The Ugly Stepsister (Unfinished Fairy Tales Book 1) (37 page)

I flop on the bed. Tonight could be the last night, or tomorrow. What did Krev say again—the happy ending only occurs when the wedding takes place with bells ringing? I feel a bit guilty about stealing Elle away from Henry, but I try to console myself. Claire’s mom says Henry falls in love easily, like Mr. Bingley in
Pride and Prejudice
. Hopefully it won’t take long for him to find another girl.

Anyway, once everyone in the ball witnesses Edward captivated by Elle, no one can mistake his choice. I close my eyes. Visions of that gorgeous white satin gown trimmed with golden lace flood my mind. When I first saw Bianca and Elle, I was skeptical that Elle could have a chance to outshine Bianca, but now I have no doubt. The fairy-made dress simply puts ALL the gowns I’ve seen—and I’ve seen many—to shame. There’s simply no competition.

There’s a click from the door—someone is unlocking it. I launch off the bed. Maybe Martha has come with the dinner tray.

To my surprise, Bianca enters.

I stare. She has never been in my room before.

Bianca is ready for the ball, arrayed in a breathtaking, form-fitting amethyst gown that shows off her Victoria Secret model figure. It’s low cut as well, revealing the elegant shape of her swan neck and the swell of her breasts. Another day I might be impressed, but after seeing Meg’s gown for Elle, I merely blink.

“You conniving little sneak,” she hisses. “You had me fooled.”

Something isn’t right. What is she referring to? “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

She folds her arms. “Van told me everything. All this time you’ve been sneaking off to see His Highness, instead of the duke, as you led us to believe.” She seizes my arm, her sharp nails digging into my skin. I cry out in pain and wrench my arm away, but she grabs a fistful of my hair.

Bianca gazes at me with a probing intensity. “You have nothing to recommend yourself. No beauty, no grace, no mind of cultivated intelligence. What kind of witchcraft did you use to seduce him?”

“You’re crazy!” I try to twist away, but then strong arms grab my hands, pinning them behind me.

From the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of red hair and a lanky figure.

“Van?” I say disbelievingly. “Are you mad? Let me go!”

He doesn’t budge except to tighten his hold on me.

Bianca’s gaze sweeps over the room. In case of Martha entering, Meg left the dress and slippers in their original state, but the gloves remain intact on the bed.

“You’ve found a witch to enchant those gloves, haven’t you?”

“No!” I lunge toward her, but Van yanks me backward.

Bianca picks up the gloves and looks at them curiously.

“I’ve been hearing voices from my room,” she says, pointing at a ventilator near the ceiling. My heart sinks. So Meg’s voice was too loud, or the walls too thin. “‘All she has to do is touch the prince with these gloves, and he’ll fall in love with her.’”

“You heard wrong,” I snap, trying to free myself, but Van is way too strong.

“Then you won’t mind if I take them.” Bianca flaunts the gloves in front of me. “Since you appear agitated, I suppose my suspicions are not unmerited. As a matter of fact, I’m just reclaiming what you stole from me.”

Her tone drips with venom. She’s not just talking about the gloves.

“When Van told me about your seducing the prince, I thought he was out of his mind. How could His Highness be interested in a plain, insignificant girl like you? Only witchcraft can be the explanation.” She draws the gloves over her arms. “Tonight I shall find out exactly how you ensnared the prince.”

I try to scream, but Van clamps a hand over my mouth.

“Take her down to the cellar and lock her inside,” Bianca instructs. She glances at the clock. “I must leave now. It will not do to keep His Highness waiting.”

And she saunters off with my magic-infused gloves. I struggle, but it’s no use. Van drags me downstairs, keeping a firm hand clamped over my mouth. The laundress happens to pass by with a fully loaded basket, but Bianca silences her with an icy glare. I guess it doesn’t help that I usually cause her more work due to my tendency to soil clothes.

I’m shoved into the cellar. For a split second, Van averts his gaze from me and mutters, “Sorry, miss.” Then the heavy door clangs shut.

Bianca’s voice, ominous and menacing, echoes through the air: “I warned you, Katriona. No one shall ever interfere with me becoming queen.”

FORTY

I pound on the door of the cellar. I yell until my voice is hoarse. Nothing happens.

No one dares to let me out. I’ve no idea if Lady Bradshaw is aware I’m in the cellar, but since I’m forbidden from attending the ball, she won’t miss me.

I glance around the cellar. At least I won’t starve in here. I’m tempted to grab a bottle of wine, but it’ll do me no good to wind up drunk.

Instead, I pounce on the chunk of cheese and bread on the table and gnaw away. I can’t believe Van has betrayed me. Even if he’s gaga for Bianca, he’s practically broken the master-servant code when manhandling me. But come to think of it, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve been bossing him around, making him drive me everywhere. Since Bianca wanted to learn more about Edward through my friendship with Henry, she was bound to ask Van when I barely gave her any information. And Van would do anything for Bianca, just like Adam Snyder would drown a child for Lady Bradshaw.

How much time has passed? If Bianca has already left, she’ll be well on her way to the palace now. I grit my teeth. Hope there’s a traffic jam.

Wishing I had a watch, I sit on the hard stone floor and bury my head in my arms. A heaviness settles on my chest. I’ve failed in epic proportions. Bianca will charm Edward with the spell, and he’ll announce at the ball that he plans to marry her. I’ll be stuck in Athelia forever. I’ll have to kneel before Bianca and call her Your Majesty. Worst of all, she’ll get Edward and I’ll be here to see them together.

Noooooooooo!

I spring up toward the door. I take off the pins in my hair and jam them in the lock. Even if I get out, Van and the other servants will certainly prevent me from escaping. But at least I’ll stand a better chance outside than behind this heavy door.

I fumble with the lock, but a pin slips through my fingers and drops on the floor. Frustrated, I pound a fist on the door.

“Girlie?”

“Krev!” Never have I been so glad to see him. I could even kiss his ugly face. “Get me out of here! Bianca took the magical gloves, and she’s going to use the spell on Edward!”

Krev looks impressed. “She stole the spell? Didn’t expect she’d pull one over on you.”

“Hey!” I glare. He wasn’t supposed to admire Bianca. “I don’t suppose the goblin king will be pleased if Bianca becomes queen.”

“I suppose not,” Krev admits. “And Morag will be mad if she learns how the peacock swooped in and carried off your fruits of labor.”

Just as he speaks, the lock explodes in a shower of dust and the door creaks open, revealing Meg smiling rather sheepishly.

“I
meant
to unlock the door, but…”

I step out and envelop her in a bear hug. “You did a great job.”

“How did you end up in there?” Krev asks curiously. “You gave us a shock when we came back and found your room empty.”

“Bianca stole the spell.” I tell her about Bianca locking me in and going off to the palace. Meg looks indignant.

“The nerve of your sister! We’ve got to stop her from getting the prince.”

I notice Van is curled up in a heap near the cellar door.

“The peacock threatened him,” Krev says. He lightly shoves Van in the back, but the only reaction from the traitor is a snore. “He got drunk one day and tried to kiss her.”

“He did?” I’m surprised that Bianca didn’t kill him—she looks quite capable of stabbing someone with one of her spiky heels. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Krev shrugs. “Didn’t have a chance to bring it up. Anyway, she’s been holding it over him ever since—if she files charges for assaulting an earl’s daughter, he could spend years behind bars.”

That explains why Van appeared regretful when shutting me in the cellar. I roll my eyes. “Is he under a spell?”

“I put him to sleep.” A pointy-eared creature appears in the air. Like Krev, she has wings on her back, but she’s much prettier and more graceful. “Along with the rest of the house.”

Holy crap. Long, flowing hair and a dress with irregular hems. It’s one of the fairies on the vase in Lord Mansfield’s house.

“Tillie insisted on coming back with me,” Meg explains. “She heard your story and wanted to help.”

“And me.” Another fairy appears. “I’ve got the carriage ready. My, you do have the strangest ideas, Meg. Making a carriage from a pumpkin and horses from mice? Lysander will have a laughing fit if he hears about this.”

I refrain from pointing out that Lysander already knows, though I can’t picture him in a laughing fit.

“Um, I don’t want to appear ungrateful, but I have to hurry to the palace.”

“All that’s left is your outfit,” Meg says merrily. “There is no way you can go in that ugly mud-brown dress. Tillie, Lavinia, lend me a hand.”

The three fairies wave their wands. A cool mist settles over me. When the mist clears, something smooth and rich glides over my skin.

I rush into the sitting room and stand before the mirror. I gasp.

I’m wearing this elegant sky-blue gown with a skirt that ripples and flows like running water. It’s not as dazzling as Elle’s white wedding dress, but it fits me better. I’d look ridiculous in that sea of silk and lace, but this dress, in its pure simplicity, is born for me. I lift the hem, and gleaming silver shoes peek out. Miraculously, the heels are long and spiky, but my feet aren’t uncomfortable. Oh, the wonders of magic.

“There you are, dear.” Meg looks proud. “Now you may go to the palace.”

I start toward the stairs, but halt at the bannister. Elle isn’t here yet. A glance at the clock tells me it’s only half-past eight.

“What about Elle?”

“We’ll wait here for her,” Meg says. “Once she arrives, we’ll send her to the ball. That white dress shouldn’t go to waste. Especially when I spent so much time practicing.”

“Didn’t you say you have to stop your sister from using the spell di amor on the prince?” Tillie says shrilly.

“You have to hurry,” Lavinia adds. “It’ll take a longer time to get to the palace when there’s the ball today. The main road is congested.”

I nod, gather my skirts, and hurry to the carriage. The color’s on the orange side, but other than that, it looks just like the one you see in Disneyland.

A man dressed in a coachman’s uniform holds the door open for me. His wide cheekbones and flat nose resemble a cat’s face.

“The ball awaits, lady,” he purrs, his voice deep and sensual. Definitely transformed from a cat. I’m glad we didn’t follow the original story of using lizards.

I sink back into luxurious velvet cushions embroidered with golden thread. Then the door is shut, I hear the crackle of the whip, and we’re on our way to the palace.

“Ready, girlie?” Krev appears near the ceiling.

“You’re coming with me?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he grins. “Besides, I can locate the prince sooner.”

“That would be great,” I say gratefully. There’s got to be crowds of people attending the ball. It’ll help if Krev plays lookout for me.

I close my eyes and try to calm down by taking a deep breath. If I weren’t so stressed about Bianca taking the gloves, I might be able to enjoy myself. Because in the pumpkin coach and in my ball gown, I can’t help but feel like Cinderella.

During daytime the palace is pretty impressive, but at night it’s simply magical. A sea of yellow-gold windows glow from the castle walls. Fireworks explode in the velvety black sky. Distant sounds of the orchestra drift in the air.

The entrance is jam-packed with carriages and people. When we finally reach the gates, I hear a guard bark out, “Invitation?”

Crap. I totally forgot. I never needed an invitation to enter the palace before.

“I’m Lady Katriona Bradshaw,” I say, trying to act all haughty and proud, like Bianca. “My mother and sister have already arrived; I was delayed slightly. Please allow me join them.”

The man squints at me. “You don’t look like Lady Bianca.”

Oh no, not again.

“You idiot!” Another man speaks. “Don’t you realize who she is?”

Bertram appears, looking relieved. “There you are, Lady Kat! I was beginning to worry you wouldn’t show up in time for the opening dance.” He comes a bit closer and whistles. “That dress looks mighty good on you, if I may say. No wonder you were delayed.”

“Do you know where Edward is?” I say.

He shrugs. “As the host, he’ll be everywhere. Don’t worry, just look for the biggest group of unmarried women. Go and rescue him.” He chuckles and waves his arm. “Let her pass!”

I practically leap off the carriage when it stops. My sense of direction is lame, but I don’t have to worry tonight. All I have to do is follow the other guests.

Surprisingly, the route to the ball isn’t through the palace, but the gardens. I guess they couldn’t be bothered to open and close the doors. Beyond the border of the gardens is this huge courtyard. A wide spiral staircase leads from the courtyard to the brightly-lit castle above.

That must be the ballroom. That’s where the music is coming from.

“Krev,” I say in a loud whisper. “If you see Bianca anywhere, I don’t care if you trip her up or drop a spider on her—just make sure she stays away from Edward.”

Krev looks like I’ve handed him a birthday present.

“Can I throw a pie on her face?”

“Two. Or three. Be my guest.”

He looks pleased and zooms off. I scan the crowds for Edward, but despite what Bertram told me, it’s hard to find him. Even though an invitation is required, the palace is bursting with guests. It doesn’t help that the trees and hedges and bushes easily conceal people, and I have to stand on tiptoe to get a better view.