Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella
Page 1
CINDERS, STARS, AND GLASS SLIPPERS
A RETELLING OF CINDERELLA
BRITTANY FICHTER
THE CLASSICAL KINGDOMS COLLECTION BOOK #6
CONTENTS
Copyright
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Dedication
1. An Ambassador’s Secret
2. Glass Slippers
3. Betrayed
4. You’re Not
5. Don’t Fall
6. Charming
7. The Lot of You
8. She Hates You
9. Unwilling Tutor
10. Focus, Nicholas
11. Being Vague
12. Nothing to Pretend About
13. I Don’t Cry
14. What the Stars Say
15. Vulnerable
16. Gifted
17. A Bet Lost
18. Always a Choice
19. Deeper Secrets
20. Nicholas
21. Confidences Shaken
22. Justice
23. That Wretched Ship
24. Turbulent Waters
25. Yes
26. Every Ship
27. Playthings
28. The Accused
29. Mistaken
30. Sold
31. Young and Strong
32. Agreements
33. Truth in the Stars
Two Years Later . . .
34. Different
35. Absolutely Not
36. Signs
37. Stolen Gifts
38. Such a Price
39. What Have I Done?
40. Water Aflame
41. Like a Colt
42. Like a Man
43. Stepdaughter
44. A Proposal
45. Invited
46. All She Wanted
47. Broken
48. North
49. Details
50. My Gift
51. Getting to Work
52. A Ball of Glimmers
53. A Ball of Games
54. Unnerved
55. Last Chance
56. A Ball of Glass
57. Lost
58. Light the Color of Blood
59. Good for Nothing
60. The One Who Fits the Slipper
61. Vessel
62. Lying Eyes
63. Last Surrender
64. A Strange Gift
Epilogue
Also by Brittany Fichter
About the Author
CINDERS, STARS, AND GLASS SLIPPERS: A RETELLING OF CINDERELLA
Copyright © 2017 Brittany Fichter
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at BrittanyFichterFiction.com
Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers / Brittany Fichter. -- 1st ed.
Cover Art and Design by Sanja Gombar at BookCoverForYou.com
Edited by Clark Chamberlain and Meredith Tennant
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To my dad. You taught me I was a princess, but you also taught me to be strong. From bruises to bullies, you were there, reminding me that I was created by God for a special purpose and that nothing anyone said or did could change who I am. Whenever I fell, you helped me stand back up. And when it came time to find my Prince Charming, you set the bar pretty darn high.
1
An Ambassador’s Secret
“Miss Elaina.”
Elaina quickly scribbled the rest of her note in the ship’s log then looked up and smiled. “Yes, Lewis?”
“Your father would like to see you.”
Elaina thanked the first mate and set off for her father’s cabin, barely restraining her feet from doing a little jig as she went. The salty air was fresher than it had been in days, thanks to a new eastern breeze, and the ship rocked confidently beneath her as it charged forward to their destination. In spite of her excitement at finally being called to speak with her father, she regretted leaving the warm sunshine above as she climbed down the wooden steps into her father’s cabin.
“There you are,” her father called from his large wooden desk.
“I was beginning to think you’d never tell me.” Elaina laughed as she flopped down in the chair across from him.
Her father kept his eyes on the maps before him, but a small smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “All in good time. But before I tell you who our secret ambassador is, I need you to have Johnston take inventory for our upcoming stop at Solwhind. This will be a quick stop, and I need our stores full.”
“Done. I had him check this morning.”
Her father raised his bushy black-and-white-peppered eyebrows. “Have the riggers check the sails then. Tell them I don’t want a single rope out of place.”
“Done as well.” Elaina folded her arms triumphantly. She loved this game.
Her father finally shook his head. “I’m not even sure what I keep Lewis around for anymore.”
“Nor I, Admiral,” Lewis called out dryly from the doorway where he stood.
Elaina laughed again. “If you must know, I still need to visit with Simeon to finalize tomorrow’s menu. Our ambassador’s sleeping quarters must be dressed up properly as well. But other than that, I’m not sure how tomorrow’s meeting with the ambassador could go wrong.” She leaned forward, folding her elbows on his desk. “Now will you tell me who he is?”
“Not yet.”
“And why not?”
“Because I am afraid that when you find out who he is, your excitement will make you completely worthless to me until he leaves.” He glanced at her glare and let out a shout of laughter. “Very well, then. I will make you a deal. When everything is done and you’re sure of the headwind tomorrow, come back here and I’ll tell you who our secret visitor will be.”
“It’s not King Xander, is it?”
“No, nor is it the prince. Now get a move on those tasks.”
Elaina bounced out of her chair to kiss her father before flying back up the steps to the deck. She had work to do.
Preparing the ship’s largest guest quarters took longer than she expected. The two cabin boys assisting her had no taste in color or fashion, so it took them three attempts at bringing the right bedclothes, pillows, and curtains out of the correct storage chests before they managed to find any that matched, much less were befitting a guest of such high caliber. For though Elaina didn’t know who their guest was, her father had never put so much effort into impressing a visitor before. Not even when the queen of Vaksam had asked to tour the famous flagship.
Much to her relief, Elaina’s meeting with Simeon, the ship’s cook, flew by more quickly. Of course, it wasn’t as though Simeon ever cooked anything less than delectable. Her father had gone to great length to acquire him as their cook when Elaina was eight, and he had not disappointed since. She even began to relax a little as he described his plans for pecan-encrusted salmon, lemon garlic potatoes, and a dessert of crunchy apple tarts. Perhaps it wouldn’t be as grand as full-course meals from wherever their guest hailed, bu
t for a meal at sea, it would be a miracle.
She started back to her cabin, weaving her way around rushing cabin boys and busy sailors as she went. Her good mood faltered, however, when she noticed a heap of rope that seemed to have been tossed haphazardly onto the deck and left without scruple. Shaking her head, she lifted her skirts and stepped carefully over the mess of rigging to investigate, careful not to trip in the dark of dusk. Only when she squinted in the dim light did she see the two black boots sticking up from inside the pile. Elaina let out a huff and cleared her throat.
Nothing happened.
She cleared her throat again, louder this time.
A snort sounded from inside the messy coil, and the boots eventually moved. After a long moment of struggling, a young man finally poked his head out of the pile. His scowl disappeared, however, when he saw who had awakened him.
“Miss Elaina!” He scrambled to stand but succeeded only in falling on his face.
Elaina pursed her lips but helped him up.
“My apologies, Miss Elaina! I only meant to close my eyes to enjoy the sun’s warmth for a moment, and then . . .” He ended with a sheepish shrug.
“That’s the second time this week, Davies.” Elaina put her hands on her hips. “I know you’re new here, but if you wish to last more than a week on my father’s ship, you need to do as you’re told.” She leveled him a hard look. “Exactly as you’re told.” Then she sighed as she bent down and began to gather the messy rope in her arms. “Just be thankful my father or Lewis didn’t catch you. There would have been a lot more than a fall on the nose to greet you if it had been one of them.”
He took the rope from her and began to wind it properly. “I will strive my best.”
“You have to do more than try on a warship.”
“But how?” He paused and grimaced. “It’s difficult to maintain a sense of urgency when we’re sailing out to the middle of nowhere.” He looked out at the endless sparkling water that surrounded them on every side.
“So all of these sailors running about, older and younger than you, are no indication of the urgency of our mission?” Elaina gestured at the flurry of activity going on around and above them as men jumped from task to task. “I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but my father’s ship doesn’t just go to war. We also host a myriad of very important meetings between navies and kingdoms from all around the world, and have prevented a number of conflicts by doing so. Giving an impression that is less than our best could result in a perceived insult to one of our guests. And insults can turn to war.”
“I said I was sorry.”
Elaina picked up the ship’s log once more. “Very well. But from now on, you must obey orders. Do you understand?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Good. Now get on with your work so there’s no more trouble.” She had turned and begun walking when he called out her name once more.
“Yes?”
“I hope this isn’t too personal, miss, but . . . why do you visit the crow’s nest so often?” He paused. “I’ve heard on other ships it’s not considered proper for a lady such as yourself. Why not have the men do it?”
She briefly froze, then donned a forced smile. “You might not guess it, but sometimes a woman needs a moment to herself on a ship full of men.” As she walked away, however, Elaina couldn’t shake the feeling that had followed her all week concerning their newest sailor.
True, any woman of seventeen would draw the eye of most men on ships that went out to sea for months at a time, even if she did have freckles and her hair was that nameless color between blonde and brown. For after all, a woman was a woman, even if she was shorter than most girls of twelve. But the men on her father’s ship knew without question that Elaina was to be left alone. In fact, most of them were as protective of her as they might have been their own daughters or sisters. Most had either helped raise her, or if they were very young, had been raised in part by her. But something about Davies Tanner unnerved Elaina. She just couldn’t decide exactly what.
Instead of heading to the very crow’s nest he had alluded to, as she had planned to do, Elaina tarried restlessly in her room until the sky was mostly dark and the stars were beginning to twinkle overhead. Only when she was sure the night guards were on duty and that Davies was down in the galley did Elaina climb into her beloved crow’s nest and tilt her head up toward the sky.
“Is everything still clear for tomorrow?” she asked. “No storms or pirates or strange winds we should know about?”
All is well, Elaina. They chuckled. Go find out what you’ve been dying to know.
Elaina smiled and nodded. After whispering a thanks, she climbed back down the ropes and headed straight for her father’s study. As she placed her hand on the door, however, she felt a pair of eyes behind her. One glance showed a familiar shadow about twenty feet away. She opened her mouth to call out to him loudly so the guards might hear, but he slipped below the deck before she could speak. Shuddering, she turned back to the door and went in, letting the warm glow of candles greet her as she entered.
“What’s troubling you?” her father asked before she could say anything. He was seated in his favorite chair by the little fireplace in the corner.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re putting your thumb to your lip again, and your eyes are as big as clams.”
Elaina pulled up a chair of her own and forced her hand off her lip and into her lap as she stared into the fire. “I caught Davies Tanner sleeping again today. And he seems quite interested in my personal time.”
Elaina’s father tugged at his beard and took off his spectacles. “That boy isn’t going to last much longer if he can’t learn to mind himself. I only brought him on because he’s the youngest son of a friend. Let me know if he bothers you again.”
She nodded, eager to be done with the conversation. “On a brighter note, all should be well for tomorrow. The only ships in sight are ours, and the weather should be superb.”
“Excellent. Now,” he leaned forward, his eyes bright, “are you about to burst, or should I tell you who our visitor is?”
Elaina clapped her hands. “Yes! Please!”
Her father leaned back, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “I hope you saved your best gown for tomorrow, my dear. For our ambassador will be none other than King Everard of Destin himself.”
2
Glass Slippers
“Please, Miss Starke! Help!”
Elaina whirled around to locate the voice above, but she knew already whom it belonged to, and it made her want to cringe. Sure enough, nearly as high as her crow’s nest, Davies Tanner had caught his left arm in the ropes that should have been untangled hours ago.
“Again?” She shook her head and took a swift look around the deck. “Hold on, Tanner.” Of all the days for him to need a rescue. Elaina kicked off her slippers and hiked her fine skirts up, tucking them into the billowy pantaloons she wore for situations like this. She began to climb the rigging but glanced over her shoulder with every few steps she took.
Most of the crew members wouldn’t be able to see her, as they were already in place for the receiving party, where Elaina was supposed to be as well. Hopefully, her father wouldn’t notice her absence before she got back. But she couldn’t very well leave Davies up in the ropes. Besides, they had only just pulled up alongside the ship that was delivering King Everard. Surely she had a few minutes before the king disembarked from his ship and crossed over to the Adroit.
As soon as she was sure no one had spotted her, Elaina finished shimmying up the ropes to where Davies was standing. She could have climbed even faster, had her formal gown not been so heavy.
“What were you doing up here?” She hooked her arm through the rigging and began to work the knot that had formed around his wrist. “You’re supposed to be with the others on the lower deck.”
“I was supposed to repair a sail,” he mumbled. “Forgot, though.”
“So yo
u did it now.” Elaina shook her head. “This is a reconnaissance meeting with the most powerful king in the western realm. The sail can wait.” She finished untangling the ropes and gave him an exasperated look. “And you never repair a sail like this. It needs to be done on the deck.”
When the young man nodded, she gestured for him to climb down ahead of her. He was more than likely to get stuck somewhere on the way down, and she would have to waste more time rescuing him again. Then they would both get an earful.
She felt hope bubbling up within her, though, as she scurried down the ropes and heard Lewis still calling out formations to the sailors on the other side of the deck. Perhaps her absence hadn’t been noticed after all.
“Elaina. Tanner. How thoughtful of you to join us.”
As soon as Elaina’s bare feet hit the deck, her throat went dry. Turning slowly, she found herself face-to-face with her father, Lewis, and a heavily muscled stranger.
It was him.
A gold circlet of leaves sat on the stranger’s brow, and he held himself as though he were very aware of the position the circlet gave him. More impressive than his fine clothes and regal stance, however, were his fiery gray eyes, which watched her with such intensity that she felt they might indeed burn her should she meet them for too long. At first glance, he looked quite severe, but when she dared to look again, she noticed his mouth curving up at one corner.
Elaina forced her own eyes to the ground to prevent herself from gawking more, but that only served to remind her that she was standing barefoot in the presence of a king. Could this first meeting have gone any worse?
Her father looked as though he wanted very badly to roll his eyes. Lewis, who had just joined them, did not look surprised in the slightest.
“Elaina,” her father finally said after she had put her slippers back on and managed a curtsy, “it seems you have been a bit preoccupied. Are you ready to join us now?”
“My apologies—” Elaina began to dip into another curtsy, but Davies interrupted.
“Please forgive her, Admiral . . . Your Majesty.” Davies was mashing his hat into an unrecognizable shape. “It was my fault. I got stuck—”