The duke wrinkled his nose, which made his mustache quiver. “So you’ve finally done the deed. Very good, man. The king expects you immediately. I assume you have all the paperwork, signed and ready?” he asked.
“I do, Grand Duke,” said Sir Richard.
“Very well, then you may ride with me to the castle. It was lovely meeting you, Lady Tremaine. I will send your regards to the king,” he said snottily, which made Lady Tremaine flinch. She had hardly had a moment to say a word, let alone send her regards to the king. Here she was already making the worst of impressions.
“Things are done so strangely here, my love. Must you rush off to register our wedding papers now? I wish you could come back home with me to celebrate rather than go straight to the castle.” She gathered from the look on his face that this was not to be the case, so she added, “But if you must go, then please let us depart with a kiss.” She moved toward him, but he flinched and backed away from her.
“Lady, please!” he said stiffly. “Not in front of the Grand Duke.”
Lady Tremaine flushed, embarrassed. She wondered how many more indignities she would suffer this day. Nothing was at all as she had imagined. As she made her way home in her carriage alone, she wondered how she had gotten herself into this mess. She was exhausted, her wedding had been rushed, and her husband had already started making excuses not to kiss her. She didn’t have a good feeling about any of this.
She felt more alone than she had after her first husband had died. At least in England she had had her friends to comfort her. Here she was almost entirely alone.
When she returned to the château, she let herself inside and stood in the vast vestibule. The house was eerily quiet, and she decided she must be right; the servants had to be working on some sort of surprise wedding reception. Still, as she looked around at her new home, Lady Tremaine couldn’t help but feel disappointed. The château wasn’t as stately as she was expecting. It was a beautiful home, but not quite as grand as her previous home in London, and it was going to take some work to bring it to her usual standards.
Well, she had money enough and planned to do just that the moment she was settled in. If this was going to be her new home, she was going to make it as lovely as possible.
As she stood in the vestibule envisioning all the changes she might make, a squat, round-faced woman, white hair piled into a pristine bun, descended the stairs with a large carpetbag.
“Welcome, Lady Tremaine,” she said nervously.
“Thank you, Mrs….” Lady Tremaine paused expectantly.
The old woman turned scarlet. “Yes, I’m so sorry, I’m Mrs. Butterpants, I was head housekeeper, and Cinderella’s governess.”
Lady Tremaine suppressed a laugh, not missing a beat. “Was head housekeeper and governess? Are you leaving, then?” she said, surveying the woman.
“I’m sorry, my lady; I assumed Sir Richard told you. I was informed that my services were no longer needed now that Cinderella has a stepmother.”
Lady Tremaine narrowed her eyes, her hand reaching for her brooch for comfort. She thought it was odd, as she was certainly no replacement for a proper governess, but she thought it prudent not to argue, and quite frankly she was much too tired.
“I see, but what will you do, Mrs. Butterpants? Do you have another means of employment lined up?”
The woman smiled. “You’re so kind to ask. My brother has a bakery in a neighboring kingdom. I’m sure you passed through it on your way, the one with the very tall tower. I’m going to help him.”
Lady Tremaine laughed at the idea of a family of bakers called Butterpants. “Well, good luck then, Mrs. Butterpants. Before you go, may I ask where the other servants are? I was surprised they weren’t here to greet me when I arrived.”
Mrs. Butterpants turned a deeper shade of scarlet than before. “There are no other servants, Lady Tremaine. I was the last.”
Again Lady Tremaine didn’t understand, but she chose not to share her displeasure with the old woman.
“I see. Well, Mrs. Butterpants, I’d better not keep you from your journey. I assume Sir Richard has arranged your transportation?”
Mrs. Butterpants scoffed under her breath. “No, my lady, but not to worry, my brother has sent a horse and cart to collect me. I think it might be waiting for me outside.”
Lady Tremaine shook her head. She was not impressed by the way Sir Richard ran his home. She would have her hands full getting this place into order.
“Well, then, Mrs. Butterpants, have a safe journey,” she said, feeling completely bewildered.
“Goodbye, Lady Tremaine. Good luck to you,” she said as she made her way out the front door. And something about her tone sounded as if she thought Lady Tremaine would need it.
Lady Tremaine just stood there for a moment taking in the size of the place, wondering how it could possibly be managed without a staff. Just then Nanny Pinch came down the stairs looking frantic.
“Lady Tremaine, do you realize there is no staff here whatsoever?”
Lady Tremaine did her best to remain calm, again reaching for her brooch for comfort. She was happy she had worn it for the journey, because she was feeling she needed an extra layer of protection in this strange new place.
“Yes, Nanny Pinch. I know I only have you for a fortnight before you must go back to London, but could I prevail upon you to stay a bit longer, just while Rebecca and I arrange for a new staff?”
Nanny Pinch looked almost as uncomfortable as Mrs. Butterpants had. “My lady, what am I thinking, speaking with you about servants when you’ve just returned from your wedding? I’m so sorry. Where is Sir Richard?” she asked, looking around for him.
“He had some business at the castle. Things are done so strangely here, Nanny Pinch. The moment we were married the Grand Duke was there demanding he file our marriage contract with the king,” said Lady Tremaine. “But you didn’t answer my question. Could you find your way to staying on just a little longer?”
“I’m sorry, my lady. I wish I could stay, but I just can’t. I hate the idea of being so far from my mother; it would take ages for me to get home should she need me,” said Nanny Pinch, looking sincerely sorry.
Lady Tremaine clenched her fist, wishing she were in London, surrounded by her own servants, in her own home, with beautiful things that she loved, where Nanny Pinch would be happy to stay on.
“I understand, Miss Pinch. I appreciate you agreeing to stay as long as you have already. I know you have to get back to London to your mother. You’re a very devoted daughter, and she is lucky to have you. I promise I won’t keep you a moment longer than we agreed. Now, I suppose I’d better see how one goes about finding servants in the Many Kingdoms.”
Nanny Pinch smiled. “I think Rebecca can help you with that,” she said.
“Yes, how clever of you, Nanny Pinch. I knew that girl would be a boon to me. Now I suppose we’d better go upstairs and break it to the girls that there will be no wedding reception this evening.”
Not for the first time that day, Lady Tremaine wondered if she had made the right decision, bringing her girls clear across the world where they didn’t have a single soul who loved or cared for them.
Lady Tremaine was sitting in her room while Rebecca busily unpacked her things, finding a proper place for everything. The carriage with the rest of their belongings had finally arrived when she and Sir Richard were at the chapel. She sat in a faded green velvet chair near a window that overlooked the courtyard. It was lightly dusted with snow, and Lady Tremaine wondered if her journey to the Many Kingdoms had been longer than she had thought. Surely it hadn’t taken more than two months to make their journey. Could it truly be winter already? She found herself musing at how lovely it would be for Anastasia and Drizella to have snow on Christmas, like they might have in London, and with that she felt a little bit more at home. Her things didn’t look quite right in her new room. It was cavernous, and rather sparse with furnishings that looked as though they had been c
hosen many years before, and they weren’t at all to her taste. She sighed and decided to look out the window again, losing herself in the snow-covered garden. She felt very thankful the holiday season was already upon them and hoped it would bring all of them together as a family.
“Rebecca, have you had any luck finding the book of fairy tales now that our things have arrived?” asked Lady Tremaine.
“Not yet, my lady. I’ll be sure to give it to you the moment I find it,” Rebecca said as Nanny Pinch came into the room with Anastasia and Drizella.
“Ah, my lovely girls,” Lady Tremaine said, reaching out her arms so they could come in for hugs. “How are you, my darlings? I presume Nanny Pinch is helping you get settled in your new rooms?”
“Yes, Mama, but we hate it here. Cinderella is rude, the house is empty, and we hate Sir Richard!” said Anastasia.
“It’s true, Mama, we hate it. We thought you were bringing us to a magical place, not some old stone house in the middle of nowhere. We can’t even see the castle from here,” added Drizella.
Cinderella came into the room just then, in time to hear Drizella’s complaint.
“That’s not true, Drizella, you can see a view of the castle from the attic tower.”
Drizella just scoffed in response.
“Now, now, Drizella, be sweet to your new sister,” said Lady Tremaine.
“She’s not our sister!” said Anastasia.
Nanny Pinch was about to scold both of the girls when Lady Tremaine did her best to create a diversion to appease all of them.
“Nanny Pinch, would you mind serving the tea for the girls in here? And some coffee for me. I would love to just sit and visit with my girls,” she said, smiling at Cinderella. “Now, girls, let’s acquaint ourselves better while we wait for our tea, shall we? Sit down, Cinderella. We would love to know more about you,” she said, motioning for Cinderella to come sit near her, Anastasia, and Drizella. Cinderella took the seat across from them instead, keeping a bit of distance.
“I hope you’re enjoying my mother’s home, Lady Tremaine,” she said, smiling at her stepmother.
Nanny Pinch nearly unsettled the tea cart, she was so shocked by Cinderella’s words. “Cinderella, dear, we already talked this over,” she said. “This house now belongs to your papa and new mama.”
Cinderella just smiled sweetly. “No, Miss Pinch, Papa told me that this house will always be Mama’s no matter who calls herself lady of the house.”
Lady Tremaine understood what the little girl was saying, even though it stung. She wasn’t being malicious, or even trying to be hurtful. She didn’t think the girl was even capable of being mean. She was just repeating what her father had told her. The girl simply didn’t understand that it hurt her feelings, or why.
“Yes, my dear Cinderella, in a way this house will always be your mother’s because her spirit is kept alive by the memories you have of her here. I think that is a beautiful sentiment.” Lady Tremaine reached her hand out for Cinderella to take. “I know I said this already, but it really would please me if you could find it in your heart to call me Mama.”
Cinderella was fussing with something in the pocket at the front of her skirts, not paying attention to what Lady Tremaine was saying.
“Cinderella, did you hear your new mama?” asked Nanny Pinch, trying to divert the girl’s attention from whatever it was that she was messing with in her pocket. “Cinderella?” she said again.
The girl finally looked up. “Yes?”
“Your new mama was speaking to you.”
Cinderella clasped her hands together like a little angel and smiled at Lady Tremaine. “Yes, Lady Tremaine?” she asked.
“Never mind, Cinderella.” Lady Tremaine was hurt and exhausted by the entire ordeal. But then Anastasia spoke up. “You’re being rude, Cinderella.”
“Yes,” Drizella chimed in. “Cinderella, why won’t you call her Mama?”
Both girls watched as Cinderella ignored them, fiddling with her pocket again.
Lady Tremaine reached for her brooch, running her fingers lightly against the cold jade. She was having a hard time with this young girl already and doing her best to keep patient, but she knew that if one of her own daughters was acting this way she wouldn’t stand for it, so she decided she must say something.
“Cinderella, show us what’s in your pocket that has you so distracted you can’t be bothered to listen to a word my daughters and I have said.”
“Oh, I don’t think that is a good idea,” said Cinderella without looking up.
“Cinderella, show us what’s in your pockets now, or I will have Nanny Pinch take you up to your room without any tea,” Lady Tremaine scolded, trying to use the same tactics she’d used on her own daughters in the past.
“That’s fine. I’d prefer to be in my room right now anyway, Stepmother,” Cinderella said with a smile.
Impossible girl! Lady Tremaine thought. She didn’t understand this girl at all. It didn’t seem like she was trying to be insolent or hurtful; she was simply stating her truth.
“Very well, Cinderella, go back to your room, but I must insist you call me Mama.”
Cinderella walked over to Lady Tremaine, reaching her hand out for her to take. “I’m sorry, Lady Tremaine. I can’t call someone who isn’t my mother Mama. But I will happily call you Stepmother, if that pleases you.” She looked up at Lady Tremaine hopefully.
“Very well, Cinderella.” Lady Tremaine sighed, eyeing her strange new stepdaughter warily. “You may stay down here and have your tea with me and your stepsisters before you go back up to your room.”
“If that will make you happy, Stepmother,” she said, looking back down at her pocket.
“Won’t you show us what’s in your pocket?” asked Drizella, breaking ranks and joining Cinderella on the love seat.
“Yes, Cinderella, what is it?” asked Anastasia.
“Girls, Nanny Pinch is about to serve. Must you interrogate Cinderella about what’s inside her pocket while we drink our tea?” Lady Tremaine said jokingly.
She was very happy to see them getting along a little better, munching on finger sandwiches that Nanny Pinch had made, and sipping their tea like perfect princesses. They had gotten off to a sticky start, but she was at last feeling like they could be a happy family together.
Just then Rebecca came into the room. “The Grand Duke is here, my lady. He says he has a message for you from the castle.”
Lady Tremaine stood up, motioning for the girls to do the same. “Show him in,” she said.
The tall man walked in, squinting, Lady Tremaine thought, in order to keep his monocle in place. He was a strange man, this duke. But then, Lady Tremaine thought everyone she met here so far was very odd.
“Sorry to disturb you, Lady Tremaine. But our king has sent me to inform you that Sir Richard will be detained for the next several weeks on court business.”
Lady Tremaine was starting to get agitated. “On our wedding night, of all nights?” She heard the edge in her voice and stopped herself from going on.
“I’m afraid it’s unavoidable, Lady Tremaine. Sir Richard would rather be here, I am sure. But when a king calls one of his knights to his side, it is his duty to the king and the realm to follow orders, no matter what.”
Lady Tremaine sighed. “And what exactly will my husband be doing these next few weeks, may I ask?” Lady Tremaine was finding it hard to hide her frustration.
“You may ask, my lady, but I’m afraid I may not answer. Now if you will excuse me, I will be on my way. Welcome to the Many Kingdoms. I’m sure I will be seeing you at court.” He bowed curtly and left the room without further ceremony.
Lady Tremaine sat there at a complete loss. This was the most unusual day. She wanted to rant and scream, to cry and vent, but she couldn’t. She was in a strange land, in a strange home where she didn’t feel welcome, and now her husband—who had only become so a few short hours ago—was mysteriously away on their wedding night without so mu
ch as an explanation. And for all she knew he wasn’t even the man he presented himself to be when he was in England. She could only hope his coldness to her today after the ceremony was due to stress over this business at the castle, whatever that may be.
“I’m sorry, Cinderella, but it seems your papa will be away for some weeks. I hope your new sisters and I will prove to be a delightful diversion while we await his return,” she said, trying to keep her face emotionless.
“Oh, I knew Papa was planning to go away after the wedding,” said Cinderella. “He told me.” She fiddled again with the thing in her pocket.
“What do you mean he told you?” asked Lady Tremaine with more sharpness in her voice than she intended.
“Papa tells me everything,” she said, smiling at whatever it was that had her so preoccupied. Lady Tremaine was being pushed beyond her limits. She felt the anger rising in her. Sir Richard told his daughter he was going away right after the ceremony? Clearly he had urged her to come here so quickly because he had wanted someone to watch over his daughter for free. The indignities of this day kept mounting and she feared this was just the start.
She got up from her seat and faced the window, staring out at the courtyard and trying to center herself, but then the screaming started, which pierced her ears. Screams so loud she thought her daughters were being murdered. When she turned around, she saw Anastasia and Drizella standing up on the furniture, squealing louder than she thought was possible, while Cinderella frantically searched for something on the floor.
“It’s a mouse! A mouse!” said Anastasia.
“Mama! She had a mouse in her pocket and it escaped!” cried Drizella.
“Be quiet, you’re going to frighten him,” said Cinderella.
“Frighten him?” screamed Drizella.
“It’s just a little mouse. See?” Cinderella scooped the little creature up in her hands and held it up very close to Drizella’s face. Drizella and Anastasia leaped from their chairs and back to their mother.
“Mama, make her take that horrible thing away!” said Drizella.
Cold Hearted Page 9
