“I’m all right in here. See if Amanda needs help in the dining room.” Katie was cutting vegetables at the table and didn’t look up.
As I left the room, I couldn’t help but skip down the hallway. Everything seemed a little cheerier when I thought of Dennan. Amazingly, I could still feel his lips pressed to my cheek. I held my palm to my face, savoring the sensation.
Looking out a window, I noticed a carriage in front of the manor. Strangely, Sir William sat in the driver’s seat instead of the usual chauffeur. Even more peculiarly, Lady Catherine climbed into the carriage alone. William slapped the reins on the horses’ backs and drove the carriage away from the house. What is that about?
I caught up to Amanda in the dining room and asked, “Does Lady Catherine typically leave Sherwood Manor alone with Sir William?”
Still shining a piece of silver, Amanda raised her head. “Milady leaves every day at noon with Sir William.”
“Every day?”
Amanda nodded. “She leaves every day at noon and is gone for no longer than an hour.” Amanda tucked a loose blond strand of hair behind her ear. “Milady trusts only Sir William as her escort.”
“That’s odd.”
“I guess it would seem unusual to a visitor, but ever since Lady Catherine moved into Sherwood Manor, it has been her habit.”
“Where do you think she goes?”
“No one knows for sure.” Amanda grinned slyly. “I think she ventures out each day to restock her supply of tonics and potions.”
“You are as bad as your sister.” I giggled. “You two would have Lady Catherine pegged as the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Amanda laughed so hard she snorted, making us both laugh even more. “Your amusement is refreshing, Miss Brinlee,” she was finally able to say when she regained her breath.
“I’m glad to be of service.”
She returned her focus to the silverware. “Dinner is in just a few short hours, and there is still so much to be done.”
“Let me help.”
“No, miss. This is no work for a gentlewoman.”
“Now, Amanda, we both know I’m not a gentlewoman. I only pretend to be one. Besides, the work will be finished faster with an extra pair of hands.”
“I will not request your assistance, but if you wish to give it, I will not prevent you from doing so.”
“Deal.”
I moved to the opposite side of the table and attempted to shine a silver fork.
Long, silent moments passed as I thought about Dennan—the brilliance of his dark eyes and the thrill of his touch. But where did he come from? Who was he? Even though my heart fluttered at the very idea of his handsome face and roguish attitude, I felt uneasy about his vague answers to my questions.
I didn’t tell Amanda about him. Maybe I wanted to keep the secret to myself, or maybe I was afraid no one would believe me and assume I had made the whole thing up.
After Amanda and I worked for an hour in the formal dining room, the rumbling of Lady Catherine’s carriage signaled her return. I stepped near the window and watched her descend from the vehicle and step quietly into the manor. Sir William led the horses and carriage to the stables. I decided to tell Dennan about Lady Catherine’s strange disappearance, just in case she had something to do with the plot to destroy the kingdom.
After Amanda and I finished in the dining room, I met Katie in my bedroom so she could help me get ready for dinner.
“How did Krys react when you talked to him?” I asked.
“He assured me that it was only the consequence of Lady Catherine’s bitter temper and not any fault of mine.”
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at Katie in the mirror. She stood behind me, pinning up my curls. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
I stood and turned so I could wrap my arms around my dear friend. “This never should have happened,” I said, sobbing with her. “I never wanted you to take the fall for me.”
She tried to straighten and pull away from me. “I’m just tired. Everything will be better once this dinner party is over.”
I grabbed her hand. “Thanks for being my friend, Katie.”
Tears escaped her eyes again. “It is I who should thank you, Miss Brinlee. You and Miss Gabriella have treated me better than any servant could ever wish to be treated.”
I felt a tinge of pride at Katie’s pronouncement. Gabriella—Cinderella—was the essence of unselfishness and kindness in my fairy-tale dreams. Being compared to her was way cool.
“Now let’s get you ready for this dinner party.” Katie turned me around to finish my hair.
I needed to find a way to get out of there. My presence was messing up everything.
When it was announced that the dinner guests had arrived, I descended the staircase in my beautiful, dark green dress. My elegant skirts whispered around me as if telling secrets, carrying me along as I wandered through a dream come true.
Just outside the dining room, Sir William unexpectedly stepped into my pathway. “You look beautiful, Miss Brinlee.” He looked me up and down as if he’d eat me alive.
“Thank you, Sir William.” I tried to step away from him.
“Call me William, remember?”
I heard the murmur of voices in the dining room. “Do you need something? Lady Catherine is expecting me.”
He grinned. “I’m looking forward to being alone with you.”
“Maybe another time.” I took a step toward the door.
“How about after dinner tonight?”
“Tonight?” I was unable to hide my surprise.
“Meet me in the gardens after dinner, and I’ll escort you down to the shore just beyond the cliff. I want to show you the colors of the setting sun reflected upon the waters.”
I was intrigued with the idea of visiting the shore at sunset, even with William.
“It’s a date.” I smiled. “I’ll meet you in the gardens after dinner.”
He held his hands firmly at his sides and bowed. “Thank you, Miss Brinlee.”
I curtsied and moved around him to enter the dining room.
Lady Catherine stood next to her chair at the head of the table. “Gentlemen,” she said, “Miss Brinlee has at last decided to grace us with her charm.”
Rose and Fanny stood next to their mother and three gray-haired men.
“I apologize for my late arrival, milady.” I curtsied with my head bowed.
As I stood, I looked at Gabriella’s elderly suitors—or leeches, as I preferred to call them. One sported a white moustache, another was tall and lean, and each gripped his vest with one hand and leaned on a walking stick with the other. Just as I had suspected, the men weren’t appealing or interesting. They were just old.
Lady Catherine spoke. “Let’s take our places at the table.”
We waited for her to take her seat, and then everyone else sat. Rose glanced at me and pointed to the chair next to hers, and I quickly sat in it.
Once we were all settled, ruffles and all, dinner was served. The first course was steamed apples sprinkled with nutmeg. In the second course, not a speck of the chicken was wasted, with the bird’s heart and brain presented on a silver platter. It was way different than eating McDonald’s chicken nuggets in your car.
The delicious food almost made up for the tediousness of the meal, but not so much. Everyone lingered on each mouthful, chewing as slowly as humanly possible. Time seemed to crawl.
I tried to remember everything I’d been taught. I sat quietly, ate little, didn’t shift my position, and paid attention to the conversation—the little there was. I spoke only once, when Lord Trentville, the tall gentleman, asked if I had enjoyed my stay at Sherwood Manor. I told him it had been lovely.
The dessert course was th
e highlight of the evening, served a full hour after the feast began. All in all, the event was tedious, quite unlike the enchanting meal I’d dreamed of. The whole thing made me miss mealtime back at home with Nana and my sister. We loved breakfast food and often ate it for dinner as well. We’d make pancakes, smear bagels with cream cheese, squeeze our own orange juice, and giggle over how much we could eat. Sometimes Nana’s friends Allie and Miss Wendy joined us, and when they did, it was a blast.
But there was no merriment at the dinner table at Sherwood Manor. At the end of the meal, I glanced up at the serious faces looming over empty serving dishes. It was like everyone was trying to win the quiet game.
I hate that game! When I was a kid and we went on a long ride in the car, my mother always suggested that my sister and I play it. It didn’t help that Cass always won, because then I’d feel compelled to try again and again and again, until finally I won and my mother beamed at her cleverness in keeping us quiet for a while.
Yes, here I was at the feast, feeling like I was stuck in a car ride enduring the quiet game, where no one spoke and it seemed to last forever. Would this evening ever end?
I rested my hands in my lap and quietly studied each bachelor at the table. I quivered at the thought of Gabriella being forced to wed and then kiss one of the wrinkly old men.
Obviously, Lady Catherine had planned this dinner so she could court wealthy prospective suitors for Gabriella. If she failed to wed Gabriella to any of them, Lady Catherine would be left penniless once her stepdaughter inherited the estate. Lady Catherine’s only hope was to remain in control of Gabriella’s money by making a bargain with a man who was only interested in marrying a young, beautiful girl and didn’t need Gabriella’s wealth.
When Lady Catherine stood to thank her guests for attending the dinner, I was beyond thrilled it was over. She excused Gabriella’s absence and assured the suitors that the young woman would be there next time.
As soon as the men exited the room, I asked if I might leave too. Lady Catherine and Fanny gave me disapproving glares, but I didn’t care. I had given enough of my time to propriety, and I couldn’t get away fast enough.
I rushed to the kitchen, where I found the staff gathered around the table, eating a simple meal of hominy, a corn soup flavored with vegetables and salt-cured pork. All eyes looked up when I entered the room. Miss Brenda grunted, and Sir Henry, the portly man I’d met the day before, snorted from his chair in the corner of the room.
“So, how was it?” Katie asked.
I sat on a vacant chair. “The food or the entertainment?”
Amanda chuckled in the middle of a mouthful of food, then wiped her mouth and said, “We already know the food was good. Miss Brenda’s cooking is flawless.”
“You can say that with certainty,” Miss Brenda piped in.
I grinned at her humility.
“So, how was it—the entertainment?” Amanda asked.
I decided to play with my audience. “Lord Trentville was actually very enjoyable.”
Amanda’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
Sir Henry coughed. “Those three ancient men couldn’t interest a fly if it sat on their nose.”
“Sir Henry’s right,” I admitted. “The three bachelors were probably the most dried up, boring men I have ever met.”
Katie shook her head. “Lady Catherine only invites rich men as suitors for Miss Gabby, and they’re usually old enough to be her grandfather. It’s disgusting, if you ask me.”
“Completely,” I said.
“Who knows? Maybe Brinlee will have the opportunity to explore Lord Trentville’s more enjoyable side at the ball.” Amanda giggled.
“You’re funny,” I said.
Sir Henry sniffled noisily and wiped his nose on his sleeve. He got up and approached the table to stand directly behind Katie. “Are you attending the ball?” he asked her.
Katie sat still as if already aware of his intentions. I, on the other hand, was surprised and couldn’t help being appalled by the redheaded man’s beer belly.
“No, I will not be able to go,” Katie answered.
“Surely Lady Catherine will allow you to go if your duties are finished,” he said.
“I am not suitable to attend.”
Sir Henry seemed to consider Katie’s answer. “Very well. I will bid you ladies good evening.” He tipped his head and left the room.
Once he was out of earshot, I exclaimed loudly, “What was that all about?”
“Henry has favored Katie for months,” Amanda said. “Even though Katie shows him no interest, he is very persistent.”
Miss Brenda, who often ignored our conversations, declared, “In that case, Katie, it’s a good thing you are not suitable for the ball.”
We giggled at the offhand comment. Who would have known the stiff Miss Brenda had a sense of humor?
“What are your plans for the rest of the evening?” Katie asked me, reminding me of my hasty promise to Sir William.
“I almost forgot,” I said.
“Forgot what?”
“Sir William invited me to watch the sunset down by the ocean tonight.” I stood. “I was supposed to meet him in the gardens after dinner.”
“How romantic!” Amanda said.
“Yes, that sounds fun,” Katie added.
“It will be fun,” I said. But I’d rather be watching the sunset with Dennan.
“I think Sir William is hiding a tender heart inside his cold exterior,” Katie said.
Amanda sighed. “And he’s so handsome.”
“Maybe he’ll ask you to the ball,” Katie said.
I didn’t want to go to the ball with Sir William. I wanted to go with Dennan. In fact, I would’ve been happy to just see him again, maybe even touch him again to make sure he was real.
This is crazy! I had only just met the guy, and I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“Tell us everything when you get back,” Amanda said, bringing me back to the present.
I took a deep breath, shaking Dennan from my mind. “Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” Amanda and Katie replied cheerfully in unison.
Before exiting the room, I glanced at the magic door next to the hearth. Gabriella, if I don’t return home soon, I don’t know how much more my heart can take.
Chapter 13
Current Boyfriend: Shane Harper
I often wondered how this fabulously attractive older guy was interested in me, since he had graduated from high school and I was still seventeen. Shane and I met that summer at a movie theater near Grandma’s house. During the show, he kept looking at me across the room. I mean, most of the time it was too dark to see each other, but when I’d glance over at him, he was always looking my way with a flirtatious grin. When the movie ended, he asked for my number. As they say, the rest was history. We kept in close contact through emails and texts, and when I visited my grandma we hung out a lot.
One night, Shane cupped my cheek in his hand, obviously planning to kiss me. From the fire in his eyes, I knew this would be different from the playful kisses he had planted on me in the past. This kiss was destined to be passionate—possibly even blissful.
Finally! I thought. I had waited so long for a passion-filled kiss. I’d never experienced a fairy-tale kiss—the kiss dreams are made of.
I watched as Shane’s head bent toward mine. The pivotal moment was upon me. His kiss was soft and sweet, but as his lips lingered, my spirit felt numb and my heart did not soar. This definitely wasn’t the kiss I’d always dreamed about.
I turned my head, ending it.
Still Day 5—That Night
Living in a fairy-tale land was stressful (who knew?), and I tried to calm myself while I walked through the gardens. My heart took courage as I gazed at natu
re’s brilliant rainbow of colors. My fingers brushed against the delicate flowers, and I admired each plant as it swayed gently at my touch. Soon, my selfish worries seemed distant and insignificant. There was no pressure about finding a way back home, following the standards of this world, or dealing with Lady Catherine and the stepsisters.
Leaning my head back, I stopped, closed my eyes, and inhaled deeply. The delicate, heady fragrances of the blossoms filled me with a tranquility nothing could disturb . . . well, almost nothing. As if on cue, I heard the crunch of pebbles and looked up to see William marching toward me, his polished black shoes making the offensive noise.
“There you are,” he said. “I worried I wouldn’t be able to find you when I didn’t indicate an exact meeting place.”
“Well, here I am.” I held out my hands.
Once he stood directly before me, he bowed. “Miss Brinlee, will you do me the pleasure of accompanying me down to the water’s edge?”
I was delighted with his sophisticated invitation. My uncertainty about Sir William had clearly been foolish. This man—this gorgeous man from the storybook of my dreams—was escorting me to a romantic seaside setting. How could I be uncertain about that?
I curtsied. “I would love to.”
William offered his elbow. Feeling almost giddy, I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm
Thanks to Dennan, the day had been long and emotionally taxing. Now, I reminded myself that he was a stranger whom I knew absolutely nothing about. I would not tax my mind by thinking about him further. Instead, I would treat myself to a once-in-a-lifetime experience of walking along the stunning coastline of a mythical fairy-tale land with a beautiful headman named William.
Dennan? Dennan who?
I strengthened my hold on William’s arm. “You have no idea how excited I am to see the seashore.”
I'm Not Cinderella (The Princess Chronicles) Page 11