Ever After: A Cinderello Story

Ever After: Part IV - The Next Day -

Rodrigo could hardly hide the smile of absolute happiness that flooded his face. He held the little piece of parchment as though it was a diamond. It was an invitation for his sons and himself to attend a royal masque that was to be held five days later. He glanced from the parchment to the ugly, fat little page that stood before him, his voice sweeter than all the honey in Spain.
"And the engagement?" The page whispered back.
"Cancelled." She smiled at Rodrigo's overjoyed reaction. "Rumor has it that she must find herself a bridegroom before that very night."
Rodrigo sighed. "Well, that doesn't give us much time, does it?" He pursed his lips and thought for a second before picking up a bag of coins from his belt. He pressed one at a time into the page's small hand. "I need to know who the competition is, every move she makes; her agenda." He paused for a moment, then placed the entire bag in her hand. "And any other tidbits you can . . .dig up."
The page knew what he was after. Two could play at this game. He leaned over and spoke in a low tone to her. "She's playing tennis with the Marchioness El Lirio tomorrow at noon."

Rodrigo gave him a sugary smile, running a pointed fingernail across the page's cheek. "A skin of such . . .elegance concealing such ruthlessness." He ended, tipping his face upward, since he was far shorter than he was. "I've grown quite fond of our intrigues together; surely you must know that." His face was extremely convincing and the page took several deep breaths before speaking again, in a breathless whisper.
"I have an inkling, My Lord."
"When my son is king, perhaps we can come to a . . .new arrangement." The page drew in a breath as he understood the meaning behind those innocent words.
What an idea! He decided in that very moment to become the Baron's complete slave just for that reward. He was so elated that he did not notice when Rodrigo closed the door in his face.

Jacquez munched on a churro as he entered Martinez's room. The room, though large and lavishly decorated, was messier than if a cyclone had swept through.
Piles of doublets littered the bed and floor, their bright colors turning the room into a melange of rainbows. Martinez pawed through armoire after armoire, digging out clothes, glancing at them, then tossing them to the floor in annoyance. Oblivious to Martinez's sighs, his father looked exceedingly happy as he stood by the window.
"Oh, my darlings, the years have not been kind, but this just proves that even God is helping us now." Martinez ignored him and continued tossing doublets everywhere.
Jacquez sighed; all his father had been able to talk about was that masque ever since the invitation arrived. Rodrigo caught sight of a pale blue brocade traje de luces that Martinez had just thrown to the bed. "What's wrong with this one?"
Martinez turned to his father, exasperated. "It's blue!"
Rodrigo sighed, sometimes his son was too much. "Henriqua . . .loves . . .blue." He enunciated every single syllable in the words, but Martinez overrode him, snatching the traje de luces and flinging it across the bed.

"Then, fifty other boys will be wearing exactly the same color!" Rodrigo opened his mouth to speak, then a proud smile spread across his face.
"Very good, Martinez." Jacquez decided to make him presence known. He piped up from the door.
"This one is too small." He took another bite of the churro dipped in chocolate sauce, ignoring the painful stabs of the stays against his stomach. Rodrigo turned to him, almost as a passing concern.
"Then, we shall get you a tighter cinch." Jacquez's eyes widened in horror.
This was nowhere close to what he had wanted.
"But I cannot breathe as it is!" Rodrigo was not used to being argued with, especially by his younger son. He stood in front of Jacquez and firmly snatched the churro away.
"If one cannot breathe, one cannot eat." Jacquez scowled as soon as his father's back was turned. What was the point of his presence at the masque if the food was off limits? Martinez would be the only one with any attention paid to him. The man in question groaned at Rodrigo.

"Father! Focus, please!" Rodrigo turned back to Martinez, completely at a loss, but still able to retain his sarcasm.
"Perhaps, if I knew what you were looking for?" Martinez stamped his feet.
"Something fit for a king!" Rodrigo's face lit up and his eyes slit, making him look almost like a snake that had just found a nest of baby birds.
"Come gentlemen. I have just the thing." He led them out of Martinez's room and into his own, speaking softly and making sure nobody was about. "But, we must speak of this to no-one."
Martinez laughed gleefully as he followed his father. "Oh, I do love a good intrigue!"
Rodrigo knelt before a large cedar trunk at the foot of his bed. He hummed to himself as he opened the lid and found a package wrapped in silk. "Waste not, want not." He lifted out what had to be the most beautiful torero suit any of them had ever seen. It was made of white and gold silk, delicate as gossamer and covered with elaborate gold beadwork. Martinez's eyes lit up. "Oh! Perfect!"
Jacquez dug underneath the torero suit and lifted up a pair of exquisite satin slippers. "Where did you get these?" Rodrigo laughed.
"They're Daniel's dowry." Martinez joined his father in laughter.
"Cinderello married? To whom, the chimney sweep?" Jacquez frowned; why did his father offer it to Martinez if it belonged to Daniel? He gathered up courage and spoke aloud.