“What an appalling girl!” she said, immediately regretting saying so in front of her own daughters. Then Rebecca cleared her throat.

“Yes, Rebecca?”

“I didn’t want to say so in front of Cinderella, my lady, but it’s true that mice in the Many Kingdoms are entirely safe. They don’t carry disease like they do in London.” She winced as she spoke and clearly felt bad about the entire ordeal.

“Nevertheless, find me a cat,” said Lady Tremaine, narrowing her eyes and touching her brooch. “Come on, girls. Let’s go to our rooms and rest. Tomorrow morning we will go into the village to hire servants and buy things we need for the house. Nanny Pinch can stay here with Cinderella. Rebecca, you will come with us. You can show us around the village, and while you do so you can impart your wisdom about this strange place we now call home.”

Chapter XII: The Little Devil

It had been several weeks since Sir Richard had left for the palace when Lady Tremaine received word that his mysterious court business was at an end and he would be returning home that evening. She had decided that she was really quite happy he had been away. It had given her a chance to get their house in order, buy all new furniture, hire servants, and smooth things over as much as she could with Cinderella. She hadn’t completely shaken the hurt from their rocky first day together, but she hoped things would be better once Sir Richard was home.

She was sad to see Nanny Pinch go back to London, but she had hired a wonderful governess for all the girls by the name of Nanny. Lady Tremaine had asked her if she’d like to go by her actual name accompanied by the title Nanny, but it seemed Nanny was her actual name. So Nanny it was.

She was a lovely older lady with white hair and sparkling eyes. She was a dream of a nanny, patient and kind, and worked wonders with all the girls. They spent their days in the schoolroom, or picnicking in the garden. She encouraged them to put on plays in the library and took them to the village for tea so they could practice being proper young ladies.

Lady Tremaine was quite frankly happy to have the girls out of her hair while she got the house in order and ready for her husband’s return. Since Nanny and the other servants were hired, life felt more like it had back in London. She didn’t constantly have the girls under her feet, and she was feeling less alone. Life was running perfectly again.