Ella had much practice struggling to fall asleep while standing up against the door. The trick was to kneel against the bucket, so her shins carried the brunt of her weight. Ella soaked through four rags as she blew her nose and attempted to dry her frozen hair in the darkness. She tried not to let the black void of claustrophobia gnaw away at her insides, but her nerves felt scraped raw all the same. She knew from experience that hyperventilation wouldn’t help anything, but the temptation to topple over the edge of sanity was always there, inviting her with its crooked finger to give in to the panic that would surely never leave her.
It was half an hour later that hope sailed in her heart. The doorbell rang, and though Lady Tremaine never preferred answering it herself, her burning anger toward Ella outshined her pride at projecting a lifestyle of wealth.
Remus’ voice made her heart stutter in her chest, but no sooner had it soared did it go crashing into the depths of her stomach. Henry’s voice carried with it a hopefulness that crushed her. Though she’d wanted nothing more than to see him again, this was not how she wanted to be seen. She shivered in the dark, clinging to her damp shirt that was now buttoned all the way to the collar. She wiped her sweaty face on the dirty rags and shoved them in the bucket. She straightened her shirt, as if that would undo all that was wrong. She tried to stand straight, but the dark was disorienting, so she placed her hands on the door to steady herself, knowing that at any moment, she would be free of her prison. The darkness made her dizzy, and her cold was taking a downward turn, making her weak and nauseous as she breathed in the stink of cleaning products.
The pleasantries took agonizing minutes, each of which made Ella want to scream out for help. She bit her tongue, closing her eyes, so the darkness felt like her choice, instead of a punishment that had been inflicted upon her. She nearly clawed at the door when she heard Lady Tremaine’s long strides accompanied by Remus’ light, conversational tone. “Yes, we were in the area a little earlier than I anticipated. Apparently, we missed all that traffic everyone’s always complaining about. I hope I didn’t interrupt your dinner.”
“Oh, of course not. We were just finishing up. Would you care for some dessert? I can have Ella whip up something sweet for you and Prince Henry.”
“I wouldn’t dream of putting you out. Where is Ella? I’d like to get back to the house soon. I was hoping she could get started scouring the bottom of my sailboat tonight.”
“Sailboat? Surely it’s too cold for sailing, Mr. Johnstone.” Lady Tremaine let out a throaty chortle as she fished through her keys.
“Indeed. I have a buyer for it, though, who wants to take a look at it in the morning. I do hope you haven’t worked Ella too hard. She’ll need to be scraping fungus and barnacles off the bottom all night if it’s to be ready by sunrise.”
Ella nearly snorted at the ridiculous lie that made Remus seem like the grueling taskmaster Lady Tremaine would approve of.
“I’m sure she’ll manage.” The key shoved into the door, but she didn’t turn the lock. “You know, there’s been another bid for Ella’s expertise. The Baron offered to pay more for her than you did last week.”
Ella’s breath quickened as panic welled in her chest. Remus’ pause scared her, but she let out her breath when his words reassured her fears. “Lady Tremaine, I’d hate to think you were considering backing out of our deal. Surely you don’t think the Baron wants Ella for her ability to shine shoes. Neither of us are that naïve. I put Ella to work for her intended purpose, and nothing more. Do you want to sell Ella to the Baron? Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I thought I saw you on his arm at the last Dinner of the Elite. Selling her to the Baron seems quite the conflict of interest.”
Lady Tremaine’s voice was terse, though her words were well-chosen. “I don’t wish to sell Ella to him, no. But if you could only match the Baron’s price. He offered two hundred more than your fee.”
Ella winched her eyes shut and silently begged Remus to free her, no matter the cost.
Remus chose a different argument, his tone growing indignant. “My dear lady, if you’re in the business of selling your servants for sexual favors, then I can’t be seen doing business with you. In fact, if you’re insinuating what I think you are, then I’ll have no choice but to report you to the king!”
Lady Tremaine faltered, her tone turning dulcet and syrupy. “No, no! Of course, I would never. And I’m sure the Baron wouldn’t have wanted her for such things, anyway. How your imagination does run away with you, Mr. Johnstone.” She let out an airy laugh that made Ella cringe, which incited a coughing fit that rattled her bones.
“What… Is someone in the closet?”
Lady Tremaine brushed off his inquiry. “Ella’s yours for four days, and then you’ll return her, as discussed.”
“That’s much better. Where is she?”
“Right here.”
When the key turned in the lock, Ella was determined to keep herself upright. It was when the bucket her shins were propped up against toppled over that she fell forward with the mop, tumbling out with a shriek onto the floor at Remus’ feet.
“What’s all the commotion?” The Baron rounded the corner just in time to see Ella floundering on the floor, knocking herself in the back of the head with her broomstick. “Oh, Ella. Always so clumsy.”
Remus shouted his shock, but stuffed his more coherent exclamations back down his throat as he knelt to untangle Ella from the mess of cleaning supplies. When Henry craned his head down the hallway, Remus used his body to partially shield Ella from view. His tone turned sharp to warn Henry to keep his mouth shut. “Henry, you don’t deal with the servants. That’s my job. Go out and entertain Lady Tremaine’s daughters.” When Henry took a step toward Remus instead of away, Remus didn’t hold back the command in his voice. “Now!”
Henry’s eyes glinted with anger, and then wilted to misery when he took in what he could make out of Ella’s besotted state. For all the power his throne afforded him, he couldn’t go against Ella’s wishes. She’d been firm that he was to let things continue on in the cycle of abuse she was stuck in, for fear of tumbling out of the cycle and landing in something far worse. “Of course, Remus.”
Once Henry was out of sight, Remus lowered his voice to a threatening whisper, his hand resting atop Ella’s head. “What’s the meaning of this, Lady Tremaine? You kept her locked in the dark?” His tone was pure horror, and Ella knew he was reliving his own time locked in the dark under Malaura’s cruel tutelage. His fingers trembled with barely contained torment as they floated atop her tangled curls.
“She displeased me.”
“She’s shivering, and sick as a dog! I didn’t pay you for a barely upright servant. Come, Ella. On your feet.” His words were brusque, but his hands gentle as he pulled Ella up, taking in her pallor with a tightness to his eyes. “Go fetch your things. There’s much work for you to do at my house. Quick, now. Prince Henry has many important errands to attend to this evening, and doesn’t wish to linger.”
Ella read between the lines, understanding that Henry’s patience could only be expected to last so long in this place. “Yes, sir.”
Remus touched his forehead at her formal address. “Actually, I wanted to see your bedroom, Ella, if it’s alright with Lady Tremaine. My servants have too many trinkets in theirs, and I wondered if I was indulging them too much. May I escort her upstairs, Lady Tremaine?”
“Do what you like with her.” Lady Tremaine waved her hand dismissively in Ella’s direction. “When you leave, make sure you go out the back entrance, Ella. I don’t want anyone to see you so filthy, and assume that’s what I allow in my house.”
Ella’s cough was deep and rattled in her chest, but finally she eked out a croaky, “Yes, ma’am.”