Chapter Eight
1349 Words
“There is nothing left to tell, Mama,” Ella promised, but the memory of the undead boy she had met in the garden reminded her she was lying.
“Very well.” Celina stared down at her step-daughter. “I will come collect you tomorrow after lunch. If you are not ready, I will send Esmae up.”
“I promise I will be ready to leave, Mama.” Ella paused. “But…can I have the walking stick tonight?”
“No,” Celina said. “There is no need for you to have it. You are not planning on walking anywhere, are you?”
“Just around my room,” said Ella. “I cannot stay on the bed indefinitely.”
“Your sarcasm is neither appreciated, nor necessary.” Celina narrowed her eyes. “You become more like your mother every day I keep you under my roof. Mind your manners, or I will make it my life’s mission to find a way of circumventing your father’s idiotic stipulations regarding his fortune.” Celina stalked to the still open door. “In other words, dear Cinder, obey me or I will bury you next to your beloved mother.” She slammed the door shut behind her.
Ella heard the key turn in the lock. She was locked in until her step-mother saw fit to release her. If she saw fit to release her. Ella let out a shuddering breath. There had to be a way to escape her life before it became her death. The thought kept her occupied until she began to fall asleep. Dragging the feather coverlet over herself, she drifted off.
***
By the time her step-mother unlocked her door, Ella was awake and already clothed in a full length dark blue gown with matching gloves, shoes and ribbons. In lieu of make-up, a heavy, barely see through veil covered her face.
“I brought you the walking stick, but I see it is no longer necessary. You might have thought to let me know, so I did not have to waste the trip,” Celina tossed the tall stick towards Ella. It fell onto the floor at the foot of her bed.
Ella was quick to protest. “No, I could use the walking stick. My ankle is still quite sore.”
Her step-mother shrugged. “Next time ensure you are not late with our lunch, and there will be no reason for you to be punished.” She tilted her head to one side. “Why were you late coming home?”
“I needed to gather the carrots.” Ella bent over and picked up the walking stick. “I am ready to leave.”
“It normally does not take you an age to gather your –” Celina’s nostrils flared. “—vegetables. What kept you?”
“Nothing, Mama, I just ran late.” Ella hobbled to the door. “When is our appointment again?”
“You are deflecting.” Celina narrowed her eyes. “This time, you will ride in the carriage with us. I would not wish you to get distracted by anything along the way.”
Although riding the carriage with her step mother did not appeal to her, Ella’s heart rose. Anything would be better than putting unnecessary weight on her ankle. “Thank you, Mama.”
Her step-mother sniffed. “Adjust your veil and follow me. I do not want to waste my entire day proving your worth.”
“Are Evangline and Esame coming with us?” Ella trailed Celina down the stairs and to the waiting carriage.
“Stupid girl, do you see them anywhere? There is no reason why they should come. It would be a waste of the time they can better spend preparing themselves for the ball.” Celina raised an eyebrow at Ella. “What are you waiting for? Open the door.”
Ella obediently pulled the carriage door open, and stepped aside. Only once her step-mother had seated herself did she follow suit and take the opposite seat. The once open air carriage was lined with oak panels. Once the door was closed Ella shut her eyes against the darkness. Prince Impossible’s teasing voice reverberated in her mind. She had never met anyone like him before. He was confident and did not appear to be adversely affected by the sun; a trait not shared by Ella’s steps. Her breath caught. He was not affected by the sun. Perhaps he was the same thing she was: an abomination hiding in plain sight. And, just like that, Ella knew she would risk anything to see him again, to learn for herself if her ‘Prince Impossible’ was more than he pretended to be.
“Cinder, wake up!” Celina continued, not waiting to see if her step-daughter responded. “If the solicitor demands to know what happened to your ankle, tell him you slipped. You are a clumsy child. He will believe you.”
Ella nodded, her eyes still shut. “I will do as you say, Mama.”
“Good girl.” The words sounded torn from Celina’s reluctant throat. “The less trouble you cause, the faster this whole process will be over and I can get on with my day.”
The carriage rattled to a halt. “The first thing I shall do is replace this claptrap,” Celina declared. “Why is that pesky driver taking his time? Does he not understand we have an appointment?”
“The carriage has only just stopped, Mama,” Ella pointed out. “I am sure he will open the door straight away.”
As though the driver heard her, the door opened. “Madam Celina, Miss Ella, we have arrived.”
Celina gathered up her skirts and brushed past Ella. “Her name is Cinder,” she snapped, stepping down onto the hard-packed dirt. “Remember it, or I will have you replaced.”
The driver reached his hand into the carriage, palm side up. Ella took it, grateful her step-mother was too preoccupied to follow through on her monthly threat. Alain had been a member of the household for as long as the young woman could remember, and it felt good to have an ally.
“Thank you, Alain.” Ella smiled. “It is good to see you again. How are you?”
“I am good, Miss Ella,” the driver replied softly, sticking his head through the open door. “But I wonder about you. I know this is not what your father wanted for your life.”
“Do you think he is still alive?” Ella whispered.
Alain shook his head. “It has been thirteen years without a word. I think he would have found a way to send you a word, if he was able.”
“I was afraid of that.” Ella released his hand and stepped out of the carriage. “Thank you,” she said in a voice loud enough for her step-mother to hear. “We will not be long, an hour at the most.”
“Yes, Miss,” the old man replied. “I will take the horses to the stable, then.”
“If you are quite done chatting with the help, the solicitor is waiting.” Celina tapped her foot against the cobblestones. “Honestly, you are quite impossible.”
Ella’s lips curved up into a smile at the reminder of the boy in the garden.
Celina’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you smiling?”
“No reason, Mama, I only just remembered something amusing.” Ella hobbled into the building, her step-mother hard at her heels.
“Then by all means, tell me so I can share in the amusement,” Celina ordered. “Unless, of course, there is something you are hiding.”
Ella was sure the flush on her cheeks gave her away.
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