Ellie and the Prince (Faraway Castle #1)(54)
The cheers and applause were even louder this time, and when they straightened, held hands, and took a bow, Ellie realized that every human in the room had gathered to watch that dance. In all her years at Faraway Castle, nothing quite like this had happened before.
But then the band swept into a waltz, and couples rejoined them on the dance floor. Omar gave her a questioning look, and she turned to take his hand and begin. This time they simply waltzed like everyone else, and it was possibly even better. She felt like thistledown in his light clasp, airy and free. His dark eyes studied her face, yet she could not guess his thoughts. Had he learned how to hide his emotions from her? No one but the Gamekeeper—and Briar—had successfully done so before.
“What are you thinking, Omar?” she asked. “You look so . . . intense.”
“I am thinking how incredibly beautiful you are,” he said in his silky voice, and Ellie’s knees nearly melted. “Why did you decide to come tonight?”
She lowered her gaze to his tie. After an uncomfortable moment, she said, “I always wanted to come with you, but I was afraid.”
“Afraid? Of me?”
She shook her head decidedly and felt her ponytail swish over her bare shoulders. “Never of you. Of your parents, of your people, of . . . of Madame Genevieve. And a little afraid of myself. There is much you don’t know about me, Omar. To be honest, there is much I don’t know about myself.”
“Isn’t that true of most people? We are always discovering who we want to be and who we truly are. Our actions reveal our hearts, and I find your heart even more beautiful than your face.”
He had danced her to the side of the dance floor nearest the garden doors. Taking her by the hand, he walked her through the throng of guests and out onto the wide deck. There, beneath the stars, several other couples sat together on the low wall or embraced, oblivious to their surroundings. Omar led Ellie down a set of steps nearly hidden beneath arbors covered in flowering vines and into a narrow garden that bloomed in glowing, magical splendor thanks to Rosa’s rare gift. Carnations, phlox, moonflowers, and lilies blended rich scents into a heady perfume. Hand in hand they wandered the garden paths until Omar found an unoccupied bench beneath a vine-draped pergola. He pulled off his mask, laid his jacket on the bench to protect Ellie’s gown, then sat beside her.
“Ellie, you already know, but I must tell you again: I have never loved anyone the way I love you. You are everything I most admire. You are strong and independent, yet gentle and generous. You think of other people before yourself and never seem aware of your own beauty and charm. I love watching you with my younger siblings and can easily imagine raising a family with you. You use your magical gifts to benefit others, not yourself; and you even demonstrate love to hobgoblins and brownies, creatures few people notice, let alone befriend.”
He paused and swallowed hard. “I ask now if you would consider marrying me and moving to my country. If you would rather that I stay in the north with you, I will do it. I would almost prefer that, particularly during summers. We could return here for holidays, or you could even work here if you like. I believe you should develop and use your magical gifts, and I don’t think you would be happy living an idle life. Please say you will think about it, Ellie.”
She might have broken into his speech had she been able to find her voice. His loving words had choked her up completely, and now she had to release a gasp like a sob before she could speak. “You are the dearest . . .! Omar, you say the kindest things, but why would you wish to marry a nobody like me? I . . . I round up cinder sprites for a living! You could have any lady or princess at this resort.”
“Not one lady or princess at Faraway Castle or anywhere else has ever captured my heart the way you do. I was a lost man from the time you poured lemonade down my back. I had noticed you before then, but only from a distance. Once I looked into your eyes, there was no turning back. You are not a nobody; you are more of a ‘somebody’ than anyone else I know.”
Her heart overflowed with joy. Omar loved her! Wanted to marry her!
Yet reality could not be ignored.
“Your parents will never accept me,” she said, her voice breaking. “How could I live with the knowledge that I had separated you from the people you love most? There would come a day when you resented me for it.”
He shook his head, taking her hand in his. “Never. Even if it came to that—which I don’t believe it will—you are all the family I need. With you I feel more . . . more truly myself than ever before, because you accept me as I am. And I thought—I hoped—you might love me as I am and continue loving me as time passes, even as we grow old together.”
Ellie could hardly think. Twice she tried to speak but failed. Omar simply held her hand and wooed her with his eyes. Which was a very effective technique in the soft moonlight.
“Omar, I . . . Marriage is a very serious proposition, especially since your parents disapprove of me. I admit that I . . . I can think only of you . . . Truly I feel as if a moment never passes without my thinking of you, imagining what you would say and how I would answer. I can think of nothing I would like more than to grow old with you.” She squeezed his hand and swallowed hard. “You tempt me so!”
She sounded almost angry, but he smiled in response. “I sincerely hope so. Not all temptation is evil, you know.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “You needn’t give me a promise tonight. I don’t want to pressure you into a decision you will later regret. Come to me freely or not at all, my dear.”