Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(48)

I’d only just popped my head out of the carriage’s window to tell the guards to let us pass when we were practically there. The door opened, and Daniel stood there to help me to the ground.

I took a few moments to look at the restaurant on the ground floor. I’d not really paid attention to it before now, but after hearing Cynder’s story about his parents, I couldn’t help but think back to how it must have been all those years ago. Of course, there was no hint of the fire that had once gutted it entirely. The current owners had done an excellent job of having it completely refurbished. I watched a couple in the window make a toast. They looked so happy and at ease. I envied them for a second, before realizing that for the first time, I’d be heading up to Cynder’s apartment without having to keep an eye out for police. The last time, I had sneaked out of the palace, and Cynder was a criminal on the run. How things had changed.

The steps that led to the apartments above the restaurant were covered in purple petals.

“Follow them!” urged Daniel. “I’ll be here to take you home. What time do you plan on leaving?”

I remembered what I’d promised Luca.

“I’ll be back down at ten to midnight,” I said, wondering if it was true. I should have questioned Cynder about his wife before now, but I’d not expected him to go so overboard for our date. If the date finished early which I suspected it would, I could easily walk home. I turned and followed the petals right into the building.

I already knew where I was going, but it was so wonderful to follow the purple blanket of violets, delphiniums and hundreds of other different types of flower. I wondered if he’d bought them or got them here by magic. The scent of lavender filled the air as I walked up the stairs. When I came to the top floor, the carpet of flowers stopped. Not at the doorway to the apartment, but at the window.

Ignoring it, I knocked on Cynder’s door, and when he didn’t answer, I tried to open it.

“I think you’ll find it’s locked!”

I turned, expecting to find Cynder but instead came face to face with his neighbor from downstairs, Mr. Frost. I’d met him last year when he’d gotten me out of a sticky situation.

“Hi, Sam.”

He was dressed smartly, just as Daniel had been. I guessed Cynder had something to do with that too.

“Your Highness,” He bowed deeply. I ignored the royal protocol and hugged him, taking him by surprise.

“I’m here to escort you out of the window,” Sam blustered, obviously embarrassed by my over-exuberance.

“The window?” I ran to it and opened it. In the distance, I could see the lights of the palace. I wondered if Luca was watching me right now. It was too far to see clearly without a telescope so I couldn’t be sure.

“The fire escape Your Highness.”

I looked down and saw that there was indeed, a small platform on which to stand. Metal stairs led both upwards and downwards. I climbed out, trying in vain not to get my dress snagged on anything and waited for Sam. The cool air was much keener at this height, so I pulled my cloak tighter. When I was sure Sam was fully out, I began to head down the steps, unsure of exactly where I was going.

“Not that way.”

I looked at Sam. He was pointing up. Turning around. I headed up the stairs, my shoes clanging on every step.

At the top, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. A thousand fireflies lit up the roof which was covered in so many purple petals that I could barely see the floor of it. A string quartet played a slow melody, and there, next to a table set for two, was Cynder.





The Date with Cynder


Sam whispered goodbye and made his silent retreat, leaving us alone except for the musicians.

Cynder was dressed in an exceptionally smart suit which fitted him much better than the one he’d borrowed from Leo the week before. He saw my hesitation and walked over to me, taking my hand.

“I hope this is ok for you.”

The way he was looking at me, I could see that he really wanted me to be happy with the surprise. In any other situation, I would have been blown away. It was so romantic, but I was still seething inside. How could he do something so amazing for one woman when he was married to another?

“Did you do this for your wife too?”

I folded my arms and glared. No amount of flowers and music would make up for the biggest lie he’d been hiding from me.

He took on an expression of confusion which surprised me. Surely he wasn’t going to deny it.

“What are you talking about? I don’t have a wife.”

“Please, Cynder. I know about her.” I pulled out the photo Leo had given me from a small clutch bag and handed it to him. He took it and began to laugh. It was not the reaction I expected.

“Why is this funny?” I demanded. The musicians began to falter as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.

“I don’t know where you got your information, but I’m not married, and I’m certainly not married to Drusilla and Deirdre. They are my sisters.”

“You never mentioned sisters,” I replied unconvinced, pulling the photo back from him. They looked nothing like him. Like each other, sure, but they had nothing of the beauty Cynder possessed. There was no family resemblance at all.

“When my parents died, I told you, I ended up with a number of families. One of them was a countess called Anastasia Bloom. She asked that I call her stepmother. These two were my stepsisters although, they weren’t really. They were her two daughters. They treated me like garbage, making me do all the work while they spent their time gossiping about princes and spending all their money on ridiculous fashions.”