Cinderella and the Colonel (16 page)

Cinderella sat on the lip of a large fountain—designed for water
ing horses—and waited for the crowds to depart.

The c
onsort controlled his soldiers—spacing them out and sending a few into the shadows of the library—with several crisp gestures.

Cinderella noted with great interest that none of the Erlauf nobles who had relocated to Werra after the takeover attended the ceremony. Apparently they felt no need to pay homage to their rule
rs, or so Cinderella suspected as she watched Queen Freja stand alone in the shadows of the library.

The tall
, stately woman bent over to pick up a Sun Skip. She brushed the yellow petals with her fingertips, and the hard lines of her face softened to an almost humane expression.

The monarch twirled the flower between her fingers as she returned her gaze to the crowds. People poured up the steps
, pressing into the library, but the queen was safe, blocked off by soldiers and standing some feet down the front veranda.

As Cinderella watched
, a little Trieux girl who wasn’t older than four popped between the stone railings that separated the library veranda from the small courtyard. A soldier moved to intercept the blonde-haired child, but the queen indicated he should remain where he was.

The Trieux girl popped a dirty thumb in her mouth as she stared up at Q
ueen Freja with wide eyes, her pigtails bobbing in the breeze.

Queen Freja broke off half the stem o
f her Sun Skip and, to Cinderella’s surprise, crouched down and wove the flower into one of the little girl’s pigtails. When she was finished, Queen Freja smoothed the child’s hair and smiled.

The little girl returned the smile before she startled and turned around. “Mama
,” she called before slipping back through the stone railings, having heard her parent call her name.

Queen Freja brushed off her hands and returned to resembl
ing iron and flint when her consort approached her. The two briefly spoke before a squad of soldiers surrounded the queen and bore her away.

The courtyard emptied as everyone smashed in
side the library, but Cinderella stood transfixed.

She realized as she sat there
, gaping like a fish, that she hadn’t ever seen the queen of Erlauf
smile
. With great stupefaction, Cinderella also realized when the queen smiled, she bore more than a slight resemblance to Friedrich.

Chapter 10

A week later, Cinderella walked the length of the dwindling Sun Skip field, reminiscing on Queen Freja’s smile.

The mystery of Freja and Friedrich’
s resemblance was resolved. When Cinderella visited Friedrich the day after the ceremony, she asked about it. Friedrich reported with a wide smile, “You saw it, too? My family is
deeply
royal. Our lineage goes far, far back—,” Which, as he blathered on about pedigrees and long dead kings, Cinderella took to mean that there was barely any royal blood left in his family, and it was probably more that Queen Freja had mannish facial features.

But
the queen’s conduct with the little girl intrigued Cinderella. She thought the queen would scorn any Trieux citizen—regardless of their age. But Freja was soft and almost
motherly
towards the little girl. Was she really as bad as Cinderella thought her to be?

“Mademoiselle
?”

“Yes
, Jeanne?”

Jeanne bit her lip. “There is a government official here.”

“He wishes to see me?”

“No
, he says he needs nothing. But he’s wandering around and…I would not bother you, but Father is up in the hay fields today,” Jeanne said.

Cinderella frowned. “He’s just wander
ing around?”

“He said he
is taking inventory of future Erlauf Crown assets.”

Anger stiffened Cinderella’s spine. “I will
see to him. Where is he?”

“By the milk
ing barn.”

“Thank you
, Jeanne.”

“Mademoiselle
,” Jeanne said. She curtsied, but Cinderella was already walking away, her gray eyes flashing like thunderclouds.

Cinderella found the greasy
-looking fellow—some sort of undersecretary judging by his sweat-stained shirt. “Can I help you, Sir?”

The undersecretary counted the cows. “’fraid not
,” he said.

“I think you fail to understand me
,
sir
,” Cinderella said. “I am Duchess Lacreux.
How
can I help you, or if you need me to use common words,
what
are you doing?”

“Ah
, sorry,” the undersecretary said, turning from the cows. “I’ve been sent to take inventory of your lands.”

“Are all lands be
ing re-evaluated for tax purposes?”

“No.”

“Then why are you taking inventory?”

The undersecretary sc
ratched his dry scalp. “The crown requested it so plans can be drawn for dividing up the lands and stock after Aveyron reverts to the Crown.”

What?

Cinderella forced her expression to remain pleasant. “Did the
Crown
not receive my first down payment against the fine two days ago?” Cinderella asked.

“No
, it was received and recorded,” the undersecretary said. “But it is the Finance Department’s opinion that if it is all you were able to pay off over the first few months of summer, you have no possibility of paying the remaining balance by the end of the month. The queen has plans for Aveyron and wishes to move forward with them as soon as possible.”

That
beast
!
Cinderella thought, taking back the few kind thoughts she had of Queen Freja.
That pushy, greedy, flint-hearted witch!

“
That may be so, but until the end of the month, Aveyron is
mine
,” Cinderella said, the controlled coolness of her voice making the undersecretary squirm. “If you have no legal purpose to loiter on my land, I must order you to take your leave. The queen may wait to measure and take inventory until Aveyron belongs to her.”

“Oh
, but Her Majesty will be so very disappointed—.”

“
Be gone
,” Cinderella said, every inch of her body drawing up in nobility and attitude.

The force of her words
, although softly spoken, sent the undersecretary scuttling. “As you wish, Lady,” he said before running from Aveyron.

Cinderella watched him go with shak
ing fists.

Gustav whistled in appreciation as he ducked out from his hid
ing spot in the barn. “Well said, Your Grace. Even in servants’ dress and dirt, you can issue a command like the Colonel himself. Your Grace?” he said when Cinderella did not acknowledge him and started for Werra.

She
had to see Marie.

There
was no one in Aveyron Cinderella could speak to. Jeanne was the closest thing she had to a companion, and the young woman made sure to hold Cinderella at an arm’s length.

The servants of Aveyron saw Cinderella go
, but they did not stop her, or the three Erlauf soldiers who followed her in the shadows.

Cinderella’s ears
were ringing by the time she reached Marie’s residential home. The maid opened the door and took one look at Cinderella before she ran off, calling, “Madame? Madame Marie!” leaving the door wide open.

Cinderella stepped inside
, her eyes sweeping through the pleasant parlor situated near the entrance. Her shoulders shook with rage and despair, and she almost leaped out of her skin when Marie came around the corner and said, “Cinderella, what happened?”

Feel
ing lost, like the ground had dropped out under her feet, Cinderella shrugged. “I
hate
her, Marie.”

“Who?”

“That wretched
queen
,” Cinderella said before the tears started falling.

Marie sighed. “M
y darling friend,” she said before folding her arms around Cinderella in a warm embrace. “Your burden is difficult, and I am sorry for it.”

When Marie led Cinderella to a settee
, the story came spilling from her lips in a rush of emotion as wild as the tears that splashed her face.

“She’s s
o unyielding. And it seems she takes pleasure in this,” Cinderella said after all was told. She wiped her eyes with the linen handkerchief Marie passed to her.

“She might. I can imagine she bears grudges against us for the damages and cost we
have been to her country,” Marie said, fussing with Cinderella’s hair before gesturing to a servant.

The servant brief
ly disappeared, returning to the room with tea and cookies.

Cinderella
groaned, a sound that worked its way up from deep in her heart. “She’s hateful.”

“She is
,” Marie agreed, her tone tempered, but edged just as sharp as Cinderella’s.

“I don’t know what I’m go
ing to do,” Cinderella admitted. “I was hopeful they would accept a partial payment—perhaps half. But based on my interaction today, I don’t think it is a possibility.”

Marie nodded and served the tea.

“I will have to marry Julien. I summarized that much from our last meeting. Marcus is a sweet boy, and I like his parents better than Julien’s, but he’s terribly smitten with Julien’s sister. He deserves a chance at happiness,” Cinderella said.

Marie pressed her lips together.

“What?” Cinderella asked.

“What about Colonel Friedrich?”

“What about him?”

“Is he not an option?”

Cinderella drank her tea. “I don’t think so,” she said.

“Why not?
Do you think he isn’t serious in his pursuit of you?”

“It’s not
that,” Cinderella said, setting her teacup down. “I…I don’t want to bring him misery.”

“What do you mean?”

“He might l-love me, but what would happen if we were to marry? So far Erlauf has tolerated our friendship, but what penalty will he pay for marrying me? It could cost him his friends, his post, even his career. I can’t ask him to do that.”

“
What if he wants to?” Marie asked. “I know everyone whispers he is a rogue, but, Cinderella, surely you must realize he follows you with the loyalty of a dog?”

Cinderella covered her face with her hands. “I know
,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“Do you love him?” Marie asked after several heartbeats of silence.

“I don’t know.”

“
But you would prefer him over Julien?”

“
Perhaps.”

Marie smiled sad
ly. “The problem is you are too noble. You should be self-centered, just this once.”

Cinderella groaned as she pressed her fingers to her puffy eyes. “It’s too late in my life to start think
ing of such things now,” Cinderella said with a half-smile when she lowered her hands. “I know what I should do.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I should run away to Loire. I could…join a traveling show or something.”

“I imagine folks
would
pay to see a noble who feeds pigs, massacres baskets, and runs a market stand,” Marie said.

“I could learn how to ride a trick horse
,” Cinderella said.

“O
f course.”

“It would
be a fine income,” Cinderella insisted.

“Absolute
ly,” Marie said.

The two girls stared at each other for a moment before erupt
ing into laughter.

“Y-you
took years to learn to ride a horse, and now you want to learn trick rides?” Marie laughed.

“
Perhaps I could teach a horse to do tricks?” Cinderella said. “Like a dog.”

“
That may work better.”

“Or I could make terrible baskets for a liv
ing.”

“You know you’re always welcome to live with Armel and me
,” Marie said.

Cinderella’s expression softened. “I know
, and I thank you. But I am titled and seventeen. I cannot hide from my future forever.”

“I know
, but I would be honored to be your safe haven,” Marie said.

“You already are
,” Cinderella said.

“Excuse me
, Madame,” a maid in a crisp, clean uniform said, bobbing to Marie and Cinderella. “There is a man at the door to see Duchess Lacreux.”

Marie frowned. “What?” she asked as she and Cinderella made their way towards the door.

Out on the front porch, holding the reins of a blood bay horse, was Colonel Friedrich. The Colonel was covered in dust, and the sweeping brim of his hat was cut and squashed. “Sorry, Pet. I would have been here sooner, but I was…indisposed,” he said. He pulled a leather glove off his hand with his teeth. He extended his gloveless hand to Cinderella, gently brushing her cheek bones with his fingers. “I’m filthy, sorry,” he winced.

Cinderella walked into
Friedrich, pressing her face into his shoulder.

The collision made dust puff
like a cloud, but Friedrich slid his arms around Cinderella after passing off the reins of his horse to Gustav.

Although he cradled Cinderella, Friedrich looked past her to Marie. “Thank you,” he said.

Marie raised an eyebrow. “She
was my friend first before she became your heart’s desire. There is no need for
you
to thank me.”

“All the same
, I still thank you,” Friedrich said.

“I
am not a dog to be cared for,” Cinderella said into Friedrich’s shoulder.

“Of course you aren’t
, Pet. What do you say to a brief ride? We will share my mount,” Friedrich said.

Cinderella stepped back from
Friedrich’s embrace, her composure regained. “Where are we going?”

“Out of Werra for a bit
,” Friedrich said, adjusting his horse’s saddle.

“Very well
,” Cinderella agreed before she turned back to Marie. “Thank you.”

Marie smiled. “I am glad to help in whatever way I can. And I am try
ing hard not to feel resentful for being replaced.”

Cinderella laughed. “He could not replace you. Not
ever. You will always be my closest, dearest friend, Marie.”

Marie arrogant
ly tilted her head up as she looked to Friedrich.

“Alright
, I admit defeat,” Friedrich said before picking Cinderella up and sliding her on his horse. A moment later he was mounted up behind her. “I will never dare to try and come between you two beautiful ladies.”

“Enjoy your ride
,” Marie said.

“We will
,” Friedrich said before nudging his horse forward.

“Did Gustav tell you everyth
ing?” Cinderella asked.