The Plan That Just Might Work

Morning came much too quickly. Falling into my bed last night, I could not fall asleep right away. My heart was beating faster than what is healthy and I did not care. I did not have a care in the world. But all good things must come to an end, sleep came and morning followed.

"Isabella," my step-mother said waltzing into my room. "Get upstairs now!" She shook me even though I was awake.

"Yes step-mother," I answered as sweetly as I could. She left as loudly as she had come. To tell you the truth I was worried. The spell had been broken and the chances of me getting out alive were slim. I got up, pulled back the curtain, and took a deep breath. Everything was covered in dirt, smog, filth, whichever way you want to describe it, simply know that it was disgusting. What had happened? I had cleaned the other day allowing me to go to the ball. I got the tea ready and brought it up stairs trying not to touch anything unless it was necessary.

I knocked on my step-mother's door tentatively. "Come in," she answered. I placed her tea down on the bed side-table and waited. "Sit," she said after a while. I did. "Pray tell, Isabella what this is?" She held up the charred remains of my handbag. I did not answer so she waited, her stare bearing into me.

"Something I bought in town," I mumbled at last.

"In town?" she mimicked tauntingly. "With stolen money perhaps?"

"No!"

"Why would you buy such a thing?"

"For the ball." She chuckled.

"The ball, the ball, I am sorry to tell you darling but you are not going to any ball." I had expected that much. "This is what I want. I want you to place close attention because I will not repeat myself. I WANT the floors scrubbed, the windows polished, the furniture dusted, the courtyard swept, the garden weeded, and the grasses cut. The kitchen better be gleaming. Pots and pans all shined. All the rooms are to be cleaned. But first I WANT BREAKFAST!" I nodded. "NOW!" I left the room not turning back to see her shutting the door. Madison and Alison poked their little ugly heads outside their doors, mocking me as I ran past them.

"And bring some tea," Madison called after me laughing.

Here's some math for you. The kitchen, dining room, parlor, and den on the ground floor take approximately four hours to clean. The staircase, half an hour. The second floor with Madame's room, ugly step-sister number one and two, several other trivial rooms, bathrooms and dressing rooms approximately six hours. Closets are two, each. The attic is an addition of about three hours. So I'm figuring that I have about 20 hours of cleaning ahead of me.

Mind you I also am playing hostess to a star, a mouse who is also a knight, and a wide array of animals that flock around said star. I have to devise a plan to get into an exclusive tea party. And also have to find a way to be announced at the Prince's ball so the stupid spell will be activated. At that said ball I have to get Sir Lawrence a meeting with the King. Hopefully I will have enough time to make Prince Chadwick fall in love with me so that Astra can go home. Plus the countless taxing hours I will spend trying to find appropriate attire for these events. Can you blame me for being a little frustrated?

It was about mid-afternoon and I was up to my knees in filth. I had been cleaning since the early morning and am nowhere close to being done, when I heard the front door. My step-mother and her daughters had gone to town to get the final measurements for their ball gowns and I doubted that they were back so soon.

"Hello," I said slowly opening the door.

"You are going to adore me," Lily said. She looked wonderfully clean, something I was yearning for.

"Why?" She took a seat in the parlor, which I have just finished cleaning.

"I got us a meeting with my aunt." She seemed upset by my lack of enthusiasm. "Where's Astra?"

"Out back," I answered. "She is helping me by cleaning the gardens."

"Well, tell her to hurry and get ready. We have to be there by three o'clock. Bella, this could be your chance." I was not convinced. Maybe it was because things had seemed to be going well too many times in this story and then turn out horribly wrong. Nevertheless, Astra and I were getting into Lily's carriage about a quarter of an hour later. We embarked on a journey to Lily's aunt's office.

******

Marana Bell was not a very patient woman. She had worked her way to the top of the Queen's ranks and was now her personal secretary. A very prestigious job indeed, as Sir Lawrence would say. I felt nervous walking into her office. The stone walls seemed to close in around me.

"What exactly are you proposing?" Marana asked for what seemed like the tenth time. "That I get Bella into the Queen's breakfast."

"And put her name on the list of dignitaries to be announced at the ball," Astra interjected. She did not understand that Marana was being rhetorical. Ms. Bell put her hand to head.

"Lillian I am jam packed with meetings and stressed because of this ball among other things and you ask me for this favor. It is impossible." Someone suddenly opened the door.

"Forgive me," the young woman apologized. "I am sorry to inform you Ms. Bell that Princess Olivia will not be attending the rest of the festivities. She will be returning to her home today. The Queen has passed away."

"I do not need this." Marana grumbled under her breath.

"The messenger said that the family will send someone in her place." With that she handed Marana Bell a letter.

"Excuse me girls, please see yourself out. I'm sorry I cannot help you." Marana got up from her desk and left the room.

******

"This is entirely hopeless," I proclaimed once we left the building. It was a couple of blocks away from the palace which rose regally on Avenue F from 86th until 110th street.

"Not entirely," Astra whispered. I would not understand what she meant until the carriage left the three of us at my manor. Once inside the newly gleaming kitchen Astra announced that she had a plan.

"A plan?" Sir Lawrence asked munching on a piece of bread. Her eyes seemed too light up even more than usual. Whatever she had in mind, she was excited about it.

"Is that why you were so quiet the ride here?" Lily asked. Astra nodded, getting ready to tell us her master plan.

"So let's hear it," I said. In response she took a folded piece of paper out of her pocket.

"The princesses of the other districts should have already arrived. And one, Princess Olivia, is leaving early, today to be more exact. This letter," she dramatically unfolded the letter, "reads: with sincerest regrets we request that Princess Olivia of Nerida begin her journey back home tonight. As you know her mother, Queen Ana, has left us. May Princess Olivia be returned to her family in this time of mourning … Her cousin, daughter of Duke Leonardo of Talia, niece of the departed Queen Ana, Lady Jacqueline of Talia, will be arriving shortly in her stead."

"Where did you get that? And what does this letter have to do with your plan?" I asked.

"You, Bella, arrive at the palace as this Lady Jacqueline character," Astra said, choosing to ignore my first question.

"That will never work Astra," I said, "she is some Lady and I am …" I glanced down at my excuse for a dress. "I am not."

"It could work." Was all she said as an answer.

"Yes well elaborate. Lady's needed trunks full of clothes. They have maids." I struggled to think of something more to say. All I was sure of is that there was absolutely no way I could pass for a Lady.

"We can take some of Madison's and Alison's clothes."

"They would know."

"Only enough until the ball. We can claim that because of the short notice of the trip we were not able to pack much more then essentials. And I will be your maid." Lily looked at me, expecting a rebuttal.

"What about the spell, I won't be announced at the ball, not as myself anyway."

"You will have several days to interact with the Prince and I have enough magic to help you along."

"What about my step-mother and my chores?" That had her stumped.

"We will leave here in the morning before the sun rises and return by sundown."

"That would seem a little suspicious." Lily noted.

"Not if we claim it is out of morning for the recently departed Queen Ana." Astra countered turning around to face her. "You will have all night to work on your chores. Your step-mother will not be here anyway, she will be out making preparations for your step-sisters. The ball is in three days. If we 'arrive' tomorrow we will only have to pull off the charade for three days. It is perfect Bella." She turned to me, taking a deep breath.

"It just might work," I said turning to Lily. She smiled.

"It just might," Lily answered.

"We have to start packing now. Lily's carriage can take us to the palace first thing tomorrow morning."

"It's a plan." We left the kitchen to rummage through the attic. The dresses we found were plentiful and hideous. Astra and Lily managed to pick out several for Lady Jacqueline. After we had three trunks filled with everything I could need the real work began. Lily scouted the dusty library for books and then quizzed me on everything Neridan. And when I say everything I mean everything: fashion, cuisine, history, basically any cultural aspect. I had studied how to be a lady when my father and mother were still unhappily married so I hoped I would not completely embarrass myself on that regard. My step-mother and ugly step-sisters arrived at midnight and Lily, Astra, and I stayed up well past four. By the time I went to sleep I was hoping that this plan just might work.


Hello readers. I am happy to tell you however that chapter 10 is almost complete. I really hope you enjoy this new twist in the story. I originally had a different ending in mind but after thinking about it I decided that I would try something different. Maybe I will post the original ending when I have finished the story. Anyway, is there anything you are confused about? Something you want to say? You know what to do leave a review! (I am so corny =) The more you review the faster the new chapter will be up. OK so enough of my desperate review babble, you see what you readers make us writers go through? With love ~Iris Lily~