“I know,” he said. “That’s why I came to you. You’ve seen her size and are an expert seamstress.”
Gertrude was still grimacing.
“And you’re the only one I know who uses fairy magic.”
Now her face morphed into a wide grin again, and she let out a soft howl of laughter. “So, now you believe me about fairy magic?”
He smiled back at her and shook his head. “Not really,” he said. “But if you pull this off, I will.”
“A little fairy magic and one perfect outfit coming up,” Gertrude said with a wink. “By the way, I’m a whiz with shoes.” With that she turned and flitted away.
* * *
Ella had asked her stepmother several times that day if she would be able to go to the ball if she finished her chores and Lady Kenna assured her she would. She wasn’t quite sure she believed Lady Kenna was sincere, but she knew Marigold would do everything in her power to make sure her mother kept her word.
Marigold had been less helpful with the chores. She’d sneak off for a minute or two to help, but then got called back by her mother or Bathilda. Not to mention that Marigold also had to get ready for the ball and wanted to look nice. She knew Lord Angleton would be in attendance, and was hoping to see Charles there, too. Even though Mari wasn’t helping as she was supposed to, it did hearten Ella that her stepsister was excited to see her beau. Maybe Cinders and Ash had been a failure, but perhaps Mari and Charles would end up being a happily ever after couple.
Ash. Oh my. Ella hadn’t even thought of that. After she talked to Lord Angleton, maybe she could see Ash. And she wanted to see him. Even at a distance. Or maybe they could share just one dance. She shook her head. He probably hated her and was mad at her for the way she left. And he’d be right. Entirely right to be angry. But still, part of her daydreamed.
She needed to stop. She had chores to do. She worked quickly and efficiently, pushing out of her head all thoughts of Ash and everything else but helping Marigold. Marigold was the only person in the household who had been even remotely kind to Ella, and she was not going to let her down. As miserable as her years since her father’s death had been, she did not think she could have survived it in as good spirits if everyone had hated her. While Mari hadn’t been entirely affectionate, she had been a person who hadn’t hated Ella. And that had meant a lot, even though it was a small grace.
By the time Ella had finished all her chores, including a supper she had only gotten to taste while cooking, rather than eat, it was getting dark. The carriage would be there soon. She ran upstairs to see if she could find something presentable to wear. When she got to her room, she found a beautiful dress on her bed and a small note on top of it.
Found this in your trunk. Think it was your mother’s. Looks classic, so it shouldn’t seem too out of style. Please hurry. And thank you again.
—M
“Oh, Marigold,” she whispered. This might work, she thought as she changed into the gown, a cream-colored satin confection with a large skirt that made her feel like a princess. It was a pretty dress, but it wasn’t so gorgeous that she would upstage Marigold or Bathilda. Ella slipped into it quickly and went over to the mirror. Her hair was still in two braids and she looked fairly simple. She thought it was too plain for the ball. While she didn’t want to do anything to upset Lady Kenna or Bathilda, she also didn’t want to look like she didn’t fit in at all. She took out the braids, which left her hair with a wavy consistency. That looked better. It wasn’t one of the fancy styles that the other women of the household had chosen. Lady Kenna was tying both Bathilda and Marigold’s hair in up dos, and leaving two curls drooping down on each side of their heads. On Marigold, it looked well enough, but on Bathilda, it seemed to accentuate her girth. Not that girth was bad; Faye was probably as wide as Bathilda, but Faye smiled and laughed and was friendly, and that seemed to make her look attractive in ways that Bathilda never did.
Ella nodded at herself and was about to rush down the stairs when she realized she had no nice shoes. All her shoes were heavy wooden things that were unattractive. But she’d seen some fancy sateen slippers in the old trunk and quickly dug through to the bottom. There they were, a leather bottom, but soft and sateen on the top and a flower stitched at the toe. They were pretty. And they were tiny, too. She and her mother both had tiny feet. As a child, she’d always thought her mother’s feet inordinately small, so she wondered if she’d fit them. She gingerly slipped one shoe onto her foot. It took a finger to pull and stretch it at the back to get her foot in, but it fit. It was snug, but the fabric of the shoe felt fairly malleable. She put the other one on and then ran downstairs. She heard a horse whinny just as she reached the bottom of her tower. She’d just make it.
She ran through the door, breathless and into the main room of the house, where Marigold was dragging behind. Bathilda was at the door opening it and Lady Kenna was chastising Marigold for moving so slowly.
“I’m here,” Ella said, rushing out. “I’m ready to go to the ball, stepmother.”
Marigold turned to look at her, relief washing over her face. But then Mari pinched up her nose and said, “Do hurry, Ella. That old dress will have to do. The Prince will be too polite to laugh at you, but do sit far away from us.”
Ella nodded. Marigold was certainly doing her part to make sure that Lady Kenna viewed Ella as a pest, rather than competition. Marigold turned and walked toward the door, but Bathilda stood there, staring and so did Lady Kenna.
“Where did you get that dress?” Lady Kenna asked.
“It was my mother’s,” Ella replied. “A few of her old things are in the trunk in my room.” Lady Kenna was looking Ella over from head to toe, scrutinizing her. “I know the dress is old fashioned, but I’d still like to come. I promise not to be near you. I wouldn’t want my outdated appearance to reflect poorly on you.”
Lady Kenna walked over to Ella and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Ella tensed, as Lady Kenna almost never touched her. “My dear,” she said. “This gown is not fit to be worn to a brothel, let alone a ball.”
Ella’s mouth dropped open. The dress was a little old fashioned, but not that bad. She was about to speak when Lady Kenna grabbed at the puffy sleeve and yanked it so hard that Ella almost fell. Ella regained her balance and was for the most part unscathed. The dress was not so lucky. The sleeve had ripped clean off.
“Mother,” Marigold said, her eyes wide with shock and anger. “You ripped her dress.”
Lady Kenna smiled and motioned Bathilda over. The girl seemed to know exactly what her mother wanted, for she lunged at Ella, who took a step back, but not far enough, as Bathilda grabbed hold of the skirt and gave a mighty tug to the ground. Again, Ella heard a tearing noise. It hadn’t helped that she’d pulled away from Bathilda. It had made the tear worse, but Ella was so shocked by their behavior that she just wanted to get away.
Lady Kenna helped Bathilda, who’d fallen in the tug, off the floor and told her daughters to go to the carriage. Ella backed away from her stepmother, unwilling to turn her back on Lady Kenna. With hatred in her eyes, Lady Kenna walked toward Ella, forcing Ella to continue her backwards march until she bumped into the door to her upstairs tower. Lady Kenna stared at her, eyes so cold, Ella thought she might freeze if she stared into them too long.
“I know what you’ve been doing at night,” Lady Kenna said
Ella crinkled her brow, wondering what Lady Kenna meant. If she really could know.
“You’re nothing but a whore,” she said. “I know that you’ve been sneaking off to the castle to whore yourself to a cousin of the prince. But you won’t be showing your face around there, sullying the reputation of my daughters.”
Ella kept her mouth clamped shut, even though she yearned to have answers. Who had told her that? It had started that way, but that wasn’t what she and Ash were. So, how did she know? Who had told her these things?
“Get in there,” Lady Kenna said, pointing toward the tower. “You’re stay
ing in here tonight.”
Ella turned and opened the door. She went inside the tower and turned back to look at Lady Kenna.
“You’re wondering how I know,” her stepmother said. “I have my ways little Ella. You were probably too busy with your chores and helping your sisters to notice the man I had come early this morning to board up your little escape hatch. You will go nowhere tonight, or any other night without my permission.”
Lady Kenna pushed the door closed. Ella moved forward too late and heard the key turn in the lock as she tried to push it open. The door didn’t budge. Ella banged and pushed it, but it didn’t move. She banged on the door more, but received no response. She ran toward her tiny escape door, noting there were fresh boards applied to the outside. She used both hands to press on the boards, hoping to dislodge them, but it didn’t work. She angled her body so she was putting all her weight into moving the boards, but they didn’t yield. Lady Kenna had somehow got it sealed without her knowledge. She was trapped. She pushed again. Nothing. She had to get out of here. She just had to. She’d stayed to help Marigold, but she’d still planned to escape. Only, Lady Kenna was right. Ella could go nowhere.
Chapter 30
Ashton was unbelievably anxious as he waited in the lower room for Heinrich to come back with the girl. He paced back and forth, telling himself that his plan would work. He sighed and sat on the bed. He was half dressed in his clothing. The ball would start shortly, and he’d excused himself from dinner with his family, saying he was too nervous to eat. But he was really waiting for her. He wasn’t sure what was taking Heinrich so long. Really, how hard was it to find this girl?
There was a knock on the door and Ashton answered immediately. “Come.”
The door opened and Heinrich held in his grasps a large, chunky girl who appeared to be struggling to break loose. “Let go o’ me,” the girl panted.
Ashton stared uncertainly, a little unsure what the problem was. Heinrich closed the door and released the girl. She stood there, distrust on her face, her eyes darting back and forth between Heinrich and Ashton.
“What you wan’ wit’ me,” she asked, her accent of the rougher type that Ashton sometimes heard in the market.
Ashton smiled and tried to look friendly. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I want your help. I didn’t mean for him to be so rough with you. I just want your help. I have a message and a package I’d like you to deliver to Ella.”
The girl’s large brown eyes stopped on Ashton, and she gave him the once over. She half smirked as recognition seemed to dawn on her. “You’re Ash,” she said.
Ashton nodded. “Yes, I am and Ella left before I could tell her something important. Can you give her something for me? It’s extremely important.”
Faye squinted at him as if she didn’t quite believe him. “Why don’t you give it to Ella yourself?”
“Because she hasn’t told me where she lives,” he said. It was a partial truth. Cinderella had never told him where she lived, but she’d told him enough to find Lady Kenna’s home, if he had time. Only he didn’t. He needed Faye’s assistance. “Unfortunately, every time I’ve sent someone to follow her, she goes to your room and seems to disappear.”
Faye’s eyes widened a bit. “You followed her?”
Ashton felt a bit of shame creep onto his face and wondered if he were starting to blush. “I only hoped to learn more about her, like where she lived. She’d been so reticent until recently.”
Faye nodded. “Yeah,” she said. “Lady Kenna tanned her hide a few weeks back, so I reckon she don’t want to cross hu’ again.”
Ashton nodded. “I reckon,” he agreed. Then, he turned to the bed and lifted the package Gertrude had given him half an hour ago. “Here,” he said. “Time is of the essence. She must get this shortly. Within the hour.”
Faye looked at the packages then pursed her lips. “Beggin’ your pardon, sir, but it’ll take me an hour or longer just to get to her ‘ouse.”
Ashton set the packages down. “An hour or longer?” he repeated.
She nodded.
Ashton looked over at Heinrich. “Get her a carriage,” he said.
He heard the clock tower strike. It was the first bell of the eight o’clock hour. His parents would be furious with him. He was going to be late for his own ball. He nodded toward Heinrich and Faye. “I have to go, but make sure Ella gets this.”
Ashton hurried away, leaving Faye and Heinrich alone.
“Come,” Heinrich said. “You can take the pumpkin and mice.”
Faye stared at him as if she thought he’d gone mad. “You al’ight Heinrich.”
“I’m fine,” he said, a slight chuckle escaping him. “Pumpkin’s the name of our tiniest carriage. It’s dark orange, like a pumpkin, and uses little horses. The driver likes to call them the mice. Now hurry.”
Chapter 31
Logic told her the window was too narrow to escape, but Ella was desperate enough right now to pray her logic was faulty. She tried to just approximate it, to see if she could squeeze through. She stuck her head out and squeezed one shoulder into the frame to see if she could get further out. But she regretted it immediately, as she was wedged in the window and she was worried she was stuck. Ella sucked in a breath and tugged backwards, dislodging herself from the frame. This wasn’t going to work. She was one hundred percent stuck here.
Ella paced back and forth and cursed aloud. Why had she let her sympathy for Marigold’s situation cause her to stay? She shouldn’t have offered to help her. She should have just gone on with her plan. She’d tried to help and it had gained her nothing.
She walked over and lay on her bed, her arms folded beneath her face, and cried. She felt the hot tears run along her arms and her depression worsened as the truth sank in. She was truly stuck. There was no getting out. Lady Kenna had finally broken her, had finally won.
Ella was stuck in here tonight and for as long as the lady wanted. She wouldn’t escape. She’d be promised to some awful man. All her hard work had been for naught. Everything was worthless. Everything was hopeless. Ella was hopeless. She let the tears flow and let every bit of hope she’d had for the future flow out with those tears.
Lying in a soggy puddle of her own tears, she heard someone call her name. “Ella,” the voice called out. She lifted her head and tried to calm herself. The tears didn’t stop flowing immediately, but she wiped her face with her hands and took a deep breath. She heard her name again and her heart soared. She recognized the voice and ran to the window.
“Faye,” Ella called out. “Faye,” she said again. “Lady Kenna has locked me up here. You have to help me.”
Ella looked down into the night but didn’t spot Faye. The full moon was bright tonight and cast a fair amount of light, but Ella didn’t see her friend down below. “Faye,” she called again.
“I’m inside Ella,” she heard. Faye’s voice was coming from downstairs. “I’ll get you out.”
Ella ran down the stairs and stood in front of the door. “Are you able to loosen the lock?” Ella called through the closed door.
“Hold yo’ knickers,” Faye said.
There were a few metallic clanks and a moment later, the door popped open. Standing before Ella was Faye. A large box was on the floor next to her and there was something in Faye’s hand. Faye held out a small envelope to Ella. “It’s from Ash,” Faye said. “He said it’s important.”
Ella looked at the note, then at Faye, wondering why she had a note from Ash. Though Heinrich knew Faye, so Ash must have had Heinrich find Faye. The steps he’d taken just to get to her, warmed her heart. She plucked the sealed envelope from Faye’s outstretched hand, sat down on one of the lower steps and pulled it open.
Cinderella,
You have abandoned me at the moment I needed you most, and it hurts my heart. You have said to me that I cannot save you, that my love for you matters nothing.
But, it is your love for me that seems to have no merit. You have chosen not to trust m
e when I say that I can help you to escape your situation. You have decided, unilaterally, that because your father loved you, and still did not prevent you from falling into the state that you are in, that love is not enough for you. I am not your father. I have listened to you. I have helped you with the marks of your burden. I have always offered you my assistance, yet you say that you don’t believe I have the power to save you. Leaving the way that you did has nothing to do with my love for you. You left because you fear her more than you love me.
I am asking you to trust me. I am asking you to love me more than you fear her. This one time, trust me, please. Put your faith in me, and I will not let you down.
If you love me, come to the ball tonight. I will be able to free you from Lady Kenna. Please. I beg you. Trust me.
All my love,
Ash
Ella found herself reading the letter again, and once more. She bit the edge of her lip, realizing that Ash was right. She had let fear rule her. But why shouldn’t she have? I mean, look what Lady Kenna had done tonight. She had locked her away and trapped her in this house. She looked up, and there stood Faye. Look at what Ash had done. He’d sent Faye to rescue her. Already, he was showing that he could help free her from Lady Kenna.
She looked at the note. She did love him. She needed to give him this chance. She needed to take a chance on love, to take a chance that putting her faith in him would not be a mistake. “I need to go to the ball,” she said, looking up.
Faye handed Ella the box. “This has everything you need,” she said. “Quickly, change. I’ll gussie up your hair when you finish.”
Ella ran back up the stairs to her room. She was pulling off her mother’s frock and opening the box. Inside was the most beautiful dress Ella had ever seen. It was a long blue gown with puffed sleeves that hung off the shoulders. The skirt spread out with layers of petticoats and fabric. The most amazing thing about it was royal blue shimmering fabric that appeared to be sprinkled with a gold dust. Every time the fabric moved, even slightly, it reflected light in shimmering waves, as if by magic. She had never seen anything like it. There was also a beautiful matching butterfly eye mask. And there were shoes too. They were slippers covered in hundreds of tiny crystals, which shimmered in the low light of her room. They initially looked too small for her feet, yet when she put her feet into them, they eased right on, as if by magic.
Cinders & Ash: A Cinderella Story (Passion-Filled Fairy Tales Book 3) Page 16
