“Me?” The surprise on his brother’s face was priceless. William spotted Lucio walking into the great hall. “Excuse me, ladies, but I have a guest to greet.” He hurried away as the sisters argued. Terris looked as if he were about to pass out.
“Lucio,” said William, greeting his good friend with a handshake. “Have you seen Ella anywhere?”
“Nay, I just got here,” said the warlock. “However, I saw Hecuba lurking in the shadows so I am going to skip the meal and dance. I’m going to go after her to give her a piece of my mind.”
“I hope she’s not going to cause trouble tonight.”
“I don’t know why she would. After all, Ella isn’t even here. Then again, Hecuba always causes trouble.”
“I really thought Ella would come,” said William, feeling a stab to his heart that she hadn’t.
“Fremont, my daughter is not herself with this horrible curse bestowed upon her by Hecuba,” Lucio continued. “Give her some time. She is strong-willed and also very determined . . . even if she doesn’t act like it or remember it just yet. But I have faith she’ll come around.”
“Will she ever remember anything about her past? About us?” he asked. “And will I remember anything more than what you’ve told me and the visions I’ve had?”
“I don’t know, Sir William, but I wish I did. Because if the curse is not broken soon, Ella will be forgotten by nearly everyone, forever.”
Sitting in the carriage, Ella rode right through the gates of Castle Fremont without anyone even acknowledging her. She wasn’t sure if she liked the fact that she had already seemed to be forgotten by most people. It was almost as if they didn’t even see her, and it felt very lonely.
“Stop here, driver,” she said, looking out the window of the carriage, realizing everyone was in the great hall for the meal. Her stomach was in a knot. It wasn’t because she was hungry, but because she was nervous about seeing William again. They’d shared kisses, and now she’d had a vision that they were once betrothed. How could she not have remembered something as important as this? And why hadn’t he ever mentioned it to her? She had to tell him.
The driver opened the door to the carriage. Ella stepped out, wishing Medea had come with her. She felt isolated and frightened. First noticing the elaborate decorations and the size of Castle Fremont, she took a moment to drink in the splendor and beauty. She had never been here before – or not that she remembered.
It was already nightfall. There was a path lit by candles burning inside of hollowed-out gourds that led to the keep. It all seemed so magical. She followed it, hearing music and laughter from inside the castle. Everyone sounded so happy. Ella longed to laugh and dance and to be treated like a lady. Would William be happy to see her? She hoped coming here tonight hadn’t been a mistake. Several men bumped into her as she entered the great hall, not acknowledging her in the least. She felt funny dressed up in the clothes of a noblewoman and was about to turn around and head back to the manor when someone called out her name.
“Ella!” It was William. He stood up at the dais, his eyes fixated on her. She smiled and headed toward him.
William couldn’t be happier to see that Ella had come to his castle after all. “Terris, she’s here,” he said, gaining his brother’s attention. Terris had chosen Lady Trevane to sit on the dais, and the woman kept talking to him about her daughters.
“Excuse me,” said Terris, pushing up off the chair and hurrying over to William. “Thank you for saving me,” he said. “But she is bound to figure it out. Your little lie isn’t going to work for long.”
“It’s not a lie. Look. There’s Ella.”
Terris looked out to the crowd, squinting his eyes and cocking his head. “I don’t see her.”
“She’s wearing a pink dress and a sparkling headpiece. You must be blind if you can’t see her. Troy,” he called his squire over.
“Yes, my lord?” asked Troy, chewing on some food as he approached the dais.
“Escort Lady Ella to the dais, please.”
“Of course, my lord.” He turned around and looked right at her. “I don’t see her, my lord. Where is she?”
“She’s right there. Oh, never mind, I’ll do it myself.” William hurried to her side, holding out his arm to guide her. “I am so happy you decided to attend the ball, my lady.”
“I am glad to be here,” she said, blushing and looking downward.
“Let me escort you to the table.”
Before they even had a chance to take a step, a serving boy carrying a platter of food hurried past, knocking into Ella, and dropping the dish to the floor. He fell along with it.
“Watch where you are going,” scolded William. “Now, ask forgiveness for knocking into Lady Ella.”
“I’m sorry, my lord.” The servant jumped up, brushing off his clothes.
“I am waiting for your apology to my lady.”
“I – who did I knock into, my lord?” The servant made a full circle, looking around.
“Lady Ella. She’s right here. Now apologize.”
“I’m sorry my lord, but all I see is you holding your arm in the air.”
“I will have you thrown into the dungeon for your insolence.”
“Nay, I’m sorry, my lord.” The boy then looked down at William’s arm as he spoke. “I am sorry, my lady, it won’t happen again.”
“All right, then. Pick up the platter and get back to the kitchen.”
William led Ella up the stairs of the dais and helped her to get seated in the empty chair next to him. “You are looking beautiful tonight, my lady.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, glancing over at her stepmother. Lady Trevane had yet to even acknowledge her.
“Do have some wine.” He took his goblet and held it out to her.
“No, thank you. Not right now.” She was much too nervous to eat or drink.
“Then at least have some food. Servant,” he called out. “Give my lady her own trencher and fill it high with every dish you’re serving.”
“Aye, my lord,” said the servant, filling a trencher and giving it to Lady Trevane.
“I already have food, you simpkin!” shouted Agnes. “What is the matter with you?”
“Not her,” growled William, pointing to Ella. “Put the food here, where Lady Ella can reach it.”
“Where?” asked the server, holding the trencher, looking very confused.
“Right here.” William took the food and slid it in front of Ella. “What is the matter with everyone tonight?”
“Excuse me, my lord,” said his squire hurrying up to the dais and talking to William over the front end of the table.
“Troy, don’t interrupt. Can’t you see I’m busy?” He turned and looked at Ella. “Do try the food, my lady, I think you will like it.”
“Thank you, but I am not really hungry,” she answered.
“My lord. It is urgent I talk to you.” Troy interrupted.
“Well, what is it?” asked William. “Speak up.”
“May I have everyone’s attention?” said the announcer, walking out to the middle of the great hall with his hands raised up above his head. “The musicians in the gallery will now play music while the meal continues.” The music started up with a merry tune. The beat of the nakers accompanied several lutes, horns, and even a harp.
“This is all so beautiful and overwhelming,” said Ella. “I love the music.”
“Well, if you are not going to eat, why don’t we dance?” William got up and held out his arm to escort her to the floor.
“Oh, but it isn’t time yet,” she said. “Everyone is still eating.”
“It is time if I say it’s time. Now, I want to dance with you.”
“My lord,” Troy said under his breath, seeming fidgety for some reason.
“Squire, whatever it is, it can wait until after my dance with Lady Ella.”
“People are starting to stare,” said Troy.
William looked up to verify that everyone wa
s, indeed, looking at him.
“They are probably just as mesmerized by Lady Ella’s beauty as I am,” he told the squire, escorting Ella down to the dance floor.
“Sir William, I appreciate your hospitality, but mayhap you should listen to your squire,” Ella told him. “After all, he seems as if what he has to tell you is urgent.”
“My squire tends to always make everything sound important. I’m sure it is nothing. Now, no more talking, because I want to dance with you.”
Ella held on to William’s arm, feeling like a lady for the first time. He danced excellently and, together, they glided across the floor as if they’d danced together before. It all seemed to come to her naturally. She was enjoying herself immensely, but when the music stopped in mid-song, and she looked up to see everyone still staring at them in silence, she knew something was wrong.
“My lord,” said Troy, rushing up and speaking behind his hand. “I do believe you are making a spectacle of yourself.”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“First you were talking to imaginary friends and giving trenchers of food to empty spots at the table. And now you are dancing by yourself. My lord, you are not making a good impression on your guests. Especially now that you’ve made a fool of yourself in front of everyone in the castle.”
“That’s nonsense. Lady Ella is right here. Can’t you see her?”
Troy’s eyes brushed over Ella, never even stopping. “Please my lord, perhaps you are feeling ill and would like to lie down in your solar.”
“I will not go to my solar. This is my castle and my celebration.”
“William, I think it’s the curse,” said Ella. “It seems no one but you can see me.”
“Egads,” he said. “Do you really think so?”
“Do I think – what, my lord?” Troy shrugged his shoulders and held his palms in the air.
“I’m not talking to you, Squire.”
“William, can we go to your solar to be alone?” asked Ella.
“I think that would be a good idea.”
“What is a good idea, my lord?” Troy repeated his actions.
“Troy, I am going to my solar. I don’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the night,” William announced.
“But what about your guests? And the ball?”
“Let Terris handle it since he seems to like these kind of things.”
“Aye, my lord.”
William escorted Ella to his solar, noticing that everyone they passed greeted him, but not a single person acknowledged Ella. He was starting to believe that he was the only one who could see her, just like Ella told him. He would have to talk to Lucio about this later.
Ella went from feeling like a princess back to feeling like no one at all in a matter of minutes. Was this the way it was going to be for the rest of her life? And if so, would William forget her in time, or not be able to see her either?
“Sir William, I wanted to tell you about a memory that flashed through my head,” she told him, hoping this would help matters. “I believe I remember us together in the past.”
“You do?” He sounded very intrigued. “Have a seat, my lady,” he said, pointing to the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the richness of his solar. It was a replica of the room Medea had manifested in her tower room. How did she know?
“I think I’ll have a glass of wine. Would you like one, too?” William walked over to a small table where a decanter of red wine and a goblet sat next to a beeswax candle that was burning brightly. The tangy scent of spices filled the air. A fire burned in the hearth at the opposite side of the room, making her feel very comfortable.
“Yes, I would like some wine now, thank you, Sir William.”
“Just William,” he told her, carrying a goblet to the bed and handing it to her. “I have a feeling we were very familiar with each other in the past, even if neither of us can remember it.”
“Aye, me, too.”
William’s eyes seemed to glitter in the firelight. She felt he was looking into her very soul. She took a big chug of wine, thinking about her memory and trying to get up the nerve to tell him they were once engaged to be married. “Aren’t you going to have wine, too?” she asked, as he stood there with a smile on his face, perusing her.
“When I’m with you, I’m lightheaded and feel as if I have already had too much to drink. But, yes, I would like some also. I have only one goblet so we will have to share.”
“Oh, of course.” She reached up to give him the goblet. He took it with two hands, his fingers brushing against hers. Then he caressed the top of her hand ever so gently.
It sent a spiral of heat coursing through her. It was as if she felt some connection between them. He took a sip of wine, still staring at her over the rim of the cup.
“I hope no one gets the wrong idea that we are alone together in your solar.”
He chuckled at that. “Since no one even knows you are here, the only idea they will have is that I am a fool who has lost his mind.”
“Oh, I didn’t think about that. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care,” he said with a smile. “As long as I’m with you, that is all that matters. If you hadn’t come to the ball tonight, I would have been stuck with one of your lovely stepsisters.” He made a face, and that caused her to giggle.
“Sir William – I mean, William, I wanted to ask you about the memory you said you had of us.”
“May I?” he asked, pointing to the bed. The idea of being alone in the solar with him already frightened and excited her at the same time. But this might be the only time she had to spend with him, so she didn’t turn him away.
“Yes, please sit next to me so we can talk.”
After he seated himself on the bed, he looked down to the cup in his hand and then held it out to her again.
“No, thank you,” she said, wanting to get back to the conversation. “Please, tell me about your vision.”
“I want to – more than anything, Ella. But you see, I can’t.”
“Is it because of the curse?”
“If I tell you anything about your past, Hecuba said the curse would never be broken. So I cannot take the chance.”
“I see. Then I will tell you about my vision instead.” She took the goblet from him and gulped down more wine, hoping to give her courage. Then she handed it back to him. “I had a flash of memory after the night you spent with me in the stable.”
“What did you see?” he asked, leaning forward. “Were we together in the past?”
“Yes, we were,” she said. Her fingers slipped into the pouch at her side and wrapped around the wooden box. Slowly, she held it up to him, watching for some reaction. “I saw this in the vision.” After running her thumb over the engraving of the butterfly, she handed him the box.
“What is it?” he asked curiously, putting the goblet on the floor and taking the box from her.
“Don’t you remember?” she asked. “You made it and gave it to me.”
“I did?” He flipped open the box and looked inside. “It’s empty.”
“Yes, it is now. But it wasn’t in my vision.”
“Where did you get this, Ella?”
“I found it in a trunk that held some of my things. I didn’t even know it was there.”
“I wonder why I gave it to you.”
“There was something inside that will explain it.”
“What was inside?” he asked, sounding as if he had no clue. Her stomach twisted. She had hoped he would remember because she felt uncomfortable telling him. But she had to do it. “It was a ring,” she said. “We were betrothed and, at one time, were going to be married.”
William’s heart almost stopped when Ella said she remembered their betrothal. Only she didn’t seem to know that the engagement had been broken. He only knew this because Lucio told him. He wanted to be honest with her and tell her about the misunderstanding with the milkmaid in the barn, but he couldn’t. Damn, why did this have to be s
o complicated?
“You don’t seem surprised to hear we were betrothed,” she said. “Was that the same memory of our past that you had? The one you couldn’t tell me?”
He couldn’t tell her and neither did he want to tell her that in his vision they were randy and he saw it in her eyes that she wanted to make love. He wondered if they had. Would she have coupled with him in the past if he hadn’t stopped coaxing her and walked away?
“Nay, Ella. Not quite.” He stroked her cheek with his hand, seeing her eyes close slightly. That gave him the confirmation he needed that she enjoyed his touch. Leaning over, he placed his mouth on hers, kissing her gently but passionately. The kiss seemed to awaken a need within him to be with her – completely.
“There was a silver ring in the box,” she told him as he pulled away. Her eyes opened slightly. “It was a ring to seal our engagement. William, we were to be married.”
“Aye, so you said.” He kissed her again, letting his hands skim down her arms in the process. Just like in the vision, he felt himself growing hard. He needed her – he wanted her, badly. But he didn’t know if she felt the same way. “I don’t have the ring, nor do I know where it is,” he told her. “And I’m sorry, but I don’t remember that box either.”
“It’s all right.” She picked it up from his lap and, in doing so, her fingers accidentally brushed over his erection. Her eyes opened wide, and her head snapped up. He smiled at her.
“Did you like the kiss?” he asked.
She swallowed deeply. “I did.”
“Why do you look so nervous?” He reached out and stroked her hair.
“I – I don’t know,” she said, playing with the box. “I suppose I was just wondering if we ever . . . I mean do you think we . . .”
“Made love?” he asked, watching her wet her lips with her tongue as she kept her eyes downward. The action was innocent but made him want her more.
“Yes. That’s what I was wondering.” Her little, pink tongue shot out again, licking first her bottom lip and then her top one in the same manner. The action made him squirm.
“I honestly don’t know,” he said, letting out a sigh and shaking his head. “Ella, it scares me that if this curse continues much longer, I might forget about you forever. I don’t want that ever to happen.” He kissed her again. This time, his fingers skimmed over one of her breasts. Her hand shot out and clamped over his and pressed his hand against her as she moaned.
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