Fairy Tale Wedding (The Cinderella Ball Series, Book #3): The Cinderella Ball Series by Day Leclaire

Author:Day Leclaire [Leclaire, Day]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Day Leclaire Inc
Published: 2020-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“I’m so pleased you’ve come, Ella,” Shayne attempted to break the silence at dinner that evening. She darted a swift glance in her brother’s direction. “Is this a prolonged visit?”

“Yes. Very prolonged.”

“No,” Rafe retorted at the same instant. “It will be very brief.”

Chelita paused in the act of pouring him a glass of wine, her expression patently horrified. “Oh, Señor Beaumont, you will not make La Estrella leave! The villagers, we need her.”

“La Estrella?” Shayne questioned, glancing from one to the other. “What’s she talking about?”

Rafe released his breath in an impatient sigh. “I have no intention of making her do any such— Chelita, the wine?”

The housekeeper hastened to right the bottle before it overflowed the glass. “Oh! Lo siento, Señor Beaumont. It’s just that we are so happy. She has finally come after all this time and—”

“No one told me she’d finally come,” Shayne complained. “Where is she? Who is she? Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Um. I’m what’s going on,” Ella confessed. “I guess I forgot to mention it earlier. It seems that Marvin and Chelita have gotten it into their heads that I’m La Estrella.”

Shayne’s mouth dropped open “You’re—”

“Chelita,” Rafe interrupted with a frown. “Unless I’m very much mistaken, this wine tastes suspiciously like champagne.”

“Sí, Señor. I knew you would want to celebrate the arrival of La Estrella.”

“You knew this, did you?”

“It is obvious,” she said, missing his sarcasm. “Everyone is so excited. Now will come the happiness and prosperity her arrival promises. We should celebrate such a miracle.”

“Unless, of course,” Shayne said in an innocent-sounding voice, “my dear brother sends her home.”

“Damn it, Shayne!”

“Send her home?” Chelita slammed the bottle onto the table, suspicion swiftly replacing her earlier enthusiasm. She glared at Rafe. “You will take La Estrella from us, Señor Beaumont? You would do that to the people of Milagro?”

A muscle leapt in his jaw. “I have no intention of sending her anywhere.”

“Then I’m permitted to stay?” Ella inserted smoothly. “For longer than a week?”

All eyes pivoted to Rafe.

He drained his glass in a single swallow and set the flute on the table with enough force to make the fragile crystal vibrate in protest. “I am not accustomed to being interrogated in my own home.”

“But, La Estrella—” Chelita began in protest.

“La Estrella is free to come and go as she pleases.” His gaze switched to Ella, a silent order glittering in the wrathful gray depths of his eyes. “Before long, I expect it will please her to return home. End of discussion. Chelita, serve the dinner, por favor.”

The housekeeper folded her arms across her chest. “Not until you promise to keep her.”

“Chelita!”

“Fine! I will serve the dinner. And I will bring a wine more to your liking.” Snatching up the bottle, she headed for the kitchen, continuing to voice her complaints in rapid Spanish.

“Gee, I sort of liked the champagne,” Shayne murmured. “I thought it a nice touch.”

“I believe you’ve caused enough trouble for one evening,” Rafe said, frowning at his sister. Then his eyes softened.

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