issued and posted outside the palace gates for all in the kingdom to see.
Word spread throughout the kingdom, and all the eligible maidens frantically prepared for the chance to try on the glass slipper. No one was as frantic as Lady Tremaine. Her daughters had another opportunity to become royalty, and she needed them dressed and ready. She would do anything in her power to have one of her daughters marry the Prince.
âCinderella, Cinderella!â she shouted as she started up the stairs to her daughtersâ rooms. âOh, where is that girl?â
Cinderella opened a door in the downstairs hallway with a broom in her hand.
âYes, here I am,â she responded politely.
âMy daughters,â Lady Tremaine asked abruptly. âWhere are they?â
âI think theyâre still in bed,â replied Cinderella.
âWell, donât just stand there!â yelled Lady Tremaine, glaring at Cinderella. âBring up the breakfast trays at onceâand hurry!â She feverishly picked up her skirt and continued up the stairs to Anastasiaâs and Drizellaâs rooms.
Cinderella stood in the open doorway and curiously watched Lady Tremaine hurry off. She wondered why her stepmother was in such a rush. But she obeyed, as usual, and went to fetch breakfast.
Gus and Jaq were standing in the doorway, too, and they were just as curious about Lady Tremaineâs urgency.
âI wonder whatâs the matter with-a her,â said Jaq, puzzled by all the excitement.
âYes, whatâs the matter with her?â asked Gus, pointing up the stairs.
âI donât know. Letâs find out!â said Jaq. He grabbed Gusâs hand. They ran into an opening in the wall and scurried up to the next floor.
Lady Tremaine stormed into Drizellaâs room, calling her daughterâs name. Drizella was still asleep in her bed, wearing a yellow nightgown and nightcap. Her bare feet stuck out from underneath the quilt. She was startled at the shrill sound of her motherâs voice.
âWhat?â she said, stretching her arms and legs. âGet up, quick, this instant!â Lady Tremaine opened the curtains and bright sunlight poured in.
âWe havenât a moment to lose!â Drizella squinted and covered her head with her quilt despite her motherâs warning.
Lady Tremaine left Drizellaâs room and burst into Anastasiaâs. Gus and Jaq had made their way to Anastasiaâs room, too. They hid behind candles in the candelabra and listened to everything.
âAnastasia!â Lady Tremaine yelled. Anastasia was sound asleep and covered from head to toe with her quilt. Lady Tremaine went over to the bed and shook Anastasia to wake her. âGet up, Anastasia!â
Anastasia lifted her head from beneath her pillow and quilt. Her pink nightcap covered her eyes. âWhatâs wrong?â she asked with a yawn. Light filled the bedroom as Lady Tremaine opened the curtains. âOh, everyoneâs talking about itâ¦the whole kingdom,â she growled. âOh, hurry, heâll be here any minute!â
âWho will?â asked Drizella, who was standing in the doorway yawning and scratching her leg. She had finally dragged herself out of bed. Like Anastasia, she was still exhausted and couldnât understand her motherâs insistence.
âThe Grand Duke!â replied Lady Tremaine. âHeâs been hunting all night.â She went an armoire and sifted through clothes.
âHunting?â asked Anastasia, more confused.
âFor that girl!â snarled Lady Tremaine.
Just then, Cinderella approached the door with a breakfast tray. She heard her stepmother ranting about the previous evening and her eyes widened with curiosity. She walked into the room so that she could hear more.
âThe one who lost her slipper at the ball last night,â continued Lady Tremaine. âThey say heâs madly in love with her.â
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