Page 81 of Slippers and Thorns
Ella could have been wrong, but she wasn’t. Apparently, Princess Helena had slipped away from her parents and brother as soon as possible, snagged a horse, and ridden for Hartford. And King Phillip didn’t feel he could send her straight home again – by herself or with a contingent of Daric guards – without the risk of offending the Ralnorans, even though King Steffan was a personal friend.
He did immediately dispatch a messenger to his friend asking for instructions regarding his daughter, but until they heard back, their uninvited guest was there to stay.
Michael had reacted as Ella expected. He invited Helena to join him and Ella in their archery sessions; Ella had gone the first couple of days, but she hadn’t bothered this morning since he barely seemed aware she was present.
His place at meals had become the chair next to his old flame, and they had plans to go horseback riding that afternoon. Michael had invited Ella to come with the small group, but was it because he truly wanted to include her, or just because he felt bad about leaving her out?
Stumbling through her door, she flopped down on a nearby sofa. Why couldn’t Helena have stayed dead?
Ella chided herself for the uncharitable thought. It wasn’t Helena’s fault that the world had changed so much in the twelve years she had been absent, nor was it her fault that Michael wasn’t setting appropriate boundaries. Although, Ella huffed, the young woman could grow up and make her own choice to leave him be.
A soft knock sounded on her door. “Your Highness? Are you in there?”
“You can come on in, Jackie,” Ella called wearily.
The door opened, and her tiny maid tripped lightly in. “Do you need my help preparing for the afternoon?”
“I might go for a ride on Shadow,” Ella replied, staring at the ceiling.
“With Prince Michael and…the others?”
She grimaced. “I haven’t decided yet. But I suppose I’ll dress for it, anyway.” She pushed off the sofa with a groan. “Although a nap is an enticing idea.”
“Are you well, Princess?” Jackie asked anxiously.
“As well as can be expected,” Ella glumly replied.
Once dressed, she wandered out to the gardens to fill the time until the group was scheduled to leave. Thoughts of Michael and Helena kept plaguing her.
Even if King Phillip were able to send Helena home, Ella couldn’t keep them apart forever. Unless something changed, this problem, this hovering around Helena, was going to happen every time Helena and Michael were together, whether in Daraigh or Ralnor. The problem wasn’t really Helena; it was Michael, because he’d been entranced even before she communicated her own continued interest.
But what could Ella do about it?
If Edna had been feeling advice-prone, she might have told Ella to confront Michael about it. Unfortunately, a mouse would probably have more luck convincing a cat not to eat it than Ella would have in talking Michael out of seeing Helena.
Because Ella couldn’t do it.
She’d managed to stand up to Helena, sort of, in Reineggburg, and she’d shown some displeasure towards Michael before for his philandering. But to actuallytalkto him about it? To tell him just what she thought and insist he change his behavior? She could sooner jump over the moon.
Trailing her hand along the evergreen hedge as she meandered through the maze, she absently turned a corner, not paying attention to where she was going. If she managed to get lost or wandered for too long and missed the group’s departure, no one would miss her. At least half of her wanted to miss it, anyway.
She’d been hearing low voices for a little while, but she had been too lost in her thoughts to pay it much mind. The sight of the embracing couple around the corner brought her back to reality, though. Embarrassed, she began to retrace her steps when her mind caught up with what she was seeing.
Or rather,whoshe was seeing.
For half a moment, she turned back in their direction, preparing to charge in and turn into a little spitfire.
But then her face crumpled, and as the tears fell from her eyes, she spun on her heel and dashed back through the maze. She didn’t know where she was going. She didn’t know what she was planning on doing. She just knew she had to get away.
“Princess?” a startled voice called out as she flew past the stables. “What’s wrong?”
Looking up, she saw a group of grooms preparing horses for the group ride. Perfect. That’s what she needed.
Changing course and slowing down so she wouldn’t spook the horses, she searched the small crowd for Shadow. She veered towards the groom holding her.
“Thank you, I’ll take her,” she said, grabbing the reins from the surprised young man. She led Shadow out of the crush, then put her foot in the stirrup and swiftly mounted, not bothering with appearances.
“Princess!” Charlie dodged a groom and reached for Shadow’s reins. “What are you doing?”
