The sun burned brightly on a fresh June morning as Raoul spurred his horse onwards towards the chateau. He felt relaxed and smiled when he saw Eve waiting on the doorstep for him. He swung down from the saddle and passed the reins to a waiting groom.

"Did you speak to Signor Bedevici? Will he tutor the girls?" asked Eve.

"Yes. So Justine can leave as soon as she wants to get married."

"It will be so hard without her here – I've grown used to having her here to talk to."

"The girls are old enough to look after themselves. And with Bedevici tutoring them they should be able to impress anyone at court." Raoul held Eve's waist as he whisked her into the house. "It's about time the girls learned a little independence."

"I agree." Eve looked into the library where the three girls were pretending to study history while reading fairy tales. Perhaps they were still just children. "Are you sure we don't need another governess?"

"Positive. I'll go and give Justine the good news."

Two weeks later, Justine waved goodbye to the Tremaine household as she headed home to her mother's in preparation for the wedding. The girls sobbed while Eve and Raoul waved at her carriage until it was out of sight. While the girls disappeared upstairs, Eve headed out to the garden where she was joined by Raoul.

"Lovely day," he commented.

"Yes. Raoul?"

"Yes?"

"Could we go into town later? We haven't been out as a family for so long."

"Of course. Perhaps you can order a new dress."

"Perhaps."

"And then when it's ready you could wear that new dress for me and I could help you remove it and..."

"Go away."

"Leaving right away. I'll tell the girls to get ready."

An hour later, Eve ushered Anastasia and Drizella into the carriage. She turned to Raoul.

"Are you sure you can't come with us?" she asked softly.

"Cinderella is sick and as Justine's left we don't have anyone else to stay with her. I'm sorry – I suppose we did need a new governess after all."

"Shall I pick anything up for you?"

"No. I'll see you soon," he finished, pecking her on the cheek. Eve checked that her daughters were not watching and pulled Raoul closer for a more intimate kiss. Releasing him with a smile, she jumped up into the carriage and the driver headed off.

In town, Anastasia and Drizella fussed over the jeweller's wares and were forcibly dragged from the shop by Eve when they both insisted they needed new necklaces. Eve headed to various stalls and weighed down the two girls with packages from the bakers, butcher and haberdashery shops, which steadied them a little. After four hours – much longer than Eve had intended to spend in town – they headed home. Eve listened to the girls arguing over who had been forced to carry more packages and why it was the other one's fault that they didn't have new necklaces and shoes and... Used to this by now, Eve drifted off to sleep in the back of the carriage.

The carriage stopped with a jolt and Eve woke up, looking out of the window towards the door of the chateau. She made to get out of the carriage, but the driver held the door closed and shook his head.

"Please wait madam – I will find out what is going on." He scurried away quickly. Eve leaned out of the carriage and saw a black horse tethered near to the door of the chateau. She recognised it as the doctor's horse and opened the door of the carriage quickly, jumping down.

"Girls, stay here." She walked into the chateau and saw servants running across her vision, tidying the chateau and drawing curtains. The doctor was talking to her driver in hushed tones. When they saw her they each offered an arm in support. "Is it one of the servants?" she asked.

"No madam – you should sit down."

"It's Raoul isn't it? What happened?"

"He slipped down the stairs madam," answered the doctor. Eve laughed with relief.

"Is that all? Can I see him?" She looked at the doctor's face and understanding slowly dawned.

"I'm sorry madam. He broke his neck when he fell. One of the servants saw him fall and tried to help him, but his lordship had died instantly. I'm sorry Lady Tremaine." The doctor held onto Eve and steadied her for a moment, worried that she hadn't reacted as yet.

"Can I see him?" Eve repeated.

"Yes madam. I've laid out the body in the bed upstairs. Would you like me to arrange for an undertaker to visit with you later?"

"That would be very kind. My thanks." Eve headed slowly up the stairs, then turned to the driver. "Please see that my daughters are informed of the situation and keep them in the library." Heart pounding, Eve forced herself upstairs and into the bedroom she had shared with Raoul. His body lay in an unnaturally dignified poise, eyes closed and arms lying straight down by his sides. She watched him for a moment, as if to catch him drawing breath or smirking under that deathly pallor. Legs shaking, she made her way to the bed and stroked his head softly. "Raoul? Don't do this. You can't leave me alone – not like this." Eve kneeled down and embraced Raoul one last time and kissed him lightly to say goodbye. Tears rolled softly down her face as she stood and turned to leave the room. By the time she reached the door, her face was an expressionless mask, the servants not daring to ask her if she was alright or if she needed anything.

That night, Eve sat watching Raoul by candlelight, her lonely vigil interrupted only twice by servants concerned for her well-being. In all that time, Eve fought against the pain that threatened to overcome her. Raoul had been her last chance for happiness and now he was gone forever, leaving her behind. To lose one husband was considered unfortunate, but to lose two? Eve tried not to think of the reaction of the townsfolk and realised she was irrationally blaming Cinderella again. She was dismayed to find she could shed no further tears for Raoul, the pain she felt drying her tears before they fell.

The undertaker had arranged to remove the body the next morning and Eve stood watching Raoul until the very last, still hoping that he would revive. Cinderella had spent the morning kneeling next to the bed, her arms cushioning her head as she wept for her father. When the undertaker arrived, Eve fetched her two daughters to say goodbye to their stepfather. As they stood in the doorway, Drizella and Anastasia holding tightly to their mother's hands, Eve looked down to Cinderella with barely concealed contempt. She was left with the girl as part of the inheritance – the chateau would pass to Cinderella through Raoul's will and Eve would have to raise a child she could not love in order to secure a home for her own daughters. The undertaker entered and a servant gently removed Cinderella. Drizella and Anastasia rushed forward, gave Raoul a hurried embrace and ran out to their rooms. As the undertaker waited for Eve's reaction, Eve stared forward at the bed and felt part of her heart close to the world forever. She turned and left the room, leaving the undertaker speechless. He signalled to his helpers and they carefully removed Lord Raoul Tremaine from the chateau.