Many years have passed since Lady Eleanor's passing. Ella and Alyssa Rose both grew into beautiful young ladies. Ella, now eighteen, was the very picture of Lady Eleanor with her long blonde curls and blue eyes. Alyssa Rose, now eight, was a combination of Lady Eleanor with her blue eyes and Sir Charles with her shoulder-length brown curls. Both of them have a warm smile just like their mother. They never gave up their special bond. Every year on their mother's birthday, the girls and Sir Charles would gather daisies from the garden and then put them in small vases to all around the chateau. The girls also kept themselves busy by tending to their father and the work-staff, the animals, and the garden in order to keep the promise they made to their mother. They continue to have courage and be kind no matter how difficult times can be. Alyssa Rose would often ask her father to talk about her mother, but Sir Charles wouldn't talk about Lady Eleanor without getting upset first and he would have to leave the room. When that happens, Ella would tell Alyssa Rose about her. At night, from the time before Alyssa Rose turned three to after she turned seven, she would have nightmares. She would whimper and cry, "No. No, no, no! Mama! Mama! Don't leave us, please!" Ella would then quickly get up from her bed and gently wake her up saying, "Lissie. Lissie, wake up. It's alright, I'm here. What's wrong?" When Alyssa Rose woke up, she looked up at her sister and sobbed, "I had that dream when Mama went away." "Shh, there, there," Ella said in a soothing voice. She wiped her sister's tears with her handkerchief and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Remember what Mama said…" "Have courage and be kind," said the girls together. Ella hugged Alyssa Rose and said, "I love you, Lissie. Sleep tight." "I love you, too, Sissy." After saying goodnight, Ella sang "Lavender's Blue" to Alyssa Rose to help her go back to sleep. "Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green. When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be queen…"
As time went by, Sir Charles had gone on more trips to help support his family and he's almost looking like his old self again. He now uses a cane to help him walk around, but he still has his kind smile and jolly laugh. He could now tell stories to Ella and Alyssa Rose about Lady Eleanor and all of the lands he has seen. The girls and their father practice reading in French, Spanish, Italian, and German together and read all their favorite books in their library. One day, Sir Charles and Alyssa Rose were listening to Ella's stories while munching on honey toast with blueberries. "'And thence home, my wife and I singing to our great content, and if ever there were a man happier in his fortunes, I know him not.' That ends Mr. Pepys. I do love a happy ending, don't you?" Ella put her book down on the table and helped herself to a piece of toast while Alyssa Rose picked up her book and turned to the page where she left off last. "I certainly do," Alyssa Rose said. "They are quite my favorite of the sort," their father agreed. "As well as they should be." Ella grinned and she and Sir Charles listened to Alyssa Rose's favorite story, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." "'Wake up, Alice dear!' said her sister; 'Why, what a long sleep you've had!' 'Oh, I've had such a curious dream!' said Alice, and she told her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange adventures of hers that you have just been reading about; and when she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said, 'It was a curious dream, dear, certainly: but now run in to your tea; it's getting late.' So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been.'" "And that's the end of the story," Alyssa Rose said with a smile. Ella smiled back at her sister and their father began to chuckle. "I never got the description of the silly Cheshire Cat out of my mind," Sir Charles said. "Neither could I, Papa," Ella replied. Alyssa Rose began to giggle. "I also thought that the Cheshire cat was a very interesting character. No other cat could disappear like him." Alyssa Rose put down her book and also helped herself to another piece of honey toast.
Sir Charles cleared his throat and said, "Girls, there is something I must tell you." Alyssa Rose put down her toast and wiped the crumbs off the corners of her mouth with her napkin. "What is it, Papa?" Ella asked. "Please tell us," Alyssa Rose said. "Girls, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps I may begin a new chapter." Alyssa Rose looked at her father and then at Ella. "Indeed, Papa?" Ella asked. Sir Charles nodded. "Do you two recall an old acquaintance of mine I have met during my travels, Sir Francis Tremaine?" "Yes, Papa. I do," Alyssa Rose said. "The Master of the Mercer's Guild is he not?" Ella asked. "Was. The poor man has died," Sir Charles replied. "Oh no," Alyssa Rose whispered to herself. "I am grieved to hear it, Papa," Ella said. "His widow," Sir Charles continued. "An honorable woman finds herself alone." "You're worried about telling us," Ella remarked. "But you shouldn't be. Not if it will lead to your happiness." "Yes, happiness," Sir Charles smiled. "Do you two think I may be allowed one last chance?" "Of course I do, Papa," Ella replied. Sir Charles looked at Alyssa Rose. She gave a small smile and nodded, but she couldn't say a word. Sir Charles gave a relieved smile. "She will be your stepmother and you will have two lovely sisters to keep you two company," Sir Charles said. The girls stood up and hugged their father.
"Sissy? Sissy, are you awake?" Alyssa Rose asked later that night. When Ella opened her eyes, she saw that her sister's eyes were welling up with tears and she sounded like she was about to cry. "I can't sleep. I kept thinking about Mama again." "Come on, get into bed." Ella said. Alyssa Rose crawled into Ella's bed and asked, "Do you think that our new stepmother will love us like Mama does?" "Of course, she will, Lissie," Ella replied. "Why would you think of something like that?" "Because I'm worried that Mama will be replaced." Tears began to run down Alyssa Rose's cheeks. "Oh, Lissie," Ella said. "Mama will never be replaced. She will always be with us no matter what happens. Plus, we both promised that we must have courage…" "And be kind," Alyssa Rose finished. "This will take some time, Lissie," Ella said. "We both must support Papa's decision to marry again and hopefully we will become friends with our new sisters." The thought of the sisters being friends with their stepsisters gave Alyssa Rose a hopeful smile. "But we'll always be together, right, Sissy?" Ella smiled. "Always." She gave her little sister a hug and then the girls went back to sleep.
The marriage plans have been made and then came the ceremony. Now, the girls are standing outside the chateau with their father awaiting the arrival of their new stepmother and stepsisters. The girls helped the work-staff clean the chateau over the last couple of days. Both Ella and Alyssa Rose have never seen each other look so nervous and they squeezed each other's hands. The girls also thought about their mother, who loved a clean house. They wore their best dresses. Ella wore her favorite blue dress that matched her eyes and Alyssa Rose wore her favorite pink dress that matched both her blue eyes and brown hair. The girls' hair were brushed neatly until they shined and were pulled back gently. "Have courage and be kind," they whispered together. The girls heard the horse's whinny and their hooves clip-clop towards the drive. They looked at each other with confidant smiles on their faces. The coachman stepped down and opened the carriage door. This is it. They are here at last.
Lady Tremaine was the most beautiful woman the girls have ever seen. She has soft and radiant skin, her strawberry-blonde hair was perfectly coiffed, and she wore a dark green dress with sparkling jewels and shoes to match. The girls followed their father to the carriage. "Welcome, ladies! Welcome!" Sir Charles greeted. He offered his hand to his bride. "My daughters, Ella and Alyssa Rose." The girls curtsied. Lady Tremaine smiled at them and said, "Let us treat each other like family. These are your sisters, Anastasia and Drizella." Two ladies stepped out of the carriage. Anastasia was the oldest with her dark brown hair, green eyes, and she wore a pink dress. Drizella was the youngest with her red hair and brown eyes. Drizella looked at Ella and Alyssa Rose from head to toe and then whispered in Anastasia's ear. "Look at them! They're skinny as broomsticks!" "And look at their stringy hair!" Anastasia whispered back. Ella and Alyssa Rose walked up to Anastasia and Drizella. Ella said, "How do you do? I'm so happy to meet you." Then, Alyssa Rose said, "We hope you will all be happy here." "Such lovely manners," said Lady Tremaine. She looked at Anastasia and Drizella, who gave Ella and Alyssa Rose compliments. "You're really sweet," Anastasia told Alyssa Rose. "You have such pretty hair. You should have it styled," Drizella told Ella. "Would you like a tour of the house?" asked Alyssa Rose. Anastasia whispered something to Drizella again, hoping Alyssa Rose and Ella wouldn't hear. Lady Tremaine called the girls to come inside. She also called her cat, Lucifer, to come inside. Ella and Alyssa Rose followed. Lady Tremaine looked at her new husband. "You did not say that your daughters were so beautiful." Oh, they take after their…" Sir Charles began, but stopped himself. "Their mother," finished Lady Tremaine. "Yes, just so." Another relieved smile spread across Sir Charles' face.
Meanwhile, the family made their way to the drawing room. "How long has your family lived here?" asked Drizella as she ran her finger over the fire-place. "Over two-hundred years," Sir Charles answered. "And in all that time, they never thought to decorate?" Anastasia snorted. "Hush!" Lady Tremaine scolded. "They'll think you are in earnest." She looked around the room from the chairs to the pictures on the walls and to her husband, she said, "It's very homely." Ella and Alyssa Rose looked at each other. Afterwards, Lady Tremaine decided to restore life and laughter to the chateau. That evening, Lady Tremaine hosted her first party. She invited a lot of people she knew along with barons and baronesses. They ate plenty of food, drank wine, and gambled. Ella wandered around observing the party while Alyssa Rose was finishing her supper in the kitchen. Ella promised to tell her sister what was happening at the party since she was not old enough. As she entered the kitchen to check on her sister, Ella heard a squeak and said, "Well, look who's having a party of their own. Jacqueline, Teddy, Matilda, greedy Gus-Gus." She and Alyssa Rose chuckled as Jacqueline scurried to get a piece of cheese that dropped on the floor. The girls heard a "Meow!" "Uh-oh," Ella said quietly. "Just what do you think you are up to, Lucifer?" asked Alyssa Rose. "Jacqueline is our guest." Ella picked the cat up and placed her next to her food bowl. After the girls left the kitchen, they decided to head to their library. They found their father sitting at his desk. "You're missing the party," Ella said. "Oh, I imagine it's just like the other ones," Sir Charles replied. "And I am leaving first thing, girls." "No, Papa," Alyssa Rose protested. "But you're hardly back from your last trip," Ella said. "Do you have to go?" "It's just for a few months, my darlings," Sir Charles answered. "What would you like me to bring back? Your stepsisters have asked for parasols and laces. What will you have?" "Bring me the first branch your shoulder brushes on your journey," Ella requested. "Me, too, Papa," Alyssa Rose agreed. Sir Charles chuckled and he promised the girls he'll bring the branches back for them.