Just Ella (The Palace Chronicles Book 1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Author:Margaret Peterson Haddix [Haddix, Margaret Peterson]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2012-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

15

The clock ticked. I watched the hands move, almost to eight, almost marking the time when the door would open and I’d see the prince for the first time since I’d—what? Fallen out of love with him? Realized I’d never loved him? Just plain gotten confused?

It had been two long days since the tournament and my fainting spell and my lonely, late-night realization. During those days, I’d debated again and again what I should do. I couldn’t marry a man I didn’t love, even if he was the prince. Especially if he was the prince. It wasn’t fair. There were hundreds of girls in the kingdom who would love to marry him. How could I, the only girl who didn’t want him, be the one he vowed to keep forever?

On the other hand, how could I back out now? The wedding was barely a month away. I tried to picture my mouth forming the words, “Prince, you must release me from our betrothal.” I pictured the news spreading through the castle, the gossip throughout the kingdom. I told myself I didn’t care about gossip. But what would I do then? What would the prince do? How could I hurt him like that?

What if I was wrong? What if I’d just had an off night, and I truly did love him after all?

I really, really, really hoped that was true. Surely seeing him again, in the flesh, would bring everything back. Surely I hadn’t had a failure of love, only a failure of imagination.

The clock struck the first Dong! of eight and I jumped. Behind me the chaperon made a small sound—it could have been a dry laugh at my expense, or just a cough.

At the second Dong! I shifted my gaze to the prince’s door. I held my breath, remembering to release it only when my eyesight began to blur. I had no intention of ever fainting again. This time I wouldn’t even be able to blame it on my clothing. For once, I’d won a battle—no one had attempted to put one of the newfangled corsets on me since the tournament. See, see, I told myself, you shouldn’t feel so trapped. You are in control of your own life.

The door opened, and there was the prince.

I put on what I hoped was a gracious smile, but inwardly I was frantic, checking my response. Heart rate? A little fast, but that seemed to be mainly because I was nervous. Flushed face? No. Shiver up the back? None.

The prince smiled back at me. He was breathtakingly handsome. Wasn’t that enough?

He kissed my hand, and I felt only numbness.

“Prince—,” I blurted. “Why did you fall in love with me? Why do you want to marry me?”

He blinked, my hand still caught in his.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said.

I waited for a long time. Then I asked, “Is that all?”

He looked confused.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured again, and brushed a kiss against my cheek. I’d spent every previous moment with him longing for him to do that very thing.

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