Cold Hearted

by Serena Valentino

  “Mark my words, dearie, you will regret it if you go to the Many Kingdoms. Please just read the book of fairy tales I gave you, it’s all in there. Then you will see why I am so worried about you,” said Mrs. Bramble with imploring eyes.

  “I wish there was something I could say to ease your mind, Mrs. Bramble.” Lady Tremaine eyed the door, waiting for Rebecca to knock and put an end to this conversation. “I assure you I will be very happy with Sir Richard.” She was worried for the woman’s state of mind.

  “There is a special bond between a nanny and her charge, as you will learn in the pages of that book. I’ve always seen you very clearly, and I know beyond a doubt that something horrible will happen if you leave.”

  Lady Tremaine took her hand. She wondered if the poor dear wasn’t suffering from some sort of dementia from old age.

  “Why are you so convinced something terrible will happen to me?” she asked. “Why do you think someone will hurt me?” She searched the old woman’s face, wondering what made her look so heart-stricken.

  “I’m not worried you will be hurt, my little one. You’re a strong woman, and you can handle anything those witches try to cast your way,” said Mrs. Bramble.

  “Then what has you so worried? What are you so afraid of?” asked Lady Tremaine, and the strangest look came over Mrs. Bramble’s face.

  “Oh, my dear, don’t you see, I’m worried about those you may hurt, those you will destroy with your hate and cruelty.”

  Rebecca walked into the room just then and heard what Mrs. Bramble said. “That’s utter nonsense. My lady doesn’t have a cruel bone in her body,” Rebecca said.

  “Oh, your lady will after you and your witches are done with her!” Mrs. Bramble croaked. “It happens to all of them! Something is terribly wrong with the Many Kingdoms. It turns stepmothers into horrible monsters. It destroys everything good within them.” Mrs. Bramble grabbed the book of fairy tales from the table beside her. “Just read this, my lady. Read it before you make the biggest mistake of your life.”

  Lady Tremaine took the book and smiled at the old woman. “I will read it. I promise,” she said, trying to make the woman happy and opening the book.

  “What’s this, an inscription from Lord Tremaine?” she said, taking a closer look. “You got this book from Lord Tremaine’s library? Why didn’t you say so from the start?” Lady Tremaine asked.

  “I thought you knew, my lady. He mentioned he bought it at the same shop as your brooch. Lord Tremaine always let the staff borrow his books, my lady, as long as we logged it in his ledger,” said Mrs. Bramble.

  Lady Tremaine knew this was true, of course. This conversation, combined with the events from the last few days, had her head spinning in circles. “Well, then I am even happier to have it in my possession, Mrs. Bramble. I will take extra care to read it. Thank you so much for giving it back.” Lady Tremaine motioned to Rebecca to take the old woman out of the room. “Now, you go back downstairs with Rebecca and stay there and rest until I send for you. Everything will be well, I promise you,” she said, kissing Mrs. Bramble on the cheek.

  She took a deep breath once both ladies were out of the room. “Good grief,” she said, looking at the book. Seeing Lord Tremaine’s handwriting sent a wave of love and sadness through her. She never knew he had gone back to that strange little shop for the book. She remembered the proprietor mentioning it, and she thought it sounded just like something her husband would do, going back to the shop to get it. But she hated the ideas and notions this book had put in Mrs. Bramble’s mind. The old woman had clearly convinced herself that the stories were true. And then she remembered her conversation with Sir Richard about whether the book of fairy tales could be a history. Could the stories be true after all?

  Rebecca came back into the room, interrupting her thoughts. “Sit down, my lady, you look pale,” she said, holding out a chair for Lady Tremaine.

  “Thank you, Rebecca dear. Do you know much about the Many Kingdoms? I swear I remember Sir Richard saying something about a book of fairy tales.” She put her hand to her head, and Rebecca took the book from her.

  “Don’t worry about that now. I’m sure they are different books. Why don’t you lie down? It’s been a long day, and tomorrow will be another one. You need your rest.”

  The next morning was spent in a flurry of excitement. As soon as she finished her coffee and was dressed, Lady Tremaine found herself surrounded by a legion of maids, all assisting Rebecca in packing her things so she could make her way back to London to tell her girls the news. She had written ahead to let her butler, Avery, know she was on her way. He was to instruct the servants to pack up the household and to tell Nanny Pinch to ready the girls for a long journey.

  Lady Tremaine’s head was whirling with everything she had to do, and with everything she and Sir Richard had discussed the night before. He was right to suggest she only bring her personal belongings. It was an extraordinarily long journey to the Many Kingdoms, after all, and it wasn’t sensible to bring everything with her, including her servants.

  Thank goodness for Rebecca, who was fussing around the room, directing Lady Hackle’s staff in the packing of Lady Tremaine’s trunks so she could make her way home on the next train. Lady Tremaine was eager to be reunited with Anastasia and Drizella as soon as possible so she could share the good news.

  “Rebecca, once we’re back in London I want you to supervise the packing of my personal belongings. Dresses, hats, gloves, jewelry, purses, some of my favorite books, and of course the contents of my vanity. Everything else will have to be put into crates and auctioned off. I’ll need you to oversee all of that as well. I will have my hands full breaking the news to the girls and meeting with my solicitor so we can arrange the sale of the town house,” said Lady Tremaine.

  “Of course, my lady. And what of Miss Anastasia and Miss Drizella’s things? Shall I pack for them as well?” she asked.

  “No, Nanny Pinch will see to that. I’ve written ahead. And, Rebecca, I need you to work closely with my butler, Avery, to make sure everything is done to my specifications.”

  Rebecca stopped what she was doing. “How will Avery and the other servants feel about me swooping in and taking charge like that, my lady? Will they be upset about Mrs. Bramble?”

  Lady Tremaine hadn’t even thought of that. “Well, Avery is a good sort, but if he does get his nose out of joint, there is nothing we can do.” She continued, “Oh, Rebecca, there is so much to do. And I have to break it to the staff that I won’t be needing them.” She was starting to feel faint.

  “My lady, please sit down,” Rebecca said. “I think you might swoon from all the excitement. I wouldn’t worry about your staff. I can’t imagine they’d want to travel so far anyway.” She had stopped directing the maids in order to give Lady Tremaine her full attention.

  “Yes, I think you’re right. Though I do hope Nanny Pinch comes along, even if just for the first few months.” She sat down in a pink velvet chair situated near a window with a little round table beside it.

  “Shall I send down for some tea?” Rebecca asked.

  “I know you mean well, always suggesting tea, but if you’re going to be my lady’s maid, remember, never tea, Rebecca, always coffee. I know that’s not very English of me, but I’ve always preferred it.”

  Rebecca nodded. “Yes, my lady. I should have remembered.” She motioned to one of the maids to fetch her lady some coffee.

  There was a knock at the door. “Ah, I suppose that couldn’t be my coffee already?” said Lady Tremaine, laughing.

  “No, my lady. We’re still in England, where things don’t magically appear as they do in the Many Kingdoms.” Rebecca smiled as she opened the door to Lady Hackle. Lady Tremaine’s friend stood there with a look of grave concern on her face.

  “My friend, this letter came for you just now. It’s from Sir Richard. He must have sent it right before his ship disembarked.”

  Lady Tremaine took the letter from her friend and read it
.

  My dearest Lady Tremaine,

  I can’t wait another moment for us to be husband and wife. Please come to me as quickly as you can, for I am desperate for you to take your place at my side, and in my home. If you love me as much as I hope you do, you will bring Anastasia and Drizella on the next evening voyage. Cinderella and I need you.

  Sir Richard

  Lady Tremaine handed the letter back to her friend so she could read it.

  “Oh, you have to go to him at once,” Lady Hackle said.

  “But I’m already leaving as quickly as I can. What of the house in London?” Lady Tremaine was distraught. “What about the girls? I haven’t even told them we are moving, and I must book us all on the next evening voyage?”

  Lady Hackle looked off for a moment as if she was formulating a plan. “Nanny Pinch will just have to bring them to the dock. Hopefully she will agree to come along with you to the Many Kingdoms, but if she doesn’t, the least she can do is bring your girls to meet you at the boat. Your new family needs you. If you had any doubt of his feelings of love toward you, this surely squelches that,” she said.

  “I think you’re right, but what of the house and the servants? There is so much to do.” She took a cup of coffee from a tray that had been brought in by one of the maids.

  “The ship isn’t leaving the dock until this evening. That should give Nanny Pinch enough time to get some things together for you and the girls. Piggy and I will go to your place in London tomorrow and supervise everything else and arrange to have the rest of your things shipped to the Many Kingdoms,” said Lady Hackle.

  Lady Tremaine took her friend’s hand. “You’re such a good friend, Prudence. Thank you.” She laughed.

  “It’s nothing, dear friend; it’s just a matter of directing your servants. Will you pay them a severance? Should we double the usual under the circumstances?” She continued, “And what about the house and the things to be auctioned? Is your solicitor handling that? Should Piggy and I stop by his office when I’m in London to make the arrangements for you?”

  Lady Tremaine started to panic. There was so much to be done, and here she was dashing off before she could sort any of it out. “Oh, Prudence, would you handle all that, really? I’m afraid I am asking too much of you, my sweet friend, but I have no choice.”

  Lady Hackle laughed. “It’s for the best possible reason. You’re sailing off to be with your love!” she said, smiling.

  “This is all happening so quickly. I wanted time to talk with the girls before rushing off to lands unknown,” said Lady Tremaine, motioning to one of the servants for another cup of coffee.

  Lady Hackle put her hands on her friend’s shoulders tenderly. “You can talk to the girls on the ship. Listen to me, my friend, you are the strongest woman I know. You can do this. You’re finally going to have your happily ever after, in the land of fairy tales. This is a dream come true.”

  Lady Tremaine stood nervously on the dock, waiting for Nanny Pinch, Anastasia, and Drizella to arrive. She kept looking at her watch pendent, worried they wouldn’t make it to the dock in time.

  It was a grand and beautiful ship, all white and gold, reminding her of a many-tiered wedding cake. Every time the ship’s horn blasted she jumped, thinking it meant they were about to ring out the last call for passengers to board, but logically she knew they had plenty of time. Her nerves were such a jumble.

  She had at least managed to arrange two very fine staterooms, one for herself, and some rather large quarters for Nanny Pinch, Rebecca, and the girls—all adjoining, of course.

  As she stood there, she felt like she was in a dream. It didn’t seem real, the thought of leaving her entire household without seeing it again, or without saying goodbye to those who had cared for her for so many years. She had gone straight from the train to the dock. She would have been more upset, but it was all terribly romantic, the idea of her dearest love, so desperate to have her at his side that he asked her to dash it all and come to him as quickly as she could.

  Just then she saw her precious girls and Nanny Pinch approaching in the carriage. Her girls were waving frantically, smiling, and eager to bolt out of the carriage. The moment it pulled to a stop, they climbed over Nanny Pinch and bolted from the carriage, running straight into Lady Tremaine’s arms.

  “Oh, Mama, we missed you so much!” cried Anastasia.

  “We promise to be good from now on!” said Drizella, squeezing her mother tightly.

  Lady Tremaine was so happy to see her daughters. Seeing them made everything seem more real to her. They were the center of her universe, and she felt untethered without them.

  “Hello, my darlings! I am so happy to see you,” she said, giving them both kisses. “And thank you, Nanny Pinch. You have no idea how much I appreciate you agreeing to come along with us to the Many Kingdoms.”

  “I’m sorry I won’t be able to stay with you longer than the first fortnight to see the girls settled,” Nanny Pinch said, “but Lady Hackle explained everything, and I couldn’t let you and the girls travel alone all the way to the Many Kingdoms.”

  Lady Tremaine gave the young woman a smile. “Oh, but we won’t be entirely alone. Rebecca will also be traveling with us. She is my new lady’s maid. You will meet her on the ship. She is in our rooms making sure everything is satisfactory.” Lady Tremaine reached for her daughters. “Come, Anastasia and Drizella,” she said. “Take my hands. We are about to embark on a marvelous adventure.”

  Lady Tremaine and her daughters sat together in a little sitting area in her stateroom, while Rebecca and Nanny Pinch unpacked their things in the adjoining room they would share with Drizella and Anastasia. The girls were on either side of her, as close as they could manage. She could tell they had missed her, and she, too, had missed them terribly.

  “My angels, what did Nanny Pinch tell you about our journey?”

  Anastasia spoke first. “She said we were going to a magical land with princes and princesses.”

  Drizella scoffed. “We have princesses in England; I don’t see how that’s magical,” she said.

  Lady Tremaine laughed. “That’s true, my dear, but it seems the Many Kingdoms has far more royalty than London. I am told we are moving to a kingdom with a very jolly king and his son, the young prince who is about your age. Who knows, maybe one day one of you will marry him,” she teased.

  “But what of Shrimpy and Dicky? I thought we were to marry them!” said Anastasia.

  Lady Tremaine grabbed their hands and kissed them. “Well, of course you will, darlings. I’m just teasing. We will arrange for you to visit Shrimpy and Dicky as soon as we are settled in our new home. You were very missed at the house party, and I bet the boys are eager to see you,” she said. But she wondered how she felt about her girls being so very far away from her, all the way back in London, once they were married.

  She and Lady Hackle had had it all worked out, their future set. Their children would marry and they would be grandmothers together. Perhaps they would still have their dream, though she could no longer see it as clearly as before.

  “Maybe we can talk Lady Prudence into spending the season in the Many Kingdoms with the boys. I’m sure they have coming-out balls there just as they do in England,” said Lady Tremaine.

  Drizella’s eyes grew wide. “Oh! Imagine! There must be so many more courts in which to be presented. Oh, yes, Mama, I think this is an excellent plan!” she said.

  “Now,” said Lady Tremaine, “what did Nanny Pinch tell you about our marvelous adventure? Did she tell you that I am to be married to a lovely man named Sir Richard and that he has a daughter around your age, with whom I am sure you will become great friends? Did she tell you we are to live with them in their beautiful château?” Lady Tremaine held her breath, wondering how her girls would react to the news.

  “Yes, Mama,” said Anastasia. “Which part of the Many Kingdoms is this? If it is to be our new home, shouldn’t we know what to call it?”

  Lady Tremaine r
ealized with a start that she didn’t know.

  Just then Rebecca and Nanny Pinch came into the room.

  “Hello, dears. Anastasia has made me realize that, in all this rush, I have no idea in what realm in the Many Kingdoms we will be living. Isn’t that ridiculous?” she said, slightly embarrassed.

  Rebecca and Nanny Pinch sat down across from the trio.

  “You will be living in King Hubert’s lands, not far from where the Beast King and Queen Belle reside,” Rebecca said.

  Lady Tremaine raised her eyebrow. “You seem to know a lot about the Many Kingdoms, Rebecca,” she said.

  “Yes, my lady. I assumed Lady Prudence told you that is where I am from.”

  Lady Tremaine started. She couldn’t help flashing back to her last conversation with Mrs. Bramble and the old woman’s warning. But before she could ask anything further, she realized Anastasia and Drizella looked frightened.

  “What’s the matter, girls? Why are you upset?” asked Lady Tremaine.

  “Beast King?” asked Drizella. “What is a Beast King? I don’t want to live in a kingdom ruled by an ugly old beast!”

  Nanny Pinch raised her hand for silence. “Now, Drizella. Remember what we talked about. Think about how you’d like to rephrase that.”

  Rebecca laughed. “Oh, that’s not necessary. He was an ugly old beast, or at least some thought so, but now he’s a beautiful king living his happily ever after with his true love, Queen Belle. And you won’t be living in their kingdom anyway. Theirs is the next kingdom over from ours. Kingdoms don’t usually intermingle so your paths will never cross. Don’t worry.”

  Anastasia was confused. “What do you mean the king was living his happily ever after? Isn’t that what fairy tale authors usually say about the princess once she is saved by her prince?”

  Rebecca laughed again. “Well, in this story it was the princess who saved the prince. Belle is the hero of that story.” Drizella and Anastasia clapped their hands.