Page 57 of Slippers and Thorns
“That’s right,” the maid confirmed. “Well, I think I heard one or two were all fidgety instead of being frozen in place. And one might have been moving towards the tower like a zombie. But whenever it happens, something happens to every single male in the castle or its grounds.”
“Sounds like nonsense to me,” Michael declared. “There’s nothing that could cause that. And why only the men, and not the women?” He shook his head. “I think the old staff is trying to pull one over on the new members.”
Jackie pulled back, affronted. “As you say, Your Highness.”
She soon had them deposited in their joint quarters. Ella shooed her away, assuring her that her assistance would not be required for some time yet. With a knowing look, Jackie allowed herself to be tossed out.
That was when Ella realized that with her maid absent, she was alone with Michael. Again.
He must have still been upset about her reaction in the courtyard, though, because instead of commenting on it, he simply draped his cloak over the sofa and lowered himself onto it to remove his boots. He didn’t even look at her as he rose and crossed to the wardrobes just inside the bedroom door, unfastening the buttons on his traveling shirt as he went.
Relieved, Ella removed her own cloak and laid it next to his. She began the process of changing from her riding outfit to one of her dinner gowns. It was possible to do on her own, just as she had the last two days, but it was more difficult to fiddle with the fastenings on her back herself than to let someone else do it. She mumbled irritated nonsense under her breath. What had she been thinking when she sent Jackie away?
The fabric eased away from her fingers as Michael gently took over closing the dress for her. She tensed as his hands moved up her back, but they didn’t stray from their job.
As she wasn’t in front of her mirror, she couldn’t see him without turning and pulling the dress from him. Even when he finished, though, and his hands dropped, she didn’t turn. Would now be when he made his move? Surely it would be better to leave her back to him in that case… right?
He wasn’t touching her, but she could tell he was mere inches away. His nose was right behind her ear as he stood silent and still, his breath the barest tickle at the hairline on her neck.
Just as she convinced herself she should say something – or at least attempt to move away – Michael took a step back. Without a word, he retreated to the bedroom in his stocking feet.
So that’s why I didn’t hear him,Ella thought wryly as she heard the brief sound of boots dragging along the bottom of a wardrobe.He must have paused his own preparations to help me.
It was kind of him, she admitted to herself. After the way she’d been treating him, he would have been perfectly justified in leaving her to struggle through on her own, or at the very least, making her wait until he was ready himself. She’d been expecting him to take advantage of the position – after all, technically his agreement to not touch her while in their room had ended when they arrived – and instead, he’d been a gentleman.
Strange how an act of kindness could make her so conflicted.
Ella finished with her dress and hair, slipped on a pair of shoes, then wandered over to the sofa where Michael now sat waiting. He looked relaxed, with one ankle crossed over the opposite knee and the arm not on an armrest stretched across the back of the sofa. The tapping of his fingers on the sofa back betrayed a slight restlessness, though.
She was briefly tempted to sit beside him and snuggle into the comfortable spot she knew existed under his shoulder, but she resisted. After all, she was angry at him. The only reason any of this was happening was because they were on a king-mandated break. Otherwise, he would be tied up in endless meetings, and she would likely be headed to dinner on her own.
It had been a very, very long time since she last enjoyed that cozy spot next to him. He was always too busy.
Ella pushed away the longing that snuck in behind the bitterness of that thought and resolutely turned her face to the fire.
“Are you ready?” Michael carelessly asked. When she nodded, he rose and offered her his arm. “Shall we, then?”
His air of easy indifference as they walked down the hall was so studied, Ella felt certain he must still be irritated and had decided to hide it. Well, that was fine with her. After all, she wasn’t pleased with him, either.
Sitting through a silent dinner for two made her start to question her philosophy. Michael didn’t ignore her like he had when he was dallying with Lady Ilse or Lady Charlotte, but he wasn’t good company, either. And with no other company except the servers – her constant guard had been deemed no longer necessary – she found herself noticing the loneliness after the quiet past two days.
Ella cleared her throat as she delicately speared a piece of red velvet cake with her fork. Michael looked up from his own plate and cocked an eyebrow expectantly. “I wanted to thank you for helping me with my dress,” she primly told him.
“It was my pleasure.” Then he went back to pleasantly consuming his dessert.
Ella frowned slightly with frustration. It wasn’t that shewantedto talk to a self-centered workaholic,exactly. Even if he had done a couple of things lately worthy of her gratitude. However, there was no one else available.
“It was very considerate of you,” she tried.
Michael leaned back slightly in his chair and began tapping his fingers on the table as he surveyed her. It was an unusual act for him; as crown prince, he typically kept his body language under tight control. Perhaps he felt sufficiently out of the public eye in the current setting? But what did the tapping signify?
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Michael casually asked as he resumed eating.
Ella chewed her bite of cake slowly as she thought. Swallowing it, she replied, “I don’t know. I’m not sure what my options are. Perhaps explore the grounds?”
“You expressed an interest in archery once.” Ella watched him warily, wondering where he was going with this. “Would you still like to learn?”
“My first attempt didn’t turn out so well.”
