The Ugly Stepsister (Unfinished Fairy Tales Book 1) by Aya Ling

Author:Aya Ling [Ling, Aya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fairy tale retelling, ugly stepsister, cinderella, cinderella retelling, retelling
Published: 2015-06-09T18:30:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

“Dead?” The lightness in my chest evaporates, replaced by coldness. “How can he be dead?”

Galen’s lip twitches. “He is a man, not an immortal. Adam Snyder died ten years ago in a pub brawl.”

My heart sinks. A dead end. “To think I’ve waited so long.”

“The reason we couldn’t locate Snyder earlier was because you gave us incorrect information.”

“Me? What did I say?”

“Snyder wasn’t Earl Bradshaw’s gardener,” Galen says succinctly. “He worked for your mother before she married the earl. The earl’s elderly butler replied to us and revealed that Snyder was in fact Lady Bradshaw’s gardener. Consequently, we had to direct a letter to her manor near Lochden.”

Lochden. From what I’ve learned of Story World, it’s this autonomous region north of Athelia, with its own culture and religion. One of Bianca’s suitors is actually from Lochden, with such a thick accent that I always request that he repeat himself. Bianca has spoken disparagingly of the poor guy, starting from his accent and ending with the declaration, “I’d never dream of marrying him and relocating to that barren land up north! Imagine taking a week-long journey traveling to the capital and back.”

Dang.

My mind’s still in a jumbled mess when I leave the flower show. Henry’s place is actually within walking distance, as both the arena and his house are centrally located. I ask Van to inform Bianca and Lady Bradshaw where I’m going, and I tell him I can always ask the duke to provide transport when I go home. He looks relieved that I’m not making him drive to Elle’s house or somewhere else a lady shouldn’t be going.

The butler, Thomas, is quite friendly when he greets me at the door.

“Ah, Miss Katriona, is it? My lord informs me that I might expect you. Such a pleasure to have you grace the house again.”

“Is Henry not in?”

Thomas shakes his head. “His schedule recently has been filled to the brim. However, he did inform us to have dinner prepared.”

“Oh good,” I say, though I’m still relieved that Henry isn’t home yet. “I didn’t mean to take advantage of his hospitality so quickly, but as the show is only round the corner, I couldn’t resist dropping by.”

“No worries, Miss Katriona, it’s always a pleasure to receive a lady in the house. Particularly one so young and charming.”

He gives me a wide smile that reaches his ears, takes my hat and coat, and offers me a choice of tea or coffee and biscuits. The butlers I’ve met at the Fremont and Mansfield houses were polite but so stiff and dry that they acted more like robots. I guess the character of the master reflects on his servants, though the same thing definitely can’t be said for Lady Bradshaw.

The library is larger than I remembered. I never had a chance to inspect it closely, since I was mostly talking to Edward last time. Now, free to explore the shelves, I wander down the aisles, running my hand over the spines and occasionally removing one or two from their places.

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