Within a month, as my condition momentarily improved, Edmond used the king's bestowed title and secured our marriage.

No one was thrilled. Edmond looked miserable, I felt miserable. Poppy and Piglet were in attendance in the garden with us, which was surprising.

Even the priest made no eye contact, embarrassed on my behalf.

I did not care. My eyes cast low, I took my vows and Edmond his. For a man like Edmond, money and status helped somewhat. The fact that I was quite disgraced also assisted in making our nuptials possible.

The very same day as we signed the ledger, finalizing our marriage, Edmond sold that estate and that title away.

Some of the money he used for the manor, the rest went to Poppy's schooling which we paid for in full. It wasn't the most coveted establishment in the country, as we no longer had the status, but it was still impressive. Far more impressive than I'd anticipated. Edmond had been determined.

Two weeks later, she climbed into a carriage with her sister, Edmond at the reigns, and informed me she did not want me to join in her send off.

So, I stood at the doorstep, watching as the carriage rounded. Our eyes met, just briefly, and her tears broke me.

With only the three of us, I decided to not make the same mistake with Piglet. That effort ended in several doors slammed in my face.

The day I awoke to find my fifteen-year-old Piglet run off with the new young porter, I nearly fell down the stairs.

Edmond relieved the cook as well.

An empty house was why he carried me to bed without hesitation most nights.

We waited and waited, praying for Piglet's return but after a month, I forced myself to accept this hard truth—I was a failure as a mother.

And now I was dying.

"You are not dying," Edmond told me, lying in front of me.

Then why did I feel as if I were? He pulled me close, and I cowered in his embrace.

"It'll pass," he promised.

But I hadn't anticipated what my life would become. One year led to two and then four. I was proud and relieved to hear that Cinderella was twenty by the time she agreed to marry. That meant she wasn't forced. I'd thought to never hear from her again so to receive an invitation to the debuting of her first child at twenty-two thrilled me.

Poppy no longer spoke to me. In fact, only Edmond ever received steady letters from her. That was for spite, but I was still grateful for the correspondences, though none were directed at me. Piglet was my bigger worry.

Over the years, Edmond and I had searched with little success. It was almost as if she disappeared into thin air.

My first husband was a dollmaker. That was his trade. When his first wife died without granting him children, he became somewhat obsessed with the idea of carrying on his bloodline. So much so that he'd pretend his dolls were real.

It was a sad habit he overcame once we were wed. And although he never received the son he wanted, he decided to find happiness with his small family. I resolved to follow his path. Our funds were meager and would never grow thanks to my reputation but that was all right.

With the invitation in hand, and a new doll which I created as a gift, I looked up at the castle steps. The crowd filed into the main doors. I managed to make it halfway before my body gave out.

This felt like a betrayal. How could I celebrate this with Cinderella when I couldn't even find my own daughters?

Rather than up at the gaping doors, I looked down at Edmond who stood beside Gareth's little carriage; we'd long sold mine.

My eyes drifted to the invitation and doll and I felt cold. A child passed by and when she caught sight of the doll, I thrust it into her arms and made my way down, ignoring her mother's surprised gasp.

Edmond regarded me in confusion. "They won't mind."

He meant Poppy and Piglet. But I firmly believed they would.

Besides, I minded.

"It's not right," I said and climbed in.

As I watched the world flash by, I considered several things. Would I have done things differently?

I did not believe I would.

Most of the manor now held vegetables. Nothing big, just enough to sustain us somewhat depending on the season. Several people came and went, working for us part-time. Edmond handled all other upkeep.

Edmond was a wonder. He began graying at the sides, but I thought it looked distinguished. My first husband's business was still open. The once well-established doll network dwindled down into a single shop. Today mattered. Along with seeing Cinderella again, we'd hoped the gifting of our doll would spark some new business.

I stuck out my head and asked Edmond to stop at a bookshop. That was where we both froze before entering. The story of 'Cinderella' stared back at us on a newly printed, and highly popular book.

My face burned hot as I bought a copy. I wanted to buy them all. When I entered the carriage and we started off, my heart pounded. But once the ride ended, I could barely register a pulse.

Another sharp gasp from me forced Edmond to stop the carriage before we reached our gate.

He climbed in and I handed him the book. His eyes widened with each page he turned.

"Oh, no," he said.

"Yes. I'd imagine we are no longer able to depend on relations with Cinderella to garner business."

He lowered the book, eyes perpetually wide. "This could hurt us. Have you—"

"I haven't told anyone I know her. Beyond who didn't already know."

He nodded. "Good. We'll...think of something else." After lowering the book, he thumbed through it, disgruntled. "I am a rat at least. I suppose I should have selected a better mask." Our eyes met and he mused, "At least I am not a skunk."

I didn't laugh. "I don't find it funny."

With a peck on my lips, he clambered out and we returned home. He tried to open the door for me, but I held on. I wasn't ready to face the real world again. Not with a book like that in it.

Edmond hung onto the window, chin rested on his hands. "Do you wish to sulk some more?"

"Oh, the ingratitude," I yelled. "I got her a prince, and she writes a book labeling me evil."

Lips pursed, he muttered, "Darling, she's illiterate. Are you really going to blame her for this book's contents? She invited you to the celebrating of her child. As what? A sick prank?"

Hands covering my face, I whined, "I'm not leaving this carriage until I am ready."

"Is that so?"

We fought for the door for only a moment before he succeeded and reached in to grab me by the waist.

"No. How can you joke at a time like this? We got her a prince!"

"Get out here, you."

Once he hefted me in his arms, I looked down at the book again. There was no smile between us as he lowered me to the ground.

This was bad. This was very bad.

"We'll think of something else," he said.

But I knew, there was nothing else.

That month was rough. I feared for the business entirely. I all but gave up when I was closing the shop one night and someone bustled in.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we are closed."

A big hat greeted me at first as the woman brushed herself off. And then she stood fully and smiled. "Oh, it is you. Splendid."

I took in her face, struggling to remember if we'd met.

"Four months ago, as my daughter and I ascended the palace, a rude woman threw her a doll and ran off."

Those words made me wince.

"Well, she absolutely loves it. And well...I um, happened to have misplaced it. So, I need one immediately. As well as a few more for my other daughters who are, in fact, ready to go to war with one another over the one."

She prattled on and on but I leaned away, taking her in. From her high-priced clothing, and down to her very familiar shoes—it had been years since I could afford one from that shoemaker—she was a woman of good taste.

Like a cat with a bird in its mouth, I smiled wide.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we only sell them in batches of ten."

"Ten!" she squawked, hand at her chest. Her eyes gave my store the once over before she squinted at me. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

Other than a trash book. No.

"Well, look at the time."

"No, wait, wait." She held up her hands and let out a huff. "How fast can you make one? The rest can come later."

My smile grew more pleasant. "Fast enough for her to never discover you broke the other by mistake."

Though her face reddened, she gave a gracious bow. "I'd be much obliged. And ten is fine. I suppose I can gift the rest. How much will I owe you?"

Far more than she realized. But desperate mothers did desperate things. How else could I have justified allowing Poppy to leave school part way...after we'd already paid for room and board for the year??

Edmond was happy that she continued to send us letters. Piglet never wrote us.

The doll sale was an instant success. We received orders far and wide. The exuberant cost helped keep us in high enough demand. We weren't rich by any means but could afford to take on more staff in the years to come.

Although I longed for my girls, I could only wait. I had hurt them, all three, I knew, but I'd done the best I could at the time. Of that, I was sure.

That hardly mattered.

Would I have ever forgiven my own mother if I hadn't gone through hell with my children, too? I was unsure. But the forgiveness would come, and I intended to ask for it. I just had to be patient.

Poppy worried me the most. Some of her correspondences made her appear mad...if not fragile. Edmond insisted we give her whatever she wanted, so long as she did not go silent.

She left school two years after starting. Took on several jobs as a governess. I'd thought she'd lost each one but later learned from whispers that she intentionally sought out families of higher and higher status still. She was climbing and after six years of her leaving us, she disappeared entirely. No letter, no traces.

Everything in me feared she'd perhaps had an affair with one of the men she worked for and was...quietly disposed of. She was far too smart for that, I knew, so I waited.

I had to wait on them, wait until they let me know they were ready to forgive me. Because in all this time, my own mother still lived, and yet...I could not face her.

As business picked up, life became easier. Piglet was the first one to come back, and in the...strangest way. She arrived on my doorstep twelve years after running away, two small children hiding behind her. All because I put out an ad...for a governess.

She'd grown so much. I almost didn't recognize her.

Edmond was the first to call her by name as he hurried to let her in.

"I'm very sorry to impose," she said, face red.

I stared at her, marveling about the woman she'd become, unsure if she'd allow me to embrace her.

She rushed me instead, clinging to me through the tears.

Everything came back in a rush. Her life had been an adventure to be sure but the ages of the two children, both relatively young, meant she'd at least made some good decisions in with the bad.

Now divorced, she longed to come back.

"But have that ad seen to," she told me. "It said governess."

Edmond bit back a chuckle and I did as well.

Piglet's eyes widened. "What? At your age?"

Beyond her and out the door, two bodies dressed in white charged the house.

"Not quite," I said.

Isabella was the first to rush through, tracking mud. Her brother chased her with a frog.

Edmond caught his daughter and kept her safe. "This boy.... Why must you terrorize her?"

But his son grinned and put the frog down in the house.

The screams to ensue made me laugh. From Piglet's two boys mixed in with mine, it was chaos.

Piglet never looked away from me. "Mother?" she asked.

"Twins." Her glare made me blush. "Remember how I was near dead before your departure?" As her eyes widened, I cleared my throat. "Well, their births were memorable. Rest assured."

The pleasant expression after that came with a curtsy, "If you'd have me, ma'am, I'm a very good worker."

I dragged her to me in a tight hold.

"Oh, my darling. I'm glad to have you back here." I held her shoulders and asked, "What of their father?" She made a face and I smiled.

"About Poppy," she began.

Edmond held Rafi by the face as he tried to listen. "You've heard from her?"

Piglet looked between us. When she handed me another book of a doll come to life, I gasped.

"Poppy?" I met eyes with Piglet. "She's the one writing these?"

With a grim frown, Piglet nodded. "I'd thought so at first. This confirms it. Also, I know where she is. She married a writer. They have a child but fell on hard times when these stories were stolen. I do not think she can win the battle to get the money from it." She hesitated then asked, "Would—would you go and see her?"

My mind raced, my heart pounded, but then it all stopped. Poppy was proud and to get so high in the social circle then marry a poor artist meant she'd fallen in love. This was not the time to show up unannounced.

"Has she asked for me?"

Piglet's lips parted. "Well, well, no. But—"

"Then no. She'll come when she's ready." Of that, I was sure. I could not force it. I had my apologies prepared and waiting for her but saying them would be empty if I did so for my own satisfaction.

I gathered the twins and told Piglet to get her family comfortable.

Isabella entered the carriage with me. "Where are we going, Mother?"

I peered out the window as we set off. "We're going to get Nana. This is the last time she's able to travel. She and I have a lot of catching up to do."

A horse zipped past, and Edmond called out a curse for the boy to slow down.

I stuck my head out and laughed. "It's not in his nature. Just let him go. He'll be fine."

On the other side of the carriage, Isabella peered out. I thought to call for her to sit back and remember her posture, but I snapped my mouth shut instead.

The moment I peered out my own window, mimicking her, I felt at ease.

As I pulled my daughter close and watched the day drift by, I felt fortunate. In the cycle of womanhood, I wasn't always prepared to play my part, thrust into it much like an untrained actor ejected onto a stage. I tripped, stumbled, fell, got back up, found a good stride, tripped again, did miraculous things, and received an unfathomable amount of boos but I played my role anyway.

Be it hero...or villain.

End.

Bonus Chapter available on the next page.

Where to next? Poppy's story continues in "For My Next Trick..."

Or, if you're looking for a Fantasy Romance, give "The Hunchback's Reluctant Bride" a try.