Page 3

CHAPTER 3

ELLA

“E lla? Is everything alright?” Lillian called.

The noise of the inn dragged Ella back from the thick memory that clogged her head. The scent that lingered in the room rooted itself like a weed, choking out the rest of her thoughts. And like 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.” Lillian tucked away the leather-bound ledger.

Ella stepped closer to the desk. “ Was there a woman with him?”

“No. Did Clara put you up to asking about him? I told her to stay far away from him. Gods above, she is like a bitch in heat.”

“No. When I stopped to pick up your thread, Mr . Hanson gave me this dress and said Mr . Tenebris ordered it.”

“Oh? No . He said nothing, but I didn’t ask. Take it up to him. But Ella , be careful. There is something about him. Something ominous. Something I can’t put my finger on.”

“I know the feeling,” Ella mumbled as she took the stairs up to room six. The familiar scent clung to the stairs and the hallway. If dusk had a scent, it would be this. A mix of the cool night air after a storm with a hint of something familiar from a different life. She clenched her jaw in frustration. She had too many of these moments. Something would remind her of something she couldn’t remember. A taste. A sound. And every 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. Ella knocked on the door frame. “ Excuse me, Mr . Tenebris . I have your…”

Her words vanished as a man dressed in black stepped from the shadow of the room. She understood why Clara acted the way she did. This man was far too beautiful for the dirty village of Riverton . His gray eyes seemed to glow, and then there was his mouth. Gods above, she wanted to taste his lips, run her hands through his dark hair, and do so many other things to him. Things she should not want to do to a man whose first name she didn’t even know.

“Thane. You can call me Thane .”

His voice washed over her. It felt familiar. “ Um … I … I have your dress. Do I know you?” She begged for the answer to be yes.

“What an odd thing to say.”

Ella’s face burned. What had gotten into her? He was a handsome man. But she had seen handsome men before. Hadn’t she? “ My apologies, it’s just?—”

“No, the dress is not for me.” Thane smiled, taking the package. “ Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are when you blush?”

“Yes, they have.” Her looks were the first thing everyone commented on when they met her. Even Albert had told her she was pretty for a poor maid. But none of their words affected her as Thane’s did. “ Mr . Hanson said if you need another adjustment to let him know.” This moment held a certain familiarity. Like she had lived it before.

“Thank you. I will.” Thane shook the dress from its packaging. It shimmered in the warm candlelight. “ What do you think?”

Ella stepped further into the room. She shouldn’t be alone with a guest. Yet here she was, standing next to Thane , the bed linens brushing against her skirt. “ I have never seen anything so beautiful. The color is like…”

“The sea before a storm.” Thane paused, examining the dress. “ And I have seen something far more beautiful.”

“You have?”

“Yes.” Thane sighed, laying the dress over the back of the chair. “ That is why I’m here.”

“You came all this way for a dress?” His laughter raked across her nerves. She couldn’t tell if she loved the sound or if she hated it.

“No,” Thane said, walking over to the small liquor cart. “ Would you like a drink?”

Yes, her head screamed. No , she yelled back. This was wrong. She knew that, but she’d stay all night in his bed if he asked her to. Gods below, what has gotten into you? She could hear her own eyes rolling. “ I should get back. Ailith — I mean, Mrs . A —she will need my help.”

“I’m sure your mother will understand. Ms . Moon , is it?” Thane poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to Ella . “ That is a very peculiar last name. I don't believe I know that family.”

Even though she shouldn’t, she took the drink. “ Mrs . A isn’t my mother, and that isn’t my last name.” Moon was the last name Ailith had given her.

“Oh?” Thane took a drink before he reached for one of his large bags. “ She called you her daughter. Are you not Ella Moon ?”

Ella noted the way he moved around the room. Thane Tenebris didn’t belong in a drab room like this. His expensive silk shirt and fine linen trousers stuck out against the threadbare rugs and the simple, undyed muslin curtains. The silver on his cuff links clashed with the tarnished brass headboard. His beauty would not blend in with the simple looks of those around him. He did not belong to this world.

“I am but…” She caught a hint of the scent again. Memories tried to push through the darkness.

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to pry,” Thane said, looking at Ella .

Why was he so familiar? She knew what his next movements would be. He’d bite his bottom lip before letting out the breath he was holding. And as if he heard her, he did it. This action turned into a memory that wasn’t clear enough to see. It was like watching people moving behind clouded glass. It was just shadows that faded quickly like all the others.

“Ella?” Thane's handsome face showed concern.

Ella blinked, trying to remember what he had asked. Her thoughts scattered when he looked at her like that. Like he understood her. “ Um , I’m sorry. It’s been a long day. What was the question?”

“Your last name.”

“Oh yes.” Ella took a sip of the whiskey, hoping it would clear her head. “ I was found on the night of the Moon Festival . It was either Moon or Willow since I was also found under a willow tree. It could’ve been Festival too. But Mrs . A didn’t think Ella Festival had the same ring to it.” That had been Mrs . A’s joke the first few weeks Ella had been here. Thane didn’t see the humor in that, and at this point, neither did she.

“You were found? Were you lost?” Thane stepped closer to the window, closing the curtains.

“I still am,” she mumbled, taking another sip of the smooth whiskey. Even if she wanted to hide her past, there were plenty of people in Riverton who would gladly tell him the story of how she was found. Most liked to embellish their stories, adding things to make themselves look like the hero. Or make Ella out to be the villain.

“Tell me, how does one find such a beautiful woman? Is there somewhere I should look?”

The whiskey warmed her belly. Its fingers crept up the back of her head, taking with it her inhibitions. Lillian had been right. There was something about him, but it wasn’t ominous. “ Are you looking for someone?”

“I am.” Thane stepped closer. “ I lost someone. Someone I love very much.”

She didn’t step away from him. Her roots curled into the wood. Her mind filled with images of him tangled in the sheets, the moon highlighting the hard planes of his back. He’d sleep on his stomach, one arm tucked under the pillow, one leg bent. His dark hair was a tangled mess of curls and waves.

Gods above, what was wrong with her? She tore her gaze from him and looked into the glass, expecting to see the shimmering residue of a spell. Sissy said spells left that. Ella had no idea if that was true, but what else could it be? What would make her say these things and act this way around a man? A very handsome man. But just a mortal man.

“How did you lose her?” Her mouth spoke the words before she could stop herself. Dammit , Ella , shut up. That is none of your business.

“I was stupid.” Thane looked at the dress. His sadness seemed to fill the space between them. It felt heavy on her chest. But unlike Clara’s or Lillian’s needs, Ella didn’t hate his. She wanted to fix it. She set the glass of whiskey down and stepped away from him before she did something stupid. Like ask him to kiss her.

Do you know why? Why do I want to beg you to kiss me? She looked up at him, pleading he’d know the reason why. The sight of him in the low light made her heart break.

He turned to her, his eyes searching her face. They landed on her mouth. “ Because of a broken heart.”

Ella swallowed hard, backing away from him. He couldn’t have heard her. “ What did you say?”

“I said because I broke her heart,” Thane said quickly before draining his glass.

“Right. Um …” She looked around the room for some magic trinket that kept her there, causing her to think these thoughts. That was the only thing that made any sense. “ I should go see to the… um… bread. Yes , the bread.” She swallowed. “ Will you be taking your meal in your room or with the rest of the guests?”

Thane stepped into the shadows. “ I shall take it here in my room, please. I shall take all my meals in my room.”

Her chest tightened with his sadness. “ I don’t know who you are looking for. But she is very lucky to have someone looking for her.”

“She should’ve never gotten lost.”

“Perhaps she is unaware she’s lost.” Ella paused at the door.

“Maybe.” Thane didn’t look at her. “ Or maybe I’m too late.”

“I shall have your dinner brought up. Good night, Mr . Tenebris .” Ella pulled the door shut, leaving the handsome stranger with his memories and a dress.