promise.”
“You would have me lie, then? If that is what it takes, then so be it. I will lie to you. Though I would much rather not.”
She sighed and, releasing one hand, turned slightly and rested her head upon his shoulder. After a few minutes of silence, she began to tell him.
“When my father died, apparently he left everything in his last will and testament to me—everything—except I was not told this. In fact, I was told just the opposite.”
She paused and John wrapped his arm around her and nudged her in closer.
Her voice cracked as she continued, “I was told—I have been told, been reminded nearly every day since his death—that I own nothing in that house. Nothing. Not even my mother’s…” She trailed off as the emotions became too much for her.
John’s hand clenched next to her side—the only outward showing of rage he would allow himself. “Continue,” he whispered. “Tell me what else has happened.”
“They took all of my mother’s possessions, all of the items she had received from her dowry and ancestors that were meant for me, and divided it amongst themselves. Even earlier this week, I found my grandmother’s pearls with Jillian. My clothing, my bedroom, everything—they took it all. I was forced to live up in the attics, earning my keep for them. So I would not become a burden. That is why they sold Sunshine.” Her shoulders shook as she valiantly tried to get the rest out. “They—they did not want me to believe I was better than them, so they took her from me. They took everything from me. And have repeatedly, every single day of my life, told me the most horrible truths about myself and my person. Things I cannot even think of. Things I would never want to say out loud.”
Her voice barely recognizable through her sobs, she continued, “All of it—it was all done so I would believe the lie. So I would believe my father did not remember me in his will and only included them. So I would not question any of it. I would forever subject myself to their abuse and cruelties.”
His mind raced, imaging full well what they had said to her and how the fiends treated her. It was a wonder she was so warm and gracious as she was with the treatment she had received. Though, there was one thing that puzzled him. “How did you discover the truth?”
She shook her head and snuggled in closer to his shoulder and chest. “I would have never known it. I would have never thought to question any of it at all. It was Lacey, Miss Dashlund, who revealed the whole of it last night.”
“Miss Dashlund? The Miss Dashlund, the girl who ruined the queen’s garden party?”
He could feel her smile, though he could not see it. “The very same.”
“And how did she come to be your ally?”
“I do not know. There has been a change overcome her, this past year at least, that I have noticed, and recently she has become even more pleasant with me. I dare say we are close to almost friends, if not sisters.” She snorted. “I believe it may have something to do with her clumsiness and becoming more and more my stepmother’s trial as each event becomes worse and worse.”
John could not quite imagine such a silly girl being Ella’s friend and confidante, but if she were truly an ally in her life, then he would mayhap have to open the castle up for her too… His thoughts halted. Right then and there, they halted. What was he thinking?
He was thinking of Ella with him always.
He simply could not become king without his Ella by his side. Her wisdom, her loyalty, her happiness, her gravity, her humility…here was the answer he had been searching for—waiting for. His aching heart burst with warmth. He loved her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ELLA PULLED BACK AND looked up at John. “Though I believe there is more to the story of Lacey’s awkwardness and mishaps than has been revealed. I am afraid Jillian is behind most—if not all—of it. I have not been able to fully understand why Jillian
“You would have me lie, then? If that is what it takes, then so be it. I will lie to you. Though I would much rather not.”
She sighed and, releasing one hand, turned slightly and rested her head upon his shoulder. After a few minutes of silence, she began to tell him.
“When my father died, apparently he left everything in his last will and testament to me—everything—except I was not told this. In fact, I was told just the opposite.”
She paused and John wrapped his arm around her and nudged her in closer.
Her voice cracked as she continued, “I was told—I have been told, been reminded nearly every day since his death—that I own nothing in that house. Nothing. Not even my mother’s…” She trailed off as the emotions became too much for her.
John’s hand clenched next to her side—the only outward showing of rage he would allow himself. “Continue,” he whispered. “Tell me what else has happened.”
“They took all of my mother’s possessions, all of the items she had received from her dowry and ancestors that were meant for me, and divided it amongst themselves. Even earlier this week, I found my grandmother’s pearls with Jillian. My clothing, my bedroom, everything—they took it all. I was forced to live up in the attics, earning my keep for them. So I would not become a burden. That is why they sold Sunshine.” Her shoulders shook as she valiantly tried to get the rest out. “They—they did not want me to believe I was better than them, so they took her from me. They took everything from me. And have repeatedly, every single day of my life, told me the most horrible truths about myself and my person. Things I cannot even think of. Things I would never want to say out loud.”
Her voice barely recognizable through her sobs, she continued, “All of it—it was all done so I would believe the lie. So I would believe my father did not remember me in his will and only included them. So I would not question any of it. I would forever subject myself to their abuse and cruelties.”
His mind raced, imaging full well what they had said to her and how the fiends treated her. It was a wonder she was so warm and gracious as she was with the treatment she had received. Though, there was one thing that puzzled him. “How did you discover the truth?”
She shook her head and snuggled in closer to his shoulder and chest. “I would have never known it. I would have never thought to question any of it at all. It was Lacey, Miss Dashlund, who revealed the whole of it last night.”
“Miss Dashlund? The Miss Dashlund, the girl who ruined the queen’s garden party?”
He could feel her smile, though he could not see it. “The very same.”
“And how did she come to be your ally?”
“I do not know. There has been a change overcome her, this past year at least, that I have noticed, and recently she has become even more pleasant with me. I dare say we are close to almost friends, if not sisters.” She snorted. “I believe it may have something to do with her clumsiness and becoming more and more my stepmother’s trial as each event becomes worse and worse.”
John could not quite imagine such a silly girl being Ella’s friend and confidante, but if she were truly an ally in her life, then he would mayhap have to open the castle up for her too… His thoughts halted. Right then and there, they halted. What was he thinking?
He was thinking of Ella with him always.
He simply could not become king without his Ella by his side. Her wisdom, her loyalty, her happiness, her gravity, her humility…here was the answer he had been searching for—waiting for. His aching heart burst with warmth. He loved her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ELLA PULLED BACK AND looked up at John. “Though I believe there is more to the story of Lacey’s awkwardness and mishaps than has been revealed. I am afraid Jillian is behind most—if not all—of it. I have not been able to fully understand why Jillian
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