Chapter 36
ELLA
MAIER MANOR
My legs tremble as I stand before my family. I need to be strong in case I’m like Fritz and transform when afraid.
“Cinderella!” Marianne holds out her hands and grabs mine. “We were so worried. No one was there to help with breakfast. We didn’t know where you were.”
“Been everywhere searching for you,” Father says in a gruff voice. “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been out here by my mother’s tree.” It’s not quite a lie, but there’s no way I can tell them the truth. Did Stepmother discover I’d been at Dr. Wissen’s house? “I was missing her.”
“Blasted tree,” Father says, stuffing his hands in his pockets while frowning at the branches.
“You shouldn’t sleep outside.” Marianne pushes a strand of her brown hair behind her ears. “It’s still too cold.”
“We were imagining all sorts of horrid things that could’ve happened to you,” Bertha explains. “I suppose we never considered you’d been sleeping out here by this old tree all night like some kind of—” She wrinkles her perfect nose and finishes, “Animal!”
I grin, deciding this might not be a good time to tell her she’s close to the truth. “That’s very sweet of you to be worried about me. I didn’t know I’d be missed.”
“This tree has nothing but evil memories.” Father kicks at a pile of crow feathers scattered on the ground. “Cursed is what it is.”
I frown. Could that be from another missing bird Aunt Fiona was talking about?
“No, it’s not. It was Mother’s tree. Don’t you remember the picnics we had beneath its boughs? Or how high you pushed me on the swing?”
His face softens like the memory has brought back the old him. He reaches into the feeder and scoops up a handful of seeds.
“Father, you’re right about this tree being cursed,” Marianne says, placing a hand on his arm. “There’s an odd feel to it. Seems as if it would be best to chop it down, don’t you think?”
My heart falters, missing a beat. Chop down my mother’s tree? The tree my aunt and the ravens live in? Thunder rolls inside me. That won’t happen as long as I’m alive.
“No one is chopping down this tree,” I say, crossing my arms.
“What’s taking so long?” Stepmother shouts from the edge of the garden path, her toes pressed to the border as if she doesn’t dare step into the fields.
“Ella needs to make breakfast. The ball is tonight, and we’re wasting valuable time.
The girls’ dresses need pressing, and their hair must be done. ”
Father’s head snaps up, and he tosses the seeds to the ground.
That hardness forms back on his face as he faces me.
“A lady never sleeps outside like a wild animal or servant. But if it’s a servant you want to be, then a servant is what you’ll become.
Now get inside and help your sisters get ready for the ball.
For once, we will be a civilized family. ”
“Come along, Cinderella.” Marianne hooks her arm in mine as we head back to the house. “I have the best of news! Dr. Wissen sent over a letter this morning. Apparently, the marriage request was approved, and he already booked the church for tonight.”
I freeze, pulling away from Marianne. How did it get approved? Otto said he destroyed it.
“We’d attend,” Bertha says, practically skipping at my other side, “but we’ll be at the ball.”
“I won’t marry him.” I clench my fist. “I refuse.”
“You will marry him.” Stepmother dares to march over and drag me toward the house.
“I can’t afford to feed another mouth or dress another daughter.
Besides, Dr. Wissen is paying all the expenses for Marianne’s and Bertha’s ball gowns.
He can’t have his wife’s sisters looking like they’re trying to escape poverty. ”
Panic squirms in my stomach, knotting into thick ropes. Heaven save me, he wants to marry me today. What’s the hurry? Unless he knows I was at his manor last night and discovered who he really is. I need to delay the wedding until Jacob can write his story or find a way to escape.
“What if I come with you all to the ball, too?” I feel like I’m trying to hold snowflakes in the heat of summer. “Maybe the prince will choose me. Then I wouldn’t have to marry Dr. Wissen, and our family worries would be over.”
The odds of that happening are impossible, but it would give me time.
“Prince William, fall in love with you?” Stepmother laughs. “Look at you. Sooty and smelly. Besides, what would you wear to the ball? You destroyed your best dress.”
“It’s not like I think the prince would marry me,” I whisper to Marianne, trying another tactic. Stepmother always listens to her. “I just want to go to the ball before I’m a married woman.”
“There must be a way you could convince Mother,” Marianne whispers back. “What if you helped us get ready and did extra chores? I’m sure that would put her in a good mood.”
If she promises to allow me to go to the festival of balls, that will last three days.
Three full days to find a way to escape the doctor or maybe even this house.
I can’t help it, but my thoughts turn to Jacob.
The way he looks at me like I’m the most incredible thing he’s ever seen.
How his arms fold around my waist, strong and protective, while his lips press against mine with a desperate, hungry need.
I shake my head. His destiny is to write people like me from this world. If anything, he’s my enemy and one I can never trust.
“Please let me go to the ball,” I call after Stepmother as we enter the house. “What if I did extra chores and helped my sisters out with preparations? Then would you let me?”
Stepmother marches into the kitchen, where the staff pretends to be waiting for their breakfast, but considering the window is open, they were obviously eavesdropping.
They leap to their feet, bodies straight as boards.
Stepmother clenches her fists as she takes in the situation and then spins on me.
“Enough!” She waves her hand at me like she’s shooing away a fly. “Your whining grates on my nerves. Cook breakfast for the lazy staff, and then I want you to help Bertha and Marianne with their hair and dresses.”
“And then,” I push, “will you let me go to the ball?”
“I don’t have time for your nonsense.” Stepmother says. “Dr. Wissen will be here soon, and the girls must be dressed before you leave.”
She breezes out of the room with my stepsisters, leaving me alone with the servants. I stare at them, unable to move. My head is fuzzy with hunger, and I’m so tired. I can barely keep my eyes open.
“Ella, dear, you look as if you are about to pass out.” Jesse grabs my shoulders and helps me sit down. “Take a rest. We’ll all work together and make something good to eat, won’t we?”
The others agree, patting my shoulders.
“I’m just going to close my eyes for a moment,” I tell them and tuck my head against my arm on the table.
I’m not sure how long I slept, but the ringing of bells wakes me. I startle and nearly fall out of my chair.
A bowl of porridge is set on the table beside me, which Jesse must have made.
I need to thank her. My hands tremble as I eat as fast as possible.
Then I hurry to Bertha’s room to find her perched in front of her looking glass, a snarl on her face.
Inwardly, I cringe. She’s never fun to be around when she’s in one of her moods.
“Where have you been?” Bertha exclaims and throws her brush at me. I duck. “My hair isn’t done yet, and we leave for the ball in four hours!”
In the next room, Marianne has Jesse running about, sewing on extra ribbons and brocade to her dress. I pick the brush off the floor and set to work on Bertha’s hair, an arduous task since I have to listen to her practice a series of lines their culture instructor had given them.
“How do you do, Prince William?” Bertha cocks her head to the side and bats her eyelashes at her reflection. “It is such an honor to meet Your Highness. Dance? With your royal Highness? I’d be obliged, Your Royal Highness!”
“Can you not move your head about?” I ask.
“Ow!” Bertha yells. “You’re hurting me!”
I lift my eyebrows. “I didn’t even touch you.”
Marianne rushes into the room. “What’s happening?”
“I was just finishing her hair,” I say through gritted teeth. Unlike sweet Jesse, who is peeking her head around the doorway, worry stretched over her face. I honestly don’t have the disposition to tolerate such a brat.
“Of course, you were.” Marianne smiles kindly. “I know this must be dreadful to watch us get ready for the ball, but we must focus on one of us marrying the prince. Just imagine. You could visit me at the castle. We could have tea. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”
An image of Marianne as the princess of Württemberg swims through my mind. A glistening crown on her head, a mountain of tulle and lace, and her neck swallowed in jewels. She’d be a fine enough princess, but by that time, I’m hoping I’ll have run away, forgotten and safe from the doctor.
Peter, our footman, bursts into the room, startling all of us. “Your Royal Highness and Greatness.” He bows before Marianne. “It displeases me to disturb you.”
“Your Royal Highness?” I furrow my brow. “Why is he calling you that?”
“We were merely practicing it in case the prince marries me.” Marianne huffs. “Having a little fun, that’s all.”
“Frau von Maier told me to come get you at once.”
“Why?” Marianne crosses her arms. “Is something wrong?”
He focuses on me. “Company has arrived. For you, Ella.”
“Who?” My whole body numbs, cold and lifeless.
“Dr. Wissen, of course.”
The brush falls from my fingers, clattering on the floor.
Somehow, I manage to lift my head and march into the hall.
Jesse tries to stop me, tears streaming down her cheeks, while Marianne hurries after me, probably eager to watch the drama.
Bertha remains at her dressing table, returning to the recitation of her lines.