Page 25 of Slippers and Thorns
“Father is here?” Justin gulped. He glanced nervously at the stable door, then turned to Lady Lucinda and bowed over her hand as smoothly as he could while preparing to make an escape (but withoutlookinglike he was making an escape, of course). “Thank you, milady, for the honor of your time. I’m afraid I must return to the castle now. I look forward to our next visit. Farewell.” Then he hurried back the way he had come as nonchalantly as he could.
“There’s that problem solved,” Charlie chuckled quietly.
Ella didn’t respond. Michael at the stables at the same time as her? And no need to find a replacement chaperone? It was almost too good to be true.
She walked slowly forward. “Hello, Michael.”
Michael had been watching his brother’s retreat with a half-smile, but at her words, he redirected his gaze to her. “Good morning, Arabella,” he greeted kindly.
“I was preparing to leave for a horseback ride. Would… would you like to come with me?” she asked hopefully.
His smile morphed into a look of chagrin. “Unfortunately, I am due back at the castle for,” he sighed, “yet another meeting.”
“Can’t you skip it?” Ella wheedled, looking up at him with her best puppy dog eyes.
A light breeze ruffled his hair as he gave her a small smile. He raised a hand as if to caress her cheek, but then glanced behind her and seemed to change his mind, letting his hand fall. “I’m afraid not.”
Trying to hide her disappointment, Ella just nodded and attempted to smile. She took a calming breath. “Have you been able to schedule some time for my archery?”
“I’m sorry,” he grimaced, “I haven’t. I’ve been running nonstop.”
“Then…” Ella hesitated. “Maybe you could find me tonight, and we can look over your schedule together?”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I have a night-patrol inspection tonight. I don’t know when I’ll be done.”
“Come whenever you finish,” she whispered. “I’ll wait up for you.”
His eyes on hers, Michael lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, then pressed it to his cheek. “I’ll try,” he promised.
A cleared throat from the side brought Ella back to an awareness of her surroundings. Face heating, she drew her hand back and took a moment to compose herself before letting her eyes slide sideways to Lady Lucinda. If she thought her cheeks were red, it was surely nothing compared to Lady Lucinda’s flaming skin as she looked at everything but her crown prince and his wife.
“If you are heading back to the castle, Michael, would Lady Lucinda be able to accompany you?” Ella requested as evenly as she could. “I am afraid I did not have a plan for her return.”
Technically, the young lady could have gone alone – she just couldn’t have gone alone with Justin – but as a noblewoman, it was more proper for her to have a companion of some variety. Presumably, that was why she had not simply fled at her first twinge of discomfort at her companions’ interaction.
“Of course,” Michael replied genially. “Father should be out soon, at which point we would be glad to escort you back, Lady Lucinda.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she murmured and curtsied. “You do me honor.”
“Yes, well, I can’t have my little brother’s friend getting lost, can I?” Michael teased, winking at Ella. She suppressed a smile as Lady Lucinda’s cheeks flared again.
“I suppose I shouldn’t keep Elizabeth and Charlie waiting,” Ella reluctantly said. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“If I can,” he promised again.
Ella made sure to pass close enough to brush his arm with hers as she entered the stable through the door Michael held open for her. As she looked over her shoulder to grin at him one last time, she saw Charlie’s lips twitching as he followed her through.
“Oh, hush,” she told him.
“I didn’t say anything!” he protested.
She buried a grin and walked deeper into the stable.
Ella sat in her favorite armchair in her sitting room. She read a book until her eyes grew tired around midnight, after which she stared into the flames of her fire until she drifted off.
The golden glow of the morning sun streaming through her unshaded window woke her, slumped in her chair.
Michael never came.
