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Chapter Thirty-Nine
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A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty
Freddie brought me out to the side of the dance floor. He didn't bring me to the center though, but to a small space off to the side. It almost felt like we were hiding. Freddie was supposed to dance in the center where everyone could see him, but he'd taken me to the side of the dance floor near the edge and against the wall.Like I wasn't good enough to be seen with him. Like I didn't matter enough to take center stage.We'll have more privacy this way, I told myself, trying not to see the worst. Besides, you hate being the center of attention.It felt good to be in Freddie's arms. Soft music drifted around us, changing from a waltz to a foxtrot.Foxtrot was my worst dance, but I didn't want to pull away from Freddie. I didn't want to disappoint him. I'd already disappointed him last night. I didn't want to do it again. I managed thirty seconds of terrible dancing before I stepped on Freddie's foot.He winced, gasping hard enough that the dancers next to us glanced over. The heel of
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-One
“How are you doing?” Sophie asked me several hours later.“My feet are killing me, and I nearly tripped on my dress,” I admitted.Her eyes went wide. “What?”“I'm fine,” I assured her. “The lace on the train of my dress is just a little loose.”I turned, showing her how the very edge of the gown was worn. The beautifully worked lace kept catching in my shoe if I raised the heel of my foot too high.She sighed with relief. “That's something we can deal with. I thought you might have had a real problem. Did you make conversation with anyone?”“I spoke with the King of Navia.” I pointed to a man around my father's age wearing a very elaborate uniform.Sophie's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “And? Please tell me it went well.”“He was very kind. He just arrived here today for the official delegation,” I explained. “He said that I looked so lovely and that I made him laugh. He offered to introduce me to his son because he would love a daughter-in-law like me.”I took a perverse sense
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Two
I didn't cry.I told myself it was nothing. That Freddie was just enjoying a dance with a friend. I didn't think about the way his fingers had splayed on her hip. I didn't think about the graceful curve of her lips as she smiled up at him.I didn't think about his laugh.I didn't think about how Sophie was so much better at being a princess than I was.Of how much easier Freddie's life would be without me. Of how much happier he could be here if he didn't have to deal with me and my mistakes.I left the ballroom and found a balcony. The night air was cold and sharp after the heat of the ballroom and it felt so good. Out in the darkness, I could imagine that I was alone. That I was back at the lake.I closed my eyes and thought about home.Home where I was allowed to have a drink in my hand at a party. Where I was allowed to dance. Where I didn't have to curtsy. Where I wasn't on the news all the time. Home. Where I fit without trying.Home was where I belonged.Homesickness struck har
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Three
We sat in yet another sitting room somewhere deep inside the castle. This one looked like it had been stolen from the Downton Abbey set, complete with turn of the century furniture and oil portraits. I fully expected Dame Maggie Smith to walk in wearing full costume and yell at me for trying to kill the Queen Mother.I figured I probably had a slight concussion from hitting the marble floor with my head.The Queen Mother sat on the center sofa. The on-call doctor was speaking softly with her. So far, they hadn't found any injuries. She seemed to be alert and oriented. She answered questions and moved without restriction. The doctor didn't look worried.Liam sat beside his mother holding her hand. Aria sat on her opposite side with Henry on the couch across from them. Freddie stood by the window, his arms crossed. Sophie stood near him, her expression unreadable.I sat in a high backed chair in the far corner of the room. It was as far away as I could get from everyone without leaving.
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Four
I'm not sure how I made it back to my room.I just know that I stumbled through the hallways, tears streaming down my face as I forced my aching muscles to move. No halls were empty as I walked along with cold bare feet.I opened the door to my room, expecting to find it dark and empty. Instead, a warm light shone by the bed. Mr. Irson was pulling the drapes of my room shut and humming as he prepared the room.“My apologies, Ms. Miller. I wasn't expecting you to return so early tonight,” he said, tugging the drapes tight. He turned with a smile on his face that quickly faded the moment he saw me. “Oh my. Are you alright?”He rushed to me, his eyes full of concern. He touched my shoulders gently, moving down my arms and checking for injuries with kind hands.“Is anything broken? Do you need a doctor?” he asked. Worry filled his voice and wrapped me like a warm blanket. I wanted to sob into him.“I fell,” I stated. “And I nearly killed the Queen Mother in the process.”He stared at me f
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Five
I pulled up his name in my messages and froze. I had no idea what to say.There was a knock on my door that made me look up. It wasn't Mr. Irson's gentle three beat knock.Freddie?My heart sped up, fueled by hope.Maybe there was a chance I didn't need to send this message.“Come in,” I called, throwing off the blankets.The door opened.But it wasn't Freddie.It was Sophie and the Duke.“What are you wearing?” Sophie asked, looking completely shocked.I stood in the center of my bedroom, and looked down at my pajamas and bare feet. Everything was covered. She'd picked these pajamas out for me. They were long pants and long-sleeved dark satin and covered everything appropriately. I was suddenly glad I hadn't worn the tiny cotton shorts and tank top I often did.Sophie made an exasperated sigh and stalked over to the bathroom. She handed me a white cotton robe. “Please cover up. Try to be appropriate.”I slid the robe over my shoulders.“Honestly, I know we went over this,” Sophie con
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Six
My hand trembled and I pulled back.My whole body shook and I thought I might be sick.“Just talk to him,” I whispered to the empty hallway. “He loves you. It'll be fine.”I counted to ten and forced my hand to move. I knocked. It was clear and loud and I glanced around the hallway, sure that heads were about to pop out of every room and yell at me.No doors opened.Silence hung in the hallway. The pale light of the coming dawn flickered like a ghost in the windows as I waited. I thought of running away. I thought of just going back to my room and hiding under the covers until I had courage again.But it had to be now. I would be on a plane in an hour.Unless Freddie stopped me.If he said I should stay, I would cancel my flight. I would stay here with him and deal with the consequences of the Stair Walk. I would do it for him.My heartbeat thundered in my chest, too fast and completely unsteady. I should probably see a doctor about that, I thought. Or have a little less caffeine.A p
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Seven
I checked my phone. No messages. No missed calls.Nothing for two days from Freddie.Several from Sophie, but nothing that made me rethink my decision to leave.“You okay?” Cecelia asked from the kitchen. I tucked my phone back into my pocket and tried to smile at her as I walked into the living room. The smells of spaghetti filled the air. “Have a seat. Watch some TV. Dinner won't be ready for another twenty minutes or so.”I sat down on the comfy leather couch and pulled a quilt over my lap. It was such a different couch experience than what was in Paradisa. I couldn't imagine a worn quilt made by the Queen Mother on a worn leather sofa with soft throw pillows. This couch was made for comfort and family, not for looking pretty.I turned on the TV.And saw Freddie.“In world news, Paradisa and Navia have signed a historic trade agreement. Paradisa, known for their lithium deposits and Navia, known for new technology signed the agreement this morning. The two countries have had a cont
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- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Fifty-One
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Fifty
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Nine
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Eight
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Seven
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Six
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Five
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Four
- A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Three
