Page 4 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“No, his mother’s refusal to pay for the goat’s milk soap she ordered got him that meal.Shouldn’tyou be doing something other than harassing me?”Ellateased.Shemight not be in love withWilliam, but she cherished his friendship.
“Harassing?”Williamput his hand over his heart. “Mydear lady.Iam simply trying to court the most beautiful woman in all ofRiverton.Inall ofCambria, for that matter.”Williamopened his arms wide, causing a cabbage to fall from the basket.
Ella caught it before the vegetable hit the ground. “Yourcourting is going to cause me an extra shift in the wash water if you’re not more careful.”Theirrelationship surpassed courting.Theyhad already slept together several times.Thatwas a secret she andWilliamkept to themselves.Thepeople ofRiverton, includingMrs.A, still believed courting and marriage came before sex.Anotherrule she didn’t understand.
William took the cabbage, stopping. “Soyou agreeIam courting you?”
The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile.Itwas warm and inviting.Ellatried to imagine her life withWilliam.Withkids and domestic chores.Buteach time she did, it felt like exhaling before inhaling.Shecould do it, but it left her breathless.Therehad to be more to this life than marriage and children.
But unlikeAlbert, who only wanted someone to take care of him and run his household,Williamspoke of love.Andchildren and the mill and his aging parents.Butwould he still love her when her beauty faded and she lost herself in motherhood and domestic life?Ellapushed that fear away.She’ddeal with it tomorrow. “Ifwe start courting, we will have to stop our little meetings at the river.Isthat what you want?”
“You don’t think we can do both?”William’ssmile hinted to something more as his hand tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. “Meetme tonight.Bythe river.”
She leaned into his familiar warmth.Afterall the dishes had been washed and the guests settled,Ellawould slip away to meetWilliam.Atfirst he had been worried about her reputation.Butafter a little too much whiskey,Williamwasn’t too worried about anything other than her mouth on a certain part of his body.
“If you drop this ridiculous talk about courting.”Ellapushed open the door to the small shop beforeWilliamdid something silly again and proposed.
“Good day,Mr.Hanson.Ihave brought the yarn and soap for the threadLillianwanted.”Ellaset the four skeins of yarn on the counter.
“Ah,Ella.”Theshort man took the yarn and soap. “Thedate is getting closer.TellMs.Lillianwe have a new lace in.”
“That is the last thingAilithwill want to hear.”Ellahanded the spools of silk thread the tailor handed her toWilliam.
“Your timing is perfect.Ihave a delivery for a guest of yours.AMr.Tenebris.Hehad the dress sent and asked thatIfinish it.Ihave never seen silk like this, and the stitching is otherworldly.Iadded the dark gems he asked for and took in the waist.Tellhim if the lady who this dress was made for needs any adjustments,Iwill gladly make a house call.”Heset the gown on the counter. “Whoeverthis woman is must be very beautiful or the dress will outshine her.Letme just wrap it up.”
Ella’s breath caught when she saw the beautiful silk dressMr.Hansonplaced on the tissue paper.Thetailor was correct.Thedress was stunning.Butit was the color that drewElla’sattention.Itwas the color of the sky just as darkness set in.Notblue, nor black, but the color right in between. “Ihave never seen a color like this.”
“I have.”Williamleaned in closer.
Ella couldn’t tear her eyes away from the dress asMr.Hansonwrapped it.Itfelt familiar.Buthow?Shesearched the dark part of her memories, hoping for a small crumb.Butshe found nothing but a darkness so thick it made her head hurt.
“Where haveyouseen this color?” she askedWilliam.Wherewould he have seen silk like this?He, likeClara, had never leftRiverton.
“Your eyes,”Williamsaid intoElla’sear. “Doyou know thisMr.Tenebris?”
Ella tore her gaze from the dress.Williamwas so close she could smell the fresh scent of the day on his skin and see the dark flecks in his eyes.Hismouth so close she could steal a kiss. “N-no.”Shestepped away whenMr.Hansoncleared his throat.
“YoungWilliam, you will do well to rememberMs.Ella’sreputation.”Theolder man looked down his nose at the younger man.
“Her reputation is allIthink about.”Williamwinked, offeringEllahis arm.
Ella took the package, careful not to wrinkle the silk.Clarawould be disappointed that it seemedT.Tenebrishad a wife, or at least someone he loved enough to spend so much on a dress.
She thanked the tailor and headed into the thinning afternoon crowd.Elladid her best not to see the people who pushed by them.Sometimesshe swore she heard their thoughts.Othertimes their needs and frivolous emotions made her want to scream.Andsome looked as if they carried a golden light in their breast pocket.Alight she sometimes wanted to rip from their body.Alight that made her tongue want to form words her head couldn’t remember and her lips couldn’t speak.
She had never confessed that to anyone, not evenSissy.Shefeared that desire to murder someone was even too much forSissyto understand.Shekept her head down and tried to shut out the people around her.Theirwants and needs felt louder today than any other.
Thankfully,Williamdid most of the talking.Hisparents served on the committee for theMoonFestival.
“There is an old crone that travels with them, and for a small price, she will read your future or make you a love potion.Maybeshe’ll tell you your one true love is right here inRiverton?”
Ella pulled her arm fromWilliam’sas they got closer to the inn. “Ifshe does, will you help me find him?”Ellateased.Ailithrushed out the back door, yelling forEllabeforeWilliamresponded.
“There you are, child.Godsabove, did you not think thatIwould need the cabbage for the evening meal?Andyou!”Ailithtook the basket fromWilliam. “Yourpoor father is busting his back at that mill while you harass my staff.Shoo.”
“See, you are harassing me.”Ellaturned fromWilliam. “I’msorry,Mrs.A.Helgawouldn’t pay unlessIhad lunch with her.AndthenMr.Hansonhad a package for our guest in room six.”
“Yes, yes,Mr.Tenebrisis checking in now.Boy, you better not still be standing here whenIget back,”Ailithcalled toWilliam, grabbingEllaby the arm and pulling her in the back door.
