Cinderella and the Colonel Read Free

your hair?” the woman said, dropping the grass to embrace Cinderella.
    “I c hopped it off. A wigmaker gave me a good price for it,” Cinderella said, brushing the slanted fringe of her bangs out of her eyes.
    “It looks dreadful ,” Marie said.
    Cinderella rolled her eyes. “I am ever so glad I can count on you to hearten me , Marie.”
    “I’m sorry , but it’s just…it’s so short,” Marie said, tilting Cinderella’s head to get a better look at it. “Did you really have to chop it?”
    “I’m afraid so.”
    “I see. Well, the color is still pretty.”
    “ Thank you. As much as I loathe Erlauf fashion trends, I am beginning to think I should follow their example and cover my head with a scarf or some such thing,” Cinderella said.
    “Why? You look pitiable to be certain, but you are by no means the only girl who has sold her hair in the past few months,” Marie said.
    “ Yes, but just before I left the market, a flock of Erlauf soldiers gawked at me,” Cinderella said, running her hand through her short locks.
    Marie clicked her tongue. “Ruffians ,” she said. “A gentleman would behave better.”
    “How is business?” Cinderella asked , leaning against the hitching post.
    “Well enough , I think. Armel has managed to come home at a decent hour these past few days, and he hasn’t mentioned moving to Loire for the past month,” Marie said.
    “I’m glad to hear that .”
    “And how does your Aveyron fair?”
    Cinderella shrugged. “We scrape by. All the farm ing changes have made it more profitable.”
    “ Then what drove you to beggar your hair?”
    “ Taxes, again,” Cinderella said, offering her palm to one of the horses. “With their cost, I can barely afford to pay Aveyron’s upkeep. I swear each month the tax burden grows heavier and heavier. If they don’t increase the tax on every servant per household, Queen Freja places a tax on every acre of farmable land or imposes a tax on glass windows.”
    “And you won’t let any of your servants go?”
    Cinderella shook her head. “No,” she said, her determination weighing the word down like steel and iron.
    Marie sighed and dusted off her hands. “You have a hero complex, my darling Cinderella. Life would be so much easier for you if you were even a little bit selfish, like me.”
    “You cannot fool me ,” Cinderella said. “I recognize your shopkeeper. She was your nurse until you turned thirteen.”
    Marie sniffed. “I don’t know what you’re talk ing about. With business improving, Armel hired more help, that’s all.”
    “Of course ,” Cinderella said. She slid her hand down the horse’s glossy neck before stepping back. “I need to get going.”
    “You’re not go ing to stay for tea?”
    Cinderella held up her basket. “I have work. I only stopped by to say hello and to check on my sign. Have there been any inquires?”
    “ A few. I left the names with my nurse; ask her for the list on your way out.”
    “I cannot thank you enough.”
    “It is the least I can do for you. It was good to see you, and your lack-luster haircut.”
    “Take care , Marie.”
    “Cinderella?”
    Cinderella stopped at the doorframe and turned to face her friend.
    “I , I would help you more, if I could.”
    Cinderella smiled. “I know. Thank you.”
    Marie mutely nodded.
    “I will drop by again later this week. Until then ,” Cinderella called as she disappeared inside.
     

 
    Chapter 2
    The following day, the Erlauf army officer showed up again at the chateau’s market stall shortly after Cinderella and Vitore finished unpacking the day’s produce.
    “Mademoiselle ,” the officer said, a mocking pitch colored his tone as he spoke the Trieux title.
    Cinderella brushed her bangs from her eyes. “How can I help you , sir?”
    The officer tilted his head as he studied Cinderella the way a fox studies a chicken. He glanced back at Vitore—who bustled behind Cinderella.
    Vitore busied herself with arrang ing eggs in a