Charm by Pinborough Sarah

Author:Pinborough, Sarah [Pinborough, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2013-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

Her bad mood vanished once she stepped up into the golden carriage the prince sent for her, a silver one directly behind it for the rest of her family. The whole street came out to see them off, and Cinderella knew that at least her step-mother would be bursting with pride. Her respectability was being restored to her – in grand style – and it was all down to Cinderella. She settled back in the luxurious fur cushions and looked out of the window at all the ordinary people coming out of their houses, curious to see her as the delicate wheels carried her quickly back to the castle. It was a perfect distraction from thinking about the diamond slippers and the magic she had used to grab the prince’s attention. He’d fall in love with her without them anyway. She was sure of that. He just had to get to know her.

He was waiting for her on the sweeping stairs, now coated in a red carpet, and lined with wigged courtiers. As she stepped down, the crowds who filled the streets and stretched out from their balconies to catch a glimpse of her, cheered wildly. Cinderella barely heard them. Although the rest of the city was still filthy after the storm the castle gleamed white and all the windows glinted in the winter sunshine truly making it a castle of light. It was as glorious in the daylight as it had been at night, and, Cinderella thought as she fell into a deep curtsey, so was the prince. She smiled at him and he smiled back, but there was an edge of wariness in the look. He snapped his fingers and a servant stepped forward quickly carrying the cushion with the shoe and placed it on the step in front of her.

Only when she slipped her foot into it again, lifting her leg elegantly so he could see how perfect the fit was, did the prince’s smile break into a grin.

‘My darling,’ he said, leaning forward and kissing her. ‘I’m so glad I’ve found you.’ He looked up at the crowd. Around them the courtiers burst into cheers, and she took his arm as he led her into the castle.

Her family’s apartments were quite magnificent. The living area alone was bigger than the ground floor of their old house, now locked up and forgotten, and windows ran almost from floor to ceiling, with heavy gold and silver drapes hanging to either side. Servants dashed here and there making lists of all their requirements, Esme insisting on having a writing desk and chair placed by the window with the best view of the city, where her husband could finish his novel and write his articles. Cinderella watched as her father smiled at her step-mother and she saw in that moment how much he loved her. He would not complain about this new life if it made her happy.

Rose’s room was next to her own and there was an inter-connecting door between the two vast boudoirs.

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