Chef Ruth giggled and waved his compliment away with her hand. “Stop, will you? I can’t take all the flattery. Of course you can help her!”
I scoffed but quickly grew delighted as Harry walked my way. He winked at me, as if we were sharing a secret joke, then took his position next to me.
“Is there a second cloth I can use?” he asked me.
“Hmm… let me see.” I pushed a few piles of dishes away, then found a significantly smelly rag within a grimy pot. “Here you go.”
He took the cloth from my hand, wrinkling his nose and squinting his eyes in disgust.
I nearly doubled up with laughter. “You’re the one who asked to do the dishes.”
Chapter 12
About two and a half weeks went by, and Harry and I saved up enough to afford a second room, the first being provided to us for free. Harry didn’t say it, but I could tell he was grateful for a cot to sleep on instead of the floor. I was glad of it, too. Though, many nights went by where I missed the knowledge of his presence so close by. But he was just in the room across the hall, and I soon learned to accept that to be just as comforting.
The young woman we initially paid for the first room learned of our separate bedrooms.
“Are you and your husband having issues?” she asked me one day.
I merely shrugged and said, “He’s not actually my husband.”
The girl was appalled and immediately revealed our lies to the innkeeper, Jack Polthouse, a homely man with a large girth, but also had a huge heart. His only reply was that we were good workers.
I sat on my cot with a thick book in my hands. The rough paper scratched against my palms as I turned the pages, but I was thrilled to be reading again. I found the book abandoned one morning in the dining area. By its title: A Tale of Fairies and Magic, written on its worn, leather cover, I just knew it was a book I could truly enjoy diving into. But reluctantly, I turned it into Jack to see if the guest would return for it, but after a few days, Jack gave it back to me.
“I saw the look in yer eyes when you gone handed it over to me,” he said with his heavy, bumpkin accent as he placed the cumbersome novel in my hands. “I say ya take it.”
And take it, I did. I brought my nose close to its pages, almost feeling as if I could breathe in the words. It was a story capturing the loss of a little fairy’s mother, and her journey through pain, joy, and even a little love with a human that she could never be with. I always had a soft spot for stories about star-crossed lovers.
My door creaked open, and Harry peeked his head inside with his eyes squeezed shut. “Can I come in?”
He didn’t knock anymore, but I appreciated his decency to keep his eyes closed and asking before trotting in each time.
“Of course,” I said, not taking my eyes away from the beautifully written words.
Harry plopped down next to me, making the cot bounce a little. I stabilized the book in my hands, shot him a glare, then continued to read.
“You’re still reading that thing?”
“I just started it yesterday, and look.” I held it up for him to see. “It’s pretty long.”
He whistled. “You can say that again.”
I sighed and set the book aside. “Don’t you ever find such an amazing story that you just can’t put down?”
His slightly pink cheeks turned into a deep red as he stared down at his feet. He poked at the bedding mindlessly with his fingers.
“Did I say something wrong?” I said, reaching to touch him on the shoulder.
“I can’t read, Ellie.”
My eyes grew wide, feeling dumb to assume that he did. He became an orphan at a very young age and had been living alone ever since. Not to mention, a majority of the non-nobility, like his parents, never really found a need to pursue an education beyond farming and trading goods.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
He shook his head and waved my apologies away. “Don’t worry about it.” He jumped up to his knees and stared me down enthusiastically. “Guess what’s in three days?” he said, quickly changing the subject.
I shrugged, unable to match his enthusiasm due to cleaning the entire kitchen just two hours ago. “I was hoping you were coming in to tell me they were serving lunch.”
He squinted down at me. “You’re really boring today. I’ll just tell you! It’s the ball!” He nudged me with his elbow. “The one where all eligible women are to attend.”
I snorted. “Like I would have anything to wear! Let alone know how to act at such things!”
But as I said it, I felt my heart lift at even the thought of going to such an extravagant party and wearing a beautiful dress. Not to mention the underlying intrigue I had tucked away about the mysterious connection I felt with the Prince.
Harry seemed to read my thoughts and winked. “You so wanna go!”
“No, I don’t,” I said as I shoved him lightly in the shoulder. “Besides, you’d be too jealous if a handsome suitor swept me off my feet.”
“No one can charm you like I can, dear Ellie.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
I felt my face grow warm, and I quickly angled away to hide my burning cheeks. It was annoying that Harry made me feel so giddy and slightly embarrassed when he turned on that irresistible charm. I chastised myself for blushing, knowing that he only flirted with me in jest.
“Let’s just forget about it,” I said. “It’s never going to happen.”
The day of the ball brought about unwelcome chaos at the inn. I was getting used to people and socializing, but that wasn’t the issue. The young women that came and went, even the few serving maids and other women workers at the inn, were nearly vibrating with thrill.
It was annoying. I wanted to tell myself it was because the constant chatter of makeup, dresses, and the chance to marry the handsome prince was bothersome to hear about around every corner, but I knew the real reason: I wanted to go. I knew I would make a fool of myself around prettier women, or the men possibly asking me for a dance where I would just fumble the steps I knew nothing about, but the thought of just feeling pretty and important— even just a little— was tempting enough. And I would love to see what the castle looked like on the inside. I was sure it would be glamorous and more magnificent than even my imagination could ever comprehend. I also couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to meet the Prince face-to-face and get to the bottom of why I couldn’t stop thinking about him… It was like I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was driving me crazy!
The one good thing about so much going on, however, was the distraction from thinking about Lucinda and my stepbrothers at home. At least that was something to be grateful for.
“Ellie!” Harry bellowed, slamming my door open.
“Hey, you forgot to ask if it was okay to come in.”
I was sprawled on the floor, legs aching from just sweeping the entire inn— all before having breakfast.
Breakfast!
I sat up quickly. “Is there food left? Please tell me you brought some sausage for me or something! I don’t think I can bear to wait for lunch.”
“Get your shoes back on, Ellie! We’re going out!” He marched over to the corner of the room to fetch the boots I had carelessly kicked off my feet.
“Out?” I groaned. “My feet hurt. I have a day off tomorrow. Can we go out then?”
He grabbed my arms and pulled me to stand less than gently. I stretched my arms out and rolled my shoulders back and forth.
“You’re going to rip my arms out if you do that!”
“Let’s go! I’ll wait for you out front.”
Harry sauntered away with a spring in his step. Despite myself, I smiled after him. He had an uncanny ability to bring me amusement, no matter how tired or sad I was.
I strapped on my boots quickly, sighing defeatedly as the last bit of my laces snapped off.
“These shoes have about had it,” I said to myself.
I found Harry direc
tly outside the inn, tapping his foot impatiently. “Come on! We don’t have a lot of time!”
I huffed after him as he scurried away without me. “Wait!” I hollered. “My shoes— they’re tough to walk in. Especially so fast.”
He didn’t slow, forcing me to flex my feet to keep my loose boots on and sprint clumsily behind him until I finally caught up.
“Where are we going?” I said with great effort through my heavy breathing.
“You’ll see.”
The streets were even more crowded than I’d ever seen them, believe it or not. But the significant difference was most of the passersby were women of all ages scurrying about in a frenzy in search of their last-minute items for the ball.
“I saw that necklace first!” I heard one woman shout behind me.
I glanced for a second to find the source of the shouting and saw a large woman pulling at a string of pearls within the grip of a tall, skinny woman. The vendor behind the booth was shaking his head.
“Please, will one of you just pay me for it already?” he snarled.
That was just one of many chaotic things happening around us. It was almost like a war for women as one after the other bolted to merchants’ stands and paid for items quicker than I could see. I even saw some hair tugging and nail scratching.
“This is insane,” I whispered to Harry.
“What?” he shouted, leaning his ear close to me as we walked.
I rolled my eyes and shouted back, “Never mind!”
I walked stiffly, not knowing what Harry had up his sleeve. He was more than unpredictable. He caught my eye and flashed me a beaming grin. I couldn’t help but smile back, guessing I would just have to trust him.
After another few minutes, we stood at the entrance of a storefront. It was attached to a few other run-down buildings, and its own white paint was chipping off unattractively. The edges of the front door were beginning to splinter, and the sign hanging above our heads that read “Madame’s Boutique” was teetering precariously off its chain.
“Uh, Harry? Why are we here?”
He hooked my arm into his and, without answering, led me into the store. The inside was much more appealing than the outside. It smelled of sweet, flowery perfumes and dresses of all sizes decorated each wall. The store was also bigger than what I had assumed, its size having been concealed by the other buildings and stores squeezed right next to it.
A middle-aged woman with thick, ginger hair pulled tightly into a ponytail stood behind the counter at the far end of the shop. She squinted her narrow green eyes through her large spectacles, then waved excitedly when she saw Harry.
“I have it ready!” she exclaimed, bustling past a line of dresses behind her and to the back.
I nudged Harry in the arm but, despite myself, started to feel excited. Did he really buy me a dress for the ball?
The woman came back out with a small bundle in her arms. She circled around the long counter and nearly hopped to my side, stretching out the blue fabric to the floor to size me up next to it.
“I think I got very close to your description of her, Harry. It looks like it won’t need too much adjusting.”
I barely heard her speak as I grabbed the fabric in my hands and rubbed it against my cheek. The silk felt like heaven against my skin, and I knew immediately that the light blue would compliment my slight tan divinely. I stepped back to study it more, stretching the long skirt back with me and admired the intricate, silver beading all along the bodice. It was like this seamstress had thrown on the stars themselves.
“Harry!” I breathed. “You didn’t!”
He chuckled and wrapped his arms over my shoulders from behind. “I’ve been saving up for a while.”
“And I gave him quite the discount,” the seamstress said with a wink. “You’re lucky to have a man like him.”
I flushed, dropping the dress quickly and giggling awkwardly. “Oh, I don’t have him—”
The seamstress waved my protests away. “Trust me, I see the way you look at each other. Maybe you don’t know it, but it’s there.”
I half expected Harry to deny her statement, but he remained just as silent as me. But was she right? Did he really look at me in a certain way? My face started growing uncomfortably hot, and I began to desperately wish for a change in subject. I couldn’t find the courage to look back at Harry, but I wondered if he felt just as uncomfortable as I did.
The seamstress shifted the gown off the floor and back into her arms. “Anyway, you must be Ellie. I’m Sarah.”
She clumsily peeked a hand out from the bundle of fabric. I shook it, happy she decided not to push the subject.
“Let’s get you fitted, and the dress altered.”
I nodded, scurrying behind the short woman without looking back at Harry. Sarah led me behind the counter, and to the back room she had disappeared into before. The room lacked the organization that existed in the front. Pieces of cut fabric in a variety of colors— I even saw a sickly and a horrendous polka dot atop a bright pink color— were strewn about the small space in a frenzy.
“This is where I do my work.”
I followed her in front of a cracked full-length mirror. I had to stretch my legs over massive piles of clothing to make my way there.
“Okay, I’ll turn around and let you get dressed.”
She handed me the gown, and it was much lighter than I had expected it to be. That was not something I minded, though. I didn’t want to walk around at the ball in a heavy gown like the other women.
The ball.
I hugged the smooth fabric to my chest and breathed in its new smell. I couldn’t believe Harry would do something so wonderful for me! Maybe our relationship really was something more than friendship…
“Are you dressed?”
I shook myself out of my reverie. “Sorry, no. I was just admiring the dress.”
Sarah chuckled. “You’ll have plenty of time for that when it's on you.”
She was right. I slipped off my worn frock— one of two I had, the first the only ensemble I had brought from home, and the second one I bought days ago with some of the money I’d earned. I wanted to have a second dress to wear when I needed to wash the first. But my plain, brown dresses were nothing compared to the blue gown I slipped over my head.
It fit nearly perfectly— just as the seamstress guessed it would. My shoulders were bare, and the bodice hugged my torso flatteringly. The silver stones upon it made my hazel eyes sparkle, and the skirt flared out from my hips slightly, but not in an overly dramatic way.
Once it was on me, I could tell by the lack of shine in the fabric in comparison to Sarah’s other dresses on display that it was a cheaper gown, but I didn’t care one bit. I spun around in front of the mirror, tears springing into my eyes. The fabric flowed as if the light blue was dancing with the waves of an ocean as I spun. It was, by far, the most beautiful dress I’d ever worn.
“Dressed?”
“Yes,” I replied in a hushed tone. I was in awe of my image in the glass.
Sarah whirled around and gasped. “Oh, darling! You look amazing!”
I was unable to repress the enormous grin that stretched across my face. I felt beautiful.
“I think it just needs to be hemmed and taken in at the waist, just a smidge.”
I watched as Sarah’s hands moved around my figure quickly, pinching in a piece of dress here and a little there. She was quick and obviously skilled.
“Can I come in?” Harry’s voice called. “A lot of customers just arrived, and I feel like I might suffocate.”
“Come in, Harry!” Sarah said.
He pushed aside the line of dresses blocking the workroom and froze mid-step once he set eyes on me.
“Ellie,” he breathed. “You— you—”
“She looks pretty?” Sarah said, trying to help him.
She giggled at his awkwardness, and my cheeks started burning once again. Harry had never looked at me the way he did in that moment.
<
br /> He took a deep breath and met my gaze with his intense eyes. As I studied them, I saw flecks of gold I had never noticed before.
“No.” He stepped closer to me and smiled. “She looks beautiful.”
Chapter 13
As I peered at myself in the clouded mirror in my room at the inn, I couldn’t help but admire the image, though blurred and hardly viewable due to the filth and age of the glass. I had been right about the color flattering my skin tone. I gathered up my waves and pinned them up the best I could with the pins Harry snatched up from a booth and paid for before a smelly, plump woman eagerly stole them away for her daughter.
“You are taking what’s rightfully the future Queen’s!” she had raged.
Harry just rolled his eyes and said, “You know the likelihood of your daughter actually getting chosen is little to none, right?”
I thought the woman was about to hit him, but instead, she huffed away and threw a tantrum like a little child would.
I pushed my thick hair to keep it from falling down, squeezing the steel pins in as far as they could go. Yes, there were going to be things about my appearance at the ball that would have a stark difference in comparison to the other women, especially the fact that my shoes would be my old, brown boots instead of delicate slippers, but I was excited all the same. The one thing I was worried about the most was all the people… But at least Harry would be with me.
“I’m ba-ack!”
The sing-songy voice of an old woman sounded behind me, and I leapt two feet from the floor. It couldn’t be… I whirled around to face my visitor, and there she was: that mysterious witch Bavmorda.
Before I could even open my mouth to speak, the witch began circling around me with a crooked finger pressed into her chin.
“Well, the dress is okay, but it could be better. And we need to do something about your makeup, hair, and those hideous shoes on your feet!”
She finally paused long enough for me to get a word in: “What are you talking about? Why are you here?”
Bavmorda waved at me to be quiet and leaned in close to me. I grimaced at her breath. It smelled like rotten fish.
Pumpkins and Princesses (The Tales and Princesses Series Book 3) Page 7