“Did you ever consider, Evander, that perhaps it wasn’t the shop that was Ellie’s dream, but the sense of accomplishment she’d get from building it on her own?”

I sighed. Ellie had said as much, but that was still beside the point. “It just aggravates me that she won’t accept anyone’s help.”

“Help? Is that what you would call it?” my mother asked. “Because it sounds to me as if you didn’t help her at all. In fact, you did all the work for her.”

I huffed a laugh. “Most people would consider that better than help.”

“Is Ellie Payne most people?”

I choked. “Obviously not. If Ellie was most people, she’d be basking in the riches and the fortune of her life. Fates, she happened into being accidentally betrothed to a prince. Instead, she spends all of her time thinking about how she can rid herself of me.”

“But dear,” my mother said, placing her hand upon mine. “Do you even like most people?”

CHAPTER 36

ELLIE

Blaise must have either been feeling sorry for me, or gotten tired of my ill mood because she’d popped her head into my room an hour ago and announced that she had a surprise.

In waltzed my mother, and I couldn’t have been more shocked. Or thrilled.

After a long moment spent hugging, Blaise had explained that she’d gone to the queen and gotten permission to bring my mother for a visit. Then Blaise had disappeared, leaving me with my mother…as well as her task of hanging my laundry.

“You could apologize, you know,” my mother said, rearranging the dresses in my wardrobe that were not hung up to her standards.

I bristled. “Apologize?”

Evander and I still weren’t getting along, and I’d been avoiding speaking to him unless it was absolutely necessary.

He hadn’t exactly been keen to address me, either.

I supposed I was going to have to learn to be okay with that. Wasn’t that what I’d expected when I first learned of the betrothal? That the two of us would live out our marriage on opposite ends of the castle, only coming together for evening meals and the occasional attempts to sire a royal heir?

It took me half a breath to shoo away that sort of thought. It wouldn’t do me any good, letting my mind wander down that road.

Especially not in front of my mother.

I’d told her everything, of course.

Well, not everything, but I’d told her about my and Evander’s burgeoning friendship. About how he’d effectively proven to me that everything I’d worked my entire life for could be accomplished by the fae on a week’s notice.

Why did I have a feeling she was about to make me regret all that telling?

“How long did you say your lady’s maid has been a lady’s maid?” my mother asked.

“She was just promoted to that position since I got here. I have another lady’s maid too.” Though it had been a few days since I’d seen Imogen.

“Hm,” my mother said disapprovingly as she looked into the wardrobe and straightened yet another dress.

“Also, you can’t say something like that and then change the subject. Why do I have to be the one to apologize? He’s the one that was being insensitive.”

“No,” she said, sauntering back over to my bed, “he was being oblivious. You’re the one who was insensitive, as I recall.”

I grumbled at that. I never should have told my mother the entire story. Had I any inkling she would side with the prince of all people, I wouldn’t have bothered to bring it up.

“You understand why it upset me, though, don’t you?”

“I understand exactly why you were upset. He rained on this dream you’ve had since you were a little girl. Don’t think I’ve forgotten all the times you rambled on about it while following me around while we were feeding the chickens. Or how many times your father had to go get you from the workshop to come to the dinner table. It was your favorite play place since you could walk. So no, don’t accuse me of not understanding.”

I smiled at that, even though in my anger I didn’t want to. “Thank you for bearing with me talking your ear off.”

She hmphed. “You’re welcome.”

“But if you understand, why are you defending him?”

“Because, Elynore. That male tried to do something kind for you. Something truly kind.”

I crossed my arms as I plopped on the bed. “All he did was show me that he doesn’t understand me at all.”

The skin at the bridge of my mother’s nose crinkled. “And why does that matter to you?”

“Because…well, he’s going to be my husband whether I like it or not…”

“Only legally, I would think. At least, I would assume that the two of you would occupy separate areas of the castle and keep to yourselves, except for public outings, correct? Assuming that your marriage is purely one of bargain and necessity.”

“Am I supposed to be happy about that?” I asked.

“No, but that wasn’t what you complained about. You’re not complaining that he ignores you, that he pretends you don’t exist, that he’s unkind to you. And you’re certainly not complaining that he doesn’t at least attempt to make you happy. You’re complaining that he doesn’t understand you.”

I huffed, hugging myself. “Isn’t that part of making me happy? Isn’t that why you and Papa are so happy together? Because you understand each other?”

My mother shook her head. “You forget sometimes that you were not always a part of our lives, Elynore Payne.”

What an odd thought. Of course I knew it intellectually. But all my life I’d been the center of my parents’ universe, second only to their relationship with one another. How odd to consider that there was a time in their lives when their world had nothing to do with me whatsoever.

She continued. “We were married ten years before we had you. Do you think we knew each other so well those first few years?”

“I know you were in love,” I said.

She smiled. “Ahh, yes. Being in love, the thing that carries marriages through those first few years when you’re only just starting to discover how much more selfish of a person you both are than you previously thought. By the time you came along, your father and I knew each other quite well. But that took ten years. And sometimes I still don’t understand the man, nor does he understand me in all things. Why are you expecting so much of a male you’ve only known for a few months now, who has grown up in an environment completely different than yours?”

I didn’t have much to say to that. I hung my head. Perhaps I had been too harsh with him. “It was unkind of me to say—the part about him never working for anything in his life.”

My mother focused a knowing, scolding eye upon me. “If memory serves me correctly, that’s not all you said.”

My face went hot. I probably shouldn’t have told my mother exactly what I’d accused Evander of working for. “I think I know in my heart I should apologize. But how am I supposed to do that if he won’t talk to me, either?”

“And why is it necessary that he talk to you for you to apologize to him?” she asked. “Fae don’t have some skill of turning their hearing off at will that I don’t know about, do they? Have you tried starting with ‘I apologize for’ or ‘I’m sorry’?”