Page 18

CHAPTER 18

ELLA

T he day had finally come. The Moon Festival . The whole village of Riverton vibrated with excitement. Clara and Sissy had barely made it through the day. Their excitement bubbled over into their work. Clara spilled more tea than normal, and Sissy burned the morning rolls. Ella hadn’t caught their excitement. Tonight , William would ask Mrs . A for her hand in marriage. There would be no more running from her future.

William was eager for them to start their new life. He thought they should marry as soon as possible. They could live at the mill until the inn closed. There was a small servants’ quarters they could fix up and move into. Once the inn closed, Ella would help get Mrs . A packed and take the trip with her to Morro . William would follow soon after.

Ella heard Ailith and Lillian moving around downstairs. If she didn’t get dressed soon, she’d miss the carriage Darby ordered for them. Lillian had given one of her old dresses for Ella to wear. It was a simple pale pink gown with flowers embroidered on the hem. Not really the right color for an autumn festival, nor did it fit. But such was the story of Ella’s life. A life of borrowed pieces that didn’t fit together.

“Ella?” Lillian knocked. “ Are you dressed?”

Ella shook away the sadness that sucked the excitement out of the night. “ Not yet, but I’ll be ready soon.”

Lillian opened the door and peeked her head in. “ Good , because we have your birthday gift. Close your eyes.”

Since she didn’t know her true birthday, Ailith had decided it would be the Moon Festival . Ella could hear Mrs . A and Lillian whispering and giggling as they entered her room. The sound of fabric filled the space.

“Okay, open them.” Lillian clapped.

Ella opened her eyes to find a beautiful gown waiting for her. It was her black ball gown. The one she had been born into this world in. But someone had taken the time to change it. Tiny black beads had been sewn into the shape of stars. On the skirt, silver beads in the same shapes covered the now pressed and hemmed skirt.

“Happy birthday.” Ailith kissed Ella on the cheek.

“You shouldn’t have.” Ella blinked away the tears.

“This is your birthday, Ella . You didn’t think we’d forget, did you?” Lillian said, hugging Ella . “ I know it’s your old dress but?—”

“It’s beautiful. But you shouldn’t have.” Ella ran her fingers over the stars. The gown was the last thing she owned from her past life, and now it, too, had been changed to fit into her new life. Now it was her turn.

“Clara donated the beads from one of her wedding gowns. Sissy made them into stars. And Mother and I reshaped the bodice. Do you truly love it?” Lillian asked, fluffing the dress.

“It really is beautiful.” That was all Ella managed to say. She loved the dress as it was because it was from her old life. A key to what Ella’s life must have been like.

“Come. Let’s get you ready.” Lillian took Ella’s hand, leading her to the small dressing table in the corner. Lillian and Ailith brushed and pinned up her dark hair. Lillian tucked little silver stars into Ella’s curls and dusted her lips and eyelids with silver powders. When they were done, Ella barely recognized herself.

“You look like a fallen star.” Ailith patted Ella’s cheek.

“We better go. We don’t want to miss the opening.” Lillian took Ella’s hand.

Ella followed Ailith and Lillian down the stairs. The inn was empty except for one guest.

“Mr. Tenebris ?” Ailith frowned as he stepped out of the shadows. “ I thought you were leaving.”

Thane looked at Ella . “ I am. I’m just waiting for my carriage.”

“Mother, let’s go see if Darby is here.” Lillian pulled her mother out the front door.

“Ella, you look…” Thane’s eyes raked over her. “ Words do no justice to how beautiful you are. The night sky will be envious.”

Ella ran her hands down her skirt. She opened her mouth to say something when the door burst open.

“The coach is here,” William called. “ Ella , you look very nice. We should go before the lines get too long.”

Ella turned to face William . His jacket was black, not as black as her dress, and his vest matched the silver in the stars. “ William , you remember Mr . Tenebris ?”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there. Yes , I do. I heard you were leaving.” William took Ella’s hand.

“I am. Ms . Moon , it was very nice meeting you.”

She forced a smile and looked one last time at Thane . All the words she wanted to say to him melted away. There was no reason to say them. “ I wish you luck in whatever it is you are searching for, Mr . Tenebris .”

“I wish the same for you too, Ms . Moon . I hope all your wishes come true.” Thane bowed as he slipped back into the shadows.

Ella’s eyes filled with tears that made no sense. Her heart broke as Thane slipped away. The last pieces of who she was left with him. They floated away like ashes on the wind. Ella stepped away from William . Please don’t go. I didn’t mean it.

She spoke her truth into the darkness where it belonged. The last of her ash-light memories floated to the ground. She took a careful breath, afraid she’d scatter them.

“Are you okay?” William asked.

Thane was gone. He had left her as she had asked of him. Ella forced a smile and turned to William . Her soon-to-be husband who didn’t take her breath away. He didn’t leave her speechless. But he loved her. “ Yes . I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Once at the fair, William led her through a dizzying maze of booths and festivalgoers. The brightly colored dress of the fair troupe clashed with the pale colors of the Moon Festival . Silver streamers and glittering stars hung from tree branches and wires strung between tent poles. Kerosene and hurricane lamps filled with beeswax candles gave the narrow walkway a warm glow. The air held laughter and the scent of roasted meat.

A brightly dressed woman called to her and William . She promised to tell them their future. Or their past. Another thrust a paper flower in Ella’s face, chirping to William that if he really loved his girl, he’d buy her a flower made of wishes. Ella’s head spun with all the noises and smells. She clung to William as they pushed through the crowd and merchants peddling their wares. The air felt too heavy and the night sky not dark enough. She had never been around this many people and this much noise.

“What should we do first? Shall we see the fortune teller, or would you like some stardust champagne?” William’s excitement leapt from him. He didn’t seem to notice Ella shrinking under the noise or chaos that he pulled her through. He waved to a group of his friends. The mix of men and women stood in front of a tent decorated with crudely drawn stars. “ Come on.” William tugged her through to the group.

Ella didn’t know any of them. Their faces shone brightly in the warm light. They teased William as he showed off his silk vest.

“So you’re Ella ,” one of the girls asked, stepping closer.

“Yes.” Ella forced a smile. The girl's skin appeared flushed. A white flower was pinned to her dress. Ella tried not to stare at the glow that pulsed under the girl’s dress. “ And you are?”

“Kate.” The girl watched the men pay for flutes of sparkling wine. “ William says you work at the Blind Badger . So tell me, is it true what they say about the man staying there?” Kate leaned in closer. “ They say he killed Mr . McCoy and three others.” Kate clapped and blew a kiss to her date. “ I sold my soul for him.”

Ella turned to the girl. Her fingers itched to touch the girl’s chest and steal the light. To say the words. What was wrong with her? “ What did you say?”

“I said people in town are talking about the handsome stranger that has been seen at all three deaths.”

“No, about your soul.” Ella couldn’t tear her eyes away from the shimmering lines that held the glow in. They seemed to pulse with each breath Kate took.

Kate frowned. “ I said nothing about my soul. They were all right about you. You are odd.”

Kate returned to the other girls, whispering something to them. They looked at Ella and giggled. She turned away to be greeted with a sea of people. Some glowed, others did not. Men who strolled with beautiful women. Women with children on their hips and another clinging to their skirts. The glow called to her. Its call made her head spin and mouth dry. It was louder than the band that had started adding to the noise. She needed to get away from them.

She looked to William , willing him to notice her. But he, like all the others around her, was enjoying himself. She had never been around this many people and this much noise.

She backed away from William and his friends. She pushed her way through the crowd and the colors. Her steps became panic-driven, and the crowd seemed to crush her. Someone help me, please. Ella screamed to the stars that were blotted out by the bright light of the fair.

She pushed headfirst through the crowd, ignoring the people who called to her. She could see the edge of darkness. The place where she would be safe. The place she belonged. She was almost there when a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her back into the crowd.

“Ella.”

Ella whirled around, ready to lash out. “ Mr . Garvey .”

“What’s wrong, my dear girl? You look flushed. Where is William ?”

Ella looked to the darkness once more. “ He … he is with friends. I was just…” She tried to pull away from the older man. “ Please , I just need some fresh air.”

“Nonsense. You cannot be wandering around alone. Let me take you back to William .” Mr . Garvey tugged Ella further into the crowd.

“I don’t want to.” Panic clawed at her throat, and her skin burned under his touch.

“Ella?”

Ella froze at the sound of the cool voice cutting through the noise. It washed over her like a spring rain. Thane . “ Please , I can’t do this.” She hadn’t realized she said the words until Mr . Garvey stopped.

“I know, love.” Thane pulled her from Mr . Garvey’s grip. “ You never did like crowds.”

She didn’t protest when he wrapped his arms around her, sheltering her from the crowd. She didn’t care what Mr . Garvey said or what the others whispered. She clung to Thane , not caring where he dragged her. They stopped just outside the bright lights and laughter.

Thane ducked to meet her gaze. “ Are you alright?”

“Why are you here?” Ella whispered.

“I wanted to see?—”

“Not right now. Here in Riverton .” The tears fell fast. He had come twice when she had needed him. “ Who are you?”

“I can’t tell you.” Thane caught a tear. It shimmered on his fingers. “ You will not hear the words I speak. You will not hear the name I call you.”

“Please, Thane . I must know.” A fear that this was it. The last moment for her to know the truth was slipping away. If he left her here tonight, she would never know.

“I can only show you. But once I do, everything will change.” Thane cupped her cheek. “ Ask me to kiss you.”

Ella stepped closer to him. His soft scent washed over her frayed nerves. “ Thane , kiss me.”

Thane lowered his mouth closer to her. “ Forgive me.”

Ella closed her eyes as Thane kissed her. Memories flooded back. Not just pieces to stitch together, but the whole fabric of her life. All the happiness, desire, love, sadness, and betrayal all rushed back. She pulled away from Thane , seeing him for the first time through her eyes.

“You bastard.” She pulled away, punching Thane in the mouth. “ You broke my heart.”