The next morning, Ella woke with sunshine harbored in her heart that she’d been able to sleep next to the man she adored. That simple shift unleashed so many things inside of her that had been waiting for something incredible to come along. She watched him sleep with rapt fascination, studying his pouting lips.
He stretched like a cat, not missing a beat before his arms wrapped around her, drawing her nearer, even though he was barely awake. “Good morning, Henry.”
“Good morning, blue eyes.” He kissed her the moment she finished yawning, and the two spent ten entire minutes rolling around and making a perfect mess of the sheets. Even when Ella’s Listening went out, ending their morning make-out, they both noted how much better she was becoming at controlling her errant magic. “That was longer this time,” he commented from his position atop her, his arms caging her in so he could occasionally lean down and suck on her lower lip. “How’s your head?”
“A little tender, but worth it for an alarm clock like that. So weird. I never sleep in this late. I’m always up before the sun.”
“I must be good for you.” He kissed her nose, smiling when it scrunched as she wiped off the slightly wet remnants.
When he finally parted from her body to take a shower, it was with the express instructions that she remain in bed, lounging around. He showered as quickly as he could, and then ran a bath for her.
Ella’s hand flew over her heart, her eyes lighting at the romance when she saw the extravagance of the bubbles. Orange and jasmine called out to her, flooding her senses with pure happiness. “What did you do?”
“For you, while I make some phone calls. Believe it or not, I have a little work to do that doesn’t involve seducing you. Stupid government job.” He kissed her cheek, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “Then we’ll have breakfast, and we can start our day.”
“I’m still reeling that my day will start at like, nine in the morning. I’m usually up and working for three hours by now. You’re turning me soft, Henry. Pretty soon, I’ll be sleeping till ten and reading books all day long.”
“You can have all of that,” he promised, and then lowered his mouth to her ear. “Let me protect you. Let’s go public. Lady Tremaine can blabber your secrets. No one will care, and those who do won’t be a bother to you.”
While Ella wanted nothing more than to believe in the dreams he tried to sell her, she knew it wouldn’t be that simple. “Your father might think he has cause to lock me up. If I wanted to, I could hear straight into his palace, Henry. I could be a threat to national security.”
“But you’re not. You wouldn’t have to hear through buildings to get to the royal chambers.” He trilled his fingers across her abdomen. “You could live there with me.”
Ella gasped, her heart swelling to near bursting at his grand words. She closed her eyes, envisioning a life so beautiful that she could be permitted to maintain a permanent place in his world, and in his home. “It’s a lovely dream.” She slid her palm over the back of his hand and let him hold her while the dreams hit a crescendo, and then deserted her. “I’ve got to warn you; I haven’t had a bath in years. Usually I just jump in the shower real quick. I might be a while in here.”
Henry took a chance and skimmed the strap of her tank top over her shoulder, just so he could kiss the creamy skin that had teased him all night long. “Take your time. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” His words held many meanings, and Ella appreciated all the nuances to his pledge.
He left her with the frothy, scented bubbles, granting her a morning where she could truly relax. She didn’t emerge for half an hour, unable to recall the last time she’d felt so refreshed.
When she came out, Henry looked at her old jeans and red and blue flannel shirt as if she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. “I’m torn. I want to blow the day in bed with you, but Remus needs us downstairs for breakfast soon, so you can start your lessons.”
Ella’s eyes widened as she slid on her socks. “Did he sound angry? I took too long in the tub, I know it.”
Henry sniggered at her fretting. “Remus doesn’t get mad at anyone, unless they’re trying to like, murder someone he loves. Then he can get a bit snippy.”
When Ella noticed a shadow of something more serious flicker across his face, she tilted her head to the side. “You alright, chief?”
He pursed his lips, as if debating between telling her the G-rated version of his mind, or going in for the truth. “I’m all over the place today. One of the calls I made while you were in there was to Adam.”
“Adam Fontaine?”
Henry nodded. “I thought the closer he got to his transition, the meaner he’d get, but he was actually civil on the phone, if not on the edge of cordial. I haven’t seen that shade on him in years.”
Ella waited a few beats before she spoke quietly. “How much time does he have left?”
Henry drew in a long breath, as if he needed to be steadied before smacking himself in the face with the truth. “Less than a month. Far less.”
Ella moved over to Henry and held his hand. “Do you want to go spend some time with him? I’ll be fine here without you.”
“But I won’t be fine without you.” The shadows were quickly replaced by a grin of forced bravery. “He doesn’t want me around, and I’ve accepted it.” Then he stood straighter, staring at their joined fingers as if the sight was something at which to marvel. “I don’t want to be sad. I want a good day with you, so that’s what this is going to be.”
“Well, it sounds like it’s all decided, then.” She leaned up on her toes and pecked his lips, letting him know she would drop the subject, if that’s what he needed.
He held her hand as they moved through the hallways and skipped down the stairs. They bumped each other with their hips and laughed like children on a mission of mischief.
Ella’s blonde curls were in a messy bun atop her head, but the moment her eyes fell on Remus’ guest at the dining room table, she wished she’d opted for something nicer. Her grin melted to a more composed expression, and her hand fell from Henry’s to clasp in front of her as she assumed a subservient posture.
“Good morning,” the woman greeted them as she stood. “You must be Ella. I’m Rory.”
Aurora Johnstone was slender like a ballerina, with a gentle smile that looked as if she was well-practiced at dazzling the cameras at a moment’s notice. Even at an affair as simple as breakfast, Rory wore black dress slacks and a delicate pink blouse with a silver brooch that was littered with diamonds surrounding a large ruby in the center. Her nails were perfectly manicured, and her black hair was swept back with two ruby-encrusted barrettes that didn’t dare fall out of perfectly level alignment.
Ella expected to exchange a quick greeting, and then be dismissed to the kitchen to eat her breakfast. Instead, Rory threw her dainty arms around Ella, squeezing her with all her tiny might. They were similar in height, but Ella was slightly curvier. She shot Henry a look of silent alarm at the jubilant embrace, but said nothing other than, “Very nice to meet you, Your Grace.”
Rory released her only a few seconds before she scooped Ella’s hand up and led her to the seat next to hers at the large table. “You’re to call me Rory, and I’m to call you my new best friend. Tell me everything about yourself. I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited to meet you. Henry’s been keeping you secret for far too long. I knew something was different, though. I knew he was smitten. Now that I can see you in person? I can tell why he’s so taken with you. You’re absolutely lovely.”
Remus covered his mouth when a chuckle slipped out. “I don’t think I’ve heard you speak that much in a row ever in my life. Did you even pause for a breath?”
“Who has time for boring things like breathing? Henry’s got a girlfriend!” She clasped her hands together under her chin. “Oh, Henry. I never thought this day would come.”
Henry grumbled good naturedly as he sat on Ella’s other side. “You act like I have no social skills. Like it would be a miracle for any woman to fancy me. I’m not a mutant, you know.” Then he raised one shoulder higher than the other, lifted his hands to look like claws, bugged one eye and twisted his mouth into a roar. “Oh, no! You’ve discovered my secret! I really have been a mutant all these years.” He growled, and then swooped in to mime taking a bite out of Ella’s neck.
Ella let a giggle escape, but then swatted at his antics, pursing her lips to scold him. “Would you shush? I’m trying to make a good impression, here.”
Rory’s hand flew over her heart, worry widening her brown eyes. “Oh, no! You shouldn’t think I’m anyone to impress. We’re going to be the very best of friends; I’m certain of it. Henry tells me you’ll be staying here, which means we’ll have nothing but time to get to know one another.”
Ella shifted uncertainly, but couldn’t see any hint of falsity in the woman who positively beamed at her. She wasn’t used to unfettered approval, and wanted to mistrust it on instinct, but there was something about Rory’s wide, accepting eyes and joyful bob on her toes as her legs danced under the table that made Ella wonder if there really might be good people in the government after all. “That sounds nice.”
“This evening,” Remus interjected. “Rory, you have your lessons this morning. I was thinking Ella might want to sit in on them.”
Rory’s face fell as she turned to her uncle. “Are you sure? I thought you said we were going to keep those lessons private.”
Ella shirked back, worried that her presence was going to upset the girl who seemed perfectly delightful. “I don’t see why I should intrude, Mr. Johnstone.”
Remus was dressed for a day at the office. He presented himself as the professional the rest of the world knew him to be—wearing gray pants, a light pink pressed dress shirt, and a blue tie that he kept brushing other colors across in ribbons while he sized up the three. “It’s unfair that Ella’s been expected to divulge all of her secrets, while we have our own that might help her understand hers. She’s gifted, Rory. Much like Cordray is. I think watching your lessons will help her tremendously. I trust you can be discreet, Ella?” His eyes focused in on her, uncrinkled around the edges, as if unperturbed by her response, because he already knew what sort of character she possessed.
“Of course, Mr. Johnstone.”
At this, he tilted his head at her and squinted one eye. “I believe I asked you to call me ‘Remus.’”
Ella flushed, her fingers tightening as they remained clasped in front of her, but she didn’t waver. “I’m working my way up to that, sir.”
Remus broke his formal demeanor and covered his face, letting out a handful of soundless laughs of frustration into his palms. “Very well. Get some breakfast, and I’ll see you ladies in the study when you’re finished.”
Ella’s posture remained stiff in her chair, but she tried to sound calm as she answered all of the questions Rory fired at her in rapid succession. It was a struggle to maintain a breezy demeanor when her stomach was in knots. Under the table, her ankle was coiled tightly around Henry’s to calm her nerves at being the center of too much attention.