I'm Not Cinderella (The Princess Chronicles)

by Montgomery, Tarrah

  I wanted to lean my head on his shoulder, but I remembered my manners. “This shindig is a lot different than dancing in the grass.”

  He laughed. “Shindig? I love how you speak.” He whispered against my temple, “At least this way I can show you off to everyone.”

  I looked across the room and saw dozens of pairs of eyes on me. There would definitely be talk throughout the kingdom and the surrounding kingdoms of my connection to the prince. I even saw Dennan’s intended, the beautiful Princess Camilla, give me the evil eye from across the room.

  “You look beautiful, Brinlee. As soon as my grandmother showed me this dress, I knew it was for you,” Dennan said.

  “Where is she?” I scanned the area where the king and queen stood.

  “Grandmother doesn’t come to these shindigs anymore.” I smiled at his adaptation to my modern word. “Since Grandfather died and my father became king, she prefers to remain quietly in her quarters of the castle.”

  “Tell her thank you for me.”

  “She was more than thrilled to help. She’s been trying to get me to fall in love ever since I can remember. She never agreed to the prearranged marriage. I just never had the desire to look elsewhere. Other things were more important to me.”

  He leaned in closer and placed his lips on my cheek. My eyelids fluttered closed.

  “Don’t look now, but Lady Catherine is watching you like a snake,” Dennan whispered.

  I opened my eyes and turned to see her glaring at me. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Icy fear gripped my heart. Lady Catherine had proven she would go to great lengths to arrange Gabriella’s inheritance and strip her of her happiness, so I knew the woman would do anything in her power to destroy my happiness too.

  “Has Lady Catherine given you any more reason to suspect her of devious activities?” Dennan asked.

  I had temporarily forgotten where I was and that I was dancing with him, given that Lady Catherine had her cold hand around my heart.

  I turned back to him. “Not anymore than before. She’s as wicked as usual.”

  “Did you tell her about meeting me?”

  “I only told my two friends, Katie and Amanda, but I didn’t tell them you were the prince. They’ll figure it out, though.”

  “Nobody can know I’m Black Rider,” he said.

  “What should I tell them?”

  He looked past my shoulder for a moment. “Do you trust them?”

  “Katie and Amanda? I trust them completely.”

  He looked back at me. “Tell no one else.”

  “Of course.”

  “Tell your friends the importance of being discreet about this information.”

  “Dennan.” I slid my hand up to his shoulder. “Don’t worry. They won’t tell anybody.”

  “I need to locate the traitors of this kingdom. I can’t let my identity affect my efforts.”

  “Yes, sir.” I did a silly salute with my fingers to my head.

  Dennan smiled, making his dimple pop. “Let’s talk about something else. Let’s talk about how lovely you look tonight.”

  “Hmm, that’s much better.” I winked.

  His low laugh rumbled in his throat. “Do I sense that you enjoy being suitably dressed, as opposed to when I found you by the pond?”

  “If it means dancing with you at the castle, then the answer is yes.”

  Dennan’s eyes sparkled. “Are you saying you aren’t too disappointed to learn that I am the prince?”

  I moved my hand up and touched the nape of his neck. “I couldn’t have been more pleased.”

  I probably shouldn’t have said it, but I couldn’t help it. At least I didn’t declare my love to him, which I was tempted to do. I was not going to make promises that were impossible to keep.

  Later in the evening, though, I found it difficult to pretend. I couldn’t let Dennan continue to believe this would last forever. I needed to get away. Being near him only made me forget the fact that I wasn’t part of the story. It almost made me believe I was Cinderella.

  “Dennan, I’m not feeling very well,” I lied.

  “Do you need a drink or some fresh air? Let’s go outside for a minute.” He placed his hand at my back and led me to the balcony again. The crowd parted so we could pass.

  Once we were outside, he asked if I was all right. I suppressed my guilt when I saw his loving expression.

  “It’s been a lot to take in.” I put my hand to my head. “Perhaps if I go home and rest, I’ll feel better.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I nodded. “I’m sorry. I thought my headache would go away, but its only getting worse.”

  “I’ll fetch a carriage to take you home.”

  “Thank you, Dennan. That would be great.” If I traveled home alone, no one could ask me questions along the way.

  He took a step closer but didn’t try to touch me. “Are you sure you’re all right? Did I say something wrong?”

  Pain squeezed my heart, and I held back the tears that sprang to my eyes. “No, you didn’t say anything wrong.” I grabbed his hands but kept my focus on the ground. “Thank you for giving me the best night of my life. I will never forget it.”

  “Brinlee, look at me.”

  He squeezed my hands when I didn’t respond.

  My gaze finally met his, and I could see my reflection in the moisture clouding his eyes.

  Dennan knew. He knew I was saying goodbye.

  I blinked away my tears, knowing I had to be honest now. “I’m going home, and this will be the last time I will ever see you.”

  “What are you saying?”

  The tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m sorry, Dennan. I’m so, so sorry.”

  “I don’t understand. You said it didn’t matter that I am the prince—you were even happy about it.”

  “It’s my fault. I should never have opened the door.”

  Now he’ll think I am nuts. That’s good. It will give him a reason to break up with me.

  “Don’t apologize.” He kissed my tear-stained cheeks. “I wouldn’t trade anything for the world.”

  Why does he have to be so perfect?

  “I wouldn’t either,” I said.

  Ignoring all reason, I raised my mouth to his and kissed him one last time. Dennan wrapped his arms around me, and I felt the sadness of departure in our embrace. He kissed me just like our first kiss after he lectured me about kissing William. He kissed me like he did when we danced next to the cliff. He kissed me like every magical kiss we had ever shared, and I returned his kiss with all the passion I felt, because after this, I would never feel his kiss again.

  When I couldn’t stand the ache in my chest anymore, I stepped away from his arms. “Goodbye, Dennan. Don’t come after me.”

  I ran out the doors and didn’t look back.

  Chapter 23

  Run, Run as Fast as You Can

  I didn’t just run from my problems—I also ran for my high school track team. I loved running and was good at it.

  One year, my school counselor called my mother because she thought I was training too hard. I explained to her, and again to my mother (who understood my motivation since she was a control freak too), that my 5:00 am practice and my 8:00 pm practice after team practice weren’t a problem. I was only doing light conditioning.

  What I didn’t tell them was how good it felt to run eight miles and then eight miles again to numb everything I felt. The farther I ran, the farther away my problems seemed.

  Like I said before, maybe my love for running away had something to do with my father.

  Day 16

  Dennan didn’t follow me that night when I left the castle. And no, I didn’t leave my glass slipper on the steps. I’m not Cinderella, remem
ber?

  It had been two days since the ball, and nothing could ease the pain in my heart. I missed Dennan with an ache so deep I could barely endure it. All I could do was pound on the magic door in the kitchen and beg it to release me.

  Lady Catherine didn’t say a word to me when she came home from the ball, which felt worse than if she’d yelled at me. I feared she was planning something evil, so I didn’t go anywhere but my bedroom or the kitchen.

  William was in charge of inspecting the servants’ work, but recently his attention seemed excessive. Almost everywhere I went he’d be there, lurking in the corner. I didn’t even have to see him to know he was there—my skin crawled either way.

  That Sunday, two days after the ball, I had a restless night. I dreamed of dancing with Dennan at the castle. But then the ballroom went dark, and I found myself running down a long hallway. Instead of the red gown, I now wore my sweatpants and T-shirt. Suddenly, I was racing toward the magic door at Sherwood Manor. I ran as fast as I could, but the door got farther and farther away. A flight of stairs appeared unexpectedly, and I fell down it and lay at the bottom.

  In the dream, my shoulder ached and my hands were scraped. I assessed my injuries and realized I was wearing the red gown. It was torn at my shoulder, and the entire dress was damaged by mud. When I rubbed at the pain in the back of my neck, my hand came back covered in blood. I looked at the floor and found I was surrounded by a pool of dark red.

  “Brinlee,” I heard Dennan shouting from the distance.

  “Dennan,” I tried to scream, but my voice didn’t work.

  Lady Catherine approached, holding a knife in her hand. As I lay in the puddle of blood, she sneered, “Sleep tight, Cinderella.”

  Her voice rang in my ears as I screamed.

  My shout woke me, and I jerked upright in bed. I looked around to make sure I wasn’t still dreaming. My heart pounded furiously. I rubbed the back of my neck, thankful the wound wasn’t there.

  Feeling unsettled, I wondered what the frightening dream meant. Maybe Lady Catherine was even more of a threat to me than I had imagined. I shuddered at the thought.

  Knowing I wouldn’t fall back to sleep, I got up to find Fred. When I took a step out my bedroom door, the friendly dog was nestled comfortably in the hallway a few steps from my door, as if guarding my room.

  “There you are,” I said as I scratched him behind the ears. I sat down and scooped him into my lap. “Will it always hurt this much?” Stubborn tears crept from the corners of my eyes as I thought about Dennan. I hugged Fred closer to ease my sorrow.

  Suddenly, I heard a commotion coming from Lady Catherine’s bedroom. I put Fred down, then crept down the hall and stood just outside Catherine’s closed door. I knew it was pretty stupid, but I had to hear what they were talking about.

  “It’s not enough,” I heard Lady Catherine exclaim.

  “Milady, there is no more to be found,” William replied.

  “The ingredient is vital,” she cried out. “Do what you must!”

  Ingredient for what? I wondered.

  “Yes, milady.” William’s voice and footsteps were close to the door.

  Oh no!

  To escape, I ran around the closest corner and took the attic stairs two at a time. I had never been in the attic before, but I figured it would be a good place to hide. I stilled myself against a wall and listened. My panting was the only sound I could hear, so I relaxed a bit. Moonlight shone through the small windows, allowing me to look around the wide room. I stared at the unexpected treasures. This was not like the attic where I lived at Nana’s house. This was a shrine of history. There wasn’t a trunk or box in sight, and the walls were covered with tapestries. Tucked at each end of the long attic room were curtained windows, and curtains in the same fabric hung over what I presumed to be doors at either side.

  I stepped beneath one of the towering tapestries. My hand brushed against the tattered cloth, and I watched as it rippled against the wall with my movement. I looked closely at the intricate stitching. Amazing!

  One tapestry showed a knight standing next to his horse. I stepped nearer, enchanted by the artwork. There was something different about this tapestry. The images on the other tapestries were busy, with groups of men fighting at war, but this one was plain and brilliant. When I moved my hand to touch the material, instead of stopping at the wall behind the tapestry, my hand went beyond the wall. I eagerly pulled back the tapestry and stepped into a hidden compartment—an alcove behind the tapestry of the solo knight.

  Finding something so mysterious, I felt all Nancy Drew. Just sayin’.

  The only light in the small alcove came through a small opening that would be unnoticed if the tapestry was pulled back. It was too small to be a window. When I peered through the opening, I was looking directly down into the entrance hall of Sherwood Manor. I could see the foyer and anyone coming in or going out of the house.

  “Wow!” I gasped out loud. This is awesome!

  Just as I shook my head in disbelief, Lady Catherine appeared in the foyer. I watched the dark-haired woman walk to the far end of the room and stop to stand in front of an empty wall.

  All right, wicked stepmother, what are you doing out of bed in the middle of the night?

  She looked over her shoulder as if making sure she was alone. Then, she placed her hands on two different spots on the wall and pushed. The wall moved forward, revealing a passage. She stepped through the entrance and disappeared, and the wall closed, looking just as it had before she touched it.

  “Holy crap,” I muttered.

  There were definitely strange things about this house, and Lady Catherine was number one. She simply couldn’t be trusted. Well, the evil stepmother wasn’t going to win in this story, not while I was here. It was time to use my CSI skills to solve this mystery. Lady Catherine wouldn’t know what hit her.

  Day 17

  I crept back to my bedroom that night and waited for the sun to rise. When the rest of the household woke up, I left my bedroom. As usual, I spent the day helping the servants, though I got a little tired due to lack of sleep.

  That evening, I stood at my bedroom window and stared into the sky. I wrung my hands nervously, anticipating the few short hours until I could inspect Lady Catherine’s secret passageway. I’d gone to the foyer once during the day, but I didn’t dare try to open the wall with other people nearby.

  Someone knocked on my door.

  “I don’t need your help tonight, Katie,” I said.

  Another knock.

  I moved to the door. “Katie, don’t worry about me. Go home and get some sleep.”

  When the door slowly opened, I froze. Dennan stood on the threshold. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  He took a step into the room and closed the door with his foot.

  Oh man! He was even more gorgeous than I remembered.

  “How did you get in here?”

  He was coming closer, no hesitation in his stride. “Your friend Katie let me in.”

  “You shouldn’t be here.” What I meant to say was that he shouldn’t be here when it had been so hard to forget him.

  “I was worried about you.” He reached out to touch my arm.

  I stepped away. “You just came to check on me?”

  “I know you told me not to follow you, but I had to make sure you were all right.” Dennan tilted his head. “You seemed overly troubled about Lady Catherine that night.”

  I dropped my eyes and fidgeted with the fabric of my dress. “Thank you, Dennan.”

  He reached out again to touch my arm. This time I didn’t back off. “Are you all right?” he asked, his thumb caressing my skin.

  I nodded but changed my mind and slowly shook my head. “Something bad i
s happening in this place. I can feel it.”

  I told Dennan about Lady Catherine’s hidden passageway, and how she was arranging Gabriella’s marriage so she could maintain control over the girl’s inheritance.

  Dennan also had new information about Lady Catherine. He said the lord of the manor, Gabriella’s father, had been gone for many years but returned with Catherine, only to be confined to his sick bed a few weeks later. No one knew where Catherine came from. Dennan had often wondered if she had traitorous connections, since she obviously wasn’t from the kingdom of Fenmore Falls.

  “That’s why you were always so close to Sherwood Manor,” I said suddenly. “You were spying on Lady Catherine.”

  “I don’t know if she is a traitor, but nothing has proven otherwise.”

  This was probably bigger than I thought.

  “Where is your friend Gabriella right now?” Dennan asked.

  “She’s at my house.”

  “Let me help you.” He still had hold of my arm and gently squeezed it.

  I needed him to protect me, so I said, “I’d love your help.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Can you come by tomorrow at noon? That way, we can see where Lady Catherine goes every day.”

  Dennan squinted. “I’m leaving tomorrow for two days for a peace gathering—part of my royal duties. How about Thursday?”

  “That will work. I’ll see what I can find out before then.”

  He grew serious. “Be careful. Don’t do anything foolish.”

  “Okay.”

  He put his hand behind my head and pulled me close. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  I heard only his steady breath until he asked, “Why did you leave me, Brinlee?”

  Even though I’d tried to avoid it by talking about Lady Catherine, I knew this conversation was coming.