“I feel as if we need something new to remember each other by,” she told him.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want you to ever forget me, William. And I don’t want ever to forget you, either. Make love to me.”
“What?” he pulled his hand away, surprised by her words.
“If we make love tonight, we might conceive a baby. Then, even if the curse is never broken and we stop remembering each other . . . I’ll always have our child. Hopefully, someday when he grows up to look like you, mayhap something in him will trigger off another memory – a memory of us in the past. It would be something I could carry into my future.”
William sprang to his feet, accidentally kicking over the wine in the process. He didn’t care. Ella was asking him to make love to her. As much as he wanted to, he wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do. “I don’t know,” he said pacing the floor and raking his hand through his hair. “If we do forget about each other and you have our baby, I still wouldn’t remember you or the child. That would be twice as bad.”
“You’re right,” she said, putting the box down on the bed and standing up as if she were getting ready to leave. “It was selfish of me. I would have something to remember you by, but you would have nothing to remind you of me. I am sorry I ever suggested it. It is getting late. I suppose I should be getting back to the manor before my stepmother discovers I came here tonight.”
“Wait, Ella,” he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and staring deeply into her clear, violet eyes. “It’s not selfish.”
“It’s not?” She looked up at him and blinked away the tears.
“This curse is a horrible thing. No one seems to know how to break it. Already, tonight, we’ve seen that no one even knows you are around. Before long, that will be me, too, though I wish it weren’t so. My brother, squire, and I have already forgotten you and had to be reminded by Lucio. I might never remember you in the future, and that thought to me is terrifying.” He pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. Her scent of wildflowers and fresh air made him heady. Emotions filled him, making him feel as if this might be the last time they were ever together. “Even if I cease to remember you, my fair Ella, my wish to you is that there is still a chance you can remember me and hopefully break this curse on your own.”
“I don’t understand, William,” she said, looking at him ever so innocently. “What are you saying?”
“I am saying you were right in suggesting this. It is an excellent idea. Let’s do it!”
Chapter 15
Ella stood frozen, unable to move. Had she just suggested they couple and possibly make a baby? It had seemed like a good idea, but mayhap she was too distraught to think straight. She was almost considering that she made a mistake until William pulled her closer. He ran his hand up and down her back while he kissed her on the head and spoke with his mouth against her hair.
“Ella, don’t be frightened. I promise to be gentle with you. I don’t want either of us ever to forget what little memories we have left.” He held her by the shoulders and looked directly into her eyes. “If you change your mind, I wouldn’t blame you. This has been a quick decision, and mayhap you want to reconsider.”
“What do you want, William? If you don’t want me, I’ll understand.”
“Don’t ever say that. I do want you. Even if I can’t remember our past, I know in here that I have always wanted you.” He thumped his hand against his heart. “I might not recall our time together, but I can still feel the emotions that those forgotten memories dredged up. I know in my heart that I loved you at one time, and I hope you don’t think it is silly of me to say this, but I love you now as well.”
“You do?” Ella’s heart soared. With the way she’d been treated at Inglewood Manor, and by the way everyone seemed to have forgotten her, it felt good to be loved. She slipped her hands around his waist and buried her head against his chest.
“Yes, Ella, I love you,” he said, sounding so sincere.
“And I love you, too.” When she looked up into his eyes, she saw the love he spoke of, as well as the need within him to have her. She needed him also. “Make love to me, William.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, kissing her on the forehead and then on the nose.
“I may not know about much in my life, but I am sure that I want to make love to you, and never forget it.”
He swept her off her feet, carrying her over to the bed. Ella was nervous but felt more comfortable now than she’d felt since she’d been cursed. He placed her down on the blanket, watching her intently as he first removed his weapon belt, and then his boots and tunic. Her eyes fastened to his broad, sturdy chest. She felt the need to reach out and touch him.
Sitting up, she slid her hand down his chest slowly, feeling his toned body as well as the twitch of a muscle under his skin.
“I like that,” he said, capturing her hand in his and sliding it lower and lower until it rested on his bulge beneath his breeches.
“You are hard,” she said, curiously running her fingers up and down his length right through his clothes.
“You have no idea,” is how he answered. Then, before she knew what happened, he removed his breeches, hose, and braies. He stood before her stark naked. Her mouth opened wide as she took in the sight.
“Don’t open your mouth that wide unless you plan on using it, Ella.”
She didn’t understand what he meant until he looked down to his groin and nodded. She’d heard about this before, although she couldn’t remember who told her. “Do you think I’ve . . . done this before?” Her tongue darted out to wet her dry lips.
“I don’t know,” he said, “but I’d like to think so. Every time your tongue shoots out and licks your lips, it makes me even harder.”
“I suppose I can try. But I am not sure I’ll do it right.”
“Whatever you do, I guarantee I will enjoy it.”
“I am sure I will enjoy it, too.” With both hands, she took hold of his hardened form, then leaned over looking up at him, her face in position. He nodded, and his eyes became hooded.
Ella wanted to please William. She figured the more they did, the better the chance that one of them might remember this in the future. Closing her eyes, she parted her lips and opened her mouth wide. He filled her mouth, but she could not take him in completely.
“Mmmmm,” he moaned in pleasure. When she glanced up, his eyes were closed and his head thrown back. “Use your tongue and your lips,” he said in a breathy whisper. She must have done it correctly because he moaned again and his breathing deepened. His knees buckled slightly, and he pushed her head downward, almost choking her in the process. She pulled away and gasped.
“I am sorry,” he said, sinking down on the bed next to her. “I got carried away. Did I hurt you?” He struggled to catch his breath.
“Nay,” she said. “Let me try it again.”
“No, Ella. Any more and I will be finished before you are sated. Now it is my turn to pleasure you.”
He removed her tiara and necklace first, placing it gently on the side table next to the bed. Then he came back and kneeled down on the ground, removing her shoes. His hands slid upward under her gown, the anticipation driving her crazy. With expertise, his fingers quickly worked on untying the ribbons that held up her hose and undergarments.
“Stand up for a second,” he told her.
She did so, and he slid her hose and undergarments down, leaving her naked beneath her gown. Then he stood, leaning over and kissing her neck. Her head fell to the side and her eyes closed as she felt heat course through her.
“You are trembling,” he said. “Do I frighten you?”
“I tremble with excitement, not fear, my lord.”
“Tonight you will not call me your lord but instead your lover.”
He untied the laces of her bodice, pushing her gown from her shoulders and to the ground. Then in one swift move, he pulled her shift up and over her head.
“God’s eyes, you are beautiful, Ella. I feel as if I don’t deserve you.” He lifted her in his arms, cradling her protectively in his embrace. William kneeled on the bed and laid her back, staring at her intensely.
“What’s wrong, William?” she asked.
“There is nothing wrong. How could there be?” He trailed his hands down her chest, cupping her breasts and squeezing slightly. She had a sharp intake of breath, loving the feel of it. “I was just trying to remember something . . . anything.”
“Did you?” she asked arching her back off the bed as he suckled her and brought her nipples to peaks.
“I did not,” he said. “What about you?”
She couldn’t try to remember anything because she felt her body coming to life with every flick of his tongue. She grabbed his hair in her hands and moaned as his kisses trailed lower to her navel.
“I can’t think straight right now,” she told him. “All that matters at the moment is our union. I am ready for you, William. Please, do not make me wait any longer.”
He didn’t speak but instead positioned himself above her. He spread her legs with his knee, his seductive eyes already making love to her. Then a little at a time, he slid his aroused length into her and, together, they found elation in each other’s arms. It was enthralling. Ella felt it to her very soul. And when his seed was planted within her, she thought she felt new energy – hopefully a new life that would be created by their love for each other.
She wasn’t sure how long she lay in his arms and wasn’t even aware she’d fallen asleep until noise in the courtyard woke her.
“What is that?” she whispered in the dark, still holding tightly to William.
“Mmmph,” he mumbled, his arms slipping off of her as he turned onto his side. “It’s probably just the guard going to the clock tower. He rings the bell at midnight.”
“Midnight?” She sat up straight in bed, her heart beating wildly. “I need to be back at the manor by midnight, or the magic wears off.” She shot off the bed, fumbling for her clothes while William lit a candle. She wasn’t sure how she got dressed so quickly but, in just a minute, she ran for the door.
“Ella, where are you going?” he called from the bed. “You are running out of here like a milkmaid who just got kicked by a cow.”
With her hand on the door latch, his words somehow brought back a memory, but it was one she would have rather not remembered. In her mind’s eye, she saw William kissing a half-dressed milkmaid in a barn. Then she saw herself running and crying, and throwing the silver ring at him. Sadness and regret filled her heart as she turned and looked at him with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked in a sleepy voice.
“I had a vision – a memory. You were kissing a milkmaid, and our engagement was called off because of it.”
“Now wait a minute,” he said lifting his hand in the air. “I can explain about the milkmaid.” He got off the bed and headed toward her.
“You knew? Is this the thing you remembered and couldn’t tell me? How could you make love to me when you knew our engagement was broken because you kissed a milkmaid?” With tears in her eyes, she ran from the room, heading down the corridor and out to the courtyard.
“Wait, Ella!” shouted William from behind her, but she kept going. She made it to the carriage, almost falling when she lost a shoe along the way. Looking back, she saw William emerging from the great hall, so she didn’t take the time to go back for the shoe. She jumped into the coach and slammed the door.
“Go, driver. Quickly! And don’t stop for anything.” They had just left the castle when Ella looked down to see her beautiful gown disappearing. “Faster!” she cried, knowing they would not get back to the manor before the magic wore off. Her hand flew to her head, but her tiara was no longer there. Instead, she wore a cloth holding back her hair. Her necklace disappeared next, and then her gown turned back to that of a peasant’s gown, made of coarse, brown wool.
“Nay,” she cried, worrying about what her stepmother would do to her once the woman found out she’d left the castle. Then a wheel fell off the coach, and they crashed. She tumbled out of the carriage, hitting the ground hard. Looking up, she watched as the carriage and the driver disappeared into thin air. She was far from the manor and would now have to walk back wearing one shoe.
Ella wondered why the glass slipper she still wore didn’t disappear as well. It no longer mattered. She would walk home barefoot if she had to because she was not going back to William’s castle. She’d given herself freely to him and also proclaimed her love. For all she knew, they might have even made a baby tonight. Her horrible vision seeing William with the milkmaid made her wonder now if she had done the right thing.
He must have remembered his action. If not, why had he even compared her to a milkmaid? It angered her and confused her at the same time. She didn’t know what to do.
“Medea,” she said, hoping for help. “Medea,” she called again, but her fairy godmother – or sister as she had called herself, was not coming.
Ella put the shoe into the pouch hanging from her belt and started to walk to the manor in her bare feet. She didn’t get far before she heard the sound of a horse-drawn carriage from behind her.
“Hello,” she called out in the night. “Hello, can you help me?” She waved her arms above her head, and the driver of the vehicle stopped. “Thank goodness,” she said to herself, running to the carriage, her hopes still intact of getting back to the manor before her stepmother found out. She yanked open the door. Her heart about stopped beating in her chest when she realized her mistake. Her stepmother and stepsisters were inside.
“Cinderella? What are you doing out here? You are supposed to be back in your tower room.” Her stepmother chastised her while Beatrice and Greta glared at her from inside the coach.
“I’m sorry I left the manor,” she said, wishing to be invisible the way she was when she was dressed like a princess. “Can I please have a ride home?”
“She’s not wearing shoes, Mother,” Greta pointed out.
“I don’t want her sitting next to me. She’s all dirty,” complained Beatrice.
“You’ll be punished for your actions tomorrow,” spat Lady Trevane, reaching out and closing the door. “If you don’t want to walk back to the manor barefoot, then sit up front with the driver because you are not riding with us.”
“Yes, my lady,” she said, curtseying and climbing up to sit with the driver. She screamed when a mouse ran over her bare foot.
“What’s the matter? Have a bad night?” asked the driver, cackling and sounding like an old woman. The driver looked up from under the hood making her cringe when she saw it was Hecuba. This night could not possibly get any worse.
Chapter 16
The next day, William once again paced the floor of his solar, staring at the glass slipper in his hand, wondering what to do. His squire sat in contemplation across the room, as they waited for Terris to join them.
There was a slight knock at the door. Terris opened it and poked his head inside. “Good morning, Brother. Are you feeling better today, or are you still talking to yourself and dancing with ghosts?”
In two strides, William was across the room. He yanked open the door and pulled his brother inside. “What took you so long?” he grumbled. “Didn’t the messenger tell you I said it was important?”
“Aye, but so were the half-dozen ladies I entertained in my solar last night.” Terris yawned and stretched.
“This is no time for silly games, Brother. I need help.”
“I was helping. You told me to choose someone to marry. So, I used my method and told them it would take some time to decide. I had to kiss a lot of ladies last night.” He sat down on a chair and put his feet up on the bed. “Not that I minded because at least I managed to avoid the Trevane sisters and their mother.” He faked a shiver.
“How many times do I need to tell you, feet off my bed?” William used his foot to kick his brother’s feet
to the ground.
“My, are you huffy today. What’s the matter? Did your invisible date stand you up?” Terris started laughing.
“It seems she wasn’t invisible to Sir William,” Troy told him. “Ella was here, but none of us could see her.”
“Lady Ella,” William corrected him, holding up the glass slipper. “She lost this in her haste to get away from me.”
“Ah, there you all are,” said Lucio sticking his head into the room. He entered and closed the door. “You disappeared last night, Fremont. I heard you weren’t feeling well and went to your solar early. What’s that in your hand?”
“This is the reason I came to my solar last night.”
Lucio exchanged glances with the other two men. “I hope to hell you are not wearing women’s shoes now.” They all laughed at the jest. Everyone but William.
“This is your daughter’s shoe, Lord Lucio.”
“Ella? She was here?” Lucio looked around the room. “Is she here now?”
“She was here last night, but no one but me could see her. And nay, she is no longer here. She rushed out of here angry with me when I mentioned a milkmaid. I guess it triggered off a memory from the past that wasn’t all that pleasant.”
“What was she doing in your chamber, Fremont? And why the hell did you mention the milkmaid? Are you daft?” Lucio shook his dark head.
“I was half-asleep and wasn’t thinking clearly, or I wouldn’t have said a thing.”
“Half-asleep?” asked Terris, sitting up straighter. “Are you saying you were . . . in bed with her?”
Lucio’s head jerked upward as he waited for the answer. William sighed and let out a long, deep breath. “There is no use denying it. Yes, I made love to Ella because she said she wanted a baby to remember me by in case the curse was never broken.”
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