Page 6 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

Ella frowned.

“Does that not suit you, Ella?” her stepmother snapped. Her face contorted into an evil scowl.

As much as she tried to be careful with her facial expressions, she couldn’t keep it to herself this time.

“It suits fine, Stepmother,” she replied and gave a cheerful smile.

But her stepmother continued to glower at her. Ella ignored her as she hurried down the stairs to the kitchen to cover her hair with her kerchief, wrap the thin shawl around her shoulders, and grab her basket. She heard the commotion of the three of them heading down the stairs to the front door. Ella hurried to catch up to them knowing her stepmother wouldn’t wait for her. As she came through the hall, they were at the door. Both Lucinda and Daniella peered at her with disgust.

“Does shehaveto travel with us? I mean, look at her.” Lucinda waved a hand at her.

Ella stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated by her. She was aware of the shabby state of her dress and the shoes that were nearly worn through.

“We don’t want to be seen with aservant,” Daniella added.

“Girls, please. We will take the carriage. Ella can walk.”

And that was that. The girls giggled with delight as they scampered out the door and to the one carriage they had. Her only consolation was that at least it wasn’t an enclosed carriage and they would have to deal with the morning sunlight on their faces as they headed to the market.

She waited for them to get down the road a bit before she started her journey to the market. She much preferred to walk alone anyway. They were nothing but hateful shrews and she didn’t want to listen to their barbs the entire ride there and back.

The market was its usual bustle of activity. Decorations for the upcoming season were throughout the small village. Garland decorated with colorful lights was strung across the street from one building to the next. Festive wreaths with ribbons were on every shop door. There was a sense of cheerfulness about the village people and shopkeepers. It was infectious. Ella couldn’t help but smile as she strolled through the streets, greeting people with a smile and a nod.

She loved Christmas. It was her favorite time of year. Well, it used to be when her mother was alive. She was unable to enjoy it as she used to with her stepmother and stepsisters in the house. They made her life a living hell as she served them day and night, never getting a day off. Not even Christmas or the day after. Still, she found a way to celebrate in her own quiet way. She hoarded a few treats for herself to enjoy long after they went to bed on Christmas Day.

Young women everywhere were in a fit of excitement over the announcement of the upcoming ball. She wished she was able to share in their excitement, but she knew there was no way her stepmother would allow her to attend. She was a servant girl, after all.

At the general store, she headed to the counter to pick up her order of eggs, bread, sugar and tea. The proprietor was a nice man by the name of Mr. Gibson. She gave him her best smile.

“Good morning, Mr. Gibson.”

“Ah, Ella. Here to pick up your order?”

“Yes, thank you.”

His brows drew together in a look of regret. “I hate to ask, Ella, but do you have the money to pay the balance on your account first?”

“My stepmother pays that weekly.”

“Ah…” He scratched his balding head. “I’m afraid she hasn’t in weeks.”

“Weeks?” Ella’s heart picked up. “What do you mean, weeks?”

“It’s just that the account has a bit of a balance and, well, I can’t be letting you have your order without payment.”

“How much is owed?” she asked.

“A hundred pounds.” His shoulders slumped as he said it, a mixture of sadness and hesitation evident in his voice.

Ella swallowed hard as mortification swept through her. How could her stepmother not pay the bill? What was she doing with the household money?

“I’m sorry, Ella.”

She didn’t know what to do. She needed those items for the rest of the week. If she didn’t have them, then how was she to make the tea they expected for breakfast every day? She bit her lip as she made a decision that would likely get her into more trouble than she’d ever been in.

“If I promise to pay you in full by the end of the week, may I have my order?”

Mr. Gibson glanced around the store to see if anyone else was within earshot. Luckily, there wasn’t.

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