The carriage drove off, leaving Lady Tremaine standing there. She was livid, but there was nothing she could do. She was trapped in the Many Kingdoms, trapped in that house, and trapped in a marriage. Her only hope was to try writing to Lady Hackle again. Lady Tremaine and her daughters couldn’t stay any longer. They were in misery. She had written to her friend Lady Hackle quite some time back to see if she could send her the money so she and her daughters could book passage back to London, but she never replied, which had begun to concern Lady Tremaine because she hadn’t heard from her friend since soon after she had arrived in the Many Kingdoms. She had been hoping once the girls were of age they could marry the Hackle boys and they, at least, would be free from this wretched place, but with no word from Lady Hackle she was starting to worry that she and her daughters would find no escape from Sir Richard or the Many Kingdoms.

She went to her room to compose another letter and found her daughters crying on her bed. “Oh, my girls, what’s the matter?” she asked, rushing to put her arms around them.

“We heard what Sir Richard said. He thinks we are ugly,” said Drizella.

“No one will ever want to marry us,” said Anastasia.

“That’s not true, my doves. You’re both beautiful. And don’t forget you’re betrothed to the Hackle boys. In fact, I was just about to write Lady Hackle to see if you could go there for a visit.”

The girls’ faces brightened.

“Really, Mama? Won’t you come with us?” said Anastasia. “We know how unhappy you are. Why not just leave this place? Sir Richard is horrible. We never go anywhere or do anything. We’re always trapped inside doing housework, and no one ever comes to visit us. We hate it here!”

“I hate it here, too, my darlings. And if you can keep a secret, I’ll tell you what I really plan to do. I’ve been writing Lady Prudence asking if she can send us money to book passage to London as soon as possible. I promise I won’t keep you here a moment longer than I can help. I will do anything to get you out of this house. Mark my words.” She hugged them tight.

“Thank you, Mama,” said Drizella.

“Very well, my dears, off with you to take your lessons with Nanny while Sir Richard is at the castle. I will do your chores; he needn’t know you didn’t do them. Go now and learn as much as you can while he is away and let me write my letter to Lady Prudence.” She kissed them both before they dashed out of the room.