“Are there any men at your house? Anyone dangerous I need to be worried about.”
Marigold shook her head. “No, it’s just mother. She’s sitting at Ella’s door, with the key to the lock on a string tied around her neck. I would’ve tried to get Ella out myself but I knew mother would never let me pass, and Bathilda would help her to stop me. I snuck out because they were finally all asleep. I didn’t have a carriage, so it took me a while to walk.”
Ashton nodded, wrapped a guiding arm around Marigold, and led her back to the gate. To the gateman, he said, “This lass needs shelter at the castle. She may have it as long as she wants it. Please send for Gertrude to assist her. My cousin is going to accompany me to join the royal guard that is carrying the shoe. I would like to assess their progress personally.”
Marigold turned back to him, her eyebrows creasing with concern over what he’d said, yet she didn’t speak anything to the contrary.
Ashton offered her a nod and a long glance to let her know to keep her mouth shut on this matter. She seemed to understand, nodding herself. He smiled at her, then mounted his horse again, and rode off for Lady Kenna’s estate, with Leith riding beside him.
Chapter 37
Ashton and Leith slowed their horses to a cantor as they neared the meadow where Cinderella’s house was supposed to be. Ashton pulled Heinrich’s note from his breast pocket. On it were directions and a small drawing of a house. It was a quick sketch, but quite efficient, capturing the most important details of the house. The most unique of these was the tower on the north side, although Ashton would’ve recognized it even without Heinrich’s sketch. He was sure it was the same house he’d seen in Cinderella’s notebook that day at the Crystal Pond.
Just to the south of the house, they dismounted and walked their horses toward the woods, where Heinrich said he was stationed. Just inside the wooded area, they found him sitting on a rock, keeping watch.
“Your Highness,” Heinrich said.
“Have you seen anything?” Ashton asked.
“I’ve seen no sign of captors,” he said. “In the wee hours, before the page left, I caught sight of Cinders up in the window there. It was just a moment, and she seemed to be emptying a chamber pot. But I haven’t seen any sign of her since. When she emptied the pot, her face was pale and she seemed distressed. There may be someone in the room with her.”
Ashton sighed and looked back at the house. “Anything else?”
“A young lady left a couple of hours ago on foot. She didn’t seem a danger, but she did wear a brow creased with worry.”
Leith chimed in, “Have you seen any signs that this might be a trap?”
Heinrich shook his head. “I’ve seen no men go in or out. Just the woman who fled earlier. An older woman stepped out this morning, but went back inside shortly after.”
Ashton smiled. “Thank you, good man,” he said. “I’m going to go in.”
Heinrich stood. “I shall accompany you, sire.”
Ashton put his hand on Heinrich’s shoulder. “No, I want you to go and meet the royal guard on their shoe mission. Take a few soldiers and meet them at this location,” he said, handing Heinrich the ransom note he’d received. “The girl who left here earlier said the stepmother has colluded with someone in the castle. They’re to keep Cinderella inside until this afternoon, when they’ll be sending someone here for her. They’re expecting me at this location shortly. Go and round up a few of the guard and take care of the men at the ransom location. I’m not sure how many are involved, but try to keep them alive. I wish to question them myself. In the meantime, I’m going to go inside, get Cinderella and take her back to the castle.”
Heinrich frowned. “Your Highness, I live to follow your commands, but I am concerned that you will be going alone into the home of a woman you know to be hostile.”
“I’m sure I can handle her,” Ashton responded with a grin. “Besides, I’ll bring Leith along. Please, go find these kidnappers whilst I retrieve my bride.”
Heinrich hesitated, as if he intended to say more, but instead nodded and stood. He walked toward his horse, who was saddled nearby. Ashton and Leith watched as Heinrich followed the tree line for a bit, then went into the open road after he’d gotten a good distance from the house. Ashton turned and looked toward the house. It looked a quaint, lovely place to live. Except, he knew it had been no such thing for Cinderella. Beaten cruelly, and now this.
Ashton turned to his cousin. “Her stepsister was the woman at the castle,” he said.
“Whose stepsister?” Leith asked
Ashton realized he hadn’t been clear. “Cinderella’s stepsister,” he said. “She lives here with her stepmother and two stepsisters. One of the sisters is kind enough, and she came to tell me that the stepmother had colluded with someone in the castle and was holding Cinderella here against her will.”
Leith’s eyes widened with shock and anger. Yes, the thought of someone in his own castle conspiring against him was something to be angry about. Ashton put a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “I’m angry, too, and we have to find the traitor, but I want to get Cinderella out first.”
Leith sighed and looked back toward the open field where Heinrich had set off. “Do you think it was him?” he asked, tilting his head.
Ashton almost laughed out loud. “No,” he said. “I trust Heinrich with my life.”
Leith raised an eyebrow, but didn’t speak.
Ashton shook his head. “It wasn’t Heinrich. It was probably someone who’d seen us together, someone who’d wanted —” Ashton paused and shut his mouth, as he thought. Pieces of something gelled together in his mind and he looked at Leith, eyes wide. Then he looked down at the ground, raising a hand to his chin. “Probably one of the servants or something.”
Leith tried to read his cousin’s face. “Do not spare me your thoughts, cousin, for fear of hurting my feelings. Tell me if you suspect Chandler did this.”
Ashton sighed and continued looking at the ground. “Do you think he would?” he mumbled.
“He was angry about being banished, and he was angry at her influence over you. Perhaps,” Leith said, his voice halting. “Perhaps in a moment of anger he did this. And if he did, I can’t apologize enough. I know you’ve treated him like a brother. Both of us, really. The three of us were more like brothers than cousins, and the idea that he would hurt you by doing this.”
Ashton shook his head. “We don’t need to jump to conclusions,” he said, looking toward the house. “We need to go in and get her. I think we should both go to the door. I’ll demand she let me in and then I’ll find Cinderella,” he said. “I’d like you to stay with the stepmother and keep watch in case her accomplices show up. I don’t think they will, but I’d like to be forewarned. Are you alright with this?”
Leith nodded grimly. “Of course, cousin,” he said. “You can count on me.”
The two men left the edge of the wood, walked up to the manor and then knocked on the door. They waited a minute or two, then knocked again. After another minute, they heard shuffling inside and then a woman asked, “Who is it?”
“Open up, at the command of your Prince,” said Ashton.
More shuffling and then the door opened. The woman who opened the door looked haggard, her hair frizzled and unkempt. She wore a simple green dress tied at the waist by a sash. There were bags beneath her eyes, and her face was scrunched into an impatient scowl. “What do you—” she started before even looking at who was standing at her door.
When she did look up at the prince, she stopped speaking and bowed. “Your Highness,” she said contritely. “Begging your pardon for my sharp tongue. I wasn’t expecting a royal visitor this morning.”
“Stand,” Ashton said. Lady Kenna did, and he couldn’t help but think how truly terrible she looked this morning, as compared to last night at the ball. Then, she’d looked quite fetching for a woman of her age, yet now she seemed less than ordinary. “I am here for the girl.”
Her eyes widened, as she stared at him, and then she turned to her right and finally took notice of Leith, and took a step back. “The girl?” she said, staring at the two men. And then, after a moment, she said, as if just remembering, “The shoe. You’re here to try shoes on maidens. There was a page who came earlier to make the announcement. Wanted the girls to stay in. I’ll get my Bathilda, but my other daughter, Marigold is betrothed, so she cannot.”
Ashton was flabbergasted. Did she really plan to pretend that she didn’t know what he was talking about? That he wanted Cinderella. “I don’t want Bathilda,” he said. “I want the other girl you have here.”
She looked at the prince, then at Leith, then back at the prince. She wiped her hands on her skirt, took a breath and forced a smile. “I told you my only other daughter here is Marigold, and she’s betrothed.”
“You are a liar, Lady Kenna, and you will pay for what you’ve done,” Ashton said, his voice clear and strong, as he took a step toward her. “You will take me to your stepdaughter, Cinderella, now, or I will see you hanged this morning for your duplicity.”
Lady Kenna took a step back, fear in her eyes. She reached up to the string around her neck, then cringed as Leith took a step forward. “Miss,” he said. “You shall not harm the prince. You will take him to his girl without any trouble.”
Lady Kenna stared at Leith, frozen in fear, and finally she nodded. “It’s a key,” she said, fingering the string around her neck. “To the room she’s in.”
The woman turned and walked through the main room of the home, off to the left side, where there was a small hallway, or more of an opening and a gap, and then there was a cylindrical wall with a door in it. With shaking hands Lady Kenna pulled the key from her neck, and handed it to the prince.
Ashton unlocked the door, opened it and found a spiral staircase. He climbed it hurriedly and found Cinderella sound asleep on a bed, her hands tied to the railings. He half smiled. If she weren’t truly being held captive, he was sure he’d like to come home to find her like this. Well, perhaps not asleep and not with so much clothing on. He strode toward her, pulled a dagger from a hiding spot in his boot and cut the ropes.
“Cinderella,” he said gently.
Chapter 38
Ella thought she heard someone calling her name. She wanted to answer, but her arms hurt. She rolled over, felt her arms move freely, and for some reason that didn’t feel right. Not in this moment. Why not?
She sat bolt upright and opened her eyes, the memory of her predicament flooding back. The kidnapping. Her stepmother. All of it.
“Cinderella,” said a voice, and she turned to see Ash. She closed her eyes. She must still be dreaming. He couldn’t be here. But she heard him speak again. “Cinderella, it’s alright. I’m here now. You’re fine.”
She opened her eyes, still not convinced she wasn’t dreaming, still not sure her imagination wasn’t playing tricks on her. Was it too much to hope that she had such good fortune? Last night to be freed by Faye, and today to be freed by her love.
Tentatively, she placed her hand on his cheek. It was warm and soft and, perhaps, real. She quickly reached out and wrapped her arms fully around him. “It’s not a dream?” she cried. “You’re really here?”
Her heart felt such relief and joy. She’d never been so happy to see him. She squeezed him tighter, so thankful that he’d found her.
“Listen,” he said softly. “As much as I adore you holding me in your arms, we must go. I’m not sure it is safe here. Your stepmother is working with accomplices, yet they don’t know I’m here. I would like to get you to safety before they come for you.”
She pulled back and nodded. Her arms were still sore from being tied up, but she released Ashton and stood. “Yes, let’s hurry,” she said, as she looked around for shoes to put on. The slipper she’d worn to the ball had fallen to the floor and didn’t have a mate. She scanned the room, trying to remember what she’d done with her mother’s slippers, the ones she’d almost worn. On the opposite side of the room, Ella saw the flower-embroidered shoes she’d discarded last night. She crossed the room to get them and was pulling the right shoe on when she heard footsteps. She turned in time to see the man walking up the stairs.
Terror filled her veins and she dropped the shoe, ran back to Ashton, and stood in front of him. “Get away from him,” she said to Leith.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard Ashton say, “Don’t worry, it’s just Leith, my cousin. He won’t hurt you.”
Ella didn’t move from in front of Ashton. She knew Ash was wrong. Leith was the man who’d put the rag over her face. She hadn’t seen him clearly, but she’d remembered as she was fainting, seeing the coat of arms on the ring he wore. It was the same one he’d been wearing earlier when he’d come to get Ashton after the ball. When Lady Kenna had said Ella had made an enemy, he hadn’t occurred to her. Birth order and jealousy had sounded like something the Halliwell’s might face. But an apothecary was small in comparison to a kingdom. And Leith had lost out because his father had been born second. Instead of being a king, his father was a Duke. Leith wanted the Kingdom. When Ella’s memory of the night had gelled better, she had asked Lady Kenna if Leith had paid her well. Her stepmother had replied happily, “Well enough that even if Lord Angleton refuses Marigold, I shall have quite enough dowry for any suitor who comes calling.”
Ella pulled herself from her memory, keeping an eye on Leith, while urging her love to listen. “Ashton,” she said. “He’s working with Lady Kenna.”
She didn’t dare turn her back on Leith, so she couldn’t see Ash’s response to her statement, but Leith simply shook his head and moved closer to them. “I would never,” he began, still shaking his head as he drew nearer. “Work with that woman down there.”
Ella tried to push Ashton back, but he stood his ground. In fact, he grabbed her and slid her to his side, rather than in front of him. “Leith is my cousin, and he is loyal to our family. He would never do anything against us.”
With those words, Ella felt herself being pulled and before she could fully grasp what had happened, she found herself wrapped tightly in Leith’s grip, just like the previous night. He’d managed to hold down both arms using only one of his own. His other arm held his sword to her throat.
“You should have listened to her, cousin,” Leith said. “She was right. I am not your friend. I have pumped my brother for information, followed your mistress, learned her identity and coerced her wicked stepmother into helping me. You see, people are easy to figure out. You can motivate them with their worst fears or their heart’s desire. With Lady Kenna, I used a mix of both. I assured her your father’s wrath would be deadly once he learned how she’d treated her stepdaughter. Not providing for her welfare, beating her. And in the very next breath, I promised her I could keep the King from finding out, that I could keep the King from retribution if she just helped me. I said, as reward for her assistance, I’d also find a proper husband for her daughter Bathilda. See, fears and desires. And my bidding is done.”
Ella tried to nudge to the side slightly as he spoke, just to test his grip, but it was a bad move, as his arm tightened stronger around her. “Still, Cinders,” Leith cooed in her ear.
Ashton gritted his teeth, and said, “Let her go.”
With a shake of his head, Leith said, “Not just yet. You see, I need something from you, first. Because I know what you want, cousin, and I know what you fear. You want her. More than anything else in this world, you want this lovely blonde whore. And I can give her to you, or I can give you her corpse. So, be still, please while I tell you what I want.”
Ella watched the Adam’s apple in Ash’s throat as he swallowed and nodded to his cousin.
“Good,” Leith chuckled. “Just like I shall keep my promise to Lady Kenna and not tell the King of her horrid behavior toward your love, I shall keep my promise to you. I shall release your whore if you remove your scabbard and sword and slide them to me. If you don’t, I’ll sli
ce her pretty throat open so you can see if she’s as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.”
Ash stood there wide-eyed for a single moment, then removed the scabbard from his waist, dropped it to the floor and kicked it across the room, where it slid into Leith’s foot. “Let her go, now,” Ashton said.
Leith used his foot to slide the weapon behind him, and then shook his head. “Oh, cousin,” he said. “You are a fool. You trust too easily. This whore. Me. Sadly, your trusting nature has cost you your life. Today, your great love murders you, so she can steal from you, and then when I find her and see what she’s done, I execute her myself. A sword through the heart of the woman who murdered my beloved cousin.”
Leith lowered his sword so the tip of it touched the center of Ella’s bosoms.
“Wait,” Ashton said. “I can offer you anything you want. Don’t do this.”
“Can you offer me the crown?” Leith asked with a snarl. “For that is what I want, and I think it shall only be mine if you are dead. With no heirs, my father is next in line of succession. Only, he is in poor health, and I will make sure he is dead in only a few months, but only after your father dies of a broken heart because of your murder. By this time next year, I will be ruler of this kingdom, and you will be but a memory.”
“I’ll abdicate,” Ashton blurted out.
Leith laughed, his frame shaking Ella as he did so. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’ll do whatever you want,” Ashton said. “Just let her go.”
Leith shook his head and stared daggers at his cousin. “I can’t let her go, or you, cousin. I do love you, but you are weak and pathetic. You’ve fallen in love with a whore and intend to marry her. I, at least, marry with my family in mind. I am betrothed to a terrible harpy because it secures my position, my family wealth and my future. You ignore your duties for a whore.”
Ashton’s face tightened, and Ella could swear he was grinding his teeth beneath his grim expression. “You’re right,” Ash said, and Ella stared at him wide-eyed, unsure what Ash was doing. “I ignore my kingdom for her. That is why I will gladly give you all you want. Anything and everything. Just let her go, please.”
Cinders & Ash: A Cinderella Story (Passion-Filled Fairy Tales Book 3) Page 20
