Ella Enchanted: Chapter 25–Epilogue

Mother had ordered me not to tell anyone about the curse, but Mandy could countermand the order so I’d be able to tell Char.

He wrote, “When I find a husband for you who is rich enough to satisfy me, you will be released from my Olga. Until then, I urge you to be, as always, my stalwart daughter.”

She was probably avoiding a lovesick swain, not wealthy enough or ancient enough to suit her.

“My first act,” I wrote, “will be to confess that I love you. I’ll beg pardon a thousand times for causing you unhappiness and make reparations by making you laugh a thousand times.”

In the morning I woke Mandy and tried to convince her to feign illness so she could call Lucinda immediately.

I soaked away a year of cinders and grime and Mum Olga’s orders and Hattie’s edicts and Olive’s demands.

She muttered no incantations, waved no wand.

Every wall was covered with tapestries: hunting scenes, court scenes, pastoral scenes.

I’m pleased to have found a friend at these balls, where I expected to find only tedium.

The king’s face was severe in repose, although merry now.

I curtsied, reveling in her fury.

I was the cause of his joy and would be the cause of his destruction: a secret delivered to his enemies, a letter written in my own hand, a covert signal given by me, poison in his glass, a dagger in his ribs, a fall from a parapet.

A garrulous widower fell in love with her unwavering attention.

Char watched over him and intervened when necessary to save him or his victims from the consequences of his chicanery.

Mandy lived with us as cook and godmother of our children—and secret performer of small magic to protect us from colds, broken crockery, and the sundry inconveniences of a royal household.