Ella and Ash, Page 2

  Ashwin was right yesterday when he said my magic can get me into trouble. Just not in the way he probably thought.

  The girls stop when they reach the table, finally noticing that I’m in the room.

  “What are you staring at?” Anna snaps.

  I bow my head and don’t respond, sweeping the dirt into a corner, and collecting it with the dustpan to put in the bin.

  “Come on, I want to see it,” Drew whines.

  Anna takes her place at the kitchen table, and smooths the parchment out in front of her. I can’t see what’s written on it from my place at the bench where I’m preparing the coffee pot. I fill the base with water, and the top with beans, before setting it on the stove to brew.

  “Oh, he’s so handsome.” Drew plops down beside her sister.

  “And I’m going to be the one who marries him,” Anna says. “You’re not good enough for him.”

  “Yes, I am,” Drew huffs.

  I glance at the girls as I keep an eye on the coffee pot. The parchment is a pale yellow, and the morning sunlight shines off the gold leaf scroll border. There’s a portrait at the top of the page, but I can’t quite make out who it is.

  “Who are you talking about?” I ask, setting three cups on the bench.

  “None of your business,” Anna snaps at me again.

  I sigh, and turn back to my task. There will never be a day that my stepsisters include me in anything. To them, I’m the servant girl. The stepsister they tell no one about, and it’s times like this I wish my father were here so he could see the way they treat me in a house that should be mine. Every time he comes home, my stepmother puts on such a show of how perfect everything is, and how much they love me. She even lets me sleep in the house.

  I want to tell Dad it’s all a lie, but whenever I try to say something, I get all tongue-tied. It’s probably part of the spell I suspect Lady Roche has cast over me. She has my father under a spell, too. He has no idea that she uses her most prized artefact on him. That the tiara she wears forces him to love her. But even if I could tell Father, he wouldn’t believe me, and Lady Roche would throw me out altogether. At least this way I have somewhere to sleep and food to eat, and he has a job.

  “Both our names are on it,” Drew says. “We’re both invited.”

  “You shouldn’t be.” Anna looks down her nose at her sister. “You’re not in our year at school. You’re too young.”

  Drew scowls. “I’m only a year behind you.”

  “I suppose it might be all right if you came.” Anna smiles down at the invitation. “But I want him all to myself.”

  “Well, I want him, too.”

  “He’d never look at you, you’re ugly,” Anna says.

  “I am not.” Drew smacks her hand on the table.

  “What is all this noise?” Lady Roche asks from the doorway.

  “Anna called me ugly.” Drew crosses her arms and sulks.

  “She can’t have him,” Anna says.

  I turn my back on my stepsisters, and busy myself filling the cups with coffee. The sisters are like this every morning, fighting over something or other, but today it’s worse than usual.

  “What on earth are you talking about?” Lady Roche takes her seat at the head of the table, and I pick up her coffee cup.

  “Ashwin Chethan is having a party,” Anna says. “I’m going to marry him.”

  The cup slips from my hand and falls to the floor, shattering and spraying coffee everywhere. All over the front of the cupboards, the table legs, my feet, and Lady Roche’s house dress.

  “It’s going to be the biggest party of the year,” Drew says as if nothing has happened. “I can’t wait to get my gown.”

  “And we must get the best dresses in town,” Anna says. “Oh, Mother. Let me wear the heart-shaped tiara. Ashwin will definitely fall for me then.”

  Both of them ignore how red Lady Roche’s face has turned. It’s not surprising though. They never think of anyone but themselves. Not even their mother. And I can’t believe Anna asked for the tiara. Lady Roche would never let her touch it. It’s under lock and key. I cringe, and wait for the fire to start spitting from Lady Roche’s mouth.

  “Ella, clean up the mess, you stupid girl. Now I have to change.” She stands from her place at the table. “There better be no stains on this dress once it’s cleaned.”

  Lady Roche must be in a good mood this morning. She’s usually far harsher on me when I’m clumsy.

  “We can go to the party,” Anna demands. “And you will buy us the best dresses.”

  They are not a questions. They never are with my stepsisters.

  “Of course, girls. You may have whatever dress you want. I’ve already spoken to Lord Chethan. He’s most excited about Ashwin turning eighteen. He will be receiving his first artefact. But no, Anna, you are not wearing the tiara. If you want to marry Ashwin, you must win him over the proper way. Not by using magic. Spells don’t last forever.” She flounces from the room.

  I let out a long breath, unable to believe Lady Roche told Anna she can’t use magic on Ashwin. She’s a hypocrite. And I long for the day her spell on my father, and me, is broken.

  But how can Ashwin be receiving his first artefact? He had one on yesterday when I met him in the cemetery. It’s usually a big deal when the children of the wealthy come of age. Their parents delight in publicly presenting them with an artefact better than anyone else’s.

  The better the artefact, the higher the person’s standing.

  I fetch the dustpan and broom again to clean up the smashed coffee cup. While I’m on my knees, I block out my stepsisters’ incessant chatter, and try to think what this means. Ashwin is having a party for his birthday. I wonder what sort of party. A big, fancy, flashy one I bet. I’ve never been to such an event, but my stepmother and stepsisters have attended a few functions in the county. They are not as wealthy as the Chethans, but they have a good enough standing thanks to my father’s money.

  “A masquerade ball,” Anna says. “It will be so much fun disguising ourselves.”

  “You should cover your face,” Drew exclaims. “He won’t want to look at something so hideous.”

  I sigh, and get up from the floor, taking the dustpan to the bin and emptying the contents. Anna and Drew are always either in competition with each other, or putting each other down. There’s definitely no love lost between them. And the way they treat each other makes me sad. They are both equally beautiful. On the outside at least.

  A masquerade ball does sound exciting. I wish I could go. No one would be able to tell who I am if I’m dressed up and wearing a mask. I could enjoy the night free of judgement. If I went, I’d make sure even my stepsisters couldn’t recognise me. But there’s no chance of me ever getting an invitation. Especially after the way Ashwin treated me at the cemetery yesterday.

  I take the girls’ coffee cups to the table, glancing down at the invitation. Ashwin is handsome in the portrait, but he’s far better looking in real life. If only he were nice, too.

  Anna snatches the piece of parchment up, but not before I catch the date ... one week from this coming Saturday.

  “There’s no way you’re going,” she snaps, then turns to Drew. “Could you imagine? Ella at a ball in her ripped boy-trousers.”

  Drew sniggers. “She doesn’t even own a dress fit for a ball.”

  I turn away from them and go to the sink, pumping water to wash the fruit I still need to cut up for their breakfast. There’s no point retaliating, it only makes things worse. And technically I do own a dress that’s worthy of wearing to a ball. I own a few, only they’re in the attic. They belonged to my mother, but after she died and Father went away to work, Lady Roche packed most of Mother’s things away and forbade me to go up there. The attic is the only room in the house I’m not required to clean.

  Lady Roche comes back into the kitchen, and I hurry to get her a fresh cup of coffee, concentrating on not dropping it this time.

  “Ella wants to go to th
e masquerade ball,” Drew says to her mother, a smirk on her face.

  I never said that out loud, but this is the sort of thing my stepsisters do to me on a regular basis. It’s best for me to keep my head down, do my chores, and respond as little as possible.

  Speak only when spoken to. And even then, only if it’s necessary.

  Lady Roche laughs. “I hope she knows it’s invitation only.”

  Of course I do, I’m not stupid.

  I finish serving the girls and Lady Roche breakfast, and tidy the kitchen. Then I set to work on my other chores before I need to get ready for lessons. I press my stepsisters’ school dresses, polish their shoes until I can see my face in them, then I make their lunches and pack their bags.

  They chatter, and I block it out as I help them both with their hair. Every morning I have to braid and twist and pin their long locks until they are satisfied. One morning Anna made me do her hair thirteen times before she was happy. I usually wear my own golden locks up in a bun. Nothing fancy. Just tucked away to keep it out of my eyes, and off my neck so I don’t get too sweaty while I work.

  When I’ve ticked the last box on my list of morning chores, I grab some food from the pantry and make my way back to the cottage in the woods via the path from the western side of the grounds of Roche Manor. My stone cottage is tucked away for a reason, so no one really knows I exist. I don’t mind living out of the way. It’s quiet, and I’m free of Anna and Drew’s annoying voices.

  As I walk, I pass the stables and wave to Gerald, the stable hand, who is pitching hay from the back of the wagon.

  He raises his hand and yells, “Ella, the horses miss you.”

  “I’ll come by soon,” I call back.

  I love going to the stables, but with chores, and lessons, and visiting the cemetery, I usually only find the time once a week to visit.

  When I reach my cottage, I lift the rickety wooden door so it doesn’t catch on the uneven ground. The inside of the cottage isn’t much—two rooms and a dirt floor—but I love it. It’s all I need, and I’ve done my best to make it my own. I set the apple, bread, and cheese I took from the kitchen on the small table in the corner, and go into my bedroom.

  My trousers are dusty and damp from morning chores, so I change into my second pair and put the dirty ones into a bucket to wash later. A small tarnished metal box sits on my side table. I pick it up and open it, taking my pendant out and fastening it around my neck. I dare not wear it in the house. If Lady Roche or my stepsisters see it, they will ask questions. And I don’t want to risk losing my artefact.

  I sit on the bed and take a moment, closing my eyes and clutching my pendant to calm myself after such a hectic morning. The quilt beneath me is soft with age, and I run my fingertips over the patchwork. It brings back memories of my mother, and how I used to watch her sew.

  With a deep breath, I get to my feet and pull a wooden box from under my bed. Inside are the books I need for my lessons. Lady Roche won’t allow me to attend the school in the village. She refuses to spend the money. I don’t mind though, because I wouldn’t really fit in. The only students who attend are from the rich families. The lower classes can’t afford such a luxury, and most children get taught at home, like I was before Mother died.

  Despite Lady Roche often telling me I’m stupid, I know I’m smart, and every day I study hard so I can do something when I’m older, something other than being a servant. Over the years I’ve collected Anna and Drew’s old books. Drew and I are the same age, with Anna a year older than us, so by the time I get the books I’m already behind. But I do my best to keep up.

  I take out a math and a history book, a scrap of parchment, ink and my quill, then go back to the table in the main room. I sit and read, take notes, and pick at the bread and cheese. The apple I will eat later this afternoon.

  After a couple of hours, my mind begins to wander to the invitation from Ashwin, and I set my quill down, leaning back in my chair.

  How lovely it would be to go to a masquerade ball. If only I was invited.

  Birds chirp outside, and a swallow lands on the windowsill. Seconds later, another one joins it. Their song sounds sweet in my small cottage. I smile and get to my feet, opening the cupboard under the sink to get the small packet of birdseed I keep there.

  “Are you hungry today?” I ask.

  The birds’ song intensifies.

  I laugh. “Of course you are.”

  I sprinkle some seed along the windowsill, and watch the birds peck at it.

  “What do you think about a masquerade ball?” I ask them. “It would be a fantastic night.” I pause, and watch the birds as they hop around, retrieving the seed. “But even if I was invited, there’s no way Anna and Drew would allow me to go. And besides, what would I wear?”

  One of the birds flits to my shoulder, and gently pecks me on the cheek. It tickles and makes me giggle. The bird grabs the chain around my neck in its little beak and pulls. The stone in the pendant glows a brilliant blue.

  “You want me to use my pendant? But I couldn’t. Requesting something from the willow for myself has consequences, you know that.”

  The bird gives the chain around my neck one more tug before returning to the windowsill for more seed. I go back to the table and sit, but I can’t do any more study. My mind is whirling with thoughts of beautiful gowns. There’s no doubt the willow tree would be able to give me a dress more beautiful than anything anyone else could sew, but at what cost?

  I can’t use my pendant for personal gain.

  The birds swoop into the cottage, and land on the wooden blanket box set against one wall. It’s where I keep my winter blanket, and my meagre wardrobe. The birds dart around, and one leans over the edge, tapping its beak on the latch. There is another blanket box just like it in the attic at Roche Manor. It belonged to my mother, but since Lady Roche forbade me from going anywhere near the top level of the house, I haven’t looked at its contents. I’m sure the box holds at least three beautiful gowns.

  “You want me to look at my mother’s dresses?” I ask the birds.

  They break out in song, fluttering into the air and looping around, before landing on the windowsill again. I smile, and the swallows’ chatter continues as they fly through the window into the trees outside the cottage.

  Maybe tomorrow I’ll sneak up to the attic to see what state Mother’s dresses are in. My chances of getting an invitation to the ball are pretty much zero, but a girl can dream.

  Chapter three

  LEAVES CRUNCH BENEATH my feet as I walk up the hill towards the willow tree. The autumn days have started to cool in preparation for winter, and I pull my threadbare coat tight around my shoulders.

  When I reach the veil of leaves, I run my fingers through them. They sway in the breeze, and the air makes it sound as if the tree is sighing. I part the weeping branches and step through.

  A tear rolls down my cheek, and I wait for it to slide off my chin and land on the soil at the base of the tree. The willow grows like it does every time I come here. I shed more tears, and think about the terrible mood Lady Roche was in this morning. No matter what I did, it wasn’t right. It took me all day to do my chores, because she followed me around, making me do everything twice. She didn’t leave the house after lunch like she often does, so there was no time for me to sneak up to the attic like I had planned, and no time for lessons.

  I couldn’t wait to get out of the house.

  When my eyes are dry, I go to my mother’s grave, kissing my fingertips and pressing them to the top of her headstone. Then I sit on the grass with my legs crossed and face her.

  “How are you today?” I ask, like I do every time I visit. “I didn’t have a very good morning. Lady Roche and my stepsisters were so horrid. But I have some news.” I draw my knees to my chest and hug them.

  “Ashwin Chethan is turning eighteen. Did you know the Chethans when you were here? I don’t remember meeting many people when I was younger. Father was always away, and I know y
ou liked to keep to yourself. We did have so much fun in the manor though, didn’t we?” I pause, and listen to the breeze as it jostles the willow.

  “Anyway, I met Ashwin the other day. He was the one who startled me while I was playing with the birds.” I pick up a dry leaf and twirl it between my fingers. “He’s invited Anna and Drew to a masquerade ball. Of course I can’t go. But it’s been nice fantasising about dressing up, and wearing a beautiful gown.” I stop and smile, glancing at the willow tree that can give me exactly what I want.

  “I would wear one of your dresses, and I would feel like a princess. Even if it was just for one night.” I stare at the stone that marks my mother’s resting place, wishing she was here so I could tell her all of this in person.

  A twig snaps and I jump.

  I look up, and Ashwin is standing with the sun behind him, forming a halo around his head.

  “I apologise if I startled you,” he says. “I hoped I would find you here.”

  I scramble to my feet, and brush the dirt from the back of my trousers. “Why? What do you want?”

  Ashwin raises his eyebrows. “I’m sorry. I’ll leave if you like.”

  I shake my head. “No, I ... It’s me who should apologise. I didn’t mean to be so rude. I just didn’t expect to see you again.”

  And I hope you didn’t hear me talking to my mother about the ball.

  “Well, I don’t know where you live.” Ashwin takes a step forward. “I thought this would be the easiest place to find you.

  “I try to come every day,” I say.

  “You must have been very close with your mother.”

  I look at my hands, and pick at my fingernails. “She was so sweet, and kind. I miss her. But you don’t want to hear my sob story.” I glance up. “What brings you here?”

  “I wanted to see you again. I fear we may have gotten off on the wrong foot.”