Page 79 of Slippers and Thorns
Her face broke into a wide smile as she changed course. “Lady Lucinda, it’s good to see you,” she greeted when she was close enough. “How are you doing?”
“Well, thank you. Did you have a good trip?”
“It was…interesting.” Ella ducked her head while Lady Lucinda bit her lip uncertainly. Changing the topic, she said, “I notice you’re at the castle at this late hour.”
Even in the twilight, Ella could see a slight blush grace the younger woman’s cheeks. “Yes. Although my grandmother has a house in town, Queen Elaine has graciously offered me the use of one of the guest rooms.”
“Not a guest suite?” Ella asked, surprised.
“I—yes, it is one of the suites,” Lady Lucinda admitted.
Her confusion was sweet, Ella thought. And the fact that she was embarrassed, rather than preening, suggested that the benefits of a royal connection were not her aim, which raised her in Ella’s estimation. She considered teasing her companion about the younger prince, but decided that she’d said enough for the moment. The simple fact that the queen had moved her into the castle indicated that the relationship was progressing nicely; Lady Lucinda’s family wasn’t of quite high enough rank to earn her a spot otherwise when her family had their own lodgings nearby.
Lady Charlotte had only been in the castle because her father was a duke. Unfortunately.
Ella sternly pushed thoughts of her ex-rival out of her mind. Michael had dismissed the noblewoman rather rudely; it was unlikely that she would be a problem in the future.
Even when shewasa problem, she was less of a threat than Princess Helena.
“I would love to see it,” Ella told her. “May I have a tour?”
“Aren’t you waiting for Prince Michael?”
“Aren’t you waiting for Justin?” Ella returned with a raised eyebrow.
“I—why would you think—” Lady Lucinda stammered.
Rolling her eyes, Ella said, “Lady Lucinda—”
“Just Lucinda, please,” the lady in question interrupted.
“Lucinda, then. I have eyes in my head. I may be a little slow at picking up on social cues sometimes, but even I can tell what’s going on.”
“Going on?” Lucinda squeaked. “N-nothing’s—”
“There’s no use denying it.” The blush was impossible to miss by now. Ella leaned closer. “I know you don’t need my approval, but if it helps, you have it.” Winking, she straightened. “Now, do we need to wait on the boys, or shall we go survey your new quarters?”
Thankfully, Lucinda decided that it was better to disappear with Ella than risk the princes coming over and witnessing her deep embarrassment, because it meant Ella missed King Phillip’s arrival and Michael’s explanation of their failure to stay away for the required length of time. King Phillip’s temporary ire, she could manage; Michael’s description of Helena’s discovery, on the other hand, she preferred to avoid. Even though Michael undoubtedly had the good sense to leave out the “true love” bit.
A knock on her door mid-morning the next day startled her out of her reverie as she stood moodily at her window. Even greater was her surprise when she opened it to find Michael standing in the hallway.
“I didn’t see you at breakfast,” he commented, holding out a napkin-wrapped jelly-filled doughnut. “I thought you might be hungry. Is everything all right?”
“Thank you,” she murmured, taking the offering. She took in the practical leather outfit under his cloak. “As much as it can be, I suppose. Are you going somewhere?”
He adjusted his bracers. “I have a free hour to train. Would you like to join me for the archery portion?”
“Are you sure you don’t have me confused with someone else?” she asked coolly, taking a careful bite of the doughnut. A string of jelly tried to break and swing onto her dress, but she managed to catch it. So much for looking dignified. Maybe she should avoid eating while snubbing in the future.
Michael folded his arms across his chest and dropped his shoulder against the doorframe with a sigh. “Ella, we practiced together every day the entire time we were at Reineggburg. I thought the whole point of you learning was so you could join me.”
“Maybe.” Dratted doughnut. It was her favorite kind, but it wasnotcooperating. “But that was before you found a better partner.”
“Before I—Ella, I am asking you to spend time with me,” Michael growled in frustration. “How does that make me the bad guy?”
“Maybe because I’m a convenient replacement,” Ella retorted. Her eyes were starting to burn, but she refused to let him see her cry. Blinking rapidly, she opened her mouth, but she couldn’t think of a properly-cutting reply in the time left before the tears spilled over, so she closed it again, stepped back, and slammed the door in his face.
She heard the scuff of his boots and a muttered word of which his mother would have disapproved as he leapt away from the doorframe to avoid it.
