Cold Hearted (Villains 8)

“Though that isn’t Rebecca’s job, is it? The lady of the house should make the meals,” he said.

“I dare say the court has a cook, and so do half the people of this village,” said Lady Tremaine. “I don’t see why we can’t hire one and a couple of girls to help around the house. It’s really too much for me to manage on my own.”

Sir Richard laughed. “Are you comparing yourself with the queen now? Are you so high and mighty you can’t cook for your family?”

Lady Tremaine ran her fingers across her brooch. “Of course not, husband. But it wouldn’t hurt to get some help around this house, and I must insist that we do.” She felt brave sitting there before him, wearing the brooch her previous husband had given her. She felt strong, and there was nothing he could do to make her feel otherwise. Or at least that is how she felt in that moment.

“Well, if it means that much to you, then yes. You can have some help,” he said, pushing his plate away from him now that he was finished, another habit she detested. “But you won’

t need to hire anyone. The girls can help you.” He patted his stomach like a fat king.

“But what of their education? I thought you agreed that Stasia, Zella, and Cinderella would continue their studies,” said Lady Tremaine.

“Oh, Cinderella will continue her education. I meant your girls. Anastasia and Drizella,” he said.

Anastasia and Drizella leaped up from their seats.

“What does he mean, Mama?” asked Drizella, running over to her mother.

Anastasia was close behind. “He can’t be serious!”

“That isn’t fair,” said Cinderella. It shocked Lady Tremaine that Cinderella was standing up for her stepsisters.

“You are such a dear girl, Cinderella, and you’re turning into a beautiful young woman, just like your mother. It’s remarkable how much you favor her,” he said, ignoring Anastasia and Drizella and smiling at his daughter. “I think it’s time to present you to court. I have long held a wish that you and the prince would eventually marry.”

Cinderella dropped her fork, which fell to her plate with a loud clank. “Oh, Papa, I will never leave you. Not ever,” she said.

“Well, I think it’s a wonderful idea to present the girls to court,” said Lady Tremaine, eagerly scanning his face to guess what he might be thinking before he replied. But his answer was quite clear.

“I don’t intend to present your girls to court, Lady Tremaine. They will be far too busy in the kitchen helping you.”

Lady Tremaine was livid. “I wonder that you didn’t just hire a housekeeper, Sir Richard, because it’s clear that is all you wanted from the start,” said Lady Tremaine.

Sir Richard scoffed. “Housekeepers don’t come with large dowries, and besides, I’d have to pay a housekeeper,” he said, sneering at her.

Five long years passed since that horrible Christmas Eve, and the girls were now old enough to be presented at court, but Sir Richard wouldn’t hear of it.

“But why won’t you let my girls be presented along with Cinderella?” Lady Tremaine had broached the subject as he was heading out the door on castle business one morning.

“I don’t have time for this conversation again. Standards are different in the Many Kingdoms. Your girls are just not, well, very presentable, shall we say, and I would be ashamed to claim them as my own in public. I’m sure you understand.” He tried to put an end to the conversation by scurrying out the door, but Lady Tremaine followed him.

“I do not understand! What are you saying? My girls are beautiful!” she said sincerely, for she truly felt that way. But Sir Richard laughed.

“You really believe that, don’t you?” he said, making his way to the carriage. “I must leave now, I’m late. And I won’t hear any more of this, do you understand?”

The carriage drove off, leaving Lady Tremaine standing there. She was livid, but there was nothing she could do. She was trapped in the Many Kingdoms, trapped in that house, and trapped in a marriage. Her only hope was to try writing to Lady Hackle again. Lady Tremaine and her daughters couldn’t stay any longer. They were in misery. She had written to her friend Lady Hackle quite some time back to see if she could send her the money so she and her daughters could book passage back to London, but she never replied, which had begun to concern Lady Tremaine because she hadn’t heard from her friend since soon after she had arrived in the Many Kingdoms. She had been hoping once the girls were of age they could marry the Hackle boys and they, at least, would be free from this wretched place, but with no word from Lady Hackle she was starting to worry that she and her daughters would find no escape from Sir Richard or the Many Kingdoms.

She went to her room to compose another letter and found her daughters crying on her bed. “Oh, my girls, what’s the matter?” she asked, rushing to put her arms around them.

“We heard what Sir Richard said. He thinks we are ugly,” said Drizella.

“No one will ever want to marry us,” said Anastasia.

“That’s not true, my doves. You’re both beautiful. And don’t forget you’re betrothed to the Hackle boys. In fact, I was just about to write Lady Hackle to see if you could go there for a visit.”

The girls’ faces brightened.

“Really, Mama? Won’t you come with us?” said Anastasia. “We know how unhappy you are. Why not just leave this place? Sir Richard is horrible. We never go anywhere or do anything. We’re always trapped inside doing housework, and no one ever comes to visit us. We hate it here!”