Page 74 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

She’d kept most of the details to herself, because she didn’t want to admit to him she was a servant in her own home. That her stepmother was a terrible person who squandered away all their money on frivolous things for herself and her daughters, never leaving enough for even the grocer. That her stepsisters were spoiled, selfish, and unkind.

She didn’t want to tell him any of that because she didn’t want his pity.

In hindsight, though, she wished she had told him everything. She wished she’d told him about her life back in Whitebridge.

If he’d asked her to stay, she would have said yes. She would have stayed. For him and Noella and all of them. It was as though she belonged here in this wintery world. Though she didn’t know Nicholas that well, she felt as though she belonged with him. He was her prince. Her true love. The one the slippers—

With a gasp, she sat straight up. Her heart palpitated with the sudden memory pounding into her. She’d left the glass slippers on the ship in Captain Bart’s quarters.

How could she be so forgetful? She smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand.

And how was she going to get them back? Worse, how was she going to confess to Noella she’d left them behind?

Dread shifted through her, making her stomach clench into a tight knot. She flung off the bedcovers and padded to the window, shoving aside the curtains. It was still dark outside. There was no sense in sounding the alarm and waking everyone in the castle. Even so, that awful feeling would not go away.

Knowing she wouldn’t sleep she plopped down in the wing-backed chair and curled her legs to the side to watch the dying embers of the fire. Her feet were cold, but it wasn’t enough to spur her into action and find stockings. She clutched her elbows as she shivered. It was cold in her room, but she deserved to be cold as penance for leaving behind the glass slippers.

She must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing she knew, Alice was shaking her awake.

“My lady, are you well?”

Ella lifted her head, her neck aching from the awkward position. She rubbed the back of it and glanced around, confused. Then she recalled her terrible mistake and how, shaking from fear and the cold, she climbed into the chair to wait out the night.

“What time is it?” she muttered.

“It’s morning. Did you sleep in that chair all night?”

“Not all night.” Ella uncurled her numb legs and managed to stand. “I…I couldn’t sleep.”

“It’s freezing in here.” Alice added logs to the fire, stoked it, and got it going again.

Ella shivered, clutching her elbows. Morning light slashed through the uncovered window. The curtain was still shoved aside where Ella had left it. It had snowed overnight, leaving the ground covered in a thick, white blanket. Dust motes danced in the bright light.

“Let’s get you dressed. You don’t want to keep your prince waiting.” Alice bustled about the room, gathering her warm clothes.

“I really don’t think he’s my prince,” Ella said, still clutching her elbows.

“Why is that?” Alice bent to retrieve her boots from the side of the bed.

“Well…we don’t know each other very well and—”

“Poppycock. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” She snatched up a pair of woolen stockings and handed them to Ella.

“How does he look at me?” A glimmer of hope trickled through her, but she refused to allow it to consume her.

Alice dropped her boots onto the floor at her feet, then picked up her wool dress. “He gives you adoring looks.”

Her cheeks flushed hot. She turned away so Alice wouldn’t see. Their one kiss suddenly popped into her mind, unbidden, which made her press her fingertips against her lips. His mouth was solid, sweet, tender. Thinking of it made her heart turn over and her stomach flutter.

“You don’t agree?” Alice asked, when she didn’t answer.

“I’m not sure.”

“I’ve seen him with other girls,” she said. “He’s looked at none of them the way he looks at you.”

Ella turned to face her finally, still holding the woolen stockings. Her brows drew together in question but she wasn’t sure what she wanted to ask.

“It’s true he’s a bit of a rogue, but he’s different around you,” Alice continued.

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