Free Microsoft Word - Cinder-Marie_Sexton.doc by Dawn Page B

her, clearly trying to maintain an expression of polite interest. "I requested it," he said. "I was under the impression you liked it."
    "Certainly not. Your father's right. It's peasant food."
    "But I thought you liked fishing?" he said. "At the ball, you said—"
    "I have your new shawl," I said, stepping forward and cutting off the disastrous conversation. Jessalyn looked up at me with obvious annoyance. And Xavier?
    He smiled at me again, as he had the day before. It seemed to warm me, all the way to my toes.
    "Two days in a row, Eldon," he said. "We might make a habit out of this."
    Jessalyn snatched the shawl from my hands and
    inspected it. "I suppose it will do," she said.
    "I think it's lovely," Xavier said to her. "The color suits you."
    She smiled coyly at him, batting her eyes. I
    envisioned ripping her hair out of her pretty head. "Thank you, Xavier."
    He winced when she said his name, although he hid it by wiping his face with his napkin. "Well," he said, 91
    Cinder
    Marie
    Sexton

    putting the linen down and pushing his chair back. "I think I'll bid you good night." He stood. She held her hand out to him, and he took it, dutifully kissing the back of it.
    Then he turned to me.
    "Eldon, will you join me for a drink?"
    I bit my lip to keep from smiling too big. This was what I'd hoped for. This was the reason I'd planned my day so carefully, waiting until after dinner to find him. I'd hoped he'd have a few moments to spend with me. "I'd love to—" I started to say. But of course Jessalyn cut me off.
    "He can't," she said. "I need him to prepare my bath."
    She was still seated at the table, and when Xavier turned to look down at her, I could see how little patience he had left for her.
    "I'm sure somebody else can assist you."
    "You know how I feel about letting strangers into my room."
    "This is your home now," he said. "They're not strangers. They're servants, and they're paid to serve."
    "I don't know whom to ask—"
    "Find. Somebody. Else."
    "Yes, but Cinder is my servant."
    His jaw clenched. He took a deep breath and said
    with the still calmness of barely controlled rage, "He's more 92
    Cinder
    Marie
    Sexton

    than your servant. He's your cousin. And he's my friend."
    "Surely you have other friends—"
    She might have slapped him, his reaction was so
    sudden and so strong. He pulled himself up to his full height and looked down at her with disdain. "I am your future husband," he said, his voice like ice. "More than that, I am your prince! I desire an hour or two with your servant .
    Is that really too much to ask? It costs you nothing. Are you truly unable to grant me such a simple request?"
    She stared up at him with wide eyes. She had
    gambled, and she had lost, and now she had pushed him too far. I could see her sorting through her options, trying to decide how to appease him. But whatever she was to do, he had no interest in hearing it.
    "With me, Eldon," he said.
    It wasn't a request. It was an order. Possibly the first he'd ever given me. I had no choice but to follow. He was a river, and I was a leaf caught in his current. I let him carry me out the door. Down the hall.
    Away from Jessalyn.

    His anger faded quickly once we were in the hall.
    He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry you had to see that," he said.
    "I'm sorry you have to be involved."

    93
    Cinder
    Marie
    Sexton

    "It's not your fault."
    "It feels like it is. This whole damn mess is because of me."
    "I could say the same thing about myself," I said.
    Or Jessalyn.
    He smiled over at me. "I've missed you."
    It wasn't sentimental. It wasn't shy. It was said with the same casual sincerity he might use to say, "The sky is blue," or "The sun is bright." There was no embarrassment and no apology. Only a simple statement of fact.
    "I've missed you, too," I said. And I knew I'd failed to sound as casual as he.
    We reached his room and he led me inside. Milton
    jumped off the bed with a howl and launched himself at me. His massive forepaws landed on my