Domestic Transactions

Back on my horse. Silver? Maybe. And with directions in hand, I made my way the next morning to the Tremaine manor, now in great disrepair I was informed. The widow was very hard pressed for cash, low-level nobility that lived worse off than many a common businessman. Well, today was their lucky day.

After only one false turn and fresh directions from a lad selling roasted chestnuts, I was at my destination. Run down may have been upselling the place a tad.

A grimy blonde woman wearing a tattered grey dress that may have once been white looked up at me, startled from where she was drawing water from the courtyard well. The courtyard itself could do with a good washing, but I knew the poor thing was doing her best to maintain the building as she could.

"Greetings. I am Prince Guy of Fawkes, looking for the Widow Tremaine. I do hope I am in the right location?"

She squeaked a timid "Yes." Then ran off, leaving her bucket behind. Ah, sweet Ella, I'll be rescuing you from this squalor soon enough.

I tied my horse up where she could reach the bucket of fresh water. Silver did have a ring to it. I was probably pulling the name from some memory or other, I had a tendency to do that, seeing as I couldn't even remember my real one at this point.

Ghostly grey Ella was back at the doorway, shyly trying to wave me inside. I walked up the cracked stairs and slipped inside. "She'll be down in a little while, she's getting ready to see you." Ella just above whispered to me.

"And what's your name then, lovely?"

She blushed clear to her toes at being addressed that way, but did give me a shy smile. "Ella." She near whispered again.

"Are you bothering the Prince Ella!" Screeched the harridan that could only be the Widow Tremaine. I was very tempted to use the two bracelets I had beyond the one I was saving for Ella on the other daughters, leaving this witch to live alone, but that would be a huge waste, as they weren't worth a single credit. Let them have each other after Ella was gone.

"Lady Tremaine. What a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance." Performance Talent, don't fail me now. "I have been sent by my father, the King of Fawkes, to talk to you."

Already seeming excited to talk to a Prince, at word of a King, her eyes really lit up. I swear I could see dollar signs in them.

She fanned herself. "Oh my. What could I possibly do for the King, of Fawkes did you say?"

"Yes, ma'am. I am Prince Guy of Fawkes, and my father sent me. My elder brother is looking to get married, and word of your lovely daughters reached his ears. I, of course, am already betrothed, so my father trusted me to come witness their beauty myself that I may tell my brother of them."

She started fanning herself faster. "That is very interesting. They are currently getting ready, and I'm sure would love to make your acquaintance." She turned to the grey-clothed girl. "Ella, go fetch some wine. The good wine." Ella scurried away in a hurry.

"I do hate to mention such things, but the manor seems a touch in disrepair. Not that it would have any bearing on my news for my brother. We have no need to marry into more wealth, you understand, but I would hate to see his future betrothed live below her station if there was aught I could do about it."

Lady Tremaine had looked much less pleased for a moment, but as I continued, her smile came back full ****. "The Kingdom of Fawkes is wealthy then you say?" Hook, line and sinker.

"Why yes. We have a number of gem mines, and fine jewellery is our main export."

"I see. Well truth is the family fortune has taken some hard turns after my husband's ****. But I do try to provide for my poor girls the best I can and arrange good marriages. What exactly did you have in mind?"

I pulled out my pouch as I started to talk. "Well, as I said, I'm currently engaged. And I'd love to gift my fiancé a chambermaid. I couldn't help but notice your ****, and I thought she'd be perfect once she was cleaned up a bit."

"Oh no, Ella's not..." She'd gotten a glimpse at the gems I was stirring around and ground to a halt as her jaw hit the floor.

I pretended not to of heard her. "I'm fairly certain I can offer a more than fair price that should see you and your daughters well taken care of until my brother can send for you." I looked up at her and poured the handful of gems back into the bag. "That is, of course, if I have something good to report."

Cinderella, with impeccable timing, made her reappearance holding a wooden tray with three battered and badly tarnished goblets and a bottle of wine. The widow Tremaine looked at her appraisingly for a moment, then took the tray from her. "Go see what's keeping the others so long, they should have been out here by now."

Ella nodded and ran off quietly. Her stepmother watched her go just as quietly, then turned back to me with a predatory smile. "So just how much were you thinking of buying sweet little Ella for?" She asked while uncorking the wine to pour two glasses.

Taking a goblet, I smiled back. "I want to be generous." Scooping a handful up again, I dribbled more and more over the wooden tray. "You three should be comfortable while you wait, after all." I took a sip of the wine. It was as bad as I feared, but I kept my smile going.

Her eyes gleamed as she looked at the small pile of gems she held on the tray. "That is certainly generous. I think we have a deal, Ella is yours. Why don't you wait right here, and I'll go explain the situation, and see what's taking so long."

While she rushed off, taking the gems with her, of course. I slid over to a badly dying potted plant and slipped it the rest of the wine.

That was one down. Now to ogle two ugly step sisters while Performance Talent did its work and leave them to wait for word from my brother that would never come, while I escaped with the prize.

Ah Disney. Even your villains are gullible.