“Charmaine!” I could hear the anger in my father’s voice. “Why are you standing in the window half naked? Do you want a picture of you with no clothes on, on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper?”
“Sorry, Father!” I replied although it was a bit unfair. I was wrapped in a towel and hiding behind a curtain. If anyone had seen me, they’d have only seen my head.
“You are as bad as your sister. Get here now.”
I wondered what Elise had done to anger him as I followed him back down to the basement. This time, the doors were closed behind us.
I saw Elise talking to my mother and Xavier at the other end of the vast room. For some reason, Leo was also with them.
“Father,” I said, wanting to catch him before we got to the others. “I’ve been thinking about the night of the ball.”
He regarded me with interest. “Do you remember something? Did you see something?”
“No, nothing, but I have a theory.” I didn’t want to tell him it was Leo’s theory in case it angered him.
His interest waned. He didn’t want a theory; he wanted cold hard evidence.
“If the Magi wanted to blow us up, they could have done it with wands? Why go to the bother of making a bomb?”
“Who knows how these people think? They are savages.”
“How can you say that? I’ve just watched the police hitting the protesters after throwing tear gas at them.”
“They’ve done what they have to do,” he replied which was fast becoming his stock reply to anything to do with the Magi.
“And you knew about this?” I asked incredulously.
“Of course, I knew. Who do you think ordered it? I need to keep you safe. I need to keep all of you safe.”
“But those people out there could have been our staff until last week. Some of them have worked here all their lives.”
“I don’t want to hear any more about it, Charmaine. You don’t know what you are talking about.”
I watched as he walked in long strides towards the others. The guard at this side of the door stood stock still, staring straight ahead. He didn’t look towards me once, but I swore I could see a tear at the corner of his eye.
I stayed down at the opposite end of the room from the others, preferring to examine the years of jewelry and antiques than talk to anyone. I was too upset with them all—with my father for doing this with my mother for making me choose between men I didn’t know, and with the other three for being part of it. Technically Elise wasn’t part of anything, but she was enjoying the spectacle of it all, and that was enough.
When the doors were opened, and the areas proclaimed safe, I ran right up to my bedroom and put some clothes on.
I was just about to fling myself onto the bed when I saw a small light flickering on my wall. It was the same light as before. I ran to my window and looked out. Something glinted in the late afternoon sun. Just like all the other times, it came from the top floor of one of the town houses. I watched as it flickered and then went off. Seconds later it was back, and once again it was pointing at me. This was no coincidence. To get me once in the garden was one thing, but to be spying on me in my very own room was something else. I’d not seen any illicit photos of me in the papers, but there was no doubt in my mind that this was a member of the paparazzi, and the light was the glint of the sun bouncing off a camera lens.
I ran downstairs in search of a pair of binoculars. I couldn’t find any anywhere, but I did find an old telescope that was used to look at stars. It wasn’t ideal as it was so bulky, but it would be powerful enough to see the creep who was watching me.
The light had gone, but as soon as I looked out of the window, it flashed again.
“Gotcha!” I said training the old telescope right at the window. I waited for the light to go off—I didn’t want to blind myself and put my eye to the lens.
There, in the top window with a piece of mirror in his hand was Cynder.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Secret
I’d recognize that curly hair anywhere. He’d been trying to contact me for a week, and I’d shrugged him off as a member of the paparazzi.
I waved and then dropped my hand. If he could see me, it meant other people could too. If they caught me waving at someone, they’d investigate, and Cynder would be caught. I could feel my heart thumping as I gazed through the telescope. He’d seen me wave and that was enough. As I took in his features, I realized just how much I missed him. Our nights together dancing around the kitchen had meant so much to me, and they had ended so abruptly the night of the ball.
The red and blue flashing of a police car’s lights lit up the walls of the town house for a second as it passed and Cynder disappeared from view.
I waited for a few moments for him to come back, but he didn’t reappear. I could understand why. He’d put himself in great danger trying to contact me.
I fingered the chain around my wrist. I’d not taken it off since the day of the ball. It was my one link to Cynder.
I needed to see him, but how? I wasn’t allowed out of the palace grounds and with all the guards stationed around; there was no way I could sneak out. Cynder coming in here was impossible. He’d be caught in no time. He had most of the police in the kingdom searching for him. It was a miracle he’d gone this long without being caught.
By the time Agatha had brought my dinner to my room, I was no closer to figuring out a solution.
Agatha put the silver tray down on the bed next to me. “When you didn’t come down for dinner, the queen instructed me to bring food up here for you.”
“Thank you, Agatha.”
“It’s no problem, your highness. I hope you enjoy it.”
I looked at her. Despite all her problems and her upcoming firing, she still managed to keep a smile on her face. I don’t know how she did it.
“What’s going to happen to you, Agatha?” she’d lived in the palace her whole life. Her mother had been a maid here as had her grandmother before her. In all the time I’d known her, I’d never once asked her how she felt about being a Mage. It was just something unspoken between the two of us. Maybe now was the time to change that.
“I’ve got an aunt and uncle who live a couple of hundred miles away in the south of the country. They’ll probably take me in. I’ll find something to do when I get there.”
“Doesn’t it annoy you?”
“I don’t like it,” she sighed, “but my aunt and uncle are nice people.”
“I don’t mean that. Doesn’t it bother you that you can pick up a wand and do anything you want, and yet, those without wands tell you what to do?”
“Wand use has always been strictly regulated. I’m used to it.”
“But why should you be used to it? Don’t you want to use your wand and... just fly away sometimes?”
She laughed. “Even if I wanted to, I’m not powerful enough to fly.”
“You know what I mean. It’s such a waste. All those things at your fingertips, and you use your wand for folding my clothes.”
“I enjoy working for you. I do sometimes wish I dared use my wand to conjure up a nice dress like the ones you’ve been wearing lately, but it’s not worth the trouble I’d be in if I did. Besides, where would I wear a nice dress?”
It broke my heart. She had the whole world at her fingertips, and she’d been conditioned not to use her wand for anything but serving others. I stood up and ran to my wardrobe. Most of the beautiful clothes were kept in the dressing room downstairs, but some of the outfits had ended up in here. I picked out a couple of the prettiest dresses and handed them to her.
“These are for you. I want you to have them. We’re about the same size. If you don’t want them, you can sell them later.”
Her eyes went wide as she touched the fabric. “I can’t accept these.”
“After everything you’ve done for me, these dresses are the least I can do.”
“You know they’ll think I’ve stolen them, right?”
<
br /> “I’ll tell my father I’ve given them to you. He can hardly complain after what he’s doing to you.”
She stood up and flung her arms around me. I held on to her tightly. I didn’t know if it was the last time I’d see her. Both of us wept in each other’s arms. If only I could get my father to see the damage he was causing.
After she had left, I picked at my dinner, thinking of my situation. I felt almost as trapped as Agatha was, neither of us able to do what we wanted to do. I envied her slightly too. At least, she knew what she wanted. All I ever wanted to do was climb trees and read books. It was hardly a career choice.
I brought my mind back to Cynder. The conundrum of how to get to him was in the forefront of my mind, but whichever way I looked at it, I couldn’t see a way to manage it. He was so close and yet so far away. Every so often, I’d go to the window and peek through the telescope in the hopes of seeing him, but he was never there. It was only when it had gotten dark that movement in the garden caught my eye. I didn’t need the telescope to see who it was. Leo was once again taking food out to feed the homeless. I could see two bags in his hands. I watched him walk down the staff driveway to the back gate, which two guards opened for him. He really was an extraordinary man. I waited for him to return, curious to know how long he spent out in the town when he was giving out food. It also gave me a good excuse to be gazing out of the window. Even though my gaze kept wandering to the town house, if anyone saw me, I could simply say I was watching for Leo. It would make a cute story for the newspapers. Two hours later and he finally returned, his hands empty. In that time, I’d come up with a plan. I was going to see Cynder again! I just had to convince my father. I went to bed fingering the charm he’d given me. At some point in the night, the little gold carriage turned into a pumpkin pulled by mice as dreams took over.
The next morning I was up and dressed early. I needed to see my father before he was too busy to speak to me. I’d gotten halfway down the corridor before Jenny caught up with me.
“Look at you! I normally have to drag you out of bed. What’s the occasion?”
I rolled my eyes. “Nothing. I just wanted to have a word with my father.”
“There’s time for that later. The news team will be here in an hour to interview you about your date with Xavier and Xavi wants to sort your make up out first.”
I sighed. As my date had come to an abrupt end, I’d hoped this wasn’t something I’d have to do. When Sadie had interviewed me after my date with Daniel, she’d chatted as we rolled bowling balls, this time minus the drinks. The thought of appearing on screen in front of hundreds of thousands of people wearing nothing but a swimsuit was enough to make my blood curdle.
Thankfully, Xavi agreed and asked Alezis to give me a wet look hairstyle while she dressed me, rather inexplicably in a navy blue sailor dress. The interview was to take place in the swimming pool area, with Xavier and I sitting on the edge of the pool with our feet in the water. My mother thought it might show a playful side to the royal family. Personally, I thought we looked stupid as we answered Sadie’s insipid questions. Strangely enough, she made no comment on how our date ended, instead, asking lots of questions about our swimming abilities. All the while, all I could think about was talking to my father. I wanted to ask him if I could accompany Leo on his nocturnal aid mission. All my answers to Sadie’s questions were in monotone and Xavier didn’t say much more. He was elusive when asked about his history, and once again, I wondered exactly what it was he was hiding.
“I think that’s all for today,” Sadie said to the camera through gritted teeth. Today had not been a success for her, and I almost felt sorry for her. “Tune in on Wednesday for our catch-up with Princess Charmaine and Prince Luca.”
I smiled and ran before Xavier could talk to me. I know it was rude, especially as our date had been so short, but I needed to speak to my father. I found him in his study. This time, thankfully, he was alone.
“If you’ve come to lecture me about the Magi, Charmaine, I don’t want to hear it. I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment.”
“No, it’s not that, although I should tell you that I’ve given Agatha a couple of my dresses as a gift.”
“Uh huh.”
“I was actually here to ask if you would mind if I went out with Leo tonight.”
He looked up, surprised. “You want to go out with Leo? I think that’s a splendid idea. Where are you planning on going?”
“Is it?” I asked, taken aback by his answer. “He feeds the homeless out in the town. I thought it would be nice if I joined him.”
“Splendid. I’ll get a couple of guards to go with you. Would you like me to ask your mother to call that Sadie woman? It would make great publicity.”
“No!” I shouted abruptly. “I don’t think Leo would like the publicity. He’s pretty shy.” I fabricated wildly. For all I knew, he’d love to be followed around town by a cameraman.
“Ok, just the guards then. What time will you be leaving?”
I thought about it. On the two occasions I’d seen Leo leave; it had been about eight o’clock. If I told my father ten, then we’d miss the guards. I could always come up with some story about how I got the wrong time by mistake. Slipping away from Leo was going to be hard enough; I wouldn’t be able to slip away from two guards as well.
“Ten.”
“Wonderful, does Leo approve?”
The way he asked the question was strange. Did he know that I’d just made it all up on the spot?
“Of course, daddy!”
“Great! Have fun.” He was back to normal, with only that one question making him pause. Although he was awfully keen for me to go out with Leo, strange as he was the one that picked Xavier. Why would he want me to go out with Leo?
I found Leo talking to Elise in the sitting room. They were both so deep in conversation that they jumped when I walked in, making me instantly suspicious.
“You weren’t talking about me were you?”
Leo smiled that warm smile of his and crinkled his eyes “Actually we were. We were discussing how much trouble you were having with this whole dating thing. Every time you go on a date, something happens. It’s like the public wants you to stay single.”
“Our date wasn’t cut short,” I reminded him. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. I was hoping we could go out on another date.”
Elise’s eyes went wide. “Why? Surely it’s Luca’s turn?”
It was expected of me to date them each once first without having a second date with any of them, but it wasn’t in the rules. Technically, I could ask any of them out on a date whenever and they would have to agree. It was a stupid rule that I’d never follow. I’d never want to go on a date with someone that didn’t want to go. What would be the point? Of course, if Leo said no now, I’d have to make an exception.
“Where would you like to go?” asked Leo, not leaving me time to answer.
“I’ve been watching you go out and feed the homeless. I was hoping that you’d let me join you tonight.”
He seemed surprised. “It’s not glamorous work I do. The photo opportunities will be thin on the ground.”
“I’m not inviting Sadie or her cameraman. I was actually hoping to go incognito. I just want to help.” I felt bad for lying, especially as he was doing all this for a good cause, but I could think of no other option. I’d make sure the kitchens gave him some really good food to make up for it.
“Ok, I guess that would be fine. The people I feed know me. I think they would feel overwhelmed by a princess and camera crew turning up.”
“Great. I’ll sort the food out and meet you by the back door at eight.”
I’d done it. Well, I’d planned it. It remained to be seen if I could actually pull it off.
I did as promised and asked Pascal to pack the best food he had to offer. He seemed rather put out when he found out it was to feed the homeless, but he begrudgingly agreed.
In my wardrobe, I picked out the darkes
t outfit I could find and slipped into it. Xavi would cry if she could see me in the plain black trousers and black sweater, but with any luck, Xavi, nor anyone else would see me.
Eight o’clock couldn’t come around fast enough, and I found myself with nothing to do for the first time in weeks. One of the guards told me that Prince Luca was looking for me, but as I didn’t want to deal with him, I stayed in my room for the rest of the day, occasionally looking out of the window to see if I could spot Cynder. I didn’t see him all day, but I knew he was there and that was enough. At seven forty-five, I picked up the bags of food from the kitchen. From there, it was easy enough to sneak out through the back doors to wait for Leo.
He turned up minutes later and like the true gentleman he was, he took the bags from me. I knew my first hurdle would be the guards at the gates, but they let me through with no problem. The townhouse that Cynder was in was just a short walk down the road, but Leo turned to walk in the opposite direction, and I had no choice but to follow him. He turned down a couple of side streets before coming to a crudely built shelter made from garbage and things scavenged from the streets.
“This is their home,” Leo whispered, before knocking on a piece of wood that I suppose could have been a door. A young woman with a baby on her hip opened the door cautiously. When she saw it was Leo, she flung it wide and hugged him. I followed them into the dirty “house” surprised to find eleven people there. Five of them were children, all playing together in the ashes of a burnt out fire. The others ignored us. They all lived together in one room. At one side, was a pile of dirty rags, which I assumed was where they slept. Despite the dirt and the roughness of the place, it smelled wonderfully of fresh flowers. I’d expected a lot worse.
Charm (A Cinderella reverse fairytale) (Reverse Fairytales Book 1) Page 11