Cold Hearted

by Serena Valentino

  Nanny scoffed. But before she could answer, the Three Good Fairies came bubbling into the garden making themselves quite at home, pouring cups of tea and conjuring little cakes and scones to share.

  “What were you fairies chatting about so animatedly when we got here?” asked Merryweather, conjuring some of her special preserves and honey from her own gardens. But before the Fairy Godmother could answer, Nanny took over the conversation.

  “It has come to our attention that the fairies have been holding Lady Tremaine and her daughters captive in Queen Cinderella’s old château,” said Nanny, her wings fluttering with agitation. “This is highly disturbing considering my connection to the Tremaine family.” Nanny wiggled back and forth in her seat, trying to make herself comfortable. The Fairy Godmother thought it was laughable that her sister, who was born a fairy, never felt comfortable in her own wings.

  “Come now! I wouldn’t put it quite like that, sister!” said the Fairy Godmother, feeling a bit guilty once she heard it in such simple, straightforward terms.

  “Good heavens! We can’t help those awful girls!” screeched Merryweather, startling Fauna and Flora.

  “I’m sorry you’re so upset, Nanny, but I have the majority in this. We will not help Anastasia and Drizella. My fairies will never grant wishes to foul demons, witches, evil stepmothers, or cruel stepsisters! Not ever! Not while I’m in charge anyway!” said the Fairy Godmother, feeling very proud of herself.

  “Let’s not forget you’re not in charge of the Fairylands, sister. I am.” Nanny’s tone was firm. “You stepped down, and Oberon agreed that I should take the lead. Now, I’m going to ask Opal to fly a message to Cinderella letting her know the Fairy Godmother is on her way to help Anastasia and Drizella. Do you want to disappoint her? Or do I have to strip you of your charge and become Cinderella’s fairy godmother myself?”

  The Three Good Fairies gasped. “You can’t do that!”

  “Oh yes I can! And I will! Make your choice, sister. Help Queen Cinderella, or I will!” said Nanny.

  The Fairy Godmother was hurt deeply by her sister’s threats, but she remained stalwart. She picked up the book of fairy tales, flipping through it until she found Lady Tremaine and her daughters’ story. “Nanny, this is nonsense,” she said. “You know their story, you were there. And you know as well as I do Lady Tremaine and her horrible daughters didn’t even need the encouragement of those meddlesome Odd Sisters! They treated my poor Cinderella reprehensibly on their own accord. It’s all in the book of fairy tales that Snow White sent back to us after the ordeal.”

  Nanny smiled, and her sister didn’t like it. She knew that meant she was up to something.

  “Okay, sister. Let’s read their story, then. Perhaps there will be no redemption for Lady Tremaine, but I wager even you will want to help her daughters after reading their tale. Remember I was there, and more importantly, I know your heart.”

  Fauna, Flora, and Merryweather had been silent, waiting to see what the Fairy Godmother would say. They had been dumbstruck by Nanny’s earlier comments and had been sitting there the entire time, jaws dropped.

  “Merryweather, close your mouth. A dragonfly is going to fly into it!” said the Fairy Godmother. “And magic us some more refreshments.” Then she snapped at Fauna, “And you! Send a message to the Blue Fairy. Tell her there is an emergency Fairy Council meeting and she’s needed immediately.” Finally, she looked to Nanny. “Where is the King of the Fairies? Do you think he’d like to sit on the council meeting?”

  Nanny laughed, no doubt because her sister was still acting as though she was in charge of the Fairylands. “Oberon is at Morningstar Castle with Princess Tulip preparing for another of their adventures. But I am sure he’s listening,” said Nanny.

  The Fairy Godmother knew that even if he wasn’t listening, Nanny would fill him in later. They had been closer than ever, which sent a tingling rage through her body, but she had to put that aside for now. “All right, then,” she said. “Once Blue Fairy arrives we will read Lady Tremaine’s story, and the council will decide if we should help Drizella and Anastasia.”

  “I think that sounds fair,” said Nanny, with a suspicious look on her face that the Fairy Godmother didn’t like. But she decided it was a victory anyway. She knew in her heart her fairies would never agree to help Anastasia and Drizella, no matter what Nanny had up her sleeve.

  Once the entire council had gathered, the Fairy Godmother took out the book of fairy tales. “Very well, then,” she said. “If no one objects, we will read Lady Tremaine’s story, and perhaps my sister, Nanny, here will finally stop pestering me to help those monstrous girls Anastasia and Drizella once and for all.” She winked to her favorite fairy trio, knowing they wouldn’t let her down.

  Lady Tremaine

  London may be far away, but we have found ways for our magic to reach beyond the Many Kingdoms, even into the drawing rooms of unsuspecting fancy lords and ladies. Take Cruella de Vil, for example. Even though her tale was written in her own voice, who do you think inspired her to write it?

  But this isn’t Cruella’s story. It’s Lady Tremaine’s.

  Lady Tremaine lost her husband early in their marriage and was left to care for their two young daughters on her own. Unlike most women in her circumstances, Lady Tremaine was well provided for. Upon his death her stately lord of a husband left her a great fortune. That, combined with the fortune she herself had brought to the marriage, meant she was quite a wealthy woman.

  The lady of the house had everything she desired, except for one thing: her true love. She had lost him far too soon. What she did have, however, was a house full of servants: nannies, governesses, parlor maids, cooks, a butler, pantry boys, boot boys, footmen, scullery maids, housemaids, a head housemaid, and of course her lady’s maid, the elderly Mrs. Bramble. Lady Tremaine treated her servants well and with respect, and insisted her daughters Anastasia and Drizella do the same. The household staff doted on them. The Tremaines and their staff lived comfortably in their lavish London town house. It was always full and bustling with activity, so Lady Tremaine didn’t feel quite so alone. She enjoyed giving her daughters the best life possible.

  Like most aristocratic Londoners, the Tremaines flitted to and from the country like birds, going hither and thither as the season dictated. One fateful day, the lady was about to embark on such a trip, unaware that it would forever alter the course of her life. We wonder what would have happened to Lady Tremaine and her daughters had Lady Tremaine decided not to visit her old friend Lady Prudence Hackle, but then again once it’s written in the book of fairy tales there is little one can do to change one’s fate.

  Before the flurry of the day took hold that morning, Lady Tremaine sat in the front parlor, making time for a repose before her daughters woke or her maids came to her with questions about what to pack for their trip to the country. The front parlor had been one of her favorite rooms when her husband had been alive. They spent many quiet moments there, enjoying their coffee in the mornings, or sipping drinks after a night out, or just sitting in their own corners of the room enjoying a good book. She was missing those days more keenly than usual and found that in the silence of that morning she could almost feel her husband with her.

  It was a bright, sunny parlor with large French doors that opened onto a balcony with a breathtaking view of the city. She loved the sounds of the city bustling below and would sit for hours listening to musicians playing on the corner, always making sure to have one of the boot boys take some money down to thank them for entertaining her.

  Like almost every other morning, the lady went to her desk, took a few coins from her drawer, and pulled the cord that hung to the left of the fireplace. It called her butler, Mr. Avery, who had been in her household for years. He had been there when her husband was still alive, and she felt that in a strange way he had taken her husband’s place. At least in that he was always there to care for her. Avery was a tall, lanky, stoic man, with black hair distinguished
by a white streak on the left side. His face was heavily lined, almost like chiseled rock, and his eyes were deep brown.

  “Good morning, Lady Tremaine,” he said when he entered the room, making her smile. She knew he wouldn’t return the gesture. He was too austere, too serious, and far too busy for things like smiling. Lady Tremaine was almost sure Avery’s pants could catch fire and he would never let on, if he could possibly avoid it. That was just the sort of man he was.

  “Good morning, Avery. Could you please have one of the boot boys take these coins down to those musicians on the corner? And have Daisy bring me my coffee.”

  Avery narrowed his eyes at his lady but said nothing.

  “Do you disapprove, Avery?” she asked, already knowing what he would say. They’d had several variations of this conversation before, and it was one of the chief reasons she felt Avery sometimes took her husband’s place. He, like her husband, was a man who preferred things done by the book. And ladies didn’t do things like send coins down to musicians who performed on corners.

  “It is not for me to approve or disapprove, my lady,” he said, taking the coins from Lady Tremaine, and then adding, “Oh, and, my lady, Nanny Pinch was wondering if she could bring the girls to see you this morning rather than this afternoon.”

  Lady Tremaine sighed. “Oh yes, they will be out shopping this afternoon, I forgot. Yes, yes, tell Nanny Pinch to bring them if she must. But, Avery, please wait to do so until after I’ve had my coffee. You’re probably the only person alive I can abide talking to before I’ve had my coffee,” she said, laughing.

  “Yes, my lady,” he replied, and left the room. The lady laughed to herself again, wondering if she would ever get the man to crack a smile. It had become her personal mission, to make Avery smile.

  She took her rose-colored shawl from the back of her chair, draped it around her shoulders, and sat on the red velvet couch. The room had felt so lonely since her husband had passed away more than six years ago, and she wondered why she still used it as the family room after he was gone. She supposed it was out of habit. All the ladies she knew used their front parlors in this way. This was where the ladies of the house spent their mornings, greeted their children, or entertained their closest friends. Larger gatherings were of course held in grander rooms, but Lady Tremaine hadn’t held a large gathering since her husband was alive.

  These days the lady attended parties at the houses of others. She was besieged by invitations after her husband died. Well-meaning and thoughtful invitations meant to distract her from her grief. But now that so much time had passed she was starting to long for the days when she was the one to throw the party, and she missed having someone to walk up the stairs with after the last party guest left, and someone to chat with over breakfast about their plans for the day, or in the evening after going to the opera. She wondered if it wasn’t time to consider finding a new companion. A new husband.

  When she woke up that morning she hadn’t expected this was something that would cross her mind, but as she sat on the red couch in her parlor, she felt she might at last be ready to fall in love again.

  “Ah, Daisy,” said the lady, looking at the sweet-faced little maid who brought in the coffee. She was hardly more than a girl, with sparkling eyes and small, delicate features that reminded Lady Tremaine of a little mouse. “Please put the coffee there. Thank you, Daisy.” The maid placed the coffee service on a small round table in front of her. It was Lady Tremaine’s favorite coffee set, black with gold trim.

  “Cook would like to know if you wanted breakfast this morning, my lady,” Daisy asked timidly.

  Lady Tremaine laughed. Her cook, Mrs. Prattle, prompted her maids to ask this every morning knowing full well what her answer would be.

  “Please tell Mrs. Prattle just to send something up for the girls in the schoolroom if she hasn’t already. And we will want a packed lunch for our journey to the country.” The lady smiled at the mouse of a maid.

  “Yes, my lady; she already has a hamper packed for you and the girls.” She quickly corrected herself, “I mean for Miss Drizella and Miss Anastasia.”

  Lady Tremaine wondered what types of women her servants had worked for before coming to her household. Of course, she wanted the staff to be sensible, diligent, and respectful, but she didn’t insist on unnecessary formalities. Not when they were alone, at any rate. Oh sure, when her husband was alive they would throw lavish parties, and she’d always liked giving her lord and lady friends a good show with all the proper formalities from time to time. And of course she had an air of reserve when speaking to her friends’ servants, which was to be expected. But she always left a little something for them at the end of their stay. She wondered if her friends were like this, too. She wondered if they weren’t all just putting on a show. Perhaps when they were alone they were more real with their servants. Treated them like people, talked to them, asked them about their days, and smiled at them. She hoped they did.

  It made her feel less lonely to have so many servants about the house. She had no illusions about them being actual friends, but there was no reason not to be friendly. “Thank you, Daisy. You can tell Nanny Pinch she may bring the girls in now if she likes, unless Avery has already done so. I’m sure he has other things to attend to for our trip. And, Daisy, I will tell Avery that he’s to arrange a little outing for the staff who aren’t coming along with me,” said Lady Tremaine.

  “Yes, my lady.” Daisy left the room with a smile. Lady Tremaine had known the news of an outing would bring a smile to Daisy’s face, but then again it was easy to make Daisy smile.

  Lady Tremaine sipped her coffee, wondering when her little hellions would come storming into the front parlor. She loved her daughters, but they were quite the handful, and the older they got the more difficult it became to rein them in. She had been indulgent with her daughters after their father died. Giving them whatever they pleased, doting on them, finding them the best governess, taking them on splendid holidays, buying them whatever they wished. If they wanted new dresses, they got them. If they asked for horses to ride when they were in the country, Lady Tremaine could hardly say no. There was nothing her girls wanted that they didn’t have, but this was the very reason they were becoming harder to please. Lady Tremaine dreamed of the day her daughters would be married. She dreamed of a life of her own with a man she loved. And if she was not lucky enough to find true love twice, she would be content with solitude.

  But the quiet of the morning was disrupted the moment she contemplated her delightful future, as if her daughters sensed she was at ease and peace. Avery came in first as was his custom. “My lady, Nanny Pinch is here with Miss Anastasia and Miss Drizella.”

  Lady Tremaine winced. She couldn’t help wishing she had waited just a few more precious moments before suggesting they should come see her. “Yes, show them in, Avery.” She put down her coffee cup and motioned for it to be taken away.

  Anastasia and Drizella were eleven and twelve, respectively. Neither of them looked like their mother, nor their father for that matter. The girls couldn’t have been more different from their stately mother. While Lady Tremaine was angular and severe looking, she was still a very handsome woman. Her daughters were all points and edges. All legs and arms, with gawky necks, birdlike faces, and bulging eyes. They would have made remarkable witches, those two. But that is another story, a story that never happened, though it would be very intriguing to explore. Nevertheless, Lady Tremaine thought her daughters were beautiful and told them so at every opportunity.

  On this day both girls were dressed in their fanciest day dresses, Anastasia in pale pink and Drizella in soft blue. They were ready for a day of shopping with Nanny Pinch. This would give Lady Tremaine the solitude she needed to prepare for their trip to the country, and Lady Tremaine was grateful to Nanny Pinch for having the foresight to get her girls out of the house for a few hours while she took care of the necessary arrangements.

  Lady Tremaine adored Nanny Pinch. She was
a sensible woman, still young and full of energy, which she needed in abundance to keep up with Anastasia and Drizella. She was a petite woman with dark hair and eyes and a splash of prominent freckles across her cute little nose and cheeks. She was hardly taller than the girls. Lady Tremaine laughed at the thought of her girls one day towering over their nanny.

  “Good morning, my lovelies!” she said, smiling at her daughters.

  Drizella always had the privilege of kissing her mother first, since she was the eldest. “Good morning, Mother,” she said rather formally, making the lady laugh to herself. Lady Tremaine wondered how long they had practiced that in the schoolroom before they came downstairs. Anastasia, however, didn’t stand on ceremony and leaped into her mother’s arms.

  “Good morning, Mama!” she said, almost knocking over the little round table with the coffee service.

  “We discussed this, Anastasia,” said Nanny Pinch, giving the girl a stern look. “If you refuse to act like a proper young lady, perhaps then it is best you stay in the nursery when we visit the country.”

  Zella’s eyes grew larger than normal, and she pinched Anastasia hard on her upper arm.

  “Ouch! Mama! Look what Zella did!”

  Nanny Pinch quickly separated the girls. “Miss Anastasia, you sit there!” she said, pointing to one chair. “And, Miss Drizella, there!” she snapped, pointing to another. The chairs were on either side of a small table and situated across from Lady Tremaine, who was still residing on the velvet couch.

  “Your mama doesn’t have time for this nonsense! And it’s not too late to change our plans for the country. We could just as easily stay here at home while your mama goes off and enjoys some much-needed time on her own.” The girls clasped their hands together tightly and placed them on their laps, smiling sweetly. Lady Tremaine could see they were both doing their best impressions of proper young ladies, and she had to keep herself from laughing.