Page 85 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

He sensed her ire and gave her a small smile. “So, what can I get you?” Then he leaned forward and whispered, “and make sure all the items areexpensive.”

Ella returned with so much food, she needed another basket to carry it all. Sugar, flour, tea, potatoes, carrots, bread, eggs, and even a slab of lean beef.

Once she was back home and all the items were unloaded and put away, she set to work cleaning the kitchen. She built a fire, brewed some tea, washed all the dishes and put them away. Then swept, mopped, and dusted. Finally, she was able to pause long enough to make her a light dinner.

By then, she was exhausted. The sun had started to set. She remained in the chair at the old, scarred, table with a cup of tea watching the fire flicker. Where was Nicholas? Was he missing her? She certainly hoped so. She missed him terribly.

She moved from the table to stoke the fire, sitting on her knees. Her lids grew heavy. The thought of walking up three flights of stairs to her room seemed daunting. She pillowed her head on her arms, watching the flames and, moments later, was fast asleep.

Nicholas sat alone in the wing-backed chair in his royal bedchamber with his legs stretched out in front of him brooding. The cup of tea he held had long since gone cold and he didn’t have the energy to move and get a fresh one.

Every day since Ella left had been a day of misery. Ten days. He’d counted.

He wanted to ask her to stay with him, but she had looked so sad he assumed she was desperately homesick. She’d disappeared so quickly with the fairy dust his mother gave her, there was no prolonged farewell.

Perhaps that was for the best.

The holiday season was officially over. His father, the king, had returned from his worldly travels. His mother was also in residence, her task of spreading the Spirit of Christmas at last complete. Though he tried to enjoy the holiday with his family, there was definitely something missing. He had a hole in his heart. A hole only Ella could fill.

A sharp knock on his door interrupted his gloominess. Without waiting for him to grant entrance, the door opened and his mother bustled in. Her silvery hair hung in long, messy waves about her face with a pinched expression.

“I’ve just had a message,” she announced without preamble. She paused for dramatic effect. “From Captain Bart.”

He turned away from the fireplace and peered at his mother. She stood with her hands on her hips looking defiant.

“And?” he asked.

“He says he found a pair of delicate glass slippers in his quarters and wondered what to do with them. He finally decided they must have belonged to the ‘girl with the luminous eyes,’” she put quotes aroundthe girl with the luminous eyes.“Nicholas, she left them behind.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose, Mother.”

“Well, you have to take them back to her.”

He jumped to his feet. “I will do no such thing.”

He marched across the room, eyeing the teapot. She followed.

“Why not?”

“Because she doesn’t want to see me.”

“Poppycock!” she said and then huffed.

Nicholas ignored her as he refilled his teacup, wishing it was something stronger. He added a dollop of cream and stirred, trying to put thoughts of Ella and the glass slippers out of his mind.

“Nicholas, darling.” She moved to stand next to him, her tone softening, as she placed a hand on his arm. “Why didn’t you ask her to stay?”

He frowned into the tawny liquid. “She seemed homesick, so I never did.”

“I don’t think she was homesick,” she said.

He cut her a sharp glance, his indignation rising. “Then why did you give her the means to return home?”

She dropped her hand. “It was an opportunity for you two to discuss your feelings for each other.”

“Feelings, Mother?”

“Yes. Iknowyou have them.” She gave him a pointed look. “I thought if faced with the real possibility of her leaving Rovenheim, you would ask her stay. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

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