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Rebecca walked into the room just then and heard what Mrs. Bramble said. “That’s utter nonsense. My lady doesn’t have a cruel bone in her body,” Rebecca said.
“Oh, your lady will after you and your witches are done with her!” Mrs. Bramble croaked. “It happens to all of them! Something is terribly wrong with the Many Kingdoms. It turns stepmothers into horrible monsters. It destroys everything good within them.” Mrs. Bramble grabbed the book of fairy tales from the table beside her. “Just read this, my lady. Read it before you make the biggest mistake of your life.”
Lady Tremaine took the book and smiled at the old woman. “I will read it. I promise,” she said, trying to make the woman happy and opening the book.
“What’s this, an inscription from Lord Tremaine?” she said, taking a closer look. “You got this book from Lord Tremaine’s library? Why didn’t you say so from the start?” Lady Tremaine asked.
“I thought you knew, my lady. He mentioned he bought it at the same shop as your brooch. Lord Tremaine always let the staff borrow his books, my lady, as long as we logged it in his ledger,” said Mrs. Bramble.
Lady Tremaine knew this was true, of course. This conversation, combined with the events from the last few days, had her head spinning in circles. “Well, then I am even happier to have it in my possession, Mrs. Bramble. I will take extra care to read it. Thank you so much for giving it back.” Lady Tremaine motioned to Rebecca to take the old woman out of the room. “Now, you go back downstairs with Rebecca and stay there and rest until I send for you. Everything will be well, I promise you,” she said, kissing Mrs. Bramble on the cheek.
She took a deep breath once both ladies were out of the room. “Good grief,” she said, looking at the book. Seeing Lord Tremaine’s handwriting sent a wave of love and sadness through her. She never knew he had gone back to that strange little shop for the book. She remembered the proprietor mentioning it, and she thought it sounded just like something her husband would do, going back to the shop to get it. But she hated the ideas and notions this book had put in Mrs. Bramble’s mind. The old woman had clearly convinced herself that the stories were true. And then she remembered her conversation with Sir Richard about whether the book of fairy tales could be a history. Could the stories be true after all?
Rebecca came back into the room, interrupting her thoughts. “Sit down, my lady, you look pale,” she said, holding out a chair for Lady Tremaine.
“Thank you, Rebecca dear. Do you know much about the Many Kingdoms? I swear I remember Sir Richard saying something about a book of fairy tales.” She put her hand to her head, and Rebecca took the book from her.
“Don’t worry about that now. I’m sure they are different books. Why don’t you lie down? It’s been a long day, and tomorrow will be another one. You need your rest.”
The next morning was spent in a flurry of excitement. As soon as she finished her coffee and was dressed, Lady Tremaine found herself surrounded by a legion of maids, all assisting Rebecca in packing her things so she could make her way back to London to tell her girls the news. She had written ahead to let her butler, Avery, know she was on her way. He was to instruct the servants to pack up the household and to tell Nanny Pinch to ready the girls for a long journey.
Lady Tremaine’s head was whirling with everything she had to do, and with everything she and Sir Richard had discussed the night before. He was right to suggest she only bring her personal belongings. It was an extraordinarily long journey to the Many Kingdoms, after all, and it wasn’t sensible to bring everything with her, including her servants.
Thank goodness for Rebecca, who was fussing around the room, directing Lady Hackle’s staff in the packing of Lady Tremaine’s trunks so she could make her way home on the next train. Lady Tremaine was eager to be reunited with Anastasia and Drizella as soon as possible so she could share the good news.
“Rebecca, once we’re back in London I want you to supervise the packing of my personal belongings. Dresses, hats, gloves, jewelry, purses, some of my favorite books, and of course the contents of my vanity. Everything else will have to be put into crates and auctioned off. I’ll need you to oversee all of that as well. I will have my hands full breaking the news to the girls and meeting with my solicitor so we can arrange the sale of the town house,” said Lady Tremaine.
“Of course, my lady. And what of Miss Anastasia and Miss Drizella’s things? Shall I pack for them as well?” she asked.
“No, Nanny Pinch will see to that. I’ve written ahead. And, Rebecca, I need you to work closely with my butler, Avery, to make sure everything is done to my specifications.”
Rebecca stopped what she was doing. “How will Avery and the other servants feel about me swooping in and taking charge like that, my lady? Will they be upset about Mrs. Bramble?”
Lady Tremaine hadn’t even thought of that. “Well, Avery is a good sort, but if he does get his nose out of joint, there is nothing we can do.” She continued, “Oh, Rebecca, there is so much to do. And I have to break it to the staff that I won’t be needing them.” She was starting to feel faint.
“My lady, please sit down,” Rebecca said. “I think you might swoon from all the excitement. I wouldn’t worry about your staff. I can’t imagine they’d want to travel so far anyway.” She had stopped directing the maids in order to give Lady Tremaine her full attention.
“Yes, I think you’re right. Though I do hope Nanny Pinch comes along, even if just for the first few months.” She sat down in a pink velvet chair situated near a window with a little round table beside it.
“Shall I send down for some tea?” Rebecca asked.
“I know you mean well, always suggesting tea, but if you’re going to be my lady’s maid, remember, never tea, Rebecca, always coffee. I know that’s not very English of me, but I’ve always preferred it.”
Rebecca nodded. “Yes, my lady. I should have remembered.” She motioned to one of the maids to fetch her lady some coffee.
There was a knock at the door. “Ah, I suppose that couldn’t be my coffee already?” said Lady Tremaine, laughing.
“No, my lady. We’re still in England, where things don’t magically appear as they do in the Many Kingdoms.” Rebecca smiled as she opened the door to Lady Hackle. Lady Tremaine’s friend stood there with a look of grave concern on her face.
“My friend, this letter came for you just now. It’s from Sir Richard. He must have sent it right before his ship disembarked.”
Lady Tremaine took the letter from her friend and read it
.
My dearest Lady Tremaine,
I can’t wait another moment for us to be husband and wife. Please come to me as quickly as you can, for I am desperate for you to take your place at my side, and in my home. If you love me as much as I hope you do, you will bring Anastasia and Drizella on the next evening voyage. Cinderella and I need you.
