Authors Note: Hello readers! I am coming back from a long break and I am continuing my series, Not So Happy After All. I have revamped the first chapter, so please go back and read that before reading this chapter. Also, take a look at my bio to get a feel for me as a writer and it gives more explanation about my return. Thank you to Aurora Marie Williams for editing my stories and being my best friend.
Kisses, Addison Blair
Chapter 2: Sing Sweet Nightingale, Sing. . .Sweet?
A few weeks after the confrontational dinner, Cinderella noticed that she could not look anywhere without seeing a palace guard. Was this her husbands way of telling her he did not believe her? She was certain that it was not because he was concerned for her safety. Not that there was anybody who would want to hurt her, she was the crowned jewel of the kingdom. Adored by all. Except her husband.
She had not seen Gio since the first time they met, so she decided to take a walk down to the stables. Her husband was suspicious of her constant riding, maybe walking would lessen his suspicion. As she walked to the stables, she reminisced about her old life. Her favorite duty was tending to the animals. The family horse, JJ, was her favorite. He was an old horse well past his days of work. He was so calm and Cinderella felt that he understood her. She would often tell the horse of the latest cruelties she had endured from her step mother and step sisters. Her memories were cut short as she stood in front of the barn. What was she going to do once she was in there? She did not have to wonder long. Out walked the man who had only been present in her thoughts.
"Princess! I am sorry, did you want to ride this afternoon?" He asked, obviously caught off guard.
"Oh no, no. I was just walking and. . .I. . .decided to come by the stable," Cinderella stuttered. She then told him about her childhood horse and how she was lonesome for the horses. She found herself going on and on about JJ. She tried to stop herself, but she was so captured by this man's beauty that she could not think of much else. Luckily, the handsome man did that for her.
"Well if you would like, I could take you through the stable and introduce you to all of the horses," he said. "First, I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Gio," he said, bowing.
Gio. What a beautiful name, she thought. It rolled off of the tongue in such a soft way. "I would love to meet the horses," the princess replied. It was a perfect way to spend some time with Gio and it gave a good cover for why she was there. As she walked with him, she listened intently to what he was saying. She loved how animated he looked as he spoke about the different horses. He obviously cared about these animals, almost like they were his children. They had come to the end of the stables all too soon. She did not want to go back to the palace, but what else could she do to stay with Gio?
"Did you grow up with animals?" She asked quickly. She did not want him to end their time together. "You seem to care about them quite a bit," she finished.
"I did. I lived on a farm south of here with my father. I always helped him take care of the animals and the farm work," he told her. He then recounted his youth and how he ended up at the palace stables. "What about you, princess? How did you come to have a love for horses?" he asked. It did not go unnoticed by Cinderella how he gazed intently into her eyes ask he asked the question.
"Before I married James, I lived with my step mother and step sisters. My father died when I was quite young, but he shared a love for all animals and that was something that we shared," Cinderella said wistfully. "I like to think that my father is with me whenever I am around an animal. It brings me great comfort," she trailed off not wanting Gio to see her cry.
"That is a wonderful feeling, princess. I understand that completely. I never knew my mother, she died giving birth to me, but everytime I see a dove in the sky, I believe that it is her. Whenever my father talked about her, he would always finish by saying 'my dove'," Gio told her.
It was such a beautiful and intimate thing to share. Cinderella felt so close to Gio in that moment, but she pulled herself away before anyone saw them and wondered what was going on.
"Thank you so much for the tour, Gio. It was wonderful to be surrounded by horses again, but I must get back to the castle before they send out a search party," she joked. She laughed while saying this, but she knew it was not far from the truth. If James noticed her absence, he would send some guards over the grounds to find her and bring her back, so she could be monitored. She sighed and started to walk back to the castle.
"It was my pleasure, princess," Gio called.
Cinderella stopped and turned, "Please. Call me Ella," she told him with a smile. Gio smiled back as she turned back towards the pathway. She continued walking until she rounded the corner. She stopped and looked back through the bushes. Gio was still facing the way that she had went. She smiled to herself and made her way back to reality.
As she reached the castle, she was relieved to see that nobody had seemed to notice her being gone. That feeling of relief did not last long. She reached her craft room and waiting inside, was James.
"Oh, hello darling," Cinderella greeted him. She hoped that he was just here to tell her that there was an upcoming ball or that he had to leave for business. She watched him, trying to understand why he was here.
"How was your visit to the stables?" he asked, all the while gazing out the window as if there was something of great interest down in the gardens.
"Oh, it was very. . . nice. One of the stable boys showed me all of the horses," she replied warily. She hoped that by telling him it was just one of the young boys, he would not become angry with her for going down there.
"I am glad you enjoyed yourself. Gio is one of the best hands we have ever had. What did you think of him?" asked the Prince.
"Was that his name? He seemed like he cared for the animals a great deal. I think your horses are being well taken care of," she said sweetly. Maybe playing innocent would deter him.
"I am glad you approve, but I am thinking of sending Gio away. His talents could be used at the royal racing stables," he told her.
Sending him away? It could not be, not just as she was getting to know him. "Oh, what an idea. I think you would want the best for your own horses here though," she said. She could not let Gio leave, she just could not.
The Prince eyed her and began walking out of the room. "I do want the best, but right now I want the best to be with the best of my horses," he said. He gave her one last look and shut the door behind him.
Cinderella stood there staring at the closed door. This was terrible. Gio was going to be sent away and she felt that it was all her fault. James must have people following her, not just guarding her in the castle. She sat down in the window seat and gazed out over the gardens and the kingdom beyond. She saw a bird fly by and she wished that she were that bird, able to fly wherever she wanted. But, here she was. Trapped in her cage, without even a song in her heart.