Cinderella had had plenty of experience facing her stepmother when she was displeased. She’d gotten used to being punished for no good reason, and to having Lady Tremaine find fault with her work even when there was none to be had. But she had no idea what to expect from the duchess.
The older woman gestured at the empty chair opposite her. “Sit.”
It was a command, not a request.
Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, Cinderella obeyed.
Genevieve reached for the teacup on her writing desk, indulging in a long, slow sip before speaking. “So.” She returned the cup to its saucer, set it down, and dabbed the corners of her lips with a napkin. “Youare the mystery girl he’s been looking for all this time.”
The swan mask Cinderella had worn rested on the table beside the duchess. Genevieve picked it up, tapping it against her shoulder as she pretended to wonder. “This was found in the gardens, and the guards said it belonged to the woman with Charles at the ball. I wonder who could have given it to her.”
Cinderella’s shoulders tensed. “I was just about to tell you—”
Genevieve raised a hand. “I trusted you. I treated you like one of my own. And you kept this from me.”
Cinderella hung her head. “I know.”
Genevieve’s hand fell to her side. “And yet, I couldn’t be more relieved.”
Cinderella looked up, surprised to find the duchess smiling. “The two sudden disappearances from the balls certainly gave me reason for concern. I was worried that my nephew had fallen in love with some frivolous girl with an expensive dress and overdone hair—or worse, a pretty face skilled at manipulating young princes into lovelorn states.” She tapped her cheek with her fingers. “But you... you’ll do nicely. Or so my gut tells me.”
“Oh, I’m—I’m so glad you think so,” Cinderella said in surprise. “I was worried you wouldn’t... that you might not—approve.”
“Well, I do. And if my brother doesn’t, then I’ll make sure he knows what a fool he is.” Something screeched outside, and Genevieve winced, gesturing at the windows. “Close them for me, will you? I have important things to tell you, but who can concentrate with all that racket?”
That “racket” turned out to be because of flowers, hundreds of them, arriving by the cartful. Roses, orchids, lilies, daffodils, irises, and a dozen other varieties that she could not name. Heavy porcelain vases were mounted all around the grand ballroom and the royal gardens, displaying the arrangements in all their grandeur. But one arrangement stood out from the rest.
From the duchess’s window, Cinderella watched the gardeners erect a trellis studded with roses. When the palace staff wheeled out a barrow of flowers, white pearlescent roses intertwined with pink ones as flushed as the height of sunrise, she nearly gasped.
Her parents’ favorite flowers. White and pink roses, with a touch of myrtle.
Charleshadbeen listening.
“Are you paying attention to a word I’m saying?” Genevieve rapped Cinderella’s shoulder with her fan. “A princess must be engaged and focused, not prone to daydreaming.”
Cinderella jerked her head away from the window. “I’m sorry. I was looking at the flowers.”
“Charles’s doing, isn’t it?” Genevieve clucked her tongue at the sight. “He’s a romantic, like his father. Not all kings see the value of marrying for love, as my brother and nephew do. But sometimes love isn’t enough. It’ll take more, much more, for the court to accept you.”
Now Genevieve had Cinderella’s full attention. “Aurelais has never had a commoner for a princess. I know.”
“That will not be your only challenge.”
The heaviness in Genevieve’s tone made Cinderella frown. “What do you mean?”
The duchess put on her tiara, and her voice turned grave. “This is between you and me, Cinderella, but the king is unwell. No one knows how ill—the blasted physicians here won’t answer any of my questions directly. All they’ll say is that he has taken a turn for the worse.”
Cinderella’s hand jumped to her mouth. She couldn’t believe it. “But he seemed fine at the masquerade and at breakfast.”
“Yes, I wasn’t even aware myself that anything was wrong with him. But I suppose now it makes sense—his wanting to abdicate and everything.”
Does it?Cinderella couldn’t shake the feeling that something was not right, but maybe it was simply her surprise. “Will he recover?”
“I hope so, my dear. But Dr. Coste wants him to rest, and to steer clear of affairs that will strain him.” Genevieve placed a gentle hand on Cinderella’s arm. “You do realize what this means, don’t you?” she said quietly. “My brother may step down sooner than anyone anticipated, meaning Charles will become king.”
That meant if Cinderella married him, she would become—
She swallowed hard.Queen.
