Page 17 of Ella’s Desire

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Ella’s father had obviously been anticipating her arrival. He didn’t look at all surprised at her appearance in the steward’s room, where the earl often went over ledgers. William, however, regarded her warily.

“I assume he’s told you.” The earl rubbed his brow.

“I can go, my lord.” William half-rose from his seat in preparation to flee.

“Why would you not have told me?” Ella tried to keep her tone even, a difficult feat in the light of such betrayal.

“Because I asked him not to.” Calville entered the room. “You’re to be my wife, Lady Ella. I thought it best that I should tell you, to begin to establish trust between us.”

A fire roared in the large hearth and sunlight streamed in from the window. The room had become too hot. Suffocatingly so. Ella fought the heat choking the air from her lungs and making her head spin. “It’s so soon.”

“It is,” Calville agreed. “There are matters at hand that require us to join in our union sooner rather than later.”

Surely that did not mean… was the king so ready to accuse her father of disloyalty? “Papa,” she gasped.

Her father shook his head. “We are not the only ones who stand to gain favor from your marriage.”

“I’m not ready.” Ella drew herself upright. “Please, could we delay, just for a sennight?”

She glanced at Calville who frowned slightly. Would he not agree to it?

Her father glanced through a stack of parchment and paused to gaze down at one with the king’s crest on it. “I suppose waiting a sennight might not cause issue…”

He handed the parchment to William who scanned over it with considerably more care. “It can be done if both parties are amenable.”

The suggestion hovered in the air, not meant for Ella so much as it was for Calville. After all, the negotiations were from England where women had no voice.

Calville cast a questioning glance in her direction and she silently begged him with her eyes. Looking at him thus, a connection tightened between them, making her recall the kiss they’d shared only moments ago. Her body hummed at the memory.

His lips had been wonderfully soft, his touch tender. And her response…that had been the most surprising thing of all. She’d reveled in his touch, his kisses. She tucked her lower lip into her mouth as she savored the remnant feel of his lips on hers.

His gaze shifted to the subtle action. “I am not opposed to granting such a request,” he answered slowly. “This marriage has come upon us all rather abruptly. I do, however, have a request of my own.”

Ella bit back a scoff. Of course, an agreement could not be made without negotiation.

“Would it be agreeable to you if we extend the date by a fortnight instead?” He asked the question as though he expected an argument.

Certainly, he would get none from her. She knew it best to hold her tongue in such a situation and instead looked to her father to offer his final answer.

“You see,” Calville continued, “it would please me greatly to have my stepmother and half-sister in attendance. They are all the family I have left, and I know it would mean a great deal to them to join us.” He slid a smile in Ella’s direction. “I’ve been inspired to get to know my half-sister better and feel this would be an ideal opportunity to do so.”

Shame lowered her gaze to the ground. She had been rude to him and he responded only with more kindness.

“That’s perfectly reasonable,” her father replied.

“And you, Lady Ella?” Calville came to her side.

She looked up at him, startled.

He inclined his head. “It is your life too, Lady Ella. Would you be comfortable extending the day of our union out by a fortnight?”

“I would be amenable to it,” Ella said graciously. “Especially with such a good intention as you spending time with your sister.”

He smiled at her and something inside her stomach gave a pleasant little flip.

Papa clapped his palms together and rubbed his hands, the matter clearly settled with him. “William, please see to it that Lord Calville’s family has all they need to make their journey here as comfortable as is possible.”