Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
Ella
The two weeks before the ball passed faster than Ella had ever dreamed they would. Between dancing lessons, etiquette lessons, visits with Beatrice—who had become Regina’s new best friend—and avoiding Dietrich as much as he avoided her, the days blurred together.
Tonight was the night of the commoners’ ball, and the entire estate was in a flurry. The duke had arranged it so that everyone would get a chance to attend, including the staff. They would take turns doing their jobs and attending as guests, and everyone was excited.
Everyone except Dietrich.
Ella hadn’t seen him in a few days, but she’d heard rumors that he had declared that, as the stable master, he would not be attending.
Instead, he would be managing the visitors’ horses the entire time.
When her father had heard that, he had frowned and muttered something under his breath before sending someone to fetch Dietrich.
She wished she could have been there to see what happened, but her stepmother had pulled her into preparations in her room with her sisters. She hadn’t had a chance to see how Dietrich had reacted.
But now she was getting dressed, and she still wasn’t sure if she would see Dietrich or not. The uncertainty might kill her.
And yes, that was an exaggeration—and Tabitha had hated when she exaggerated—but she didn’t care, and Tabitha wasn’t here.
She wanted him there, even if he had reservations about it. She didn’t know if her past family would be there or not, but if she had to face them, she wanted to face them with him by her side. Her true family was wonderful, but they didn’t know what Tabitha and her stepsisters had done to her.
It was something she had thought about quite a lot over the past couple of days, and she knew she couldn’t say anything to her father about it. If she did, he would force Dietrich to be there, and she didn’t want that.
She wanted Dietrich to want to be there, which might have sounded odd, but it was true. And if he didn’t want to be there, she didn’t want to force him, even if she would be devastated if he didn’t show up.
“I think you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” Celeste announced, staring at her sister with adoration in her eyes.
“You look beautiful too,” she told Celeste and Colette. “I love what you did with your hair.”
Celeste preened, and Colette simply smiled at the compliment.
“Thank you,” Celeste said. “I feel beautiful.”
Ella was thankful that they were having two balls.
It made this one feel easier somehow. It was only the people of the Northlands, not nobility from across the country all coming to gawk at her.
It felt like she was able to warm up in a way, to figure things out before she had to do the official grand reveal.
But she would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous.
She smoothed her hands over the gown that had been provided for her. It was beautiful, a light and pretty shade of green that set off her skin. It didn’t feel like something she would have expected a future duchess to wear. It felt simpler, and she liked that.
Perhaps they were giving her the chance to get used to it before they dolled her up for the big event next week. Before they would announce her betrothal.
She sighed.
She had almost managed to forget that the boy she was betrothed to would be in attendance tonight. The thought was terrifying. She didn’t know what he looked like or anything about him—just that he would be here, and she would be meeting him as himself, not as the man she was supposed to marry.
It should have been easier this way, and yet she was absolutely terrified.
“How are you feeling, my dear?” Regina asked as she walked over and ran her fingers across Ella’s hair in a soothing gesture, tucking a stray hair back into place.
“Nervous,” Ella admitted. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Her stepmother laughed. “You are going to be just fine,” she said. “It’s okay to be nervous, though. I should tell you how nervous I was for my first ball as the duchess.”
Ella turned in anticipation, and her stepmother smiled.
“Well, your father always was very convincing. I didn’t think I should be at the ball yet—I was only the future duchess then, you see—and I knew that there were girls everywhere who were so mad at me they wanted to take me down.”
Ella laughed. “I’m sure they didn’t.”
“Oh, no, they very much did. You see, your father was quite an eligible bachelor, and everyone knew that he had sworn it would take the right woman to marry him after he lost your mother. So everyone was surprised when he met me, and not much later, I was announced as the future duchess. My first ball was at your family’s estate in Riyel, and I think every woman in the room who was not already married—and perhaps a few of them who were—were upset with me for taking your father. ”
“I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as you thought,” Ella said. She was smiling so wide at the thought of everyone hating such a lovely woman that her cheeks hurt. “I don’t know how anyone could not love you.”
“I think it probably was,” Regina said with a laugh.
“But that doesn’t particularly matter. What mattered is that I was terrified, and your father made sure that all was well and that I didn’t have to fear anything while he was there.
I know he will do the same for you tonight,” she added, reaching out to squeeze Ella’s hand.
“I know you’re frightened, but I promise we will not let you stand alone. ”
Ella threw her arms around her stepmother, whispering “Thank you.”
“Oh, sweet girl, you are so welcome. You can’t even know how much we are thankful to have you back.” Her voice choked up as she said it, squeezing Ella tighter.
Ella was surprised to find hers choking up too, as she replied, “I’m so thankful to have found you. You’re a much better stepmother than my first one.”
They both laughed through their tears, holding each other tightly.
“What about me?” Celeste asked, squishing her way into their hug and looking up at Ella with a frown. “Am I a better sister?”
“Without a doubt,” Ella said, bending over to give Celeste a hug. “And you too, Colette.”
“Our family is complete,” the duchess said, opening her arms, and all three girls hugged her.
Ella had never felt more safe and secure than here, surrounded by love and warmth.
She could have stayed in the hug for the rest of the night and been content never to leave, but there was a knock on the door, and the maid hurried over to open it.
Her father stood in the doorway, looking as if he might cry when he saw them.
“All of my girls in one place,” he said, choking up a little. “I am the most blessed man in the world.”
“Yes, you are,” Celeste said matter-of-factly.
He laughed as he made his way to them and held his hand out to Ella. She took it and allowed him to spin her around, her dress flaring out as she twirled.
Celeste clapped in excitement at the sight.
“Beautiful,” the duke said with a smile, before turning his attention to his younger daughters. “And who are these gorgeous ladies?”
Colette smiled, and Celeste grinned.
“We are your daughters,” Celeste announced, “and we get to go to the ball!”
“Yes, you do,” he said with a laugh. “Although I’m still trying to decide if that was a good idea.”
“You can’t say no now,” Colette told him, her eyes widening.
“I’m not going to,” he reassured her. “I just think that you all are growing up far too fast for my taste.”
“That’s our job,” Celeste announced.
“To grow up too fast?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” she said with a smirk. “And it’s your job to watch us grow up.”
“I’m doing that,” he said with a chuckle. “Unfortunately, watching it happen far too fast.”
“I agree,” Regina said, slipping her hand into his as she looked between the three girls. “You all look beautiful, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you tonight.”
Ella itched to ask whether Dietrich would be forced to come or if he had managed to weasel his way out of it, but she couldn’t bring herself to. It seemed a bit needy to ask if he was coming. He didn’t owe her anything, and if he didn’t come, she would be fine.
Even if she desperately wanted him to be there.
She couldn’t imagine facing her first ball without him by her side, which felt odd—and also totally normal.
But since she had no real experience at being a duchess, she figured she could use a little extra moral support, even if it came in the form of a grumpy stable master who was doing an expert job of avoiding her.
“Are we ready to go?” her father asked, stepping forward and offering his arm to her. “I think our guests are arriving.”