Once Upon a Romance 01 - Before the Midnight Bells (35 page)

Ella tried to ignore it and keep on with her stretches. This was at least their seventh caller intent on hashing over the news. Their seventh caller
today.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t block her ears. She kept waiting for the one that would know how it all ended, but so far they all stopped at the same point in the story. It had been two days since her visit to the king, and no one yet had heard a word of what was going to happen to Max.

Their friends were calling again, the wedding planning had commenced in earnest, and life looked like it was returning to normal. All except for Ella. She spent her days immersed in work or pacing the floor. For the most part her family had left her strictly alone, preferring to talk about the great “love story” with their neighbors rather than experience the effect it was having on Ella.

There was a knock on the front door, and Ella heard Prudence offer to answer it. With the upcoming wedding preparations they were going to have to do something about a doorman, or at least a housekeeper. They would all be far too busy to keep running to the door. At least hiring a doorman was possible, now that…

An uproar began at the front of the house and was quickly taken up in the parlor. Ella sat stock still, staring across her desk at the closed study door. News. News had finally come, and she was petrified of it. She couldn’t move. Then the door banged open, and for a moment Ella felt sure she was dreaming, for instead of a neighbor with the latest broadsheet, there stood Max.

His clothing looked slept in and he obviously hadn’t shaved in days, and he was the most glorious thing Ella had ever seen in her life. She never could remember how she got around her desk and across the room, but for the rest of her life she remembered the feeling of being wrapped in Max’s arms, knowing that he was neither dead nor banished, but here, with her, where he belonged.

“
Ella!”

“
Max!” Tears were streaming down her face, and she burrowed into his chest. “Your head’s still there. I’m so glad. I would have hated… I mean, I wouldn’t have… I mean… It’s just so much more attractive on your shoulders.”

He didn’t laugh, because she was so obviously distressed, but he wanted to. As soon as he was free he had rushed over here, but he hadn’t been sure what reception awaited him. Given the way Ella was clinging to him and her relief at his non-headless state, he assumed she had forgiven him. Still, there was something that needed to be said.

“
Ella, I’m sorry.”

“
Sorry?” Her confusion was adorable, clearly she hadn’t been expecting an apology.

“
Yes, you know, the thing that you are when you feel remorse?”

“
Oh Max…” Ella’s eyes were shining through the tears. “I
’
m sorry, too. I heard what had happened, and I realized that you had gone and told everyone so that I wouldn’t have to give up my shop, and my dreams, and everything. But when no one knew where you were, or what was going to happen to you I thought… I thought…” her voice caught. “I thought I might never see you again. And then I realized that none of the other things mattered, that I never should have tossed you out.”

Max was relieved. He’d been prepared to grovel, and here she was, apologizing to him. He started to say something kind, and forgiving, but then her eyes narrowed. Uh oh. First one small fist lifted, and then the other, and before he could stop her both were beating furiously on his chest.

Ah. Maybe groveling was in order after all.

“
I’m sorry.”

“
You fool!”

“
I said I’m sorry!”

“
You
idiot!
”

“
Ella!”

“
I—am—very—
mad
—
at
—
you
!”

Max caught her hands in his own.

“
Ella, Ella, Ella… I am sorry. I am so sorry. I am sorry I am an idiot, and I am sorry I wasn’t truthful. I am sorry I risked my well being and I am sorry I worried you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. If you will forgive me I will promise to never do any of it ever again. Except be an idiot. I can’t seem to help that. Especially when I am around you.”

He looked at her. When he saw her start to smile he threw back his head and laughed, and then grabbed her and spun her around. As they came to a stop he dipped his head down to kiss her, but the sound of someone clearing their throat stopped him.

“
Ahem… Ella? Would you introduce us to your caller?

***

Max was ensconced in the great chair in the parlor. He had maneuvered to sit next to Ella on the couch, but the lady of the house had bustled and rearranged until he was seated before all the others like a player before the audience. It was clear he was stuck until he had given them all what they wanted, so without further ado he had launched into his tale. He was just getting to the bit they were all most fervent about.

“
… and when he said that I just lost my temper. I told him that Ella had helped us the night of the ball out of loyalty to Vivienne and loyalty to me, and if he was going to object to loyalty then he would soon find himself king of no one.

“
That’s when he had the guards take me away. They just locked me in a guest room. One of the pages brought me some food and a note from the king saying he had to think about what to do with me, and I was bloody well to stay in that bloody room until he bloody said otherwise. So, I sat around for a few days, pulling my hair out. This morning another note was delivered. Here, I’ll read it to you.” Max pulled the crumpled paper from his jacket pocket.

“
Wellesley,

As a father, I’m glad Vivienne has a friend like you. As a king I have to say you make an abysmal subject, but as your Miss Emberton has pointed out to me, you have not broken any law of the land. As a father I would like to wring your neck, and since I
am
king no one would stop me.

Go find your seamstress. Tell her I’m sorry about calling her a strumpet. It’s not her fault you’re an idiot. Don’t come back to court until I calm down. I can’t say whether I’m more a king or a father.”

The room was silent for a moment, then one by one the callers made their farewells and left. Parlors in the city would soon doubtless be filled with the news. Millicent left to go find Sir Henry, and Beatrice and Prudence, with one look at each other, made a very obtrusive exit to go “do something upstairs.” Soon Max and Ella were sitting alone in the parlor.

Ella looked at Max. “So I’m
your
seamstress, am I?”

“
Perhaps he was speaking in the literal sense. You have done some sewing for me.”

“
After the way you confessed to save me, and then defended me to him? I think not.” She said it so quietly, but decidedly. Max felt a rush of love. His seamstress. His Ella.
His.

“
Does that mean that I’m
your
Max?”

“
What do you mean?”

“
Come off it, Ella. I know you went to the king and pleaded for me. You defended me as much as I defended you.”

“
I suppose I did. Yes, I guess that makes you
my
Max.” She blushed. Max thought it looked wonderful.

“
I have an important question to ask you, but before I do, in the interest of full disclosure I should probably tell you that I may never be readmitted to the court.”

“
I’m sorry, Max. Do you regret it?”

“
I don’t see how I could. I’ve helped Vivienne have her wish and I’ve found you; what could I regret?”

“
Losing your place at court? Losing the king’s regard? Angering your father?”

“
Court was never that entertaining, and I assure you that your regard means much more to me than his Majesty’s.” Ella smiled. “My father will come around. I hope. After all, he loves me. But he is
very
angry. He’s disowned me.”

“
Does that mean you’re penniless?”

“
Almost.”

“
Well, then I guess it’s a good thing I have such a thriving business, isn’t it?”

“
Thriving?”

“
Apparently my part in the recent scandal has made my designs the most recent “must have” item among the gentry. I’ve leased a bigger space and ordered reams of cloth. I’m even going to have to hire an assistant.”

“
Maybe you could teach me to sew?”

“
Was that your question?”

“
No.”

Max dropped to both knees in front of Ella. He put his hands over her own, which were resting on her knees, and leaned forward so that he could look up into her face.

“
Ella, I don’t know when I first started to love you, but I suspect it was the moment you told me how you truly felt about goose liver.” Ella gave a small giggle, but didn’t interrupt. “I want to spend my whole life with you, even if it means I have to learn how to sew. Would you do me the very great honor of agreeing to marry me?”

Ella slid forward off the couch.

“
I suppose you do need someone to take care of you.”

“
Indeed. I’m hopeless.”

She twined her arms around his neck, drawing him down.

“
And you have excellent color sense.”

“
I would be a brilliant assistant, I’m sure.”

Her mouth brushed his, once, twice, and then hovered, giving her just enough space to reply.

“
Then I shall marry you. But you will have to promise to keep me happy.”

Max gave her a long lingering kiss. Another would follow, and then another, and another, but first he had an answer.

“
Indeed I will. Ever after.”

EPILOGUE

Max and Ella sat beside the fireplace in Max
’s study
, each reading a letter. Ella had called Clara back to serve as their cook, and a plate of her divine cookies sat between them; Greta had delivered them along with the tea. Max’s letter was from his father. Duke Wellesley was writing to tell Max about the filly he was breaking. He had
presented the filly to Ella as a gift this yuletide, and was planning on giving her
riding lessons when they
went to the
country estate
in the spring
. Max grinned. His wife had completely charmed his father, to the point where the old duke would stoutly declare to anyone who’d listen that she was a lady
worth
defying a king for.