Cinderella (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James Page A

day more complete.”
    “So are you saying you are now officially addicted to dancing?”
    “I am saying I have found an agreeable partner, and once within his arms I tend to forget all but the most happiest of things—and that, yes, that may become quite an addiction if I am not careful.”
    “Milady,” he said as he bowed before her, “I am at your service. You can become addicted to my charms any time you would like.”
    “Oh, heaven help us! Do not encourage me!”
    “Yes, for what would we do if all you ever wanted was to be folded about in my arms and gliding around the orchard? Something so shocking as that sounds like—”
    “It sounds like bliss.” She giggled and stepped right up into his willing arms. “Now when do we begin?”
    He grinned down into that shining face below him—a great warmth grew inside and multiplied a hundredfold until he could feel the stimulating effects through the tips of every fiber of his hair and all the way to his toes. She was in a very fair way of capturing his heart, that is, if she had not already managed to do so.
    It would seem the lovely Eleanoria Woodston could charm the moon out of the sky, if she was not careful. Wrapping his arm more firmly about her trim waist, he squeezed her right hand and said, “Would now be soon enough for you, my dear?”
    “I thought we would never begin.”
    “Patience,” he whispered as they began to glide across the grass. “Patience, and the world will soon be yours.”
    “But I do not need the world,” she whispered in reply.
    “I know, but you will have it nonetheless. Now shh… and enjoy the moment.”
    She giggled softly. “Brute.”
    “Minx.”
    “Monster.”
    “Love.”
    When she gasped and looked up at him with such an adorable expression, he could not help himself…he kissed her.
    This time, slowly, while the world spun with them.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    WHEN ELLA HURRIED BACK into the house, with the promise to meet John tomorrow, she nearly flew up the stairs to her room. Oh, what a wonderful day it had been! What a glorious, perfect day it was. She giggled to herself as she opened her bedroom door and met a very sullen Jillian setting upon her bed.
    “Where have you been?” she asked, her face twisting into a sneer.
    “I was outside in the orchard.”
    “For over an hour?”
    It had been nearly two hours when John finally left. “There are many chores to do outside.”
    She grumbled and folded her arms.
    “Did you need something? I am sorry, I did not know you were waiting for me, or I would have come in earlier.”
    “Of course, I was waiting for you,” she snarled. “Mother says I have to give you one of my gowns for the ball. She says you were invited by the queen herself. I did not believe her, so I came up here to read the invitation myself.”
    It was the first time Ella noticed the torn and rumpled missive in Jillian’s hand. “You ruined my invitation?”
    “I have been holding it this whole time. Had you come up here, then perhaps it would not have been so crumpled.” She held it out to her. “Where did you get it?”
    Ella took the tattered paper and placed it on her dresser. “From the queen.”
    “Clearly from the queen. But how did you come by it? Tell me now.”
    She sighed. “I do not know why I was invited. I just know a servant of the castle came and brought it to me. That is all.”
    “But how did you get invited? You of all people? If anyone in this family should have been specially invited, it should have been Lacey. She is the eldest. Not you .”
    Ella decided it was best just to agree with Jillian. “Yes, I realize that.”
    “And to think now we must show up with you. And share our gowns with you! It is disgraceful.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “When I think of the way you treat us, it is the last thing in the world I would want to do for you. Do you understand me? The last thing—helping you go to some ball as a guest of the queen!”
    Ella let out a silent sigh and walked to