Chapter Five

 

 

“How did it go?” My mother asked brightly.

I stared at her blankly.

“Tell me what happened,” she said in a more moderate tone.

I told her, she fumed, and then she smiled.

“Well, they will pay for what they did to you, darling.” She smiled wickedly. “They already are.”

“How do you mean?”

“The enchantment, of course,” she huffed. “Were you not paying attention?”

I gave her another blank stare.

My dress was back to being rags, the coach was again a pumpkin, and my attendants were the animals they once were. It was all back to normal except for that damn glass slipper that gleamed up at me from my foot. I glowered down at it.

“Sorry, I lost the other one.” I waved at the slipper.

“I know.” She smiled wider. “It was another part of the enchantment; one I didn't tell you about because I knew it would upset you.”

“What did you do?” I growled.

“It was just a little frosting.” She waved her hand grandly. “They are restless now, sweetheart. All they will be able to think about is you. They shall know no peace until they stand in your presence and they will suffer until they wed you.”

“Right, I remember now.” A small seed of satisfaction was growing in my belly. It was nice to have a bit of revenge. “But I don't want to marry them, so I suppose they'll suffer forever.”

“Are you sure, darling?” My mother narrowed her eyes at me. “I sense an air of contentment rolling off your body. Although they seduced you brazenly, they did so well.”

“So what? It was just sex. I want love.”

“Child”–she rolled her eyes–“sometimes the order of things get mixed up, but for good reason. It would hardly do to marry a man and then discover that he just fumbles about in bed, never satisfying anyone but himself.”

I blinked at her.

“You know that they can give you pleasure,” she went on. “That's a good thing, my girl. And they even shared you–another good thing, especially where I'm from. Men can be so grasping, so possessive. That too, can be lovely. But, for our purposes, we want them to be able to share.”

“Why do we want that?”

“Because then, you will definitely rule the kingdom.” She rolled her eyes. “Please keep up, Madelyn. Three princes means that there are three possible heirs. Death comes at the most unlikely times, and should one of them die, the next in line would rule. By marrying all three, we insure that you will be queen, no matter what.”

“Devious.”

What was this feeling? Did I actually want to be queen? If I ruled, I could change all the licentiousness of court. I could change whatever I wanted. I could make my stepmother and stepsisters miserable. I could ...

“I don't want to marry men just for revenge,” I said firmly.

“Be honest with yourself, Maddie,” my mother chided. “You're angry now, but I saw your eyes light up when Ashton spoke to you. I saw the way you bantered with Weston and teased Braxton. You like these men.”

“Yeah, all right, maybe–wait! You saw? You were watching?” I nearly shouted.

“Well, I left before the more intimate moments.” She fluffed her hair. “But I'm sure they were lovely too.”

“Lovely ...” The memory of their hands and mouths on me returned, and I blushed. “It was... nice.”

Mother chortled.

I glowered.

“Let go of your pride for one moment, and consider what life would be like with those men as your husbands,” she said softly. “Imagine having their love and adoration. Imagine having their sex all for yourself.”

I blushed again.

“Yes, just as I thought.” She nodded. “Now, do you want to hear about the shoe?”

“I'm horrified to say this,” I huffed, “but yes, I do.”

“Good girl,” she said with a grin. “The glass slippers are connected by magic. Not only did they make you irresistible to your princes, but they were also my insurance so that if the men did give in to their lusts and set off my spell, they would not only pine for you, they would find you.”

“Huh?”

“It's a trail, dear girl,” she huffed. “One shoe leads to the other. The slipper fell from your foot on purpose, so that the princes would have a tether. All they have to do is follow the slipper's lead, and they shall find you.”

“Great.” I rolled my eyes. “They'll find Madelyn the scullery maid, not Duchess Lily.”

“Yes, that was sweet dear–using my name,” my mother smiled. “But I'm sure they've realized by now that you gave them an alias. They're already searching for you, you realize?”

“Already?” I stared at the palace, still lit with the gleaming lights of the ball. We were standing in the garden, the pumpkin still sitting on the ground before us. “I've only just left.”

“And you caused quite the stir.” She laughed. “Those princes, running out after you in the nude, will never be forgotten. The whole court is atwitter.”

“Wonderful.” I sighed and looked down at myself.

“Yes, I know how you appear, sweetheart.” She smiled wider. “But that works in your favor.”

“Excuse me?”

“You're beautiful, Daughter,” she said gently. “I know you don't realize this, but you're a lovely woman. How could you not be,” she teased as she patted her hair. “But your beauty is hidden beneath rags and ashes. Those princes have lived their whole lives consumed with pleasure and beauty. They need something more than a pretty girl. They need to fall in love with you despite your outward appearance. My enchantment will keep them returning to you until they see the beauty of your heart.”

“Not likely,” I huffed.

“Then they will never be happy.” She shrugged. “But I think you're not giving them enough credit. They have been raised to be as they are, but beneath that hedonism lies three hearts longing for love. When you laid your curse upon them–”

“I laid what now?” I gaped at her.

“Your curse.” She blinked at me in surprise. “Didn't you know that you worked your first spell tonight?”

“No. What are you talking about?”

“The curse, darling.” She sighed deeply. “That bit about when they lie in bed this night, they'll know they gave up something real.”

“Oh,” I whispered. “I did feel a little tingle when I said it.”

“That was your magic coming to life!” She exclaimed excitedly. “Oh, darling, I'm so delighted and proud. You will rule the kingdom with magic and wisdom.”

I scowled at her as I recalled what I said. “So, they'll know they lost something real. That doesn't make them regret it.”

“Ah, that's what I was about to say next; that you've opened their eyes at last.” She nodded. “They have finally been shown what they were missing, and it has amped up my enchantment considerably. They are nearly mad with wanting of you.”

“Cease,” I huffed. “They are not.”

“Look you there.” She pointed back to the road that led to the castle, where a line of torches was winding down it. “They are off on the hunt for their Lily.” She giggled. “I just love that you gave them my name, dear.”

“I've missed you, Mother,” I whispered.

“Oh, sweetheart”–she pulled me into a hug–“I've missed you too.”

“I don't know if I can face them again,” I mumbled into her hair.

“You're brave, and strong, and wise, Madelyn.” She pulled back to look me in the eyes. “They will be the luckiest of men to have you for their wife.”

“The King and Queen will never allow them to marry one woman.” I shook my head.

“Let me handle the King and Queen.” She smirked. “You just take care of their sons.”

“They will never associate me with the woman they met tonight.”

“Have a little faith, Maddie.” She kissed my cheek. “Just hide in these rags a little longer, and they will prove themselves to you. Then you'll be able to see the men they can be, and perhaps you will love them as much as they'll love you.”