Cinderella and the Lady (10 page)

“But we’re not married and we’re both women.” Elle stated the obvious and tilted her head in confusion.

She nodded. “You make a good point. But there are some like us, and even men who enjoy the company of the same gender. It’s not talked about in polite circles. Public opinion thinks two women or two men engaging in such activities are immoral and depraved. I’ve been selective with the women I’ve chosen as lovers.”

She expected Elle to ask about her past relationships, but instead she lifted her hand and rested it on her shoulder. Her face was open and her eyes wide and clear. “How can something be considered immoral when it feels so good?”

“I agree,” she said, breathing easier when Elle didn’t act disgusted or ashamed because of the belief that sex and love should only be shared between a man and a woman, and in the bonds of matrimony.

“It’s getting late. I should go before I’m missed.”

Kristina tightened her hold, but then relented. It wasn’t like they could remain in this tiny room indefinitely, preferably naked and engaging in more explicit activities.

She stood first, and before Elle could do the same, she gave her a swift kiss. She then backed away to stop from showing Elle what she could do with her mouth and tongue in between her legs instead of with her fingers.

Elle touched her lips and rose. She pushed back her hair and smoothed down the wrinkles on her dress. She then went over to the table and began pulling her things together to leave.

They needed to discuss their next rendezvous. She wouldn’t allow Elle to leave until she had her promise they would see each other again. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Elle’s waist.

Elle stopped what she was doing. She perched her hands on top of Kristina’s and settled back against her.

Her mouth grazed Elle’s ear. “When can I see you again?”

Elle turned her face Kristina’s way. “I’m not certain. Maybe midweek?”

She gritted her teeth. She wanted a definite answer and wouldn’t settle for less. “How about Tuesday or Wednesday?”

“I’ll have to see.” Elle moved away and lifted the basket. “Or next Sunday? That seems to be the best day for both us.”

Kristina crossed her arms and tapped her foot. She was having a snit and didn’t care. She refused to wait another seven days to see Elle. Plus, her parents’ ball would most likely go late into the night and she would be exhausted the next day.

“You’re upset.” Elle held the basket up against her chest as if to protect her.

Kristina flipped her hair back and exhaled. “I’m bothered. I hate you can’t come and go as you please.” Suddenly an idea popped into her head and her crankiness disappeared. She gave Elle a loud smack on the lips.

Elle lifted her face toward Kristina to keep the kiss going, but she was too involved with her own thoughts that could solve their problem. She spread her fingers around the back of Elle’s head and stared down at her in unabashed glee. “I take it you go into town for groceries and such?”

Elle nodded. “On Wednesdays.”

“Perfect!” She gave her another kiss and broke away again before Elle could kiss her back. Elle’s bottom lip puckered out and Kristina flicked the protruding flesh with her finger. “I’ll never let you leave if we start kissing again. How about we pick a time and a place on Wednesday where we can meet each other in town? Surely you can spend an extra hour as you run your errands.”

“But then we wouldn’t have much enough time for my lesson.”

She tugged on Elle’s hair and drifted her palm down her cheek and then her chin where she gave it a soft tweak. “We can discuss another time to meet for your lessons. I just want to see you again and find a secluded spot where we can touch and kiss like we did here today. Unless you can get away and we can come back here for more amorous pursuits?”

“Um, we should be careful about meeting in public. I wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation being seen with me.”

Kristina found that odd. It wasn’t like she wanted to announce to the entire world they were lovers. But then again, if someone recognized her and called out her real name while she was with Elle, things could get very difficult.

“How about you tell me where you work—”

“No.” Elle raised her voice and backed away, shaking her head.

“Calm down. I wasn’t planning on knocking on the front door and asking the mistress of the house to see you, although if I want to I could. There’s nothing stopping me from finding out where you live and who you work for,” she explained with a bite in her voice.

Distress appeared on Elle’s face and she averted her eyes to study the floor.

Kristina’s stomach twisted. She wanted to kick herself for forcing Elle back into her timid shell. She cursed softly, ready to apologize, when Elle came back over to her.

“If you want to figure out who I really am, you’ll be disappointed. I’m nothing special, and like you, I prefer to keep our…friendship a secret. What if we meet at the church near the town cemetery around three o’clock? The people I work for have their tea then. I can meet with you for two hours. Will that be good enough?”

The sudden sour feeling coating her stomach vanished. She lifted her hand toward Elle’s face, waiting to be pushed away in indignation. To her astonishment, Elle lifted up and gave her a kiss. She sighed against Elle’s mouth.

“Am I forgiven for acting like a snob and ordering you around?” she asked.

Elle dropped down on her heels and smiled. Her eyes twinkled, a first since Kristina’s had met her.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” Elle said, and with one last, fleeting kiss, left Kristina. She opened the door and peeked back over her shoulder. “I’ll see you in three days’ time at the church at three o’clock.”

“It’s an appointment I wouldn’t miss for the world,” she said softly, aching to have Elle in her arms again and press kisses on her face and elsewhere on her body that would make her cry out in satisfaction.

Elle nodded in return and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Kristina wanted to dance in circles. She did just that, waltzing around the room with an imaginary partner, who she envisioned as Elle.

The pillows on the settee had been fluffed and the table dusted where Geraldine and the countess would have their tea. She wanted to make certain everything was perfect and that they wouldn’t need her after she served them. That usually was the case when the countess came for a visit. Both women would remain in the sitting room until dinner. This would give her ample time to see Diana again.

She lifted the white ribbon out of her bodice and rubbed it against her cheek. In the three days since she last saw Diana, she kept the ribbon on her. This small piece of fabric was her good luck charm. She had finally received her first kiss and much more. Her face grew warm and she pressed her palms over her cheeks.

The likelihood she and Diana would engage in more intimacies this time around was impossible. It wasn’t as if they could sneak into a church confessional and do those wonderful things Diana had introduce to her with her skilled mouth and fingers. Already in the eyes of God, Ellie was a sinner. First, for sharing affections that should only occur between a man and his wife. Second, for doing those things with another woman. She couldn’t take a chance her soul would be eternally damned if they ended up kissing and touching in God’s house—

“Ellie, I’m going to town to pick up Mama’s and my dresses for the ball on Saturday night. I’ll need you to come with me. I can’t carry both dresses home by myself,” Mina said as she brought in a tray filled with small finger sandwiches and fruit.

Why is she being so considerate?
She tried to grab the tray, but Mina brushed her aside and set it on the table.

“Now, don’t frown. It’s good for you to get out of this house.” Mina lifted her finger. “Think of how impressed mama will be when I tell her you’ve volunteered to help me.”

Ellie held back a snort. No amount of work she did or volunteering would impress Geraldine. In the end she still wouldn’t be rewarded by being allowed to accompany her stepmother and stepsister to the ball.

Mina wandered over to the windows and cast aside one of the curtains that had seen better days. “The countess should be here shortly. We can leave after you serve the tea.”

Ellie stopped from groaning. How in the world would she ever be able to meet Diana now with Mina by her side? She needed to figure out a way to lose Mina before—

“The countess’s carriage is coming up the drive. I’ll go upstairs and tell Mama.” Mina turned and skipped out of the room.

She shook her head, bewildered by Mina’s energy.
I guess picking up a new dress to impress the man you wish to marry can make any woman excitable.
She sighed and withdrew to the kitchen to bring back a pot of tea. By the time she had set the pot down in the drawing room, there was a knock on the front door. She went to answer it.

The countess was in all her splendor, wearing a satin pink dress with lace surrounding a low-cut bodice showing off far too much skin and cleavage. A large white hat with a grouping of pink roses around the brim sat on her head. The dress would have been better suited on a younger woman, but the countess dictated her own fashion and no one had ever dared to criticize.

She curtsied in welcome. “Good afternoon, Countess Tremaine. Please come in.”

“How many times do I have to remind you to call me Yvonne?” The countess shook her head and stepped inside. Before Ellie could shut the door, the countess cupped her face and gave her a kiss on each cheek.

The countess lost her smile as she drifted her hands down Ellie’s arms. “You’re far too skinny. This must change.”

She stared down at the floor. She could never understand why the countess always criticized her, which led her to touching her in some manner or another.

She tugged her arms away. The countess looked even more displeased. “Stepmother will be down soon. I have tea and a small luncheon for you both to enjoy.”

The countess steepled her fingers under her chin. “You’re so thoughtful. Lead the way.”

The countess sat on the settee instead of the chair Ellie had directed her to. She unpinned her hat and set it down next to her. Ellie reached for a cup, ready to pour the tea when the countess clasped her wrist.

“Why don’t you keep me company until Geraldine comes?” The countess drew her around the table. She had no choice but to sit down and make pleasant conversation.

She glanced over at the open doorway, hoping Mina and Geraldine would come soon. She still needed to figure out a way—

“I glad we have this time along to talk,” the countess said and rested a hand over Ellie’s. Before she could pull away, the countess turned over her hand and flattened her palm over her roughened one.

“You might find it absurd at my age, but I enjoy holding hands, especially with such a good friend as you.” The countess ran her fingers over the lines of Ellie’s palm.

“Do you hold hands with Ger—stepmother?” she asked, covering her vocal blunder.

“We used to when we were younger, but no longer. Your mother and I would sit together, and while we talked, we would hold hands or play with each other’s hair. Angelica loved the beach and wading in the ocean. We would walk along the shore line and tell each other our deepest secrets.” The countess’s bottom lip trembled. “I still miss her very much.”

“I do too.” She squeezed the countess’s hand in a comforting gesture.

The countess wiped under her eyes. “You remind me of Angelica a great deal. You have her smile and sweet nature.” The countess’s other hand joined their combined ones. “There’s another reason for me coming here today, other than spending time with your stepmother. I would like you to live with me as my companion.”

Everything around Ellie came to a screeching halt. A rushing sound filled her ears and a horrible prickling sensation flew up and down her arms and legs. She went to stand, but was kept in place by the countess.

“Is the idea of living with me and taking care of my needs so horrible? I can promise you I’ll treat you much better than Geraldine and that spoiled daughter of hers have.”

She licked her lips. Her throat and mouth had become dry. “Um…”

The countess pushed one of Ellie’s curls behind her ear. “There’s nothing stopping you from going off on your own. Why not step out into the world with me?”

She tore her hands away and leapt up, backing away as she hugged herself. The countess frowned and shook her head, also rising. Ellie almost stumbled when August brushed up against her leg. She bent down to pick him up and rubbed her cheek against his head.

“You can’t expect to stay here forever.” The countess slowly made her way over to her.

She kept her cheek against August, who purred contently. “I’m needed here—”

The countess barked out a laugh. “You have outstayed your usefulness. If all goes according to Geraldine’s plan, Mina will marry Lord Simon. She’ll hire real servants for her mother here since she’ll have a hefty allowance from her new husband.” The countess sniffed and her nose twitched as if she smelled something bad. “Geraldine will never leave this house. This is where she had many blessed years with your father after your mother’s death. She would be more than happy to throw you out. She treats you like a thorn in her side, a harsh reminder of the woman your father loved first.”

Ellie was at a loss for words, the countess’s speech like daggers slicing through her heart.

The countess sighed and planted her palm against the side of Ellie’s face. “I have your best interests at heart. Geraldine doesn’t care for you and Mina is indifferent. Why not come away with me? I can be a kind mistress and show you many wonderful things, but only if you accept what I’m offering.”

She held August tight against her chest and shifted her face away from the countess’s hand that had slid down and landed against her neck. Before she could speak, the stairs above creaked. The countess lifted her chin, and to Ellie’s dismay, kissed her full on the mouth.

Disoriented, she breathed through her nose as the countess rubbed her lips gently against her own rigid ones. When the tip of the countess’s tongue wet her bottom lip, she turned her face away, softly wheezing.

The countess’s mouth brushed alongside her cheek. Ellie stepped back but the countess’s grip tightened. Geraldine’s and Mina’s voices were heard overhead.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time. Can I trust you to keep our conversation between us a secret? I would hate to tell Geraldine how rude you were while I waited for her to join me for tea.” The countess gave Ellie a moist kiss on her cheek. Her hand ventured down the front of Ellie’s dress, stopping to stroke her stomach. She then backed away with a smug smile and a wink.

August jumped out of Ellie’s arms and onto the floor. She was both confused and frightened by what had just happened between her and the countess. The kiss she was given left her chilled, very unlike Diana’s soothing and tender kisses that made her want to spin around the room.

The dong of the clock in the hall made her jump, and before she could make her excuses, Geraldine and Mina entered the room. She moved off to the side to let the two women pass.

“You’re in high spirits as usual, Yvonne.” Geraldine tipped her head in the direction of the countess who had chosen a small sandwich to nibble on.

“Eleanor has been keeping me company.” The countess licked her thumb, her eyes focused on Ellie.

Geraldine turned toward Ellie. Her mouth dropped into a blunt line. “Mina wants to take you into town with her to pick up our dresses. You may go, but don’t dawdle.” She then gave the countess a stiff smile. “Will you be joining us for dinner? Mina and I would love for you to stay and dine with us.”

“Oh yes, countess, please stay! I can show you what I’m wearing to the ball on Saturday.” Mina swayed in excitement.

The countess’s lips tilted up in amusement. “Thank you for the invitation. It will give me a chance to indulge in whatever tasty delights Eleanor has created. If only I had a cook like her on my staff.”

Ellie bit down hard on the inside of her mouth, praying the countess wouldn’t bring up her suit to hire her away. Her stomach twisted as she thought of what else the countess would want from her other than her cooking.

“Too bad Eleanor doesn’t have a twin you could hire,” Geraldine said in a dry tone and sat in the chair next to the settee.

“Mama, may we go now?” Mina hopped lightly on her feet.

“Yes, you both may go.” Geraldine shooed her away.

“Thank you, Mama. Wonderful to see you again, countess.” Mina curtsied and rushed from the room. Ellie did the same before she was forced to stay.

She could finally breathe again, and she absently nodded while Mina chattered on during their walk into the town. She could barely stop the tremors overtaking her body. She wanted to hide in her room with her bed covers over her head. If Geraldine gave in to the countess’s demands, how would refuse? Who could she turn to for help? The countess was powerful and could make things difficult if she didn’t do what she wanted. She wouldn’t place Clement, Egan, or Noah in that position. Unless—she revealed to Diana who she truly was and asked her for aid?

* * * *

“What did you say to the poor girl? She was white as a sheet,” Geraldine asked, twisting her wedding ring around her finger in agitation.

Yvonne lifted another sandwich off her plate and took a bite. A soft moan left her. “Your stepdaughter is an amazing cook. I can’t wait to eat more of the delectable treats she’ll make for dinner.”

She turned away, disgusted, while Yvonne ate away without a care in a world. Geraldine inhaled slowly to stop from saying something insulting along the lines of Yvonne’s expanding girth.

Yvonne patted her lips with her napkin. “I didn’t say anything to Mina.”

“Stop playing dumb. I mean Eleanor.”

“Careful, Geraldine,” Yvonne whispered in a warning. She set her empty plate on the table and lifted her tea to her mouth. “Nothing inappropriate happened between us. We had a pleasant discussion. I told her my plans for her future and we might have sealed things with a kiss.”

Geraldine slapped her hands against the arms of the chair and jumped up from her seat. “Youyou—”

“Do calm down. Your histrionics are childish and not fitting a woman of your station, regardless if you don’t even have two coins to rub together.”

“Histrionics? Shouldn’t I be concerned with your behavior? Your fascination with Eleanor is unhealthy.” Her lip curled. “She’s an innocent and has no idea what the world is like outside Aulnory. Trying to corrupt her to your wicked ways just like you wanted to do to her mother is sick—”

“Enough,” Yvonne snapped and crossed her leg over the other while she draped her arm along the back of the settee. “My feelings for Eleanor are completely different from the ones I had for Angelica.”

“You mean the sick desire you have for the chit.” Geraldine’s voice shook and she swallowed to steady her voice. “I let it go on long enough and it must stop now before—”

“Before what? You end up killing Eleanor in a rage like you did with her mother?”

Geraldine stopped her jaw from dropping and sat down gingerly, spreading her palms over her lap when all she wanted to do was wrap her hands around Yvonne’s throat and strangle the life out of her. Taking a calming breath, she poured a cup of tea. Her hands shook as she lifted the cup and stared down at the liquid, the steam hitting her in the face. “You promised you wouldn’t bring that up again. It was an accident.”

Yvonne snorted. “I was there, and what occurred was no accident. But I’ve been such a good friend, keeping your secrets all these years that would ruin you if they came out. Whatever would you do if an anonymous source spoke to the authorities about what really happened to Angelica on that summer day eleven years ago?”

You were responsible also!
Geraldine enfolded the cup in her hands, blinking away the sting in her eyes. “Are you threatening to go to the authorities after all these years? It’s been too long and no one would believe you. I’m a respected member of this—”

“Respected? Ha! You’re barely tolerated. The only thing that saves your face is your title. Everyone knows how impoverished you are and if not for me paying off Louis’s doctor bills and creditors, you and your precious daughter with be out on the street without a pot to piss in.”