Read Online The Spinner and the Slipper by Camryn Lockhart - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Camryn Lockhart
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it home after her stepmother’s dreadful betrayal?
These thoughts crowded painfully behind Eliana’s eyes. She could hardly say, even to herself, what she wanted in that moment. Freedom, certainly. But freedom to return to that life she had always known hardly seemed like freedom at all. Though she had managed to be content enough with her difficult lot these last two years, she found resistance forming in her heart now. Resistance and . . . and . . . what was this new emotion?
Why could she not, even now, standing in the intimidating presence of her king, get the memory of brilliant green eyes out of her head? Those beautiful green eyes . . .
King Hendry, recovering himself at last, turned upon Eliana, his mustache lifting in an enormous grin. “You are a wonder! A shining gem!” he declared. “I did not believe you, but you really weren’t lying.”
Eliana said nothing. She merely bowed her head, dropping her gaze to the floor.
The king did not notice but continued in the same enthusiastic voice. “I’ll make you a deal, girl: If you can do it just one more time , I’ll name you a Lady of the Realm. How does that strike your ear?”
Ice froze Eliana’s veins. Again? He wanted her to do the impossible . . . again? She couldn’t speak, could hardly breathe! She could not even find the will to back away when the king approached her and took her cold hand in both of his warm ones.
“Spin the gold one more time,” King Hendry continued, “and we shall have a dress made for you from the thread. You will be a shining image, and you will attend the Spring Advent Ball along with all the other eligible ladies of four kingdoms! Then we’ll see what my son thinks of you,” he added with another vast smile.
They moved her to another room, larger and richer than the cell she’d been kept in the past two days. A bed stood against the wall with pearly comforters and a draped canopy of pale voile, and the furnishings were made from mahogany. She walked on rugs of rich, woven threads softer than grass.
A maid came in, brushed Eliana’s hair out and tied it up with delicate braids, dressed her, and gave her a basin of cool water. Eliana washed her face, put on her new dress the queen’s seamstresses had made for her, and moved to the big curtain-hung windows. There she looked out upon the bright, beautiful day.
And saw the gallows still standing in the courtyard below.
Like one in a dream, she staggered to the bed and sank down on the edge of it.
“Will there be anything else, miss?” asked the maid, standing at the door.
Eliana blinked at her, hardly believing that such a phrase had been directed her way. She had never been waited on by anyone before in her life! “Oh, no. Not at all,” she stammered.
“Very well, miss,” said the maid, then curtsied prettily and exited the room.
Eliana sat like a statue in the stillness, hardly able to think, completely unable to move. A knock came at the door what seemed like hours later. She lacked the strength to speak, but they entered without her bidding, three servants carrying the spinning wheel, which they set in the center of the room.
The soldierly housekeeper came in as well. “I’m here to inform you of the doings of the past few days,” she said, standing upright between Eliana and the spinning wheel. “Your mother, one Mistress Carlyn, has come inquiring about your welfare. She was sent away with assurances of your safety and given an invitation to the Spring Advent Ball to be held next week.”
Eliana gaped. “The ball?” she whispered.
“Yes. Hosted in the prince’s honor in hopes he will find a bride. Surely you’ve heard of it?”
She had, of course. Everyone knew about the Spring Advent Ball, three days of spectacular wonder, sumptuous and decadent. And everyone knew the particular significance of this year’s event as well. Eliana nodded mutely.
“Our Sovereign Majesty wishes to introduce you at court on the third night of the ball
These thoughts crowded painfully behind Eliana’s eyes. She could hardly say, even to herself, what she wanted in that moment. Freedom, certainly. But freedom to return to that life she had always known hardly seemed like freedom at all. Though she had managed to be content enough with her difficult lot these last two years, she found resistance forming in her heart now. Resistance and . . . and . . . what was this new emotion?
Why could she not, even now, standing in the intimidating presence of her king, get the memory of brilliant green eyes out of her head? Those beautiful green eyes . . .
King Hendry, recovering himself at last, turned upon Eliana, his mustache lifting in an enormous grin. “You are a wonder! A shining gem!” he declared. “I did not believe you, but you really weren’t lying.”
Eliana said nothing. She merely bowed her head, dropping her gaze to the floor.
The king did not notice but continued in the same enthusiastic voice. “I’ll make you a deal, girl: If you can do it just one more time , I’ll name you a Lady of the Realm. How does that strike your ear?”
Ice froze Eliana’s veins. Again? He wanted her to do the impossible . . . again? She couldn’t speak, could hardly breathe! She could not even find the will to back away when the king approached her and took her cold hand in both of his warm ones.
“Spin the gold one more time,” King Hendry continued, “and we shall have a dress made for you from the thread. You will be a shining image, and you will attend the Spring Advent Ball along with all the other eligible ladies of four kingdoms! Then we’ll see what my son thinks of you,” he added with another vast smile.
They moved her to another room, larger and richer than the cell she’d been kept in the past two days. A bed stood against the wall with pearly comforters and a draped canopy of pale voile, and the furnishings were made from mahogany. She walked on rugs of rich, woven threads softer than grass.
A maid came in, brushed Eliana’s hair out and tied it up with delicate braids, dressed her, and gave her a basin of cool water. Eliana washed her face, put on her new dress the queen’s seamstresses had made for her, and moved to the big curtain-hung windows. There she looked out upon the bright, beautiful day.
And saw the gallows still standing in the courtyard below.
Like one in a dream, she staggered to the bed and sank down on the edge of it.
“Will there be anything else, miss?” asked the maid, standing at the door.
Eliana blinked at her, hardly believing that such a phrase had been directed her way. She had never been waited on by anyone before in her life! “Oh, no. Not at all,” she stammered.
“Very well, miss,” said the maid, then curtsied prettily and exited the room.
Eliana sat like a statue in the stillness, hardly able to think, completely unable to move. A knock came at the door what seemed like hours later. She lacked the strength to speak, but they entered without her bidding, three servants carrying the spinning wheel, which they set in the center of the room.
The soldierly housekeeper came in as well. “I’m here to inform you of the doings of the past few days,” she said, standing upright between Eliana and the spinning wheel. “Your mother, one Mistress Carlyn, has come inquiring about your welfare. She was sent away with assurances of your safety and given an invitation to the Spring Advent Ball to be held next week.”
Eliana gaped. “The ball?” she whispered.
“Yes. Hosted in the prince’s honor in hopes he will find a bride. Surely you’ve heard of it?”
She had, of course. Everyone knew about the Spring Advent Ball, three days of spectacular wonder, sumptuous and decadent. And everyone knew the particular significance of this year’s event as well. Eliana nodded mutely.
“Our Sovereign Majesty wishes to introduce you at court on the third night of the ball
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