Cinderella and the Ghost by Marina Myles

Author:Marina Myles [Myles, Marina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

“Watch where you’re going, girl!” the man growled. “I just had my boots polished!”

“A thousand pardons, sir.” Ella had heard that in a movie too, but as soon as she said it, she doubted the expression fit the era.

“Look at me.” The gravelly command raised the hair on her arms.

She lifted her head and gazed up at Colbert Girard. A wall of muscle, hard planes, and dark clothing, he emanated trouble. With wavy brown hair that touched his shoulders, a vertical dash of facial hair under his lip, and eyes grayer than a sky preceding a tempest, he scared Ella.

Evil calculations and selfish motives splashed across his face. Apparently, he had no desire to hide them.

“I nearly plowed you down, girl.”

She took a step back. Water sloshed on the marble stairs.

“I haven’t seen you before,” he stated flatly.

“I’m on loan from the Fouquet household.” She figured she should offer an explanation—regardless of its God-awful nature.

Colbert took a step forward. His boot tip stopped centimeters from her scuffed clogs.

“What are you doing bringing water up the main stairs?” he asked sternly. “Has no one told you there’s a servant’s stairwell?”

“No, Monsieur le vicomte.”

He threw his head back and laughed. The timbre of his amusement seemed the only thing he had in common with his twin. “No need to call me le vicomte. I’m simply a baron.”

Would she ever get the aristocratic titles right? It seemed she didn’t know how to act in any century.

With one enormous hand, Colbert gripped the banister. As he planted his other hand on his hip, the stance created a wide barrier for Ella. He reminded her of an insurmountable mountain—one mountain climbers may well lose their lives to if they attempted to conquer it.

Silence hung between them. Colbert surveyed her appearance. It became obvious that he liked what he saw. “You’re quite a ragamuffin,” he said, nostrils flaring. “Still, you’re pretty. Tell me you aren’t bringing water to my brother.”

“Monsieur would like a bath.”

“Monsieur would, would he?” Colbert let out another hearty laugh.

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that just like my brother? He’s spotted the new girl before I have. Ahead of me on every account!”

Ella’s leg throbbed and her arms ached from holding the water bucket. She just wanted to soak in a bath herself.

“Well, the least I can do is show you to Monsieur le vicomte’s apartments.”

Just then the clock downstairs chimed the hour. Three dongs . . . three o’clock.

The longcase clock hasn’t been broken yet! Disbelief that she’d traveled centuries into the past rolled over Ella anew.

“This way, Mademoiselle,” Colbert said.

“Oh, no, Monsieur. Surely, I can find my own way.”

“I insist.” Colbert gallantly waved his hand and let Ella pass. Of course, he wasn’t gallant enough to take the bucket from her.

By the time they reached the second story, the bucket’s contents had been depleted considerably.

“My brother’s chambers are at the end of the corridor,” Colbert said.

“Thank you,” Ella murmured.

Greediness surfaced in Colbert’s stare. He took a step closer. His warm breath, tainted by brandy, feathered across her face.

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