Page 40 of Slippers and Thorns
His lip curled in a sneer. “To keep up appearances. It would never do for the court to realize where yourtrueinterest lies,” he mocked.
Ella puffed up. “Oh, you mean like you and Lady Charlotte?” she growled. “I can see how that keeps the court in the dark!”
Michael simply smirked. “It has its benefits.” Giving her a careless wave, he started walking away. “Until later, mydearwife.”
Balling up her fists as she watched him go, Ella remembered her purpose when she felt her hands close around the package. She almost chased after him but let out a sigh instead. Her offering was unlikely to have the desired effect after a fight like that.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?” asked Henry tentatively. Ella was mildly surprised to realize he was concerned about her emotional wellbeing; usually, Charlie was the only member of her guard who did.
“I’m fine,” she replied, trying and failing to muster up a smile. “It’s no more than I should have expected.”
Henry didn’t look reassured, but he fell into step behind her as Ella slowly walked off in the opposite direction from Michael.
She wandered aimlessly through the halls, twisting the paper-wrapped package in her hands as her thoughts refused to settle.
He hated her. He had decided that she had betrayed him, and now he hated her. He ignored her whenever he didn’t feel obligated to notice her. He hadn’t ruined her reputation, but he carelessly flaunted his disregard of her by parading about with another woman.
The pretty dream she had built in her mind when he asked her to marry him was not only tarnished but shattered and in ruins at her feet.
It was all over. He didn’t love her anymore.
She could never make him love her again.
What was the use in continuing to try?
Lifting her head wearily, she realized her feet had carried her to Michael’s door. He wouldn’t be in the room, of course; he was in a meeting. But she lifted her hand to knock anyway.
The rap of her knuckles was barely a tap that Michael wouldn’t have heard even if he were there. Sagging against the door, she scrunched up her face to hold back the tears. She couldn’t cry in the hallway – even if no one was around but Henry, she couldn’t cry!
Grasping the door handle, she turned it, seeking escape in the closest room.
“I know you’re upset,” Henry interrupted, clearing his throat. “But if Prince Michael’s room is mysteriously in shambles, I’ll have to confess to seeing you enter if I’m asked. Even if I wouldn’t blame you.” He gave her the ghost of a wink.
Ella smiled wanly. “Don’t worry, Henry, I’m not going to get you into trouble.”
Slipping through the door, she closed it behind herself and then leaned back against it, finally letting her face crumple. Silently sobbing, she covered her face with her hands… and whacked herself in the forehead with something rather solid.
Surprised, she looked at the package that she had once again forgotten that she still held.
“What a waste,” she sighed. “I can’t believe I bothered. What do I do with it now?”
She stared at the package, turning it over in her hands. She’d had such high hopes for it an hour ago.
Love is more than just feelings, dearie, she heard in her memory.Love is an action. Right now, you mustchooseto love your husband through your actions. The feelings will follow.
Ella scoffed. What good would that do if he didn’t care about her?
The best way to win someone’s love is to show them that you love them, the memory responded.
Frowning, she patted the package against her free hand as she looked around the room. A vague idea formed in her mind, but she didn’t want to do it. Her anger and pain insisted that Michael didn’t deserve it.
Break the cycle bychoosingto forgive him, the memory scolded.
Ella scowled at the nuisance-of-a-voice in her head. “I don’t feel like it,” she pouted.
Love is more than just feelings, dearie, the voice gently admonished.Love is an action.
She was going to have to have a talk with Edna about the stickiness of her words.
