Page 26 of Slippers and Thorns
CHAPTER 11
Ella
A
week passed, and then two, and still Michael hadn’t found time to teach Ella archery. He had taken her down to the practice yard once to show her the targets and where she could find a bow and arrows to borrow, but that was it.
Hoping that once she knew the basics, she could join him when he practiced, Ella determined to learn on her own. She tried researching the topic in the library, but the only books she could find on the topic were not very useful to someone with no experience.
“Is something troubling you, Your Highness?” Charlie asked carefully.
Ella was riding Shadow through a meadow outside of Hartford with her silent maid on a horse nearby and her faithful guard trailing slightly as he kept an eye out for potential threats. It was an overcast day but not muggy, so overall, not a terrible day for a ride. But rather than cantering or even trotting, they were walking – although Shadow kept tossing her head impatiently – and Ella had just sighed for the third time.
“Whatever gives you that idea?” she replied with a tired grin, looking at him over her shoulder.
He shifted in his saddle, making the leather squeak against his clothing. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. It’s not my place.”
“Nonsense,” she said, shaking her head at him as she returned her gaze to the path ahead of her. “It may be your job to look out for me, but I consider you a friend. You’re allowed to ask.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes. Ella pondered what she should tell the young man behind her. As she had told him, she thought of him as her friend, but that didn’t mean it was appropriate to complain – or appear to complain – about her husband to him. Especially when her husband was the crown prince, and the friend in question was a royal guard.
Not to mention, his wasn’t the only set of ears at the moment.
“Charlie,” she finally ventured, “you know how to use a bow and arrow, don’t you?”
She could almost see the bemused expression on his face, even though she wasn’t facing him. “I’m not an expert, but I wouldn’t be your guard if I wasn’t proficient,” he answered slowly. “Why do you ask?”
She took a breath. “Would you be willing to teach me?”
Elizabeth choked.
“I’m not sure the king would approve, Your Highness,” Charlie replied hesitantly.
“He already gave me permission to learn!” Ella protested, twisting to face him. “He decided that it was an acceptable activity for a princess.”
She could see the indecision on Charlie’s face. The idea made him uncomfortable for some reason, but since King Phillip had not forbidden it, he didn’t want to refuse her.
“Please,” she begged, pulling back on Shadow’s reins so she could ride next to Charlie instead of in front of him. “If I know how to shoot, then—” she hesitated, not sure if she was about to share too much, “then maybe I can fit into Michael’s day better.”
The knowing look Charlie gave her had traces of compassion in it. Ella dropped her eyes to Shadow’s mane, unable to face it. “Why don’t you ask Prince Michael to teach you, then?” he asked gently.
She twisted the reins in her hands. “I have. Over and over. He hasn’t had time.”
After a few moments, Charlie let out a deep sigh. “All right. I’m not much of a teacher, but I can try to help you with the basics.”
“Really?” Ella asked, lifting her eyes back to his.
He grimaced and looked up at the sky. “Yes,” he groaned.
Ella grinned. “Thank you. Thank you, Charlie!” Perking up, she nudged Shadow forward. “Race you to the trees!”
As they took off, she thought she heard Charlie mutter something about the stocks and dungeons, but she was filled with too much hope to properly process her guard’s mood.
Ella gritted her teeth and pulled. The bow bent a little, but as before, her right hand couldn’t seem to make it past her left shoulder. Straining, she fought to straighten her left arm before giving up the struggle and releasing the tension.
Charlie appeared to be wobbling between a frown and an unhelpful snort of laughter.
“It’s a lot harder than you make it look,” Ella complained. “I used to spend my days doing manual labor,” she huffed. “I thought I was stronger than this.”
