Her stepsister laughed. “Guess I can’t blame you for that.” She pulled the new gown into place and began fastening the buttons in the back. It fit her surprisingly well and was just a little tight in the chest area. Catherine pulled Ella toward a large mirror. “You see? I told you this would look good on you.”
She had to admit that her stepsister was right. The dark green was reflected in her eyes, making them look darker than usual. It was also cut more closely, meant to hug one’s figure. The rags she had been allowed to wear tended to hide her figure, rather than flaunt it.
But they didn’t make her look like a princess. Or even like someone who was worthy of marrying a prince. “We should get started on the packing. I don’t want to make Prince Luke wait any longer than he absolutely has to.”
“Good idea.” Catherine turned into her wardrobe again, pulling out a large chest. “What do you think I should take? Considering that this will have to last for both of us for a while.”
She did have a point there. It was unlikely that Lady Isabelle would release much funds for Ella’s clothing with the way she often claimed poverty. Not that she truly wanted to ask her stepmother for anything.
She only hoped that the Prince would be willing to help her with her wardrobe, so she wouldn’t embarrass him in front of everyone.
It took nearly an hour to go through Catherine’s things, mainly because her stepsister didn’t know exactly what would be appropriate to for court. Ella wasn’t entirely certain either, for all of her knowledge about the subject was more than a decade old and from the perspective of the child that she had been back then.
They headed up to the attic together, though there wasn’t much that Ella thought she could take. To be honest, there wasn’t a whole lot that she wanted. There was a small portrait of her father, along with her mother’s trunk, but there were no other paintings left from her parents’ time.
The only portrait that had been done of the entire family, along with the one of her mother and father together, had been burned by Lady Isabelle shortly after Ella’s father died. She couldn’t stand any reminder of the past, and likely would’ve gotten rid of Ella for the same reason, if not for the fact that the estate had been left in her name, with her stepmother as trustee until Ella turned twenty-five.
That was still another four years away.
And by rights, that meant she most likely would have the power to kick her stepmother and stepsisters out of the house when the time came, but she was still bound by the promise she had made her father when he was on his deathbed. He had begged Ella to take care of them.
But she was done with that now. Done taking care of them, or anyone else in this household, except for Catherine. She would also take Maria with her if she could, but that would require an explanation that she wasn’t ready to give.
If only it was possible to take her father’s library with them too. That would be her one major regret leaving this house, especially since she knew her stepmother valued it not at all. She would likely sell it all off as soon as she got the chance, and not nearly for anything close to what it was actually worth.
Prince Luke sent his men upstairs, to help the girls bring their trunks down. There was a definite strain on the prince’s face when Ella saw him again. She knew her stepmother behaved much differently around anyone of noble rank, or anyone she thought could help progress her darling daughter’s movement through society than she did in private, yet it was clear that she had agitated him. Though he was doing his best to hide it.
Or perhaps he was simply worried about getting Ella out of there before the secret they were keeping risked being let out in some way.
She walked out arm in arm with Catherine, heading to the beautiful blue and gold carriage that seemed like something out of a dream. Prince Luke handed her stepsister up into the vehicle first, then turned and offered his hand to her. She hesitated a moment before taking it, not sure she wanted to experience all those strange feelings again. Yet she knew she could not avoid touching him forever, not when she had agreed to marry him.
But this time, his touch was quick and almost impersonal, as he helped her up the two small stairs. The interior of the carriage had been set up as a pair of benches that faced each other. Catherine had taken a seat on the one that faced forward and Ella sat next to her.
There was no room for the prince to join them on the seat, so he sat across from them.
The ride up to the palace was a silent one. Catherine kept her gaze focused on the window, watching the scenery even though it was something she had witnessed just the day before. Ella tried to do the same, yet she constantly felt Luke’s gaze on her and every time she glanced at in his direction, she would catch him staring.
There was a hunger in his expression which should have frightened her, but did not. She didn’t understand it and didn’t know who to ask. Her stepsister would be no help here. It was likely that Catherine was even more innocent about these things than she was.
Prince Adrian was waiting for them on the palace steps when they arrived. When the door opened, he was right there, and she was immediately struck by the change in her former childhood companion.
He had grown quite a bit, though he was not nearly as large as his older brother. He smiled at them all as he greeted them, yet the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“He looks very unhappy,” Catherine whispered to Ella. Both princes jumped, as if they had overheard what she said. But of course, that was impossible.
Wasn’t it?
She looked at Adrian more closely. There were dark circles under his eyes and deep lines had been carved into either side of his mouth, as if his sorrow had been etched into his skin.
What had happened to him while he and his brothers were traveling? Was it just the fact that they were now beasts? Or was it something more?”
Luke introduced at Adrian to Catherine, though they had apparently met during the ball. Then he took Ella’s hand again, drawing her closer than was absolutely proper. She could feel the heat of his body all along one side of her and it made her shiver.
He gave her a quick smile before turning his full attention on his brother. “I want to take Lady Ella to meet Father now. Perhaps you could give Lady Catherine the full tour of the palace? She’ll be staying here until the wedding.”
Prince Adrian bowed to her stepsister. “I would be delighted.”
“Make sure to show her the library,” Luke said. “Lady Ella told me that would be something which would particularly appeal to her.”
Ella and Catherine both looked at him in surprise. Catherine because she was unaware of any of the fine details of the conversation that Ella had had with the prince; Ella because she had not thought her offhand comment about her stepsister in the library had been heard, much less understood.
It seemed her intended was doing his best to make them both comfortable, despite the strangeness of his proposal. He didn’t need to do that, she knew. He had her well and truly trapped now, even more so once the engagement was announced the general public.
Perhaps he was a good man, after all. And this marriage would not be such a bad thing.
Despite the fact that he turn into a wolf.
He led her through the palace and her anxiety rose as they passed several servants who bowed and curtsied to her as well as to him. It was clear that the news had already spread throughout the household and she was very glad that Catherine had helped her change into this new gown.
She didn’t even want to imagine what the gossip would have been like if she had appeared in her servant’s rags.
Prince Luke stepped into what he told her was the private wing reserved for the royal family’s residence. Stopping only when he reached a set of large double doors emblazoned with the king’s coat of arms. It was King Nicholas’ personal bedroom, for he was too weak now to spend much time out of bed and most of business of the kingdom was conducted there rather than in the traditional audience chamber.
He turned her abo
ut so that she was forced to face him, placing one hand under her chin as he leaned in and kissed her.
It was hot and wet and over too soon. Ella’s heart was beating so fast it felt like it was fluttering within her chest as she stared up at him. “Why did you do that?”
“Just reminding you of why you’re going through with this. You looked like you were ready to run a moment ago.”
Where would she go? He knew there was nowhere else for her to turn, as well as she did. “I guess that would be a bit embarrassing for you, now that everyone seems to already know about our engagement.”
“Our engagement. I like hearing those words on your lips,” he said with a smile. “And I don’t care about embarrassment, the only thing I care about is actually getting you to the altar.”
She didn’t know if she actually believed him in that, but she wasn’t about to question it. Not now, with so many servants nearby who were obviously hanging on their every word and action.
Ella realized that this was just something else she would have to get used to now. That the relative privacy that she had known in her father’s estate was about to be gone forever.
She did her best to tamp down her surging anxiety and plastered a smile upon her face, though part of her wanted to show her fears if it meant that Luke would kiss her again.
Apparently, she made too good of a show of it, for he smiled at her and took her hand, before gesturing for the doors to his father’s bedchamber to be opened. “Father? Do you feel up to having visitors?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
She recognized the pride that was behind those weak and feeble words. Then she beheld the king for the first time and she was reminded of her father’s own deathbed. It couldn’t be easy for Luke to see his father like this, no matter how many times he had experienced it before. She squeezed his hand and let him draw her further into the room.
“Father, I want you to meet Lady Ella. She’s a woman I’ve decided I’m going to marry and she’s been kind enough to accept my proposal.”
Chapter Five
“Ella? Lord Anthony’s daughter?”
Luke watched Ella’s face flush that pretty shade of pink as she dipped into a curtsy to his father. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
For the first time since he and his brother had returned home, Luke saw his father smile. It wasn’t just his illness that had made Father melancholy; it was also the fact that one of his sons had disappeared. “It has been a very long time, my dear girl. Though I always assumed you would marry my youngest son, not my oldest.”
Her blush deepened. “I—”
“It seems I lucked out in more ways than one,” Luke said. Perhaps he should be worried about his brother’s connection to Ella, but they had been only children back then. There could not have been anything very serious. And besides, he had no doubt that Adrian’s heart remained with his lost love. “She and her stepsister will be staying here at the palace while we prepare for the wedding.”
If Father thought that was unusual, he gave no sign of it at all. “I don’t believe I’ve met your stepsister, Lady Ella.”
“I don’t think my stepmother or her daughters attended court very much after their introduction.” Ella’s voice grew a bit stronger with every word, as if she was gaining confidence with every moment that passed.
That was good to see. It showed that she was just as strong as he had assumed she was.
Father tried to sit up and failed, falling back against his pillows. One of the king’s physicians immediately emerged from the shadows, taking hold of his wrist to check his pulse despite Father’s attempts to wave him away. “You must not get too excited, Your Majesty. The strain will not be good for you.”
“Perhaps we can continue this another time,” Luke said. “We’ve only just arrived and haven’t had a chance to show Lady Ella nor Lady Catherine to their rooms yet.”
“Of course, make sure they’re very comfortable. And as soon as possible.” Father broke into a coughing fit and his face turned a deep shade of red, verging on purple. He looked quite annoyed when the physician insisted on giving him a goblet of wine, but drank it anyway before continuing. “When do you wish to be wed?”
“As soon as all of the arrangements can be made,” he said. He gave Ella’s hand another squeeze. “I refuse to give my lady a chance to change her mind. She might decide she prefers Adrian after all.”
“I doubt that,” she said softly, then bit her lip and looked away. The gesture enticed him. Made him wish that he could draw her into his arms once more and kiss her again.
Was it possible to become addicted to a woman’s lips? Luke wasn’t certain, but he would gladly keep testing the idea in order to find out.
They were dismissed from his father’s room a short time later and he escorted Ella to the guest wing. “If I had my way, you would have rooms in the family quarters. But I guess that would cause too much of a scandal.”
“Your habit of kissing me in front of the servants will also cause a scandal, especially since you don’t seem to want to wait until the ceremony.”
He stared at her for a long moment, then threw back his head and laughed. “True. Very true. But don’t think that will stop me.”
“I doubt anything will. You seem very used to having your own way in everything.”
Luke immediately sobered. “Not everything.” After all, he never would have wished for this curse that was upon him and his brothers. But Ella didn’t know that. He opened the door to Ella’s bedchamber and ushered her inside, closing the door behind them. He knew this would likely subject her to more of the servants’ gossip, but at the moment, he thought they needed the privacy more. “I’m still wondering why you didn’t tell anyone about how we saw each other at the ball.”
She focused on running her hands down the front of her gown as if smoothing away invisible wrinkles. “Who would have believed me?”
She had said something similar before, yet his doubts remained. He opened his mouth, before but before he could say anything more, she said, “I would like to be able to tell Catherine, however. To make sure she remains safe while she staying here.”
“No.”
Ella’s head snapped up and she glared at him. “You can’t seriously be asking me to place my stepsister in harm’s way just to keep your secrets.”
“There’s nothing to worry about until the next full moon. That’s the only time the transformation happens. With luck, we’ll be married before then.”
“What if I want her to stay longer than that? It’s hardly safe for her to go back to her mother’s house, and I think you know that.”
“I’ll think about it.” He turned and reached for the door.
“You’ll think about it,” she echoed. “And now the truth comes out. You don’t really want to marry me, you just want a way to keep your secrets. You figure you can control me, and stop me from saying anything, once you’re my husband.”
“I thought I proved to you why I want to marry you earlier, in your father’s library.” He whirled about and grabbed her in his arms, pulling her close once more. “Did you need me to show you that again?”
“I need you to stop grabbing me like this, to stop compromising my reputation at every opportunity you can get.” Her voice grew strong, yet she still wouldn’t look at him.
“No one will do or say anything against my princess.”
“Not to my face, no. The rest will get around and there’s a chance that your family’s reputation will be hurt as well as mine.” She made a face. “Or maybe not, considering how—”
“Stop this, Ella.”
“I can’t accept the sanctuary of being with you in the palace, if it means hurting my stepsister.”
“Why are you trying so hard to protect her? I doubt she did anything to protect you while you were under your stepmother’s thumb.”
She shivered. “Do you really think there was anything that she could have done? You haven’t lived under Lady Isabelle, Y
our Highness. You don’t know everything that she’s capable of.”
Luke was torn. On the one hand, he had sensed the evil in Ella’s stepmother, but at the same time, he had to do what he had to do in order to protect himself and his brothers. He knew even less about Catherine than he did about Ella—at least Adrian had been able to vouch for the character of his former playmate—and she might expose them, even without meaning to do so.
They could not let anyone know what they had become. They would be reviled as monsters at the very least and it might even be enough to cause someone to start up a rebellion against his family. The more ambitious nobles of the land would be glad to have any excuse to further their own ambitions. “I said I’ll think about it. We’re not going to talk about this.”
“But—”
He swooped down and covered her mouth with his. He felt her stiffen, almost instinctively, then she melted against him. He tightened his arms around her slender body, crushing her in his embrace as he devoured her lips.
Ella flattened her hands against his chest. Pushed. Some part of him recognized the gesture for what it was and it made him hesitate just enough to allow her to break the kiss. “You can’t keep doing this,” she whispered.
He would be doing a lot more than kissing, once they were wed. His body was on edge, his trousers growing uncomfortably tight with his need for her. “What do you mean?”
She scowled, but some of the effect was lost when he realized that her lips were swollen from his kisses. “You can’t kiss me every time you want to make a point. Or to stop an argument. Just because you know you can make my thoughts scatter that way, doesn’t mean you should take advantage of it.”
“I didn’t know I was doing that.” His chest puffed up at the thought. He liked knowing he could affect her in that way. It helped to balance out the effect she had on him.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I just need you, Ella.”
“You need me?”
“Yes.” He was half-tempted to guide one of her small hands down his body, to let her feel how hard she was making him, but wasn’t certain she would understand the meaning of his body’s reaction. She might be passionate, but had to be innocent too. Women in the noble families were generally kept ignorant of such matters. “I don’t know how going to manage to wait until our wedding night.”
The Wolf Prince: The Cursed Princes, Book One Page 4
