The Stolen Slippers by Melissa de la Cruz

Author:Melissa de la Cruz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Like Mother, like Daughter?

Filomena watches in silence as Gretel adjusts Cinderella’s gown. An inch here, an inch there. The pushpins so far have pierced only lace and silk. Gretel appears to have her emotions under control.

Filomena glances around the room at all the court ladies waiting their turns in gowns of varying colours, lengths and fabrics. Some have trains that trail behind them as they walk. Filomena can only imagine how beautiful they’ll look on the dance floor; it will look as if they’re floating to the music.

So far, the princess has managed to make two girls in the room cry by making fun of their hairstyles. Just then the chamber door opens once more, interrupting Filomena’s thoughts as well as Cinderella’s insults.

The woman who enters looks exactly like Cinderella but twenty years older. The same golden hair, the same cut-glass cheekbones, the same slim figure and elegant carriage.

All the ladies gathered in the room drop to their deepest curtsies, and the nervous chatter dissipates. So this is the infamous Queen of Hearts. She looks like she’s definitely broken a few hearts in her day – or squashed them beneath her pointy heel, more like.

‘Mom!’ Cinderella cries. ‘I’m not ready! I told you not to come until I was ready!’ She stomps her foot, throwing a little tantrum right there in front of everyone.

Mom?

But didn’t Beatrice say that Cinderella went to live with her godmother? Wait, the Queen of Hearts is Cinderella’s mother?

What’s going on here?

Didn’t Hortense and Beatrice say their mother married a widower? Something’s not quite right . . . Filomena wishes she could consult her Never After books, but she left them back at Rosewood. She definitely heard correctly, though. Cinderella called the Queen of Hearts ‘Mom’.

Gretel clears her throat and stands up, explaining that she has to collect more pins for the dress. Filomena leaps at the chance as well. ‘I’ll help you,’ she tells Gretel. The two of them huddle by a sewing kit across the room.

‘Did you hear what she said?’ Filomena whispers.

‘Calling the queen “Mom”? I sure did,’ Gretel replies grimly.

‘But didn’t your aunt marry a widower?’

‘That’s what she thought,’ whispers Gretel. They both turn back to the Queen of Hearts and Cinderella. Both are looking at Cinderella’s reflection in the mirror.

The queen clasps her hands to her chest. ‘My darling! You are a vision!’

‘I know.’ Cinderella smirks. She turns and twirls on the podium, preening and primping while the queen and the ladies of the court ooh and aah.

‘The most gorgeous girl in all the kingdoms of Never After!’ the queen declares.

‘I know I am!’ says Cinderella.

‘You don’t even need those silly magic slippers to catch the prince! One look at you and he’ll forget all about that stupid girl!’ the queen declares.

At this, Cinderella’s face falls. ‘DON’T MENTION HER!’ she shrieks. ‘MOM! YOU MORON! The glass slippers are a secret!’

Cinderella motions at the rest of the ladies in the room. ‘OUT!’ she screams, and tosses the nearest vase in their direction.

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