Page 100 of Slippers and Thorns
“Prince Raphael?” Ella exclaimed disbelievingly. “Surely not!”
Shrugging, he said, “I find it hard to believe, too. It’s more of a rumor at this point, though – we don’t have an official statement from the general.”
They fell back into silence, Ella wondering how anyone could believe that the stoic young man would murder his own father. He was a more likely candidate than his quiet, bookworm younger brother, Prince Cedric, but she had never sensed any bad blood between them when she and Mike visited Amitié, nor had she seen anything to suggest that the crown prince was overeager to be king.
Thinking about the difficult situation in the kingdom on their northwestern border drew Ella’s thoughts back to an unsettling situation in their northern neighbor, as well. Katy’s baby was due to be born in a few months. While Ella hadn’t had the opportunity to travel to Ralnor for a face-to-face with her friend, Katy’s pregnancy had finally come up in their letters. Ella couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was, but something was off in how Katy wrote about it.
Almost like she wasn’t pleased to be finally providing her kingdom with an heir.
That was impossible, though. Katy loved children; why wouldn’t she be excited about having her own?
“Your Highness!” a voice behind them called just as they reached the training yard. Mike made a face before pasting on a court smile and turning to face the speaker.
“Yes, Lord Humphrey?” he said politely.
“I was hoping to catch you,” the plump older gentleman puffed as he hustled over to them. “We really must discuss the details for the proposed new road to Hamshire. I have discovered a problem with the intended funding source—”
Ella fought to keep a polite smile on her own face as her heart sank. She had been looking forward to a little bit of archery with Mike, chilly February temperatures or not. After lunch, she would be helping with the food distribution, so even if he was free after, she would be busy. But now he was going to walk back to the castle with Lord Humphrey to handle affairs of state, just like he always did, and she would have to walk back to her quarters alone to fritter away the half hour that was supposed to be spent with Mike.
She could feel the resentment creeping in, but she sternly reminded herself again that she had forgiven him. She could forgive him again today.
“I’m sorry, Lord Humphrey,” Mike interrupted. “The road is important, and I am eager to resolve any of the potential issues regarding its funding. However, now is not a good time. If it is too urgent to wait for our meeting at the end of the week, you will need to submit a request to my father’s secretary, as is standard, and he will arrange a time to discuss it.”
“But—but the road—” the other man stammered.
“Will have to wait,” Mike stated firmly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m already late.” Then without further ado, he turned his back on the economic advisor, tugged lightly on Ella’s hand, and strolled into the training yard.
Instead of watching where she was going, Ella let Mike pull her along as she stared up at him. Had he really just chosen her over an advisor?
“What?” he asked when he noticed her scrutiny.
“You told him no,” she replied in awe.
Mike shrugged. “I promised I was going to do better, and I am trying. Whatever Lord Humphrey wants can almost certainly wait. If nothing else, it can wait until Father’s secretary bumps something else –afterour target practice.” He scrunched his nose. “Besides, that man could talk the ear off a donkey. Why would I trade time with you to listen to him jabber about nothing?”
Ella squeezed his hand and smiled up at him, remembering the time when he would have. “Thank you, Mike.”
“You’re welcome, Ella,” he said, returning the pressure.
Their archery wasn’t special by any objective measure. Ella was past needing the kind of help that gave Mike the excuse to put his arms around her, so they didn’t have any physical contact; instead, they simply shot arrows at a target and talked from time to time. But it was thirty minutes of spending time with him – thirty minutes that Lord Humphrey would have managed to steal from her a few short months ago. And that made it priceless to Ella.
“I saw Charlie yesterday,” Ella offered as they meandered back to the castle afterwards.
Mike scowled. “Really?”
“Oh, calm down, Mike,” she scolded. “He may be Justin’s guard now, but I’m still allowed to talk to him. Besides, when I said ‘I saw him’, I meant ‘Isawhim’. From a distance.”
“Sorry,” Mike sighed. “You’re right. So, what about him?”
Ella pushed the irritation down. He was trying, she reminded herself. He was doing better. “I saw him walking with Jackie, my maid.”
“Shocking,” Mike drawled.
Scowling, she replied, “I thought it was adorable. I’m fairly certain she’s sweet on him, but I’ve rarely seen him off-duty, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him spending time with a young woman. I was hoping it means he’s sweet on her, too.”
“You were hoping it means—” Mike cut himself off. “Never mind.”
“What were you going to say?”
