“Oh your intentions are perfectly clear, Sir Richard,” she said, wanting nothing more than to be out of his company. She couldn’t believe she had let her heart become entangled with this man’s. She wanted to scream, “But I’m in love with you! I thought you were going to ask me to marry you!” But that sort of thing just wasn’t done, especially not in Lady Hackle’s garden right outside of a sitting room filled with lords and ladies. She would be a laughingstock. And now she found herself having to go into the dinner party on the arm of a man who had just broken her heart.

She hated the idea of having to explain all this to Lady Hackle. And she was angry with her friend for encouraging her to fall for this man so quickly. In that moment all she wanted to do was run away, but instead she stood there, passive as ever, just waiting to see what he would say.

“Very well, I think we should go in to dinner then. I am so relieved we are of the same mind,” he said.

She decided then and there she needed to protect her heart, and she was happy she was wearing the brooch her husband had given her, because if she hadn’t been, the blow from Sir Richard would have shattered her.

As they walked back into the drawing room and took their places among the assembled guests still waiting to go into dinner, she felt a cold, steely shiver move through her as she touched her brooch. The feeling stayed with her as they sat down at the dining room table, and she imagined it helped her not to cry and make a fool of herself in front of Sir Richard and the other guests.

She could see that Lady Hackle was concerned for her, but of course they wouldn’t be able to talk until after dinner, and even then it would be hard for the two of them to find some time to chat among themselves.

And then the strangest thing happened. Lady Hackle and Sir Richard seemed to exchange knowing looks, which made Lady Hackle smile, and she stood up, asking for the party’s attention.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the engagement of my closest friend Lady Tremaine and Sir Richard of the Many Kingdoms! May they both be truly happy as they join their families—Lady Tremaine’s daughters, Anastasia and Drizella, with Sir Richard’s daughter, Cinderella. Everyone, raise your glasses to Lady Tremaine and Sir Richard!”

Lady Tremaine sat there in shock as everyone raised their glasses to celebrate their engagement. And she realized her heart didn’t need protecting after all. She and her daughters were going to live happily ever after, just as her friend Lady Hackle had wished.

Chapter VII: Mrs. Bramble’s Warning