Dearest Cinderella Read Online Free PDF

looked nothing like what he
thought she would. Her hair loose around her shoulders, long
silvery white hair that reached bellow her bosom. Her face aged
with time, crinkles marring at the corner of her eyes hinting at a
life spent laughing. She walked slowly, as her eyes met his she
froze.
    "Your Majesty." Her eyes wide,
she bowed deeply. The Prince watched her, confused. How could this
frail small woman be his lively Cinderella?
    "Cinderella?" Her eyes widened
even further then she smiled, her body humming with restrained
laughter. She came closer.
    "No, your Highness. I've come
with a letter." She placed a small folded piece of paper in his
hand then took a step back. He watched her in complete confusion.
Had he missed something? Who was this lady?
    "Who are you, madam?" She smiled
softly.
    "I am a very good friend of
Cinderella's, we were separated for some time but we've been
recently reunited."
    "Nurse Fairgem?"
    "Yes, your Majesty. I see she's
told you about me." Cinderella had mentioned her nurse, but that
she'd lost her. With vague terms the Prince had assumed that by
lost she'd meant dead. He looked down at the page, wondering what
it meant that she'd sent someone to deliver her message.
    "Is she hurt? Injured? Ill?" He
stepped towards her nurse. She shook her head silently.
    "Read the letter, your
Highness." He felt a faint touch of annoyance. She refused to look
him in the eye. From what Cinderella had written, he'd taken to
believing that her nurse was outspoken, mischievous and loud.
Nothing like this docile creature standing before him. Pushing the
thought from his head he opened the letter and read:
    Dear Jon, I apologise for not
writing sooner. You see a few days ago when I came into the forest
to reply to your message I was instead met by thugs. I am safe now,
there is no need to worry...

    "What happened?" Her words
chilled him. Nurse Fairgem looked at him hesitantly. "Please, you
can trust me, I mean her no harm." Her eyes flashed.
    "Trust, your Highness. I came
into the forest today in the hopes that I might meet a Jon." There
was the sharp tongue that Cinderella had warned him of.
    "You are angry with me. Please
speak freely, I wish only to listen. Think of me as a friend." She
took a step closer.
    "Cinderella is under the
impression of you being a simple gentleman." He ran his hand
through his hair again, trying to think of what to say. The woman's
piercing eyes offering him no escape.
    "I thought it might be easier
than telling her."
    "Do you care for her?" He looked
away, avoiding her gaze.
    "That is something between her
and I, not something I care to discuss with the rest of the world
before discussing with her first." To this the lady grinned and
laughed.
    "Just as I'd hoped." He regarded
her warily. She still hadn't told him what had happened.
    "Please tell me, what happened
to Cinderella?" The lady's face sobered.
    "Thugs carried her into town to
sell her to a local brothel, but I intervened at the right time,
called the attention of a police man, stopped the whole thing.
She's at home safe now, but she won't be coming into the forest
again, you can understand why." The woman spoke fast, hardly
pausing to take breath. "She didn't even want me coming in, told
her I'd give the letter to the bakers boy down the road to deliver
it but I couldn't miss the opportunity to become acquainted with
her Jon. If you don't mind me saying, your Highness, you should
read the rest of the letter."
    ... A week from today I shall
be attending the King's ball. I know you would hate such an event
but I would dearly love to see you there. Perhaps we can meet
face-to-face, share a dance or two. I will be the one wearing the
pink dress with lace sleeves. You may find me if you wish.
    Post script: I promise to do my
best to not fall in love with the Prince.
    The Prince groaned. Looked away
from the letter to the woman's grinning face then groaned
again.
    "Have you read this?"
    "I might have." He folded the
page then