There was Malwinka and Gustaw, and another woman with her bodyguard. The other woman wore her white hair pinned up at the back and reading glasses strapped around her neck. She wore a crisp dress and heels that had Kate wondering how she got to the castle. Her own shoes were covered in dirt.
Lidka brought her into the middle of the room and waited, not letting go of Kate’s arm.
The new woman slowly circled Kate, examining her from head to toe. She spoke in English. “So this is the girl who sent my boys to prison.”
Kate swallowed her gasp. Ludmilla.
“Such sweet boys, they are. Loyal to their mama. They tell me things about their trip to New York. How there was a girl who is the new Keeper. How she was willing to give us the dresses in exchange for her papa.”
She stopped circling Kate and stood in front of her. “Is this true? You were willing to give us the dresses in exchange for your papa?”
Kate’s confusion held her tongue. The Burgosov in New York had told her he made up the story about the shoes.
“Yes, my boys tell me before I know what Malwinka’s plans are. She did not admit she finds an American man looking to make an amber necklace to match a family heirloom from Poland.” She frowned at Malwinka, an air of distrust circulating between them. “But sometimes families—even stepsisters—have to work together to get what they want. You see we have your papa. Now all we need is the dress. Where is it?”
Kate glared at Malwinka. The dress didn’t belong to her; it never would. It wasn’t right for Kate to hand it over to her, but she had prepared for this possibility. As Lidka had said, Kate was developing street smarts. But Princess Kolodenko, on the other hand, thought she and Malwinka were at peace. Her family had relinquished the shoes for nothing. The descendants of the stepsisters were still working together to get what didn’t belong to them.
Kate hated the idea of giving up the Kopciuszek treasures, but there was no doubt in her mind this time. She was ready to go home and take Dad with her. “Fine. You can have the dress. I’m done with being the Keeper.”
Ludmilla smiled smugly at Malwinka. “I told you it was a good idea,” she said in Polish. “Bring it to me.”
“I don’t have it,” Kate answered, quickly realizing her mistake when Malwinka tilted her head and studied her. She’d answered in Polish. She’d been distracted by the surprising arrival of Ludmilla and had dropped her guard.
Ludmilla, not noticing Kate’s slipup, narrowed her eyes and stared at Lidka. “You said she packed it.”
Lidka stared back. “She did. I heard her talking to her boyfriend.”
Ludmilla tried again. “You are Keeper. I know you would have brought the dress to try with the shoes. It was the missing piece Malwinka did not have. Where is it?”
“I don’t know,” Kate answered this time in English, and less boldly, avoiding Malwinka’s gaze. “Maybe in Germany. Maybe in Italy. You can check my bag. I don’t have it.”
Lidka whispered, “Where did you hide dress? I know you brought with you.”
Kate crossed her arms, wrenching her elbow out of Lidka’s grasp. “It was in Johnny’s luggage, not mine. And you got rid of him.”
Lidka let out a tiny gasp, suggesting to Kate her suspicions were true. Lidka never wanted Johnny to go with them. She had purposely done something to his paperwork. At the time, Kate wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing, sending the dress with Johnny, but she was glad now that she had listened to her gut.
“That will be all, Lidka,” Malwinka said, dismissing the girl.
Lidka exited without looking at Kate.
The two women consulted at the far end of the room. Kate could hear the angry whispers, not the actual words. Malwinka spoke calmly, but Ludmilla was animated, forceful in what she was saying. Kate didn’t know which woman scared her more. While they were busy, she took out her camera. The lighting was poor, but when else would she get another chance? She adjusted the settings, then, click.
“Put that away,” Ludmilla said.
They consulted a little longer before the two separated. “Come closer, girl.” Ludmilla spoke, but it was clear the way she kept looking to Malwinka for approval who was in charge. “You will have the dress brought here if you want to free your father,” she said.
“How will I do that?” Kate asked. “I don’t know where it is.” She crossed her arms, in part to show her defiance and in part to hold herself together.
“Tomorrow morning you girls and Gustaw will hike back to Zakopane and contact this boy. He is to bring the dresses he has stolen. You will not mention that we have your papa, and you will get him to cooperate without involving the Kolodenkos. Nie?”
“He didn’t steal them,” Kate argued.
“They are not his,” Ludmilla said with a glare strong enough to send a chill down Kate’s neck.
“He doesn’t have the correct paperwork. He got stopped at the border, remember?” She tried to sound indignant, but the waver in her voice betrayed her.
Ludmilla smiled. “That is the easy part. And once we have the Kopciuszek collection, you are free to go back to America.”
Kate clenched her jaw. How could she trust the Burgosovs to let them go? Malwinka had done nothing but lie to her, and Ludmilla had done nothing but maneuver to get the ball gown.
“I see you don’t believe Ludmilla,” Malwinka said in Polish. “There is nothing we can do to convince you of our sincerity. But since you have no choice, you will do what we say and hope for the best. You Americans are always so positive, are you not?”
Kate’s eyes flashed. She couldn’t believe these people were her blood relatives. “I’m not leaving without my dad. We can all go to your house. It will be easier and more comfortable.” She looked around the large stone hall. It was like the hint of a dream. If only the walls were covered in tapestries, and thick velvet curtains hung from ceiling to floor over the windows, or even if a robust fire was built in the fireplace, it would be a lovely place to stay. As it was now, it was sad and abandoned, and being used as a prison.
Ludmilla’s face became even more stern. “You do not choose how this happens.”
Kate ran through her options. She could sit down and refuse to move. An image of Gustaw looking like a lumberjack flashed through her mind. He was strong enough to sling her over his shoulder and lug her down the mountain like a sack of grain.
“Fine,” she said in a way that meant it wasn’t fine, but she would agree anyway. Besides, they’d be gone long before morning. She’d find a way.
Malwinka cleared her throat and looked meaningfully at Ludmilla. Ludmilla twisted her lips like she didn’t agree with her. “One more thing,” Ludmilla said. “Tell us about the blue diamond.”
Lidka. Kate’s palms began to sweat. She felt the urge to check her waistband for the hidden gem but scratched her cheek instead. “What blue diamond?”
Ludmilla raised her arms as if to say “I told you so” to Malwinka. Malwinka jutted out her chin.
“You found one in the fresco at Avanti. We know there are more, and they are tied to Kopciuszek’s treasure.”
Kate shook her head. She could honestly say she had no clue how the blue diamonds related. Elsie seemed to think they were part of the shoes, but Kate had seen the shoes. They were clear diamonds exactly as Princess Kolodenko had described.
“The Kolodenkos betrayed Malwinka. She thinks they did something to change the shoes. What did they do?”
Again, Kate had no idea. “The shoes worked. I found my dad. What could the Kolodenkos have done?” They stared each other down until Kate looked away. She was so tired. All she wanted to do was return to Dad.
Malwinka rang a bell and Lidka hurried into the room, somewhat out of breath. “Take her away. You will go to town with Gustaw early in the morning.”
Kate glared at Lidka’s back as she followed her out of the room.
“Ludmilla is after ball gown. Are you going to give it to her?” Lidka whispered.
“Yes.�
�� No, we’re escaping tonight. I just need to get the key from Lidka.
“Do not you want to think about it?”
Kate didn’t say anything.
“I did not know what they were planning.” This time Lidka sounded apologetic.
Kate huffed.
“I speak the truth. I thought they would let you go.”
“For someone who is so street smart, why would you think they would let us go?”
“Malwinka told me things. She thinks she safe because you are from another country. We send you on ship and you go back. Ludmilla change her mind, I think. I am not like that.”
“Not like what?” As far as she was concerned, the Burgosovs were horrible people. All of them. She may have a shared bloodline, but she refused to get pulled into their mess.
“I am not like them. I do not want the Kopciuszek pieces for myself. They should be for the people. In a museum so everyone can see. Do you not believe that, too? You put the dresses on display for the people of America. You did not keep them for yourself.”
Kate didn’t know what to say. In a way, Lidka made some sense. When treasures were on display at a museum, more people could enjoy them. But the war had shown the conflict over both the private and public collection of art, who got a say in what was displayed, and where. Adolf Hitler had been trying to build the greatest art museum in the world, and he systematically attacked countries and looted them for the objects he wanted. People had no say. They were not given the option of donating or selling their possessions. The public had only rumors and stories of the Kopciuszek collection’s existence. It did not belong to the public. But should it? And who was to decide?
Every generation of Cinderella’s descendants had to wrestle with these thoughts. But the Kopciuszek dresses were unique in a way other art was not. The fairy-tale magic set them apart. Made them dangerous to be known in the public. If a painting could not be kept safe in a museum, how could a magical ball gown? No, Kate would not be of the generation to expose the collection to the public. She would fight to keep it private, whether owned by the Kolodenkos or the Burgosovs. But first things first.
They had cleared the main part of the castle and were headed down into the dreary corridor. “If what you say is true, you need to help us escape. Tonight.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Yes. I know where we can run away,” Lidka said.
“Not ‘we.’ I just need you to leave the door unlocked and distract Gustaw.”
“No, you need me. Remember babuszka in the piazza? My amber necklace I gave? I see her again.”
The babuszka. Princess Kolodenko’s request popped into Kate’s mind. Find her. “When? You didn’t tell us.”
Lidka gave her smirk. “Like you, I do not tell everything. She was hard to understand, but she told me go to the forest near Gryfino. To a cottage.”
“What good would it do to go there?”
“Malwinka does not know about it. She would find me wherever else I go. We cannot cross the border, or her people will hold us for her.”
Kate touched her necklace. The babuszka had wanted Lidka’s amber necklace, but it wasn’t the necklace she was expecting. Deep down, Kate had a feeling her amber pendant was the one the babuszka wanted. “Where did you really get your amber necklace from?”
“You already know this.”
“I know one story. I want the truth.” Kate slowed her steps. She didn’t want her dad to overhear what Lidka had to say, if it was what she suspected.
“Ludmilla already told you words spread about American man looking to make sunburst amber pendant like family heirloom. I trade in jewelry during war and helped Malwinka locate this American man. He had necklace when Malwinka found him.” Lidka’s gaze fell. “She gave to me to get you to trust me.”
“Swell,” Kate said, crossing her arms. And was what she was telling her now another ploy to earn her trust?
“And my dad’s dog tags?”
“That I do not know. I suspect Gustaw left them behind when he took your papa so they could travel with an unidentified man.”
Kate paused to let it all sink in and decide if she should trust Lidka now. “Let’s say we make it to this cottage. We’re just supposed to hang out in the forest, for how long? We have to go home. My dad needs surgery before it’s too late, and my mom doesn’t even know he is alive. I don’t want to be part of this game.”
They had arrived back at the prison room.
“Gustaw does final check on you tonight. I will come for you after that.” Lidka picked up a bundle lying outside the door and shoved it into Kate’s hands before locking her in again.
Dad jumped to his feet as soon as Kate entered. A soft light was glowing from a single candle on the table. “That girl you came with brought you candles. The room didn’t need to be lit when it was just me.”
“Don’t give her any credit,” Kate said. “She’s with them.” She upturned the bundle on the table. Several items spilled out, but all Kate saw was Cinderella’s shoes. Lidka had stolen the shoes back for her. “Dad, we’re escaping tonight with Lidka’s help.”
“Good. But I’ve got one condition. You don’t take any risks. If we’re caught, I’ll do what I can to give you a chance to run—and you run.”
She agreed in order to make her dad happy, but there was no way she’d actually leave him behind. Not after all she’d gone through to find him. He was too precious.
Kate watched the light fade from the window until it was completely dark outside, and then she lit another candle. Time seemed to drag on forever, and Kate considered leaving without Lidka. Except she wasn’t able to steal the key. She’d learned a lot from Lidka from their time together, but not how to be a good thief. Their backup plan now consisted of her dad hiding behind the door and tackling the next person who came through.
“Maybe she couldn’t make it work,” Kate said. “I’m sorry to get your hopes up.”
Then the door opened. “Now,” Lidka said. “Follow wall with hand. No lights.”
They went a different direction than they had been following into the castle. This way sloped downward. Kate hoped they weren’t headed into a dungeon.
“This is how Nadzia escaped,” Lidka whispered. “The Burgosovs not find this passageway until years later.”
“What is all this about?” Dad asked.
“Explain later,” Lidka said. “First, we have to make one stop on our way out.” She turned another corner and brought them to a short hallway with a wooden door at the end. When she opened it and shone her flashlight inside, Kate couldn’t conceal her surprise.
“I don’t believe it.” The beam of light bounced off gold trinkets, paintings, statues—row after row of them. “Dad, it’s filled with art. It’s like one of those treasure storehouses Floyd talks about.”
“I discover it yesterday,” Lidka said. “This is where Malwinka hides everything. She acts like she is helping her neighbors, but she is biggest thief of all.” Lidka made her way between the rows to a side table filled with crates of smaller objects. She grabbed a small figurine of a servant girl carrying a basket of laundry. “The maid used to sit on windowsill in kitchen at Malwinka’s house. It belongs to Kolodenkos.” She put it in her bag.
“This must be the art they wanted me to evaluate,” Dad said. “I’ll contact the proper authorities when we get down this mountain.”
“Let’s go,” Kate said. She cared less about the art and more about getting away. She led her dad back into the hall while Lidka exited the room and closed the door.
Soon, the passage lost its brick floor and became packed dirt. The air grew cooler and the space smaller. “We are in the tunnel now,” Lidka said. “I’ve never gone this far. We can only hope there have been no cave-ins.”
The dampness soaked into Kate’s skin, sending chills down her back. She pushed away feelings of panic. She’d never truly been claustrophobic before, but the weight of the darkness was heavy, and it made the walls seem closer than they
really were, throwing off her sensibilities. She didn’t like walking with such little light, and she still didn’t trust Lidka. The girl had shown no real loyalty to anyone but herself.
The path stopped at a rock wall with a wooden door. Lidka tried to turn the handle, but it was locked. She took out her keys and tried several in the lock. Nothing worked. “Ideas?” she asked.
Kate’s dad felt the door, then slammed his shoulder into it. “Oof. That’s pretty solid. Shine your light around the frame and see if there is a weak spot.”
Lidka traced the door with the flashlight, looking for rotting wood or a crumbling stone. “Is well built to survive all these years,” she said.
“Go back to the lock,” Kate said, her pulse quickening. She’d noticed it was an odd shape, not your standard thin keyhole.
With the light illuminating the surface, Kate bent down and took out her necklace. She smiled. If she was right, someone had been very clever. She slid the amber necklace sideways into the slot. It was met with resistance, but she pushed until there was a click. She turned the handle, and woodsy, fresh air rushed into the stale passage.
“You did it,” her dad said.
They stepped out into one of the caves. At the low entrance, Lidka shut off her light. “We walk in darkness,” she said, ducking out.
Lidka moved like a panther. Kate and her dad, on the other hand, lumbered like injured prey. It was one thing for Dad to walk in the smooth passageway. It was entirely another to hike down the mountain without being able to see where he was stepping, and having to walk on his prosthesis. The trail was impossible to see in the dark, and they kept stumbling. Kate felt the scratches from the tree branches trying to trap her and hold her back for Malwinka.
“One step at a time, Kate,” Dad whispered. “That’s how I learned to walk again. Focus on the next step. It’s all you can control.”
They talked as little as possible, aware how far a voice can carry in the silence. They hiked downhill for what seemed like an hour before they risked speaking.
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