it yet, and I love her anyway."
"Yes," says Angela, "but if you were stuck alone forever - I assume she understands that as far as you're concerned that's a fate worse than death? - because of something she failed to do, she might imagine you'd be angry."
"Oh." He frowns. "What would I be angry with her for? She didn't do it. She even tried to help."