A beast! Well, that was certainly unusual and mysterious. Lady Tremaine wanted to keep the conversation going, and she knew the best way was to ask questions. She was suddenly happy her mother had sent her away to finishing school as a girl, as she was quite adept at the art of being a lady. To that end, while she was curious to hear more about this beast, she didn’t want Sir Richard to think she was too interested in the more unusual aspects of his homeland. “And what sorts of local conflicts are there, Sir Richard?”

It felt odd calling this man by his first name, too intimate for someone she had just met, but she was already besotted with him.

“Oh the usual sort of thing,” he said, smiling. “There was the old queen who tried to have her daughter killed because she was jealous of her beauty. You know, the typical problems you might find in any kingdom.” He said this so offhandedly that Lady Tremaine laughed.

“I’d hardly call that usual. It sounds like fairy tales,” she said.

“Well, nothing of the sort has ever happened in my hamlet’s court,” said Sir Richard. “It’s a peaceful place. So far, our kingdom has been left out of the book of fairy tales, and we intend to keep it that way.”

Lady Tremaine thought that was an odd thing to say. “So this book of fairy tales is real, then? I’ve heard talk of it.” She did not want to mention her servant’s hysterics, nor the fact that she now wondered if the book he was referring to was in fact the very same book Mrs. Bramble had just given her.

Sir Richard laughed. “Oh, it’s real, but greatly exaggerated, I assure you. For example, I have never seen these witches who are said to author this book. I think they’re pure fiction.”

Lady Tremaine smiled. “Then I imagine this is the Many Kingdoms’ version of a history book. Ours, too, are greatly exaggerated, I imagine,” she said.

Lady Hackle cleared her throat. “Now, now, Lady Tremaine, don’t let the gentleman hear you say such things.”

Sir Richard laughed. Just then the dinner gong sounded, and all the assembled ladies and gentlemen began to pair off and line up to go into the dining room.

“Sir Richard, would you mind escorting Lady Tremaine into the dining room, as you are both without partners this evening?” asked Lady Hackle with a wide smile.

“It would be my greatest pleasure,” he said, taking Lady Tremaine’s arm. To Lady Tremaine’s surprise she and Sir Richard were among the first to go in after Lord and Lady Hackle, which was slightly confusing, but she surmised that his title might have held more prestige in his own lands than it did in hers.