Collaring Cinderella

“Good job,” I said gingerly, patting him on the back. “What did you find out?”

We sat down in my study, and Jennings brought out a manila envelope, passing it to me. I had to fight the urge to rip it open. I’d only requested one thing from him, and I already knew what was inside. But it felt wrong to open it right there, in front of Jennings. I was going to wait until he was gone, and I could enjoy my new possession in peace.

“Not too much that you didn’t know already,” he went on. “Miss Monroe doesn’t seem to like her very much.”

“I noticed,” I grunted. I hated the thought of someone not liking my girl, and what’s more, I didn’t understand it at all. “Why do you think that is?”

“Same reason as always,” Jennings shrugged. “Jealousy. Miss Ella is younger, beautiful. Of course, there is a certain degree of jealousy there, and probably resentment for being left with a stepdaughter so soon after marrying her father. I assume things aren’t great for young Ella at home.”

“I see,” I replied. “I’m sorry to hear that. What are you basing this information on?”

“Well,” Jennings fidgeted nervously. “When I was there, I heard them arguing, just before they left. I say arguing, but really it was Miss Monroe shouting at Ella, about something trivial. She doesn’t seem like a great motherly figure to the young girl.”

“Alright,” I said simply. “Thank you for going to the house. Did you fix the leak on the roof?”

“Yes,” he said. “Ella seemed very grateful. It was in her room. Took her stepmother three months to mention it.”

“Good,” I replied. “That will be all, thank you, Jennings.”

The butler left my study and I was left alone with the envelope. I could practically smell her sweetness from it, even though I hadn’t even opened it yet. But now that I was alone, I was desperate to see what Jennings had found for me.

I knew he was discreet, and he wouldn’t tell anyone about my wishes. He was also married to his partner of twenty-seven years, so I had no worries about him having indecent thoughts about my girl.

My fingers tore into the envelope, and I let the contents fall into my lap.

A pair of pale pink cotton panties, trimmed with lace and ribbon. They were fresh out of the wash, the scent of laundry detergent making them smell like fresh, warm linen. But still, under that scent, I could detect a note that could only belong to my princess Ella. A sweetness that was so very her it couldn’t have come from anything else.

I lifted the lacy cotton fabric to my nose, breathing in her scent, filling my head with a concoction that was uniquely Ella Monroe and nobody else.

She was addictive, the fabric permeated with her scent, making me lose my fucking mind knowing she wasn’t in my arms, but instead at her stepmother’s mercy. I hated it. I wanted her with me, where she belonged. But for now, it was too soon. I’d have to learn to be patient and bide my time before I laid my hands on her.

I knew the moment was coming, and the idea of a Christmas ball was now firmly planted in my head.

I would make her mine there. Propose to her, collar her, and make her mine officially.

I couldn’t fucking wait for her to say yes .T HE DAYS PASSED QUICKLY UNTIL it was only a week before Christmas.

Usually, it would be a family occasion for my dad and me. We always spent the holidays together, decorating the tree with ornaments we’d had since I was a little girl. But this year, I was painfully aware that it would be my first year without my father. And without the ornaments too, since Martha had tossed them all when we moved, despite my protesting. She’d said we had no use for clutter.

A week before Christmas, I found an envelope on the doormat in front of the cottage.

It was a midnight-blue envelope with a silver wax seal, just like I’d seen in the movies. My fingers shook as I picked it up.

I’d been working at Mr. Goldwyn’s house for the past few weeks, but Martha was mostly keeping me in the kitchen. I wasn’t too upset about it—I liked cooking, and since their regular chef was on maternity leave, I was happy to pick up the work. At least I could be alone when I did it since my stepmother was busy in the other parts of the house. It gave me time to think.

And worryingly, most of my thoughts still revolved around a certain man who’d captured my interest.

Rafe had seemed so interested in me, yet suddenly there was no sign of him. He wanted nothing to do with me anymore, or so it seemed. There were no more occasions where we bumped into one another, no more chance meetings. He was never around, and it was a bitter pill to swallow. I was only thankful I hadn’t mentioned him to Edna. She kept asking about my friend, but I acted shy and avoided the topic like the plague.