Cinderfella Page 14

  “Elle?” I turn, Henrik stands behind me.

  “What are you doing out here? Don’t you want dessert either?”

  “I’ve come to see if you’re all right. Are you?” He stands at my side. Both of us face forward, staring into the water.

  “I’m well. Thank you.”

  “I wasn’t enquiring after your health. I meant, how are you after all your ideas were shot down in flames back there? Are you all right?” I face him.

  “No, not really, but we just have to do as we’re told, don’t we?”

  “Why do we?”

  “Why do we what?”

  “Do as we’re told? What will they do to us, flog us before the common folk?” He smirks, and I find myself unclenching.

  “So, why do you think that we do?”

  “Obligation, guilt, duty to our countries...”

  “Well it sucks.” Rubbing my bare arms wishing I’d grabbed a coat on my dramatic, yet pointless exit.

  “Here.” Taking off his suit jacket, he places it around my shoulders.

  “Thanks. Henrik, I’m so sorry.”

  “For?”

  “Being a brat and not giving you a chance. I mean, we’re stuck with each other whether we like it or not. I’m sorry that I ran from you. I’m sorry I never gave you the time to show the great guy you so obviously are.” I wrap his jacket tighter around myself.

  “Is that all you see? A great guy?”

  “Yes.” I admit. “I’m sorry. I’d love to wake up and be in love with you. But that could never happen.”

  “Never say never; that’s what my father always says.”

  “Henrik, I have to be honest with you…I’m in love with someone else.” I dare to glance at him. To his credit he looks surprisingly calm.

  “The farm boy?”

  “I’m afraid so. I didn’t go looking for love. It just crept up on me. It was all so sudden, but I just knew.”

  “Love has a funny way of catching us out.” He stares into the pond.

  “You’re not upset? You’re allowed to be angry.”

  “We never said we loved each other, we don’t really know one another.”

  “I feel terrible that you will miss out on any chance of happiness because of me.”

  “And?” He looks up from the water. “Are you happy, Elle?”

  “I thought I was. But I was being naïve and selfish. I should have never let myself fall. I should have left that first night. Having love then losing it is just the worst. Plus, he took that money from my father, maybe it was never what I felt it was…” I sigh, aching for the pain to go away.

  “Maybe you need to ask him face to face for the truth?”

  “I really do. It’s driving me crazy…but I’m not allowed to leave the palace until after the wedding. Grounded at nineteen, it’s fun being me.”

  “But I can.” Phoebe stands behind us.

  “God, Phoebs, you made us jump. How long have you been there?” I ask.

  “Long enough.” She smiles. “Let me go talk to this Ash. Tomorrow, I’ll make up some excuse and go.”

  “I’ll instruct my driver to take you. He’s very discreet.” Henrik offers.

  “You would do that for me?”

  “Of course. There’s no point in us all being miserable.” He shrugs.

  “Thank you both.” I turn to my sister. “What will you say to him?”

  “I’ll ask him directly if he took the money. People can’t usually lie to me. I’m just too cute.” She giggles.

  “That’s true. I can never lie to you.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Henrik nods. “You can clear this up and put it behind you.”

  “Thank you both.” I hug Phoebe and then go in to hug Henrik but it’s awkward and my nose collides with his chin.

  “Right I’m off back to finish off your dessert.” Phoebe says. “Are you coming?” She looks to Henrik. I guess they really have become friends. He joins her.

  “Henrik?” I beckon him back.

  “You go ahead.” He tells her. “I’ll be two minutes.” We wait for her to leave.

  “Can I ask…is there, was there someone special that you’ve had to give up?”

  “There is.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I really can’t”

  “That’s okay. I’d really like it if you and I were friends?”

  “Well, since we’re getting married in two days, I guess we should at least try.” He sadly smiles. “Goodnight, Princess.” He takes my hand and kisses it. “I shall see you at the ball tomorrow evening?”

  “You will. Goodnight.” I watch him leave. I don’t care about the ball, the wedding or anything else. All I care about is what Ash will tell my sister in the morning. Will I be ready to hear it?

  18: Ash

  There’s a polite tapping at the barn door.

  “Ellie?” I dash to open it. “Ellie, you came!” I stare at the back of her platinum, blonde head, waiting for her to face me and smile with that beautiful gap-toothed grin. She turns.

  “No sorry.” My heart plummets to my knees.

  “You’ re not her.”

  “Nope. I’m the next best thing. I’m Phoebe, Princess and sister. Nice to meet you.” She extends her hand and I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to kiss it or shake it, so I plump for the latter.

  “Please take a seat.” I grab my little stool and dust it with my sleeve, but she remains standing by the door. I suppose she’s right to, after all, she doesn’t know me at all. “Five minutes more and you wouldn’t have caught me. I’m just moving the last of my stuff.” I gesture to Gus’s blanket. “It’s for my pot-bellied pig.”

  “Really?” She looks amused. “I love pigs, can I meet him?”

  “Sorry, he’s already been taken over to my new place.”

  “You’ve moved?”

  “I’m sort of between places; just while I wait to be accepted into student digs. Fingers crossed.”

  “Fair enough.” She folds her arms.

  “I don’t mean to be rude but why are you here and she’s not?”

  “You’re disappointed?”

  “Yes…not that you’re not great and everything…” I babble.

  “Relax! I’m kidding.” She giggles, sounding so much like her sister. But unlike Ellie, Phoebe doesn’t have the sexy gap between her two front teeth and her eyes are slightly wider apart.

  “Why are you here? Is Ellie okay?” I panic.

  “Define okay?” She frowns; all traces of humour disappear from her face.

  “So, she’s not okay?” I rake my fingers through my hair “Is she okay? Tell me.”

  “Well that all depends.”

  “On?”

  “On you. On whether or not you took my father’s bribe?” She eyes me like she’s already decided. I guess looking at me; it’s an easy leap to make. I haven’t bothered to wash my hair or shave in days.

  “Yes. I took his money and ripped it up right in front of him.” I point to the cheque remains that I haven’t swept up yet.

  “Oh!” Her eyes widen. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

  “Of course! Wait, does she think I don’t?”

  “She’s just really confused. Our father led her to believe that you accepted his offer. I guess he was trying to help in his own weird way. He probably thought if he got her to be cross with you, then she’d be easier to get down the aisle…”

  “I know there’s no way that I can see her again. And believe me, I’m trying to come to terms with that. Will you tell her goodbye for me? Will you tell her the truth? And that I love her, and I understand she has no choice…”

  “Tell her yourself.” She hands me an envelope from her purse.

  “What’s this?”

  “An invite to the ball tonight. You can see her there. Maybe then you can both move on.”

  “I can’t go. Everyone will know my face. I’ll be stopped before I’ve even reached the gates.”


  “It’s a masquerade ball. Everyone wears a mask silly. No one will know it’s you, if you’re careful. Isn’t it worth the risk to see her one last time?”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Are you undecided because if you go then it’s final? And if you don’t go there may still be a little hope?”

  “I don’t know…maybe. How did you get so wise, so young?”

  “I’m almost eighteen, thank you very much.” She sticks her nose in the air, again reminding me of Ellie.

  “And then you’ll be free to make your own choices, not like Ellie ever was.”

  “Believe me,” She unfolds her arms and places her hand on my forearm. “If I could change it for her, I would.” I see the same sadness in her eyes as the night I first met her sister.

  “I hope I shall see you tonight? Or on second thoughts, that I don’t if you’re discreet.” She bows her head and exits. I read the invitation. How could I possibly go to a masked ball, which has a black and white dress code? I own nothing smart enough to pass as one of them, never mind a bloody mask!

  * * * *

  It’s getting late. I’ve completed all the last little jobs I had to do on the farm. Tomorrow it will be someone else’s responsibility. I can’t help but feel sad as I walk slowly back to my tree house. Even though the farm was sort of forced on me, eventually I grew to really enjoy my work. I became fond of all the animals. I even had pet names for them all. I know every one of them individually, even the sheep I could tell each one from the other. Sometimes, merely by their behaviour or the way it stood, or the way that its wool parted around its face…silly things like that I’ll miss.

  It’s time for me to be an adult and take my place in the world. I wait everyday for a reply from med school determining whether I got in. I gave them Clara’s address. She offered me her spare room in her tiny cottage, but I feel more at home in my tree house than I do anywhere else. The tree house isn’t built on owned land, so at least I’ll always be able to escape back to it.

  Checking my watch, it’s nearly eight p.m. The invite states from seven…but I can’t go. How could I turn up looking like this? Maybe it’s best that I don’t. I don’t want to make things worse for her or hurt her. I honestly can’t imagine saying goodbye. Maybe it’s best for us both that we just try to let it go and hold on to our memories. So why do I have this nagging feeling telling me to go? I can make up a million tiny excuses, but I have one huge reason to go… Looking down at my mucky, farm-worn jumper and dirty ripped jeans, then to my fetching green wellies, yeah, I can’t go. They wouldn’t let me in anyway. I sigh and crawl up the ladder into my secret hideaway. Falling onto the bed, closing my eyes hoping to sleep through until morning, until the ball’s over.

  The hatch springs open. I bolt upright.

  “It’s only me!” Gerry waves up at me. I offer my hand and help him climb into my little den.

  “Bloody hell, Gerry, I almost crapped my pants!”

  “Language.” He looks exhausted like he’s just climbed Mount Everest and not a small ladder.

  “What the heck are you doing here?”

  “Me? What the heck are you doing here?” He bugs his eyes. “Well?”

  “What are you talking about? And why are you all dressed up like some fancy penguin?” I take in his black tux and matching silk bow tie.

  “The invite clearly stated seven o’clock. So why are you still here?”

  “Wait, are you invited too?”

  “My dear boy, us Fairy Godfolk never need an invite.” He straightens his bow tie, which was already straight.

  “Yeah? Well enjoy yourself ‘cos I can’t go.”

  “How so? You have an invite.” He points at the invite that I crumpled up and aimed at the bin earlier.

  “Gerry, take a long, hard look at me.” I hold out my arms and take a step back. “Tell me what you see.”

  “Well now,” he rubs his chin, “I see a very handsome, stylish young man, who is obviously in love.”

  “Dude, you’re crazy! I can’t turn up looking like this!” I peer down at my dirty outfit, dumbstruck to see that I’m no longer wearing it. It’s been replaced by a crisp white tux and shiny shoes.” I look to him again, and then back at myself, then to him again until I’m dizzy. “Gerry, how the hell?”

  “You like it?”

  “Like it? How did you? Never mind…can I have it in black like yours?” He snaps his fingers and the suit is black.

  “Hmm, I think the white goes better on you.” He clicks again, and it’s changed back to white. I’m wearing a black bow tie and my hair is remarkably clean and swept back. My stubble has disappeared, I look damn good for a farm boy.

  “Gerry you rock. Thank you.”

  “Welcome. Now Ash, you shall go to the ball.” He smiles smugly, but I think he deserves a little smugness.

  “Wait though, I can’t, I don’t have a mask. People will recognise me.”

  “Look again.” He holds up the mirror. I gasp in awe of this man.

  “How the hell did you do that? I didn’t even feel it. You are seriously the King of all Godfathers!” Over my eyes I’m wearing a white mask, which is masculine, yet it has a few feathers around the edges to give it that fancy, royal feel.

  “You look like a prince.” Gerry beams. “Shall we go?”

  “Wait.” I stop him as he bends to open the hatch.

  “What now?” He huffs.

  “Is this enough? What if I’m still seen? I was on every bleedin’ news channel last week.”

  “The mask is magical. Only those who know your true heart will know the real you.”

  “Yeah? You my friend are a friggin’ genius!” I pull him in for a hug.

  “Language, please.”

  “Sorry.” I release him and follow him out of the hatch, down the ladder and out into the night. “I’ve never seen so many stars out.”

  “Maybe they’ve come out for you.” He chuckles.

  “So how do we get there? We aren’t really dressed for a jog.”

  “Who needs to jog when you have this?” He clicks his fingers. A golden Porsche appears on the road.

  “Holy Shit! Is there anything you can’t do?” We march towards the vehicle.

  “After you, good sir.” He opens the door and I jump into the passenger seat. He takes his place in the seat next to mine. “I will be your driver tonight.” He places a chauffeur’s hat over his bald head.

  “I can’t believe you did this for me.”

  “Why not? I told you Ash, you are a remarkable young man, you just need to start believing that.”

  “If that’s true, shouldn’t I get the girl?”

  “Fate will decide, she always does.” He winks and starts the ignition.

  “What are you up to?”

  “Time will tell. Time will tell.” He checks his mirror and we’re off.

  ****

  We arrive at our destination. The palace looks stunning dressed in millions of white, twinkling fairy lights.

  “Gerry, I don’t think I can go in there.”

  “You my boy, can do anything you want to…you only have to believe it to be true.” He leans over and straightens my bow tie. “Now, out you get.”

  “Okay then.” I open the door and step out onto the walkway. “Laters.”

  “Ash, wait!” He beckons me back. “You must meet me here no later than midnight. You hear? Not a second later.”

  “Why?”

  “I have to return this car before its owner knows it’s missing.”

  “Gerry, you didn’t?”

  “I told you my powers are limited. Sometimes I have to borrow a bit.”

  “You have real big balls, you know that?”

  “That’s me, Gerry big balls. Now go. Find that girl of yours.”

  “Wish me luck.”

  “Luck.”

  I head through the masses down a corridor that’s full of portraits of past royal family members. It feels like they’re all watching me, r
olling their painted eyes at me.

  Black tuxes and white ball gowns pass me by. I’m starting to feel like the only guy in white. I told him! An orchestra plays inside the grand hall. I stand in the entrance, stopping for a moment to take it all in and to take a few deep breaths. Ladies below titter, glasses chink. A grand staircase is set before me. Hopefully, I can stop my legs from shaking. I’m about to enter her world but I’m not sure I can fit in it. I’ve come to say goodbye, when what I really want is to kidnap her myself and take her back to my tree house, where she could be Ellie and I could be Ash.

  I will myself to walk down the steps. Be brave! You’ve got this! Descending, I realise halfway down that I’m completely on my own. I glance over the dancing couples, and that’s when I see her standing in the middle of the dance floor, staring up at me. She’s all in black but I know those sparkling green eyes behind that black sequined mask. I know that sadness and what she’s trying to hide. Does she see me? Does she know my heart? Walking faster, I reach the dance floor, but can’t see her anymore. Shit, did she see me and leave? Is she running from me too?

  19: Ellie

  The song ends, and I step away from the old lord, thanking him for the dance. Father told me to socialise so that’s what I’m doing. I’m roughly half way through every guy, lord, duke and second cousin here already. Plastering on a smile, I will it all to end. I’m just about to leave the dance floor, when my eyes are drawn up to a man in a white tuxedo, standing halfway up the staircase. I’m transfixed. He’s mesmerising. He looks like an angel. People around have stopped to stare at him too. I hear them whispering, asking who he is. His face is mostly covered by a feathered white mask, but I see those electric blue eyes twinkling underneath and I hear myself gasp. He’s here! It’s Ash! He’s here! I think he sees me but can’t be sure. He descends towards the dance floor, towards me! Scanning the hall quickly, my parents are deep in conversation with Henrik’s. Henrik and my sister are chatting over by the bar. What if they see him? I feel hot, giddy. Excitement pulses through me. Needing to get to him, I make my way through the dancing couples, desperately trying to reach him.