Lady Tremaine grabbed their hands and kissed them. “Well, of course you will, darlings. I’m just teasing. We will arrange for you to visit Shrimpy and Dicky as soon as we are settled in our new home. You were very missed at the house party, and I bet the boys are eager to see you,” she said. But she wondered how she felt about her girls being so very far away from her, all the way back in London, once they were married.

She and Lady Hackle had had it all worked out, their future set. Their children would marry and they would be grandmothers together. Perhaps they would still have their dream, though she could no longer see it as clearly as before.

“Maybe we can talk Lady Prudence into spending the season in the Many Kingdoms with the boys. I’m sure they have coming-out balls there just as they do in England,” said Lady Tremaine.

Drizella’s eyes grew wide. “Oh! Imagine! There must be so many more courts in which to be presented. Oh, yes, Mama, I think this is an excellent plan!” she said.

“Now,” said Lady Tremaine, “what did Nanny Pinch tell you about our marvelous adventure? Did she tell you that I am to be married to a lovely man named Sir Richard and that he has a daughter around your age, with whom I am sure you will become great friends? Did she tell you we are to live with them in their beautiful château?” Lady Tremaine held her breath, wondering how her girls would react to the news.

“Yes, Mama,” said Anastasia. “Which part of the Many Kingdoms is this? If it is to be our new home, shouldn’t we know what to call it?”

Lady Tremaine realized with a start that she didn’t know.

Just then Rebecca and Nanny Pinch came into the room.

“Hello, dears. Anastasia has made me realize that, in all this rush, I have no idea in what realm in the Many Kingdoms we will be living. Isn’t that ridiculous?” she said, slightly embarrassed.

Rebecca and Nanny Pinch sat down across from the trio.

“You will be living in King Hubert’s lands, not far from where the Beast King and Queen Belle reside,” Rebecca said.

Lady Tremaine raised her eyebrow. “You seem to know a lot about the Many Kingdoms, Rebecca,” she said.

“Yes, my lady. I assumed Lady Prudence told you that is where I am from.”

Lady Tremaine started. She couldn’t help flashing back to her last conversation with Mrs. Bramble and the old woman’s warning. But before she could ask anything further, she realized Anastasia and Drizella looked frightened.

“What’s the matter, girls? Why are you upset?” asked Lady Tremaine.

“Beast King?” asked Drizella. “What is a Beast King? I don’t want to live in a kingdom ruled by an ugly old beast!”