Sir Richard laughed. “Oh, it’s real, but greatly exaggerated, I assure you. For example, I have never seen these witches who are said to author this book. I think they’re pure fiction.”
Lady Tremaine smiled. “Then I imagine this is the Many Kingdoms’ version of a history book. Ours, too, are greatly exaggerated, I imagine,” she said.
Lady Hackle cleared her throat. “Now, now, Lady Tremaine, don’t let the gentleman hear you say such things.”
Sir Richard laughed. Just then the dinner gong sounded, and all the assembled ladies and gentlemen began to pair off and line up to go into the dining room.
“Sir Richard, would you mind escorting Lady Tremaine into the dining room, as you are both without partners this evening?” asked Lady Hackle with a wide smile.
“It would be my greatest pleasure,” he said, taking Lady Tremaine’s arm. To Lady Tremaine’s surprise she and Sir Richard were among the first to go in after Lord and Lady Hackle, which was slightly confusing, but she surmised that his title might have held more prestige in his own lands than it did in hers.
Lady Hackle had arranged a magnificent feast. Lady Tremaine always thought she was an exceptional hostess, but tonight she could hardly eat a thing. She was enraptured by Sir Richard, who was becoming more interesting to her by the moment. She hardly thought of her girls that evening at dinner, not until Sir Richard asked about them.
“Lady Prudence tells me you have two lovely daughters,” he said.
“Yes, Anastasia and Drizella. They have been my world since Lord Tremaine passed away.” She didn’t see the point in mentioning it was probably the reason they had become snotty little twits spoiled past redemption and that she’d had to leave them home.
“I also have a daughter,” he said. “Aren’t they our greatest treasures?” He was looking at her intently.
Lady Tremaine kept her face passive, not wanting to scare the man off with tales about her wicked girls. She wondered if it was too late for her daughters, hoping she hadn’t ruined any chance of them becoming the young ladies she and Lord Tremaine hoped they would become.
To hear Sir Richard talk about his angelic daughter, one would think she was a treasure, fashioned by the gods out of all that was good and glittering and bestowed to him from the heavens. He must have raised her well. Lady Tremaine was envious really, thinking of how awful both her daughters had been to her before she left for this trip, and she probably only knew the half of their usual misdeeds. She decided she’d better sit down and chat with Nanny Pinch when she returned to see how deeply this behavior had taken hold of them. She felt more than ever that she had done everything wrong after her husband died.
As she sat next to this enchanting gentleman, she realized she had lost something of herself over the past six years. She had lost her edge, her wit, and her stoicism. She had become soft, and she resolved to find herself again.
Lady Tremaine woke the next morning to Rebecca opening the curtains in the Fairy Room. She hated to admit it, but it was a nice change to have Rebecca looking after her. She was a happy young woman, with ginger hair, green eyes, and a willowy stature, almost fairylike.
“Good morning, my lady. I have brought you some coffee,” said Rebecca as she tied back the long purple curtains.
“Thank you, Rebecca dear. What does Lady Hackle have planned for us today?”
Rebecca walked over to the bed and began arranging the pillows so that Lady Tremaine could enjoy her coffee sitting up. “The gentlemen are in the vestibule enjoying some libations before heading out for their hunt,” she said.
Lady Tremaine thought she would like to be there now to see Sir Richard off. She imagined he looked dashing in his hunting clothes. “And the ladies? What will the ladies be doing today?” she asked as Rebecca placed the coffee tray on the bed.
“The gentlemen will be joining the ladies for a picnic this afternoon after their hunt,” said Rebecca.
Lady Tremaine thought that sounded lovely. “And how is Mrs. Bramble?” she asked, taking a sip of her coffee. “Have you seen her this morning, Rebecca?”
“Yes, that’s how I knew you wished for nothing but coffee this morning,” the young maid said, smiling. “She seems to be feeling much better and is quite eager to attend her lady. But I’m not sure she’s ready to return to her duties.”
Lady Tremaine wondered if she shouldn’t just send Mrs. Bramble back home. “Tell her it is my wish that she continue to rest—that is, if Lady Prudence can spare you. I wouldn’t like to deprive her of her lady’s maid.”
Rebecca looked pleased. “Lady Prudence is being well taken care of. I am entirely at your service. Unless you’d prefer Mrs. Bramble?” she said, taking Lady Tremaine’s dressing gown out of the wardrobe.
The fact was, she didn’t prefer Mrs. Bramble. Lady Tremaine was enjoying this change of pace, without her daughters and the servants who knew her well. She felt it was a chance to start fresh, to regain her old self. There was an ease to being cared for by Rebecca and the rest of Lady Hackle’s servants. It was all entirely civil, without the overfamiliarity she had fallen into at home. She liked feeling that everyone knew their place, and with that she realized that she, too, had found hers.
“No, Rebecca, Mrs. Bramble should rest a while longer. I think she is well where she is. Now let’s decide what I will wear to the picnic. I assume my dear friend Lady Prudence has some ideas on the matter?” she asked teasingly.
“As a matter of fact, she did give me a few dresses for you to choose from. Shall I show them to you now?” Rebecca held out a long black silk robe with vivid pink flowers for Lady Tremaine to wear while she made her selections for the day. “I asked one of the maids to come up and run a bath for you. Why don’t we take a look at the dresses while we wait?”
Just then a dainty young woman in a black-and-white maid’s uniform came into the room.
“Rose, please run a bath for Lady Tremaine. We will be in shortly,” Rebecca said.
The slight girl nodded and quickly went into the adjoining bathroom without another word.
“Don’t mind Rose, my lady, she is very shy,” Rebecca continued. “I think all the dresses Lady Prudence picked out for you are exquisite, but I have a feeling you will like this one best.” She held up a periwinkle-and-white day dress. “And look at this,” she added, excited as a young schoolgirl as she pointed to the matching hat and gloves.