The Best Man (26 page)

Philip was about to offer reassurance in the form of a bald-faced lie, when he heard Chester whinny in alarm. “What is it boy?” Philip looked up quickly.

It
turned out to be a couple of mice, whose frantic scurrying had spooked the horse.

“Oh, don’t worry about Confrontation and Departure… they’re harmless.”

Philip must have raised an eyebrow, despite all of his etiquette training to the contrary, because the woman blushed. Or maybe she just realized the irony. “I named them after a particularly bad row involving my step-sisters. It’s a long story…”

“I’ve got the time” Philip responded simply.

“All right then. I should probably begin with my name: I’m Cinderella” she matched this last part with a quick curtsey.

“My friends call me Philip” Philip said with a formal bow.

Cinderella continued. “I do my best to love my stepsisters and stepmother, but they are really quite difficult. It’s hard to love someone when they don’t love you back, you know? And they never seem to let me have any fun. That’s why last night was so special. My fairy godmother decided to show up, after years and years, and – I was to go to a ball! My godmother turned this pumpkin – it was just a little one before – into a carriage, and Confrontation and Departure were turned into human footmen! And I was to dance the night away with a handsome prince, just this once. But then we were turned away at the gate – I don’t know why! And the men, err – the mice – drove the carriage into the woods until the spell wore off at midnight!” She finished this last part in a rush, like it was bursting to be outside her, all happiness and cheer even at the misfortunes that had befallen her.

“I know it sounds a bit fantastic” Cinderella added when it was clear no response from Philip was immediately forthcoming. “But –“

But Philip wasn’t listening anymore. He had felt a sinking sensation as soon as Cinderella had starting talking about the ball. He had a very good idea why she had been turned away at the castle gate – and it was all his fault, that this good-natured woman had missed out on her one opportunity to have the time of her life. All because he had insisted his mother cancel the ball last minute in a fit of pique. How selfish was he?

He noticed Cinderella awkwardly trying to put on her shoes as she talked, shoes that didn’t look very comfortable at all. Philip knelt down beside her, eager to make up for his thoughtless actions. “Are you very disappointed, that you weren’t able to go to this ball?”

“No, it’s just that I was suppose to meet –“ Cinderella broke off as took in the picture they made. Her foot, poised to slip into her shoe. And Philip, holding her glass slipper.

I’m not disappointed at all” Cinderella said with a happy smile. “In fact, this story might have a happy ending after all.”