Until Tonight

The coachman and the footman started to play cards while the princess was in the house. Jean wasn't surprised by the fact that they didn't invite him to join them: while once he had been the kind of riff-raff they would have chased off with a clip round the ear, now he was a lord and an officer, and in neither capacity was he the sort of person that the coachman and the footman would ask to play cards with them.

Not that he would have joined in even if they had asked. His mother, God rest her soul, hadn't approved of gambling and Angelique probably wouldn't like it if he took up the hobby either. He knew from Angelique that amongst the princess' attendants Mademoiselle Augustina and Lady Christine both played for money, but the princess herself never joined them when there were financial stakes involved and neither did Angelique or Lady Marinette; leaving aside the fact that her highness, considerate as she was, probably recoiled from the idea of taking money from her ladies when she was already rich enough to purchase anything that could be bought and which she might conceivably desire, Jean thought that it was probably not a coincidence that the two who gambled for money were the two who, without intending any offence to them, had never been in a position where there was simply no money left.

None of them were in that position now; thanks to the princess' generosity Jean, Angelique and Lady Marinette were all titled aristocrats with lands and incomes from the same; he had the money to gamble if he wished…but he wouldn't have for long if he gambled it all away. That way lay raiding the princess' jewellery box for things to pawn to pay off your creditors.

So, as Jean waited for the princess to finish her visit with the prince of the Franche-Comte and his wife, he ignored the card game going on on the front seat of the coach and focussed instead on the scruffy-looking officer idling by the side of the house. The fellow had been there when the princess arrived and, having watched her go in, he showed no intention of going anywhere. He just stood there, watching, while the even scruffier dressed girl behind him lingered too.

It was beginning to make him a little suspicious, in all honesty.

He walked over, his boots thudding a little on the cobbled stones that lined the street beside the townhouse. "Can I help you, sir?"

The fellow wiped at his beard with one hand. "I doubt it," he said gruffly.

Then what do you want and what are you doing out here? Jean thought. He didn't consider himself to be a suspicious person – Angelique certainly didn't think so – but something about this man…Jean wished he'd make himself scarce. Nevertheless, he held out one hand. "Lieutenant Jean Taurillion, Second Battalion of the Foot Guards."

The other man did not offer his own hand in return, he had a look on his face that was both amused and superior as he said, "You can call me Avenant. That was your princess who just disappeared inside there, wasn't it?"

"It was," Jean said.

Avenant nodded. "Pretty little thing, isn't she?"

"She's the princess of this country, show some respect," Jean snapped, because he was starting to suspect that this man was not exactly a gentleman.

The woman standing behind 'Avenant' rolled her eyes. Avenant simply looked even more amused.

"Well, if she doesn't want people to think that she's a pretty girl then why does she dress like that?"

"Her highness dresses in a way that pleases her," Jean said coldly. "I doubt she cares for the opinion of the likes of you one way or another."

"The likes of me?" Avenant still sounded amused, but now he also sounded a little offended too. He was bigger than Jean, and his shadow loomed over Jean's face as he stepped closer to him. "And what do you mean by the likes of me, boy?"

"An insolent ruffian with no manners, no decency, and not even enough self-respect to wash his coat no matter how badly it needs it," Jean said.

Avenant scowled. "You-"

"Alright, that's enough of that," the woman said, grabbing Avenant by the ear and pulling him away. "You deserved that for the way you've carried on this whole trip and you know it." She looked at Jean apologetically. "I'm sorry about him, he doesn't really mean it he's just…acting out. Pay no attention. Come here, you." She dragged the protesting Avenant away into the stable by the ear, leaving Jean standing alone and feeling rather bemused.

He hoped that the people inside the house were behaving better – and more understandably – towards the princess than the ones outside.

Once she had dragged him safely round the back of the house where no outsiders could see them, Amelie swept the hat off Avenant's head before she whacked him on top of it. "You're going to have to stop this."

Avenant rubbed the top of his head. "Stop what?"

"This!" Amelie yelled. "Acting like a creepy bell-end on purpose to get a rise out of people. What was the point of that there? Leering over the princess in front of her bodyguard, what do you think Her Majesty would have to say about that? In fact, I'll tell you what Her Majesty would have to say about that: if you called one of her sisters 'pretty little thing' in that voice while practically smacking your lips she'd have your tongue out right there and then. Maybe your eyes as well." She sighed. "What are you doing, Avenant?"

"She was pretty," Avenant said defensively.

"Yes, but you didn't have to say so to her guard, for God's sake," Amelie moaned. "And if you did you didn't have to say it like that. Really, what's going on? Ever since we got this job you've just been…what is it? You didn't used to be like this. Picking a fight with one of the King of Armorique's soldiers?"

"He was the one who came looking for trouble."

"In his position I'd have done the same thing," Amelie said. "And so would you if you were in your right mind instead of…instead of wherever you are now. Avenant, you need to pull yourself together. We've got a job to do and right now…I'm not sure what you're doing but this isn't it. How are we going to serve the Queen or keep an eye on Prince Adam and Belle if you've gotten us thrown out of the country by an irate King who thinks you've got designs on his daughter-in-law? You think Her Majesty would take our side if that happened?" Her Majesty wouldn't like the fact that it happened to two of her agents, but Amelie had no doubt as to where she would place the blame. Queen Maria Theresa was a fair woman, willing to give opportunities to poor folk like her, but she also had very firm ideas about royal blood and crowns and there was no way that she wouldn't judge that they had acted improperly if something like that happened.

If Avenant couldn't pull himself together.

"I don't understand this," she said. "So help me, please."

Avenant didn't reply. He turned away, as though she couldn't possibly understand what he was feeling.

She wanted to hit him again, but what good would that have done? Amelie just sighed, and wondered what she was going to do about him.

And how they were going to get through this.

"It was so very nice to meet you, Belle," Cinderella said, as Belle walked her to the door.

"Likewise," Belle said, with a smile playing across her face. "It was very, very refreshing to meet…a good princess."

Cinderella chuckled softly as she covered her mouth with one hand. "Please, you're going to make me blush terribly. So I'll see you and Adam tonight for dinner?"

"You certainly will," Belle said. We shall have to get our clothes laundered, and quickly too. She couldn't wear this day dress to a banquet and ball. She held out her hands. "Thank you," she said. "I wasn't sure what to expect from this trip, but meeting you…you've made me look forward to the rest of our time here."

Cinderella's smile was so bright and genuine as she took Belle's hands gently in hers, and gave them a squeeze. "That was my only intention," she said. "It was so nice to meet you both; I can't wait for you to meet my husband."

"Neither can I," Belle said, as she opened the door for Cinderella and let the sunlight flood into the hallway, casting Cinderella's white dress in an even more radiant glow than it had possessed in shadow. "Now take care."

"I will," Cinderella said, as she picked up the folds of her gown in both hands and began to descend the stone steps. She turned, and waved to Belle, who waved back as Cinderella climbed into the carriage.

Only when the royal coach began to pull away did Belle close the front door.

Adam emerged from out of the parlour. "That went surprisingly well, didn't it?"

Belle turned away from the door. "Surprising? I'm astonished. Before I met her I never would have been able to conceive of someone like her wearing a crown."

"It's probably a tiara."

Belle raised her eyebrows.

Adam snorted. "I'm sorry. What is it that you couldn't have conceived of? A princess who is a nice person?"

"Unfortunately that is part of it," Belle muttered.

Adam frowned. "You're being a little harsh there."

"Name one princess, queen of arch-duchess whom we had met before Cinderella who treated us with a sliver of kindness or consideration?" Belle asked.

Adam looked…guilty? He wouldn't meet Belle's eyes, but seemed suddenly fascinated by studying the ceiling. "Well, I'll concede that the answer is none that you've met, but there was one, once…I…never mind. Out of your experience, it wouldn't mean anything to you."

Belle frowned. There was more to this, she was certain; it wasn't like Adam to be secretive with her about anything, so why was he behaving like this now? One possible answer that suggested itself to her was that, if he was so open with her about every other aspect and detail of his life then the things that he chose to keep to himself must be very private and very personal, the sort of things that she had no right to pry into. And so she decided that she would not pry, and would leave him the privacy that he felt was necessary; it was, probably, the least that she could do in exchange for the fact that so very little about Adam was private in any sense. She moved on to her other point, "It isn't actually just that Cinderella was – is – kind and decent; it's that she's so transparent about it. There wasn't even an attempt to obfuscate anything about herself. Either she's a much better liar than I've given her credit for or she's wearing her heart on her…she isn't wearing sleeves so I suppose she must be wearing it on her gloves. I…"

"What?" Adam asked.

"Considering some of the people that I've met since I married you I'm a little amazed that she can still be so…as she is," Belle said.

Adam nodded. "Yes, I suppose that I can see what you mean. Still, I'm glad that she has."

"So am I," Belle said. She couldn't entirely dismiss the feeling that she and Adam were being a little selfish in their seeking of advancement for Belle when there was a war going on and a peace in Europe that was barely holding together, but as they were not yet at the stage where they had to choose between what they personally wanted and the good of the world she didn't think it necessary to bring it up.

It wasn't selfish if you could have what you wanted and the greater good, after all. How could it be?

"We should probably choose what we want to wear tonight," Belle said. "And find somebody to get the creases out of it. After all, we haven't that long left until tonight."

"Did you have a good time, your highness?" Jean asked as he helped Cinderella into the coach.

"Yes, it was lovely," Cinderella said as she sat down and opened up her parasol to shield her from the sun. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

"You could have spent far longer there, princess, and no one would have objected."

Nobody would have said anything, you mean. Cinderella had known that already – she wasn't a complete naïf – but she also knew from personal experience that you didn't need to say a thing to feel it. "I spent long enough," she said, waving to Belle as she stood at the door. "And I'll be seeing them both later on tonight anyway."

"Back to the palace, your highness?" the coachman asked.

"No, thank you, I'd like to call on Princess Frederica," Cinderella said.

"Highness?" Jean asked, as the coachman cracked the reins and the horses began to move, pulling the open carriage behind them.

"There's something that I need to speak to her about," Cinderella explained. "I really won't be very long this time, I promise."

"It is nothing to me, princess, nor any of our business," Jean said. "Take as much time as you need."

The coach conveyed Cinderella to the front door of the town house that Princess Frederica Eugenie de la Fontaine of Normandie had rented in the capital of Armorique, which was – as Cinderella had already noted, wondering if there was something about this part of the city – not so very far away from where Adam and Belle had set up their headquarters. The door was opened by Anton, Frederica's loyal retainer, who welcomed her and conveyed her into the sitting room, where Frederica herself joined her a moment later.

"Cinderella," Frederica said as she glided in. The Princess of Normandie wore her soft brown hair in braided curls falling down behind her neck, and she was presently wearing a long-sleeved dress of a green that matched her eyes. She took Cinderella by the arms as she kissed her upon her cheeks. "It's always wonderful to see you, although I thought you might be too busy to drop in on me today, what with preparations for tonight's banquet and the like."

"Well, I'm afraid that I can't stay very long," Cinderella said, with a glance at the clock on the mantelpiece that told it had past noon already.

"No tea, then?"

"No, I simply haven't the time," Cinderella said, she thought it was unnecessary to mention that she had just had tea.

"Do you have time to sit?" Frederica asked, gesturing to the green velvet settee nearby.

Cinderella smiled. "Yes, I think so." She and Frederica sat down upon the same settee, facing one another, their legs tucked up on the seat so their knees were almost touching and the white of Cinderella's gown was in places submerged beneath the green of Frederica's skirt.

"I hope I haven't torn you away from anything important by appearing uninvited at your door like this," Cinderella said softly.

"Nothing that I can't return too after a pause," Frederica replied. "I was just writing a letter to my father. It will keep. Don't worry. I should be asking what could be so important that you can tear yourself away from ball and banquet preparations to come and see me."

"Frederica," Cinderella protested. "You make it sound as though I only come to visit you when I want something."

Frederica chuckled as she reached out and clasped Cinderella's hands. "If that's what I seemed to be saying then I'm sorry, we both know that isn't true." With one thumb she pushed Cinderella's engagement ring slightly askew, until one of the flanking sapphires was touching her other finger. "Now, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I've just come from meeting Prince Adam of the Franche-Comte and his wife, Belle," Cinderella began.

"Ah," Frederica said. "What did you think of them?"

"Do you know them?"

"I wouldn't say that I know them," Frederica replied. "But I attended their wedding. I thought she was rather unhappy?"

"Belle?" Cinderella asked.

"Yes," Frederica said. "She struck me as someone who was trying to convince herself that things weren't as bad as they were."

"It is a terrible situation that she's in," Cinderella said. "I can't imagine what it must be like for her, to be so far from the man she loves."

"Mmm," Frederica murmured. "Our laws pay scant regard for love, and the laws of the Old Empire even less. You were very lucky to escape that fate."

"I know, believe me, I know," Cinderella said. "That is why…" she hesitated, momentarily, for fear of how Frederica might react to this. "I would like to treat Belle as Adam's equal wife, as far as possible, while she's here with us. Which means that at tonight's banquet she'll be seated on Prince Eugene's right…above you."

"Oh!" Frederica cried. "Oho, I see! I am forsaken! Cast out like an old toy, broken and unwanted, now that you have a new friend to favour and to fawn upon!"

Cinderella looked away. "Frederica, it isn't like that. I didn't do this to upset you; I'm sorry, I just-"

"I know," Frederica said, her voice rich with amusement. "But you look so adorable when you get flustered like that."

Cinderella gave her a reproachful look, which didn't appear to faze Frederica in the least.

"So…" Cinderella said after a moment. "It doesn't upset you, that you'll be sat below Belle?"

"No," Frederica said. "Loath as I am to quote my father on any subject, he has a certain saying whenever he is slighted or made little of: Normandie will still be Normandie. As much as I disagree with him on…everything, he has a point there. Belle can sit ahead of me at the dining table but at the end of the day Normandie will still be Normandie and the Franche-Comte will still be the Franche-Comte."

"And you'll still be a princess and Belle will still be a commoner in a morganatic marriage," Cinderella said softly.

"I didn't say that," Frederica said.

"No," Cinderella agreed. "But that doesn't make it any less true, does it?" Put like that it seemed to make a mockery of her efforts: it might make Belle feel better, but it wouldn't really change a thing.

Frederica let go of one of Cinderella's hands, and gently stroked her cheek with the back of her fingers. "The truth of it does not make it any less kind of you to do as you have decided. How did she take it?"

"Very well," Cinderella said. "They were both very pleased."

"Isn't that enough?" Frederica asked. She grinned. "So what did you think of them both?"

"They were both very nice to me," Cinderella said. "Once they realised that I wasn't there to be cruel to them."

"They were suspicious?"

"I think so, yes," Cinderella said. "They must have been badly treated by…someone in my position."

Frederica pursed her lips together. "I find that I can imagine that very easily." For a moment, her fingertips rested upon Cinderella's cheek. Her fingers were cold, and though she didn't say anything Cinderella found that they chilled her face a little. "Be careful," Frederica said.

Cinderella blinked. "Be careful? I don't understand. What should I be careful about?"

Frederica was silent for a moment. "You are the kindest girl that I've ever met. You offer your heart to those you meet without hesitation. And I can understand that you feel sympathy for this girl Belle, in the position that she's in."

"But?" Cinderella asked.

Frederica chuckled. "You are learning, aren't you? The but, yes indeed, the but. But these people did not come here to be your friends but to serve the Empire, to see if Armorique could be an impartial host to a congress to decide the war."

"I know that," Cinderella said. "And I'm determined to do what I can to make it a success."

"That won't happen if you're seen to have gone too far in the other direction; favouring one side is no better than favouring the other," Frederica said. "The host nation must be impartial or how can it play host?"

"Why does impartial have to mean cold?" Cinderella replied. "Why does judging the issues impartially mean that I can't be kind towards everyone involved while they are our guests here?"

"It doesn't, I suppose," Frederica said. "But standing behind Belle and Adam is Maria Theresa of Bavaria, the power behind the Imperial throne; if this congress of nations goes ahead as planned, if she comes…you must be on your guard to her. If you offer her your heart with a lovely smile as you so often do…" Frederica ran her fingers through Cinderella's hair, brushing against the white rose woven into her strawberry blonde locks. "I'm worried that she'll eat you alive."

"People have been trying to eat me alive from the moment Eugene put this ring on my finger," Cinderella said softly.

"True," Frederica admitted. "But Maria Theresa is different. More ruthless than Serena, more intelligent than Grace; capable of greater cruelty than the Duke when convinced of the rightness of her cause." She scowled. "Eleanor of Aquitaine is just as bad in her own way. I wonder if your father-in-law understands what a pair of vipers he will be playing host to at this congress, and to what extent they will be willing to tear Armorique apart in order to triumph over the other."

"You know them?" Cinderella asked.

"Maria Theresa I know mainly by reputation, although our paths have crossed once," Frederica said. "Eleanor I thought I knew very well…until she proved by her actions that I had never really known her at all."

Cinderella leaned forward. "What happened?"

"I…I'd rather not talk about it, if you don't mind," Frederica said. "One doesn't like to dwell on one's most egregious failures, after all."

Cinderella didn't press the point. She knew perfectly well what Frederica was talking about, she too had things that she would rather not discuss, memories that she would rather not share. "I understand that you're trying to protect me, but I don't like the idea of being hostile to people who have given me no cause for it. Belle and Adam-"

"I'm not talking about Belle and Adam, if you can befriend them and you wish to do so then so be it," Frederica said. She clasped Cinderella's hands so tightly it was almost painful. "But Maria Theresa – Eleanor too, when or if she comes – you must be wary of them, warier than you are of strangers in your life. Please, Cinderella, trust me when I say that they have no interest in friendship, no compassion for love, no mercy for kindness. They will not spare you because you are a mother, because you have done them no wrong, not even because you are the sweetest girl who ever drew breath. You must be on your guard because…because by the time they give you open cause for wariness they will have destroyed you. Please, Cinderella, promise me that you will take care. Domestic politics and the court have forgiven a few errors, but international statecraft will not, not with such serpents as these. Please be careful."

Cinderella stared into Frederica's green eyes. She had never seen such concern in them before, it was honestly a little worrying. "I…I don't understand why you're so worried, or rather I don't know these people…but I suppose you do, and I suppose that I should trust what you say about them. I may not like to be suspicious of people without giving them a chance, but…but you have been such a good friend to me, and I trust you, with my life. So if you say that there is something to worry then I will worry when the time comes." She didn't like it, and it went against her instincts and her nature, but Frederica had never lied to her nor steered her wrong, so Cinderella would not ignore her now.

"Thank you," Frederica said, as she leaned forward to kiss Cinderella on the forehead. "I…I don't think I could bear it if any harm came to you, you…you are my hope."

Cinderella was silent for a moment, looking into Frederica's eyes. "I'm sorry, I…I wish I knew what I could say to that."

Frederica smiled, and let out a sort of chuckle. "You don't need to say anything," she said, as she embraced Cinderella by the arms and squeezed. "You just need to live. Live, and be happy."

Cinderella smiled. "I…I'm afraid I should probably be going."

"Of course," Frederica said, as they both got off the settee and rose to their feet. She gave Cinderella a tight hug, holding her close for a moment before she let her go. "I'll see you tonight?"

"Yes, of course."

"To be sat beneath your new friend Belle."

"Frederica-"

"I know, I know," Frederica assured her with a smile. "Goodbye, until tonight."

"Yes," Cinderella said. "Until tonight."

"Sisters!" Ruby cried. "Put on your prettiest frocks!"

Lucinda and Martha looked at her as though she were a little odder than usual.

"Why?" Lucinda asked, as though the idea were absolutely absurd.

"Because tonight the King of Armorique throws a grand ball and banquet to welcome Prince Adam and his little tart into their kingdom," Ruby said. She smiled. "And it would never do for us to look less than our best when claiming the debt that we are owed, would it?"

"Ooh!" Martha cried. "And shall we have our revenge at the same time?"

"That depends," Ruby said. "On whether the opportunity presents itself. We don't wish to reveal ourselves before the entire court, after all, but if we may take one or both of them alone…I see no reason why we shouldn't settle with them at the same time."

"At last!" Lucinda said. "For too many centuries have the kings of Armorique shirked the debt they owe to us, but no longer."

"Put on your gowns and feathers, adorn yourselves in jewels!" Ruby declared. "For it is not long now until our debts are paid and our accounts are settled. We need only wait until tonight."

"Until tonight," the three sisters chorused.

Author's Note: So we are going to get to the big party next chapter, I promise.