Cinderella: A Retelling of an Old Classic

Firelight Conversations - Chapter 17

Having scrubbed, washed, dried, and dusted the entire house Adela was exhausted. Instead of simply tidying up what was already a nearly spotless home  Regina had ordered a complete overhaul. 

"That women must be an incarnation of the devil himself." Rebecca groused while sewing that evening.

Ella gasped but then began laughing. "Becca dear you shouldn't say such things. Its not very kind to compare someone to the epitome of evil."

"When I see something that will convince me otherwise I won't. Until then I firmly believe she is a witch."

Ella doubled over in laughter. Rebecca's red and normally goodnatured face was twisted into a grimace so unbecoming to her jolly features that is was comical.

"Did you finish the curtains Ella?" Rebecca asked in a tired voice, though she had managed a smile at the sight of her young charges merriment.

Ella sobered immediately and answered that she had.

They worked in silence for several moments more before Ella started and looked at the kitchen door.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what dear?" muttered Rebecca distractedly.

"That sound..."

The housekeeper set down her sewing and looked in the direction Ella was referring to. Listening carefully she shook her head and sighed.

"I don't hear anything lovey. Finish that seam and we can go to bed."

Ella inclined her head once more and began the tedious chore of mending a seam in her stepsisters gown. How she had managed to rip out such a difficult area Ella couldn't imagine but suffice it to say she must have been performing acrobatics at the time.

Once again she looked up from her work and glanced at the door.

"I swear Becca I hear something behind that door!"

The red faced housekeeper stood and stretched. Setting aside her work she went to the door.

"I still say there is absolutely nothing out there but if you insist..."

Ella had left her sewing and was standing at the door as well. Grasping a hold of the latch she pulled at the heavy door and swinging it open, peered out into the night.

"See? I told you. Nothing is out there lovey you must be over tired,"

"Shhhhhhh," Ella interrupted. "I just heard it again."

Looking down she heard a mewling sound around her ankles. There, rubbing itself around her ankles with reckless abandon was a small grey kitten. 

"Well goodness me, where did you come from?" Rebecca asked looking down at the pitiful little thing. 

Ella picked up the ball of fluff and brought her into the warm kitchen. "He's so small.... I wonder what happened?"
"Most likely some farm cat had kittens nobody wanted." Rebecca answered while searching the cupboards for a small dish.

"Thats terrible Becca!"

"What? I haven't done anything I was simply suggesting the obvious." the former nursemaid protested crossly setting a bowl of milk in front of the mewling feline.

Ella fixed her former nanny with a disapproving stare.

"and don't you look at me like that little miss..."

Smiling discretely Ella watched as the hungry ball of fur lapped up the milk with vigor. Rebecca had returned to her sewing.

"What do you think she is like?" she asked quietly.

"Who dear?" Rebecca asked distractedly.

"My grandmother."

Rebecca sighed and set down her sewing for the second time that evening. "Now why would you be thinking of that? Does it really matter what she is like?"
"I've never met my grandmother before, I was only thinking."
"Deary, I will tell you something. I've never met Regina's mother either but I have very little hope that anything good can come out of that side of the family. You must prepare yourself for disappointment. She may not know about you at all." 

Ella nodded as she stroked the now sleeping kitten in her lap. "I know, I can't help but hope...."

"I know you can't my sweet, thats who you are. But there is a difference between hope and wishful thinkin'. You will have to be careful and not speak or say a word unless she asks directly. I wouldn't want you punished anymore then you already are." with that Rebecca sighed and again picked up her seams.

"Rebecca?" Ella asked again after a few moments.

"Heavens! I'll never get this done at this rate." she exclaimed setting the seams on the table with a thump that woke the new-found feline. "what now?"

"I was simply going to ask if you wanted to go to bed? I can finish the last two seams, they won't take me a minute."

"Well it will take you less then a minute then because I am not leaving to sleep while you work yourself into a fever. Now you put that nuisance down and start the seam and it won't take us long at all."

"Oliver."

"What now?"
"I've decided to call him Oliver."
"Oh now we're keeping him are we?"
Ella smiled. "Of course we are Becca. You didn't think I would turn him back into the cold?"
"I suppose not but I have two conditions. One he stays down here at all times, he can not be seen upstairs. And two if he so much as touches a hair of himself to these dresses out he goes. Can you imagine explaining to the witch upstairs why she found cat hair on her velveteen?"

"I agree and thank you Becca."
The nurse maid just grumbled before beginning her task yet again.