My eyes were wide with astonishment as I took in the grand staircase before me.

Perfect marble hand railings bordered a sweeping staircase with an embroidered runner carpeting the entire length. I had never seen anything so spectacular looking in my life and I wasn't even inside the palace yet.

Cautiously, mindful of my long dress and delicate shoes, I exited the coach, with the help of dear Bruno. I smiled my thanks at him as I made my way to the stairs.

Guards, resplendent in their uniforms, with shoes so shiny I could see my reflection in them, stood alert on every third step.

Swallowing a surge of fear that threatened to bubble up and make me turn around, I grabbed my skirt in my hands and began ascending the staircase, waiting for one of the guards to recognize me for who I really was – a kitchen maid. None of them stopped me, though I did notice a few of them giving me odd looks.

Upon gaining entrance to the palace I immediately forgot the guards and the grandeur of the steps. I stared in awe up at huge marble columns, reaching up so impossibly high to support the roof. I reached out to touch one, so smooth and hard, I marveled as I ran my gloved fingers over it.

I could hear soft music from what I presumed to be the ballroom, and so I slowly made my way towards the sound, gaping in wonder at the beautiful tapestries and artworks that were all over the castle. It was much more magnificent than I had ever dreamed possible.

I was close to the party, I could tell as the music had gotten louder, but I was distracted by the dining room that I had spotted over the railing. The tables were spectacularly set with plates that looked to be lined with real gold. I leaned over the railing, trying to count how many forks were at each setting when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. With a gasp I spun around and met the warmest brown eyes I had ever seen in my life.

'I beg your pardon miss, I didn't mean to frighten you,' his voice was smooth and warm. I smiled hesitantly, feeling my heart speed up within me as I took in his appearance. Neat black hair, warm brown eyes, straight nose and a strong jawline all put together made one very attractive man.

'Oh, I suppose I shouldn't have been snooping,' I said lightly. Amusement lit his expression and I watched in childlike amazement as he took my hand and bent to kiss it.

'If I could be so bold as to have this dance?' he asked from his bent over position, his eyes rising to meet my own.

I blushed and nodded, one hand over my furiously beating heart, and he escorted me into the middle of the ballroom where we started dancing the waltz.

At first I could not tear my gaze away from his face, smiling down at me, I couldn't help but smile back.

So this is love my sappy, hopelessly romantic heart started humming to my brain, which was decidedly befuddled and dazzled at this point. The lights in the room dimmed then, causing me to look around at the rest of the room.

I saw them straight away - my stepmother and stepsisters - wondering, along with everyone else in the room, who I was. I tensed and averted my eyes, dropping my gaze to focus on a very shiny button at my eye level. I felt his grip around my waist tighten almost imperceptibly, and we danced our way out of the crowd onto the balcony, where thankfully, someone pulled a curtain, separating us from the crowd.

I stared up at this strange man. I felt strangely drawn to him, and wondered if he had felt my discomfort in the middle of all those people. He looked down at me and smiled a warm smile. Again, I couldn't help but smiling back. I heard him take in a quick breath, and he dropped his arms from around me. I was sorry to lose their warmth and a shiver ran down my spine in the cool night.

He held his arm out to me.

'Shall we take a walk through the gardens?' he enquired.

'That sounds like a wonderful idea!' I smiled up at him, resting my hand in the crook of his elbow.

Again I noticed him take in a quick breath and look away as he covered my hand with his own.

We ambled through the beautiful gardens in amiable silence for a while. I was content with the magic of the evening, scared of ruining the moment by breaking the silence. We walked past beds of roses, lilies, and daffodils, all lit by the silvery light of the moon. I saw a tall hedge looming in the distance and my eyes widened.

'Is that?' I turned to my companion, who seemed lost in thought until I spoke.

He looked up at the hedge and smiled, 'a maze?' he finished for me, 'yeah it is actually. There is a beautiful fountain in the middle of it, but its very easy to get lost unless you know the way,' he tugged on my hand, 'lets go,' he urged, and into the garden we went.

A short time later we came upon a beautiful fountain. Gasping in delight I walked up to the edge, leaning over to touch the water before remembering I was wearing gloves. I turned to my companion and smiled my delight, words inadequate for the beautiful scene before me.

He smiled back knowingly and rested his elbows on the edge of the fountain, watching me with those warm brown eyes that I could lose myself in.

It was at this point I began to wonder in whose company I was with. He has been nothing but a gentleman, even if he hasn't said much. I was pretty sure the prince himself could not have had a more chivalrous conduct. But what was his station? How did he know this grounds so well that he could lead me directly to the center of a life size maze without hesitation?

I figured perhaps he was one of the gardeners. But then why was he dressed so nice?

I wanted to ask him. My need to know something about this man was overriding my fear of breaking the magic of the evening. But what to say? How to ask? I bit my bottom lip, trying to thing of something to say.

Thankfully, he saved me from coming up with something by starting himself.

'I don't always like coming home to balls, but this time, it hasn't been so bad,'

I looked up at him

'Coming home?' I asked

'Oh, yes, I've been away on important business,' he went on, explaining more, but my mind was working furiously. He must be a foreign correspondent, charged with keeping peace with the countries on our borders.

'...and parades all the eligible women for me to pick one, its really bothersome actually,' he was saying as my mind came back to focus on the conversation.

'Pick one?' nice work with the two worders, I scold myself, grow a brain and make a complete sentence would you? Not that I could completely blame myself for being dazed and dazzled on a night like this, in company such as this. However, I clear my throat and try again.

'What do you mean by 'pick one'?' I ask, more coherently this time.

He raises one eyebrow as he looks down at me, 'why to be my wife of course,' he says.

My eyes widen wider than they have been all night

'Because one 'picks' a wife the same way one 'picks' an apple I suppose?' I sputter as I turn away, the magic broken. I was startled to hear him laugh behind me.

'Exactly my point, but my father wont listen,' the humming inside my head slows down as I realize in my daydreaming, I had missed some crucial parts of his story. I turn around and face him again. He approached me until he was standing directly in front of me.

'Its always in his mind that I am going to see someone, fall in love at first sight and want to get married in the morning. That's why he's always throwing these balls for me.' He was so close. Dangerously close. I could almost feel his breath. I closed my eyes and swallowed, willing my heart to slow down and beat in a normal rhythm. It didn't, it kept thrumming like a hummingbird.

'I always thought he was a crazy old man. A fool. Until tonight,' he whispered, reaching for my hand. I opened my eyes at his touch.

'Why tonight?' I asked, my voice also a whisper. Any louder and I know it would break.

'Because I've met you,' he stated logically.

I couldn't help it, a startled, delighted giggle escaped and my hand flew to my mouth to stop from outright laughing. He just kept his steady gaze on me and I realized he meant it.

'You- you're serious?' I exclaim, 'but you don't know anything about me!' I withdraw completely from his touch, taking deep breaths to steady the part of me that wanted to throw caution to the wind and fall into his embrace.

'But I do,' he argued, 'I know that you don't like being the center of attention, I know that you delight in beauty, I know that you are gentle, and I see kindness in your eyes,' I gasp and look up into his eyes, losing myself in his gaze and his words.

'How do you…?'

'I have been trained to read people, it's a really helpful tool in my trade, seeing who is in your life because they want to be and who is there to use you.' His voice and face harden on those last words.

Overcome with compassion, I reached out and cupped his face with my hand.

His immediately covered mine and he looked at me, 'I can tell you are not like that.' He whispered.

I shook my head. I couldn't imagine using someone for my own gain. Not even my stepmother and stepsisters. 'I'm sorry there are people who want to use you,' I said softly.

He laughed a short humorless laugh 'It comes with the territory I suppose,'

I nodded. Being important in the kingdom obviously had its own disadvantages.

Our hands dropped, but his fingers still held onto mine. We started walking, silently again, back out of the maze towards the castle.

'So, tell me something about yourself,' he said as we got to the rear steps of the castle.

I blushed and looked down, not sure where to start.

He sat down on a marble barricade, and I sat facing him. I stared at our hands, still intertwined, his thumb lightly stroking over my fingers. I looked up. He was watching me patiently, his expression open and inviting. Taking a deep breath I started in.

'My father died when I was young – very young, and now I live with my stepmother and stepsisters,' I hesitated, wanting to let him in more, but not wanting him to know I was a lowly scullery maid for my own family.

'We- we don't get on,' I finished lamely.

I blushed and looked away, but his hand at my face turned me back to him.

He was close again. I watched as his gaze dropped to my lips and my heart sped up. I leaned towards him, feeling his breath tickling my lips. I closed my eyes, waiting for his kiss when a loud gong sounded, breaking the spell. My eyes flew open and I drew back, looking up at the giant clock in the distance.

'Oh my, is that the time?' I asked, bewildered, I had just spent 2 and a half hours in this mans company, 'its midnight!'

'Yes, and?' his befuddlement was endearing, but the clock gonged again, forcing reality into my sappy heart.

'I have to go!' I said, rising and walking away, but his hand on my wrist prevented that

'But why?'

'Its- well I- the prince!' I exclaimed, 'I haven't met the prince!' I wriggled my wrist willing him to let me go. He stared at me in shock, and I wondered what I had said, but then the clock gonged again. I renewed my struggle and eventually got my hand free

'But you don't understand,' he said, 'I am-'

'Goodbye!' I said, cutting him off and running back into the castle.

'Wait,' I could hear him yelling behind me.

Ignoring him, and the tearing feeling I felt in my heart, I ran. I ran past the glorious dining room and the gigantic marble towers, I ran down the stairs with the embroidered rug and I could see Bruno jumping up and down hurrying me on. I missed a step and lost a shoe.

I turned to retrieve it but the clock gonged again, and I decided I could live without a shoe that would soon disappear.

My gait now much more awkward, I finally reached the carriage and my faithful friends whisked me away into the night.

We had barely gotten outside the castle walls when the spell broke and I was dressed in rags again, sitting on a pumpkin surrounded by mice, Bruno and my father's horse.

We rushed out of the way when we heard the palace horses thundering down the road.

'I'm really sorry everyone,' I sighed, 'I just lost track of the time I guess,' I could hear my voice turn dreamy as I told them of the gentleman I had danced and walked and talked with that evening. Sighing once more, I looked down at my feet when I noticed something strange. I was still wearing one of the shoes. Warmth filled my heart and I smiled, picking it up and cradling it close to my heart. A gift from my fairy godmother. I looked up at the starry sky and thanked her with all my might.