Cinders & Ash: A Cinderella Story (Passion-Filled Fairy Tales Book 3) by Rosetta Bloom Page B
Authors: Rosetta Bloom
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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
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
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