Cinderella and the Colonel (11 page)

“Oh. Thank you
,” Cinderella said. “This looks like a lot of seeds.”

“It’s enough for a field. They’re blasted cost
ly to purchase, so I suggest you save the seeds from your flowers when they die. You could plant some next year and sell the rest,” Friedrich said.

“If they’re ‘blasted costly’ how did you get them?” Cinderella asked
, eyeing Friedrich.

“Through legal methods.
It’s not like you are in a position to look down on me, Lady Break-and-Enter,” Friedrich said, tweaking the tip of Cinderella’s button nose.

Cinderella laughed. “Thank you
, Friedrich,” she said, grateful to be amused even as her world fell apart.

“For marry
ing you?”

Cinderella rolled her eyes.
“For the seeds. For coming,” she said before she stood up and dusted off her dress. She held the pouch of seeds up to the sky. “It’s too early to give up hope. I forgot that. Thank you,” she said, smiling down at the officer.

Friedrich tilted his head. “Does this mean you’ll forgive our love
ly queen, her wonderful husband, and her charming sons?”

“Hard
ly,” Cinderella sourly said.

“I thought as much
, but it was worth a try,” Friedrich said as he, too, stood.

He leaned closer and closer to Cinderella
, lowering his face towards hers. When he was a hand’s width away, Cinderella asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m go
ing to kiss you.”

In an instant
, Cinderella had both her hands clamped over his lips. “No, you aren’t.”

Friedrich sighed
, his breath warm against Cinderella’s hands. “Why not? Don’t I deserve it?”

“Kiss
ing is not a matter of deserving.”

“Th
en what is it?”

“It is an easy way to express affection.”

“I should have known you would scorn the easy way. You enjoy making things difficult. What’s so bad about the easy way?”

“I find it unimaginative
, not to mention disloyal to my future.”

“Future?”

“I don’t know whom my husband will be until the proposal is accepted and the wedding date is picked.  A million things could happen before the offer. It has been expected of me to marry Julien Rosseux since my father died. My body is the one thing I truly have to barter with now that Aveyron is swimming in debt. I suspect I’m worth more as long as I remain untouched.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think of it. If I were to marry you, how would you feel knowing I kissed Julien a great deal?”

Friedrich
was silent.

“And there you
have it. Physical affection, for me, is a matter of loyalty and wealth. I will fight for my future, even if I don’t know whom it involves,” Cinderella said, clasping her hands behind her back before she started walking.

“Where are you go
ing?”

“Back to the market.”

“You’re just going to leave me?”

“Now
that I feel better, I have things to do.”

Friedrich muttered about headstrong fem
ales as he squinted up at the sun.

“Friedrich.”

“What?” he grumbled.

“Thank you
,” Cinderella said. She smiled, a gesture that transformed her already pretty features into a vision of gentleness and beauty. “Thank you for coming, and thank you for cheering me up.”

Friedrich
dumbly nodded

“Until tomorrow
,” Cinderella said.

“Until tomorrow
, my love!” Friedrich called.

“Don’t push your luck.
”

“If I didn’t
, I’d be ashamed of myself,” Friedrich shouted as Cinderella left the gardens, a smile on her face and a spring in her steps.

Chapter 8

Cinderella was the last to arrive to the Delattres’ dinner party. She wore her beloved summer dress—a creation of lavender silk that brought out the stark gray of her eyes and the vivid red hue of her hair.

It
was a day costume, so Cinderella was woefully underdressed, but at least she was more presentable than usual. She even had a clean, black shawl she wore for the walk to the manor. As she handed it off to a servant, someone called out for her.

“Cinderella!”

“Marcus,” Cinderella said with a smile. “My, you’ve grown taller since we last met.”

Marcus
was all laughter and smiles. “I’m taller than Mama, and I’m nearly taller than you too, I think.”

“I think so as well
,” Cinderella said, slowly walking in the direction of the sitting room. “Did only you accompany your parents, or are your little brother and sister present as well?”

“
It’s just me. The littles wanted to come, but Father said they’re too young.” Marcus said before remembered himself and offered his arm to Cinderella, which she took. “Everyone else is already here.”

“The Feautres
, the Leroys, and the Rosseuxes?”

“Yes.”

“Which of their children did they bring?”

“The Leroys arrived with
one of their sons and daughters-in-law. No grandchildren, blessings be said and repeated,” Marcus said, wiping his forehead with great exaggeration. “The Rosseuxes brought Julien, of course, but not Cerise, which is a shame. She has this ear-piercing whistle she said she would teach me—ah,” Marcus broke off and cleared his throat. “The Feautres arrived shortly after we did. Their daughters are with them,” Marcus scowled.

“All of them?” Cinderella asked in surprise.

“No, just the two oldest,” Marcus said, his scowl deepening as they stood just outside the salon.

Cinderella smiled fond
ly at the young nobleman. He was doing his best to act mature for her sake, but he was barely fourteen, and as squirrely as a puppy. Cinderella patted Marcus’ arm. “You are spending the night?”

“Yes.”

“If you have time, tomorrow please stop by Aveyron,” Cinderella said.

Marcus dropped his young enthusiasm. “Oh?” he said.

Amused, Cinderella inclined her head to the younger boy. “One of the sheep dogs had a litter of puppies four weeks ago. I thought you might enjoy playing with them while your parents have tea or refreshments with the Delattres. I will not likely be around to show you the puppies, but any of Aveyron’s staff members can direct you to them.”

Cinderella
was rewarded with a brilliant smile from Marcus. He kept it intact as they entered the salon, still arm in arm.

Their entrance did not go unnoticed. Julien Rosseux stood and bowed to Cinderella
, his eyes flicking between her and Marcus.

Lady Leroy
said with loud horror, “Lady Lacreux, what happened to you?”

As Marcus hadn’t said anyth
ing, or even seemed to notice, Cinderella hoped her short hair would pass the observation of the nobles who hadn’t yet seen it. Apparently she was too optimistic. “I beg your pardon?” Cinderella said.

“Your hair
,” Lady Leroy said, aghast.

Lord Leroy held up a pair of eyeglasses to his eyes. “Eh?” he said.

Cinderella ruefully ran a hand through her shorter locks. “Ah, yes. I had it cut,” Cinderella said.

“Shorn is closer to the truth
,” Lady Feautre said, her voice tight and hateful.

“I think its jol
ly,” Marcus said, impudent and quick to defend Cinderella. “I can’t imagine how hot you ladies are in the summer with the sun and heat.”

“Marcus
,” Lady Girard warned.

Marcus grunted in impatience
, but bowed to Cinderella before he left her to stand beside his mother at the fireplace.

“It is a cut unfit for a lady of nobility
,” Lady Feautre said.

“It is
quite unseemly,” Rosette, the Feautres’ second daughter, said. She widened her china doll blue eyes as she stared at Cinderella. She sat with her sister, Violette, on a settee.

Violette
was kinder than her mother and her sister, but she was a mousy, quiet thing. She gave Cinderella a scared look but said not a word.

“Now
, now. Let us not be unkind to Lady Lacreux,” Lady Delattre said.

“It is not unkind to note what she takes no pains to hide
,” Lady Feautre said.

“What?” Lord Leroy loud
ly asked, his gray mustache quivering as he leaned forward.

“Cinderella
has cut her hair,” Lady Leroy shouted into her husband’s ear.

“Ah
, yes. Lady Lacreux
does
have bright red hair,” Lord Leroy nodded.

“Shameful
,” Lady Feautre murmured.

“Lady Lacreux looks
divine no matter the state of her hair,” Julien said, bowing over Cinderella’s hand.

“Thank you
, Julien,” Cinderella said.

Lady Feautre rolled her eyes and huffed.

“Now that we have all arrived, shall we proceed with dinner?” Lord Delattre said, diverting the topic.

“It’s about time
,” Lord Rosseux muttered.

“Please sit where your
name card has been placed,” Lady Delattre said as she took her husband’s arm and led the way to the dining hall.

Julien accompanied Cinderella. The pair
was silent as they followed their hosts, and it came as no surprise to either of them that they sat together with Marcus on Cinderella’s other side.

“Say
, Julien, where is Cerise?” Marcus asked as he sat down.

“She claimed she
had a headache this evening and asked to remain home,” Julien said, holding Cinderella’s chair out for her.

“Faked
,” Marcus muttered under his breath. “Talk about unfair.”

“I beg your pardon
, I couldn’t hear that. What did you say?” Julien asked as he slid Cinderella’s chair in for her as she sat.

“Noth
ing,” Marcus cheerfully said.

“Is it real
ly proper for Cinderella to sit between the only eligible men in the room, without a chaperon?” Lady Feautre said, a scowl etched upon her handsome face as she stared down the table like a hawk.

“
What?” Lord Leroy asked after he seated his wife and took his place next to Lady Feautre.

“
Cinderella. She is not chaperoned,” Lady Feautre said, gesturing to Cinderella.

“Pish-posh.
What could happen at dinner?” Lord Leroy said before he winked at Cinderella.

“Favoritism runs rampant in this part of the country
,” Lady Feautre said with a sniff to her husband.

The man
, henpecked as he was, barely managed a shrug.

“Jealousy is quite the look on Lady Feautre
,” Marcus whispered to Cinderella.

“Marcus
,” Cinderella chided.

The younger boy grinned
, unrepentant.

“What is so funny
, Marcus? Do share,” Rosette said, jostling the table.

“Noth
ing,” Marcus said.

“The dreadful Queen
Freja has been blessedly silent the past month,” Lord Girard said. “I almost have hopes she will forget to raise taxes come the harvest season.”

“It is still plenty ear
ly. She is a miser who will not overlook her grudge against us,” Lord Rosseux snorted.

“She cannot hope to tax us much more
,” Lady Delattre said.

“Never underestimate the greed of Erlauf
,” Lord Rosseux said as servants placed trays of food on the table.

“I
was told a delegate from the Veneno Conclave will meet with their majesties over the summer. Perhaps they mean to discuss Erlauf’s conduct?” Lady Girard said.

“Unlike
ly,” Lord Leroy’s son said. “The Veneno Conclave takes great pains to stay out of government and country debates, lest they be accused of siding with someone or using magic to aid one country over another.”

“If we
were smart, we would have bought an estate in Loire the moment Erlauf camped in Werra,” Lord Girard said.

“Why should I leave
my
country and
my
land because of some Erlauf upstart?” Lord Rosseux asked.

“Erlauf
has more military power than Trieux could ever hope to muster,” Lord Delattre said. “That was why we six, now five I suppose, voted as we did.”

“This is so. Which is why it would
have been best to flee Erlauf’s grasp altogether. They wouldn’t dare bother us in Loire’s borders. Loire is still the biggest, most influential country,” Lord Girard said.

“Hear
, hear,” Lady Leroy said.

“
Perhaps,” Julien said. “But they lost some of their opulence when they bowed to Arcainia.”

“Loire
, bow to
Arcainia
? That peasant-infested place? Pah,” Lord Rosseux said. “What nonsense have you been filling your mind with, boy?”

Julien slumped und
er his father’s criticism, but said, “They had proof the princes of Arcainia dispatched Verglas assassins to kill His Highness Prince Severin. Instead of taking action, they solidified ties with Arcainia.”

“This is true
; you cannot deny the nearly perfect Loire lost some of its splendor through that trial,” Lord Leroy’s son said.

“Rumor
has it, Arcainia has an edge in the global marketplace on exports and agriculture ventures,” Lord Girard said.

“
Farming! Such things are for the common class to worry over, not nobility,” Lady Feautre said. “As members of the peerage, we should be more concerned with preserving our bloodlines, lest the Erlauf commoners try to take our daughters, too,” she said, casting a look at Violette and Rosette.

“Do not worry about us
, Mama. We know better than to associate with
that
kind,” Rosette said.

“Yes
, I raised you to be above that,” Lady Feautre said. “But it is not just my girls I worry for. Cinderella, I have heard you spend much of your time with an
Erlauf Soldier
.”

Cinderella kept her expression pleasant. “I
have become acquainted with an Erlauf Colonel, yes.”

“
Why ever would you want to make such an acquaintance?” Lady Leroy said, holding a hand to her impressive bosom.

“I wasn’t given a choice. He is quite persistent
,” Cinderella said, sipping her wine.

“This is what happens when one forgets
one’s place and scuttles about, doing
work
and things beneath them,” Lord Rosseux said.

“Cinderella can’t
help that someone from Erlauf bothers her because she’s beautiful,” Marcus frowned.

Lord Girard hasti
ly cleared his throat. “What Marcus means to say is Lady Lacreux should not be held responsible for the poor conduct of those from Erlauf.”

“Yes
,” Lady Girard said, scowling at her son.

Marcus guilty locked his gaze on his food and started eat
ing.

“You should report him for bother
ing you, dear,” Lady Delattre said. “It is not right that he shadows you.”

“The Colonel
has been respectful. I find little fault in his conduct,” Cinderella said.

“A like
ly story, I’m sure,” Lady Feautre said.

Cinderella
set her fork down. “Are you accusing me of lying, Lady Feautre?”

“No
, of course not, Lady Lacreux. It is only that I was told the soldier hangs about you every day. If he is not being disrespectful, then perhaps you encourage him? Unknowingly so, I suppose,” Lady Feautre said.

“Eh?”
Lord Leroy said.

“Lady Lacreux is
engaging the enemy,” Lady Leroy told her husband.

“You must
have misheard, Lady Feautre. Cinderella would not do something so reprehensible,” Lady Delattre said.

“Indeed
, I should hope not,” Lord Rosseux said, glancing down the table to Cinderella and his son. “Not as long as she’s in the position she’s in.”

“It would be shameful to her station and the rest of us
,” Rosette said. “Why, think of what those from Erlauf might conclude? They would imagine us to be an easy bunch who will associate with them.”

“You must do someth
ing, Lady Lacreux,” Lady Leroy urged. “You have your title and family name to think of.”