Chapter 3
Sir Daniel didn't visit me for several months. Although I was glad, I felt distressed living as a slave in my house with Mum Olga and Hattie. There was no Char to turn to for consolance, and he probably detested me by now. I wondered if Sir Daniel disliked me, too.
One day, I looked in my fairy book, and I saw a letter from Char's knight.
Char is extremely irritable and sullen these days. Yesterday he snapped at me simply because I had asked him when our next expedition would be. Char had never been like this before; he was usually patient and understanding. None of us know what has happened to him, but we'll wait for this phase to pass. We need that lass, Ella, here to ease him out of his temper.
I felt guilty at the irony of his letter. I was the cause of Char's pain, and even the pain of his knights.
I sighed. I just wished I never had this wretched curse to begin with. I headed down to the kitchen to help Mandy prepare lunch. On the way down, Hattie stopped me.
"Ella, dear," she said sweetly.
"Yes, Hattie?" I said dully.
"Char's coming back next month," she said. "And I'll need help from someone to make a dress that is perfect for me."
"Why would you need a dress?" I asked.
She smiled blissfuly. "I'm going to ask him to marry me. I heard that he had a girl in mind, and Mum convinced me that it was surely me."
"Alright," I said. I needed anything to keep my mind off of Char. Besides, I didn't think she had a chance. "I'll make a dress for you."
Hattie flounced back up to her room, and I entered the kitchen.
"Ella, would you mind getting me some carrots from the market?" Mandy asked, stopping from her work.
"Sure," I said.
"And some celery," she added.
"OK," I said, and I headed out. I grabbed my coat and some money on the way, and I headed outside.
Outside, I thought about what Hattie had told me. Char was coming back. This would be no difference to me. I would still be trapped in Mum Olga's house, cooking and cleaning for my whole life.
At the market, I searched for the shop that sold carrots, but it seemed to have disappeared. Suddenly, I felt a tug on my shoulder. I turned around, irritated. However, it was Sir Daniel.
"Sir Daniel!" I exclaimed. He was smiling his cocky smile that seemed somewhat reassuring today.
"Eleanor, what are you doing here?"
"Buying carrots," I answered a little too quickly.
"Oh, I see," he said.
"And you?" I asked.
"Oh, some business matters," he answered vaguely. Without thinking about it, we started off on a slow stroll.
As we talked, I noticed that his arrogant demeanor slowly disappeared. Instead, he became sincere and quite like someone I would have made friends with.
"So Sir Daniel-" I said.
"Call me Daniel," he interrupted. "It's strange for you always calling me that." I giggled.
"Daniel," I said, trying out the name. For some reason, it didn't seem to fit him, and I laughed again.
He looked somewhat insulted.
"What, do you think of me-as some old duke?"
I laughed. "Somewhat," I answered truthfully. He laughed at my frankness. Then, he turned serious.
"Eleanor," he said. "I came to your house a few months ago, to propose marriage to you,"
I nodded, unsure of where this was going.
"But," he continued. "I've decided to cancel that. I-" He stopped and hesitated. "I just want to be friends with you."
I was confused.
"But why?" I asked. I simply wanted to know what he was thinking.
He seemed uncertain of what to say.
"I've never felt this way about anyone," he said. "That I want to keep our relationship and don't want anything to harm it. Besides, I want to abide with your decision not to marry."
I said nothing. I had nothing to say.
He stared at me awkwardly.
"So...friends?" he asked.
"I'm really not sure," I said. "I'd better go find the carrots," I said, changing the conversation. It felt awkward hearing what Daniel had said. Before he could object, I rushed off.
