Cinderella gained a bit of courage watching Queen Thomasine closely. A small curled her lips. The queen turned her piercing glimpse to Cinderella.
"Of course, my dear. You shall join us as well." Cinderella's face flamed as the queen took in her patched and worn clothing. "I am certain you will want to change clothes from your walk in the gardens this morning."
Cinderella swallowed with an audible gulp. How had she known about that? Had she seen him kiss her? Oh, saints! The prince kissed her.
Then reality gripped her insides with rising panic. She had no clothes to change in to!
But Queen Thomasine had already shifted her attention to Stepmama, smiling benignly. "Shall we meet in the Grand Hall, Madame? Twenty minutes, say?" She did not wait for an answer. With a sweep of her full skirts, she made a magnificent exit. The swirl of stars lingered in the air.
As Queen Thomasine disappeared from view and earshot, Stepmama turned on Esmeralda. Venom spewed, accented with sprayed spittle, terrifying Cinderella for Esmeralda's very life.
"Ple…please, Stepmama," Cinderella stammered. "Es...Es…Esmeralda, she meant no…no…harm…" her voice trailed in a begged whisper.
"Enough. Cinderella," she hissed, her furious gaze still on Esmeralda. "There will be plenty of time to deal with you later," she spat. "At the moment, we've no choice." Her voice took on the cold, vicious tone with which Cinderella was more familiar. Hands fisted at her large hips, foot tapping the heavy carpet. "What do you propose we do for clothes for her, my daughter?" She demanded of Esmeralda.
"I shall find her something suitable, Maman," she stammered.
"Certainment, Darling," she snarled. "You will be sharing your wardrobe, since you are the one who saw fit to arrange this idiocy!" She spun on her heel and stormed away, muttering. "Is it not enough that I have to contend your other afflictions? Now this?" Her tirade ended on a shriek.
Cinderella met Esmeralda's fast blinking eyes. Something important and quite remarkable had just occurred between them.
Esmeralda snatched Cinderella's hand and led a wide birth around Stepmama and a shocked Pricilla whose dropped jaw had not yet closed.
They were careful not to run.
*****
Cinderella gazed around awed as Queen Thomasine guided their small assembly down a corridor much wider than even the one her bedchamber was located. Luxurious Oriental rugs in deep rich reds and greens topped shiny waxed wood floors. Heavy velvet draperies lined large beveled windows arching to the ceiling that reached the very sky.
"The Royal Portrait Gallery is located in the most eastern wing of the castle," Queen Thomasine told them, as they exited left the Grand Hall behind.