“She’s in there gushing - the smarmy madam. -
‘It fits very nicely your highness, whose shoe is it?’ As if butter wouldn’t melt.”
“Sister, calm down.”
“Calm down, after I spent half the bloody day getting myself into that flippin girdle. And the other half squeezing into shoes a size too small. It’ll be all I can do to keep my hands of the little cow, I’m sure.”
Estrildis had been positive that her attention to detail would’ve ensured her meeting with the Prince to be successful. Ever since the centenary ball the rumors had persisted. The Prince had danced with a mysterious lady and had fallen in love with her. Just when he’d decided to find out more about her, she’d disappeared, leaving only a small shoe behind.
As Estrildis and her sister Evalina had both been present, they were convinced it was one of them the Prince had lost his heart too. They were excited. Estrildis was so aroused by the thought of becoming a princess that she worried that her heart would not be able to stand the strain. On top of that a rumour reached them that the prince was visiting all the good houses in the city trying to find his princess- to-be. All it needed was a foot to fit the discarded shoe. Estrildis knew it couldn’t be Evalina because her feet were of a gross size compared to hers. So it had to be her. Besides Evalina’s nose was broken and no Prince would fall in love with those looks. She wasn’t at all concerned about her own cauliflower ears as they had been covered up by a red wig at the ball. If she didn’t open her mouth when she smiled no one could see her missing front teeth either.
Evalina had fought hard with herself to maintain an outward impression of exhilaration at the idea of being a princess. She knew deep inside though that it would never be - her feet were too big. She didn’t even know the size of the shoe the Prince had, but made up her mind it would be too small. Of course the consolation would be that she would become a sister of a princess. There wouldn’t be a problem getting a handsome fellow then. She told herself she would need to lose the tiniest bit of weight though. Even though she’d overheard the disgusting third coachman saying how men liked something to get hold of, she wasn’t convinced he meant the aristocracy.
Today was the day then. The Prince had swept into the house carrying a small silver shoe. With his usual impeccable manners and dreamy blue eyes caressing every woman around, he’d asked if they might try the shoe. Estrildis and Evalina made everyone leave except themselves. The Prince looked at Evalina and suggested she might go and comfort her mother. Estrildis smiled and sniffed, at the same time opening her fan with a flourish.
“Go along sister.”
The Prince coughed, “Perhaps you might accompany her too madam?” Her smile disappeared and she felt her girdle dig into her ribs and her face screwed up in pain.
“Before you go, where is your other sister - Belinda?”
“Oh you don’t want to see her your highness. She didn’t even go to the ball.” Estrildis said.
“I see. Although I have promised to see all the ladies in the city. Maybe you could send her anyway?”
Estrildis bobbed a short curtsy. She strode out of the room calling ‘Belinda’. The cry was taken up by nervous servants and the house seemed to reverberate with their young sister’s name. It wasn’t long before a quiet, shy-looking, gorgeous and graceful young girl glided toward the room where the Prince was.
Estrildis caught her halfway across the hall, standing in front of her blocking the way. She whispered in Belinda’s ear.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to my lady. I will never allow you to marry the Prince . . . Never.”
Belinda’s lips parted in a huge smile, a light flashed on one of her teeth. Without saying a word she moved around Estrildis and continued.
Estrildis was still muttering to Evalina when the study door burst open and the Prince and Belinda emerged. The Prince was holding Belinda’s fingertips in his and his face glowed with pleasure and excitement. Belinda was gazing into his eyes. The walked on tip toe to the front door oblivious of anyone around them. The doors seemed to open by themselves. Estrildis and Evalina rushed after them, just in time to see the royal carriage disappearing down the drive.
“That’s it,” Estrildis screamed. “I will kill her when next we meet.”
“The Prince will not let you do that sister dear.” Evalina said.
“I’m her sister I can get close, he won’t be able to stop me...”
“But I can.”
Estrildis looked back at her sister as they returned inside. Her face blackened even more than it was before.
“What are you talking about, you stupid woman?”
“It...that...I didn’t...” She was struggling to get the words out, at the same time pointing over Estrildis’s shoulder. Estrildis turned back to see what she was showing her. Standing between them and the study was a woman bathed in a strong white light. She had a white dress and golden hair, she carried a stick over which a star hovered. The woman herself did not appear to be standing on the floor. Estrildis and Evalina screamed.
The Prince and Belinda were married and lived happily ever after. Estrildis and Evalina disappeared. It was rumoured they’d left the country to live in France where they both met and married noblemen of considerable age. The gardener of their old house kept his own council about that. Instead he tendered with all the care he could muster two very new, very large pumpkins that had grown mysteriously one night just after Belinda had left.
