Was she confessing? "What do you mean?" Cinderella donned her customary blank expression uncertain where Esmeralda was going with this line of conversation.
"The prince; getting married; Maman. The usual things." Esmeralda threw out an impatient hand.
"The usual things? You mean you don't wish to marry the prince?" Cinderella squeaked. Disbelief roiled through her. Her voice did not sound like her own. "How…how could you not want to marry Prince Charming? He's so handsome, dances divinely, smart." Oh, no.
"How would you know he danced divinely?" Esmeralda asked, eyes narrowing, instantly glittering with distrust.
"Of course, I…I don't know…I…only just…suppose." Cinderella dropped her feet to the floor and began to pace. "I…I supposed you'd go into the ballroom. You know? Where the room itself is floating in the air." Cinderella sighed, her dreams carrying her away. She spun in a circle reliving the prince's arms about her. "If you're suddenly confronted with his Highness, you are frozen," she whispered, "you know? Like a…a statue on the stair."
"Oui," Esmeralda whispered. "'Tis exactly how it was. Oh, not for me, but I imagine it was for that mysterious princess."
"Was she pretty?" Cinderella asked softly.
"Beautiful," Esmeralda breathed. Then her brows drew together in sudden irritation and she cackled much like Stepmama, Cinderella was forced to admit. "But, I would not call him so smart."
"In that we agree," Cinderella snapped under her breath. It stung that Prince would dare to offer her slipper to every maiden in the land. Save her!
Esmeralda hadn't seemed to have heard Cinderella. "After all, he went through a kingdom of marriageable young maidens. The idea of using a glass shoe that could fit most anyone. How smart could that be?"
"Oui," Cinderella agreed frowning. 'Twas not smart at all.
"He does not love me, you know. All I do when he is 'round, is blink. 'Tis a nervous habit," she said unnecessarily. "Besides, I believe I made him swoon!"
"He did swoon," Cinderella concurred. After a thoughtful pause, she asked, "What will you do?"
Defeat showed in the weight of Esmeralda's shrugging shoulders. "Marry him, I suppose. Maman would otherwise kill me."
Cinderella mulled over that statement before replying, both knowing the futility of denying it. "Oui, I suppose she would."
Cinderella sighed, and each immersed in her own thoughts.
Then Cinderella said, "You'd best return before they realize you've gone missing."
Esmeralda nodded and stood. Cinderella watched Esmeralda drag herself from the chair and tug open the door. She paused for a second before meeting Cinderella's eyes. Again, the brilliance of a green emerald gaze stunned her.