I'm Not Cinderella (The Princess Chronicles)

by Montgomery, Tarrah

  “Now? Here?”

  He gave me a crooked grin. “Yes, right now. What better place than in the light of the lovers’ moon?” He looked up into the sky.

  I gazed into the heavens as well. It was definitely a magic night—a night dreams were made of.

  Dennan slid his right hand to my waist and placed his left hand in the air. “May I have this dance?” he asked as he dipped his head.

  For a rogue of the forest, he cleaned up nicely. He could probably even pass as a courtier. I curtsied. “I’d love to.”

  Once I placed my hands in position, Dennan began to lead me in a waltz. He executed the dance smoothly, and I basked in the feeling of floating on a cloud.

  “How do you know how to dance so well?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “It’s something I learned on the road.”

  “Really? They teach this at gypsy school?”

  “No.” He turned me around in a slow spin. When I moved close again, he bent down and whispered against my ear. “My mother taught me when I was younger.”

  Remind me to thank his mother, ’cause this boy can dance.

  He spun me around again, but this time when we were close again, his mouth captured mine suddenly and insistently. I felt the sweetness through the back of my head and down my back. We still turned as if we were dancing, but I was hardly aware of my feet moving. The world was in motion. I was in paradise.

  He abruptly removed his lips from mine and said, “You should go to the next ball.”

  Like a fish yanked out of a stream, I was swiftly brought back to the present. “Come again?”

  “You should go to the ball and dance with the prince.”

  Wait, I think I missed something. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m no substitute for what your heart truly wants.”

  I placed a palm against Dennan’s cheek. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be with you.”

  He took my hands and raised it to his lips. He kissed my fingers. “You need to go the ball. Your heart will never be open to anything else unless you know what’s out there.”

  I knew he was getting ready to say goodbye. “You can’t just leave again.” I sounded like a whiny puppy, but I couldn’t help it. I was tired.

  He squeezed my hands. “I’ll come back.”

  “When?”

  “I need to take care of a few things, but I’ll be back.”

  The tears behind my eyes began to overflow upon my cheeks.

  “I’ll come back.” Dennan brushed at my tears.

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.” He gathered me into an embrace.

  My tears fell onto the front of his shirt. I slid my hands under his arms and wrapped my arms around his back.

  “I promise to come back if you promise you’ll go to the ball.” His chin rested on the top of my head.

  “I don’t have anything to wear.” I sniffled.

  “Will you promise to go if I find you something to wear?”

  I looked up. “You’re not going to steal me a dress to wear to the ball, are you?”

  “I’m not going to thieve you a dress.” His dimple showed as he gave me a reassuring smile. “Meet me Thursday of next week, and I will give you the dress.”

  “Thursday?” I exclaimed. “Not until Thursday?” My tears continued their steady stream down my cheeks.

  “You’re tired. You need to get some rest.”

  I couldn’t argue. My body wanted to collapse to the ground.

  “You need to rest so you can continue to dance in your dreams.” He smoothed my hair. “I’m glad I got to see you dance like nobody’s watching.”

  I gave a small sigh. Could this guy be any more perfect?

  “Always dance like nobody’s watching, and sing like nobody’s listening,” he said. When I looked up at him, he added, “And love like you’ve never been hurt.” He kissed me once, gently.

  All at once I opened my eyes. “Dennan?”

  “Yes?” he said against my mouth.

  “I have a favor to ask you.”

  “Anything.”

  “My friends Katie and Amanda are servants here at Sherwood Manor, and they are also in need of dresses for the ball . . .”

  “And you want me to steal—” he quirked his eyebrow “—I mean find gowns for them also?”

  “If it’s not too much trouble.”

  “I think I’ll be able to meet your request.”

  “Thank you, Dennan.” I gave him a peck on the cheek.

  “Anything for you, milady.” He bowed.

  “I’m glad you came back.”

  “I would come back every day if I could.”

  At that, he turned and disappeared in the darkness.

  Chapter 16

  Another Song from My Favorite Movie

  These lyrics are from the soundtrack to The Slipper and the Rose. Quite fitting, huh?

  Though this lovely night was only a fantasy

  And I know tonight is all there will ever be

  Dancing in his arms forever

  My heart will never be free!

  Dreaming of the night he danced with me

  (“He Danced with Me/She Danced with Me,” Image Entertainment, 1976)

  Back to the Manor

  After Dennan left, I walked back to Sherwood Manor, humming the melody to this beautiful, addictive song. I was weary beyond measure, but I walked in a waltz rhythm along the path near the gardens. One, two, three. One, two, three.

  As I got closer to the manor, I saw a light in the fourth floor of the tower—the forbidden tower. A chill ran down my back. Only Lady Catherine had a key to the tower, and who knows what she was doing there.

  A shadow in the shape of a woman moved on the curtains of the tower window. Then the light went out and the tower was dark.

  You’re dreaming, I told myself. You’re tired and need some sleep.

  Suddenly, a ghostly voice said, “Brinlee?”

  I jumped and turned to see William walking toward me. I cried out and pressed a hand to my pounding heart.

  “I’m sorry if I startled you. I was returning the horses to the stable and heard noises. I came out to check.”

  “When did everyone get back from the ball?”

  “We just returned a few moments ago.” His blond hair was slicked back, his jacket straight and orderly.

  “Was it lovely?” I asked.

  William smiled, his perfectly white teeth gleaming in the moonlight. “I guess you could say it was lovely. At least that is what the ladies say.”

  I was unable to prevent a yawn from escaping my mouth, but managed to ask, “Was the prince there?”

  William ignored my question. “Why are you outside at such a late hour?”

  “I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for some fresh air.”

  He cocked his head to one side. “Did you notice anything unusual on the grounds?”

  “No.” Despite myself, I glanced up at the mysterious forbidden tower.

  “Be careful of where you decide to meddle, Miss Brinlee,” he said in a sinister tone. “The tower is none of your concern, and you would be smart to leave it alone.”

  Nodding, I thought, What have I gotten myself into? When I walked through the attic door of my bedroom into a kingdom called Fenmore Falls, I certainly hadn’t imagined how dangerous a Cinderella story could be.

  William smiled woodenly. “You should retire to your bed. Would you like me to escort you to your chambers?”

  “No,” I nearly shouted. Wanting to get as far away from him as possible, I brushed past him and hurried toward the kitchen door. Walk, I commanded my legs. Just walk.

  As I reached for th
e door handle, he asked, “Who was he?”

  Fear washed over me. Had William seen me with Dennan? If Dennan was truly the knight of the road, would his identity be compromised because he hadn’t worn his mask?

  I didn’t turn to face William. Instead, I stared straight at the door. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  He stepped close behind me. “I saw you.” His hand was suddenly on my shoulder. “I saw the way you let him hold you.” William’s hand slid down my arm. “Who knows what might happen to a woman when she finds herself alone at night.”

  I wanted to scream. If this guy didn’t watch it, I’d do some Karate Kid on him.

  He moved my hair away from my neck and pressed his lips against my ear. “Good night, Brinlee. If you need anything, I’ll be more than willing to gratify your desires.”

  Finally breaking away, I pulled open the door, raced inside, and flew up the stairs. In the safety of my bedroom, I locked the door and stripped off my clothes. I wanted to rid myself of the filth I felt all over my body at being touched by William. I would have taken a bath if I could’ve gone to the kitchen and heated several pails of water without waking half of the household.

  I slipped into a fresh nightgown and collapsed onto the bed. Despite the events of the evening, I quickly and thankfully faded into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 17

  Pepelyouga

  Serbia, 1917

  Next morning the woman roughly ordered the maiden to spin a still larger bag of hemp, and as the girl, thanks to her mother, spun and wound it all, her stepmother, on the following day, gave her twice the quantity to spin. Nevertheless, the girl brought home at night even that unusually large quantity well spun, and her stepmother concluded that the poor girl was not spinning alone, but that other maidens, her friends, were giving her help. Therefore she, next morning, sent her own daughter to spy upon the poor girl and to report what she saw. The girl soon noticed that the cow helped the poor orphan by chewing the hemp, while she drew the thread and wound it on a top, and she ran back home and informed her mother of what she had seen. Upon this, the stepmother insisted that her husband should order that particular cow to be slaughtered. Her husband at first hesitated, but as his wife urged him more and more, he finally decided to do as she wished.

  Day 8

  I woke to sunlight streaming through my open window. My dreams had been filled with Dennan, and I practically glowed with happiness. It was as if I was walking on rays of sunshine.

  So this is love, I mentally sang. No, this was better than love. This was what I had been waiting for my whole life.

  But this isn’t real, I reminded myself. I’m trapped in a fairy-tale world! The William situation also intercepted my cheerfulness. I squeezed my eyes shut, now wishing I could go back to sleep.

  “Miss Brinlee?” Katie said from just outside my bedroom door.

  “Come in.”

  She opened the door with a smile. “The entire household has slept late today.”

  “I’m not the only one who overslept?”

  “Miss Fanny and Miss Rose are still asleep in their beds.”

  “I stayed up way too late.” I pressed my palm against my tender head, feeling a headache coming on.

  “Sir William told Lady Catherine this morning that he met you in the gardens last night,” Katie reported.

  I sat up straight in bed. “What did he say?”

  “He said you couldn’t sleep and needed some fresh air.”

  “Did he say anything else?” I remembered him ordering me to stay away from the tower. Had he relayed his suspicions to Lady Catherine?

  Katie shook her head. “No, nothing else.”

  Why was the tower such a secret? What was Lady Catherine hiding in there? Was she involved in the evil conspiracy to overthrow the kingdom? Is that why Dennan was often near Sherwood Manor?

  Hmm, that’s something to think about.

  “What were you doing outside all alone, Miss Brinlee?” Katie asked.

  “I wasn’t alone.”

  If I couldn’t tell a friend, whom could I tell?

  I patted the bed next to me for Katie to sit. “You can’t tell anybody, but I met somebody.”

  She leaped onto the soft bed and gathered a pillow into her arms. “Tell me everything.”

  I told her the whole story, starting from when I first met Dennan, to our dance the night before.

  “He’s bringing a dress for you too,” I told her after explaining how Dennan had promised he would get me a dress for the ball.

  “No. I couldn’t possibly go to the ball.”

  “For heaven’s sake, why not?”

  “It wouldn’t be proper.”

  “But whoever is suitable may attend. With our new dresses, there is no reason for us to miss the ball.”

  Katie lowered her head.

  “I thought you would be excited,” I said.

  “I am excited. It’s just that I don’t want to go to the ball if Sir Henry is my escort.”

  “Henry? Why would Henry be your escort?” I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

  “Do you remember when he asked me if I was going to the ball?”

  “But he only asked if you were going. He didn’t actually ask you to be his date, did he?”

  “Well . . . no.” She smiled.

  “Now you can go to the ball with Krys.”

  Instantly, the color drained from Katie’s face.

  “Relax, Katie. It was only a suggestion.”

  “I couldn’t possibly imagine going to the ball with Krys.”

  “You never know,” I said with a wink, “maybe he’ll gather up the courage to ask you.”

  Katie looked anxious, but a faint pink began to return to her cheeks. “He will not ask me.”

  We’ll see about that, thought my scheming mind.

  Later that night—sooner than I had expected—I got the chance to help Katie on the path to having her dreams come true.

  As the servants socialized in the kitchen, the discussion shifted to the upcoming second ball at the castle.

  “I wish I could go to the ball,” Amanda said as she leaned her chin on her palm, her elbow resting on the table.

  “You and Katie are going to the ball with me,” I said, completely forgetting who else was in the room. I hadn’t told Amanda about the dresses yet, and once I realized Henry sat in his usual place in the corner, it was too late.

  He stood up and loomed near the table. “Are you attending the ball on Friday night, Katie?” he asked.

  She looked at me with panic in her eyes. I raced to think of a way to save her from being stuck at the ball with Henry. Going with him as her date was not in my fairy-godmother plan for her. Going with Krys was.

  I had no choice but to do something dreadfully awful. “Sir Henry.” I looked at the freckle-faced servant. “I wanted to ask you a question.”

  It wasn’t necessarily his looks that spawned my distaste. It was the way he conducted himself, like the way he scratched his crotch in front of us . . . like right now, in front of all of us. Who does that? He was simply repulsive.

  I swallowed hard, forcing down the bile in my throat. “Would you escort me to the ball, Sir Henry?”

  Yep, I said it. That really was me.

  Henry looked as surprised at my words as I was. “Yes, Miss Brinlee.” He puffed up his chest. “I would love to do the honor of escorting you to the ball.”

  “Thank you.”

  He walked back to his chair and continued to sloppily eat his dinner.

  What have I done? I thought. This better work.

  Chapter 18

  A Love Letter from My Dad to My Mom

  I found this letter in a box under my mom’s bed.

&n
bsp; My dearest Abby (no one called her that anymore—it was

  always Abigail or Gail),

  I miss you already. I’m hoping this trip will be shorter than the last. I think I’ve found a buyer for my mother’s house. If everything goes well, I’ll be home before you know it.

  In the mean time, keep my mother’s locket forever around your neck and close to your heart. I replaced my father’s picture with mine so you can remember what I look like . . . in case you ever forget.

  I’ll be home soon. Kiss the girls for me.

  Love always,

  Jack

  I spent countless hours gazing at the portrait in that locket to remind me of what my father looked like. Since I was only three years old when he left, my brain often had a hard time remembering.

  Day 9

  The following morning, the nicer of the two evil stepsisters, Rose, joined me in my bedroom. She was actually pleasant company when her older sister wasn’t nearby.

  “I’m thrilled you will be attending the ball,” Rose said.

  It surprised me how fast the news had spread that I was going to the ball with Henry. “I’m excited too,” I said. Except that I’ll have to dance with Henry.

  Rose twisted a lock of her auburn hair. “The castle is incredible.”

  “What does the prince look like?” I asked.

  “Prince Patrick is magnificent.”

  I let out a sigh. “I bet he is.”

  “I nearly fainted when he entered the ballroom.”

  “Did you dance with him?”

  “No.” Rose shook her head. “He didn’t dance much—mostly watched.” She leaned in closer with a sly smile on her face. “There’s word that the prince has invited company to Friday night’s ball.”