#mcrtals

grabbing the robe he had laid over the chair, he silently followed her.     after all, this was a strange big house, and what dangers might lurk in the corners they haven’t explored yet?    well, that explanation might be as senseless as the truth, and somehow more ridiculous.   it was quite simple really, he did not wish to be parted from her.

as much as he liked this new house, it did come with a big downside  —  its distance from the mill.    before, he could pop in whenever he had a second to spare, steal a moment with his new wife until mill duties beckoned him back.    john wasn’t going to waste the precious moments, or miss out on the sight of her eyes glimmering as she took in their new home.    “    we did not get a chance to look at the east wing after the remodel.    ”he suggested, resting a hand on her lower back.

Ready as she had been to chide him, and insist that he get his rest, Ella couldn’t bring herself to do so. The work at the mill was important to John and his family. It was how he was able to care for them. How he was able to afford this grand new house. 

But she knew that he wished that he could be home more. She could see it in his eyes whenever he returned exhausted from a long day, or when she would tell him of some wonderful little occurrence in her day that he wasn’t able to witness or take part in. So, as much as he might need to sleep, as awful as she felt for her own restlessness taking those precious peaceful hours from her husband, she simply smiled and nodded. 

pink rose to her cheeks, the unexpected compliment catching her by surprise.    it had been years since she had been complimented by a human;   it was startling different to be touched by the faith of creature like her.   the animal’s praise was generous and pure, she had always counted herself lucky to be counted as one of their friends, but she had been aching for this without knowing.    “    they already seem very happy, you must be very proud of them.    ”

it seemed she had her work cut out for her;    teaching the girls the accomplishments they required to startle society and how to simply be intelligent girls.   the latter they would carry with them always, and though she would not mention it now, glad to see their brother’s opinions had already softened, ella made a note to return to the subject at a later date.

she was confident now, despite the fact he hadn’t made things official, that the job was already hers.   the knowledge fluttered inside her chest, joyous and bright:   a door was opening and she couldn’t wait to rush through it.   the same fearful girl who had always worried about leaving the past behind now felt a burning conviction that something here was waiting for her.    “     they’ll be far cleverer than i.    ”

Raylen couldn't help but chuckle. "I find that hard to believe. I don't think I've ever met anyone as clever as you."

She was exactly the kind of person he wanted Giorgia and Bianca to become. Smart, confident, caring, and so much more. And, more importantly, she was the type of woman that Mam and Giacomo would have wanted the girls to grow into. Under Ella's influence and tutelage, he could rest easy. So long as he kept money coming in to keep the girls fed, clothed, and warm, everything would be fine.

And this was the first time he truly believed that since he'd arrived in Italy. Raylen had been so worried and so overwhelmed that he didn't even believe it himself when he'd tried to reassure Rosa or Giorgia that everything would be ok. Strange, really... How a cluster of small moments could change his entire outlook on the future.

charles was distracted by her;   the golden hue which formed around her frame, not just her hair, her very essence, a study in sunlight and joy which had made the weary bear interested, and now attracted him like a moth to a flame.

he didn’t know what to make of the others.   so human and alien to him now, his own people strangers, but he knew what to make of her, and most importantly, he inspired a human-like trust in him.    it wasn’t instinct, it was based on the person she was, and how she had already proved herself too him countless times.    it confused him as much as it pleased him.

feeling human again was everything.   

it was only at her question, her glance, that he shifted his attention from her face.    “    i…  believe once was.   ”     even in the official portrait, a sort of impishness shone through.   the same face, same eyes and nose, but there was nothing of the man he was now in that untroubled smile.    “     i remember sitting for too many portraits.    ”

Chuckling softly, the young queen nodded. Oh, yes, she knew the feeling all too well. She, asking with her brothers and sister, had say for more portraits than they could count. But somehow, none of them were ever done by Lucy herself. That, at least, would have made it more fun for everyone.

She'd have let her subjects relax and take poses that weren't so solemn and stiff. They could smile, laugh. Be themselves. A portrait didn't have to just express what people wanted to see. In her mind, it should show who they were.

an eternity seemed to pass between his confession and her smile; long enough for him to call himself a bastard and a fool half a dozen times. he had kept those words tightly guarded for so long, her friendship was a lot more than a brute like him could ever hope to achieve. to risk it? it wasn’t — and it was — a spur-of-the-moment decision.

it was inescapable, the longing in his chest could not be contained. the moment, however, came unexpectedly: an opening in their conversation which required total honesty in his reply. her kiss, in any shape and form, was the one he dreamed of.

her kiss left behind an impression of the flowers she gathered, pink spreading across his cheeks as he looked bashfully down at her, an uncharacteristic smile forming in his lips. “ it is my honor. ” he wishes he could be as open with his words and feelings as her, to say she had given him reason to hope for the first time in his life. he had a hollow shell before, and with her he felt like someone real, like someone whose future included something beyond accounts and cotton. holding onto the hand over his heart, he leaned closer so he was the one kissing her cheek this time. “ you understand me? ”

As his lips softly returned the kiss that she'd given, Ella's hazel eyes closed. The softest of sighs escaped her lips. And when he pulled back, asking his question, she beamed.

Smiled so softly and so tenderly that her chest felt ready to burst from the sheer weight of everything she was carrying inside at that moment. All her life, all Ella had ever wanted was to love and be loved.

A single tear crept its way down her cheek as she glanced up at him and nodded. Her heart was too full to speak for a moment. Yes, she knew what it was he couldn't say. She'd felt it for some time now. But Ella hadn't wanted him to feel any pressure to speak before he was ready, so she kept it to herself as well.

But when the moment of emotional hesitation passed, she nodded again.

"You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought."

Alison Heywood & Declan Fraser

cherished by Kate & Odette.

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the queen was not a stranger to long days.    for years, from the time the sun awakened from its slumber, to long after it had gone to rest after a long day of blanketing the world in its golden light, she worked, and worked.    time passed slowly, but she could always count on the moon to watch over her as she crawled into the bed after everything had been primped and cleaned, keeping the sun at bay for a few hours so she could rest.

her body was no longer bone-weary:  cheeks had regained the fullness of her youth, permanently dusted in a light pink, the joy she felt impossible to deny for even a moment.     but in the past two weeks, not even the moon could lull her back into the land of dreams, her dear husband’s absence felt more keenly during the nights. 

ella was afraid she had grown quite spoiled.    

in the gardens where they almost shared their first kiss, when their hearts became forever linked, she felt closer to him.    between meetings and the little amusements she had grown so fond of, she found herself walking there.

in the corner of her eye, she had seen him more than once, the dream fluttering in her heart coming to life before misting away when she blinked.    when she saw him today, she smiled, his handsome face was sorely missed, but she didn’t turn or start in his direction, thinking she had once again conjured him from her imagination.     

the words caressed her ears, the tender devotion making her chuckle.   her dear husband better come back before he returned to a mad wife;    it was only when his hands encircled her waist, that she began to suspect that there was more to this meeting than a tender heart’s ache.   

“    you say that to me every night in my dreams.   ”    lifting her finger, she brushed a curl away from his eyes, radiant in her joy.    “    did i fall asleep in the rose bed?    or perhaps in the swing…    my love, tell me you’re real and i have you back.   ”

Laughing gently, dimples brightening his face, Kit pressed a kiss to her golden curls. "No, my love. This is no dream. You're as awake as I. And I'm home, at last."

As much as he hated it, even the young king couldn't ensure that their time together remained uninterrupted. There had been some time granted to them, with the Grand Duke taking care of much of the things he should have seen to himself. But things had to return to normal eventually, and he could no longer ignore his duties.

“it is quite alright.    it is a lovely day, i enjoyed the sun and my book, this was probably one of the most lovely afternoons i’ve had since i joined your court.    ”     as much as her father believes this to be their home, their birthright, belle desperately misses the home she was forced to leave behind;   the crooked trees by her windowsill, the library tucked away at the back of the house, she misses the shadows and breezes, even if she had grown to find joy in the castle’s sunny afternoons.     “     you needed rest.    ”

the king isn’t wrong  —   her cousin had made it all seem so easy.   he had carried the crown with grace and dignity, never showing any cracks.     “     he had a lifetime to learn, from someone who had carried the same weight.    ”she tries and assure him, warm hand coming to rest over his.    

“he didn’t, you are good and just, and that is what matters, that is what we need you to be for now.    the rest will come with him.    ”     assurances are easy to give because she believes in him, despite the fact she knows he will never get the chance to grow into his role.    as much as she has grown…    fond of him, desperately fond, there are forces outside this castle, at this very moment, plotting how to remove him from his position.    he is just, and kind, and he is what the people need;   the nobles have other priorities.

“     why don’t you tell me,   ”    lifting her hand from his, her fingers interlock on her lap,    “    what is plaguing you?    i wish…    i want to help.    ”

Edward offered a small smile before his hazel eyes dropped to their hands. Her words were so like Ella's. Her faith and support too. Ella had always believed that he could do no wrong, and Edward had put an intense amount of pressure on himself to try and always keep her esteem.

And where had that gotten him? A dead sister, no living family, and a burden on his shoulders that he was in no way able to carry. Had there been anyone else able to take the throne, he'd have abdicated the first instant he could. Edward was a merchant, a farmer! Not a king! But, as the Grand Duke- dear Frederick- had told him, Kit had had no one else to leave the kingdom to. If he hadn't stepped up, the kingdom would have fallen into ruin, and the lives of everyone on the island would have been at risk. Invasion and war would have been imminent.

“ thank you, ” removing his hat, he started the move to hand it over to her, cutting it at the last moment, bringing the garment back close to his chest.     it did not seem right for her to put away the hat, though it did leave him in an awkward position, as there was no other servant to take it anywhere else.

a house such as this, even if quite smaller than his own, should have at least a ser servants cleaning it and maintaining it.   perhaps they were all busy somewhere else, getting the house ready for the dinner.     “my mother and sister will be arriving soon, they are very…   punctual.    ”     fanny’s hopes of having fashionable new friends would end today most likely.   he felt a surprising twinge of regret.

masking his critical look of her appearance with an examination of the house, john felt that he was playing the fool tonight.    agreeing to a grotesque invitation for the possibility of…   reading shakeapeare with the serving girl?    from the looks of it, she had no time to brush her hair, much less stop her work to indulge him.

there was a smattering of curses behind him, the butcher’s boy swaying as he brought up the large piece of meat up the stairs.

Quickly turning her attention from her stepmother's guest to the struggling child, Ella's face melted into a look of deep empathy. Lifting her skirt slightly, she raced forward and took hold of the boy's burden.

"That's a terribly big load for such a young boy." She offered, adjusting the weight so she could reach into her apron pocket. "Here. For your troubles, darling. Thank you very, very much."

With a smile and stroke of his hair, she passed him a few coins and a couple wrapped sweets. "Be careful going back, now. Make sure you rest, and tell your mother I said hello. I'll visit with her the next time I'm in town."

Once he was gone, she waved and turned her attention back to Mr. Thornton. "Please, come inside. I can make you some tea while I cook and clean. I, I'm afraid I can't say how long Lady Tremaine and the girls will be. They didn't tell me anything. I do hope they're back before your mother and Miss Fanny arrive..."

She'd certainly hear no end of it if they weren't. It was just another trap they loved to put her in, stuck between two choices where she couldn't win. If they were late, she'd be chastised and outbidded for not coming to fetch them. But if she did, she'd face the same for leaving Mr. Thornton alone.

Ella put the lamb down and quickly washed her hands before flittering around to ready some tea and biscuits. And while the water was boiling, she tried to do some more cleaning and preparing for the meal.

One would think that, with her family's critical eyes, she'd be used to her every movement being watched. But this was different somehow. Ella already knew that there was no winning with the Tremaines. They were never satisfied, and nothing was ever up to their impossible standards. In a way, she'd long ago given up trying. Their eyes were so constantly on her that she could learn to ignore them. But Mr. John, however, was a new face. And she didn't want to seem lacking in his view. His eyes seemed to burn into her back like fire.

Have courage and be kind...