Ella Enchanted Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    I put my gown over the necklace and crept down to the pantry, where I found a tray of freshly baked scones. They were hot, so I tossed two in the air and caught them in my skirt, pulling it out to make a basket. Then, looking down at my breakfast, I ran to the front of the house and right into Father.
    He was in the entranceway, waiting for Nathan to bring the carriage around.
    “I don’t have time for you now, Eleanor. Run off and bang into somebody else. And tell Mandy I’ll be back with the bailiff. We’ll need lunch.”
    As instructed, I ran off. Aside from its dangerous aspects, the curse often made a fool of me and was partly the reason I seemed so clumsy. Now I had to bang into someone.
    Bertha was carrying wet laundry. When I bumped into her, she dropped her basket. My gowns and stockings and undergarments tumbled onto the tiles. I helped her pick them up, but she was going to have to wash everything over again.
    “Little mistress, it’s hard enough getting your things ready so quick without having to do it twice,” she scolded.
    After I apologized, and after I delivered Father’s message to Mandy, and after she made me sit down and eat breakfast on a plate, I started for the royal menagerie just outside the walls of the king’s palace.
    My favorite exhibits were the talking birds and the exotic animals. Except for the hydra in her swamp and the baby dragon, the exotics — the unicorn, the herd of centaurs, and the gryphon family — lived on an island meadow surrounded by an extension of the castle moat.
    The dragon was kept in an iron cage. He was beautiful in his tiny ferocity and seemed happiest when flaming, his ruby eyes gleaming evilly.
    I bought a morsel of yellow cheese from the stand next to the cage and toasted it in the fire, which was a tricky business, getting close enough for cooking but not so close that the dragon got the treat.
    I wondered what King Jerrold planned to do with him when he grew up. I wondered also whether I would be home to learn his fate.
    Beyond the dragon, a centaur stood near the moat, gazing at me. Did centaurs like cheese? I walked toward him quietly, hoping he wouldn’t gallop off.
    “Here,” a voice said.
    I turned. It was Prince Charmont, offering me an apple.
    “Thank you.”
    Holding out my hand, I edged closer to the moat. The centaur’s nostrils flared and he trotted toward me. I tossed the apple. Two other centaurs galloped over, but mine caught the treat and started eating, crunching loudly.
    “I always expect them to thank me or to say, `How dare you stare?’ ” I said.
    “They’re not smart enough to talk. See how blank their eyes are.” He pointed, teaching me.
    I knew all that, but perhaps it was a princely duty to explain matters to one’s subjects.
    “If they had words,” I said, “they wouldn’t be able to think of anything to say.”
    A surprised silence followed. Then Char laughed. “That’s funny! You’re funny. As the Lady Eleanor was.” He looked stricken. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you.”
    “I think of her often,” I said. Most of the time.
    We walked along the edge of the moat.
    “Would you like an apple too?” He held out another one.
    I wanted to make him laugh again. I pawed the ground with my right foot and tossed my head as though I had a mane. Opening my eyes as wide as they’d go, I stared stupidly at Char and took the apple.
    He did laugh. Then he made an announcement. “I like you. I’m quite taken with you.” He took a third apple for himself out of the pocket of his cape.
    I liked him too. He wasn’t haughty or disdainful, or stuffy, as High Chancellor Thomas was.
    All the Kyrrians bowed when we passed, and the visiting elves and gnomes did too. I didn’t know how to respond, but Char raised his arm each time, bent at the elbow in the customary royal salute. It was habit, natural to him as teaching. I decided on a deep nod. Curtsies often tipped me over.
    We came to the parrot cages,