Serial Fun - Final Installment (13)

 So we arrive at the conclusion of the matter.  I really thought I could do it in five or six chunks; I find it highly amusing that we finish with 13, lol.  If you haven't read the whole thing, click HERE, and read from the bottom up.  Thanks for indulging me as I did one more edit through the manuscript.  I have no idea if I will ever do anything else with this, but I have enjoyed sharing it.

I am pretty sure I will have some real sewing content tomorrow, lol.

            To the Princess, waiting in the carriage, it seemed that Gregory and Godfrey were in the manor house for an eternity.  She’d brought a small embroidery project to occupy her time but was having great difficulty in keeping her mind on it.  At one point the door opened, and Rita leaned forward eagerly only to see Henry, the page, come out and speak to a pair of the soldiers who had accompanied the carriage.  They handed their horse’s reigns to two of their comrades and went into the manor house.  When they’d gone, Rita called softly through the one of the open carriage windows, “Henry!”

            Having completed his errand, Henry turned to her and handed her the velvet pillow through the open window.  “Yes, Your Highness?”

            “What is going on in there?” Rita queried with the barest touch of impatience as she stuffed the pillow into the corner behind her back.  “It’s taking forever!”

            Henry grinned and shook his head.  “The Grand Duke is putting the old lady in her place, and the two snooty girls with her.  He’s done it up proper, I’d say.”

            “Did you see Isabella?”  Rita was fighting the urge to go and peek in the window.

            “Aye.  They’ll all be out soon, I guess.”

            Rita sighed.  “I certainly hope so.”  She relaxed back into her seat and half-heartedly returned her attention to the embroidery.  She frowned and told herself that she would stitch until someone came out of the door.  However, no sooner had she re-established herself with her place in the pattern than a movement caught her eye and she saw Henry hurry to the door to relieve Gregory of something he was carrying.  Rita dropped her work onto the seat when she recognized Isabella’s trunk.  Henry took it from Gregory, who turned to offer Isabella a hand down the front step.  The Grand Duke followed Isabella out of the house and shut the door firmly.  Rita bit her lip in excitement.  They’d done it!  Isabella was free!

            Henry carefully placed Isabella’s trunk onto the carriage luggage rack as the footman opened the door.  Isabella gathered her skirts, shifted the slipper she was carrying and took the footman’s hand...then stopped in shock when she saw the Princess.  “Rita!”  She gasped.  “How did you get here?”

            Rita was very nearly bouncing on the seat in delight.  “Get in!” she urged.  “I’ll tell you all about it!”

            Isabella took a deep breath -- the day was feeling less and less like reality -- climbed into the carriage and sat down opposite Rita.  Godfrey climbed in next and sat down beside Isabella.  He smiled at her sympathetically.  “Is your head spinning?”  He asked as Gregory picked up the embroidery from the seat, handed it to Rita and took his seat beside his sister.

            As the footman closed the carriage door, Isabella smiled ruefully.  “It has been rather...” her voice trailed off as she looked at the Prince and Princess.  Sitting side by side, the sibling resemblance between them was obvious.  It was Rita that Prince Gregory had reminded Isabella of at the ball...that was why he looked so familiar...

            Seeing her confusion, Gregory spoke up.  “Isabella, I don’t believe you have been properly introduced to this impetuous young lady.  May I present to you my little sister, Princess Gwendolyn Marguerite Prudence Genevieve Anne...whom I usually refer to as Rita.”  Rita giggled at Isabella’s wide-eyed astonishment.

            “Your sister!”  Isabella exclaimed as the carriage rolled down the manor house drive.  “Rita, why didn’t you tell me?”

            Sheepish now, Rita looked down at her embroidery.  “I was afraid you’d be intimidated by the title, and I just wanted to be a plain friend.”  She glanced up at Isabella and smiled mischievously.  “It all worked out, didn’t it?”

            Isabella took a deep breath and glanced around at the three of them.  It was finally sinking into her that the misery of the past five years was truly and forever at an end.  To her surprise, tears flooded her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.  She gave a queer kind of sobbing chuckle as she self-consciously wiped her tears.  “Yes,” she sniffed, “It all worked out.”

            Godfrey pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Isabella.  “I’m sorry to have shocked you like this.”

            Isabella sniffed again, thankfully took the handkerchief and, trying to stave off what felt very close to an embarrassing emotional breakdown, buried her face in the fine linen square and took several deep shuddering breaths.  At long last, she raised her face and wiped her eyes. Finally, she smiled ruefully at him.  “I’ll be all right. Really.” She sniffed again and wiped her eyes once more before continuing.  “In all honesty, I don’t know how else you could have done it.”  She looked around at them again.  “Thank you.”  Then, she looked squarely at Rita.  “Rita, I don’t know what to say to you...”

            Rita grinned at her.  “Don’t say anything.  I’m just glad you’ll be living at the palace for now.”

            “Isabella,” Gregory frowned, “There’s one thing I’m curious about.  Why did Lady Alicia call you ‘Cinderella’?”

            Isabella winced.  “That was the nickname they called me virtually all the time.”

            “Cinderella was your nickname?” Rita asked incredulously.  “Why ever did they call you that?”

            Isabella sighed and took another deep breath.  “I suppose it will have to be told sooner or later.  You see, my room up in the tower was drafty and cold in the wintertime.  The first winter after my father died, I carried a small coal brazier up to try and keep some heat up there.  I had to keep putting coal on it, though, and it seemed like I was forever having to run all the way down to the cellar for more.  So, one day I decided I’d take several loads up and pile them by my door, so I’d have some close by if the fire burned low at night.  I was carrying up the last of it when I ran into Hortense and Eugenia.  I was really a mess after shoveling all that coal around, and they were laughing at how dirty I was.”  Isabella’s voice changed, mimicking the mocking tone of her stepsisters.  “‘There goes her Ladyship Isabella in her finest attire!’  Hortense said.  Eugenia laughed and replied, ‘Isabella?  She looks more like Cinderella to me!’  They both thought it was a great joke and the nickname stuck.  It wasn’t long before that was all they ever called me.”

            “No wonder you hated it.”  Rita commented softly.  There was a moment of silence as the carriage turned into the palace drive.

            Finally, Godfrey spoke.  “Isabella, I feel responsible for your trouble.  If I had checked into Lady Alicia’s story, you would have been spared much.  I hope that my wife and I and,” Godfrey couldn’t resist a glance at Gregory, “The rest of us can get you re-established again in society.”  He paused before continuing, in a rather choked voice, “Your father was my closest friend.  I will do everything in my power to make up for letting him down as I have.”

            Isabella smiled shyly.  “Right now, I’m content just to be away from...them.”  The carriage pulled up to the palace and stopped as she continued, speaking to Godfrey, “I’ll try to make you...and my father...proud.”

            Godfrey smiled and nodded.  “We’ll get on quite well, I think.”  The footman opened the door, and Godfrey waved a hand in the direction of the palace.  “Shall we see if the Queen and my wife have your apartment ready?”  Isabella said nothing but smiled appreciatively and nodded as Godfrey stepped out of the carriage.

            Prince Gregory followed his uncle out of the carriage then turned to offer Isabella a hand down himself, as she was still carrying the slipper.  However, after she stepped out of the carriage, he continued to hold her hand for a moment.  “Isabella,” he said in a low voice, “It will be quite possible for us to spend some time together now...do you think we stand a chance of being the kind of friends you spoke of last night?”

            Isabella looked up at him, seriously at first but then her face lit up with merriment.  “Right now, I believe anything wonderful could happen!”

            Still, Gregory did not release her hand.  “So, you believe that would be wonderful?”

            This time, Isabella blushed and dropped her eyes.  “I believe it could.” she replied, barely above a whisper.  Then, with a smile up at him, she pulled her hand free and turned to follow Godfrey, who was waiting for her on the steps, into the palace.  Henry had climbed down from his perch and retrieved Isabella’s trunk and carried it in behind them.

            Gregory turned back to the carriage to offer his hand to his sister.  Rita, embroidery folded neatly with the velvet pillow, had heard the whole exchange.  She glanced up at him as she stepped down from the carriage with the pillow and her needlework tucked into the crook of her elbow and grinned broadly at him when he offered her his arm, commenting, “Little sister, you have started no end of trouble for me.”

            “Oh, really?” she queried, taking his arm as they walked toward the door.

            “Yes, really,” Gregory said with mock seriousness.  “But I believe it will be the best kind of trouble...” He looked at her significantly as he continued, “But let’s keep that our secret for now.”

            Rita stopped in her tracks.  “Do you mean...” she began, but Gregory interrupted her.

            “I’m not going to say what I mean...but I believe you know.”  Gregory let that sink in for a moment.  “Now, don’t tell.”

            “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it!”  Rita said very seriously.  She was, however, exulting in her heart as they entered the palace.  Gregory and Isabella!  They were going to ‘live happily ever after!’   She could hardly wait to watch it happen.

The End.

Serial Fun - Installment 12

 Y'know, I think I'll just go ahead and post these last two installments today and tomorrow. I'll post whatever progress I make on the MOG dress on Wednesday, lol.   It has been kinda fun going through this again.  

Late the next morning, the Royal Carriage pulled away from the palace with Gregory, the Grand Duke and, after much pleading and debating, Rita, who had to agree to wait in the carriage, inside.  Gregory had placed Isabella’s glass slipper on a soft velvet pillow for effect.  He looked at the slipper, then up at Godfrey.  “I hope this works.”  He remembered Isabella’s terrified face when she thought she’d been recognized.  ‘Under a wicked witch’s spell,’ she’d called it.  He felt anger building in him at the injustice she’d suffered for the last five years and amended his statement. “It’d better work!”

            Godfrey, who carried in his pocket a decree written that morning by the King to present to Lady Alicia, nodded grimly.  “Oh, don’t worry -- we’ll see her safely out of it.”

            Hortense happened to be sitting in front of the parlor window and caught the flash of sunlight on the gilded carriage when it turned into the manor house drive.  She immediately jumped up.  “Mama!” she cried.  “Mama!  It’s the Royal Carriage!”

            Lady Alicia had been on her way to the parlor anyway, so she quickened her pace and entered just as Eugenia came in from the library.  “What?”  She stood where she could see the carriage as it pulled up.  Gregory climbed out (“The Prince!”  Hortense and Eugenia gasped in the same breath) and took the pillow with the slipper, which flashed in the sunlight, from Godfrey, who then followed him out of the carriage.  Lady Alicia’s eyes widened.  “The slipper!  Eugenia, do you remember the Prince saying he would try that slipper on every girl in the country until he found the girl in the mask?”

            Isabella, easing into the room with her broom in her hand, heard Lady Alicia’s question and felt her heart jump.  He was looking for her!  Lady Alicia saw her as she unconsciously smoothed her hair -- a shadow of her stepsisters’ frantic primping – and crossed the parlor toward her, eyes narrowed.

            “You!”  Lady Alicia hissed, swiftly catching Isabella by the wrists and pushing her back out of the door though which she’d entered.  “Stay out of sight!”  She glanced toward the front entrance as a herald’s trumpet sounded outside the door.  There was no time to lock Isabella away -- a threat would have to keep her in hiding.  “You’ll be sorry if you disobey me this time!”  The trumpet sounded again, and Lady Alicia swiftly turned to go to the door, speaking as she went, “Don’t you dare show your face!”

            In turmoil, Isabella flattened herself on the far side of the door.  She was determined she would at least hear whatever the Prince had to say.  With a pang, she remembered the look on his face when he said he’d solve her puzzle.  She didn’t know if she could bear it if he left without knowing she was there...

            Lady Alicia paused a moment at the door to make sure her daughters were composed.  They all took a deep breath before she opened the door and curtseyed deeply.  “Your Highness!  Your Grace!  Do come in!”

            Gregory, Godfrey, and a page who was now carrying the slipper entered.  Hortense and Eugenia followed their mother’s example and curtsied to them.  Gregory glanced at Godfrey, took a breath himself, and began, “Madam.  Ladies.”  They rose in response and Lady Alicia gestured to the parlor.  There was an awkward moment as each waited on the other, but they did finally get situated with the ladies seated and Godfrey and Gregory flanking the page.

            Once again, Gregory took a breath.  He glanced at the flushed faces and glittering eyes of the sisters, trying to decide why they were so unappealing, even though from a purely objective viewpoint they were pretty and fashionable.  Suddenly, he realized that there was something about their expressions that gave him a bit of a chill; a ruthlessness that he could not really point out.  --Of course, he admitted to himself --I could be somewhat prejudiced against them by how they have treated Isabella, but still.... Anyway, there was business to tend to.  He smiled a bit.  “I’m sure you remember the young lady in the mask at the ball last night.  This slipper,” he indicated the page, “Is our only clue to her identity.”  He paused slightly, wishing they had discussed exactly how they would proceed with this part of the ruse.  He chose his words carefully as he continued, “She hinted that she was...unhappy...and I’m determined to find her, even if I must try the slipper on every young woman in the kingdom, be she noble born or milkmaid.  So...”, he nodded to the page, who knelt in front of Eugenia.

            Eugenia’s smile faded a bit when she saw how very small the slipper was, but she pulled off her shoe and tried her best to shove her rather large foot inside.  The page held the slipper steady and glanced up at the Prince, who watched grimly.  Finally, Eugenia sighed deeply and pulled her foot away.  The slipper was obviously much too small.

            Hortense, who knew her feet to be slightly smaller than her sister’s, smiled smugly at Eugenia and, as daintily as she could, offered her foot to the page.  The young man looked up at Gregory, who nodded.  The page shrugged slightly and pushed the slipper onto Hortense’s toes.  Hortense bit her lip as the page pushed the unyielding glass onto her foot but was unable to stifle a small cry.  She clapped her hand over her mouth, but the page took the slipper off her toes and looked up at the Prince again.

            Gregory turned back to Lady Alicia.  “Have you any maidservants, madam?”

            Lady Alicia smiled rather condescendingly at the Prince.  “I’m sorry, your Highness, but there is no one else in this house who could possibly have worn that slipper at the ball last night.  May I offer you some tea before you resume your search?”

            Isabella listened from the next room with panic rising as Gregory once more stated his intent to try the slipper even on servants who were presumed to have been at home.  She realized that her stepmother was not going to summon her to try on the slipper...it was entirely up to her if she wanted the chance.  With her heart pounding and palms clammy, she took a deep breath and stepped into the parlor.  “Please, your Highness, may I try on the slipper?”

            Relief flooded through Gregory as he turned to look at Isabella.  He had begun to wonder how he would politely insist that Lady Alicia call her when it was obvious that the older woman would not even acknowledge Isabella’s existence.  Now, seeing Isabella in her braids and patched work dress, he was again struck by her vulnerability -- but he noticed the set to her jaw that showed her determination.  She was, indeed, made of strong stuff.  He smiled at her, hoping to reassure her.

            Lady Alicia, however, was determined not to allow Isabella the chance to surpass her own daughters and fury nearly choked her when Isabella stepped into the room.  “How dare you affront his Highness!” she said in an icy voice as she shot out of her chair and began to cross the room to Isabella.  Isabella’s face paled a bit, but she determinedly stood her ground.

            Gregory interrupted before Lady Alicia could say anything else, holding up a hand to stop her from approaching too close to Isabella.  “I’m not affronted, Lady Savoy,” he said in a placating tone.  “As I said, I mean to try the slipper on every young lady.”  As he spoke, he nodded to the page, who took the slipper to Isabella.

            Isabella pulled off her shoe and slid her foot into the slipper easily, hardly noticing the pain of the blisters rubbing again on the glass.  However, before she could even look up, her stepmother sputtered in disbelief, “But... that’s impossible!”  She turned to the Prince. “Your Highness, you surely can’t believe that Cinderella was the young lady at the ball last night!”

            At this, Isabella’s eyes flashed and her chin rose indignantly.  “My name is Isabella,” she stated firmly.

            Lady Alicia turned to her and spoke sharply, “Hold your tongue.”  Then, with an abrupt change of manner, she turned to the Prince and explained in a honeyed voice, “Your Highness, you must forgive Cinderella’s little outburst.  You see, her mother was one of the cooks in the manor house before my late husband’s death, and Cinderella was a very close friend to his poor little daughter.  Cinderella has always been a bit...unsteady...and when Isabella died, she began to imagine that she was Isabella.  I’m afraid she believes it more often than not.”  She looked at Isabella sadly, “We do try to see that she is taken care of, but she gets a bit unmanageable from time to time.”  She looked back to the Prince as all the color drained from Isabella’s face.  “I am sorry for the scene, your Highness.”

            Tears of rage and frustration filled Isabella’s eyes as she clenched her fists in fury.  She tried to speak, to refute the outrageous story, to say...anything.  But she could not manage to make a sound.

            Gregory was astonished at Lady Alicia’s absurd story and, like Isabella, found himself completely speechless.  Godfrey, however, had gotten over his renewed shock at how much Isabella resembled her mother.  Now, quite in control of himself and the situation, he turned to Lady Alicia.  “That little story may have explained the young lady to your social circle, Madam, but I find it impossible to believe.”  He raised his hand to still the indignant reply Lady Alicia appeared to be about to make and continued, crossing the room to stand by Isabella as he spoke, “I have in my possession a very well-done portrait of Bella Savoy, your late husband’s first wife.  No one who sees that painting will have any doubts as to the identity of this young lady--she is the image of her mother.”  He held out his hand to Isabella and indicated that she should place her hand in his.

            Isabella was a bit perplexed but placed her hand in Godfrey’s.  He turned to Gregory and, with a very formal air, said, “Prince Gregory, I have the honor and pleasure of presenting to you my ward, Lady Isabella Amanda Charlotte Savoy.”

            Isabella blushed and made a deep curtsey before she realized exactly what the Grand Duke had said.  Shocked, she looked up sharply from her curtsey, lost her balance and would have fallen if Godfrey had not steadied her.  Her stepmother must have comprehended Godfrey’s statement at the same moment, because she gasped along with Isabella, “What did you say?”

            Ignoring Lady Alicia for the moment, Godfrey held both hands out to Isabella, and she stood as he spoke.  “I’m afraid I owe you a very great apology, my dear.  You see, your father left a will, in which he left very nearly everything to you and named me as your guardian.”  He glanced coldly at Lady Alicia as he continued.  “I believed the story she put out and did not even mention the will when I returned a month after your father’s untimely death.  The truth is, the estate and everything in it is now, and always has been, yours.”

            Isabella’s head was spinning.  She heard words which she felt she ought to understand but were only confusing her.  --Time, she thought, --I need some time.  She looked at Godfrey in a rather bemused way.  “Mine?” she queried.

            Godfrey smiled at her reassuringly, but before he could speak Lady Alicia overcame her shock enough to dispute with him.  “My husband never mentioned a will.  I’m sure if he had left one, I would have been aware of it.  I can’t believe you think you can just burst in and announce that everything here belongs to Cinderella -- it’s mine and has been ever since Maximillian died.”  She turned to the Prince to plead her case, “Your Highness, this must be some hoax...” her voice trailed away as she recognized cold fury in the Prince’s face.

            “I do not doubt, Madam, that there has been some hoax.”  Gregory said icily.  “We may be in some disagreement as to just who is guilty of it, however.  The Grand Duke does indeed possess the legitimate last will and testament of the late Lord Savoy; I myself read it this morning.  You were to receive a small portion of the liquid assets of the estate at the time of his death; everything else was to belong solely to Isabella.”

            Lady Alicia took in the Prince’s statement and realized the significance of his having read the will that morning. “So all this nonsense about the slipper has just been a little charade, has it not?”  She drew herself up to her full height, narrowed her eyes and stated, “You do not expect me to relinquish all my rights without contesting this so-called will in the King’s Court.”

            The Grand Duke raised his hand.  “One moment, Madam.”  He turned to Isabella.  “My dear, you will be returning to the palace with us.  If there is anything you would like to take with you, go and fetch it now.”

            Still somewhat dazed by what was taking place, Isabella looked at Godfrey, barely understanding.  “Today?  Now?”  She asked incredulously.  When he smiled and nodded, she grasped the whole situation in a flash and felt suddenly and gloriously released.  She slipped her foot out of the glass slipper and back into her work shoe, took two steps toward the door and stopped.  She turned back to Lady Alicia with a determined gleam in her eyes.  “Stepmother,” she said in a carefully controlled voice, “I would very much like to take what’s left of my mother’s china figurines with me.  May I have the key to the secretary, please, so I may get them?” 

            Lady Alicia drew in her breath sharply and stared at Isabella.  Godfrey and Gregory exchanged glances, sensing that there was something more to the request than seemed apparent.  It was as if the older woman and the younger were engaged in some contest of wills.  As Lady Alicia continued to stare, a slight upturn began to play in the corners of Isabella’s mouth.  Godfrey leaned over to the page and whispered briefly.  The page nodded and slipped out, virtually unnoticed, taking the velvet pillow.  Still, Isabella stood patiently as Eugenia and Hortense fidgeted nervously on the divan.  At last, Lady Alicia glanced at the grim-faced Grand Duke, who raised an eyebrow at her.  “Well, Madam?”

            For the first time in her memory, Isabella actually saw alarm in her stepmother’s face.  Still, she waited.  At long last, with a deep sigh, Lady Alicia slowly drew a small key chain from her dress pocket and carefully extracted one key, which she dropped into Isabella’s outstretched hand.

            “Mama!”  Eugenia cried, horrified by what she knew to be her mother’s surrender.

            Lady Alicia turned to her daughter and rather shakily hissed “Hush!” as Isabella closed both hands over the key and brought them to the base of her throat, oblivious to their reaction.  Sudden tears welled up in her eyes and she closed them for just a moment then, taking a deep breath to collect herself, hurried from the room.

            As soon as Isabella had gone, Godfrey turned to Lady Alicia.  “Now, Madam,” he said in a calm voice, “You were saying you would contest the will in the King’s Court.”  He pulled an envelope, sealed with the royal cipher, from his pocket as he continued, “I do not think it would be to your advantage to pursue that course of action.  If this situation were to come before the court, I am quite certain that there would be sufficient evidence to bring indictments of fraud, unlawful imprisonment and perhaps even outright theft against you and your daughters.”

            At this, all color drained from Lady Alicia’s face, and she sank into a nearby chair.  Shocked, Hortense and Eugenia sprang from the divan, crossed to their mother, and fell on their knees on either side of her chair.

            “Mama!”  Eugenia cried out again.

            “Oh, what shall we do?”  Hortense lamented as she began to sob hysterically.

            With an obvious effort, Lady Alicia collected herself.  “Girls, girls,” she chided, “This is frightful behavior in front of His Highness.”

            Eugenia turned frightened eyes to the Prince as Hortense struggled to stifle her crying.  Finally, she reduced her hysterics to rather hiccuppy breathing, and Lady Alicia waved her daughters back to the divan.  Godfrey handed the sealed envelope to Lady Alicia.  “I daresay a court indictment would not be undeserved.  However, I am not willing to subject Isabella to the stress and publicity of such a trial.  Therefore, King Philip has written out this decree at my request.”

            Lady Alicia opened the envelope and read the contents of the document inside.  “You can’t be serious!” she gasped.

            “I am perfectly serious, Madam.  Max’s will specified that you would be given ten percent of the liquid assets of the estate upon his death.  I’m quite certain you have already spent far beyond that amount in the past five years, but as Isabella’s guardian I feel it would not harm her interests greatly to now bestow upon you one fiftieth of the estate’s liquid assets at this time.... provided you have all vacated the premises within the next forty-eight hours and leave the country straight away.”

            “But...but this is blackmail!  Extortion!”  Lady Alicia sputtered.

            “Blackmail?”  Gregory queried.  He felt absolutely no pity toward these women, who had treated Isabella so abominably.  “Don’t you understand?  You will not only not face criminal charges for your criminal behavior, but you will be allowed to depart with some resources at your disposal.  Do not confuse mercy with blackmail.”

            Eugenia now reacted to the conversation.  “But we can’t possibly pack everything in two days!”

            Lady Alicia handed Eugenia the decree, without taking her eyes from Godfrey, as she explained, “We are only allowed to take our own clothing.  The rest must stay as partial restoration of the funds which we have allegedly spent illegally.”  She frowned and spoke bitterly to the Grand Duke.  “You leave us very little choice, your Grace.”

            “How much choice have you afforded Isabella these past five years?”  Godfrey countered.  “I will send someone over Monday with your share of the funds from the estate, plus a carriage to deliver you to any location you choose, so long as it is beyond our borders.”  He gestured to the foyer, and two guards, sent in by the page, entered the parlor.  “These officers are here to ensure that the particulars are carried out, and they will be relieved by comrades at regular intervals.  I regret that I must look after Isabella’s interests in this manner, but, given the circumstances, I feel that this is necessary.  Do be aware that they are under strict instructions to inspect every bag, trunk or case that leaves the premises to make sure nothing other than clothing leaves the household, and they will protect Isabella’s property. They will arrest any of you who so much as scratches a tabletop.  We will not have any vandalism done here. And also be aware...the three of you will be individually...inspected...by female palace representatives to insure you do not abscond with any valuables hidden about your persons before you leave.  If anything of value is found on you, the entire agreement will be void and you will be facing criminal charges.  You will follow the terms."

            Godfrey startled a bit as Gregory suddenly ducked behind him and quickly crossed to the parlor door.  Isabella had returned, carrying the small trunk which contained her cache of treasures, which now included her mother’s figurines.  She was obviously surprised as Gregory insisted upon carrying the trunk for her, and rather reluctantly relinquished it to him.  She then turned to her stepmother and held out the key to the secretary.  “Thank you, Stepmother.” she said cordially.

            Lady Alicia took the key, avoiding Isabella’s eyes and speaking to Godfrey.  “I have some correspondence to remove from the drawers, but I will leave the key when I go.”

            Isabella frowned slightly, puzzled.  Then she noticed the guards and her eyes widened.  “What...” she began.

            Godfrey interrupted her gently.  “I will explain everything at length, my dear.”  He picked up the glass slipper, which had remained on the floor, forgotten, where Isabella had left it, and handed it to her.  “I think perhaps we should take our leave of these ladies.  They have a great deal to do in the next two days.”

            The Prince was already heading out the door with Isabella’s trunk.  Godfrey held the door for Isabella as she started through, then turned and looked back at her stepmother and stepsisters.  Hortense was weeping again, and Eugenia was talking to her in a low voice.  Lady Alicia had risen from her chair and was standing with her back to the door.  No one took any notice of Isabella at all.  Softly and sadly, Isabella murmured “Good-bye,” on the verge of tears herself, although she really didn’t know why.  She turned and stepped through the open door.

One more to be continued....

Serial Fun - Installment 11

 It was a busy Sunday, and I didn't get anything done in the sewing room.  Fortunately, tomorrow is a holiday in the US, so I will likely run to the chain fabric/ craft store across town for an appropriate zipper when I go out to get fixins for the family cookout tomorrow afternoon.  That's something, eh?

I might be procrastinating because this project intimidates the heck outta me, lol.  I gotta just suck it up and get on with it...

But, meantime, I've almost posted the whole frivolity.  I really didn't think it would break down into this many pieces...if you missed the earlier installments, HERE's the most-recent-on-top link...

Part Four -- The Deliverance

 

            There was a long line of carriages waiting at the palace entrance for the guests who were departing when Rita slipped into the back entrance, laden with her bundle.  She was again counting on everyone being occupied in the public part of the palace so that she could return to her rooms unquestioned.  It seemed she was right because she saw no one at all on her way in.  She awkwardly opened her door, juggling her load as best she could.  She managed to get inside and kick the door shut with her foot.  She took a deep breath and turned towards her bedroom to get everything back in the wardrobe before Esmerelda came up.

            “Well, well, look what we have here.”

             Rita jumped when she heard her brother’s voice, dropping her bundle.  “Gregory!” she exclaimed.

            Gregory didn’t reply to the Princess as he came from her bedroom into the sitting room, looking instead at the armchair in the shadowy corner where, to Rita’s further surprise, sat the Grand Duke.  Gregory pointed to the bundle and asked Godfrey, “What do you suppose we’ll find in there?”

            Godfrey stood up, walked over to the bundle and crossed his arms.  “I’m just guessing...but I wouldn’t be surprised to find a pink dress and a mask wrapped up in there.”

            Rita’s jaw dropped in shock as Gregory nodded and commented, “My thoughts exactly.”  Then, he finally addressed Rita. “Tell me, little sister, have you been playing Fairy Godmother this evening?”

            Rita stared at him for the moment it took her to find her voice, then bent to pick up the bundle again. “How...how did you know?”

            However, before Gregory could reply, Rita’s door opened again, and the King entered.  He did not look happy.  “Your mother and I,” he began, with an air of restrained fury, “Thought you were old enough to understand the necessity of responsibility and self-restraint; now they tell me you have run off for the evening with no guard or chaperone.” He paused for a moment, and to Rita’s relief the Grand Duke held up his hand and interrupted.

            “Philip, before you scold her too thoroughly, perhaps we’d better hear what happened.”  Godfrey looked at Rita.  “From the beginning.”

            Tears welled up in Rita’s eyes; she had planned everything so carefully and now it looked like it had all fallen apart.  She walked around Gregory into her room as she considered what to reply, dropped the bundle on her bed and returned. “But -- I promised I wouldn’t tell...”  She looked at Godfrey beseechingly.  “I promised...”

            Godfrey nodded.  “All right.  Let me tell you what I know already.  You arranged for a young lady to attend the ball tonight, didn’t you?”  Rita sniffed and nodded, so Godfrey continued.  “That young lady was Isabella Savoy, wasn’t she?”

            Once again, Rita stared at Godfrey, took a shaky breath and asked, “How did you know?”

            Godfrey smiled thinly.  “She took off her mask for a moment and I recognized her.  Now, what did you promise not to tell?”

            Rita swallowed.  “Isabella made me promise not to tell anyone about her.  She’s terribly afraid of her stepmother.”

            Godfrey glanced at the King.  “I’m not surprised, somehow...”  He turned back to Rita.  “How did you meet her?”

            Rita sighed and sat down on the divan, perched on the front of the cushion with her hands in her lap.  She related everything that had happened after she stomped off into the pasture the previous week.  Her father started to speak both times she confessed to going off by herself, but Godfrey restrained him so that she told the story without interruption.

             When she’d finished, Godfrey paced about, shaking his head.  “This is terrible.  I should have checked the whole story out when I got home five years ago.  Something like this never occurred to me.”  He looked at Rita.  “I know you promised, but she needs help desperately.  Why didn’t you tell me this last week?”

            Rita sighed.  “You thought she was dead.  I was afraid you wouldn’t take my word for it and begin an investigation of some sort, and that word would get back to Lady Alicia.  Isabella is terrified that her stepmother will do something terrible to her if she finds out that anyone knows the truth.”

            The Grand Duke sighed.  “I suppose she has good reason to feel that way.  But there’s more to this story than you know.”

            The King looked at him.  “What, Godfrey?”

            Godfrey pressed his lips into a grim line then replied.  “Max left a will.  I was to be executor of his estate, should anything happen to him.  He left nearly everything to Isabella, with Lady Alicia only to receive a small percentage of the estate.  In fact, Lady Alicia was only to be allowed to stay in the manor house if Isabella permitted it.  According to the will, I was to be Isabella’s legal guardian.”

            The King inhaled sharply.  “You never told me that!”

            “There didn’t seem to be any point in it.  I remember seeing a signed death certificate for her -- everything looked in order.”

            The King was puzzled.  “Who signed the certificate?”

            Godfrey shook his head.  “Lady Alicia’s personal physician -- who has since retired and gone back to Flavia.  In hindsight, it appears I was foolish not to investigate further.  Anyway, since I was convinced that Isabella died before I returned, Max’s will was of no consequence.  As Isabella’s next of kin, Lady Alicia ‘inherited’ the estate.”  He gave a rueful sigh.  “Poor Isabella...I should never have let her go through all of this.”

            For the first time since Rita began her story, Gregory spoke, looking out of the window.  “She pretty much refused to talk about that tonight.  I had no idea it was that bad.”  He paused a moment, then looked at the rest of them.  “What are we going to do about it?”

            Rita decided she could offer some advice here.  “She needs someone to swoop down on the manor house without warning and take her and her mother’s things away to a safe place, out of her stepmother’s reach.”

            Godfrey frowned.  “Do you think I could just go and fetch her?”

            Rita looked hopeful.  “Could you just march in and take her away?”

            The King crossed his arms and paced a few steps.  “It would be better if we could catch Lady Alicia completely off guard.  If you just went in with a detachment of soldiers...well, you’d probably have to arrest her and we’d have a trial.  It would cause quite a scandal.”

            Gregory groaned.  “A scandal is the last thing we should subject Isabella to.”

            The King nodded.  “Just what I was thinking.  We need some way of taking care of it quietly.”

            Suddenly, Godfrey looked up at Gregory.  “I think I’ve got an idea.  Gregory, do you remember saying something about trying that glass slipper on every girl in the kingdom?”

            Gregory frowned.  “Vaguely, but I was only joking.  Besides, we know who the mysterious masked lady is.”

            Godfrey nodded.  “We know -- but Lady Alicia doesn’t.”  He quickly explained his idea as the King, the Prince and the Princess listened carefully.

            When he’d finished, there was silence as they considered his idea.  Finally, the King nodded.  “It might work.  It would certainly put her off her guard.  You might even be able to get Isabella out without any opposition.”  He looked at Gregory.  “What do you think?”

            Gregory shrugged.  “I think it’s probably the best idea we’ll come up with tonight.  I’m in favor of it.”

            Rita knew of a problem with the plan.  “You’re giving the impression that you’re taking Isabella off to marry her,” she objected.  “Isabella has told me that she won’t marry anyone just to escape her stepmother -- she insists that she won’t make the mistake of marrying someone she doesn’t know well enough.”

            Gregory smiled.  “She’s made of strong stuff, isn’t she?” He observed to no one in particular.

            The King looked at Gregory with slightly raised eyebrows, started to speak, stopped, then finally spoke. “Well, Gregory...what will you do if she says, ‘Thank you, but no’?”

            Godfrey interrupted.  “Look, we’ll just say he’s trying to find her -- we won’t need to say anything about marriage.  When Lady Alicia is forced to admit who she is, then I can take her away as my ward.  I don’t think Isabella will object to that and it will accomplish the same thing -- we will take her with us when we go.”

            The King had another thought.  “Isn’t the rest of Max’s will valid as well?  What can we do to protect Isabella’s property?”

            Godfrey frowned.  “I need to review the provisions in the will...and maybe check on some legal precedents as well.  I can do that first thing in the morning.  I believe you will have to issue a decree, Philip, but I think it can still be handled discreetly...unless Lady Alicia wants a scandal, which I doubt.  Under the circumstances, I think that, given the right incentive, she would be willing to return to her relatives in her native country.”  Suddenly, Rita yawned and Godfrey laughed.  “The Fairy Godmother is fatigued.  I’d say she has done a fair night’s work and should be allowed some rest.”

            The King nodded.  “Gracious, yes, she needs to be in bed,” and yawned himself.  “We can discuss the details in the morning...or at least, after some sleep.”

            “Just a moment...there’s something I want to clear up first...” Gregory gave Rita a knowing look.  “Little sister of mine, just what did you have in mind when you sent Isabella to the ball?”

            Rita blushed and looked at the floor.  “Well...I hoped you’d like her and take her away from her stepmother.”  She looked up at him and said as innocently as she could manage, “Aren’t princes supposed to rescue damsels in distress?”

            Before Gregory could reply, the door opened and Esmerelda entered, then stopped as she saw that the Princess was both present and occupied with visitors.  “Well!” she said brightly.  “Do we know who the girl in the mask was now?”

            The King sighed.  “Esmerelda, this young lady has been most naughty this evening...but as it appears that her motives were pure and the results desirable,” he couldn’t resist a glance at his son before continuing, “We will not be unduly harsh with her.  Get her in bed as soon as you can, but don’t ask her too many questions.  Everything will be made right in the morning.”  With that, he gestured to Godfrey and Gregory, who preceded him out of the door.  He himself kissed Rita lightly on the forehead and said “I will explain everything to your mother…Good night” before he left.

            Relief washed over Rita as she returned her father’s good night kiss and realized that she wasn’t going to receive a scolding after all.

To be continued...

Serial Fun - Installment 10

 Muslin two was very, very close.  Just a few wrinkles; I released the side seams and the shaped back seam a bit and I think it's good.  The only other adjustment was to trim out the lower back armsceye just a bit.  I will trace off a clean pattern, with the additions to the side seams and back seam and then...maybe I'll make a linen version?  Just to make sure it's gonna work?  Decisions, decisions...

But, here's installment 10 for those who are following.  Click HERE if you want to catch up; scroll to the end and read from the bottom up.  Interesting puzzle: My feed burner dropped one of the names almost every time it appeared on the last installment.  I've no idea why.

        Prince Gregory, having had to deal with a number of mothers and daughters who tried to have a word as he threaded his way around the dancers, was delayed enough that he, closely followed by the Grand Duke, arrived at the door in time to see the shadow of the carriage disappear around the curve of the drive.  It was Godfrey who spotted the glimmer of glass on the floor and picked up the tiny slipper.  “It seems your mysterious young lady forgot something.”

         Gregory took the slipper just as Lady Alicia and Eugenia came around the corner, and commented ruefully, “Do you suppose I’ll need to try this on every young lady in the kingdom?”

        The Grand Duke  saw the approaching women and remembered the terrified face of the young lady who looked so much like Bella Savoy.  He frowned as he replied to Gregory, “I don’t think too many feet will fit that slipper...one moment.”  Godfrey hurried to intercept the ambitious pair.  “Lady Alicia!”  he said with far more cheerfulness than he felt a that moment.  “Did my wife get to speak to you tonight?  I’m sure I remember hearing her mention that there was something that she needed to discuss with you...” he deftly maneuvered the two of them back into the ballroom as the King and Queen, who had observed Isabella’s flight across the dance floor, found Gregory still standing in the doorway, holding the slipper.

            The King looked out the door.  “My word, Gregory, whatever did you do to frighten her off like that?”

            Gregory shook his head.  “Uncle Godfrey...” he began when Esmerelda came hurrying around the corner from the ladies’ lounge.

            “Your Majesties!”  She dropped a quick curtsey.  “I think I can tell you something about that girl...”

            Gregory looked at her sharply.  “What?”

            “Well, all the ladies who were coming to the lounge were talking about this mysterious girl in a mask.  I finally peeked out into the ballroom just in time to see her running across the floor.  I think the Princess is responsible for her being here!”

            Gregory gasped “Rita!” in the same instant his mother gasped “Gwendolyn!”

            The King frowned slightly.  “What do you mean, Esmerelda?”

            “Well,” Esmerelda began with relish, “The Princess fairly insisted that we go up and look through the charity dresses in the West Wing storeroom Saturday morning, and she picked out one and had me get it cleaned for her...she said she knew someone who might need it.  I’d swear that that girl was wearing that dress.”  She caught her breath and firmly stated, “We found a pink mask in the trunk as well.”

            They all stood there a moment, taking in Esmerelda’s information.  Then Gregory said slowly, “Do you mean she” (he meant the Princess) “might know who she” (he held up the slipper) “is?”

            Esmerelda nodded.  “I’m sure of it,” she stated as Godfrey, minus Lady Alicia and her daughter, returned.

            Gregory looked sharply at the Grand Duke.  “What was the name you said when you saw her?”

            “Bella.  That young lady is the image of Bella Savoy.”  Godfrey frowned.  “I wonder....”

            The King suddenly recalled the previous week’s conversation with his daughter.  “Did Gwendolyn ever ask you about the Savoy family?”

            The Grand Duke’s eyebrows shot up.  “Yes!  She did!  And she knew Bella’s name....” his voice trailed off.

            Gregory frowned.  “I think I need to have a talk with my little sister.”

            The King nodded grimly.  “I think several of us need to have a talk with her.  But we can’t neglect our guests and we’ve been standing here too long already.  Esmerelda, please go to Gwendolyn’s room and tell her that we will be in to talk to her as soon as the guests go home.  Wake her up if you have to.  I don’t want to leave this until morning.”

            Esmerelda curtseyed.  “Yes, your Majesty.” she said and headed toward the private quarters.  The rest returned to the dance floor.  However, Gregory had not yet finished the next dance with his mother when he saw Esmerelda speaking with Godfrey at the ballroom door.  When the dance had finished, Gregory asked the Grand Duke what she’d said.  He was somehow not surprised to hear that the Princess was nowhere to be found.  The Grand Duke was certain that she was safe and would return before the night was over and felt no need to alert her parents just yet; although he did instruct the palace guards to allow the Princess to return to the castle unchallenged.  They would simply wait in her apartment for her return, once the Royal Family officially bid their guests a good night. Neither one of them relished telling The King and Queen that their daughter had been unaccounted for during the entirety of the ball. 

            The Princess was, at that moment, sleeping fitfully on the divan in the manor house parlor.  She had had a rather miserable evening.  It was the first time in her entire life that she’d been completely alone at night, and she didn’t realize how many creaks and groans a large, empty house could make.  She polished silver and polished silver, humming to herself and reciting all the poetry she could remember in an effort to not listen to the stillness, or worse… the odd noises coming from unknown origins.  Finally, about eleven, she decided she’d polished as much silver as Isabella would have and stacked it neatly back into place. She’d then gone into the parlor and laid down on the divan, trying to imagine how Isabella was getting along, and eventually dozed off.  She startled awake, however, when Isabella arrived home and pulled the bell cord, and fairly flew to the door to let her in.

            During the ride home, Isabella’s terror had subsided, and a kind of dreamy reverie took its place as she thought over the evening’s events.  She felt she couldn’t possibly be the same frightened girl who left the manor house a few hours earlier.  She dropped onto the bench in the foyer, hardly comprehending Rita’s barrage of questions.  “Oh, Rita!” she sighed, “It was the most wonderful evening of my whole life.  I’ll never forget it as long as I live!”  Isabella looked gratefully at her young friend.  “I don’t know how you did it...but thank you!”  She winced as she stood up again, and with a grimace she pulled the slipper off her right foot.  She had a blister on her heel and another on her little toe.  Her left foot was somewhat worse, since that slipper had been a bit too large.  She looked at Rita and grinned ruefully.  “Evidence that I didn’t dream it all...”

            Rita’s jaw dropped slightly as she looked at Isabella’s feet.  “Did you dance much? And what happened to your other shoe?”

            Isabella laughed.  “I danced almost all night.  Come on upstairs and I’ll tell you about it while I go back to my normal self.”  They headed up to the tower, and Isabella related the whole story, from the beginning, as she took off the fine dress and its foundations with Rita’s help, put on her night dress, put away the things she’d ‘borrowed’ without her stepsisters’ knowledge, and brushed the curl from her hair and braided it back to its normal fashion as Rita packed up the things she had brought.  Finally, Isabella replaced her treasures -- minus the missing slipper --and hid the trunk back in its cubbyhole under the loose board in the floor.

            It was all Rita could do to contain herself as Isabella recounted her conversation with the Prince on the terrace.  At one point, however, she couldn’t resist interrupting, “He kissed you!  He really kissed you?”

            Isabella stood up after securing the floorboard hiding her treasure box.    “I was so surprised...and I think he was kind of surprised himself.”  She searched for words to describe her feelings and found none.  So, she simply shrugged and said, “Who would ever have thought it?”

            Rita knew very well who would have thought it, but she wasn’t about to say.  “Do you think he fell in love with you?”

            At this, Isabella actually laughed out loud.  “Fell in love with me!  Rita, he barely knows me.  He doesn’t even know who I am or anything...how could he possibly be in love with me?”

            Rita, surprised by Isabella’s response, blurted, “But he kissed you!”

            Isabella smiled, remembering.  “Yes...he did.  But part of the reason may have been that there was music in the air, and moonlight on the lake...it was a perfect, romantic setting.”  Then, she turned brisk.  “But, a romantic setting isn’t love.”

            Rita persisted, “But...didn’t he say anything to you?  He surely isn’t going to just let you disappear, is he?”

            Isabella scooped up the dustcover with the dress and things Rita had brought, stating “I’ll carry it downstairs for you.  I’m used to the stairs,” and they started down the steep, narrow staircase.  As they negotiated the steps, she added thoughtfully, “He did say he was going to solve the riddle.  Maybe he will, and maybe he won’t.”

            Rita was aghast.  “Isabella, if he said he would find you, he’ll find you.”

            Isabella was amused.  “Rita, I can’t pin my hopes on what a young man -- even the Prince -- says under the influence of music and moonlight.  It’s too easy to forget it in the daytime.”

            Rita, knowing Gregory as she did, knew he wouldn’t have told Isabella he would find her if he didn’t intend to look.  However, she could hardly tell Isabella why she felt that way.  She tried a different approach.  “Well, Isabella, what if he does find you...would you marry him?”

            Isabella stopped on the stairs and looked at Rita in shock.  “Marry him?  Rita, I don’t know him any better than he knows me...”  She sighed and shook her head as she started down the stairs again.  “You’re forgetting that I’ve seen firsthand what can happen when people who don’t know each other get married.  If I get a chance to know the Prince...well, I won’t say I wouldn’t fall in love with him, but I’ve got to know whomever I marry.  I don’t want to end up in the same kind of trap my father did.”  They exited the staircase and crossed the house to the front door as she continued.  “As tempting as it might be, I am not going to rush into marrying anybody—even Prince Gregory – just to escape my stepmother.”

            Rita was really surprised.  It never occurred to her that Isabella might not be swept away by Gregory.  She had only worried about Gregory noticing Isabella.  How could Gregory take Isabella away if she wouldn’t marry him?  She took the bundle from Isabella and waited while Isabella opened the front door.  "But...what happened to your shoe?"

    Isabella sighed.  “It fell off my foot as I was hurrying to leave.  My stepmother was coming down the hall; I didn’t dare go back and get it.  I don’t know if anyone picked it up.”

    Rita started to reply that she would check when she got home; she caught herself just in time.  “Oh, I’m so sorry!" she stammered instead.

           Isabella smiled again.  “Oh, it was a lovely evening, and even if that shoe never finds its way home, I will be eternally grateful to you for arranging it -- however you did it.” Then she turned serious. “I may regret it later if my stepmother figures any of it out, but I’m foolish enough to hope that won’t happen.”  Then, as Rita headed out the door, “Do you want to try to come this Thursday?”

            Rita grinned back at her over her shoulder. “I am getting good at this sneaking thing…I’ll certainly try!”

            Isabella waved.  “I’ll be looking forward to it!”  She watched as Martin helped Rita into the carriage and waved again as Jerry snapped the reigns and the carriage pulled away.  The clock chimed the quarter hour as she headed back through the house-- it was one-fifteen.  She checked around, making sure everything looked as it should, then went upstairs, suddenly very sleepy.  She was asleep almost as soon as she lay down.

            Isabella got to sleep for a whole hour and fifteen minutes before she had to get up to help her stepmother and stepsisters undress.

To be continued....