Read Online Cinderella (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jenni James
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the ball? Yes. I must, to save face, allow you to wear something decent. Though, heaven knows you will more than likely ruin the thing with your hideous manners.”
“Oh, Stepmother! Thank you!” Ella rushed forward to hug her and then awkwardly halted, clasping her hands in front of herself instead.
Lady Dashlund sneered. “Do not become too eager in your thanks. You will first pay for the right to attend such an event and wear such costly apparel. And you will be forced to attend etiquette lessons as well.” She sighed. “Such an inconvenience, but I suppose it is well I saw this invitation, for who knows what would become of us all if I had not.”
“Would something have happened if I did not attend?” Ella had not thought of this.
“Eleanoria, if the queen has specifically invited you to attend, you go. And until we understand her reasons for having your presence there, one must not assume anything but that she as commanded, albeit nicely, your attendance.” She tapped her finger upon her mouth. “Though, someone has brought your name forward. Someone has made her remember Lord Dashlund’s daughter—there is something amiss here. And when I find that culprit, the one who is clearly wreaking havoc with us all, when I find what lark they are playing at, they will pay.”
Ella remained silent, not even daring to breathe out loud. Clearly her stepmother did not apprehend she was speaking of such things openly.
After a few more moments of mutterings in the same vein, Lady Dashlund blinked and glanced over at Ella. She motioned with her hand to leave the room. “Go. Go get something to eat. I came up here to speak with you and invite you to partake of something.”
“Thank you.” Ella curtsied and brought her hand to the door. “Do you need anything?”
“I need you to be gone so that I may think!” roared Lady Dashlund as she sat down upon the bed. “Now, go, before I change my mind.”
“Yes, milady.”
***
ANTHONY PACED IN THE apple orchard as he absentmindedly tapped a fallen branch against his leg. He was fairly certain his mother knew who he had come to meet. If she had not figured it out yet, she would shortly. It would take a simpleton to place Eleanoria Woodston’s invitation procured by him as the possible girl he was visiting. Though he did include a few other names so as not to seem too evident, but she had already invited them and so had only filled out one more invite—Ella’s. She had to have known. She had to.
He stopped and flicked the branch against the trunk of the tree nearest him. Would his mother really accept her if he loved her? Would his father? There was no reason for them not to. Granted, she was not a princess from another kingdom to secure loyalties, but she certainly came from one of the wealthiest families in the land. However, it was not likely she would be bringing any monies with her to the marriage. Especially if Lady Dashlund had already sold her horse, then there probably was little or no value at all placed upon the girl. Her stepsisters, on the other hand—he shuddered—probably had very handsome dowries.
No matter. His mother had always told him if he truly fell in love, they would not stop it under any means. He smiled. How he loved his father and mother. They had their faults, yes, but their hearts were so good. Even his father was so generous and kind. It was not fair to have one of the best hearts in the world, only to lose him so soon. What did that signify? What was the point of taking such greatness from this earth when he could do so much more alive?
His mother did not know, but Anthony had slipped into his father’s room earlier that morning. He was asleep in bed and so did not stir when he came to hold the king’s hand. Not so long ago that hand had been full of strength and valor, now it was frail and limp.
Anthony had pressed his lips to his father’s knuckles and urged him silently to get better. He needed his father—he needed this
“Oh, Stepmother! Thank you!” Ella rushed forward to hug her and then awkwardly halted, clasping her hands in front of herself instead.
Lady Dashlund sneered. “Do not become too eager in your thanks. You will first pay for the right to attend such an event and wear such costly apparel. And you will be forced to attend etiquette lessons as well.” She sighed. “Such an inconvenience, but I suppose it is well I saw this invitation, for who knows what would become of us all if I had not.”
“Would something have happened if I did not attend?” Ella had not thought of this.
“Eleanoria, if the queen has specifically invited you to attend, you go. And until we understand her reasons for having your presence there, one must not assume anything but that she as commanded, albeit nicely, your attendance.” She tapped her finger upon her mouth. “Though, someone has brought your name forward. Someone has made her remember Lord Dashlund’s daughter—there is something amiss here. And when I find that culprit, the one who is clearly wreaking havoc with us all, when I find what lark they are playing at, they will pay.”
Ella remained silent, not even daring to breathe out loud. Clearly her stepmother did not apprehend she was speaking of such things openly.
After a few more moments of mutterings in the same vein, Lady Dashlund blinked and glanced over at Ella. She motioned with her hand to leave the room. “Go. Go get something to eat. I came up here to speak with you and invite you to partake of something.”
“Thank you.” Ella curtsied and brought her hand to the door. “Do you need anything?”
“I need you to be gone so that I may think!” roared Lady Dashlund as she sat down upon the bed. “Now, go, before I change my mind.”
“Yes, milady.”
***
ANTHONY PACED IN THE apple orchard as he absentmindedly tapped a fallen branch against his leg. He was fairly certain his mother knew who he had come to meet. If she had not figured it out yet, she would shortly. It would take a simpleton to place Eleanoria Woodston’s invitation procured by him as the possible girl he was visiting. Though he did include a few other names so as not to seem too evident, but she had already invited them and so had only filled out one more invite—Ella’s. She had to have known. She had to.
He stopped and flicked the branch against the trunk of the tree nearest him. Would his mother really accept her if he loved her? Would his father? There was no reason for them not to. Granted, she was not a princess from another kingdom to secure loyalties, but she certainly came from one of the wealthiest families in the land. However, it was not likely she would be bringing any monies with her to the marriage. Especially if Lady Dashlund had already sold her horse, then there probably was little or no value at all placed upon the girl. Her stepsisters, on the other hand—he shuddered—probably had very handsome dowries.
No matter. His mother had always told him if he truly fell in love, they would not stop it under any means. He smiled. How he loved his father and mother. They had their faults, yes, but their hearts were so good. Even his father was so generous and kind. It was not fair to have one of the best hearts in the world, only to lose him so soon. What did that signify? What was the point of taking such greatness from this earth when he could do so much more alive?
His mother did not know, but Anthony had slipped into his father’s room earlier that morning. He was asleep in bed and so did not stir when he came to hold the king’s hand. Not so long ago that hand had been full of strength and valor, now it was frail and limp.
Anthony had pressed his lips to his father’s knuckles and urged him silently to get better. He needed his father—he needed this
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