It hurt Lady Tremaine’s heart that her daughters didn’t think themselves beautiful, but Sir Richard’s words kept echoing in her mind again and again, making her doubt the prince would see the beauty in her daughters that she did. She wanted to protect them, and almost took them both by the hand to lead them away before they even met the prince. She wouldn’t be able to bear it if the prince did anything to make her daughters feel unworthy of being there among the legion of beauties all gathered that evening. And just as she was about to take her daughters and depart, she heard a familiar voice.

“Don’t leave, Lady Tremaine, not now when you finally have your chance to make a better life for yourself and your girls.”

Lady Tremaine knew Rebecca’s voice immediately. She wanted to rail and scream and strangle the woman for betraying her and working with those wretched witches behind her back. “Rebecca,” she said calmly as Anastasia and Drizella squealed with happiness to see her.

“Hello, girls. Don’t you look exquisite this evening? It’s going to be some time before you and your mama will be announced and presented to court. Why don’t you go get us some refreshments? You don’t want to sound like croaking toads when you say hello to the prince, do you?” she said, smiling at Anastasia and Drizella.

“Oh dear! My throat is a little dry! Zella, let’s go get some punch,” said Anastasia. “We’ll be right back!” Both girls ran off, leaving Rebecca and Lady Tremaine alone.

Lady Tremaine quickly snapped her gaze from her daughters to Rebecca. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her hands around her neck and squeeze until there was no life in her. “What are you doing here, you witch?” she asked, reaching for her brooch and speaking through clenched teeth so the other guests didn’t hear them.

“So you’ve guessed who I am.” Rebecca laughed, sounding eerily like those strange sister witches.

“Nanny told me who you are. She said you were working with the Odd Sisters. It wasn’t hard to deduce you are also a witch.”