Page 8 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

“Iinsist. Now, what do you say we pop on over to the dressmaker and order you something exquisite for the ball? I personally know him and he’s sure to give me exactly what I want.”

Panic rose in Ella. She tugged her arm away from the woman’s. “Thank you, but I can’t accept.”

She stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. “Why not?”

Ella started to back away from the woman. “It’s generous, to be sure, but I don’t know you and, well, my father said never to accept gifts from strangers.”

“Your father said that, hm?” She tapped her finger on her chin as she gave Percy a glance.

He slowly shook his head. “Madam, it appears she doesn’t know who you are.”

“Yes, it would seem that way.” She turned back to Ella, who had put considerable distance between them as she backed away. “My dear, I’m Noella Fairchild. Have you never heard that name before?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I do thank you for thinking of me, madam, but I simply must go.”

Before Noella Fairchild said another word, Ella spun and dashed up the street. She didn’t stop running until she was at the end of the market on the dirt road heading back to home.

Noella Fairchild watched the young girl hurry down the path and disappear, her tattered skirts fluttering around her ankles. Using her magic, she sensed a sort of sadness mixed with a deep hope of better days to come. Well, she could give her that.

“Percy, follow her. Find out where she lives and report back.”

Percy nodded. “Yes, madam.”

Her long-time servant followed the girl’s path. Percy understood discretion better than anyone. She’d know everything there was to know about the girl by the time he returned in a few hours. Smiling, she returned to the carriage to await news of the girl.

Chapter 3

BythetimeEllareached home, she was out of breath. Her legs burned from the sprint from the market. She had no idea who Noella Fairchild was. She’d been a resident of the village since she was born and had never heard the name.

Then again, she only ventured to the market once a week and then it was a quick trip there and back. She had so much work to do. She hung up her shawl and kerchief and paused a moment in the kitchen to catch her breath. But as she did so, the three women rang for her. It was time for luncheon and she hadn’t anything prepared.

She had several slices of bread leftover from the previous day and quickly put them in a linen lined bowl and covered them. That would have to do for the time being. Swallowing hard, she headed to the dining room to face her stepmother and tell her it would be at least another hour before luncheon was served.

Her stepmother sat at the head of the table. She placed the bowl in the middle. Her stepmother shoved off the linen cover and glowered at the bread. Her fiery glare bored into Ella with a searing intensity. Her anger radiated from her like waves of blistering heat.

“Stale bread is all you have to offer for luncheon?”

“I’ve only just returned from the market and—”

“I don’t want your excuses,” she snapped.

Ella stood frozen in place, the words clotting her throat.

“Well, get to it!” she said.

She hurried out of the dining room as Lucinda and Daniella snickered. In the kitchen, Ella put together their luncheon including a small portion for herself. After she served them, she returned to the kitchen where she sat alone at the scarred wooden table and stared down at her half-empty plate.

A knock on the back door startled her.

She opened the door to see an elderly man standing on the other side. He was hunched over and held a gnarled cane in one hand. The knit cap on his head barely covered his ears. His jacket was threadbare with what appeared to be a moth-eaten hole on his shoulder. When he smiled, he had crooked stump teeth, his face wrinkling with the movement making his eyes squint.

“Beggin’ ya pardon, miss. I was walking down the road there heading through town to the next.” He pointed to the road behind the house. “Could ya spare a wee bit of bread and water for me?”

Ella hesitated.

“I don’t want to be any trouble. Just a bit a bread and then I’ll be on me way, eh?”

“Just a moment.” She pushed the door closed.

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