When she walked out of the room and away from Ashton, her tears fell freely. She was destined for a life without love, and her heart would never recover.
SIXTEEN
“I really think you should come with us tonight, dear.” Emily gently said as she stared at herself in the full-length mirror, adjusting the bell-shaped sleeves on her gown. “The Langston’s have the best balls, and I’m sure you will enjoy yourself.”
Nicole smiled her best as she watched her cousin get ready for tonight’s event. “Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m really not in the mood to socialize.”
Emily looked at Nicole through the mirror, frowning. “But it’s been six weeks since you were last here, and I want to spend time with my cousin again.” She sighed. “Where is the fun and energetic cousin that I remember?”
Nicole’s chest ached with loneliness, once more. She blamed Ashton for her misery. He could have apologized. He could have forgiven her by now, but he hadn’t.
Slowly, she took in a deep breath, trying to calm her ire. No, she was to blame, not him. “Soon, Emily. I’ll be back to myself very soon, I assure you. It’s just not going to be tonight. I’m sorry, but it’s still too early. I fear I would be a complete bore at your friend’s ball. Besides,” she shrugged, “I cannot find my dancing shoes.” She offered her best smile under her duress situation. “I can only find one shoe. Obviously, I’m so absent-minded that I’ve lost my shoe, and I fear my mind will get worse at the party and I’ll be an embarrassment to you all.”
“Oh, dear.” Emily moved to Nicole, taking hold of her hands. “Do you want me to stay and keep you company? I hadn’t realized you were out of sorts this way.”
“No, I shall be just fine. You go with your loving husband and enjoy the evening. I’ll curl up on the sofa with a good book.”
“Well, if you say so.” Emily patted her ringlets into place one last time before turning away from the mirror.
Nicole followed behind her cousin until Emily met Randall at the front door. Nicole waved at them until they left. Closing the door behind them, tears formed in her eyes and she swept them away with her fingers. The last time Nicole had attended a ball, it was the one for General Babcock. A miracle had happened that night, and she had met the man of her dreams.
Memories swarmed all around her, and her tears wouldn’t stop falling. She went to the parlor and sat on the sofa, hugging her knees to her chest as she rocked back and forth. Oh why couldn’t Ashton forgive her? It had been so hard not to run to him and beg his forgiveness. Instead, she stayed in Emily’s house and sulked. Nicole’s pride wouldn’t allow her to act like a fool in front of Ashton—again.
She glanced at the bookshelf, wondering if she should read. Nothing looked interesting. Not tonight. Her mind was too full of everything that had happened the last six weeks of her life.
Thankfully, Angela had recovered quickly and her father allowed the woman to stay as the housekeeper/cook. Nicole was grateful that the police hadn’t arrested Angela for setting Glynn up, even though all of this was his fault in the first place.
The trial for the ex-partners of the railroad had started in Ft. Bridger, but Nicole didn’t want to read the newspaper to see what was happening. With a murder charge stacked on a robbery charge, she was sure both of them would be hanged for their crimes.
Groaning, she rubbed her forehead. She would go crazy staying alone tonight. She needed people to keep her company, and to keep her from screaming with frustration. She should have gone to the ball with Emily. But then, it wasn’t too late.
Without another thought, she darted up the stairs to the guest room where she stayed when she came to visit, and looked through the wardrobe. The blue silk gown that she’d been wearing at General Babcock’s ball drew her attention. It was the only one suitable for tonight’s party, so she might as well wear it.
Thirty minutes later, she was dressed and heading down the stairs. She hadn’t lied to Emily about missing a shoe, but at least she found a nice pair of boots to wear with the dress. She grabbed her cloak and rushed to the door, opening it. She froze as she stared at the man standing on the other side of the door with his hand raised to knock. He appeared just as startled as she felt. Then again, it wasn’t every day that Prince Charming came to see her.
A shaky breath caught in her throat as she ran her gaze over Ashton. Strange that tonight of all nights, he would pick to wear the same costume as when she’d first met him—just as she was wearing the same gown.
Slowly, his mouth stretched into a grin. “Cinderella? Is that really you?”
Her heartbeat flipped erratically. He hadn’t called her that name for so long. “Uh, yes.”
“Are you going out tonight?” His gaze ran over her gown.
“Well, I was, but now…”
“Were you perhaps going to the Langston’s ball with your cousin?”
She smiled and tried not to show too much excitement in her expression, even though she figured it was a lost cause since her nerves were jumping crazily. “Yes. My cousin is already there. I was um, running late.”
“Would you mind if we talked in private first?”
“Not at all.” She motioned her hand for him to enter. He did, but his gaze stayed on her. She closed the door but didn’t move. Her breathing was accelerating the longer she stared at him. It was hard to believe he was really here. She wanted to pinch him just to see if he was real or if she was dreaming again.
He stood for a few seconds in awkward silence just shuffling his weight from one foot to the other. She really didn’t know what to say, either.
“Um, how have you been doing?” she asked.
“I’ve been busy at the railroad. I’m actually trying to find someone to help me since the paperwork is overwhelming.”
“I’m sure it is.”
Silence grew between them again. After another couple of difficult seconds, Ashton cleared his throat. “Nicole, I have to ask something of you.”
She swallowed hard. “All right.”
He reached into his Prince-style overcoat and pulled out… My shoe? She gasped. How on earth did he get that?
“Nicole, I have come looking for the woman who can fit into this remarkable shoe.” He glanced at the object in his hand as his fingers traced the toe and then up the side. “These past few weeks, I’ve come to realize how much I have missed you.” He lifted his attention back to her. “The woman who can fit into this shoe is my match. She is the only woman who can complete me.” He knelt in front of her as he held up the shoe. “Will you allow me to put it on for you?”
Her whole body shook with excitement and at the same time, her eyes filled with tears. Ashton gazed at her with such tenderness in his expression that she wanted to weep with joy.
Nodding, she lifted her gown, displaying her foot. He carefully removed the shoe she was wearing, and gently slipped on the one in his hand. His smile widened as he stood, slipping his arms around her waist.
“It looks like the shoe fits.”
“It does,” she said breathless. “Where…where did you find it? I thought I’d lost it.”
He gave her a mischievous grin. “Your cousin helped me. I asked her to get it.”
“You did? When?”
“Yesterday. I’ve been so busy at work that I haven’t had time to come see you.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I’ve missed you terribly, and I was hoping you have missed me as well?”
Sighing, she licked her dry lips. “You have been on my mind constantly.”
He stared into her eyes as his expression turned serious. “Nicole, will you ever forgive me for being a stubborn mule’s backend? I was so very wrong to blame you for lying to me. I was wrong not to forgive you and tell you how much I love you.”
“Y-you love me?”
“With all my heart and soul. I started falling in love with you at General Babcock’s masked ball, and as I got to know you, I fell harder. Even when the truth came out and I really got to know
you, I couldn’t help but love you more. I was stubborn and wanted to blame you for breaking my heart, yet at the same time, I felt as if I would die if I couldn’t have you in my life.” He reached up and wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks.
“R-really?”
Chuckling, he nodded. “Yes, really. I’ve wanted to come see you so badly, but I couldn’t find the time. Not only that, I wanted to do this the right way.”
She arched an eyebrow. “The right way? Do you mean as Prince Charming?”
“But of course. Who else could pull this off correctly?” He winked. “But although Prince Charming was able to give you the shoe back, Ashton Lee wants to ask you another question.”
“What is that?”
“I want to know if you love me enough to be my wife.”
Happiness exploded in her chest and spread through every inch of her body. “Oh, Ashton.” She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you so much. Of course I’ll marry you!”
His mouth captured hers in a heated and very pleasurable kiss. Although she’d experienced this sensation every time they were intimate, at this moment, she knew why. They were indeed meant to be together. Their hearts would beat as one from now until all eternity.
And just like the fairytale of Cinderella and Prince Charming… Nicole and Ashton would live happily ever after.
THE END
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Author’s Bio
Marie Higgins is an award-winning, best-selling author of clean romance novels that melt your heart and have you falling in love over and over again. Since 2010, she’s published over 80 heartwarming, on-the-edge-of-your-seat romances. She’s broadened her readership by writing mystery/suspense, humor, time-travel, paranormal, along with her love for historical romances. Her readers have dubbed her “Queen of Tease” because of all her twists and unexpected endings.
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