Ella took a step back, touching her forehead with her eyes squinched shut. “This isn’t what we agreed to!”
When Henry came out to get them, his casual lightness fell when he saw Ella’s guarded body language and Remus’ stern expression. “What did I miss?”
“He wants to keep me here, but if he does, Lady Tremaine will tell my secrets! I’ll be studied and manipulated to fight for whichever team needs someone who can hear and see through buildings.”
Henry moved slowly as he approached her, shivering at the chill in the evening air. “There are lots of ways to keep Lady Tremaine quiet, if that’s even necessary. The world and the government aren’t the same as they were when your father made those rules for you. My dad isn’t going to take you in and experiment on you. That’s exactly what kind of reputation he’s trying to avoid.”
“Maybe not your dad, but can you honestly tell me that the Baron is capable of seeing a new flash of magic and letting it pass by him? Maybe your dad is a good guy, but not every man in power is your father. Once my secret is public, the new magic is out there for people to protest, demanding I be locked up.”
“Do you think my father would cave to social pressures so easily? Have you seen one Lethal locked up who was innocent?”
“It’s a gamble, Henry. I know you love your father, and I’ve got nothing against him. What I’ve got is a lifetime of hiding who I am and what I can do because I understand how quickly the political climate could shift. Your father was a great change from Malaura, but I’m not so naïve that I don’t think it could someday shift back to something darker.”
When Ella shivered, Henry forgot his fight and wrapped his arms around her. “We can argue about all of that later. We have four whole days to come up with a plan. Right now, you need to eat. That’s the only thing you can be worried about tonight.”
Ella hesitated, but finally consented to being led inside to the dining room. She paused at the table as Henry pulled out her chair. Her eyes widened as he slid it under her thighs, wondering if this was what normal people got to do. The table was lavishly set, with a gold runner down the center of the purple tablecloth. The gold-rimmed dishes were far fancier than anything Ella had ever eaten off of. The aroma of the duck filled her senses and set her stomach screaming for just a bite.
“What’s wrong? You’ve got that face about you.”
Ella leaned toward Henry and whispered, “I’m not supposed to be here.”
Henry was patient with her misgivings, and handed her the basket of rolls. “You belong wherever you put yourself, and you’ve put yourself next to me. So I guess you belong with me after all.”
“Not that.” She touched the outside of her shoe to his under the table to let him know he’d touched on her sweet spot. “At the table. I’m not supposed to eat at the table. I eat standing up in the kitchen.”
Henry pursed his lips, but Remus spoke up to keep Henry from saying something acerbic that wouldn’t be altogether helpful. “My guests eat wherever they please. Does it please you to eat with us? To dine with Henry?”
Ella flushed at being asked something so direct and personal. “Well, yes, of course. I just… This isn’t… I feel like I’m breaking the rules. Can you tell me what the rules are to this place? I do better if I know ahead of time.”
Henry was about to say something flippant, but Remus took in her concerns seriously. “The rules for the house? Clean up after yourself, not anyone else. Is that understood?”
Ella fidgeted in her seat, unsure if she could agree to his terms. Her whole life in the past couple years had been dedicated to cleaning up after others. “I can try.”
“That’s good. Rule two: What you learn in our sessions should only be practiced here, until we get the hang of it. It’ll do you no good to take a lesson half-learned, and go out into the world with it. That sort of courage is dangerous, and could hurt you and others.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Rule three: Just like you, I prefer my private life be kept private. I trust that won’t be a problem?”
“No, sir. Of course.”
“Good. Now that we’ve settled that, let’s eat.”
The roasted vegetables were right in front of her place setting, but her eyes darted around nervously before she ventured her trembling hand out to scoop a few Brussels sprouts, parsnips and turnips onto her plate. They were glazed with a sweetness that Ella took only the briefest of moments to savor before she shoveled in another bite, and another.
Henry and Remus discussed the next Dinner of the Elite while Ella filled her plate with duck, pâté, more vegetables, and three rolls. As with any meal, she wasn’t sure when the next might come, so she ate as much as she possibly could while the food was in front of her. It wasn’t until she’d finished her last roll that she realized the men were gaping at her.
“I’m sorry.” She shrank in her chair, grimacing at how much she’d eaten so fast.
“Don’t apologize. That was right sexy.” Henry’s eyes were hungry for her. He looped his foot around hers under the table, drawing her chair closer to his. “Have some more duck.”
Ella shook her head. “No, no. I’m finished.”
Remus waited until she glanced at him to speak. “You don’t have to worry here, Ella. The chef prepares three meals every day. All guests in my home are welcome to eat as they please.” Remus took in her mistrust of his declaration with a sadness he couldn’t conceal from Ella. “If you’re okay with a few evaluations of basic magic, just so I know what we’re working with, I think that’s all we should concern ourselves with tonight. Formal lessons can wait until tomorrow. You’ve had a long, eventful day. I think rest would do us all a world of good.”
Henry wiped his mouth on his napkin as he stood. “I’ll take her things to the guest room.”
The space between Ella’s eyebrows puckered. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t. I want to. You’ve had a long day.”
“No, Henry.”
Henry placed his hand on the back of his chair, pushing it in with a frown. “Why won’t you let me be good to you?”
“Because you’re a prince! Because it’s my job to put things away, not yours.”
Remus excused himself, instructing Ella to meet him in the study before she went to bed.
Henry’s voice lowered, even though it was just the two of them in the room. “I need to know if you’re interested in me, Ella. Tell me if I have a shot.”
Ella gaped at him. “Are you serious?”
Henry’s jaw stiffened. “Okay. Good. At least I have my answer.”
Horrified at his assumption, Ella scrambled to undo the damage. “You wondering if you have a shot with me is insane. I’m nobody. Literally nobody. If you’re asking me if I want to be with you, of course I do. Always and only you. But the way you talk to me, like I’m something you’re hoping for, it’s very confusing. I feel like it’s a joke that’s going to come crashing down on my head the second I believe in it.”
It was all the confirmation Henry needed. He scooped her up from her seat and wrapped his arms around her, swaying her in his embrace with an expression of gratitude over having her so near. “All I heard was ‘blah, blah, blah. Henry, be mine.’”
“Well, that’s exactly what I said. Stellar job listening,” she teased him, relieved at his elation. A portion of her insecurity poked out. “You want to be with me?”
Henry’s eyes lifted to the ceiling, as if in silent prayer for patience. “Only every day since I met you. Always and only you. We can be as public or private as you want about it all, but I haven’t been able to stomach the thought of being with another woman since we met.” His thumb traced up and down her spine with a slowness that communicated how long he’d wanted to hold her exactly like that. They didn’t need to rush. Ella felt in his touch that Henry was certain about her, no matter what surprises came their way.
So she let him take his time as his thumb acquainted itself with the curvy slope of her hip. She savored the moment as he brushed his nose across hers, relishing the quickening of his breath. He didn’t rush a moment of the kiss she’d been anticipating for far too long. With much trepidation, she savored the light caress of her lips against his.