Once Upon a Romance 01 - Before the Midnight Bells (33 page)

“
If you want to know what the king’s plans are for you, I really don’t know. His courtiers are suggesting all kinds of unpleasant things. Would you care to give me your preferences, in case I have to speak out on your behalf?” The duke’s voice was calm, but Max could tell that anger roiled just beneath the surface.

“
What are my options?”

“
Well, for instance, would you prefer being flogged, or left in the stocks for three days?”

“
Ah…”

“
Banished or locked away in a tower?” Duke Nathaniel put some heat into this question.

“
I suppose banis—”

“
How about your preferred method of execution? If it comes to that, would you prefer to be beheaded, or would you want to fall on your own sword?” Max’s father was clearly angry now, snapping out his words and snarling at Max.

“
Perhaps I’ll just let you do it.” Max was getting angry himself.

“
Perhaps that would be a pleasure.”

“
Why are you so angry?!”

“
Because!” The duke exploded. “Because you are my only son and heir, and you have done this ridiculous thing! Because you didn’t think! Because you never think! Did it occur to you that there are hundreds—
hundreds
—of farmers and shepherds and crofters that all count on
you
to hold the duchy of Yarrow safe for the next generation? That you have let all of them down? That you have let
me
down?”

“
So, you would have preferred if I refused to help my oldest friend?” Max was getting angry himself, now.

“
Yes! I understand why you did it, boy, but you have responsibilities. You can’t just let your own feelings affect the lives of all that are beholden to you. If you cannot take my title who will? Your useless cousin? Alistair couldn’t govern with a whole council of wise men at his back. What will happen to Yarrow?”

“
What would happen to the realm if an insipid fop sat on the throne beside Vivienne?”

The duke checked. “Fair enough, Max. But your engagement didn’t have to be a sham. You could have married, for all the reasons you gave the king, and lived as friends and partners all your lives. Then the realm would have been safe, and her highness wouldn’t be lost in the wilds of the mountains!”

“
I couldn’t have married Vivi, I don’t love her. Maybe that wouldn’t have mattered before, but now…”

“
Now what? Now you’ve met your little dressmaker and the demands of your office don’t matter anymore?”

“
Of course they matter! But Ella—”

“
Don’t say her name to me. It hasn’t escaped my notice that you and the princess actually managed to pull off your mad scheme, after a fashion. If you hadn’t felt compelled to go and defend that girl to the whole court then
she
would still be in disgrace, but
you
would be safe and sound. And you would still be my heir.”

“
How can you even suggest— What do you mean, still your heir?”

The duke’s voice was full of a great sadness. “I mean, my boy, that I have publicly disowned you.”

“
What?
Why?
”

“
Because,” Max’s father slumped in on himself, “one of us must look to Yarrow’s future. If you are banished or… or beheaded, the lands that are yours could be seized by the crown and distributed to anyone. This way, if things go ill, our tenants and farmers will remain under Yarrow’s purview.”

“
I… I don’t know what to say.”

“
Don’t say anything. There’s nothing
to
say. I have done what my duty and my office demand of me. But Max,” Duke Nathaniel leaned in and clasped his son behind the neck, drawing their foreheads together, “never doubt that I love you, boy. I will do everything I can to keep your head off the chopping block. But I’m very afraid it might not be enough.”

***

The Dame’s carriage drove
Ella
back to her old neighborhood, and in the lovely rose garden she found her Godmother waiting.

“
Godmother…”

“
What is it dear?”

“
Have you ever discovered, once it was too late to change anything, that you had been a fool?”

“
More times that I can count, my darling.”

“
I told him I loved him more than my shop or my work, and then I… then I…”

“
Then you got angry at him for ruining both. It was a natural response, dear.”

“
But I knew he didn’t do it on purpose. And I told him to get out. I told him I never wanted to see him again. I drove him away because I was angry, and now he’s gone and done this… this…”

“
He’s gone and told the truth, that’s all.”

“
But he could be banished! Or beheaded. And then I truly
would
never see him again. And for all that I love my work, and I love my shop, I would not have traded Max’s life to keep either.”

“
He’s still alive, darling, don’t give him up yet.”

“
But the king has him imprisoned! He’s done this for me, and now I can’t help him at all!”

“
Why ever not?”

“
Oh, do you suggest I just stroll in the palace and demand that the king release Max?”

“
Well, I wouldn’t demand anything, dear, the king tends to take it poorly when people order him about. Kings are like that. But you could certainly go plead your case.”

“
How? I doubt the guards would even let me in.”

“
Nonsense, I’ll get you an audience for tomorrow.”

Ella stared at her Godmother. She certainly
seemed
serious.

“
Will the late morning do well?”

On the other hand, the Dame was known to be a bit batty.

“
I’ll take your silence as assent. Tomorrow it is.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-
THREE

Ella stared into her mother’s mirror, turning this way and that. She had spent the evening before altering one of her dresses, so that it would be suitable for court. She was nervous, and wanted to look her best. After all, it wouldn’t do to give the impression that Max had thrown away his reputation to save some slovenly little shop girl. On the other hand, she didn’t want to appear seductive in the least. No good would come of reinforcing the opinion that she was some sort of temptress. So she’d replaced all the trimming and sewn a fichu in place on the bodice, and then topped it all with a very demure bonnet. The effect made her look well bred and exceedingly modest. At least, she hoped it did.

“
Eleanor!” Millicent bustled into her room. “My goodness, Ella, what are you all spruced up for?”

“
Have you forgotten? Dame Merriweather is taking me to… to…” Words failed her. Ella was going to have to get over her nerves before she was actually before the king. It would be hard to plead her case eloquently if she couldn’t even speak.

“
Oh, of course! It flew right out of my head for a moment, that’s all. You absolutely
must
come downstairs this instant, Ella.”

“
I had been planning to, Stepmother. The Dame will be here in a moment and I must leave promptly for my audience.”

“
Oh no, dear, not for that. You have to come talk to Mr. Snibbs.”

“
Who is Mr. Snibbs?”

“
Well, dear, you remember a few years ago when I wanted you all to take dancing lessons?”

Ella remembered. It was one of her stepmother’s few whims that she had enjoyed. It had come during a flurry of home improvements, as well, and Ella had been glad to go out and escape the plaster dust for a while.

“
Well, we didn’t actually have the ready funds for the lessons, but dancing is
so
important to a young lady. And we needed to have a few things done around the house, as well…”

Ella wouldn’t have put it quite that way. The plaster frescos hadn’t really been a necessary addition to the dining room. She actually found the cherubs a little grotesque.

“
So I took out a little mortgage—”

“
What!” Ella focused on what Millicent was saying. “You mean our mortgage, the one you can’t pay, the one that has almost lost us our house, you took it out so we could have fat, naked babies leer at us while we eat?!”

“
I think the cherubs are adorable.”

“
That is completely not the point!” Ella checked herself. “Never mind. I have to go. What is it you wanted from me?”

“
You needn’t be so abrupt, Eleanor.”

“
Actually, Stepmother, I am merely trying to be quick. I believe I heard a carriage pull up outside.” Indeed she had, for even as she spoke Beatrice’s voice came floating up the stairs.

“
Ella! The Dame is here!”

“
Oh no, no, no, dear, you can’t go yet.” Millicent wrung her hands. “You need to come speak to Mr. Snibbs. Mr. Snibbs holds our mortgage, and it’s the remotest possibility that he’s here to collect rather a… a large sum.”

Ella thought quickly. Yes, the next payment was due. “Ask him if we can have one more day.”

“
Oh I can’t ask him, Ella! I can never be firm, like you. Really, you must take a moment and speak with him yourself.”

Ella started to give in; what was a moment, really? Then she thought of Max. Locked up somewhere, awaiting who knew what punishment? This was her chance to help him, and she was not going to let her
family’s constant neediness
get in the way.

“
I am sorry, Stepmother, but I cannot.” Ella headed for the stairs and the front door, but Millicent
must have heard the regret in her voice, for she
followed all the way
.

“
Really, dear, it would just take a moment.”

“
I don’t think the king is in the habit of waiting when he has granted someone an audience.”

“
Well, really, he would understand if you would explain it to him.”

“
You want me to explain to the
king
that I was delayed because I had to meet with a back-alley
userer
?