Once Upon a Romance 01 - Before the Midnight Bells (34 page)

“
You needn’t put it precisely like that, Eleanor, and I’m sure he would understand that your family needed y—”

Ella’s temper snapped. She had made it to
the door, but she
whirled around
and faced her stepmother
, and there was anger in her voice when she spoke.

“
I have to go now.”

“
But Ella, dear—”

“
Stepmother, I have one chance to help Max, and I am going to take it, whether we lose this house or not. However, if you will grab hold of your spine, and go tell that man we need another day, I believe you can save the house, while I am off saving Max
!
”

Ella
marched over and
climbed into the Dame’s carriage, whi
le behind her Millicent stared wonderingly at her stepdaughter
.

***

Ella thought surely she would throw up. Or faint. Or perhaps both, in succession. Her Godmother led the way through the palace with a clear sense of where they were headed, and Ella followed numbly behind. F
inally they stepped into a great hall, with massive vaulted ceilings and a lush crimson rug running from the door down the length of the hall. On the imposing stone walls hung banners denoting all the provinces of Albion, and above each was mounted an ornate white and gold rose, wrought from mountain gold and coastal pearls. Ella’s knees went weak as an
onslaught of fear hit her.
She hadn’t realized the Dame was escorting her to the official throne room.

At the far end of the room, the king sat upon the throne. He was attended by a fussy-looking man in robes, and a handsome older man with noble bearing and a sad face. The Dame identified them as the Chancellor and the Duke of Yarrow. Ella swallowed hard when she realized she’d be addressing not only the king, but also Max’s father.

It didn’t help that all along the walls crowded what seemed like every person in the kingdom who could weasel their way into the throne room.
Obviously
the court was very interested in what Ella had to say.

Dame Merriweather held her head high,
walking
a few paces before Ella, until she stood directly below the throne. She gave a graceful curtsy, neither deep nor long, but somehow still full of respect. Ella sank to the floor and stayed there. She didn’t know by what right the Dame made such a brief obeisance, but she knew, whatever it was, it didn’t apply to her.

“
Your Majesty, my Goddaughter, Miss Eleanor Emberton.”

“
So I see. I hadn’t been aware she was your Goddaughter, Madam.”

“
I didn’t see that it was relevant to the situation, your Majesty. Ella has a great deal of value, but I assure you, she has earned it on her own. She does not need her connection to me to be considered worthwhile.” The court was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Ella wasn’t sure, but it sounded to her like her Godmother had just subtly chastised the king. What on earth was going on?

“
Very well, then. If you don’t wish me to consider her connection to you, I shall treat her as I would any other grasping jade who came before me.” Ella felt the anger radiating off her Godmother, but the Dame stayed silent. That was fine with her—the king’s words had sparked an answering anger in her that drove out her fear and nerves. “Stand up and speak, then, chit. Tell me why you dare to show your face here after your part in my daughter’s disappearance.”

Ella slowly stood up and raised her head high. She took one deep breath, and then began to speak.

“
Your Majesty, I am here today to plead on behalf of Max—Christopher Wellesley.”

He gave an unpleasant laugh. “I know that, girl. Tell me something I don’t know.”

“
I merely mention it because you seem to think I come before you for some sort of personal gain. If there can be any benefit to myself in appearing here so that you may abuse me to my face, I assure you, I cannot see it.” The assembled nobles gasped at Ella’s wry words. The king, however, merely raised one eyebrow, and when he spoke his voice was more restrained.

“
Very well, then, Miss Emberton. Say what you’ve come to say.”

Ella nodded her head. “It seems as though the charges against Max are as follows: That he aided the princess in leaving the kingdom, in direct opposition to the stated wishes of the king; that he, in granting that aid, lied and deceived the entire court, including your royal Majesty; and that he consorted with me while technically being engaged to your daughter.” The king just nodded, but the whispers in the court swelled. Ella had all but admitted that Max had taken her virtue; and the assemblage wanted to know why. “Let us address the final charge first. Simply put, there is no law of the realm that forbids Max from spending his time with whomever he pleases.”

“
While that is true, Miss Emberton, Wellesley has indicated to us that his interest is in quite a bit more than ‘spending time.’”

“
Be that as it may, your Majesty, he still has broken no laws.”

“
It is illegal for a peer from any of the great families to marry without my consent.”

“
Max and I are not married, your Majesty.”

King Regal raised his eyebrows. The girl in front of him must desperately want to free Christopher. She had basically just announced to all the peers of the realm that she was Max’s mistress, and though the stigma for her would be great, it
did
cast their relationship in a light that would make it difficult for the king to exact any punishment for it.

“
You’re fine with being a strumpet, then?”

Ella’s spine stiffened. “If that’s what it takes.”

“
Clever girl. Go on.”

“
Very well. Your second charge, that Max knowingly deceived everyone, seems like the basest form of hypocrisy, your Majesty.” One of the onlookers hissed, but Ella remained firm. “The court is rife with deception and intrigue. Paramours lie about their whereabouts during their assignations, lords lie about their business interests, and courtiers lie to you, your Majesty, about their feelings regarding your rule.”

“
Business deceptions, and white lies about my own bravery or wisdom hardly seem the same, Miss.”

“
Perhaps they aren’t, your Majesty, but that speaks to Max’s intent. I have yet to speak about his intentions. I merely wish to clarify
:
if you judge that his core motivation was not criminal, then he cannot be held accountable for the lies he told.”

“
Have you had some training as a barrister, Miss Emberton?”

“
I have had experience in speaking clearly to those who wish to deny logic in favor of their desires, your Majesty.” Ella spoke with no inflection, but the king could hardly miss her point. The nobles didn’t miss it, either, judging by how deadly quiet they went.

“
Speak on, then, Miss Emberton.” The king’s voice was dry, but he didn’t seem inclined to take immediate offense. Ella swallowed hard. Her third point was the hardest.

“
First, your Majesty, I think it is worthwhile to point out that, in aiding Princess Vivienne, Max was following a royal command.”

“
That hardly signifies. If a member of the royal family chooses to depose the rightful king, following orders that lead to that deposition is still unlawful, even if the orders come from royalty.”

“
True, your Majesty, but that is because rebellion against the crown itself is unlawful. Max did not assist in an unlawful action. You had never actually
commanded
the princess to remain here.”

“
He went against my wishes.”

“
Forgive me, your Majesty, but going against your wishes is not unlawful, merely unwise.”

The court was silent. The king was silent. Max’s father was looking at her with surprise and speculation. Ella turned to the Dame, and found her beaming. At least someone was happy with her display of logic. When Ella heard the king clearing his throat she turned back to the throne.

“
So what you’re saying,” King Regal spoke carefully, like a man holding himself strictly in check, “is that Christopher merely went against my wishes, which is not unlawful.”

“
That is what I am saying, your Majesty.”

“
And, your further implication is that, of course, I cannot punish him for
merely
going against my wishes.” The king’s emphasis worried Ella, but she wouldn’t turn aside now.

“
Not if you are just, your Majesty.” She held his eyes for just a moment, and then sank back to the floor, lowering her head. She had made her best argument. Now she would wait. The king paused a long moment before he spoke.

“
Your Goddaughter has the mind of a serpent, Madam,”

“
Why, thank you, your Majesty.”

“
Vivi would probably have liked her. I do not. I’ve never cared for anyone who disagreed with me. That she assisted in my daughter’s disappearance, and now has the gall to appear before me and insult me before the peerage, that is merely adding insult to injury.” King Regal’s voice was lazy, and dangerous. “What shall I do with this Goddaughter of yours, Fae? She has come here, and placed herself in my hands; should I not take the chance to wreak a little vengeance on her?”

“
As my Goddaughter said; not if you are just, Regal.”

The stillness was profound. Ella trembled, but dared not raise her head. Just when she was starting to fear she’d collapse in a heap, the king spoke again.

“
Go on, take her and get out.”

Dame Merriweather didn’t speak, merely gently helped Ella up and then turned and walked away. Once they were a few paces away, Ella spoke in an undertone.

“
What will happen to Max?”

“
Only time will tell, my darling. But the king was right about one thing.”

“
What’s that?”

“
You
are
a clever girl.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-
FOUR

Ella sighed and leaned back, stretching her sore muscles. She was at her writing desk trying to wrap up some paperwork—the lease, fabric purchase orders, and the like—but she just couldn’t concentrate. The e
arly winter storm battering the windows might have had something to do with that, or the over-stoked fire in the grate that made everything unpleasantly warm, or the restless feeling she was getting from sitting still so long. Likely, though, it was the
shrill chatter carrying down the hall from the parlor.