The Life of Maria Llewellyn summary: Marie's existence in this world was a result of an accident, but it came with a divine gift - the ability to understand the speech of all creatures great and small. One ordinary day, amidst her thankless toil, Marie caught wind of a plea for the Prince's ailing leopard: a miraculous cure would merit its provider one wish from the royal highness. "Why must I remain cooped up in this palace?" Marie protested. "You insisted on staying here," replied her captor. "That's not what I meant," she bemoaned. "But it's too late for that now."