A/N: I'm really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really sorry for taking so long…………

Chapter 4: Unsuccessful visits

Still laughing madly, I left. As I entered my carriage, the coachman looked at me, probably wondering if I was mad or not. I glanced at him again. Yep. I was mad.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            The next morning, I woke up, still grinning widely. I decided to give Ella a tour of the palace. Remembering the last night, I resolved to have her slide down the stair rails as well.

            Arriving at Dame Olga, or rather, Sir Peter's mansion, a manservant opened the door for me, and showed me to one of the rooms. I waited for only five minutes before the door opened once more. The lass standing at the door, however wasn't Ella. Her name was Hallie, or something of the like.

            "Good Morning Highness, forgive me for keeping you waiting. I am Lady Hattie, Dame Olga's daughter."

            Oh.

I decided to speak. "Forgive me lady, but I was seeking an audience with the young Lady Eleanor— where is she?"

            She snorted, then suddenly blushed, as she realized what she had done. "Ella is out calling at the Earl of Demby's. She may be back shortly."

            "All right." I replied easily. "I shall wait for her then"

            I waited for around three hours, with Hattie having a monologue about anything and everything under the sky, and me nodding and quietly praying for a miracle to happen. A thunderstorm or anything, just so that I could get away from her. At long last, my coachman came, and told me that I was to attend a party of some sort. After quietly praying my thanks, I excused myself, and returned to the castle.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            The next day, hoping desperately that Ella was home that day, I returned to the mansion. Once more, Hattie came to greet me.

            "I'm sorry, majesty, but Ella is once more out calling--"

            "Hm… once again? Where?"

            "Er…"

            "To the Earl of Demby again, I presume?"

            "Well, yes…"

            "So why was it that at the cotillion last night, the Earl was talking nonstop about his trip to Ayortha that he just returned from at the start of the ball?"

            She kept silent.

            "I hope that this time Ella will come shortly."

            "She will, majesty."

            So once more, I waited. I shouldn't have burst out like that. Only precious few had seen me actually get mad at someone. Only two, actually. My father, and my old tutor. The story I gave wasn't really true. I didn't actually go near the Earl that night, and he had been in Frell the whole time.

            Once again, I waited for hours. Ella never came. After a few minutes, Hattie restarted her monologue. This time, her younger sister was by her side, saying nothing. Well, not really nothing. We actually had a conversation, short, but a conversation.

            When her sister left the room for a moment (I asked her if there were any drinks), she said. "Do the people give you their money if you just tell them to?"

            "Well, no, not really, only when it is time to pay taxes… Why would I want to deprive people of their hard-earned money?"

            She looked surprised I asked her that. "To become richer." She stated.

            Okay…

            It was then that the coachman came in once more to tell me that Mother was expecting me by two. (Why does the coachman know where I need to be while I have absolutely no idea at all?!)

            I looked back at the mansion, for if I could not see Ella for the last time before I left for Ayortha, I would at least have a last glance at her home. But as I looked, I saw Ella standing by a window on the second floor! Resolving to return in the evening, to demand why I had to wait for hours for a lass that was already in the building, I left for the castle. But even then my plans were thwarted. Mother wanted to see me because there was a surprise party to be held the rest of the day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            When I woke up the next morning, I decided to go back to Ella's mansion quickly to demand an explanation, but when I got downstairs, Father came to me, and told me that we were to leave in thirty minutes, and that I had to change quickly. I never got the chance to see Ella.

A/N: I'm really sorry it was so short, and that it took so long… I swear! I'm really sorry!

Oh Yeah! Thanks to the following reviewers:

StuntWoman

J

The Wandering Blue Andalite

Ikoilla the Admirer

Odd*ball

SurferChick

Queen Mab

Kelley

Cheey Lee

Jurei

Katrina

Sweet Star

CC

Jamie

Midnight Maelstrom

And everyone else who reviewed the other chapters!