Page 23 of Slippers and Thorns
Wringing her hands, Ella glanced around before whispering, “They don’t like me very much. Whenever I’m around them, I can hear them silently judging me. If Michael isn’t with me, they talk to me in the most condescending tones.”
Justin tilted his head and gave her an odd look. “I’ll admit they don’t treat you quite like they do Michael or Father, but I’ve never noticed anything wrong with what they say or how they say it.”
“That’s because you’re there to hear it,” Ella replied glumly. “They play nice when a member of your family is around.”
“Even after you’ve been the crown princess for over two years?” he frowned.
Ella gave him a small smile. “It’s been a while since I last gave them the chance.”
“Well, then, it’s time to find out if they’ve changed!” Justin said with a grin. “Please, Arabella?” he begged.
She sighed. “IfI can convince Lady Lucinda to leave with me, what do you plan to do? I can’t let the two of you run around without a chaperone, but I’m on my way to the stables to ride Shadow. Elizabeth and Charlie are probably already there waiting for me.”
“Hm.” He looked down as he thought for a moment. “Can’t we walk there with you?”
“That would work for the trip there,” Ella agreed, “but how do you propose to get back?”
The incorrigible teenager winked. “I’m sure something will turn up. It will work out.”
She was definitely already late, and she really didn’t want to face the lords and ladies in the salon, but…Justin’s enthusiasm had always been infectious. “All right,” she relented. “I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Arabella!” he beamed. “You’re my favorite sister-in-law.”
“I’m youronlysister-in-law,” she wryly pointed out.
“Of course!” he replied jovially as he slung an arm across her shoulders. “Come on, she’s this way!”
Justin led her back the way she had come, turned left down another hallway, and stopped outside an open door about a third of the way down. The low murmur of voices leaked out of the doorway.
“You’re sure she’s in there?” Ella asked nervously. It would be terrible to walk into the wrong salon and have to dig her way out.
“Yes,” Justin sighed, a wistful expression on his face. “I can hear her sweet voice.”
Listening, Ella thought she could pick Lady Lucinda’s soft mezzo-soprano out of the mix. “Okay,” she quietly told herself. “Keep it simple. I can do this.”
At least this was better than the time she visited Ryuni, she thought. Princess Sakura might be about the same age as Justin, but her nose was so far in the air at being introduced to a common-born princess, Ella was amazed she could still see where she was going. There were no haughty princesses here.
Only haughty nobles.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, raised her chin, and strode into the room with as much confidence as she could muster.
As soon as she crossed the threshold, the conversations in the room began to die out. Beginning with those closest to the door, the room’s occupants turned to look at her and dip into slight bows or curtsies. Murmurs of “Princess” and “Your Highness” accompanied them.
Her breathing started to quicken, but she forced it slower as she nodded as regally as she could in acknowledgement. Glancing around, she saw Lady Lucinda with a clutch of other young women to one side. Relieved that she wouldn’t have to cross the entire room, she directed her steps in the direction of her quarry.
A brunette woman about her own age smiled politely. “Good morning, Princess Arabella,” the lady greeted her. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
Ella cautiously returned the smile. She wasn’t sure the expressed pleasure was genuine. Now, what was this woman’s name? She was sure that she knew, or that she should know, anyway.
“Just a brief visit, Lady Charlotte,” Ella replied as she extracted the name from her memory. “Actually, I was hoping Lady Lucinda would do me the honor of walking with me.”
Lady Lucinda’s green eyes grew wide. “Me, Your Highness? With you?”
Ella smiled at her. “Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“The honor would be mine,” the raven-haired girl replied with a quick curtsy.
“Good day, ladies,” Ella said with another court smile. Beckoning to Lady Lucinda, she exited with as stately a pace as she could manage. It would never do to run out of the room.
