Chapter 3 - THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED THE MUSIC
The next morning, Maren entered Elena's room carrying a tray with warm milk, toast, and sliced strawberries.
The little girl sat beside the window in her silver brace. A yellow blanket covered her legs. Her favorite stuffed rabbit rested against her chest.
She looked at Maren, then quickly looked away.
“Good morning, Princess.”
No answer.
Maren placed the tray on the table.
“I brought strawberries. I was told you like them.”
Elena shrugged.
“Maybe I don't anymore.”
“That's allowed.”
The child glanced at her.
Maren sat on the carpet rather than taking the chair.
“I was wondering something.”
Elena said nothing.
“Do you remember our dance?”
The little girl's fingers tightened around the rabbit.
“Daddy said it was silly.”
“Your daddy is allowed to be wrong sometimes.”
Elena's mouth twitched.
It was not quite a smile.
Maren raised her hands.
“Would you like to teach me a new dance?”
Elena looked down at her own fingers.
“I'm not good.”
“Neither am I. That means we can be terrible together.”
A small sound escaped the girl.
Maren began moving her fingers slowly, making the little finger bow and the thumb perform an exaggerated royal salute.
Elena watched.
Then she lifted her hands and copied the movement.
They practiced for ten minutes.
When Maren finally stood, Elena caught her sleeve.
“Will you come back?”
Maren knelt.
“If you want me to.”
Elena studied her face.
“Even if I don't dance?”
“Especially then.”
At the door, Adrian stood watching.
He had been there for several minutes.
Maren rose.
“She's had breakfast,” she said. “She also asked for another dance tomorrow.”
Adrian looked at his daughter.
“Did you?”
Elena nodded.
Then she held out one hand toward him.
“Daddy, you can do the thumb.”
Adrian looked as if she had asked him to walk across a battlefield.
He approached slowly and sat on the edge of the bed.
“What does the thumb do?”
“It's the prince.”
“Of course.”
Elena lifted her hand.
Adrian raised his thumb and bowed it with solemn concentration.
Maren watched the little girl laugh.
This time, Adrian heard it without the noise of a ballroom around him.
His eyes closed for a brief moment.
When he opened them, he looked at Maren.
“Thank you.”
She nodded.
But before she could answer, the door opened.
A woman entered wearing a cream silk blouse and tailored trousers. Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves over one shoulder. Diamonds glittered at her ears.
“Adrian, the board is waiting.”
Her eyes moved to Maren.
“And who is this?”
“Maren Ashby. Elena's new companion.”
The woman smiled.
“I'm Celeste Laurent.”
Maren recognized the name from the ballroom.
The woman in champagne silk.
Celeste crossed the room and kissed Adrian's cheek.
Then she leaned toward Elena.
“Hello, darling. I heard you made quite a scene last night.”
Elena's smile disappeared.
Maren noticed.
Celeste touched the silver brace.
“Still wearing this? Such a shame. I thought we'd be past all that by now.”
Elena pulled her leg away.
“Don't.”
Celeste's expression hardened for half a second.
Then she smiled again.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
She turned toward Maren.
“Mr. Castellane's staff usually keep their distance. I hope you've been told that.”
“I've been told to care for Elena.”
“Careful. There is a difference between being useful and becoming familiar.”
Adrian stood.
“Celeste.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Leave Elena's brace alone.”
Celeste lifted both hands.
“I was only trying to help.”
She walked toward the door.
As she passed Maren, she paused.
“Enjoy your new position. People who become important in this house tend to discover how temporary importance can be.”
Then she left.
Elena stared at the doorway.
Maren returned to the bedside.
“Would you like another strawberry?”
May you like
The child nodded.
But her eyes remained fixed on the door.
