informed her . She inclined her head, as refinement and culture demanded . As expected the four women in turn bestowed deep, respectful curtsies .
Thomasine spared no haste making her way to the meeting chamber she and Faustine had designated for their outrageous machinations . Diabolical yet subtle, she would be lucky if Prince did not launch a campaign for her demise when he stepped up to the throne . She let out a sigh . Ah, well, a mother had to duty to her child . She pressed her lips together . Especially an only child.
A miniscule of seconds edged by before the outbreak of sparkles appeared, thus bringing Faustine into full view .
“What think you ? Impossible? ” Thomasine asked, brows furrowed.
“It’s possible,” Faustine responded, tapping her chin in a thoughtful contemplation . Her tiny wand slipped to the floor, rolled precariously toward the door.
“Odd how that one young lady’s eyes blink so rapidly, is it not? ” Thomasine reflected . Promptly dismissing the thought, she added, “Well, never mind, ’t is time to see our plan through . Too late for naught else, I fear.”
“ Oui. ”
“You best hang on to that silly contraption, Faustine . We can ill afford it to fall in the wrong hands.”
“Pray, quit calling me that,” Faustine scowled.
“Whyever, for, ma chére ? ’ Tis your name, non ? ” Thomasine said absently, darting for the door . “We shall speak later . Adieu .”
Chapter 8
Cinderella watched in breathless torment as Prince’s masculine form was hauled over his manservant’s shoulder and whisked away . Her fixed-stare followed the retreating figures up a flight of stone steps through the elaborate entrance of the castle.
One blink brought her attention to the monstrosity of the structure in the brilliant light of the late afternoon . Much dif ferent than crashing the Royal B all in the throws of a dark night .
A lovely night , she sighed . A finer night she’d know n she ’d never see in this lifetime .
Rich green ivy grew in bunches hugging the stones on both sides of the entrance . Windows in mortared stacks of four reached to an endless sky and rounded columns to tower above a flat roof . Cinderella swallowed past the obstruction blocking her throat.
Perhaps it would not be such a trial to see Esmeralda married to Prince . But the vision of his slumped form over the servant’s shoulder tugged at her heart . She was the one who should be there when he opened his eyes . The one to kiss away his hurt , shower him with love , affection, children .
She pressed her l ips together . Non . There was no way she could allow Esmeralda to marry her true love . But how to prevent it ? She dropped her head in despair only to see what everyone else saw, her mended clothes . Stepmamá had everyone believing her a servant.
“ Mademoiselle ?” A shy voice broke through her careening thoughts .
“ Oui ?”
“This way, mademoiselle .”
Cinderella peered about . No one seemed to hear the timid mai d but she . A young miss with a flouncing white mob cap and starched white apron . Her elf-like features, whimsical eyes and pert nose sparked mischievous adventure . A sense of déjà vu touched her . Fairy Godmother?
Impossible .
Cinderella shook her head. T he opportunity to escape her ill-gotten family was not one she was prepared to miss . Stepmamá could hardly call her out before the queen.
So Cinderella followed her . They made haste in quick short steps that lead straight away from Stepmamá , Pricilla and Esmeralda . This, in and of itself, was a dream come true...but…
Away from the front of the castle ?
Alarm prickled her skin when they reached the corner . Cinderella cast a quick glance over her shoulder to meet Pricilla’s vicious smirk and piercing eyes . She flinched at the venom, but squared her shoulders , regardless . N othing could dampen her life
Thomasine spared no haste making her way to the meeting chamber she and Faustine had designated for their outrageous machinations . Diabolical yet subtle, she would be lucky if Prince did not launch a campaign for her demise when he stepped up to the throne . She let out a sigh . Ah, well, a mother had to duty to her child . She pressed her lips together . Especially an only child.
A miniscule of seconds edged by before the outbreak of sparkles appeared, thus bringing Faustine into full view .
“What think you ? Impossible? ” Thomasine asked, brows furrowed.
“It’s possible,” Faustine responded, tapping her chin in a thoughtful contemplation . Her tiny wand slipped to the floor, rolled precariously toward the door.
“Odd how that one young lady’s eyes blink so rapidly, is it not? ” Thomasine reflected . Promptly dismissing the thought, she added, “Well, never mind, ’t is time to see our plan through . Too late for naught else, I fear.”
“ Oui. ”
“You best hang on to that silly contraption, Faustine . We can ill afford it to fall in the wrong hands.”
“Pray, quit calling me that,” Faustine scowled.
“Whyever, for, ma chére ? ’ Tis your name, non ? ” Thomasine said absently, darting for the door . “We shall speak later . Adieu .”
Chapter 8
Cinderella watched in breathless torment as Prince’s masculine form was hauled over his manservant’s shoulder and whisked away . Her fixed-stare followed the retreating figures up a flight of stone steps through the elaborate entrance of the castle.
One blink brought her attention to the monstrosity of the structure in the brilliant light of the late afternoon . Much dif ferent than crashing the Royal B all in the throws of a dark night .
A lovely night , she sighed . A finer night she’d know n she ’d never see in this lifetime .
Rich green ivy grew in bunches hugging the stones on both sides of the entrance . Windows in mortared stacks of four reached to an endless sky and rounded columns to tower above a flat roof . Cinderella swallowed past the obstruction blocking her throat.
Perhaps it would not be such a trial to see Esmeralda married to Prince . But the vision of his slumped form over the servant’s shoulder tugged at her heart . She was the one who should be there when he opened his eyes . The one to kiss away his hurt , shower him with love , affection, children .
She pressed her l ips together . Non . There was no way she could allow Esmeralda to marry her true love . But how to prevent it ? She dropped her head in despair only to see what everyone else saw, her mended clothes . Stepmamá had everyone believing her a servant.
“ Mademoiselle ?” A shy voice broke through her careening thoughts .
“ Oui ?”
“This way, mademoiselle .”
Cinderella peered about . No one seemed to hear the timid mai d but she . A young miss with a flouncing white mob cap and starched white apron . Her elf-like features, whimsical eyes and pert nose sparked mischievous adventure . A sense of déjà vu touched her . Fairy Godmother?
Impossible .
Cinderella shook her head. T he opportunity to escape her ill-gotten family was not one she was prepared to miss . Stepmamá could hardly call her out before the queen.
So Cinderella followed her . They made haste in quick short steps that lead straight away from Stepmamá , Pricilla and Esmeralda . This, in and of itself, was a dream come true...but…
Away from the front of the castle ?
Alarm prickled her skin when they reached the corner . Cinderella cast a quick glance over her shoulder to meet Pricilla’s vicious smirk and piercing eyes . She flinched at the venom, but squared her shoulders , regardless . N othing could dampen her life
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