by Honor James
* * * *
Cinderella placed the clean clothing back into her stepsister’s rooms and then moved room to room, putting away clean laundry for each owner once more. Once that task was done, she was in the kitchens peeling potatoes and helping to start the evening meal. When they heard the sounds of the return, Cindy looked up in shock. They were early in returning! Why were they early? Was someone harmed?
She rose quickly and moved to the small door that led to the bailey from the kitchen and watched. A small panic rose in her when she noticed that one of the two men didn’t come back. However, when she saw the prince, she relaxed and sighed. “His friend likely is ready to beat him by now,” she whispered softly into the air and then turned back, going back to the tables to continue her task. She had a number of them yet to do before she was able to sleep for the night once more.
Jumping off his horse, Randulf handed off the reins to the stable lad with a smile. Smirking to himself, he turned when he finally heard more horses and noticed Cedric’s expression. Covering his face, Randulf laughed behind his hand and waited for Cedric to join him. “I take it things went well and you were adequately caught in the midst of something to make the princess unsuitable for marriage to a prince such as I?” He was trying for a straight face but knew he was failing by the sour one his friend shot his direction.
“I did learn this,” Cedric said on a low growl. “The bitch can’t wait to take her spite out on a certain someone. Evidently not only has Cinderella been lowered to scullery maid, but she’s also the group’s whipping post.” His anger was palpable. “Shouldn’t fucking affect me, but by the Gods I’m so angry right now I could hit the stupid cow that Cinderella has for a stepsister. If you plan on having a virginal bride, I suggest that you try to wheedle out of her quickly just why she has been relegated to where she is. Oh, and if possible, I suggest you try to keep her from her rooms. The vicious bitch has decided that she doesn’t want any man in her bed and therefore will turn them all to the ‘slut that deserves it.’ Her words, not mine.”
“Bloody hell.” Randulf stared at his friend. “I’m sorry, Cedric. If I’d had any other way of getting out of her grasp you have to know I’d have taken it. I will go and find my little maid and warn her of what’s headed her way and see if I can’t get her to talk. Go and have a bath, old friend. Cool off and know we’ll be out of here as soon as I can figure out a way to get her to admit who she is and bring her along for safety’s sake.”
“I know, old friend. Just do what you need to do and keep our girl safe,” Cedric murmured. “I’m going to go for a bath and a pint.” He hesitated and put his hand to Randulf’s shoulder. “Is she beautiful? The true princess? Or is she a brazen hussy like these other two sluts that the queen has raised?”
“She’s so pure and good, shy and yet so beautiful,” he said quietly. “She’s beautiful of form, but there’s also this internal light that just shines from her. She’s smart and has a little hint of sass to her.” He smiled and shook his head. “She’s perfect, Cedric. In every way she’s completely perfect.”
“Then you should go and find her, put her somewhere safe before that bitch is able to send the entire fucking castle into her bedchambers. Go, you besotted fool,” Cedric said with a smile and then asked, “So will this girl will be the end of our sharing?” He could see it in Randulf’s face. He was besotted, and he wouldn’t stray if he felt he was in love, which meant that Cedric was now on his own.
“Mayhap friend, mayhap,” he said with a small smile. “But don’t go putting the carriage before the horse, Cedric. I’ve yet to convince her to even give me the time of day yet. One thing at a time. Go and find a bath and your pint. I will confer with you later.” Turning with a wink, he headed off to find the little maid.
Chapter Five
Cindy was in the lowest pits of the washing room when she heard it. A soft click of a door, and the sound of boot heels on the stone floor. Whipping around with the large laundry paddle before her for protection, she gasped when she saw him. “My lord.” She bowed to him. “You frightened me. Why are you down here? This is a place that no one of royal lineage such as yourself should be in.”
“That’s a damned fine question,” he agreed softly. “It’s no place for any royal, is it?” he asked, moving closer to her. There wasn’t anyone else there in the room, but he was wise enough to keep his voice down. “I wanted to let you know that we’ve managed to thwart the other sister in her pursuit of trying to trap the crown. In fact.” He stopped before her and took the paddle, turning it over in his hands. “I happened to find out a lot of interesting information while on the hunt from a very helpful groomsman.”
“Then you know that more than likely their mother will try to entrap you as well?” Cindy asked and brushed her hands down the front of her gown. “Good. I’m glad that someone else has stepped up as well.” The beating she had received when her stepsister came home still hurt. The ten lashes were likely still bloody, but it was worth it. This man and his friend were good men. No one deserved to be saddled with her stepsiblings that was truly good. “If that is all, my lord?”
“No, that’s not all, Cinderella,” he said quietly, reaching out to capture her hand. Holding it gently between both of his, he stared down at her. “Why are you, the true princess, being forced to act as a maid to those imposters?” he asked very softly and gently. “I know who you are, Cinderella,” he whispered quietly. “And I’m afraid for your safety. The sister today has said she will be ensuring that you get many a male visitor for the coming nights and I doubt any will be there to sleep, little one. Say the word and I’ll take you away from here and to safety and oust these imposters at the first opportunity for you.”
Cindy’s eyes were wide and fear snaked up her back. “I…” She gulped and felt a full shudder race through her body. “Oh God,” she breathed and dropped her forehead to their joined hands. Tears began falling freely. “I’m here because when my father left for battle he told me to do anything my stepmother told me. Told me to be very sure that I followed the letter of her law. Never would I have believed that she would have me moved out of my suite of rooms and into the cellars before he was even fully gone. I’ve sent missives to him, begging him to come home or send someone for me, but all that he keeps telling me is to do as she instructs.” She continued to cry. “He left me here with her, and even though I’ve continued to tell him how she treats me and our people, he tells me the same thing over and again. Do as your stepmother tells you.”
“That is not the king I recall from my childhood.” He frowned. Drawing her into his arms, Randulf wrapped her close to him and stroked her hair lightly. “I fear that you have been deceived just as he is being deceived, Princess,” he murmured quietly. “I fear that it is your stepmother writing the missives to you to keep you doing as she bids you do. She is lying to you and keeping your word from your father to ensure she will always have a slave in you. Come with me, come with me to my home, and I will personally see to having a letter in your hand delivered directly to him by my fastest of riders. And then have one returned to you in kind from his hand true.”
“But what about my people?” She pulled back from him when his arms tightened with a squeak of a sound. “Please, my lord, that is uncomfortable.” More like shards of pain skittering down her back. “My people would be even more poorly abused by her, and then she would turn her hate toward your kingdom. ‘Tis not a fair question for me to ask of you.”
“Then we stay until I can get my father and his soldiers here to oust them,” he said, turning her around and peered down her shirt. “By God, what the hell happened to you?” he asked, tugging her shirt up to look at her back. “They beat you,” he breathed out quietly, his voice portraying his absolute horror. “I’m so sorry, Cinderella. If I’d but known, little one, I’d have never left you alone to take such a beating.”
“There is nothing you could have done to stop it,” she whispered. “You should go. Go so that the queen isn’t somehow ab
le to trick you into marrying her. I will be fine here. Just, go and be safe? Send word to my father?”
“She can’t do anything to gain marriage to my kingdom, not with her being wed to your father, Princess,” he said quietly, turning her so she could see him again. Cupping her face, he stroked his thumbs to her skin. “And I’m not leaving you alone to fend off God only knows how many men that your sister in her wrath may send your way. I will not let you be harmed,” he whispered, lowering his head to brush a kiss to her lips. “I will get word to my father and yours, and we will see an end to this, little one.”
Cindy reached up and touched her fingers to her lips. “Why did you do that? Why would you do any of this for me? You do not know me,” she whispered, shock in her eyes and her lips tingling from the soft brush of his lips to hers. “And I know how to hide. I learned how in order to survive.”
“Because I see goodness in you, Princess, and a purity of heart that is too rare in this world of ours,” he murmured, staring down into her wide eyes. “And because I would hate to see such a precious blossom crushed or bruised by those around her. I have other much more personal and less noble reasons, but I will save those to share with you when your kingdom is free and so, too, are you.” Pressing another kiss to her lips, Randulf seemed to take his time and teased her lips lightly with his before drawing back. “A promise, Cinderella, of more to come. In the meantime, hide and be aware that your stepsister is a spiteful bitch and looking to ensure you pay for her evil doings that failed. Stay safe for me, Princess, and if you need me I’ll be close-by,” he murmured, resting his forehead to hers.
“Don’t worry, I will be safe.” She hoped. Then again she hadn’t expected her stepsisters to find the hidden catacombs that were family only, and yet they had. Worry filled her, but she refused to allow him to see it. “Thank you for the warning, my lord, but you truly should go. Being caught down here with me would be very bad for you,” she whispered. Even worse for her should he be seen.
“Randulf,” he said softly, stroking her skin gently. “My name is Randulf, not my lord or prince or any other title, not for you, Cinderella, my sweet princess. Say my name and I will leave you to this dreadful task you are doing to ensure you are safe,” he whispered. “Just say my name, and I will go to keep you safe and send off my messages to our fathers.”
“Randulf.” Cindy whispered his name softly. “Please, go.” She repeated once more when she heard talking from the upstairs. “Be safe, Randulf, you and your friend both. Stay together as much as possible so that no harm could come to either of you?”
“I promise we will take great care, Princess,” he whispered, kissing her hard and fast once more. Stepping back, he smiled at her. “You just ensure that you are unharmed when next we meet. I will be very upset if any harm were to come to you, my sweet. And remember, if you have need of me, I am not far and am always able and willing to lend fair maiden a hand.” Giving her a flourishing bow, he slipped from the room before anyone found him there.
Chapter Six
Hiding in the attic was a desperate move, and she knew it. True to Randulf’s word, her stepsiblings had seemingly sent every male on the property, that didn’t know who she was, in search for her and her “easy ways.” Thankfully the party would be winding down soon, Randulf and his friend would be leaving, and so, too, would the guards, horsemen, servants and so on that they had brought with them. Cindy was very, very hopeful that, with the men being gone, she could stop hiding. If only.
Hearing a noise, she moved from the opening and closer to the hidden panel that would lead her out of the attic and back to her old bedroom, a room that had been boarded shut when Cindy had been sent to the kitchens. Biting her lip, she waited, and not hearing another sound, she sighed and settled in a little more. She wrapped the large old blanket around her and shivered again. The attic was freezing cold, but since the snow began to fall she wasn’t surprised, not in the least. However, it was far better to be here, and cold, than to be down in her cot where she could be attacked again.
* * * *
“Are you sure you saw her go up here?” Randulf asked the young groomsman. The same young man that had, apparently, given Cedric the warning about the vile princess and her tactics.
“Aye, my lord,” he whispered softly. “She often comes up here since no one ever bothers to come to such a creepy part of the palace.”
Nodding, he gave the lad a couple of coins and sent him on his way. Climbing up, he eased the door shut and then looked around. “Cinderella?” he whispered into the gloom. Moving cautiously, he squinted into the shadows. “Cinderella?” he whispered quietly to her, “Sweetheart, are you up here?”
* * * *
“Randulf?” Cindy whispered from her corner niche. “My lord, why in the world are you up here?” she demanded and lit her precious candle so that the low glow could bring him closer. “I’m here, in the corner, my lord. But why? How? How did you know?” she asked softly and opened her blanket for him. “Come, my lord, before you catch your death of cold.”
“Me? Catch my cold?” he snorted, but slid in close to her and under the blanket. “I at least am dressed to be up here,” he murmured, shifting her into his lap to get her off the chill of the floor. Pressing a kiss to her neck, he nuzzled at her soft skin. “I’ve sent word to our fathers and already heard back from my own. He is rallying the troops and will be here with a force of two hundred men strong to take your palace back. I’ve yet to hear word back from your father, but he’s a greater distance away, and it will likely be much longer before he can send reply.”
She hadn’t expected that. At all. When he said that he would help her it seemed like a dream, but now she wasn’t certain and asked. “Why would your father do that? He doesn’t know me, and while my father is fighting for their combined cause, I just don’t understand why. Why did you do this for me, Randulf?”
“Because you are being unfairly treated, Cinderella, and in your own home. That is the sort of injustice that I hate and want forever banished from all our lands,” he said softly. “Plus, I happen to like you, sweet, a lot. I am hoping that you and I can get to know one another more and, maybe in time, you will let me court you as is proper.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Cindy whispered, and pulled back from him. “You? But.” She shook her head. “I’m so lost.” He wanted to court her? For all he knew she could truly be a pauper, she could be just a kitchen maid who was lying to him. “Why?” she asked suddenly.
“Why not?” he asked her with a frown. “I happen to adore you already, Cinderella, and that was all well before I learned of who you truly were. I’ve wanted to know more about you since you ran into me in the hall with that loaf of bread under your cloak.” Smiling at her when she shot him a look, he chuckled. “Didn’t think I was bright enough to figure that out, did you?”
“She’s been starving them. I had to,” she whispered. “But, what about your friend?” She had seen and spoken with Cedric just twice, but she felt as attracted to him as she did to Randulf, and that just wasn’t right. A real princess would never be attracted to two men at once, right? “I mean. God I don’t know what I mean,” she muttered, and pressed her face to his warm chest and breathed in the clean scents of the man, her body tingling in awareness as she did so.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Princess, not ever,” he whispered softly. “You were doing right by your people, and that’s all that matters. As for the other…” Randulf smiled slightly and stroked her hair. “Cedric is my best friend, and we share everything. If you don’t mind in the least, then there’s no reason that he can’t continue to share in my life and yours, too, Cinderella. What happens behind closed doors is of no one’s business but those that are there.”
Cindy’s eyes went round, and she looked at him. “But aren’t you worried that the first son born would be his?” Good lord, she shouldn’t think like this! She shouldn’t think about making love with these men, both of them, it just wasn�
�t done by a proper young lady. “How could you ensure that the firstborn heir would be yours, not his? How would sharing be done?”
“There are many a ways to ensure the firstborn, and any other child, would be mine,” he told her quietly. “Just as there are many ways to share a woman and for all to have pleasure. But there will be plenty of time for such discussions. They are not for now. Now is for just you and I to hide away for a small time while those that are loyal to you, and helping me, are giving everyone the runaround for the next while.”
“Are they? Please pray that she doesn’t catch on and give them even more trouble.” Cindy sighed and leaned into Randulf. “You are truly the charming prince, Randulf. I fear that I could very easily fall under your spell,” she admitted quietly. “But you should know that should anything ever come of what you have said, I would not look kindly at all upon my husband finding another lover’s bed to lie in. I want a marriage like my mother and fathers, where they had each other and no one else in their beds. Granted what you are proposing is most odd, but no other woman and no man other than Cedric.” She gave her terms softly as his heat began to seep into her too cold body.
“Those are terms I can abide by and would willingly live with if you were to ever bless me with your hand,” he whispered, squeezing her closer to him. “I do not undertake such a state as marriage lightly, Cinderella. While I know for a fact my parents’ marriage was less than conventional behind closed doors, in public they were the perfect couple. And they loved one another truly and for all time. It’s why my father even now will not take another woman to his bed. His love for my mother carries on to this day, long after she left this world for the next.”
“That’s amazing and rare. I still believe that is why father so readily took off for battle. He was still mourning my mother,” Cindy whispered against the side of his neck. “What do you mean that you know that their marriage was less than conventional behind closed doors?”
