Page 29 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Thane.”Themorning sun filtered in through the large oak trees.Howlong would it be before someone noticed she was gone?Thatthe tea hadn’t been made or the rolls brushed with butter? “Canyou be serious?”
“Okay, notFate.Dawnwished that she would forgetDarkness.Shemade that wish on a golden apple.Andeveryone knows a wish made on a golden apple can only be broken by a kiss.”
“Really?”Sheturned to look at him.Hisgray eyes seemed almost silver in the warm morning light.
“Yes.Maybethat will work for you too.”
“We are not gods.”Sheleaned in closer.Itwas one kiss; what could it hurt?Nothing.Herbreath came up fast.Onekiss.
“You just wished us to be them.”Heleaned in closer, and his lips brushed her ear. “Allyou have to do is ask, love.”
The words started to form in the back of her throat.Itwould be so easy to kiss him.Theworld seemed to stop around them.Sheclosed her eyes, ready to say the words.Toask him.Itwas just one kiss, and then she would know.Understandhow silly this was.Whathis kisses tasted like.Andthen she’d move on.Just.One.Kiss.
“Ella!”
“Dammit.”Ellapulled away in panic.ItwasClara. “Shecan’t find us like this.She’lltellWilliam, and he can’t know.Imean…Imay not love him, butIdon’t want to break his heart.”
“It’s alright, love.”Thanemoved slowly away from her, slipping into the shadows.
Ella tried to shove the remnants of her evening into the basket whenClarastomped in.
“What in all the gods’ names are you doing here?”Claralooked around. “Mrs.Ais furious that you weren’t there to help prep the morning meal.”
“I overslept.”
Clara crossed her arms over her chest. “Alone?”Shenodded to the picnic basket.
“Yes.”Ellastood, brushing the white petals from her clothing. “Weshould go beforeMrs.Asends a search party.”
“I never knew this place existed.”Clarawandered around the terrace. “I’vebeen to this barn plenty of times.It’sa good place to meet someone.Alone.Mr.Tenebris’sroom was also empty this morning.”
“How do you know that?”
“I checked it.Sinceyou were not there this morning,Mrs.Atold me to see if he was back, and wouldn’t you know it, he, too, was gone.”
“Clara—”
“Don’t.”Claraturned on her. “IknowWilliamis not for you.He’stoo simple.Tooplain.Buthe is perfect forSissy.”Clarapulled out a slip of paper. “Ifound this in your room.Lillianread it to me.”
It was the noteThanehad sent her. “It’snot what you think.”
“But it is.Youare going to have to decide soon.Youcan’t string him orMr.Tenebrisalong,”Clarasaid. “Andyou’re right.Weneed to go before someone else finds you.”
Ella looked to the shadows, butThanewas gone.ShefollowedClaradown the worn path to the inn.Clarastopped, pullingEllato a halt. “Ifyou are going to run off withThane, then make sureWilliamknows that.Hewas here looking for you this morning.Sissycovered for you.Hethinks he loves you.”
“I know.”
“Sissy won’t tell you this, butIwill.Theboy she was caught kissing wasWilliam.”
“What?”Ellastumbled backwards.
“Everyone believedWilliamwould ask her to marry him,”Clarasaid.
“Everyone?”Noone had ever mentioned that to her.
“Yes.Theyare of the same standing.Sissy’sfather was a leather tanner.That’show it works in a small village.Yourlife is plotted out before you are even old enough to speak your protest.Andthey would have been married, but then you showed up and changed the course of both their lives.Ican’t blame you.Menare fickle.Theyfeel no remorse when they break a heart.Theyshould all be cursed to suffer at least one.”Clarastarted walking again.
“Do you thinkSissylovedWilliam?”Ellaasked, followingClara.
