Cinders & Ash: A Cinderella Story (Passion-Filled Fairy Tales Book 3) (9 page)

Ella shook her head almost instantly. She didn’t want him knowing that she lived not far. Just a couple of hills over. “It’s rather out of the way, but my lady sent me on a day errand, and I thought I had time for a swim without her notice.”

“Your lady seems very demanding,” Ash said.

She laughed. “If only you knew the half of it,” she said. “But I don’t mind a hard day’s work, just so long as at the end of it I feel appreciated. My father used to always tell me how much he appreciated my efforts, my kindness. But now, no one appreciates me.” She looked out over the water, feeling a sudden wave of sadness as she realized the truth in her words. She missed being appreciated, being loved, being told that she was kind and generous. Even now, if Lady Kenna were to make her do the same amount of work, but showed a little appreciation and a few kind words, Ella wouldn’t mind. She would be happy that she had a family, a stepmother who loved her and sisters to call her own.

She turned back to see that Ash had scooted closer to her on the blanket. He was sitting right in front of her now. He placed his hand on her knee. “I can’t ignore my curiosity any longer. I must know why you didn’t come back. I thought you enjoyed yourself”

She looked at him. “I did,” she said. “It wasn’t the during,” she admitted, trying to figure out how best to phrase it. “It was after, when you said I was just a thing that you wanted. Not a person, but a thing. Like I was no more than a sack of flour, and then you just dismissed me with word that I should get my money. I felt low, then. I felt like a common whore, and even though that’s what I was doing, it felt awful.”

He was shaking his head. “I didn’t mean it like that —”

She placed a finger on his lips. “It’s alright,” she said. “I presented myself as such and that is how you and your friend see me. I just realized that I don’t see myself that way, and I don’t want to present myself that way.”

“My friend?” he asked. “Do you mean Chandler?”

“The tall blond man?”

Ash nodded, but didn’t speak.

“Yes, he wanted to know if I would come to him, too, or maybe he could get another girl and the four of us could have our fun.”

Ash’s mouth dropped open. “He said that to you?”

She nodded. “But, it’s alright. It was good for me to hear. It crystallized for me exactly why I shouldn’t do this. Still, I appreciate your kindness, Ash. You have always been kind to me.”

His eyes grew distant for a moment, as if he was mulling over what to say. “I’m sorry,” he said finally. “When I said that I always went after the thing I wanted, I said it not to call you a thing, but because it was the only experience I knew. In the past, all that I have ever wanted have been things. It isn’t until I was with you that I wanted a someone. You’re the first someone I’ve ever wanted.”

It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. Ash leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back and it felt sweet and kind and right. She pulled away. She needed to stop this. Or did she? She wasn’t sure. “When it’s just the two of us, and you touch me like that, I am happy,” she said. Lying in his arms the other night had felt like a secret joy that no one, not even Lady Kenna who had already taken so much from her, could sully. “But when I get handed that little bag of coins, it sucks it all away and a ball of disgust and shame settles in my gut that I can’t shake. I don’t say that I should feel this way. And perhaps it is stupid for me to feel this way, but I only know what I feel. I can’t keep doing this with you.”

He sighed. “And what do you intend to do for money instead?” he asked. “You can’t keep working for this mistress of yours, the one who beats you that way.”

Ella shook her head. “Of course not,” she said. “Let me show you. I have another plan.” She reached into her basket and pulled out the drawing pad that Uncle Bart had given her. Holding it so Ash could see, she thumbed through the drawings until she found pictures of lemon balm and marjoram. “See,” she said.

“And how does this help you?” he asked.

She laughed. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t explain very well, did I?” She started at the beginning, telling him the whole tale of how she began working for the apothecary, and how her lady had ended that. “Well, the shopkeeper promised my lady he wouldn’t hire me. However, it is the son who wishes to embark on his own and needs the plant guide. I thought I could convince the son to pay me for the duties, but not tell my mistress. That way, I could still earn the money I need.”

Ash frowned, but a moment later, he got a twinkle in his hazel eyes. “Do you only draw plants?”

“No. I draw other things,” she said, turning a few pages back to a picture of her house. “This is a country home I pass from time to time. I stopped and drew it the other day.”

He nodded, but didn’t seem interested. “May I see the drawings?”

Ella hesitated. She never really showed people her personal drawings. She wondered briefly if it was a good idea. But, since she was likely not going to see Ash again, she realized it couldn’t hurt. She handed him her book.

He turned the pages and stopped on a portrait of her father. It was a picture of him as Ella remembered him best — from a day when they’d come here to the Crystal Pond as a family. She smiled at the thought.

“This gentleman is dear to you?” he asked, his voice strained and even resentful to Ella’s ears.

She touched his arm and said, “As dear as any man ever was. He is my father.”

Ash smiled. “I thought for a moment that he was a suitor.”

Ella shook her head. “No, I have no suitor,” she said. “At least none that I can seriously consider.”

“But you have one?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ella noted the uptake in interest, the edge in his voice when he spoke. It occurred to her for the first time that he might be feeling a twinge of jealousy. This was intriguing, as she hadn’t expected that. She needed to put his mind at ease. “Yes, there is an old acquaintance of my father’s who has suggested I marry his son. Only, I won’t.”

He took in a breath and scrutinized her face. “I don’t think I want you to marry this fellow, per se, but you seem to have given it very little consideration. Why wouldn’t you marry him and get away from your mistress?”

She laughed. “Really? I should run from my mistress, no matter what I’m running to? And if my new husband is a brute who is worse to me than she was, what would I do then?”

He frowned, then nodded. “You are right,” he said. “I hadn’t considered it.”

Ella shrugged. “Men rarely do. The world is yours,” she said. “But women, we must always consider these things. Not to mention, my lady would prefer her own daughter to marry this suitor, so it would not be wise of me to try to stop that. As long as my lady is happy about the possibility of a good match for her daughter, I will be freer to be off and earning my own money.”

“Selling pictures of plants?” he said.

“If I can,” she said. “If not, I’ll find something else.”

“What about me?” Ash asked.

Ella didn’t follow. “What about you?”

“I would like to commission you to draw a picture of me,” he said. “I’ve had very few portraits done, so I think another would be wise.”

She stared at him, not sure if he was being entirely serious. “Why would you want me? Surely your family can afford a fine painter with a reputation and years of experience. Plus, I only draw in charcoal.”

“I’ve seen your portfolio, just now. It’s very good, and I like you. Most of the people my family hires as artist are fat, balding old men. I’d much rather be stared at by you. Not to mention, I’d much rather enjoy staring back at you.”

She considered it for a moment. “And how much would you pay me for the portrait?”

He grinned. “Twenty King’s coins total: four up front for materials and supplies, and 16 upon completion of the work.”

Her mouth fell open. “That’s a lot.”

“Remember how I said I would teach you the art of negotiation?” Ash asked, a grin on his lips. Ella laughed and nodded her head. So Ash continued, “Don’t do what you just did. When I offer you 20, you should say, ‘Normally, I charge at least 40.’”

She rolled her eyes. “But I don’t.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I have no idea what you usually charge, so what you say is where I have to start. If I disbelieve you, I’ll simply haggle. Anyway, once you’ve said that you charge 40, I’ll say, ‘Our family never pays artists more than 25.’ At this, you’ll rub your chin and look slightly offended that I’ve offered you so little.”

Ella laughed. “How about I say the truth? That I’ve never even seen as much, let alone earned it.”

Ash shook his head and put a finger over her lips. “Shhh,” he said. “I’m teaching you.” Ella scowled, but was silent. “Now, in an ideal world, you would counter that it would harm your reputation to do it for less than 35, and we’d probably settle at 30. However, since you prefer to be what you call fair, you could nod and say, ‘Only this one time, and because I like you, I’ll take such a pittance.’ At this point, we’ll finalize our agreement with a firm shake.” Ash held out his hand. “You’ll take my offer of 25?”

Ella laughed at his silliness, but he wasn’t particularly laughing back, so she began to wonder if he was serious. His hand was still held out expectantly. She looked at his hand and said cautiously, “This is a real offer? You’ll pay me 25 King’s coins to draw you?”

Ashton nodded.

“And it’s just for the picture?” she confirmed. “Nothing else.”

Ashton nodded and pushed his hand toward her. “I’m paying for nothing else,” he said.

Ella reached out and shook Ashton’s hand.

He smiled, then leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’m paying only for your artwork, but that doesn’t mean we can’t spend our free time, time outside of your work, doing other things.”

Ella raised an eyebrow and said, “Think of me the same way you would as those fat, balding old men who normally paint you.”

Ash raised an eyebrow back, and said. “I shall reevaluate how I look at fat, balding men, so that I may think of you the exact same way.”

Ella laughed heartily.

“Can you come tomorrow night to start?” Ash asked.

She sighed. Tomorrow. That was too soon. “I can’t get away tomorrow, but in three days’ time, I can come.”

Ash nodded. Ella looked up at the sky and noticed the sun was no longer overhead. It was westward. “I have to go,” she said. “My lady will be livid if I haven’t returned and prepared dinner.”

“I’ll give you a ride,” Ash said. “My horse is just beyond those trees there.”

Ella was about to speak, to say no, when she heard a voice in the distance. “Your Highness,” the voice called.

Ella turned to Ash and asked, “Did you hear that?”

Ash turned his head and scowled. “I switched horses with my cousin, so the prince could have some time alone, and now they’ve tracked the horse. They’re searching for the prince. Wait here, while I get rid of them.”

Ashton bristled with irritation as he headed into the woods in the direction of the voice. He needed to send the man from the castle away. This was his chance to see where she lived. He’d heard of indentured servants, but he knew of none of the court regulars who used the practice with such a heavy hand. If he could find this vile mistress of Cinders, he’d have her house taken from her. The King was allowed to annex lands. With that, surely Cinders would leave her. Or perhaps he was being ridiculous. How could he convince his father to take a woman’s home when he barely knew anything about the situation? But, at the very least, he could learn.

He went through the thicket of woods, walking silently looking for the man who’d called for him. It was Philip, his mother’s favorite guard. He’d recognized the man’s voice. Only, he couldn’t admit that to Cinders. He wanted Philip gone.

He kept walking, getting more than 100 yards from the clearing before calling out. “Philip” he said, hoping Cinders wouldn’t hear.

He heard a voice call back. “Prince John?”

He wished Philip hadn’t said that. He felt a twinge of guilt about lying to Cinders, but he still didn’t want her to know he was the prince. He liked the anonymity that came with not being the heir to the throne. He liked that she treated him well, but didn’t feel the need to bow and agree with everything he said, solely because of his station. Anytime he was with people who were aware of his royal heritage, they treated him so differently. While he hated that his mother had kept him locked away, part of him realized he was also grateful for it. It afforded him a certain anonymity amongst the people when he did escape. It gave him the opportunity to interact with people on a more normal level. Even the six months he spent living with his uncle, the Duke and his cousins, people simply thought him another noble. And in that time, they treated him well, but not overly solicitously. He appreciated that.

Philip rode up on a horse, smiling when he saw the prince. “Your Highness,” he said, slowing his horse to a stop. “I’m so glad to have found you.”

Ashton put his finger to his lip as a sign to shush him. He beckoned him to dismount, which Philip did. “Philip,” he said in almost a whisper. “Don’t call me Highness or John again while you are out here.”

Philip looked confused but nodded.

“Good. Now why are you here?” Ashton asked.

“Your mother asked me to find you, high—. I mean, sir,” he said.

“You’ve found me,” Ashton said. “Now go home. Leave me.”

Philip shook his head. “I’m to escort you home.”

Ashton rolled his eyes. “That won’t be necessary. You can return to the castle. Tell my mother I’ll be home before sundown.”

“Sir, I’d follow any order you gave me except for one that contradicted my queen,” Philip said kindly.

Ashton sighed, knowing Philip had a point. He was a loyal man and couldn’t ignore the Queen’s orders. “Very well, then,” he said. “Can I have a moment? Just 20 minutes to finish the walk I was taking. I swear to you, I will return and you can escort me to my mother.”

Philip appraised the prince and then said, “You know what your mother will do to me if I return without you.”

“She will do nothing to you because I will return with you. I give you my word. I just need a few moments of privacy and then I will return and meet you here.”

Philip nodded and Ashton turned and ran back to the pond. When he arrived, Cinders was gone. He called her name, but no response. He walked back to the shore where her blanket had lain and there, etched in the dirt, was a message:

See you in three days. I promise. This time I’ll be there.

- C

He smiled. She’d be there this time. He felt sure of it.