Ella Enchanted - By Gail Carson Levine Page 0,64

you remind me of a lady I admired. She had the most playful spirit I ever knew." She added so only I could hear, "If you are like her, then Char has chosen well."

She released me, and I stepped away, dazed. I was certain she had meant Mother.

"Lady Lela is proof I haven't been polite and distant to everyone," Char said.

"Excellent proof," King Jerrold answered. "Bring along more proof and we'll be convinced." He frowned at my mask.

"We should return to my guests," Char said hastily.

As we left, I heard Queen Daria say, "I don't remember any orange coaches in Bast."

Back in the hall, Char asked me to save a dance for him later. "Just now, I'd better be polite and distant some more."

I didn't want him to go. Every instant of our final evening was too precious to lose even one. But I nodded, and he left me. I watched the dance and turned down partners.

"Mistress..." Hattie stood before me, simpering. "I've wanted to catch you alone, my dear. I am Lady Hattie, daughter of Dame Olga."

Lela had no reason to hate Hattie. "I'm happy to meet another Frellan."

"Charmont says you live in Bast."

No one called him Charmont.

She proceeded to pump me about my family and circumstances, pressing me until I said, "I hadn't thought it was the custom here to interrogate visitors."

"I apologize, but one has to be so careful when one is connected to royalty. You see, Charmont and I have an understanding. We are secretly engaged."

Had she gone mad, to speak such a falsehood?

"To protect him, I must ask you to remove your mask. I must see what lies beneath."

Thank heavens she had asked and not ordered. "You may ask, but I shall not oblige. Good evening, Lady Hattie." I turned and began to walk away.

"Lela, there you are!"

Char was back. "Now dance with me," he said. "Your prince commands you to. I want to spend the rest of the ball with you." He bowed to Hattie, standing a few feet away. "Excuse us."

I curtsied, reveling in her fury.

"They are all asking about you," he said, pulling me close as the dance required. "`Who is this mysterious stranger?' they say."

"The maiden who wears a mask."

"Why..." He stopped himself and changed subjects, speaking of court affairs.

I wondered how many more dances we'd have. The clock chimed half after nine. In a few hours Lela would be gone forever. I'd never be so close to Char again.

Despite a fierce struggle, I began to cry. He might not have seen because of the mask, but a tear coursed down my cheek.

"Lela. I'm so sorry!" There was so much remorse in his voice that I was startled.

"Why? What were you saying? I'm the one to apologize. I wasn't listening. I was thinking how sad I'll be to leave Frell." I laughed a little. "No more balls every night."

"But you can come back, can't you?"

"I suppose. But it won't be the same. You can never go back to a moment when you were happy."

"That's true." The dance ended. "Would you like to go outside? Every time the musicians start up, I'm reminded of all the maidens with whom I should be dancing."

Outdoors we strolled through the castle gardens while I kept listening for chimes. How much time had passed? How much was left?

Char spoke of Frell, asking whether I'd visited this sight or that, and describing each one for me. I must have answered him reasonably when I had to. But if called upon to repeat what I said or what he said, I couldn't. Most of my mind and all of my heart were set on the sound of his voice, the warmth of his arm in mine, the rhythm of our steps together, the fresh scent of the night air. And on the wish that each minute would last a year. I cried again, but in the dark he didn't see. And the clock moved relentlessly on: ten, half after, eleven, half after.

"That's enough," he said finally. "I can face them now."

Inside we danced again. "Soon it will be time for me to sing. After that, I'll either be surrounded by worshiping music lovers or be shunned by all."

"Surrounded," I said. "And I would never shun you."

"I wonder. You may shun me if you know the truth." He took a breath and was suddenly quite formal. "I apologize if I unintentionally raised your expectations, but I've resolved never to marry."

So the balls hadn't been his idea. I stifled a