Page 39 of Disenchanted
“Oh, Mal,” I murmured, reaching for his hand.
“And I do mean anything, including wasting money on tickets for your spoiled, foolish stepsisters and—”
“No, don’t ruin it,” I said. “Just stop at the part where you would do anything for me.”
Mal’s lips tipped in a rueful smile, and I smiled back at him. He entwined his fingers through mine.
“How I have missed you, Ella.”
“And I, you. So where have you been and what were you doing all this time that you could not even spare a moment for me?”
“I am sorry I have been so preoccupied.”
“With what?”
“I have been kept busy brewing my Elixir of Love. Word has spread and you would not believe the demand for it. I have sold at least ten dozen bottles so far.”
“Wonderful,” I grumbled. “That makes me feel so much better, hearing your illegal potion is such a great success.”
Mal only laughed. As worried as I was about the consequences of him peddling that fake potion, I was more afraid of what else Mal might have been up to during the past fortnight, such as plotting to steal back that orb. The return of Imelda and the girls prevented me from questioning him further.
I could well imagine how distressed Imelda would be to find me sitting so close to Mal and holding his hand. I untwined my fingers from his and put a prim distance between us. When Amy realized she had lost her seat beside Mal, she pouted, but not for long.
Both of my sisters were in a state of euphoria because of the ball tickets. Informing our neighbor of our good fortune had only increased their exuberance. Even Imelda was beaming.
“I had no idea Mrs. Biddlesworth could be so amiable. She was full of good wishes for all of us.”
“Especially you, Ella,” Netta said. “She seemed quite eager for the prince to sweep you off to his castle.”
“I’ll wager she is.” Mal was quite aware of how matters stood between Mrs. Biddlesworth and me. “Mrs. B is so kind and neighborly, I am sure she would even help Ella pack.”
I had to choke back a laugh as I replied, “Such assistance will not be necessary. I think it highly unlikely I shall be the one to marry the prince.”
“Whyever not, my dear?” Imelda asked. “You are lovely enough to win the heart of any worthy man.”
“Or even some unworthy ones,” Mal murmured, provocatively draping his arm behind me along the back of the bench.
I saw the alarm in my stepmother’s eyes. I shifted farther away from Mal, casting him an admonishing glance. The gift of those ball tickets could mark a new era of… if not goodwill, at least of tolerance between my stepmother and my closest friend, which would make life far more agreeable for me. If only Mal could be induced to behave himself!
Netta’s face clouded over. “It is wonderful that we have the tickets to the ball, but how are we to manage the rest of it? Ella said we cannot afford new ball gowns or the hire of a carriage and horses.”
Amy batted her eyelashes at Mal. “I’ll wager Mr. Hawkridge could manage to conjure something for us.”
“Amethyst!” my stepmother cried.
“What, Mama? He said he is our fairy godfather.”
Mal looked amused by Amy’s audacity, but her mother was horrified. Before Imelda could scold Amy, I made haste to intervene. “We do not need to rely upon a fairy godfather, Amy. I can provide all that we will need.”
When everyone regarded me questioningly, I realized the time had come to reveal what I had done. As I fumbled with the ties that fastened my purse to my belt, I dreaded Mal’s response. He was going to be thoroughly vexed with me for selling my mother’s earrings. But I experienced satisfaction that my sacrifice would not be in vain after all. Grateful as I was to Mal, it piqued my pride that I had not been able to provide my family with the tickets. But I would be the one to make sure they attended the ball in fitting style.
It was with a small flourish of triumph that I upended my purse, spilling the pile of galoons onto the table. The gasps from my stepmother and sisters were quite gratifying.
“Ella!” Netta gasped.
“It’s a fortune,” Amy squealed.
“My dear, however did you acquire so much money?” Imelda asked.
