Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen

Author:Annette K. Larsen [Annette K. Larsen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hidden Falls Publishing
Published: 2013-11-10T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Princess Ari

I REQUESTED AN audience with my father for the first time. I hadn’t wanted to speak with him since Gavin left. And before that, requesting an audience wouldn’t have been necessary; I could have just talked to him. I hated having to do it this way, but despite my anger over his treatment of me, his permission was necessary. So I stood in his study, my back straight, awaiting his presence.

When he entered, he didn’t look past me, as had been his habit lately. Instead he stopped just inside the door, regarding me carefully. I tried to keep my face passive but polite. He issued a weary sigh, then closed the door and sat at his desk.

“You requested an audience.” It was a prompt for me to speak, but it also sounded like a question.

“I have a request to make.”

His eyebrows rose. “You’re not going to give an explanation of your actions—?”

“I didn’t know you wanted one.” He had never asked.

He leaned his elbow on his armrest and thoughtfully pushed his fingers along his jaw. “I think I deserve one.”

I didn’t know exactly what he wanted an explanation for, so I decided to cover everything, trying to rush through it. “The evening Jeshua and I went for a walk, I could tell that his interest in me was increasing and I didn’t know how to deal with that. My anxiety caused me to act irrationally. I went into the village for only a few minutes and as I was returning—” I swallowed and blinked, trying to maintain my composure. “I should not have been out alone.” I forced myself to take a deep breath. “As for Jeshua, I should have made my feelings clear long ago, but I didn’t know how.”

We stared at one another in silence. He didn’t appear particularly angry. He looked more like he was trying desperately to figure something out.

“The gardener was the one who delivered you from your attacker?”

My chest tightened. “Yes.” He just looked at me, as though requiring further explanation. “The reason I only stayed in the village a few minutes is because I saw him. Apparently he saw me as well. He saw I was alone, and he was rightly concerned.”

The silence unnerved me, but at least he was listening to my words.

“This behavior cannot continue, Ariella.” The anger I had been waiting for finally came out. I stared at my hands, forcing myself not to argue. I still needed to make my request. He blew out a breath, his anger deflated by my lack of response. “Your request, then?” His voice was tight, but most of the anger was gone.

“I want to make regular visits to the village.” His eyebrows shot up and he opened his mouth. “Please let me finish,” I rushed on. “With your permission and with whatever escort you choose, I would like to make regular trips into the village. I want to get to know the people. I want them to know me. I want to show them that we care for them, not just as a whole, but also as individuals.

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