Page 99 of Slippers and Thorns
“Come again?” Michael blinked.
Justin’s perpetual grin grew bigger as they cleared the doorway and entered the warmth of the building. “Didn’t you know? We all worked together to help Arabella in her quest to track you down. And, of course, to keep the harpy from getting her claws into Arabella more often than necessary.”
Ella gasped. “The day we ran into you and Lucinda in the market!” she exclaimed. “I thought you and Lucinda were just chatting about her day, but you were actually relaying information to Charlie, weren’t you?”
Justin winked at her. “Clever as always, my darling sister-in-law. So, can I have him?”
Ella glanced over at Michael, who had a politely-interested expression on his face, but seemed to be carefully keeping his thoughts on the subject to himself.
“As long as Charlie is fine with it,” she slowly said, “I have no reason to deny your request. But perhaps you’ll do me the return favor, Justin, of suggesting a replacement?”
“I’ll take care of that,” Michael cut in.
“Are you sure?” Justin asked, his eyes bright. “I could think of several decent candidates—”
“Positive,” Michael said firmly. Justin just laughed.
Ella allowed herself a sad internal smile. She would miss Charlie, but it was probably for the best. It would be a lot harder for Michael’s jealousy to resurface if it was his brother that Charlie was always following around. Besides, she couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be for Charlie to be her guard, now that she knew how he felt.
Not that he had admitted it, of course. But now that she was looking for it, it was there, even though he did an admirable job of hiding it. He was a good man, and it would be a kindness to decrease his troubles in this way.
Her gaze traveled to her husband at her side. Charlie was a good man, but he wasn’t the only one. A man who was willing to admit his mistakes, to seek forgiveness, and to strive to be better was a good man, too.
EPILOGUE
Ella
C
oming!” Ella called, hurrying to finish off her braid with a ribbon. She rushed over to pull open the door, revealing Mike in his sturdy leather training outfit. He carried the bow and quiver of arrows she’d given him three months before.
“Are you ready, Ella?” he asked with a smile.
Ella stepped back and waved him in. “I still need to put on my gauntlets, but I can do that while we walk. Give me a moment to grab them.”
She skipped back to her bedroom and scooped the gauntlets off her dressing table where she’d left them. Spinning around, she found Mike standing right behind her.
“Mike!” she squeaked as he grinned and leaned in for a kiss. The quiver at his waist swung into her leg; he must have left the bow in her sitting room. “You’re going to run out of time if we don’t leave now.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I can miss a day of training if I have to,” he purred, trailing his nose down her cheek to her neck. “Or I can do it later. At the moment, I find myself far more interested in you.”
Laughing, Ella leaned back and pushed lightly on his chest. “But I can’t go down to the training yard by myself. Besides, the days are still too short; it will be too dark to train by the time you finish your day, whereas this could be done after dark.”
“Promise?” Mike asked, his eyes playful and bright.
She took a brief moment to watch him. Even after three months, it was still a little strange to be so intimate after the months of their near-estrangement. For so long, she had believed she would never have this again, and now, here she was, having to be the reasonable one about their schedule because he was more interested in…other things.
Not that she was complaining.
“Yes, I promise. After supper, we can pick up where we left off. But now, we should really get down to the archery field.” She patted his chest with one hand.
“If you insist.” He kissed her once more, then grabbed one of her hands and trotted back out to the sitting room to fetch his bow, dragging her behind him.
She made him release her hand briefly so she could pull on her gauntlets, but then she happily let him reclaim it for the remainder of the walk.
“Have you heard anything new about the situation in Amitié?” she asked as they walked.
Mike frowned slightly. “Nothing that can be substantiated,” he replied slowly. “General Valentin, as you know, declared himself temporary regent while he investigates King Antoine’s death.” Ella nodded. “He is claiming Raphael is at fault.”
