Page 75 of Slippers and Thorns
“Of course, Princess.” And if his eyes acknowledged his understanding of her actions, nothing else did.
A slight snore drew her eyes back to Michael. His arms were folded across his chest, and his shoulders seemed hunched, even in his sleep. He coughed before falling still again.
She could do him this one courtesy.
Snatching up his cloak, she laid it out over him; it would keep him a little warmer. Once that was done, she headed out the door.
Ella breathed a small sigh of relief when she found the dining room empty. She was sure Princess Helena was a delightful person – young Michael had been in love with her, after all – but she had no desire to spend any more time with the princess than necessary.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t quite finished when the door swung open. In stepped Helena, her chestnut hair pulled back in a practical knot at the back of her head, a pretty but practical dress that was a little tight and short gracing her form, and a pair of well-worn gauntlets on her hands. Over all was a heavy cloak.
“Have you seen Michael?” the foreign princess asked in a disgruntled voice. “I’ve been waiting for him for over an hour.”
Calmly sipping her tea, Ella cheered internally. He’d stood her up, even if it was unintentional. “He was sound asleep when I left our quarters.”
Helena grumbled as she dropped into a chair and grabbed a pastry from a tray on the table. “He’s gotten lazy in his old age. But I suppose after breakfast will do just as well.” Then louder, “Do you know when he might show up here?”
“I’m afraid not,” Ella replied repressively. “He seemed rather tired after the strain of yesterday. I thought I would take him a small breakfast to eat whenever he wakes.”
“I’ll come with you,” the undaunted young woman volunteered. Standing, she grabbed an empty plate and began loading it with food.
“That won’t be necessary,” Ella protested, holding up a hand. “I can—”
“Oh, it’s no trouble,” Helena assured her. “It’s not like I have anything else to do.”
Ella held her facial expression to a creased brow, but she wanted to snarl. Her marriage was complicated enough without her husband’s old girlfriend sticking her nose into everything.
“If you insist,” she said as politely as she could. Picking up her own now-empty plate, she selected several items she knew Michael preferred and arranged them neatly. It was easier than her hair, so she may as well take whatever advantage presentation could give her. Not that this was a competition.
On the way, Charlie passed by and decided to join them, insisting he wanted to check in on Oliver. One of Helena’s eyebrows rose at the information that there was a guardsman at their quarters, but she said nothing.
Ella surreptitiously observed the young woman as they walked. She wanted to feel nothing but anger towards someone who could so callously declare herself the true love of another woman’s husband. As she noticed the way the ill-fitting dress bunched and pulled, though, exposing too much of Helena’s shoes, she felt the stirrings of pity.
“What was it like?” Ella asked abruptly.
Helena turned to her, startled. “What was what like?” she asked.
“Being asleep for twelve years,” Ella clarified. “Dropping one moment, and the next thing you know, you’re waking up with a much-older Michael kneeling beside you?”
Helena shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. It wasn’t the next thing I knew.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t asleep the whole time,” Helena said slowly. “I mean, I believe I slept part of the time, because I had dreams. But for much of it, even though I couldn’t move, I was aware.”
Ella’s mouth dropped open. Did that make it better, or worse?
“From what I understand, Fabian, the magic user who cursed me, was upset because he was banished from Ralnor. He used to be one of Father’s advisors, but he did bad things with magic, so Father kicked him out. Fabian wanted to get back at him, so he cursed me to fall into an endless ‘sleep’ where I would continue to age and wouldn’t be able to move, but would still be able to hear.” She paused.
“And I could. The frantic cries of the servants who found me, the panicked shouts to send word to my parents,” Helena said, her eyes distant. “My mother’s anguished sobs as she sat by my bed, my older brother stomping around the room, my father’s teeth grinding. I heard it all.
“After they left, all I heard was nature for a long time – birds singing, rain pounding on the roof, things like that. When I finally heard voices again, I was relieved. But nothing happened. A while later, the voices returned, accompanied by hammers, but still no one came.” She dropped her eyes to the plate of food she was carrying as her voice grew quieter. “I was beginning to think no one ever would.”
Then her eyes burned, and she looked at Ella. “But I heard my mother say that one day a kiss from my true love would awaken me,” she said fiercely, “and it was that thought that kept me going through all the long months when it seemed like no one would come. I knew Michael would come find me. So don’t you think that just because you tricked him into marrying you that you will be able to keep him. Don’t you think for one minute that I won’t get to have my true love! He lovesme.”
And Ella didn’t reply, because she wasn’t sure she could deny it.
“Here we are,” Ella said, feigning brightness as they arrived at her door. “Thank you for your help, but I should be able to take it from here.” She held out her hand expectantly, hoping she appeared confident even as she quivered inside.
