“It’s all rumors, of course. But the king threw the ball the night the prince returned and invited every eligible maiden to attend. The prince didn’t have an inkling that it was happening until the night of, and everyone said he yawned during the introductions. I wouldn’t blame him—he must have been so tired from his journey home! A couple of the girls slipped out for half an hour to watch—they think he was about to leave entirely until he met the runaway princess.”
Cinderella wished everyone would stop calling her a princess. “Did you see her?”
“Only at a glance.” Louisa laughed. “My fingers were sore from all that sewing for the ball, so I left just as she arrived. I thought she was just a tardy noble. I could kick myself for missing all the fun.” She gave Cinderella sidelong glance. “But I’m going to stay longer this time.”
“What about what your aunt said?”
“I’ll be careful, and I’m not the only one who’s sneaking out. After two parties in quick succession, who knows when the next one will be?” Louisa rifled through the basket Madame Irmina had left and fished out a dress. It wasn’t as sumptuous as the gown with the pearl trimming she’d danced with earlier, but the color matched her hazel eyes. “Look, the perfect gown just happened to land at my feet.”
“It’s beautiful,” Cinderella breathed.
Pressing the dress against herself, Louisa grinned. “You heard my aunt: this basket’s for next week. No one will miss it.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “If I tuck in the bodice a little, and add some lace to the sleeves... it’ll be just right for the ball. Will you come with me? It’ll be more fun if we go together.”
“Oh, I couldn’t. I can’t risk it... I need this job.” Cinderella trained her gaze on the sleeve she was repairing. “I don’t have an aunt who’ll protect me if I get in trouble.”
“Just for an hour?” Louisa pleaded. “Everyone’s invited, technically. Even us. Madame Irmina can’t fire us for that, no matter how much she wants to. She didn’t fire the girls who slipped out last time.”
“But...”
How could she tell Louisa thatshewas the mysterious princess? A part of herdidwant to go to the ball, even if the prince didn’t recognize her—just to spend time with her new friends.
But a part of her also worried that her stepmother would be there.
“My stepmother,” Cinderella finally admitted. “You asked if I had a home to go back to. I don’t, but I do have a family.” She stared at her hands. “My stepmother... she’ll be looking for me.”
Sensing something was wrong, Louisa set down her work and sat beside Cinderella. “You sound afraid of her.”
“She wasn’t good to me.” Cinderella swallowed, remembering. “My papa was lucky in his work and made a small fortune as a merchant. When he first married my stepmother, he helped her pay off her first husband’s debts. After he died, she took over the household, but she didn’t have any interest in taking over his business. Instead, she squandered the money on jewels for herself and dresses for her daughters. Times were difficult, and she had to dismiss most of the help. ‘Cinderella, we must all do our part,’ she told me. ‘My daughters are delicate creatures, but seeing as you are so strong, you must help with the housework for now.’
“ ‘For now’ became ten years. Along with the housework, I did the sewing and the mending, the cleaning and the cooking... I even took care of the chickens and the cows.”
“You were a servant for your family,” said Louisa with a little gasp.
“It wasn’t so bad,” Cinderella began, but as soon as she said it, she realized that wasn’t true. It had beenterrible; she’d just tried not to acknowledge it.
“Not so bad?” Louisa said. “That soundshorrible.” She scooted her stool closer to Cinderella’s and lowered her voice. “So you ran away. What made you finally decide enough was enough?”
Cinderella pursed her lips, an ache rising in her chest. The truth hurt. “She wanted to sell me.”
“Sell you?” Louisa’s eyes bulged.
“She hired a man to take me away from Aurelais.” Cinderella clutched her skirt, recalling the terrifying night and her harrowing escape. “Someplace so far I wouldn’t be able to come back.”
Horror etched itself on Louisa’s face, and she squeezed Cinderella’s arm.
“It’s all right,” said Cinderella, but her voice trembled as she spoke. “That’s how you found me on the road.... I jumped out of the coach and tumbled onto the street. It was raining hard, and Bruno and I didn’t have anywhere to go.”
“You’re safe now,” promised Louisa. “You won’t ever have to go back.”
Cinderella nodded mutely and started to reach for another garment to sew, but Louisa kept her hand on her arm.
“I can’t promise tonight’s masquerade will erase what awful things your stepmother’s done to you, but it will be a start. Don’t let fear of my aunt be what’s keeping you from going to the ball. She acts tough because it’s her job, but she’s soft at heart.”
“Really?”
“If she catches us at the ball, we might get extra chores... but it’ll be worth it for a night to remember. She was young once, too, though it’s hard to imagine.”
Cinderella chuckled. “Was she a troublemaker like you?”
