Page 5 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Yes, ma’am.Ms.Ella,I’llstop by to start courting you tomorrow,”Williamteased.
Ella said nothing as she stepped into the warmth of the kitchen.Shecarefully set the dress down, taking off her cloak.Thekitchen was an organized chaos as the evening meal was being prepared.
“You cannot be seen with that boy unchaperoned.Whatwill people say?”Ailithstarted cutting the cabbage.
“There is nothing to say.I’mtwenty-seven, andIlost my virtue to some manIcannot remember.”Shefound out she wasn’t a virgin that night withWilliam.Ifhe noticed he said nothing.Orhe didn’t notice because of the whiskey they both drank too much of.Shealso learned she hated the taste of whiskey as much as she loved it.Anotherodd piece to a puzzle she wanted so badly to solve.
“Oh, hush.Nowgo see to the new guest.”Ailithnodded to the door. “Andstay away from that boy.”
“Yes,Mrs.A,”Ellateased, picking up the package and pushing the door open with her rear end.Afew guests sat around the large fire.Alocal boy who helped with the guests’ horses was setting up the tables for the evening meal.
Ella foundLillianalone at the front counter.Ascent hung in the air.Onethat was familiar to her.Memoriesdanced before her eyes.Aroom without a roof, a man, and death.Hermind raced to keep up with the fading memories, trying to place all the pieces before they disappeared.
But as the scent faded, so did the memories.
CHAPTER3
ELLA
“Ella?Iseverything alright?”Lilliancalled.
The noise of the inn draggedEllaback from the thick memory that clogged her head.Thescent that lingered in the room rooted itself like a weed, choking out the rest of her thoughts.Andlike the weeds she pulled from the garden, this one fought back, leaving her with just a handful of fading memories.
She shook off the unexplained sadness that filled her. “Yes.Uh… did the guest in room six check in?”
“Yes, he just did.”Lilliantucked away the leather-bound ledger.
Ella stepped closer to the desk. “Wasthere a woman with him?”
“No.DidClaraput you up to asking about him?Itold her to stay far away from him.Godsabove, she is like a bitch in heat.”
“No.WhenIstopped to pick up your thread,Mr.Hansongave me this dress and saidMr.Tenebrisordered it.”
“Oh?No.Hesaid nothing, butIdidn’t ask.Takeit up to him.ButElla, be careful.Thereis something about him.Somethingominous.SomethingIcan’t put my finger on.”
“I know the feeling,”Ellamumbled as she took the stairs up to room six.Thefamiliar scent clung to the stairs and the hallway.Ifdusk had a scent, it would be this.Amix of the cool night air after a storm with a hint of something familiar from a different life.Sheclenched her jaw in frustration.Shehad too many of these moments.Somethingwould remind her of something she couldn’t remember.Ataste.Asound.Andevery time she thought she had a new piece of the puzzle, she realized she’d lost the others.
The door to room six lay open, and two large leather bags sat in the hallway.Ellaknocked on the door frame. “Excuseme,Mr.Tenebris.Ihave your…”
Her words vanished as a man dressed in black stepped from the shadow of the room.Sheunderstood whyClaraacted the way she did.Thisman was far too beautiful for the dirty village ofRiverton.Hisgray eyes seemed to glow, and then there was his mouth.Godsabove, she wanted to taste his lips, run her hands through his dark hair, and do so many other things to him.Thingsshe should not want to do to a man whose first name she didn’t even know.
“Thane.Youcan call meThane.”
His voice washed over her.Itfelt familiar. “Um…I…Ihave your dress.DoIknow you?”Shebegged for the answer to be yes.
“What an odd thing to say.”
Ella’s face burned.Whathad gotten into her?Hewas a handsome man.Butshe had seen handsome men before.Hadn’tshe? “Myapologies, it’s just?—”
“No, the dress is not for me.”Thanesmiled, taking the package. “Hasanyone ever told you how beautiful you are when you blush?”
“Yes, they have.”Herlooks were the first thing everyone commented on when they met her.EvenAlberthad told her she was pretty for a poor maid.Butnone of their words affected her asThane’sdid. “Mr.Hansonsaid if you need another adjustment to let him know.”Thismoment held a certain familiarity.Likeshe had lived it before.
“Thank you.Iwill.”Thaneshook the dress from its packaging.Itshimmered in the warm candlelight. “Whatdo you think?”
Ella stepped further into the room.Sheshouldn’t be alone with a guest.Yethere she was, standing next toThane, the bed linens brushing against her skirt. “Ihave never seen anything so beautiful.Thecolor is like…”
“The sea before a storm.”Thanepaused, examining the dress. “AndIhave seen something far more beautiful.”
