Work and Play

The first tap of Cinderella's heel upon the wooden floor of the drawing room was enough to attract Eugene's attention; he turned towards her and started to climb out of his chair.

Cinderella smiled. "Am I becoming so heavy-footed already?"

Eugene returned her smile with one of his own, a charming smile that made him look years younger. "Perhaps my ears are just that sharp. Or perhaps I'm just getting better at knowing exactly where you are." He walked towards her, his boots squeaking a little on the wood, and reached out towards her with both hands. "How are you feeling?"

Cinderella walked slowly towards him, her petticoats rustling a little as she moved, and held out her hands to him. "You asked me that at breakfast."

They were close enough now that Eugene could take Cinderella's hands. Through the silk of her gloves she could feel his grasp, firm but gentle, holding her tight without causing her pain. "Yes, but that was almost an hour ago," he said. "How do you feel now?"

Cinderella's chuckle was fond but also somewhat exasperated. "It's my slipper that is made of glass, not me. I haven't become exquisitely fragile all of a sudden just because I have our child in me."

He looked down at her. Cinderella had to look up to meet his eyes. "Cinderella," he murmured, as with one hand he reached up and stroked her cheek with his fingers, and then ran them slowly through her hair. She could feel his fingertips brushing against the pearls she wore round her neck. "You have no idea how badly a part of me wants to do so much more than just irritate you by asking you how you're feeling too often. There's a part of me that is leaping up and down inside me, telling me that even letting you work like this puts both of you in danger. I'm afraid you can't stop me from worrying, any more than you can stop me from loving you."

"Are you telling me I should be grateful it isn't worse?" Cinderella asked.

"No," Eugene said. "I'm saying that you're going to have to put up with it for the next eight months. Fortunately, you seem to be very patient with my foibles." He bent down, and kissed Cinderella upon each cheek and lastly upon the lips. "So how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Cinderella said.

Eugene looked at her.

Cinderella sighed. "You know what I mean. I'm a little tired, and I still feel a little bloated, but I don't feel sick. I feel as close to fine as I think I'm going to get for a little while."

Eugene nodded. "Tell me at once if you feel too tired to keep going, won't you?"

Cinderella nodded, and let a slight hint of a second sigh escape her lips. "Yes, darling, I will." She understood why he was behaving in this way, and she would certainly rather that her husband fretted too much than showed no concern whatsoever for her health or condition, but that didn't mean that the way that not only Eugene but seemingly everyone couldn't stop themselves from asking her how she was and tell them at once if she felt poorly didn't grow a little wearisome.

But it was a small price to pay. Cinderella knew that nothing came for absolutely nothing; the price for having a loving husband and friends who cared about you was that they would care for and about you even if you sometimes wished they wouldn't care so much.

Eugene must have heard her sigh, not to mention the slight weariness of her tone, but chose not to remark upon it. Instead he said, "You should sit down, I'm sorry for keeping you on your feet like this."

Cinderella didn't reply directly to that but allowed him to guide her to the desk at which he had been sitting when she came in. He pulled out a cushioned chair for her and pushed it back in once she had sat down. It did feel good to take the weight off her feet, Cinderella admitted to herself. She had gotten a good night's sleep but she still felt weary. She supposed it was a consequence of sleeping for two.

Even when I think that it sounds so strange. There are times when I still can't believe this is real.

Cinderella forced her thoughts away from her condition for a moment - as wonderful as it was she couldn't dwell on it all the time, wandering around the palace thinking of nothing but their baby and her approaching motherhood, deaf and blind to everything else - before Eugene noticed and suggested that she didn't need to be here.

Eugene chuckled softly. "It's alright," he said. "I'm not going to send you away just because you drifted off for a moment."

"How did you-"

"The startled look on your face suggested something like it," he said. "What were you thinking about?"

Cinderella looked down for a moment. "I'm sure you can imagine. But that's not why we're here, is it?"

"No," Eugene agreed. "Although I'm not really sure why you want to be here."

"Because you're here, and this is your life," Cinderella said, reaching out to place one hand delicately on his arm. The diamond in the centre of her engagement ring sparkled brilliantly under the light of the sun streaming in from the window, while the gold band of her wedding ring gleamed softly beneath the same. "Because this is your life and I want to share in it."

They had always loved each other, of that Cinderella was convinced and would remain convinced no matter what; but at first, in spite of taking her to wife Eugene had treated her not as a part of his life but as an escape to it, someone to go to when he wished to set aside the burdens that lay upon him as a prince. Cinderella didn't deny that he might need such an escape every so often, but too often it had left her feeling helpless, unneeded and unwanted by him. Now, although she would give Eugene a place to escape whenever he needed it - as she believed that he would do for her - she also shared in the burdens that he might wish to escape from. Spread across the large circular table around which they sat were various matters of governance and policy that His Majesty had delegated to his son. That workload had increased since Eugene's return from the war and His Majesty's recovery from his stroke.

It was not quite the burden of a king, but it was the burden of a man who would become king one day, and Cinderella was glad that Eugene now allowed her the opportunity to help him bear it in any way she could. She hoped that he would come to appreciate his decision, if he did not already.

Eugene smiled at her, and looked as though he might say something but then stopped himself. He laughed. "I was going to warn you this will probably turn out to be quite dull, but then you know that already, don't you? In some ways you have done more of this work than I have."

"I don't think that's true," said Cinderella modestly. "I was only regent for a few months; you've been helping your father for years."

"I've been trying," Eugene said. "You did all the work of a king, and so unexpectedly...I can't imagine how you managed it."

"You're making it sound much more impressive than it was," Cinderella murmured, bowing her head as her cheeks began to heat up.

She felt Eugene's fingertips upon her chin before she felt his kiss upon her forehead. "It seems incredible to me, knowing now what a wonderful woman you are, to look back and think of how certain I was that I should marry you, despite the fact that I was completely ignorant of all the qualities that you've shown me since."

Cinderella hesitated a moment, considering what he meant. She had made her peace with the fact that he had wed her first and foremost and almost entirely for her looks; the fact had troubled her once, but at the same time she had once been troubled by the fear that she had nothing but her looks to offer him or Armorique. Experience had taught her better, as it had taught Eugene, and that was enough for her. She turned her gaze upwards, into his eyes. "Perhaps our hearts were wiser than we were? Or perhaps it was simply fate."

"Perhaps," Eugene said. He withdrew his hand, and slumped back into his chair. "Now I fear that I'm simply distracting myself. We must get to work."

"Of course," Cinderella said. "What is it?"

"Matters rising out of the war," Eugene said, pulling a sheaf of bound papers towards him. "Father has asked me - asked us - to examine them. I think on some of them he would like us to recommend what course he ought to take."

"What sort of matters?"

"In the first place there is the issue of the landowners on Hispaniola, which is to pass into the hands of the Normans," Eugene said. "There are some, not least the landowners themselves, who think they ought to be compensated by the crown for the loss of their property."

Cinderella furrowed her brow somewhat. Under the terms of the agreement that she had made with Frederica de Normandie (acting on behalf of her father, the King of Normandie) the island of Hispaniola would pass to the Normans within one year of the end of the American war that Normandie had helped Armorique to win; by the same token by which the island itself changed hands all those who lived there would change sovereigns, becoming Norman subjects under Frederica's father. "I don't understand why they want or need compensation; surely the Normans aren't going to take their property away?" Perhaps it was her naiveté speaking, but Cinderella didn't want to believe that Frederica would behave in such a way, or would deceive her in such a way as to make Cinderella complicit in it.

"No," Eugene said. "But there are those on the island who do not wish to become Normans; some of them are loyal to the crown of Armorique, some of them have family here, some...there are various reasons, but they wish to return to Armorique - or go to another of our colonies - before the transfer of sovereignty. They, and their supporters here at home, believe that they should be compensated for their property which they will have to leave behind them when they go."

"I see," Cinderella said softly. Put like that it didn't seem unreasonable. It was, after all, her fault that they were having to choose between their homes and their countries. It was only fair that she, or the crown at least, should help to make things right. "Are there very many of them?"

Eugene shook his head. "No, but they are very wealthy. If the upper estimates of the value of their estates were to be paid...it could be incredibly costly, on top of the revenue loss from losing the island-" the spike of guilt that Cinderella felt as he said that must have shown on her face, much as she tried not to let it, because Eugene's expression and his tone softened noticeably. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to criticise you only to state the fact; I should have put it better. I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Cinderella, quickly and quietly. "I suppose...looking back on it I was rather selfish, to do what I did."

"Selfish?" Eugene sounded incredulous.

"I wanted you home," Cinderella said. "And because I did-"

"You won the war," Eugene said. "Without you - and Princess Frederica, I admit - I wouldn't have had the numbers to bring the fighting to a close. And you didn't just bring me home. You brought Etienne home to Mademoiselle Adessi, you brought Mademoiselle Dubois' father home to her. You brought every husband, every father, every son and brother and sweetheart home to his family. What you did is worth far more than tax revenues of a Caribbean island, or the potential payment to a few landowners. So no regrets."

Cinderella's lips twitched upwards as the warm water of Eugene's encouraging words melted the ice of her self-doubt. "I think I'll probably always have regrets about something, whether I should or not. It's...I think it's who I am." She glanced down at the table for a moment. "So, what do you think? I...it may be expensive, but I decided to give away these people's homes; whatever my reason, I still did that. I think...it would be very unkind to ignore the consequences of that, don't you think?"

Eugene's expression was neutral, if benignly so. "As always your sense of right and wrong is indisputable. These people are leaving Hispaniola for love of country; it would be churlish of the country to respond by turning its back on them."

"But?"

Eugene shrugged. "It is an awful lot of money. There will be many who oppose the spending of it on principle and they-"

Cinderella waited for him to continue. "And what?"

Eugene looked away. "It's nothing."

"If it's nothing then why don't you want to tell me?"

Eugene said nothing.

"Eugene," Cinderella said. She reached out and clasped his hand. "It matters more to me that you be honest than all the jewels that you could shower upon me."

Eugene looked at her again. "If a vast some of money is spent in compensating the departing islanders then I'm afraid there will be those who blame you for having made the spending necessary; regardless of why you did it or the many consequences."

Cinderella closed her eyes for a moment. "I see," she whispered. She supposed she oughtn't to have been surprised; it wasn't as though all of her enemies had been dispossessed like Serena and her family, or vanished like Grace and hers. Many of them still lingered, possessed of some or all of their power and wealth, gazing at her with hateful envy. "Thank you...for reminding me."

Eugene's face took on a pained aspect. "I would spare you from it, if I could."

"I know," Cinderella said. She squeezed his hand quickly. "Is there nothing that I can do to satisfy them? Will they blame me for everything, and hold everything against me?"

"I suspect there's nothing you could do that you would be willing to actually do," Eugene said. He was silent for a moment.

"Eugene?" Cinderella asked.

Eugene leaned back in his chair. "I think I might have just had an idea, if you're willing?"

"Me?" Cinderella said. "Yes, I'd do anything, but what?"

"Princess Frederica is your friend, hopefully she'll be more receptive to the idea coming from you," Eugene said. "Stop me if I'm not making any sense: when these people leave the island, their property will become vacant, yes?"

"Unless they sell it before they go."

"If they do that then they have no grounds to claim any compensation," Eugene said. "And in that case they can be safely. But if they leave without selling, their lands will be vacant."

"Yes, of course."

"And when the Normans move in, then what then? I'll wager that the Norman crown will take possession and what will they do? Sell the estates, most likely. So why shouldn't they pay to compensate the original owners, out of the proceeds of the sale?"

"Would they?" Cinderella asked. "I mean...why would they? Frederica and I never agreed anything like that."

"True," Eugene allowed. "I suppose...since you get on so well with her perhaps I'm hoping you can work a little magic and wrangle the concession out of her."

Cinderella covered her mouth demurely as she chuckled. "I think you might be putting too much faith in me, but I'll try. She's coming to the ball tonight, isn't she? I'll speak to her then."

"Thank you," Eugene said. "It would be the easiest way out of this mess."

"And if she refuses?" Cinderella asked. "Will we pay them then?"

"We...we shall see," Eugene replied. "It may be putting off the decision, but I'd still rather wait until Frederica gives you an answer one way or another."

They discussed the details of the issue a little more, roughly how many people were expected to leave, how much land would be abandoned and to what value, so that Cinderella could speak to Frederica in some specifics besides the generalities; having thus armed Cinderella with some of the facts and figures - she hoped that she could remember them all by tonight - they moved on to the next issue.

And in that way they worked for a while, a few hours at least, discussing the various matters that His Majesty had delegated to them both. And through it all, despite the fact that some of the issues they examined were complex, and most of them did not have simple answers - generally, it seemed to Cinderella that there were obvious 'wrong' solutions, but that the right answers were rendered elusive by Eugene's understanding of the practicalities involved - Cinderella found that she was never once bored, or even tempted to regret being here. Being with Eugene, helping him, supporting him, being more than just a lover but a partner too...it was what she'd always wanted out of her marriage, and to have it kept a flame of contentment burning in her heart all through the morning.

However, as she worked Cinderella could feel resurgent nausea creeping up on her, as much as she tried to fight through it, and it must have shown at least in part because Eugene stopped and said, "Cinderella, I told you to let me know when you couldn't keep going any longer."

Cinderella shook her head. "I'm fine, really."

"And what was that you were saying about honesty?" Eugene asked.

Cinderella bowed her head. "I'm sorry," she murmured apologetically. "I am feeling a little sick, I just...I didn't want to leave you."

She was grateful that Eugene didn't censure her any further. Rather, his smile was fond and gentle as he got up from his chair. "Come on, let's get you somewhere more comfortable. All the rest will keep. I won't work on it without you, I promise."

"Really?"

"Not if it means that much to you."

"Thank you," Cinderella said softly. "This might all seem boring to you but to me...the fact that we share it makes it..." she stood up, and immediately felt so light headed that she swayed in place, and would have stumbled if Eugene had not grabbed hold of her, taking her around the waist with one arm and holding her hand with the other.

"Careful," Eugene said. "I've got you."

Cinderella smiled. "That's why I don't need to be careful. I know you'll be there to catch me."

"That doesn't mean that you should look to fall," Eugene said, in a tone of slight reproach.

Eugene guided her out of the study in which they had been working, and into a sitting room not far away. He helped Cinderella onto a settee where she half sat, half reclined with her feet up on a blue ottoman and the sunlight streaming in through the Gallic windows, offering a view of the verdant gardens beyond.

"You should eat something," Eugene said. "I'll have some lunch prepared for you."

"For both of us," Cinderella said. "Unless you have somewhere else you need to go."

"Of course not," Eugene said, bending down to kiss her before he sat down on a red velvet armchair nearby, dragging it across the floor so that he was nearer to her.

They didn't talk much. Eugene let Cinderella rest a little, and he got out his flute and played a soothing melody as they waited for their lunch to be brought to them. After a little while, a pair of servants brought them a pot of tea, some sandwiches, cakes and the like. Cinderella would not ordinarily have eaten much at all of such a spread, delicious though it looked, out of concern - that might be more properly called fear - that the moment she allowed herself to put on weight Eugene would reject. But now, with his gaze upon her and his various admonitions ringing in her ears, Cinderella allowed herself to eat as much as she wanted for the first time.

"By the way, darling," Eugene said, as they finished the sandwiches and began to get to work on the cakes. "I've sent a letter offering one of the vacant positions as a lady-in-waiting to you; there should be a reply soon, I'm very hopeful she'll accept."

"Oh," Cinderella said softly. "I...I was hoping that you'd discuss that with me first."

"Ordinarily, I would," Eugene replied. "But in this case...I thought it might make a nicer surprise."

"You must be very certain that I'll like her, then."

"That is what I understand."

Cinderella's eyes narrowed for a moment. "Alright, I trust you. But in future could we please talk about it first? The last time my ladies were all chosen for me..." she trailed off. Of the six ladies-in-waiting who had been, well, waiting for her when she returned from her honeymoon with Eugene, the only two who remained with her now - Angelique Bonnet and Marinette Gerard - were the two that Cinderella had asked for or appointed herself; of the others: Augustina du Bois had turned out to be the best of them, and she and Cinderella had come to understand one another in the end, but she had resigned over a point of honour; Theodora de la Tour had been a bully who had tried to torment and humiliate Cinderella; Serena du Montcalm and Grace du Villeroi had both betrayed her. However, if she was being honest with herself then Cinderella would have to admit that she would have chosen Grace and Serena herself if she'd been given the choice; she had thought them her best friends in her new royal world.

"We'll talk about it," Eugene agreed. "Is there anyone that you can think of now?"

Cinderella was glad he'd asked; she'd been wondering how to bring this particular subject up. "I've been thinking about that. I...I'd like to offer a position to my stepsister Drizella."

Eugene looked as though he was about choke on his tea. He set the china cup down on the nearest table with more force than it probably warranted. "You...your stepsister? Did I hear you right?"

Cinderella smiled slightly. "Yes, I think you did."

Eugene stared at her as though she was mad. "But...why? Before we were married you were emphatic that you didn't want either of them anywhere near you, and after what you told me I could understand why. I couldn't understand why you didn't want them punished, but this...I'm afraid I can't comprehend what you're thinking. After everything they did to you...why?"

"Because they could have done much worse," Cinderella said softly.

"Really?" Eugene asked sceptically. "I'm finding that a little difficult to believe."

"I wouldn't have believed it myself, once," Cinderella replied. "But then...look at Angelique. She lived on scraps in the streets and alleyways because her mother didn't want her any more. She and Jean...it's a miracle that they survived. My stepmother could have thrown me out of my father's home and left me to fend for myself just like Angelique was left and then what would have happened to me? Would I have met you? Would I be here?"

"You know that this was never their plan for your future," Eugene said.

"I know that very well," Cinderella said, allowing a touch of reproach to enter her voice as she reminded him that it was her life they were discussing. "But they gave me a roof and a room and a bed. It wasn't the best room or the best bed but it wasn't nothing. They could have done worse."

"They used you like a servant," Eugene said.

"And we have an army of servants, that doesn't make us wicked," Cinderella said. "Does it?"

Eugene's mouth twisted. "Your logic is flawless, but I still don't see why you'd want to give them your patronage?"

"Because, in their own way, they showed me kindness," Cinderella said. "And I want to show that I appreciate that."

Eugene stared at her. "Sometimes I think you are too full of kindness."

"I don't think it's possible to be too kind," Cinderella said. "Certainly I wouldn't want it to be true."

"Alright," Eugene said. "Do you want to write to them or-"

"I thought I'd invite them to tea, and discuss it with them," Cinderella said.

Eugene nodded. "I...are you sure that they won't hurt you?"

Cinderella nodded. Serena had told her that her stepmother had refused to be a part of Serena's conspiracy or her attempted coup; true, she hadn't said anything about it either but everything had worked out in the end so there was little point holding that against her. "I'm sure," she said. "I don't see what they could do to me now."

Speaking of people who might wish to hurt her, Jean came in not long after and asked if he could have a word with both of them.

"Of course, Jean," Cinderella said mildly. "Please, sit down."

"At the moment I'd rather stand, your highness," Jean said, standing stiffly before the prince and princess with his hands clasped behind his back and his chest puffed out ever so slightly. "Your highnesses...princess, I trust you are feeling well?"

Everyone's going to spend the next eight months asking me how I'm feeling, aren't they? "I'm as well as can be expected, Jean, thank you."

"I am glad to hear it," Jean said. He took a deep breath. "Your highnesses, as you cannot fail to be aware there have been a number of...a number of failures of your highness' security over the last few months. Failures for which I admit some part." He closed his eyes. "I'm very sorry, your highness; I've let you down, and if you wanted to appoint someone else I wouldn't blame you-"

"I can't think of anyone I trust more with my safety," Cinderella said, leaning forward a little as she clasped her gloved hands together. The pearl and sapphire bracelets around her arms fell forward into stacks at her wrists. "You've saved my life twice."

"And seen you in harms way as often," Jean said quietly. "That said...if you do wish to retain me...I give you my word, both of you, that it won't happen again. Especially now...I will do much better, I promise; but I would like to ask you to approve a few changes to help me do so."

"Name them," Eugene said, leaving it ambiguous as to whether he meant 'name them and they will be done' or whether he just wanted to find out what Jean had in mind.

Jean shifted in place. His boot squeaked on the floor. "I'd like to double the size of the princess' establishment; that will give me enough men for what I have in mind without wearing them out."

"Done," Eugene said. "You can select extra men at once."

"Thank you, your highness. I also have a couple of promotion recommendations to help me manage-"

"Details I'm sure you can discuss with your colonel," Eugene said. "What else to keep Cinderella safe."

Jean glanced down at Cinderella with a look that was almost apologetic. "At present, your highness is accompanied by guards whenever you leave the palace. I would like to have you accompanied by at least one man inside the palace as well. That way no new Lucien can ever accost you while you are alone and do harm to you."

"Do you really think that's necessary?" Cinderella asked. "Lucien is far away now."

"Can you say that there will never be a new Lucien obsessed with you, princess?" Jean asked. "I can't, and I wouldn't want to. I...ideally I would like there to be one man on the door of whatever room you are in, another man in the room with you, and one man on the door of your chambers at all times and a man within at all times. Plus a larger escort beyond the safety of the palace."

"That seems a little much," Cinderella said, imagining her every move and word being observed by one or more burly soldiers. Was she to have no privacy at all? "I mean, I'm sure that all of these people you want to have following me around will be frightfully bored."

"They're the royal guards, Cinderella, they're supposed to be bored," Eugene said. "If they lead lives of excitement something has gone very wrong."

Cinderella looked at him. "Do you really think this is necessary?"

"I think...I don't think any of us has taken your safety seriously enough in the past," Eugene said apologetically. "Lucien was getting into your room for weeks, months and I just shrugged it off and told you to do the same, even though he was frightening you. When I heard what he almost did, I...I'm a little surprised you're so unsure about this."

Cinderella was silent for a moment. It was true that Lucien's relentless campaign to woo her and win her had, at times, brought her to terror; it was true that she had felt besieged and hunted by his ability to bypass all obstacles in order to get to her. It was true that she had been forced to ask Angelique to share her room so that she would have a protector with her. It was true that she didn't want anything like that to happen again, especially now. But at the same time...there was a part of her that wanted a little more freedom than Jean's new plan for her defence seemed to offer her. She had agreed to be always accompanied by guards when out and about - and a good thing that she had, if she had not she would have died within days of the end of her honeymoon, when someone had tried to shoot her at a meeting of the Anti-Corn Law League - but to not even be free to go where she liked, to be alone for a few moments, even in the palace?

But why do I want to be alone, really? What do I want to do that I don't want anyone to see?

I don't know, but that doesn't mean I want to be followed everywhere.

Do you want to be hurt? Do you want your baby to be hurt? Is going accompanied such a problem?

That was the rub, wasn't it? Jean wasn't doing this because he wanted to hurt her or make her miserable; Eugene didn't support this because he wanted to curb her freedom. They were proposing this because they wanted to keep her safe, her and her child, and they thought that this was the best way to ensure her safety. Compared to that, what was her objective but a silly and rather selfish thing?

"Alright," Cinderella said. "I agree."

Jean nodded. "Thank you, your highness, I swear that you won't regret it." He stood still, looking as if there was more he wished to say but he was uncertain how to say.

Eugene reached out and clasped one of Cinderella's hands. With his thumb he started to push the pearls of Cinderella's bracelet back and forth across her wrist. "Was there something else?"

"Yes, your highness, one more thing," Jean said. "As...there are certain places you cannot be guarded by men, princess. In the bath, getting dressed, sleeping...it would be wholly inappropriate...for men to protect you there."

"From the emphasis you just placed on men I assume you have some notion involving women," said Eugene, his tone giving little hint whether he approved or not.

"Princess, you remember Michelle, the maid that Serena gave you as a protector?"

"Yes," Cinderella said. "I remember that she was loyal to Serena, not to me."

"Indeed, your highness, but I believe the idea is sound. Just one or two women who can keep you safe in places where decency prohibits any men be present," Jean said. "I cannot think of any alternative other than accepting that at times and certain places you will be vulnerable. I would rather not do so."

"Where would you propose to find these amazons?" Eugene asked.

"I can think of a few rough-and-tumble girls I used to know who would be willing to exchange the uncertainty of their lives for a roof and a wage and guaranteed meals, your highness," Jean said. "I will vouch for their characters and quality."

Eugene leaned back in his chair. "It's certainly a novel idea, but I suppose that doesn't mean it's inherently a bad one. You have a point about...Cinderella, what do you think? Is this what you want?"

What I want is to bring our child into a world where they don't have to be guarded or in fear for their life, Cinderella almost said. But that might have sounded petulant, ungrateful either for all that she had been blessed with or else for the efforts that Jean was making to protect her. The truth was, much as she might wish it otherwise, that for a prince or princess such a world did not exist. She would always have enemies, and Cinderella had even learned to accept the fact that there was nothing she could do to conciliate some of them. There would always be those who hated her, and Eugene...and their baby, when born.

She thought of Lucien, creeping into her room to watch her sleep, and shuddered. "Very well," she said. "I think your idea is a good one."

Jean sighed with relief. "Thank you, your highness. Do I have your authority to negotiate pay rates with my...likely recruits?"

"Within reason," Eugene said.

"Of course, your highness," Jean said. "Thank you. You will not regret this, princess. I...I'm sorry if it chafes a little, but it will be worth. No one will ever harm you again, I guarantee it."

This might be her last ball for a while, so Cinderella was determined to enjoy herself.

There would come a time, as her pregnancy advanced, when she was no longer able to dance in Eugene's arms, when she would have to sit upon the sidelines instead of whirling at the centre of the room; and even if it was only for a little while she would miss the dancing. But that time had not yet come, and since this ball was being thrown to celebrate her happiness Cinderella had no intention of being anything but happy tonight.

The gown she wore was one of Lucrecia's most extravagant creations, a vibrant mixture of white and blue. Beneath the white peplum, the skirt gradually changed from a mild, light blue to a deep ocean blue by the time it got down to the hem. A pair of puff shoulders, each almost as large as Cinderella's head, combined with her long gloves to leave barely an inch of her arms visible to view. A royal blue sash was tied - loosely, for the baby's sake - around her waist, forming a giant bow in front of her. Atop her head, Cinderella wore a sparkling diamond tiara that almost completely obscured the rolled hair of her bun from view. The rest of her jewellery was a mixture of pearls and sapphires: pearl and sapphire earrings dangled from her ears; strings of pearls intermingling with strings of sapphires crawling up her arms, some of them hanging loosely while others were clasped tight, all of them sparkling or lustrous in the candle-light; her wedding necklace, the pearls with the heart-shaped sapphire in the midst of them, hung around Cinderella's neck.

This might be her last ball for a while, so Cinderella was determined to look her absolute best.

She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, and sat down to wait for Eugene to come and collect her as he had said he would.

Her right hand, the light sparkling off the rings on her finger, drifted over her stomach.

"Hello, little one," Cinderella whispered. "Do you know who I am? I'm your mother. I hope you're looking forward to tonight, because tonight is a very special night. Do you know why? Because tonight is all about you. All the great men and women of the realm are here for you, to celebrate you. All the lords and the ladies and the generals and the admirals and the ministers and the deputies; they've all come here for you." Cinderella paused for a moment, her face falling slightly. "They don't all like me very much. Some of them, I'm afraid, don't like me at all. But I'm sure that they will all love you very much, because Prince Eugene is your father, even if I am your mother." She was silent for a moment. "But don't forget, please don't forget, that none of them will ever love you as much as I do." She kissed her fingertips, and pressed them against her belly.

She heard Eugene's voice from the other side of the door. "Cinderella, is someone in there with you?"

Cinderella chuckled. "No, there's no one here but the two of us." Duchamp had already left, having helped Cinderella get ready, to take a nap until her mistress required her to get ready for bed.

Eugene was smiling as he walked through the door. "Really? And how are you both?"

Cinderella beamed brightly as she rose to her feet. "Looking forward to this immensely."

Eugene crossed the room to kiss her, holding her tight as he locked her lips with his and played passionately with her tongue. When he was done, he looked a little out of breath. "You look beautiful. Truly stunning."

Cinderella was feeling a lightly breathless herself. She felt as though she was about to swoon. "And you look very dashing yourself," she said, referring to the green and blue dragoon uniform that he was wearing, with gold brocade and a scarlet, fur-trimmed pelisse hanging from one arm.

Eugene took her arm and began to walk her towards the door. "You will let me know if you start to feel tired, or unwell?"

"Yes, I will," Cinderella said patiently. There was no good in complaining about it, not least because it wouldn't do any good but also because, as much as it might grow a little tiresome very quickly, it came from love; there were far, far worse things to have than an over-attentive husband.

And besides, by the time Cinderella and Eugene had passed arm in arm down all the staircases from the Queen's Tower and through all the corridors that led to the ballroom she was a little out of breath, which made it hard to argue against Eugene's point.

I suppose I won't be able to dance quite as much as I would otherwise, Cinderella admitted, at least to herself. But it would not, she vowed, dent her enjoyment of her evening.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Eugene asked, as they paused before the great doors leading into the ballroom. "Because I can always say that you're-"

"I'm fine, Eugene," Cinderella said, gently but firmly. "I have no intention of missing this."

Eugene bowed his head for a moment. "Forgive me. I suppose that, in your gentle way, you're becoming quietly infuriated with me."

"No," Cinderella said, and it was mostly true. "I understand, I just need you to understand when I say I'm not about to collapse. Shall we go in?"

Eugene nodded, as he pushed open the great doors and led Cinderella out onto the stairs that led down into the ballroom. For a moment, Cinderella was blinded by the light of the room, so different to the shadowy gloom beyond; but once her eyes adjusted to the myriad lights that hung from the dozen great chandeliers she could see as large a crowd as had ever been present at any ball she had attended at the palace - which was to say anywhere: ladies in gorgeous gowns, men in sombre suits or lavish uniforms, a riot of colour spread across the room and all of them, every eye, turned upon Eugene and herself.

"Their Royal Highnesses," the master of ceremonies declared, banging his staff upon the floor. "Prince Eugene and Princess Cinderella of Rennes."

There was a moment of silence, when the sound of Eugene and Cinderella's footfalls upon the marble stairs were the only sounds that could be heard in the entire room.

And then the entire ballroom erupted in applause, all the great and the good of Armorique applauding, the sounds of their congratulations breaking upon the couple like waves upon the shore.

They were not applauding her, Cinderella knew. It was her child that they were hailing. She knew that with her head, but at he same time...at the same time it was such a wonderful sound that she could not help but to smile.

No one, it seemed, was clapping harder than His Majesty the King, who was the first to greet them as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Congratulations, congratulations!" he cried, as though he had not already expressed his good wishes numerous times now. In fact it seemed like every time he and Cinderella crossed paths he would congratulate her on the joyous news as though he hadn't seen her since the news was brought to him. Cinderella couldn't blame him; the future of his family would be secure once her child was born; his legacy would be secure.

She wondered, but did not ask, whether His Majesty would rather a grand-daughter or a second grandson. She hadn't asked Eugene that same question either, and she was trying to avoid thinking about it herself. Boy or girl she meant to love her child with all her heart just the same, and she was afraid that if she started wishing for one or the other...she was afraid of how she might feel if she were disappointed.

"Congratulations!" His Majesty declared again, taking Cinderella's free hand and kissing it enthusiastically. "I must confess I was a little disappointed that this news did not come sooner-"

"I was away for several months, father," Eugene pointed out.

"But now that the news is here," His Majesty continued as though he hadn't heard Eugene speak. "The months will fly by I am certain. But in the meantime: lights! Music! Let the revels now commence!"

The lights dimmed, and the orchestra began to play a stately Viennese waltz. Eugene glanced at her, and Cinderella's smile widened as her beloved prince took her in a loving hold and began to lead her across the ballroom.

Dancing with Eugene was the most magical feeling that Cinderella had ever or - she thought - could ever experience. She loved every moment that they could spend together, she relished every aspect of his life into which he allowed her but it was in the dance, as the music swelled around them and he guided her across the floor, when they truly became one heart and soul united in love. Nothing could compare to it, and nothing could detract from it. It was beauty like nothing else in her life and it was completely...completely wonderful.

Nevertheless, even that magical feeling struggled against the hard, unyielding physical demands of her body, and after two dances Cinderella had to confess to Eugene that she needed to rest for a moment. Usually she could dance three or four or even more dances in a row without even beginning to tire, and the only obstacle to her remaining with Eugene was their need to dance with other people every now and then. But now, tonight, after two dances she was tired, and her breathing was beginning to labour.

"I'll have a chair fetched for you," Eugene declared.

"There's no need," Cinderella said. "I just need to pause for a moment. Dance with someone else, and by the fourth dance I'll be fine."

"I should stay with you," Eugene said.

"I need to speak to Frederica anyway," Cinderella replied. "About the island, remember? I'm sure she'll take good care of me. Go and dance, and when I'm ready you'll be free again."

Eugene hesitated, but he was the one who had told her that Frederica would respond better to Cinderella than to himself, and so he kissed Cinderella gently upon the lips before leaving her at the edge of the ballroom, casting one or two looks back at her as he made his way over to Marinette Gerard, who lingered alone on the other side of the ballroom, and asked her to dance.

Marinette's eyes found Cinderella's from across the room. Cinderella gave her friend a smile of encouragement as the music started once again and the two of them began to dance the quickstep.

She watched them for a few moments, her husband and her friend, prancing across the floor - Marinette was not, bless her, the realm's best dancer, but Eugene was skilled enough for the both of them - before she turned away, picked up her skirt, and made her way around the fringes of the room in search of Frederica.

Cinderella found the princess of Normandie standing by the far door, a glass of champagne held languidly in one hand as she observed the dancing with an expression of apparent disinterest upon her face.

"Is everything alright, Frederica?" Cinderella asked as she approached.

Frederica's face brightened at once, she tucked some of her soft brown tresses behind her ears as she turned to face her fellow princess. "Cinderella! I was wondering where you'd gone when I saw your husband dancing with the new Lady Gerard." She took Cinderella's hands, and kissed her once upon each cheek. "I'm fine, dear, absolutely fine, thank you for asking."

"Are you sure?" Cinderella asked. "You look a little bored, and all alone."

Frederica laughed. "If I looked bored it's only because I couldn't see you, the most interesting person in the room."

Cinderella blushed. "Now you're just flattering me."

"I'm really not, but your adorable lack of ego is one of your more endearing qualities so who am I to talk you out to it," Frederica said lightly. "And how is my future godchild doing?"

Cinderella raised one eyebrow at her.

"Well, who else are you going to ask to be the godmother?" Frederica responded. "Someone of lesser rank than a princess? Oh no; no, no, no, no. That won't do, not do at all. You wouldn't insult me, as a princess or a friend, by refusing me would you?"

"No more than you would try and force me into choosing you, as a friend," Cinderella replied archly.

Frederica grinned like a child caught in mischief. "A fair point. But think it over, at least. Talk to Prince Eugene about it. I hope you'll agree that you could do a lot worse."

"I think any child would be well-blessed to have you as their godmother," Cinderella said. "And I will mention it to Eugene. But...I'm afraid that I need to talk to you about something else now."

"Ah, so it's business, not pleasure?"

"I'm afraid so."

"You mean you didn't seek me out simply for the pleasure of my company. I'm appalled," Frederica said, though her tone was amused not censorious. She took Cinderella by the arm and began to lead her out of the ballroom. "Come on, let's step outside for a moment where there are fewer ears to listen to us."

Cinderella explained to her about the situation in Hispaniola, and about Eugene's idea.

Frederica looked down on Cinderella calmly, without hostility on her face but without the amusement that had earlier characterised it either. "I don't want you to take this the wrong way, Cinderella, or think that my regard for you has lessened in any way-"

"But your answer is no," Cinderella finished.

"If I take this to my father he will tell me that Normandie has paid in blood the full cost of Hispaniola," Frederica said. "And, as strange as these words sound coming out of my mouth, I'd even be inclined to agree with him. There was nothing in our agreement about this, in fact our agreement implied that the inhabitants of the island would stay and become subjects of Normandie."

"But you were the one who told me that they could leave if they wished," Cinderella said.

"Obviously we won't keep them against their will, but..." Frederica trailed off for a moment. "Not only will Normandie not pay any compensation but I would strongly urge and ask you not to pay them anything either. The moment that we or you or anyone starts offering to pay people to go you encourage - or at least render possible - a mass exodus. But Normandie needs these people, without the planters to grow the sugar and the coffee crop then the land is worthless and so is the island."

"You can sell the land."

"To people who won't know what they're doing and could take years to learn," Frederica responded. "And in that time the tax revenues will plummet; Normandie came to your aid in order to gain a source of wealth. What you're proposing could lead to us receiving an unprofitable husk instead; it could be seen as an insult."

"It isn't, or it wasn't meant to be," Cinderella said. "So there's nothing you can do."

"I'm afraid not," Frederica said. "It's nothing personal, really. I hope you understand that. I do have to look out for my country's interests."

"I understand," Cinderella said. "As far as I'm concerned...it doesn't change that I consider you a friend."

Frederica's eyes closed for a moment. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For not trying to emotionally blackmail me into anything."

"I wouldn't do anything like that."

"No, no you really wouldn't would you?" Frederica replied. "That's what makes you so special."

Author's Note: Since about halfway through the last story I think I've talked about how Eugene had let Cinderella into his life more, but the plot never really gave me the chance to show it so I'm glad that I was finally able to do so here.

One of the things that I think people most wanted to see in the last fic was more of Cinderella's stepfamily; the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of her taking in one of her stepsisters and hopefully the explanation for why she might do so makes sense. It's something that Cinderella has actually thought about – the fact that her stepfamily could have kicked her out to fend for herself like Jean and Angelique, but didn't – ever since she met the two of them, she just hasn't done anything about it until now.