Chapter IV
Trying to keep her from hearing his groan, Albert followed her the short distance down the sidewalk before they reached the small shop.
Cinderella smiled, seeing the friendly baker as he took a tray of rolls from the oven. "Hey, Amable.", she called, once he had set it on a table.
He jumped, startled, but then smiled, once he saw who had spoken. "Hey, how's your day?", he called.
"I want to ask you the same thing... I just saw Anastasia.", she gently told him, to which he nodded.
He nodded once more before he said, "I haven't seen her, but that's actually... It's been happening. Her mother won't let her see me because I'm... a peasant as she puts it.", he replied with a sigh, looking down, feeling ashamed.
"And that's why we..."
"We want to offer you and Anastasia positions in the palace kitchen... if you want.", Albert explained.
At this, Amable hesitated, licking his lips for a moment before he answered. "I appreciate it, but... are you sure? I'm just the town baker.", he whispered nervously.
"If it can keep you and Anastasia... if it will let you two be happy... together... then yes. We would love for you two to live at the castle.", Cinderella replied, Albert nodding his head in agreement.
"Well... I don't... I can't give you an answer now but, if it will make Anastasia happy, then yes, if the king will have me.", he replied.
"This is wonderful, Amable... You wouldn't mind giving us a couple of those rolls would you?", Cinderella asked with a wink, referring to the rolls he had just taken from the oven.
"Oh, no, of course not.", he replied after taking a moment to realize where he was.
"Anything for my sister.", she replied before she and Albert left.
"Are you sure I should've done that?", Cinderella asked after she and Albert had returned to the cart.
"Father is always glad for someone to join the castle 'family'.", he replied.
The remainder of the morning, Albert took Cinderella to see her friends, the entire time, wondering what his father really would say once they told him about Anastasia and Amable.
"Son, are you crazy?", the king asked once they had returned.
"What's wrong, father?", Albert sighed, having agreed with Cinderella.
"Well, who is this girl? What baker?", he asked, now annoyed.
"Anastasia is Cinderella's younger step-sister. She's about to be thrown out because she wants to marry the town baker."
"Anastasia needs my help.", Cindrella added.
"Wait, Anastasia?", the king asked, suddenly remembering something.
"Yes, father, Anastasia. She's actually kind of nice. She's nothing like Cinderella's older step-sister.", he replied, hoping his father understood the message.
And to his relief, the king nodded, giving them a smile. "Well,... if she's pleasing to you.", he replied, patting Cinderella's hand. "Then I shall allow her to stay and I'm sure I could always use another cook, especially if you two say he is this good."
"Oh, he is father. So you are alright with this then?", Albert asked.
"Yes, son. Now go.", he told him, smile on his face. "Do whatever you two need to."
And, with this, Cinderella leaned over to kiss him on the head.
"So, what are you thinking?", Albert asked when he and Cinderella were by themselves, now curious to know what her plan was or if she even had one.
"Thinking about Anastasia.", she admitted. "I know I shouldn't be worrying so much, but I love her... My little step-sister."
Nodding, Albert gave her an understanding look. "Well, do you... have a plan?", he asked, wondering if he could help.
Letting out a sigh, she shook her head. "I don't suppose I do, but I need to get her away from step-mother and Drizella.", she replied, knowing how miserable her she was.
Nodding once more, Albert kissed her cheek. "Don't worry, I can help you figure it out and when you do, I can help you with whatever it is.", he gently told her.
"I know. That's why you're so wonderful.", Cinderella told him, eyes shinning as she looked up at her love.
"Well, I just hope everything happens... that we will all end up a happy family, but I don't know what you're thinking yet... I am intending to ask father if he can do something... keep your step-mother and Drizella, if not out of the kingdom, at least out of the castle... so that they are away from you and Anastasia and especially our little one.", Albert replied, clearly hesitant.
Though she was quiet, Cinderella nodded, knowing that she had been thinking along the same lines, thinking that though her step-smother and older step-sister acted the way they had to her, that she hoped her own little one wouldn't have to face the things that she had dealt with since her own father's death.
"Thank you.", she whispered, affectionately squeezing his arm.
"I love you so much... I only want you and those you love happy.", he whispered.
"I just want our own little one to have what I didn't... though I did have my father... until I lost him.", she whispered herself.
"And a mother.", Albert, added with a smile. "Regardless, our little one will always be loved, living here at the palace. Father will make sure of that, I know.", he said, knowing that like when he was little, those at the palace would make sure they were still cared for.
Nodding, Cinderella smiled, in complete agreement.
"Hey, Cinderelly, can we help, Anastasia?", Jack asked, once she came up the stairs.
Suddenly startled by this, she smiled at her little friend. "You know, Jack, I'm truthfully not sure, but I might have something eventually.", she gently told him.
However, in response, Jack gave Mary a hesitant glance before he asked, "You think me and Gus-Gus... look out for Anastasia?", he asked nervously.
Taking a moment to understand what her little friend was asking, she finally gave him a nervous look before asking, "Jack, do you mean...?" Though she knew her friends were willing to do anything they could to help her and now Anastasia, this she was unsure about.
"Jack, are you sure? I know you're an expert at those walls and... hiding, but are you sure? I just don't know how I could get you there, either.", she hesitantly replied.
But, somewhat to her despair, her little friend gave an assured nod of his head.
"Jack, I really don't want you to do this... get hurt, but if you're determined, then I'll talk to her at the market first. I need to let her know what's going on or..."
"I'm afraid of one of you dying because of either an accident or... something else.", she replied.
Nodding, Jack gently took her hand, a smile on his lips as he looked up. "Don't worry, Cinderelly, mice want to help.", he told her, smile on his lips.
"Oh, Jack.", she whispered.
