Cinderella by Jenni James

Author:Jenni James
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: YA, Fantasy, clean fiction, fairy tale, Young Adult
Publisher: StoneHouse Ink
Published: 2013-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

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 the window. “You received the same invitation. I am sure I will be shown the same treatment as everyone else.”

“No. Clearly not. Clearly she sent a separate invitation just for you. It must mean something. And I want to know what. I want to know why you must be included, you who no one has heard of or seen in ages.”

She closed the curtains at the window and turned around, trying desperately to change the subject. “Would you rather not lend me a dress, then?”

“I do not have a choice,” she hissed as she got off the bed. “We might as well get this misery over with now.” She threw open the door and began to flounce down the stairs.

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