Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella (The Classical Kingdoms Collection Book 6)

by Brittany Fichter

  “He’s only one man out of many, Father.”

  “Tanner, yes. But I have three men leaving and a handful of others preparing to do the same, if I can believe the rumors Lewis shares with me.” Her father half sat, half fell into the chair behind his desk. “I have done my best to choose only the best men to surround you with, and I have done even more to keep them here. But a majority of my men have served faithfully for many years, and eventually, they will not all be here to protect you and your gift. A day that I fear is coming sooner than later.”

  “What are you saying?” Elaina took a step closer to the desk where she could reach out and stroke its scratched wood for comfort.

  “I’m saying that it’s high time I find a more appropriate living situation for you.”

  “You mean . . . leave the ship?”

  “You’re nearly eighteen, Elaina. Far too old to be gallivanting about the seas without proper instruction due a lady of your status.”

  “Father, it was only one incident! And he was drunk!”

  “If this hadn’t happened, something else would have.”

  Elaina opened her mouth to respond but found she had no words. Instead, she fell into the seat beside her and focused on breathing.

  “I have already sent word to your aunt that you will be returning to Rosington Manor.” He picked up a quill and began to scratch away on a parchment before him. “You will live there with your Aunt Charlotte and cousin Lydia until you are old enough to inherit the manor of your own accord.” His voice became gentle, though he still didn’t meet her eyes. “You should enjoy it there. It’s where you grew up, you know.”

  “Until I was five!” Elaina cried out. “I’ve grown up here! This is my home.” She swallowed, trying to regain control of her voice. “I’m sure Aunt Charlotte and cousin Lydia are kind, but these men are my family. They’ve taught me about rigging and knots and winds—”

  “And no one has taught you of fashion or courtship customs or even how to speak appropriately with young men of your rank.”

  Elaina opened her mouth to retort that she could care less about flirting with men of her rank, but her father silenced her with a fierce glance. Then he groaned and rubbed his eyes. For a long moment they sat in silence. Finally he spoke again, but this time, he sounded ancient.

  “You have served the king well in your time on this ship, far beyond what many men do in their lifetimes.”

  “All the more reason to keep me.”

  “It’s not worth the cost. The savage brute that killed your mother is still out there. And now that the public knows your secret, you could put the whole fleet in danger when he decides to target you.”

  Elaina squeezed the arms of the chair until her fingers hurt. “So you would have me fend for myself?”

  “Hardly. You will be better protected than you’ve ever been. I’ve already sent word to King Xander, asking him to provide ample protection for you in the capital. He has said in the past that whatever I need he will give me, and I believe he will honor this request without hesitation or question.”

  Elaina’s shoulders slumped as she took deep, measured breaths.

  “Your mother’s title passed to you last year, and in a few years, you will legally inherit Rosington,” her father said in a quiet voice. “Many girls dream of such opportunities, but few have the rank or property and ensuing liberty to do it on their own. As you know, most families in Ashland cannot legally hand down titles to women at all, only a select few like ours. Use this to your advantage. Enjoy your life in Kaylem. Make friends, and find a young man worthy to kiss the ground you walk upon.” His eyes brightened a little. “You will meet the prince. I hear he’s an amiable fellow. Rather charismatic, actually, much like his father.”

  “I don’t want to meet the prince.” Elaina glared at the scuffed wooden floor. “I want to be with you.”

  “This is a man’s world, Elaina. You have no idea what kind of a man killed your mother. Now if word gets out that—”

  “Then what have you been raising me for?” She gestured up at the deck. “If I’m incapable of handling myself, why build me up with foolishness about my abilities to deal with the hundreds of men we’ve taken to sea? Why give me any responsibility at all?”

  “Hang it all, Elaina! Why are you making this so difficult?” her father shouted, jumping to his feet. “I can’t afford to nanny you all the time, putting my men and my fleet in danger! Now look at me. I am very serious about this.”

  She gave him the most dispassionate look she could muster.

  “You are going to the capital. You will conduct yourself with grace and maturity, and you are going to stay out of harm’s way. That is the end of this discussion. Lewis!”

  Her father’s first mate was there in seconds. From the grave look on his face, Elaina guessed he’d heard every word.

  “We’re setting sail for the capital. I want this ship moving in one hour.”

  “Aye, Admiral.”

  Gathering what was left of her dignity, Elaina slowly stood. As she reached the door, however, she shut it and turned back once more.

  “You’re serious about this then,” she said, straining her voice so it wouldn’t crack. “You really don’t believe in me.” She strode back over to him and took his hands in hers. “I can do this, Father,” she whispered. “I am strong enough to make it on the seas.”

  “No, Elaina. You’re not.”

  She fell back a step. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Oh, but I do. I will not have you die because I was a fool and too proud to admit my own limits. And I’ll not have you dead because you refused to acknowledge your own limits either. Now go with Lewis and stay in your quarters until I call you again.”

  “But I—”

  “Elaina, once and for all, you are leaving this ship, and you will never be sailing on her again.”

  5

  Don’t Fall

  Elaina ran her hand lovingly down the polished blue rail of the Adroit one more time as the young sailor emerged from her cabin with her sea chest. The Adroit’s crew had formed a line on each side of her, their numbers creating a path all the way to the ramp, though Elaina knew her father had not instructed them to do so. He would have preferred the affair of her departure be kept as quiet as possible. But the men were here now, and she could see in their faces that they weren’t going anywhere without a direct order. Perhaps Lewis had talked her father out of such an order.

  Her throat thickened as the first mate himself stepped out of line and approached her. After bowing low, he held out a fist. When she put her own hand out, he dropped a little pile of wood that clinked softly into her palm. Elaina held it up to examine it more closely. As she lifted it, she realized that it wasn’t a pile of wood at all, but rather, a bracelet with little wooden beads of all different shapes. Each seemed the work of a different carver, for no two were alike. Some were figures of people or animals. Others were little blocks with words or pictures scratched into them. Someone had been bold enough to carve a star.

  “Made from a piece of the ship’s hull we had to replace last week,” Lewis said, his eyes not moving from the bracelet. “We were going to give it as a birthday present, but since this came sooner . . .”

  Elaina threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, inhaling deeply his familiar scent of salt and tobacco.

  “Now, now, little lady.” Lewis pulled out of the hug but held on to her shoulders, his eyes rimmed red. “Didn’t think you could hang about with us old sailors your whole life, did you? Get out there and give a little shake to that royal court. I hear they need a good rousing from their comforts every now and then. If anyone can do that, it’s you.”

  Elaina nodded and tightened her jaw against the stinging in the corners of her eyes. “I’ll treasure it always,” she said, looking in turn at each of the men, starting with old Lewis and ending with little Joel. “And don’t look so grim.” She forced a laugh. “It’s not as though you’ll never be in Kaylem
again. And when you are, I expect to see you all as well and safe as ever.”

  “Elaina,” her father called from the ramp. “Your aunt and cousin are here.”

  After giving the men one last brave smile, Elaina made her back ramrod straight and strode to join her father. Down the ramp and past the edge of the dock, she could see a carriage with yellow silk curtains pulling to a stop. A woman who looked to be in her early forties was peeking through the front window and a young woman about Elaina’s age through the back.

  Elaina turned back to her father. “It’s not too late,” she whispered, imploring him with her eyes once more. “We don’t have to go through with this.”

  “I expect you to be strong.” He motioned for the sailor carrying her chest to put it on the carriage. “The king’s court is not for the weak of heart.”

  “And how I am equipped to handle this when I’m far too weak for life at sea?”

  “Hold your tongue. You’re being rude.”

  Elaina’s annoyance burned deep but the pain cut even deeper, threatening to make her lose control of her breathing, and even worse, her tears.

  Well, if he was determined to dump her off, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of crying and proving him right. So she kept her next retort to herself and focused on taking deep, even breaths as her aunt and cousin approached. After all, her father’s betrayal wasn’t their fault. So she put on her most diplomatic smile and turned to greet them.

  “Elaina, this is your Aunt Charlotte and your cousin, Lydia.” Her father gestured to each in turn, to which they curtsied. The woman was tall and willowy, and the girl was far more buxom than Elaina could ever dream of being, but they shared the same golden curls, flawless fair complexions. Most attractive, however, were their equally inviting smiles.

  “How could I forget?” She returned their curtsies. “It’s only been a few years since we saw each other last.”

  “We are so looking forward to having you back in the family home,” her aunt said with a gentle smile.

  Lydia nodded enthusiastically.

  Elaina’s father pulled her into a tight embrace, but as he did, he whispered in her ear, “Your aunt and cousin know your secret, but not another soul. Keep it that way.” He roughly kissed her on the forehead and let her out of the embrace. Then he walked up the ramp without looking back.

  Shouting accusations at his back was tempting, but Elaina was too well trained to allow her emotions to dictate her actions. So she took a deep breath and made sure her expression was one of cool confidence.

  “Thank you again for greeting me here. It will be far more pleasant to make the journey with you than it would have been to travel alone in a hired coach.”

  “We wouldn’t dream of such a reception,” her aunt said. She held her hand out, and Elaina took it. For the first time, she realized how vaguely familiar her aunt looked, and not just because they’d met before. Foggy memories of another beloved face lay somewhere in her features. And against Elaina’s wishes, that was comforting. “Now, come to the carriage, won’t you? We have much to get done before tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Elaina asked as a footman helped her into the carriage. It was comfortable inside and even homey with patterned cushions on the seats and the yellow curtains softening the harsh sunlight that was trying to get in.

  “Oh yes.” Lydia clapped her hands and gave a little bounce. “Queen Ann is giving her annual Autumn Tea. The entire event is two days long, and being invited is a most gracious compliment. Not that we’ve ever been excluded, of course.”

  “Your mother and I attended the tea together before either of us were married,” Charlotte said. “It was the first event that the queen hosted after her coronation.”

  Though Elaina was in the mood to hear about anything but royal tea parties, her mother’s participation in this particular event made the prospect at least somewhat intriguing.

  The carriage jolted as they began to move, but once it left the docks and moved onto a larger, busier city road, Elaina found that the bumping didn’t bother her stomach quite so much. Rather, to her regret, she found that the distant green rolling hills south of the city were enjoyable to look at as they bounced along the road. A little familiar even. Colorful shops and houses moved by as well, and she was highly tempted to call them pretty.

  No. She wouldn’t allow herself to feel yearning or even curiosity for this life on land. That yearning had disappeared before she had turned eight. Instead, she tried to pay attention to what her cousin was saying.

  “So who will be at this tea?” she asked after Lydia had finished explaining the queen’s choice in linen color.

  “Oh, everyone of consequence. Most of the court, several wives of the magistrates and their children, and about six or seven of the noble families, not including ourselves, of course.” She paused and absently twirled a thick golden lock around her finger. “Oh, and I believe Prince Henri of Destin might be there as well. He’s Prince Nicholas’s best friend, you know.”

  “I’ve met him!” Elaina sat up straighter. Suddenly, the next few days didn’t look quite so dreary after all. “A few years back when I was in port at Maricanta, he was there with his mother.” Though she hadn’t had the chance to meet Queen Isabelle herself, Elaina had highly enjoyed her time with Prince Henri. Maybe if she could get him alone for a moment he could help her understand why his father had been so cryptic when giving her the shoes.

  Of course, to discuss that meant she would have to tell him her secret. Elaina nearly groaned aloud. She hadn’t been off the ship for an hour yet, and her father’s order was already making life difficult.

  “You’ll love the palace!” Lydia was still talking, her brown eyes bright. “It’s not like other castles of dark stone and dreary moats and such. The palace has hundreds of rooms, but it looks more like one grand manor that stretches out in every direction. There are gates and walls and guards, of course, but even with them, you can see the palace for miles from the ground, for it’s set up on a high hill. The walls are so white they nearly glow in the sunlight!”

  “Lydia is an enthusiastic citizen of Kaylem, but I believe you will truly find much in the capital to keep you busy here,” Elaina’s aunt said in a more subdued voice. She smiled indulgently at her daughter. “The tea will take place on the front lawn, where there is also a rose garden your mother adored when she was young, as well as a hedge maze that’s reshaped every season. You young people will have your own table away from the old women such as myself.”

  At this, Elaina had to laugh. Her aunt, though she had a few lines around her mouth and eyes, looked every bit as vibrant as her cousin of eighteen years. Elaina couldn’t find a gray hair in her full head of golden curls, nor could she find the weariness that aged many women of her years. Only when she spoke of Elaina’s mother was there any hint that her aunt had seen any of her own pain. And for that, Elaina was grateful.

  Aunt Charlotte had loved her mother, too.

  The knot in Elaina’s stomach began to unwind itself just a bit.

  “Elaina, please don’t take this the wrong way, but is that the only style of gown you own?”

  Lydia was studying her dress with a look of concern.

  Again, Elaina laughed. “Unfortunately, yes. My father was always interested in representing the king to any ambassadors he met, so he took it upon himself to dress me as any respectable ambassador’s wife might dress. He said the sea had no patience for frippery or gaudy frills. Every gown was designed with a particular kind of diplomatic meeting or event in mind, but never without practicality as well.”

  “And I’m sure all those respectable wives were older than my mother.” Lydia sighed deeply. Then she rapped on the wall behind the driver.

  The carriage came to a stop, and the driver stuck his head down by the window. “Yes, my lady?”

  “We’re not going home after all, Roland. Instead, we’ll go to the seamstress’s shop on Fourth Street. The second one, not the first one.�
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  “What are we doing there?” Elaina asked.

  “Getting you a new wardrobe, dear cousin! You’ll have to wear one of my gowns tomorrow, as these won’t be done in time, but I’m afraid your gowns just won’t do.” Then her eyes went wide. “Oh! I hope I haven’t offended you! I don’t mean to say you look—”

  “I’m looking forward to it.” Elaina put her hand on her cousin’s knee. And in truth, she was. Then she inwardly cringed. How was she so quickly abandoning her vowed disdain for life on land?

  “Oh good!” Lydia put her hand to her face dramatically. “Let’s see. You’re rather short, but my servant should be able to take up the hem and adjust the seams enough for you to wear my cornflower silk day gown tomorrow. And maybe my emerald one the day after that? It should make your eyes look the color of the sea. I’m not quite sure what shade I would call your hair, but it will look darker if we put it up.” Lydia’s eyes locked onto Elaina’s wooden bracelet. “And we’ll need to find you something jeweled—”

  “Oh, no.” Elaina put her hand protectively over her wrist. “You may change anything else you like with me, but not that. Please, don’t ask me to remove it.”

  Lydia pursed her lips for a moment, but then her eyes softened. “Very well. We will let that be. But everything else must go!”

  Once that important decision had been made, Lydia continued to prattle on happily about which girl would wear what color gown and which boy would be flirting with which girl until they pulled to a stop in front of a little shop on a crowded street.

  Elaina hadn’t even realized they’d reached the market until the footman helped them down from the carriage, for Lydia had complained that the sun was hurting her eyes halfway through the ride and the second set of curtains had to be let down.

  As Roland helped them out of the carriage, Elaina couldn’t quell the curiosity bubbling up inside her. Though Kaylem wasn’t nearly as large as Solwhind, there were people everywhere, bustling around as though they all had important plans pressing them for time. Shoppers bargained for food, trinkets, and household items, and the sound of hammers sounded from the roofs of newer buildings that were still being added at the ends of the main cross streets. Laughter rang out and vendors shouted out their wares. Women gossiped, toddlers tripped over themselves. Men that weren’t at work on the many buildings squished in together raised their voices in friendly arguments about politics and pork prices. And though the scene wasn’t as loud or busy as Solwhind’s northern fish market, there was none of the animosity here either. Rather, a contentedness filled the air.