"You don't think, John," Caroline faltered as they found themselves within safe distance of the throne room. "You don't think that they'll try to cause trouble between Edward and Cinderella?"
"What could they possibly do?" John shrugged as if unconcerned but Caroline could see the worry in his eyes. "She is bound to him by royal decree. Remember? Whoever fit the glass slipper… and I saw her wearing them. Both of them."
"Indeed." Caroline sighed. "But I fear for them. They are so happy…"
"Maybe even as happy as we are?" John bent down to kiss her cheek.
"Maybe." she smiled up at him. She was happy but underneath her happiness was a sort of underlying fear… as if something terrible was about to happen.
oOo
Cinderella was happy. Completely and supremely happy. She had thought when her father died that she had come to the end of everything. But it truly had been just a lonely passageway into another beautiful new world. The one thing that could make her happier would be if she could share her news with her dear father. But she could not. So she simply prayed, thanking the Lord for this great blessing, and adding,
"Please, dear Lord, tell Papa how happy I am. Tell him what has happened to me. I know he'll be glad. And tell him that, no matter how much I love dear Edward, there still will always be enough room in my heart for Papa also."
She had been shown to the most beautiful rooms in all the palace and, in the absence of a personal lady-in-waiting, Caroline was called in to help her. As she helped the girl into the extravagant silk gown that had been provided and dressed her hair, Caroline told her how she had met Doctor Tremayne.
"You knew my father!" Cinderella cried joyously. "I am so glad. I do think I remember him speaking of you. And… perhaps…" she paused a moment. "At my father's funeral… it was the first time I ever saw Edward… and I do believe that you were with him?"
"Yes," Caroline smiled. "I was. I well remember that day."
"So do I," Cinderella said regretfully. "But I remember that you smiled at me and I felt certain that we would be good friends if ever we were privileged to meet," She spoke earnestly, almost wistfully and Caroline's heart went out to her. How this girl must long for a friend!
"But we have met!" Caroline answered happily. "And we shall be good friends." At the smile that flashed across Cinderella's face, she continued. "You see, I do believe we have something in common."
"And how is that, milady?"
"I'll tell you," Caroline grinned, remembering her first meeting with John. "If you call me Caroline. Good friends should not refer to one another by titles." Cinderella laughed.
"All right then… Caroline. But what is it that we could possibly share?"
"Well…" Caroline paused. "I hardly know where to begin. It's a rather long story."
"And I have lots of time!" Cinderella spoke eagerly. How she longed to get to know this new friend!
And so Caroline told her… from the first time she had come to the palace and met John, to their happy ending. She spoke of the hopeless despair, the heartache, the loneliness, and finally the unbelievable joy. And before she had finished, a bond was forged between the two girls. A bond that, unbeknownst to both of them, would inevitably grow stronger in the face of not-too-distant suffering.