“I’d better be off. My king needs me,” he said, squeezing her hands a little tighter. Lady Tremaine thought in that moment he would kiss her. They were engaged, after all. It could hardly be inappropriate, they had both married before, and she was no maiden. She closed her eyes waiting for it, and then she felt his lips chastely brush her forehead.

“Goodbye, my dear. Come to me quickly. I can’t wait for you to be my wife,” he said.

She stood there looking into his eyes, and wondered still if he loved her. Perhaps he was uncomfortable kissing her in front of the valet. She wanted to ask, but couldn’t bring herself to.

Lady Tremaine went up to her room and collapsed onto the bed with a deep sigh. She lay there in the dark trying to catch her breath but was startled by a familiar gravelly voice coming from the corner of the room.

“I see you are already besotted by your prince, and you have forgotten all about your poor Mrs. Bramble.”

Lady Tremaine shot up out of bed. She didn’t know how she had missed her before, but now she could make out Mrs. Bramble’s silhouette, in a velvet chair by the window. The moonlight shone on her wild silver hair and cast shadows on her face, making her look like an old crone from a fairy tale.

“He’s not a prince,” said Lady Tremaine, standing up and straightening her dress. “He’s a knight. And of course I have not forgotten about you, Mrs. Bramble. How are you feeling?” She made her way over to the poor woman.

“I’m in a sorry state. Alone in the world without a friend,” Mrs. Bramble said, her eyes watery and yellow from age.

“You are not alone, Mrs. Bramble. You have me,” said Lady Tremaine.

“You don’t need me anymore. You’re sending me away, don’t you deny it. The witches’ girl told me so. It’s clear she and your fairy tale prince have you in their clutches.”

Lady Tremaine kneeled down so she could look her in the eye. “Stop this now. What’s this talk of witches? I am in no one’s clutches,” she said. She was sorry to see Mrs. Bramble in such a state.

“Rebecca said you’re sending me to live with my sister,” said Mrs. Bramble. “And that you’re moving to the Many Kingdoms.”

Lady Tremaine shook her head. “Well, I can hardly say how she would know I was going to the Many Kingdoms when I have just decided to go myself.”

Mrs. Bramble cackled. It was an ugly, raspy laugh that made Lady Tremaine’s teeth itch. “Oh, you knew you were going off with him the moment you laid eyes on him! You’re already under their spell. You were always a fool for a handsome face and a fat purse,” she said, laughing again.