Page 28 of Slippers and Thorns
“I did it! Sort of,” she exclaimed. Delighted, she turned her head to smile at her teacher and froze when she realized how very close their faces were and how his chest was practically against her back now that the bow was drawn. Suddenly, her face went red as several things came into focus for her.
Why Katy thought she should learn archery.
Why King Phillip, who seemed aware of the tension between his son and daughter-in-law and desirous of mending it, had agreed to let her and had instructed Michael to teach her.
Why Charlie’s normally-cheerful face had been warped in a grimace since almost the moment they entered the practice area.
“I—” she stammered, flinging her face to the front.
“Sir!” Charlie shouted, releasing the bow as he straightened into a salute. The arrow Ella had nocked flew off the string, lodging itself into the ground a few feet away, when her shaking arm failed to slow the string sufficiently. Looking up, she felt her face pale when she saw the reason Charlie had let go.
Michael, his face closed off and hard, was standing a short distance away and staring at them.
“Good afternoon, Michael,” Ella greeted, trying to keep her voice steady. “Charlie was just trying to teach me archery. I thought, since you hadn’t had time yet, that—”
“You do not need to explain,” Michael cut her off, his voice cold. “I see you’ve found a replacement for me.”
“Michael,” Ella begged, worried that his simple statement had a double meaning. “I was only—”
He bowed slightly and turned away. “Good day.”
“Michael!” Ella called after him. Tossing the bow on the ground, she picked up her skirts in one hand and began to follow him as swiftly as she could. “Michael, wait!”
She barely noticed the silence in the practice area as the guards ceased their exercise and watched her chase the prince towards the doors. “Michael!” The heel on one of her shoes sank into a soft spot in the ground, causing her to stumble. She paused to rip the annoying things from her feet. When she looked up, he was gone.
Tears filled her eyes. “Michael,” she whispered. “What have I done?”
CHAPTER 12
Ella
I
t was worse than when he had paid his attentions to Lady Ilse in Ralnor.
With Lady Ilse, she didn’t understand why he had decided to ignore her for another woman, but at least the lady was an unlikely match for him, and it had lasted only a short time before they reconciled. He had seemed repentant afterwards, even if he had never quite come out and apologized.
This time, she felt fairly certain she knew why he was showering Lady Charlotte with smiles and fond glances. Even though she was innocent of what he believed, she had to admit it had looked suspicious, especially given how flustered she had been when he “caught” her.
To make matters worse, Lady Charlotte, the daughter of a Daric duke, was much better mannered than Lady Ilse. She had a sweeter temperament and, while a proper court lady, spouted fewer inane comments than Lady Ilse. True, Michael hadn’t chosen her before the fateful ball, but she seemed exactly the type of lady to captivate him. And rather than days, it had been weeks, and still he was barely more than civil to Ella – and that only when he had to be – while he rained praise and time on Lady Charlotte.
Even his many meetings, which previously had stolen so many precious moments from him and Ella, were unable to keep him from Lady Charlotte.
King Phillip frowned at them at meals, both family-only and public. Ella believed he may have had a private conversation or two with his son, but he had not ejected Lady Charlotte from his castle, nor had he, to Ella’s knowledge, spoken with her regarding her reception of Michael’s attentions. Ella wasn’t sure if he thought she might be completely innocent in the affair or if he was hoping she was unaware and didn’t want to alert her to his concerns.
Arrangements had been made to lease Reineggburg, with restoration costs to be shared between the two crowns. But Ella had little hope now of convincing Michael to return to it with her once they were able.
Finally, Ella snapped. She was standing at her window watching Michael stroll arm-in-arm with Lady Charlotte down the path outside, when suddenly she decided she had to get away. Riding was no good – even if she was out of the city, she would still be expected to appear and behave like a princess. And Charlie had been poor company – understandably – since the failed archery lesson. She didn’t want to inflict being alone with him (Elizabeth didn’t really count) on either of them. Nor did she want the silent, professional companion that any of her other guards would be.
She needed out, and she didn’t want a tail. But if she tried to walk out of the castle, one of her guards would be sure to follow her, especially once she headed out of the gates.
Then it occurred to her. Princess Arabella would be followed into the city by a personal guard…but a simple serving girl would escape notice.
Stripping the many hairpins out of her fancy hairstyle, Ella headed toward a chest at the foot of her bed. She tossed the discarded pins on the vanity as she passed. When she reached the chest, she paused, her hand hovering over the latch, then quickly unfastened it and lifted the lid.
Instead of the fancy dresses hanging in her wardrobe, the chest held old, rough clothing in drab colors. A pair of worn leather boots sat to one side. The only piece of jewelry was a simple necklace of wooden beads.
Ella lifted the necklace slowly, staring at it with mixed feelings. A kind neighbor had given it to her after her stepmother pawned Ella’s nicer jewelry. She had had one precious bead necklace remaining that her father had given her shortly before he died…and then her stepmother took that, too. Ella had been heartbroken to lose it, so the neighbor, knowing she wouldn’t be allowed to keep anything of value, gave her the only replacement he could after finding her crying in his fields. It belonged to her old life, which she had been more than happy to leave, but it carried priceless memories.
