Ardennia by Bruce Calhoun

Author:Bruce Calhoun
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bruce Calhoun
Published: 2021-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Cinderella and the Masquerade Ball

“Cinderella, come here and primp my hair,” ordered Drizella.

“She’s busy painting my nails,” said Anastasia.

“She’s been painting your nails all day. It’s my turn now.”

“A turn won’t do you any good. You’re hopelessly ugly,” said Anastasia.

“And your teeth stick out a mile,” retorted Drizella.

“Now girls, don’t fight. Especially not today,” Lady Tremaine said.

“Yes Mother,” they said.

“Cinderella, go primp Drizella’s hair,” said Tremaine.

Cinderella switched sisters, and Drizella stuck out her tongue at Anastasia when their mother wasn’t watching. Looking in the mirror she remarked that she might just have a shot at the Prince since it was to be a masked ball.

“Fat chance,” said Anastasia.

“Listen, girls. I want you to leave the Prince alone. I procured our invitation to the ball by promising Phill-, Lord Phillip that we will behave.”

“I’ll behave Mama, but if the Prince finds me irresistible, what am I to do,” Drizella said.

“You are the most conceited sister a sister could ever have,” observed Anastasia.

“At least I have something to be conceited about. The village wig maker once offered to pay me five deniers for my hair,” said Drizella.

“It will take more than a luxurious head of hair to land the Prince. It will take a real title and neither of you have that,” said Tremaine.

“But we are Ladies aren’t we?” said Anastasia.

“Technically no, but don’t tell anyone,” Tremaine said.

“Ouch!” exclaimed Drizella.

“Sorry,” said Cinderella.

“Sorry doesn’t cut the mustard; be more careful,” said Drizella.

“Mother?” said Anastasia.

“Yes.”

“If we’ve no chance to bag the Prince, why are we going to the ball?”

“Because the Prince isn’t the only fish in the sea,” said Tremaine.

“Well as far as I’m concerned, if I can’t have a Prince I don’t want anyone,” said Drizella.

“Then you’ll end up being a shriveled up old maid,” Anastasia warned.

“You’d like that,” accused Drizella.

“Girls, for once and for all stop it,” said Tremaine. “Our conveyance will be here any moment and I want you ready to go. We don’t want to be the last to arrive at the masquerade ball. It will make us appear too haughty.”

“I’m ready,” said Drizella, pushing Cinderella’s hand aside.

“Me too,” said Anastasia, admiring herself in the mirror.

“Good. Cinderella,” said Lady Tremaine.

“Yes.”

“You are not to use our attendance at the ball as an excuse to desert your chores. I want this house spotless when we get home, which will be very late by the way. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” said Cinderella.

“If you do a good job we may tell you about our evening and the grandees we meet from Picardy and Comte; or the food that was served or the music that was played or the masks that were worn.”

“Mother, why waste your breath on her,” said Drizella: “You know the minute we leave, she will slack off. She is simply a loafer – why one of my blouses still needs a button sewed on.

“Cinderella, make sure to sew on that button to,” Tremaine said in a reprimanding tone.

“The conveyance is here!” blurted out Anastasia.

“Let’s go,” said Tremaine.

The three ‘Ladies’ departed in such a rush that they left the front door open.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.