Just Like Magic Read Free Page B

and a handsome prince. Mrs. Wilkins was my godmother, but she couldn’t give me that. In her home I would have to work; perhaps I would be little better than a servant. A servant! That would be no better than here! I picked up a cup from the table and flung it into the fireplace where it smashed loudly.
Besides, how Lucy and Gerta would look disdainful and then laugh behind my back! No, the less I had to do with Mrs. Wilkins, the better.
Then what about a wealthier friend? I could go to Anna and tell her what was happening, how horribly I was being treated—
And the Camerons would probably take me in. But they’d pity me. I would be ‘Poor Ella.’ And how could I possibly expect them to support me? I couldn’t. And who else would? I had no relatives to run to.
I started pacing about, my feelings boiling within me. How could it come to this? How could I, Ella Simone Merton, daughter of the wealthiest man in Little Owlthorpe, be faced with pity, sneers, or servitude? I wasn’t brought up for this! I had to escape somehow. But where could I go? What could I do?
Nothing.
I stared around at the cobwebby walls. It was true, there was nothing I could do, nowhere I could go. Papa was gone—gone!—and no one else could help me. To my horror, I felt tears on my cheeks. I slumped down at the table, put my head on my arms, and sobbed.
I was finally roused by a scratching outside the kitchen door. Lifting my head, I ran a hand across my face unsteadily and held my breath. The noise continued. I rose and peered out a window, but I couldn’t see much through the dirt.
The scratching was punctuated by a tentative bark. I let out my breath and sagged in relief. Just a dog. “Go away!” I called shakily through the door. The scratching continued. I looked about in the dimness and saw a key hanging on a hook on the wall. Snatching it, I grindingly unlocked the door and opened it a crack. “Go away!” I repeated more loudly.
A shaggy brown paw and a black nose inserted themselves through the door. “No, no!” I said, and tried to push them back.
“Ella! What on earth?”
I spun around. Lucy stood on the stairs, her skirts held closely around her. Behind me, the dog pushed open the door and brushed past me, his tail thwacking me in his enthusiasm.
“Get that animal out of here! And where’s my tea?”
I could feel my every pore oozing obstinacy. “I will not get this animal out of here! As you said, this is my room! And I don’t see how anyone could get tea in this filthy place even if they knew how or had any intention to, which I certainly do not!”
The dog approached Lucy, panting in a friendly manner. She drew back. “We’ll see what Mama has to say about that! Mama!”
The stairs creaked, and Stepmama’s head appeared behind Lucy’s. “What is it, darling?” she asked anxiously. “I do hope the tea is ready soon.”
“No one could make tea in this room!” I stormed.
“Mama, make her get rid of that dog!”
Mon Petit skittered down the stairs behind Stepmama, peered at the large shaggy form in front of him, and emitted several ferocious high-pitched yaps. The strange dog backed up a few steps, then came closer and started sniffing. Mon Petit sniffed back.
“Well, whose dog is this?” asked Stepmama helplessly.
“Mama! It’s just a big nasty stray, begging!”
“What’s Ella doing?” A wide-eyed Gerta joined the crowd at the foot of the stairs.
“I was minding my own business, which is more than I can say for Lucy!”
“Why, you— Get rid of that dog at once!”
“No!”
We stood glaring at each other, my chin up and her hands clenched. Stepmama fluttered between us and said, “Girls, girls, please! It is rather large, isn’t it? But what about tea?”
“How can I, Stepmama?” I gestured at the room. “I’ve never made tea in my life! And look at this place!”
“Oh, but tea is very simple, isn’t it? I know we brought some in one of those barrels—just light a fire, dear, and heat us some