Ella And The Prince (The Diary series, Book 1)

Chapter Ten: Ella

After I had dried all traces of my tears from my face, I continued on to town and bought the best silks that Luella had, before walking back to the mansion with more spring in my step than when I had left. When I arrived I did measurements on my step-sisters, then started sowing, for I would not have time for any tardiness during the very short fortnight. That evening, for the first time in over two years, I finally slept peacefully. Somewhere, deep down in my heart, I knew that somehow, everything was going to work out.

Two weeks later I woke early in the morning and gladly did the chores that I normally despise. Then I sat down in the sewing room again, to add the finishing touches to the dresses for my step-sisters. It felt like they were peeking in every five minutes until the dresses were complete. I wish that I could say that the rest of my day went smoothly, but it was not to be. In fact, the rest of my afternoon was complete chaos. Between tying corsets extra-tight, to helping shove on too-small shoes, my job was becoming increasingly frustrating.

After what seemed like an eternity, I heard my step-father call for the carriage to be brought around. When I saw that they were all loaded up and on their way, I sat down on the porch and waited to see if my fairy godmother would show up.

I didn't have to wait long. As soon as my step-father's carriage was out of sight, my fairy godmother appeared in the same fashion that she had before. I was pleasantly surprised, and excited that our meeting had been real. My fairy-godmother had a look in her eye, as if she knew that I had been doubtful at first, but she did not make any mention of it.

“Well dear, we must be getting on with it. We don’t have much time! Why don’t you run along upstairs, and put on your nicest dress.” She told me.

“Umm, fairy-godmother? I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but none of my dresses are made of anything except… Feed sacks.” I explained. “Oh, pish-posh! It won’t matter none when I am done with you. That’s what magic is for, my dear!” She then shooed me off, and with growing excitement, I hurried up to my room in the attic.

I wasn’t sure what exactly she had in mind, so I took a few minutes to sort through my dresses and picked out the one that I finished last, which also happened to be the nicest one that I had completed. I put it on, then came back outside, only to find that she had been very busy in my absence. Before me stood the most beautiful carriage that I had ever seen, even nicer than the ones that my step-father owned. It was completely gold, and hitched to the front were four of the most gorgeous white horses that I had ever seen. Beside them stood four footmen, all dressed up in beautiful, blue livery with gold trimmings. My fairy-godmother was mumbling to herself when I walked up to the carriage.

“Mice. Check. Lizards. Check. Pumpkin. Check. What am I forgetting?” I looked down at my own clothes, then tapped her on the shoulder.

“I believe you were forgetting my dress, fairy-godmother,” I said.

“Oh, that’s right!  I can’t believe I missed that! Well, let's see here. It needs to be beautiful, but not too many frills and laces. What color do you prefer?” She asked.

“Umm… How about a soft green?” I asked in return.

She nodded her head, and then circled around me a few times.

“Yes, yes, I do believe that will work.” And with that, she pulled a wand out of her sleeve and waved it around. Before I could even blink my eyes, my plain feed sack dress became the most beautiful full-length ball gown, of the most gorgeous green color that I had ever seen in my life. It had a high, sweetheart neckline, with full length lace sleeves, the same green as the rest of the dress. It had a snug waistline before it billowed out, with at least six petticoats. I spun myself around once, before walking to the carriage. I was just about to step up when my fairy-godmother gasped quite loudly.

“What, what is it?” I asked worriedly. “You aren’t wearing any shoes! And I just now noticed your hair. You can’t go looking like that!” She told me, and then she waved her wand again. My hair was suddenly in a crown braid, with white and blue flowers intertwined, and when I pulled up my dress to see my feet, I saw that I was wearing glass slippers. Glass slippers! I took a few steps and found that it was like walking on a cloud, rather than in shoes.

“You’ll find that they are very comfortable!” She told me.

I thanked her for everything, and then finally stepped into the carriage. One of the footmen closed the door after me, and my fairy-godmother stepped up the window.

“I must warn you, you have to be home by midnight, for at midnight, everything will be as it was. I can assure you that your step-father and your step-sisters will not recognize you, but please be careful anyway.” She said.

“Thank you so much, for everything. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.” I told her. She giggled before telling the coachman that it was time to go.

“Have a good night, my dear!” She shouted as my carriage rolled down the drive. I sat back in the comfort of the carriage, marveling at everything that had transpired so far that evening.