Forever Ella: The Everly Girls Book 2

by V. B. Marlowe

  I wandered into Snow’s wardrobe room and slipped into a beautiful violet dress and golden shoes with a low heel. Then I brushed my golden tresses with her brushes made of pure silver from Asia, a gift from the Emperor. I colored my face with her beautiful makeup and slipped a golden comb in my hair to match the shoes.

  I spent a few hours reading and digging through Snow’s drawers trying to discover what kinds of treasures she had hidden in them. There were all sorts of trinkets and cards she had been given over the years. If Snow kept a journal, she had it well hidden because I didn’t come across it.

  Once I grew tired of exploring, I decided I could use some fresh air. As I made my way to the rose garden which had been planted just for Snow, I passed several of the servant staff. At first, they watched me strangely but they must have been filled in on my new privilege because they nodded respectfully as I passed. Some of them were probably jealous and felt the same way I had always felt about Snow.

  I had lunch and read in the rose garden. Then I rode a horse for the first time since Snow and I had played together as children. I was rusty, but Birchum, the stable boy was very kind and patient with me. He even let me ride Ivory, Snow’s prized horse.

  After our lesson the two of us walked Ivory back to the stable.

  “He really misses Snow,” Birchum said, stroking the horses’ stark white mane. “The two of them shared a bond I have never seen between a horse and their master.”

  Something tugged at my heart. “Yes, the whole world loves precious Snow. Even the animals.”

  Birchum threw me a strange look and I realized how bitter I must have sounded. “I mean, it’s so awful that she’s gone missing, isn’t it? Where do you think she could be?”

  Birchum shook his head. “Nowhere good. I know Snow. She would never willingly abandon the kingdom and her family like that. Still, the king has had search parties thoroughly scouring the land for her and they haven’t found a trace of her yet. I have no idea where she could be.”

  “Do you think someone’s done something to harm her?”

  Birchum paled as we neared the stable. “I hope not. What kind of person would hurt Snow? She’s never done a thing wrong to anyone.”

  Yeah, yeah. I got it. Snow could do no wrong. Birchum had absolutely no idea how she had treated me. She used me and then tossed me to the side. Then I remembered what Merna had told me about the forgetting charm. It wasn’t Snow’s fault at all. It had been the queen’s and partly Merna’s. But why? Why had Queen Angeline wanted Snow to forget about me? What had she gotten out of it? What if Snow had remembered me? We could have been sisters again.

  We entered the swinging wooden doors of the stable. “I figure,” Birchum went on, leading Ivory to his pin, “that someone has kidnapped her and is holding her for ransom. Why they haven’t contacted the king yet, I don’t know, but it’s the only thing that makes since.”

  Another thought entered my mind. Snow and I had always loved to take long walks in the forest. What if she had decided to walk alone and ended up being ripped to shreds by wolves or some other wild animals? Wolves had been increasing in number in the forests surrounding the palace. At night, you could hear them howling and they sounded as if they were getting closer and closer.

  What if the queen had made up the story about not being able to kill Snow and had actually done something to hurt her? If she did, how could I ever prove that?

  “Do you think she might have gotten caught by a Wolvenblood?” I swallowed hard and shuddered at the thought.

  Wolvenbloods were people who transformed into wolves at night. They kept to themselves, hiding deep in the forests. Wolvenbloods were too dangerous, wild, and unpredictable to live among society.

  One of the worst things about them were that they were hard to identify. In their Human form, they looked like normal Humans and in the wolf form, they looked like ordinary wolves. The only way to identify one was to catch it in the act of changing.

  Birchum watched me from the corner of his eye. “Wolvenblood? You don’t believe in them, do you?”

  I did sort of, but I felt silly admitting it since most people didn’t. “Of course not. It’s just that I heard some people talking about the possibility and I wanted to know what you thought.”

  “I think the existence of Wolvenbloods is just a myth and anyone over the age of seven who believes in them needs to have their head examined.”

  “Yeah,” I muttered under my breath. I remember Snow and I talking about Wolvenbloods when we were younger. She believed in them and had gotten me to do the same. She told me she’d seen one change and it had actually talked to her. I believe her because she had a way with animals. As dangerous as Wolvenbloods were rumored to be, not even they would hurt the precious princess.

  Birchum looked at the sun low in the sky and frowned. “Word around the palace is that you’re staying in Snow’s bedroom. What’s that about?”

  I wanted to think I was only imagining his accusatory tone, but I wasn’t. He clearly didn’t approve of my living arrangement.

  “The queen made me.” It was true and that was all he needed to know. I didn’t feel obligated to tell him how I was enjoying every moment of it.

  “Well, I find it strange and rather disrespectful. Like she’s tried to replace Snow with you. Like she doesn’t even care that Snow is missing.”

  I shrugged. “She thinks it would be a shame for all of Snow’s pretty things to go unused, that’s all. Anyway, Snow will be back soon and I will be back to the servant’s quarters. Let me enjoy my vacation while it lasts.”

  Birchum pressed his lips together like he wanted to say something else, but didn’t.

  He settled Ivory in with some oats and hay and I headed back to the palace. Before I could get too far, Birchum grabbed my hand. His was soft and warm. “Ella, be careful. I have a feeling that something strange is happening around here. I don’t know what, but I know it’s nothing good.”

  Later that night the queen visited me in Snow’s chambers as she’d promised. Before, I’d had no idea how much time it took Snow to be bathed and receive her beauty treatments. It took up a greater part of the evening. While it would have been okay once in a while, I could imagine how going through that every day would become tiresome.

  “I have something very important to tell you, my dear.”

  I sat at Snow’s vanity while a servant girl stood behind me and rolled my hair—another part of Snow’s beauty routine.

  “What’s that, Your Majesty?”

  “The king shall return in two nights.”

  My heart dropped. The king had been out looking for Snow from the moment she’d gone missing. How would he feel about my new living arrangements? I couldn’t help but think he was going to take some offense to it. I knew I would if I were in his shoes.

  “Maybe I should go back to the servant’s quarters where I belong. I think the king will be upset once he knows I’ve been staying in here.”

  The queen waved my concern away. “He won’t even notice. There is no one more oblivious than my husband. Besides, he’ll never come near Snow’s wing. It’ll hurt him too much. You’ll be fine.”

  That didn’t make me feel any better. “Anyway, I haven’t even gotten to the good news. The day after the king returns, we’re going to be hosting a ball. The king wanted to cancel it. He’s not in very good spirits with his daughter missing and all. Still, the queen always gets what she wants and the ball shall go on. I want you to attend.”

  I had never gone to a ball before and I never imagined having the opportunity to attend one. Balls were for royalty and members of high society.

  “Wh-why should I attend? I’m flattered and a ball sounds lovely but I really don’t belong at one. I wouldn’t even know how to act.”

  Queen Angeline gave me a pitiful look. “Not to fret. I’ll have someone teach you everything you need to know over the next few days. It’s really not that complicated. We will pick out a beautiful dress for you and have your h
air done up. I’ll even erase your scars for the night. There will be many available bachelors there. Who knows? You might catch a man’s eye—a man looking for a wife. A ball was where I met the king and got him to fall in love with me.”

  What? That had been the last thing on my mind. I stood and paced even though the girl wasn’t through rolling my hair. She waited patiently, holding the rollers.

  “Your Majesty, I appreciate all of this but why are you doing this? Why do you care so much about me?”

  Her mouth formed an O. “Really? This is the thanks I get? Do people really think I am so evil that I am incapable of doing nice things for someone? I saw a servant girl in a dire situation because of the actions of my stepdaughter. I helped her out of the situation, healed her wounds, and gave her a taste of the royal life out of the kindness of my own heart and she chooses to look a gift horse in the mouth. Ella, do you have any idea how this makes me feel?”

  I thought about what Merna told me earlier. I believed Merna, not the queen. “Merna told me the truth. She asked you to be kind to me in exchange for her teaching you the forgetting charm. Still, you are being far too nice. Merna didn’t require all this. She only wanted me to get a break from that steamy kitchen.”

  Queen Angeline rolled her eyes. “Exactly. I’m doing this to be kind and I don’t understand why you have a problem with that.”

  I gulped. “I don’t have a problem with it, Your Majesty. Uh, can I please go down and see Merna.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “What for?”

  “It’s just—I haven’t seen her all day and I’d like to speak to her. She’s like a mother to me and she’s probably wondering where I’ve been all day. She’ll worry when I don’t show up tonight.”

  The queen looked exhausted. “I’ve already had the message sent to her so not to worry. She knows not to expect you. Now, tomorrow we will have you fitted for a gown and everything you need and I’ll have one of my ladies-in-waiting give you a quick run-down on how to behave at a ball.”

  Taking my shoulders, she led me back to the chair where the girl continued to roll my hair, then she leaned over, breathing lightly on my face. “Ella, dear. I’m giving you a precious gift. This is your way out. You are a beautiful girl. You will have access to the wealthiest men in the kingdom during the ball. Take advantage of that. Or, would you like to go back to the servant’s quarters and live that life until you die.”

  I didn’t answer her but that definitely wasn’t what I wanted.

  “Do you want to end up like old Merna?”

  I swallowed hard. “There’s nothing wrong with Merna. She’s the best person I know.” Saying that went against my better judgement but I couldn’t stand for anyone to speak ill of Merna.

  The queen looked hurt for a second. “Very well then. I shall see you tomorrow.”

  Once Queen Angeline left, the servant girl returned to finish my hair. I watched her in the mirror as she worked quietly. “What do you think about this?” I asked.

  She paused, locking eyes with my reflection. “What do I think about what, m’lady?”

  “Me staying in Snow’s room. What the queen is doing for me? I’m a servant like you. We both know I don’t belong here.”

  She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Forgive me, but it’s not my place to speak on such things.”

  I turned in the chair and grabbed her wrist. “Please. Tell me what you really think. I promise it will only stay between us.”

  She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. “I haven’t worked here for very long—but long enough to know that woman is poison. She destroys everything she touches. Just look at Snow and the king. She’s the worst thing that ever happened to them.”

  10

  The following afternoon, just as I was in the middle of an amazing book called The Chronicles of Rose, a tall, slender woman came to Snow’s quarters to show me how to behave at a ball. She taught me how to introduce myself, how to curtsy, how to dance, and how to eat properly at the table. The whole time she looked at me like she was smelling something bad, like she didn’t understand why a simple servant girl was getting a taste of being a princess. I couldn’t blame her since I was thinking the same thing.

  That evening it took five women to dress me. I stood as still as I possibly could as they stuffed me into a corset that seemed to be two sizes too small. I held my arms up as they slipped the beautiful emerald green dress over my head. The queen had insisted on green to match my eyes. The dress was made of satin and trimmed in gold. It hugged my waist and puffed out around my hips. I couldn’t imagine how I would be able to sit. The queen kept all her promises. She asked everyone to leave the room then she placed her hands on my feet, muttered a chant under her breath, and my terrible scarring had disappeared.

  I waited patiently as my hair was curled into perfect spirals and my face was painted. Once their work was done, the servant girls stood around and admired me.

  “You look so beautiful.”

  “Ravishing.”

  “Like a true princess.”

  But I wasn’t and I couldn’t help but feel that last comment was meant to be an insult. About thirty minutes later my escort—a tall, slender boy with dark curls and pleasant features—arrived to take me down to the ball room. I stood at the top of the staircase forcing myself to take deep breaths. Feeling slightly dizzy, I gripped the escort’s hand even tighter.

  “Everything okay, m’lady?” he whispered in my ear.

  I’d almost forgotten he was standing there. I let go of his hand since I was probably crushing his bones.

  “I’m fine.”

  We descended the stairs slowly for I had to make sure my long gown didn’t catch on my golden heels. If I tumbled down the stairs on the way to the ball I would never recover from the humiliation.

  As we neared the ballroom, streams of people dressed in the finest clothes I had ever seen drifted toward the doors. Couples with their arms looped; young men walking alone; or young maidens like myself who were either alone or being escorted by their parents. The sounds of the live orchestra floated from the room. The music sounded heavenly and I hoped I could remember all the moves I had been taught.

  The smells of rich, delicious food tickled my nostrils and I knew from experience that the staff had been preparing the food since the day before. I couldn’t wait to taste it.

  I stood awkwardly in the doorway of the ball room, arm and arm with my escort. I took in the royal decorations that weren’t anything less than breathtaking. Floor-length curtains made of golden material hung from all the windows. The room was lined with tables filled with food that looked too beautiful to eat. People held golden goblets probably filled with the most expensive wine in the land and couples whirled around us dancing to the heavenly music. It was all like a dream I didn’t belong in.

  “Would you like to dance?” the escort asked.

  I shook my head. “No, well at least not yet. I need a little time to take this all in.”

  He grinned and stood obediently at my side waiting for what my next move would be.

  Suddenly the soft orchestra music was interrupted by the loud blaring of trumpets. Everyone attending the ball paused and formed a pathway leading to the thrones at the front of the room. The trumpets meant the queen and king were arriving.

  The king and Queen Angeline were the most beautiful I had ever seen them. She wore a crimson gown while the king wore an impeccable gold robe with red embellishments embroidered into it. If the king were unhappy about the ball, he was hiding it well. He looked at his queen with the look of a man in love. She did have a way with him.

  Once they proceeded to their thrones and allowed people ample time to adore them, they mingled amongst the crowd.

  I watched the queen. She was so graceful and perfect. I wondered how she did it. I wanted so much to be like her. She paused to speak to a young man for a few moments. They threw their heads back and laughed at something that must have been incredibly f
unny, then to my surprise, the two of them made a bee line toward me.

  The queen nodded to my escort as she approached. “Thank you, Esteban. Lady Ella is taken care of now.”

  Esteban bowed and swiftly left the ball room.

  “Ella, this is Lord Trevor. He is set to inherit his father’s business. You are familiar with the Trevors, right? They make the finest jewelry I have ever seen. His father actually made this piece.” Her hands rested on a beautiful diamond and ruby necklace hanging from her neck. It went perfectly with the blood-red gown she wore. Red was her color.

  Of course, I wasn’t familiar with the Trevors. Why would I be? What did fine jewelry have to do with me?

  I shook the man’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” I couldn’t manage to think of anything else to say because his beauty left me dumbfounded. He looked to be a few years older than me with golden waves of hair and the bluest eyes I had ever seen. His cheekbones and chin were perfectly chiseled. I had never seen a man so gorgeous.

  Lord Trevor seemed to like what he saw. I couldn’t ignore the way his eyes traveled over me. “I have never seen you around, Lady Ella. Why is that?”

  Because I’ve been hidden in the palace kitchen where I slave away day after day, or at least used to. I couldn’t very well tell him that and his question left me speechless. Why couldn’t I say all the right things like the queen?

  Thankfully she jumped in to save me. “Lady Ella is visiting us from the Kingdom of Aurora. She’s actually staying here in the palace should anyone be curious about where to find her.”

  She was smooth.

  I nodded as if any of that were true. Lord Trevor extended his arm to me. “Would you give me the pleasure of dancing with the most beautiful woman at the ball?”

  My cheeks warmed. I looked beautiful, but I knew I wasn’t the most beautiful woman there. Was he just saying that to flatter me knowing it wasn’t true?