The Ugly Stepsister (Unfinished Fairy Tales Book 1) (36 page)

“Your Highness.” I curtsy, not daring to look him in the eye. “I’d like to speak with Elle, if you can spare her.”

Elle brightens when she sees me—she looks so pretty and radiant that I wish Edward was away.

“May I be excused, Your Highness?” She gazes up at Edward, a pleading expression in her baby blue eyes. No man can say no, I’m sure.

He nods. “Go.”

Elle and I step into the gardens. I find a long bench in a secluded spot and motion for her to sit with me.

“I’m not your mistress now,” I say, seeing her hesitate. “How are things going? I believe His Highness has been treating you well.”

A pink flush spreads from her face to neck. “I’ve learned a lot about herbs from him and Mr. Galen.” She tilts her head, her large eyes concerned. “What about you, miss? I’ve been meaning to visit you once I have a few days off. Mr. Galen says we’ll receive a short holiday after the ball.”

“Aren’t you going to the ball?” I blurt.

Her hand flies to her chest. “How did you know His Highness invited me?”

Jealousy stabs me for a second; then relief washes over. Edward has been considerate enough to make my wish come true, even though he doesn’t love Elle. Plus, Elle is unlikely to refuse if her boss asks her to the ball. I should be glad that the happy ending is in sight, but instead a heaviness weighs on my chest.

“Fantastic,” I say, trying to appear cheerful. “Then come by our house on the night of the ball. Let’s dress up and go together.”

She looks down at her hands. “Miss Katriona, can I ask you something?”

Please don’t tell me you’re pining for Henry.

“Why are you all so kind? You, His Highness, Mr. Henry…you’re doing too much for me.” She bites her lip. “I’m sorry, but you’re making me scared. I don’t feel right accepting so much kindness.”

I hesitate. Should I tell her the truth? What if Elle insists that I stay in Athelia? Call me sneaky, but I can’t bring myself to tell her I’m trying to manipulate her to be with Edward, so I can return to my family. I clench my fists briefly, then let go.
They’re storybook characters
, I tell myself for the zillionth time. I’m not actually causing real harm.

But I can’t make up a lie on the spot. I rack my brain for a moment, but there’s nothing I can come up with.

“You’re right,” I finally say. “There is a reason I’m going out of my way to help you, but I can’t tell you right now. Trust me, Elle, I’m just waiting for the right moment.”

She looks confused, but she nods slowly. “After all you’ve done for me, I’m willing to do anything you ask of me.”

“After the ball,” I promise. “When the ball is over, I’ll tell you what’s going on.” Maybe before Edward comes with the glass slipper, I’ll tell Elle she is Earl Bradshaw’s daughter. That should be reason enough that I’m helping her get back to the life she’s entitled to. That should remove any doubts that she is unfit to marry a prince. And once Edward claims Elle as his bride, she will be part of the royal family, ranking far higher than her original title.

“By the way, how is your mother? And how’s Billy?”

A sparkle flares in her eyes. “I’ve put a mortgage on a flat in a nicer neighborhood for Mamsie.”

“Really?” Considering her income as a servant, even at the palace, I wonder how she managed to convince the seller.

“Mr. Henry kindly offered to be my guarantor,” Elle says shyly. “Without him, I couldn’t have succeeded. I shouldn’t have let him, but I really wanted Mamsie to move to a better place. She deserves it, after working so hard to raise us.” Her face is now entirely pink.

Oh no, she’s still in love with Henry
.

Krev suddenly appears. “Watch the time, girlie. Don’t forget you’ve still a long walk home.”

I stand up. He’s right. My duplicate looks real enough, but I’m not sure my “twin” can make it through dinner.

“I should be returning,” I say. “Promise me that we’ll go to the ball together?”

Elle nods. Though she still looks uncomfortable, I can tell she’s looking forward to the ball. Seriously, what girl wouldn’t?

After bidding Elle goodbye, I head toward the hedge where I hid my invisibility cloak.

A hand clamps on my arm. I’m shoved against the stone wall; I let out a gasp of pain. Edward looms before me. I try to shake him off, but his other hand slams against the wall, right next to my shoulder. I’m trapped.

Great. Thick bushes surround us, shielding us from view, and it’s all my fault. I took care to pick a secluded area to hide my invisibility cloak.

“What’re you doing here?” He growls, his eyes blazing.

“I…I wanted to talk to Elle,” I stammer.

“Right.” His voice is full of bitterness. “You came to ensure she’s going to the ball with me?”

He glares, and I glare right back.

“So what if I did? Did I interrupt a cozy moment in the greenhouse?”

“Jealous?” He smiles, but it’s strained, forced, and doesn’t reach his eyes.

“I’m not,” I snap. “I can’t thank you enough, really.”

Now he looks mad again; he moves so close that he’s flattening me against the wall. He’s breathing hard, his chest moving, yet he doesn’t say anything. I sense he’s trying to control himself.

I swallow and blink away the tears forming in my eyes. The irrational jealousy and anger I hold toward him evaporates. I’m hurt by his readiness to switch his attention to Elle, but honestly speaking, I’m the one to blame.

I place my palms against his chest. Heat flows through my hands. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “Edward, you know I have to go back to my family. I’m so sorry for asking you to…to do this.”

Gently I push him away from my body, but his gaze is still glued to my face. He raises a hand to me, tracing my eyes, my nose, my lips, my chin. I should slap his hand away, but I stay rooted to the spot, trying hard not to throw myself into his arms.

Finally, he drops his arm. “Don’t worry.” This time, his voice is gentle, but firm. “You’ll get what you want.”

And he stalks away, leaving me feeling like a complete wretch.

THIRTY-NINE

“Pumpkin, check. Mice, check. Lizards? I’m not going to use lizards!” Meg’s voice rises to a squeal.

“Be quiet,” I hiss. Others can’t hear Krev, but Meg is different. She confessed that although she could make herself invisible, she couldn’t control her voice. She’s not a bat that can send special signals.

“That’s what the story says. Mice become horses, rats become coachmen, and lizards are transformed into footmen. Or maybe you can substitute the lizards?” I ask hopefully. I’m not a fan of lizards-turned-men either.

“How about a cockroach?” Krev asks.

“NO!” Both Meg and I yell. We had roaches in our house before, and I swear they’re the most disgusting creatures to have ever inhabited the planet. I still haven’t forgiven the director of
Enchanted
for including roaches in the heroine’s cleaning song.

“Spiders?” Krev says.

I shudder. Meg looks scared and backs away.

Krev runs through a list of crawly critters: grasshoppers, centipedes, snakes … until I stop him.

“Why can’t we have something normal? Like a dog or cat?”

Meg brightens. “The very thing! There’s a litter of kittens in the backyard. Cats would make very graceful humans.”

“Thank God,” I say, relieved. “So what’s left is Elle’s dress and the slippers. Can you transform one of my dresses for her?” I fling open my wardrobe. Meg comes forward, a curious look in her eyes.

“Krev, keep an eye out,” I whisper. If Martha barges in when Meg is performing her magic…

I sit on the bed. Meg drapes my snuff-brown dress over the coatrack (that was once my “twin”) and waves her wand.

Poof! A slinky, glittering beady dress appears, slit up to the thigh.

“No way,” I say, dismayed. “That looks like an outfit for rhythmic gymnastics.”

“What’s rhythmic gymnastics?” Meg says. “We wear these dresses to parties.”

“Never mind; do another one. In this world, we have dresses with huge skirts and tight bodices.”

Meg waves her wand. This time, a Barbie pink dress with layers of tulle appears. No, no, no. Way too gaudy. Even the jewels along the waistline look plastic.

“Um, can we try something more…elegant? And change the color. Elle has lovely honey-blonde hair.”

Poof! A gorgeous white satin gown that looks like a wedding dress replaces the pink tulle one. Diamonds run down the bodice. The skirt is a sea of laces and bows. It’s a dream for any woman.

“Yes!” I can’t help applauding. “I don’t think even the finest dressmaker can do this.” Now I get why the fairy godmother is needed. Some things are only achieved by magic.

Meg looks smug. She raises an eyebrow at Krev, who sticks out his tongue. “Fuss and feathers.”

“What’s next on the list?” Meg asks.

“The slippers. But they can’t disappear after midnight.”

“I suppose a few more hours won’t be a problem,” Meg concedes, after a moment of reflection.

My pen reaches the end of the list.

“The spell di amor,” I say. “How are you going to get Elle to use it?”

“First I need something from the prince, so the spell will know at whom to direct the amorous energy.”

I groan. “Why didn’t you tell me that before I went to the palace?”

She looks sheepish. “I forgot. We were too busy worrying about how to keep you invisible.”

“Maybe use a coin?” Krev suggests. “Half of the coins have the prince’s figurehead on the back.”

“Won’t do,” Meg says. “It has to be something the prince owns. A coin has been through too many hands to find its original owner.”

I run to my dresser and rummage through a drawer containing handkerchiefs. Thank heavens, it’s still there. Edward’s cravat, the one he used to bandage my foot. I let my fingers run over the smooth silk, longingly, before holding it up.

“Here. It’s the prince’s cravat. And don’t ask how I got it.”

“Have you got the gloves?” Meg asks. I produce a pair of white satin gloves that reach to the elbows.

“Where did you get those?” Krev asks. “Didn’t the mistress confiscate all your fine clothes so that you couldn’t go to the ball?”

“From Bianca. I stole a pair when I came back in my invisibility cloak. She has so many that I doubt she’ll miss them.”

“All right.” Meg lays the cravat on my dresser. She takes a bottle and uncorks it. No liquid flows out; just a silvery mist rising in the air. She waves her wand, and the cravat flies into the mist, turning it as pink as a Valentine Day’s candy. Another flick of the wand, and the mist settles over the gloves. Fascinated, I watch as the mist gradually disappears, as though the gloves are absorbing the pink mist like a sponge. Soon the mist completely disappears. The gloves look completely normal now.

“There!” Meg says gleefully, her voice high-pitched and shrill. “All she has to do is touch the prince with those gloves, and he’ll fall in love with her!”

“Will this spell last?”

“It’s the same as the other spells.” Meg shakes her head. “It’ll lose its effect by midnight on the night of the ball.”

“All right,” I say. Once I finish the opening dance with Edward, I’ll lead him to Elle. He had promised me he would dance with her. One touch, and he’ll fall in love with her.

Everything’s ready. I’ll be seeing Mom and Paige again soon.

Be happy
, I tell myself fiercely.
Only a few days remain till you leave Athelia.

The days leading up to the ball pass faster than expected. Lady Bradshaw and Bianca cease all social activities and throw everything into preparing for the ball. Since Elle left, Bianca has hired several new maids to do her hair and dress her up, since none of the other servants can match Elle’s skill. Meg keeps practicing solidifying the gown and slippers. The timing has to be right—the gown must disappear by midnight, but the slippers remain. Krev sits on the mantelpiece and taunts her, but he’s actually being helpful. Meg, when taunted, is spurred into a fervor for improvement.

“Too bad we can’t practice with the pumpkin and mice and kittens,” I say.

“No worries,” Meg says in a chipper tone. “I’ve been honing my skills with the outfit, so there’s no reason I can’t perform well with the rest when the time comes.”

“Are you sure?” Krev asks. “The carriage is going to be a whole lot bigger, and creating humans from animals is extremely different from creating illusions of an inanimate object.”

Meg glares. “And what can you do, you mottled-skinned demon?”

“I’m a goblin,” Krev snarls.

“Okay guys, stop it,” I say. “The ball is tonight. We have to work together for happily-ever-after.”

After a few more seconds of glaring back and forth, Meg sticks her wand in her pocket.

“I’m tired,” she yawns. “How much time till Elle arrives?”

I glance at the clock. It’s five in the afternoon. I told Elle to meet us at nine. Bianca will certainly be at the ball by then.

“There are still four hours,” I say. “Perhaps you’d better take a break. Save some energy for when Elle arrives.”

Meg nods. She sits on the bed for a while, then stands up. “Father told me to give Mother a piece of jewelry.” She pulls out a sparkling necklace from her bottomless pocket. The diamonds are so exquisite that again I’m reminded why the fairy godmother is needed. Of all the gowns I’ve seen Bianca wear, nothing comes close to the dress or accessories Meg created.

Meg starts to make herself invisible. She’s halfway through, with only her upper torso showing, when she suddenly stops waving her wand.

“By the way, where is Mother’s house? It’s such a long time since I last visited.”

“Krev, could you show her?” I say. Obviously I can’t get out, and even if I could, I still don’t know the way.

The goblin huffs. “Say please.”

“Please, Krev,” I urge him. “If it weren’t for Lady Gregory, I would have never found Lysander and Meg. And you know that without Meg, you couldn’t report a good show to your king.”

After more pleading, Krev relents. I’m rather glad to see them leave. Right now I prefer some time alone.