Chapter 21

Cinderella was awoken from a lovely dream by a commotion downstairs. Jumping out of bed, she looked out the window. A familiar figure was walking up to the house: Charles.

She washed up and dressed as quickly as she could in her nicest dress, the purple one she had made over from Catherine. She combed out her curls and left them down. Looking in her cracked mirror, she frowned. The dark shadows under her eyes were evidence of the night she'd spent tossing and turning, trying not to think of Charles and what would happen to them now. The dress' sleeves weren't long enough to cover the cuts she had received in the fighting at the castle.

When she went to open her door, she realized it didn't matter. The door was locked tight. She pushed and pounded for a few minutes before giving up. Of course the duchess didn't want Cinderella to see Charles. Once she'd found out that commoner Charles was actually Prince Charles, everything had changed.

Cinderella had never been treated well by her stepfamily, but the previous day had been one of the worst. They kept her working all day. They didn't even give her a chance to clean up her cuts and bruises, or even to change. She had cleaned, cooked, gardened, moved furniture, and mended clothing until the sun went down. She didn't know how they had found out about Charles, but she guessed that word of their adventures at the castle had spread.

Sitting on her bed, Cinderella cradled her sore, blistered hands in her lap and let her tears fall. Now she would never see Charles again. The duchess would see to that. She didn't want any competition for the Prince's attention, and Cinderella certainly qualified.

As she cried, she remembered all of the time they'd spent together, from that first day she ran into him at the Flower Festival and he chased her down to return her key. Then there was the time she saved him from bandits in the forest, then he saved her in return. She smiled as she remembered dancing with him outside Isabel's birthday party. She thought longingly of the way it felt to be in his arms only last week, even though they had been trapped in a well, unsure if they would survive.

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Charles was fuming. He had come to see Cinderella dressed in Alex's clothes, hoping to avoid any notice from the duchess or her daughters. Apparently someone had told them that he was the Prince.

"Come in, Your Highness," Catherine had greeted him at the door. She had led him to the living room. When he asked for Cinderella, she had left for a while.

"She doesn't want to see you," she said.

"What?" He felt sure that Cinderella wouldn't refuse to see him. At first he was saddened, but as Catherine, Jeanne, and the duchess pelted him with questions and meaningless conversation, he began to wonder if Catherine had even asked Cinderella.

"Why doesn't Cinderella want to see me?" he burst out in the middle of some inane discussion of the weather.

The women looked taken aback for a moment. Finally, the duchess answered. "You know, she's always been a very odd girl. For some reason, your being the Prince has really dampened her interest in you. She never was the type for nice things. I really don't know that she fits in with nobility and royalty, Sire."

He didn't speak, but he definitely thought up a retort. He had seen Cinderella befriend nobles, commoners, and servants alike. Whether she wore a castle guard's uniform or a maid's dress, she had always looked the part of a Princess to him.

"I see. Well then, I shan't bother you again. Good day." He stood and walked out. He needed to find a way to get to Cinderella. Perhaps the duchess would send her into town. They couldn't keep her locked up forever.

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Apparently the duchess planned to keep Cinderella locked up forever. She was allowed out early in the mornings to do her chores, but the duchess made her wear shackles on her ankles like a common criminal. During the day, she was kept in the house, cooking, cleaning, and sewing. Invitations to the Prince's Ball had arrived the day after Charles came to visit. Though the invitation specifically mentioned Cinderella, the duchess made it clear that she was not going.

When Cinderella asked why she was being punished, the duchess told her it was for running off recklessly to the castle and engaging in a battle. "Why, you might have been killed! What would your father think of that? I cannot have you endangering yourself, so you will stay here, where I can keep an eye on you."

Paulette came to visit a few times. She was allowed in, but only for brief chats. One of the girls always sat in to make sure that Cinderella said nothing of the treatment she was enduring.

Cinderella spent hours every day as she worked imagining Charles sweeping in and rescuing her. Of course, that wouldn't happen. He had no idea what she was going through. And after the way she had run away from him at the castle, he probably thought she hated him. Maybe he was starting to realize how unfit a partner she would be. Either way, she saw no sign of him again after that first visit.

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Charles was beginning to wonder if Cinderella had disappeared. He had gone to town. He had walked past her house. He had sent letters. Still, nothing. Finally, the day before the ball, he ran into Paulette in town.

"Paulette!" he called. She looked up and smiled.

"Hello, Your Highness," she answered. "How are you doing?"

"I'm worried about Cinderella. I haven't seen her since the battle at the castle. Do you know if she's okay?"

Paulette's smile faltered. "I'm worried as well. I've gone to visit her a few times. They only let me stay for a few minutes at a time, and she's been very quiet and withdrawn. She looks very tired, too. I'm worried that they're punishing her."

"For what?"

"For- well- for you."

"For me?"

"You know Duchess Dalben has her heart set on marrying one of her daughters off to you. Cinderella is now serious competition. She's not going to just sit back and let her steal away your heart."

"I'm going over there right now and I'm going to-"

Paulette stopped him. "Perhaps I can help. I had planned to do this anyway. The duchess is not going to let Cinderella go to the ball." Charles started speaking, but she stopped him and continued, "I am going to take Cinderella a dress for the ball. It was her mother's. I will help her get ready. If you could send a royal carriage, I will make sure that she gets there. With so many witnesses, the duchess will not be able to harm her."

He thought it over and nodded. It was a sound plan. "I'll have the carriage leave as soon as the ball begins." Paulette nodded. They said their goodbyes and parted ways. Charles felt hope for the first time in days. Hopefully soon he would be able to see Cinderella again. And if he found out that the duchess was punishing her for his feelings for her, he would ensure that she and her daughters finally got what they deserved.

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Cinderella collapsed in her bed as soon as the duchess and her girls were on their way to the castle. It had been another long and exhausting day, getting the girls ready, but they looked stunning. Before they left, the duchess insisted on putting Cinderella in the shackles and locking her in her room.

"Just so you don't get any ideas," she said.

Only a few minutes after she sat, Cinderella heard a knock at the door. She jumped. "Who is it?" she asked.

"Paulette," her godmother called.

"Oh! Hello! The door is locked."

"So I see. One moment."

A series of jingles and clicks sounded, then the door swung open. Paulette walked in, a set of metal tools in her hands. She took a long look at Cinderella, her eyes lingering on the shackles on her ankles.

"That woman is a beast," she muttered, kneeling and inserting some of her tools into the lock on the chains. Soon she had them off.

"Thank you! I didn't expect to see you!" Cinderella gave Paulette a big hug.

"I'm here to get you to the ball."

"Oh, I don't want to go."

"Whyever not?"

"I don't think Charles wants to see me."

"Oh Cinderella, he still loves you."

"Does he?"

"He stopped me in town yesterday and asked if you were okay because he's very worried about you. The only thing that stopped him from storming over here right then was that I promised to get you to the ball."

"So he's expecting me?"

"Yes! Now get up! Let's get you cleaned up."

Paulette helped Cinderella wash up. When they were done, Paulette pulled out a package. "This was your mother's," she said, pulling out the most beautiful gown Cinderella had ever seen. It wasn't in the modern style with full skirts. Instead, the white material fell gracefully from the high waist. The top was decorated with beautiful crystals that shimmered like a rainbow. The white, lacy sleeves reached to Cinderella's wrists. The waist was wrapped in a silver ribbon.

"I have shoes as well." Paulette held up the most beautiful slipper Cinderella had ever seen. They were clear, like glass, decorated in the same crystals as the top of the gown. Once she had slipped them on Cinderella's feet, she let her to a chair. "Now to do something with this hair."

It felt nice to have someone who loved her helping her get ready. Paulette pulled her curls up into a beautiful pile on her head, draped with strings of crystals.

"One more thing," Cinderella said. She hurried up to her room and fetched the pearl ring. Slipping it onto her finger, she met Paulette at the front door. A handsome carriage was waiting out front.

"Where did this come from?" Cinderella asked.

"Charles sent it," Paulette said with a smile. "Now go, my dear girl, and dance the night away."

"Oh thank you, Paulette! Are you coming with?"

"No dear. I've had my fill of balls, I'm afraid. But I will come visit you soon at the castle." Paulette slipped a simple white, lacy mask into Cinderella's hand and gave her a big hug.

With a smile and a wave goodbye, Cinderella was on her way to the castle. Her heart pounded. She was nervous about seeing Charles again, but also excited. She tied on the mask with a smile.

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Charles was nervous. He hadn't seen Cinderella in a week. He was worried that she wouldn't accept him. If she refused his proposal, he didn't know what he would do. He felt the ring in his pocket, the one he had picked out for her weeks ago when she was about to get engaged to Floro. He couldn't wait to see it on her beautiful, work-worn hand.

Guests poured in for the first half-hour. Charles did the part of gracious host, greeting and dancing and meeting, but his heart wasn't in it. He kept glancing at the door, though he knew Cinderella would be late.

He was dancing with Catherine when Cinderella arrived. She looked like an angel in her white gown and white mask, her blonde curls piled on her head. When he stopped moving, Catherine asked what was wrong.

"Nothing," he said, smiling. "Everything is finally right." Without another word, he ran to the bottom of the stairs to wait for Cinderella.

Everything got quiet and everyone gasped. He glanced around and realized the entire room was watching him and Cinderella. Good. He wanted everyone to see them together. He wanted everyone to see her as the Princess she was.

When she reached the bottom, he held out a hand and bowed. "May I have this dance, milady?" he asked.

She curtseyed. "Of course, Your Highness."

As the orchestra struck up again, they began waltzing.

"You can call me Charles," he said with a smile. The smile she gave was a little shy. He pulled her a little closer. "I've missed you," he whispered.

"I've missed you too," she answered. Her grip on his hand tightened. "I don't ever want to let go."

"Then don't."

"I have to apologize for the other day, when I ran away. I'm so sorry. I was just- I was so nervous and scared and-"

"There's no need. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. Did you really refuse to see me the next day?"

"Is that what they told you? They locked me in my room. I wouldn't even have known you came if I hadn't seen you out the window."

"I was so afraid that I had lost you. And I couldn't imagine life without you, Cinderella. I love you."

"I love you too."

They talked as they danced, about the future, about their hopes and dreams. When they ran out of words, they just looked at each other and whirled about the room. Eventually, tired of the curious faces around them, Charles led Cinderella out to the gardens where they could enjoy some privacy. They strolled about the moonlit paths hand in hand.

Shortly before midnight, Alex found them. "Charles, your parents need to speak with you. Now!"

"But-"

"They said it was urgent."

"It's okay, Charles. I'll wait here," Cinderella said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'll hurry." He and Alex walked quickly back to his parents. When they reached the King and Queen, Charles was concerned to see the captain of the guard there as well.

"Charles. We've had word that Zaral and his cronies were seen in the area this evening. They may try to get into the ball and make mischief."

"Zaral? Here?"

"Yes. Be on watch. I've alerted the guards and increased the patrol around the castle."

"Okay. I will keep my eyes out."

"Thank you. Also, we plan to announce your engagement at midnight. Are you ready?"

"Not yet, but I will be. Thank you, Father."

Charles nearly ran back to Cinderella. When he reached the garden path where he had left her, he found it deserted. "Cinderella?" he called. She wouldn't have left, would she? He was going to go inside and look for her when a glimmer caught his eye. In a bush next to the path, he found a lovely glass slipper decorated in crystals. It had to be Cinderella's. She must have been taken!

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Shortly after Charles disappeared, Cinderella felt arms around her. Before she could scream, a hand was clapped over her mouth. She struggled, losing one of her slippers as she kicked at her captors, but to no avail.

She was carried out of the castle through a side gate. After they stopped to tie her wrists and ankles, her captors took her to a carriage. They set her on the seat, closed the door, and took off. The moonlight streaming through the window lit the face across from her.

"Duke Zaral!" she exclaimed.

"Ah, if it isn't Cinderella. I never would have thought Prince Charles would settle on you. The family maid, the noble servant girl."

"What are you doing?"

"Well, Charles has taken from me something very dear: my crown. You have also taken something dear from me: my daughter. It seems only fair to return the favor."

"I didn't take away your daughter. She still loves you. She's still your daughter."

"She betrayed me! With your help," he roared. "She never would have married that pathetic, scholarly twig if it weren't for your gentle persuasion. I set that marriage up with your father to get Catherine out of the way. I had no idea the duchess would turn it on you. And then for you to turn it on my little girl. . . Well, none of that matters now."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere Charles will never find us."

Cinderella didn't say anything else. Instead she watched the trees flash by outside. She wondered how she could let Charles know where they were going. As she reached up to adjust her mask, she had the perfect idea. She untied it, quite a feat with her wrists bound, and set it in her lap. When Zaral was distracted, she held it out the window and let go. It flew away in the wind. She just hoped Charles would find it.

When Zaral looked back, he noticed the mask's absence. "Where did it go?" he growled.

"I'm afraid I lost it out the window," she said with a sweet smile.

Her smile turned to a cry of pain as he slapped her hard across the face. "Another stunt like that and you may not survive the night."

She held her cheek and watched him. He glared at her for a while before turning his attention to the view out the window. When she felt the carriage turning off the main road, she checked the Zaral was otherwise occupied and carefully dropped her ring out the window.

After a long drive on the bumpy side road, the carriage stopped. "We're on foot from here, I'm afraid," Zaral said. He called one of the guards to carry her. As soon as she was out of the carriage, she carefully kicked off her other slipper after making sure no one was looking. Hopefully that would get Charles on the right path.