Page 24 of Slippers and Thorns
When she didn’t see Justin waiting for them, Ella began the walk towards the stable. He knew where she was going; he would catch up.
Lady Lucinda walked silently beside her, her hands folded demurely in front of her. Finally, she awkwardly ventured, “Was there something you wished to speak to me about?”
“I imagine you’ll understand soon,” Ella replied mysteriously.
Sure enough, when they rounded the corner, Justin was waiting for them. His eyes lit up when he saw Ella’s companion.
“Prince Justin!” the young lady exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Trying to ensure that you would be far enough away from the salon to prevent anyone from hearing your greeting,” he glibly replied. “Maybe I should have moved a little farther away.”
“I…I…” Lady Lucinda fumbled for words, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. “Did you know Princess Arabella was going to ask me to walk with her?”
Justin shrugged. “I didn’t know what she was going to say to you. But I did ask her to fetch you.” He hesitated. “Do you mind?”
“I…I’m supposed to be—” she stammered.
“I’m headed to the stables,” Ella cut in. “I agreed to walk the two of you that far, at which point Justin sanguinely believes a solution for your return to the salon will present itself. If you do not wish to go, you do not have to.”
Lady Lucinda quickly looked at Justin, then cast her eyes to the floor, still blushing furiously. “No, I—I mean, I would be pleased to accompany you.”
Ella hid her smile as Justin grinned like an idiot. “Well, why don’t the two of you start heading that way? I’ll follow as soon as I tie my bootlaces.”
Her boot wasn’t untied, of course, but she was fairly certain both of her companions would prefer to lack her immediate presence. Justin gallantly offered his arm, which Lady Lucinda shyly accepted, and they began to stroll down the hallway. Ella waited until there was enough space between them to allow her to supervise without crowding them, then trailed behind them, a soft smile on her face as she watched.
“There you are, Princess,” Charlie called as she, Justin, and Lady Lucinda entered the stable yard. “I was just about to come looking for you. Did you get lost?” he joked.
“No, just being a good ‘sister’,” she replied, still watching the young couple. Abruptly, she asked, “Do you think she really likes him, or is she just interested in his title?”
Charlie cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I’m not very familiar with most members of the nobility.”
“No, I suppose not,” Ella mused.
“Although,” he continued after a short silence, “it is my understanding that most of her rank are highly motivated by such things.”
“Yes.” Ella began walking towards the stable building again. “I want to believe she really likes him. She seems like a good girl, one who is intelligent enough to realize that the title of ‘Princess’ isn’t that valuable.” She couldn’t see Charlie, as he was walking a few paces behind her, but she knew he was giving her a side-eye. “The title was an unfortunate side effect of marrying Mike,” she wryly told him over her shoulder. “It wasn’t really something I was looking for.”
“Shall I inform Elizabeth that you are ready to head out, Your Highness?”
“No, I have to figure out what to do with them first,” she replied, gesturing at Justin and Lady Lucinda, who had stopped just outside the stable door.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m their chaperone,” Ella explained. “But we can’t take them with us because Justin needs to return to his tutor and Lady Lucinda was just taking a ‘walk’ with me. There aren’t any convenient maids or footmen out here that I can send back with them, are there?”
“Actually,” Charlie began, “at the moment—”
A tall man with silky black hair exited the stable at that moment. “Justin?” he said, startled. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, hey, Michael,” Justin easily replied while Lady Lucinda ducked her head to hide a blush. “Lady Lucinda and I were keeping Arabella company.”
Ella felt her own cheeks redden slightly when Michael shifted his gaze to her. Justin didn’t seem – outwardly, anyway – to anticipate any ill consequences from his brother’s knowledge of his absence from his studies, but she wasn’t as confident that Michael wouldn’t disapprove of her abetting him.
Her fears appeared to be unfounded, however, as he simply nodded to her before returning his attention to his younger brother. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Hudson?”
Justin shrugged. “What are you out here for, Michael?” he asked, sidestepping the question.
Michael gave his brother a look that said he knew exactly what he was up to, but he answered Justin’s question anyway. “Father and I were visiting with the stable master about the expansion project.”
