Chapter 2

E lla dashed between Lucinda’s room and Daniella’s room gathering accessories and gowns and then helping each of them try everything on. All the while, her stepmother hovered behind her telling her what to put on and what to take off.

She helped Lucinda into a bright pink gown with a full skirt. The neckline was trimmed in orange roses. The colors clashed with her red hair. It was absolutely hideous but Ella managed to keep her face expressionless.

“No, no, no!” her stepmother said and then gave an exasperated sigh. “This is not befitting a royal ball. Take that off at once.” She snapped her fingers.

“But, Mother, I like this one!” Lucinda whined. She twirled to show off the full skirt which was devoid of petticoats.

“Not that one. Ella, get her out of it. Where is Daniella?”

“Here, Mother.”

Ella began to undo all the tiny buttons down the back of Lucinda’s gown as Daniella trotted in wearing a blue gown that had seen better days and was definitely out of fashion. It had a scooped neckline and a dropped narrow waist that flowed into a full skirt. The skirt was adorned with ribbons and bows and pink rosettes in the knot of each bow. Unlike her sister, Daniella insisted on the petticoats. She happily twirled with a squeal to show off the fullness.

Stepmother’s face contorted into one of horror. It took everything inside Ella not to giggle.

Her stepmother clucked her tongue in disgust. “That simply won’t do either. I must go to the dressmaker to order new gowns before he’s too busy to take new orders.”

Ella also needed to go to market and hesitated to ask. She hated the thought of traveling with that woman, but there were things she needed for the kitchen.

“Pardon me, Stepmother, may I accompany you? I have a market order to pick up.”

She looked down her nose at Ella with reproach. “Yes, I suppose you can. But ask for nothing at the dressmaker.”

“Yes, of course.” She gave a nod of understanding.

“Oh, can I come, too?” Lucinda asked with a catty smile. She gave Ella a cutting look, clearly not wanting to be outdone.

Ella cringed. The last thing she wanted was to have to go to the village with both her stepmother and Lucinda.

“Me, too!” cried Daniella.

Ella frowned.

“Does that not suit you, Ella?” her stepmother snapped. Her face contorted into an evil scowl.

As much as she tried to be careful with her facial expressions, she couldn’t keep it to herself this time.

“It suits fine, Stepmother,” she replied and gave a cheerful smile.

But her stepmother continued to glower at her. Ella ignored her as she hurried down the stairs to the kitchen to cover her hair with her kerchief, wrap the thin shawl around her shoulders, and grab her basket. She heard the commotion of the three of them heading down the stairs to the front door. Ella hurried to catch up to them knowing her stepmother wouldn’t wait for her. As she came through the hall, they were at the door. Both Lucinda and Daniella peered at her with disgust.

“Does she have to travel with us? I mean, look at her.” Lucinda waved a hand at her.

Ella stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated by her. She was aware of the shabby state of her dress and the shoes that were nearly worn through.

“We don’t want to be seen with a servant ,” Daniella added.

“Girls, please. We will take the carriage. Ella can walk.”

And that was that. The girls giggled with delight as they scampered out the door and to the one carriage they had. Her only consolation was that at least it wasn’t an enclosed carriage and they would have to deal with the morning sunlight on their faces as they headed to the market.

She waited for them to get down the road a bit before she started her journey to the market. She much preferred to walk alone anyway. They were nothing but hateful shrews and she didn’t want to listen to their barbs the entire ride there and back.

The market was its usual bustle of activity. Decorations for the upcoming season were throughout the small village. Garland decorated with colorful lights was strung across the street from one building to the next. Festive wreaths with ribbons were on every shop door. There was a sense of cheerfulness about the village people and shopkeepers. It was infectious. Ella couldn’t help but smile as she strolled through the streets, greeting people with a smile and a nod.

She loved Christmas. It was her favorite time of year. Well, it used to be when her mother was alive. She was unable to enjoy it as she used to with her stepmother and stepsisters in the house. They made her life a living hell as she served them day and night, never getting a day off. Not even Christmas or the day after. Still, she found a way to celebrate in her own quiet way. She hoarded a few treats for herself to enjoy long after they went to bed on Christmas Day.

Young women everywhere were in a fit of excitement over the announcement of the upcoming ball. She wished she was able to share in their excitement, but she knew there was no way her stepmother would allow her to attend. She was a servant girl, after all.

At the general store, she headed to the counter to pick up her order of eggs, bread, sugar and tea. The proprietor was a nice man by the name of Mr. Gibson. She gave him her best smile.

“Good morning, Mr. Gibson.”

“Ah, Ella. Here to pick up your order?”

“Yes, thank you.”

His brows drew together in a look of regret. “I hate to ask, Ella, but do you have the money to pay the balance on your account first?”

“My stepmother pays that weekly.”

“Ah…” He scratched his balding head. “I’m afraid she hasn’t in weeks.”

“Weeks?” Ella’s heart picked up. “What do you mean, weeks?”

“It’s just that the account has a bit of a balance and, well, I can’t be letting you have your order without payment.”

“How much is owed?” she asked.

“A hundred pounds.” His shoulders slumped as he said it, a mixture of sadness and hesitation evident in his voice.

Ella swallowed hard as mortification swept through her. How could her stepmother not pay the bill? What was she doing with the household money?

“I’m sorry, Ella.”

She didn’t know what to do. She needed those items for the rest of the week. If she didn’t have them, then how was she to make the tea they expected for breakfast every day? She bit her lip as she made a decision that would likely get her into more trouble than she’d ever been in.

“If I promise to pay you in full by the end of the week, may I have my order?”

Mr. Gibson glanced around the store to see if anyone else was within earshot. Luckily, there wasn’t.

“I shouldn’t…” he said.

Ella leaned across the counter and whispered, “Please, sir.”

He shifted from one foot to the other as he ran a hand over his shiny pate. “If you promise?”

“I do.”

He turned from the counter, went into the back and returned a moment later with her items. She took them, grateful he gave them to her and then dashed from the shop before he changed his mind.

How was she going to get a hundred pounds? As she walked down the street, her basket full of goods on her arm, she spied her stepsisters and stepmother coming out the dressmaker’s shop. Both Lucinda and Daniella wore grins, their faces lit with excitement, as they skipped along the street talking about how much they were going to love their new gowns. And one for her stepmother, of course. Nothing for Ella. It wasn’t even a thought.

She watched them for a moment, reminding herself to be kind as all sorts of horrid thoughts came into her mind. She didn’t want to wish ill on anyone, but she hoped Lucinda ended up with a giant pus-filled blemish on the day of the ball. And maybe Daniella would burn her hair when she tried to curl it.

Ella reprimanded herself for her mean thoughts. She was about to step into the street to cross, when a red and gold coach rumbled down the street. It was absolutely ornate with gold trimmings, a footman, a driver, and four white chargers. Ella’s breath caught in her throat as it came to a halt not far from where she stood.

A tall, beautiful woman stepped out with the help of her footman. She wore a magnificent red velvet gown and a matching cloak trimmed in ermine. Her silvery hair was piled high on her head in the latest fashion. Dainty curls framed her face. She had bright blue eyes and lips the color of the red rose. Even her cheeks were rosy. She noticed Ella gaping at her and gave her a bright smile.

“Good morrow, young miss.”

“H-hello.”

“Why, aren’t you a pretty thing.” Her smile was infectious.

Ella glanced down to her worn shoes. “Thank you, but I’m not.”

“Nonsense!”

The woman approached her, looking her up and down with curiosity. When Ella failed to lift her gaze to hers, the woman put a finger under her chin and tipped it up with a gentle nudge.

“I can see into the depths of your deep brown eyes,” the woman said. “I see a lot of heartache.”

Ella’s stomach twisted into a knot.

“But there is also kindness,” she continued. “What’s your name, dearest?”

“Ella,” she said, her voice quiet.

“Ah, a beautiful name to match the girl! Wouldn’t you agree, Percy?” she said to the footman.

“Yes, madam,” the footman replied in a monotone. He never cast a glance toward Ella.

The woman latched her arm around Ella’s. “Dear Percy. He always agrees with me. It’s why I keep him around.”

She laughed, her eyes twinkling with a sort of mirth Ella had never seen before. She liked her right away.

“Now, tell me, dearest Ella. What are you planning to wear to the ball?”

Ella blinked in confusion. Had the woman not seen her ragged dress, her thin shawl, her worn out shoes?

“I-I’m not going.”

“Not going!” She clucked her tongue. “Why not?”

“I don’t have anything suitable to wear, madam.”

“Madam!” She said on a gasp and then a laugh. “You must call me Noella.”

“Oh, but I—”

“I insist . Now, what do you say we pop on over to the dressmaker and order you something exquisite for the ball? I personally know him and he’s sure to give me exactly what I want.”

Panic rose in Ella. She tugged her arm away from the woman’s. “Thank you, but I can’t accept.”

She stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. “Why not?”

Ella started to back away from the woman. “It’s generous, to be sure, but I don’t know you and, well, my father said never to accept gifts from strangers.”

“Your father said that, hm?” She tapped her finger on her chin as she gave Percy a glance.

He slowly shook his head. “Madam, it appears she doesn’t know who you are.”

“Yes, it would seem that way.” She turned back to Ella, who had put considerable distance between them as she backed away. “My dear, I’m Noella Fairchild. Have you never heard that name before?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I do thank you for thinking of me, madam, but I simply must go.”

Before Noella Fairchild said another word, Ella spun and dashed up the street. She didn’t stop running until she was at the end of the market on the dirt road heading back to home.

Noella Fairchild watched the young girl hurry down the path and disappear, her tattered skirts fluttering around her ankles. Using her magic, she sensed a sort of sadness mixed with a deep hope of better days to come. Well, she could give her that.

“Percy, follow her. Find out where she lives and report back.”

Percy nodded. “Yes, madam.”

Her long-time servant followed the girl’s path. Percy understood discretion better than anyone. She’d know everything there was to know about the girl by the time he returned in a few hours. Smiling, she returned to the carriage to await news of the girl.