“Nanny Pinch, would you mind serving the tea for the girls in here? And some coffee for me. I would love to just sit and visit with my girls,” she said, smiling at Cinderella. “Now, girls, let’s acquaint ourselves better while we wait for our tea, shall we? Sit down, Cinderella. We would love to know more about you,” she said, motioning for Cinderella to come sit near her, Anastasia, and Drizella. Cinderella took the seat across from them instead, keeping a bit of distance.

“I hope you’re enjoying my mother’s home, Lady Tremaine,” she said, smiling at her stepmother.

Nanny Pinch nearly unsettled the tea cart, she was so shocked by Cinderella’s words. “Cinderella, dear, we already talked this over,” she said. “This house now belongs to your papa and new mama.”

Cinderella just smiled sweetly. “No, Miss Pinch, Papa told me that this house will always be Mama’s no matter who calls herself lady of the house.”

Lady Tremaine understood what the little girl was saying, even though it stung. She wasn’t being malicious, or even trying to be hurtful. She didn’t think the girl was even capable of being mean. She was just repeating what her father had told her. The girl simply didn’t understand that it hurt her feelings, or why.

“Yes, my dear Cinderella, in a way this house will always be your mother’s because her spirit is kept alive by the memories you have of her here. I think that is a beautiful sentiment.” Lady Tremaine reached her hand out for Cinderella to take. “I know I said this already, but it really would please me if you could find it in your heart to call me Mama.”

Cinderella was fussing with something in the pocket at the front of her skirts, not paying attention to what Lady Tremaine was saying.

“Cinderella, did you hear your new mama?” asked Nanny Pinch, trying to divert the girl’s attention from whatever it was that she was messing with in her pocket. “Cinderella?” she said again.

The girl finally looked up. “Yes?”

“Your new mama was speaking to you.”

Cinderella clasped her hands together like a little angel and smiled at Lady Tremaine. “Yes, Lady Tremaine?” she asked.

“Never mind, Cinderella.” Lady Tremaine was hurt and exhausted by the entire ordeal. But then Anastasia spoke up. “You’re being rude, Cinderella.”

“Yes,” Drizella chimed in. “Cinderella, why won’t you call her Mama?”

Both girls watched as Cinderella ignored them, fiddling with her pocket again.

Lady Tremaine reached for her brooch, running her fingers lightly against the cold jade. She was having a hard time with this young girl already and doing her best to keep patient, but she knew that if one of her own daughters was acting this way she wouldn’t stand for it, so she decided she must say something.