“So, your answer…?” Friedrich asked. “Yes!” Cinderella laughed before throwing her arms around him. He” — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Friedrich raised his hands, as if soothing a wild horse. “Cinderella, you need to calm down.” “I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE CALM… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella’s head rolled back against her will, and she lost track of the conversation as her stomach heaved. “I’m going to be… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella studied the colonel. “Haven’t you tired of history, or my voice?” she asked, her tone closer to sincerity than the stiff… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“He took Cinderella’s basket from her and passed her his. Cinderella accepted the exchange and started weaving willow branches into his neater… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella was grateful for the shade as she tried bending the willow branch and was whacked in the face for her efforts.” — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“So, I was the best-bred mare to suit your purposes?” Cinderella narrowed her eyes. “You’re not winning any points for charm, Your… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella considered joining the line until she caught a whiff of the refreshments. Food, she thought, abandoning her goal and following her… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Perhaps I could teach a horse to do tricks?” Cinderella said. “Like a dog.” “That may work better.” “Or I could make… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Your desires are my goals, Pet.” “Must you call me that?” Cinderella asked. “Of course; it is endearing.” “It is not. It… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Truly it is none of my affair. I will always advocate for lovers to follow their hearts.” “What do you think, Cinderella?”… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“How rude of me. I almost forgot,” Friedrich said before presenting her with the basket. Inside the basket sat a glass slipper,… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Do you think he is ashamed of me?” Cinderella asked. “It is not my place to say, Mademoiselle.” “Jeanne, please.” Jeanne pursed… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Today, I have a different offer in mind,” he said. “But first, my mother would tell me introductions must be made. Cinderella-who-has-no-curiosity,… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“The ceremony was over faster than Cinderella’s dazed mind could take in. She felt so loved and so lucky, the thing she… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Thinking of me?” Colonel Friedrich stepped into his office. “Hardly,” Cinderella said. “Ensign Kurt tells me you called me by my name,”… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“My sister has taken to tree-climbing—heaven help her if Father finds out.” “And your mother?” “Turns a blind eye. Secretly, I think… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella churned butter with a little more gusto than necessary. It had been almost a week since the Erlauf officer became a… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella smiled through the tears in her eyes. “Cristoph Friedrich, before I answer, there are some things that must be stated,” she… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“I know what I should do.” “Oh?” “Yes. I should run away to Loire. I could…join a traveling show or something.” “I… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Do you understand?” “Yes.” Friedrich rubbed his chin and gazed unseeingly at the ground. “Then why do you look as though you… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella frowned as she wrestled thin willow branches into place, trying her hand at making a wicker basket. One of the maids… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Um, Your Grace,” Margrit said. “Hm?” Cinderella asked, turning to look at more of her possessions scattered through the room. “What is… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Ivo—one of Friedrich’s men—bowed as he stepped out from behind the tree. “My apologies, Mademoiselle. I did not mean to be intrusive,”… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“He wriggled his fingers in a come-closer gesture. Cinderella minced over to him. “What,” she started, “do you want—put me down!” He’d… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Cinderella winced in the silence and was about to whisper to the minster to move on when Friedrich touched her arm. When… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“She tilted alarmingly and almost fell, but she righted herself at the last moment and hopped several steps. “Darned cat!” “I have… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“He tossed his crown aside and plucked a basket out of the sack. He took a deep breath, held the basket behind… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“The painting was a portrait of Cinderella, finished before the war. Before Erlauf. It showed Cinderella in a beautiful, elaborate—and uncomfortable, as… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“It hasn’t escaped me that in spite of our close relationship”—Friedrich said, attempting to lean forward and kiss Cinderella on the forehead.… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Colonel Friedrich is deliciously handsome.” “Marie! You are married!” “Yes, but that does not mean I am not shallow for your sake,”… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Definitely worth the wait,” Cinderella pronounced, a little breathlessly, when they were finished. “Yes, you are,” Friedrich said,” — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Are you done now?” he asked as Cinderella drank her fill. “Yes, I think so,” she said, handing the water skin back… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“We’ve already visited Alsace. Twice.” “Yes, but I did not tell you all there is to know of it.” “I can hardly… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“I know everyone whispers he is a rogue, but, Cinderella, surely you must realize he follows you with the loyalty of a… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“The assailants spread out in a formation, giving her the opportunity to turn her back. But she couldn’t. Cinderella scrunched her nose… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“I do not think the Colonel will approve of your engaging the enemy,” Ivo said. Cinderella pointed her head skyward. “I agree.… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“He lowered his head towards Cinderella. When he was a hand away, Cinderella covered her mouth with her hands. “Do not even… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“It’s been months since Friedrich was attacked. Isn’t the danger over by now?” “Not as long as the Colonel courts you, Mademoiselle.”… — K.M. Shea Copy Share Image
“Friedrich tugged on the collar of his military jacket and shook his head. Duchess Lacreux was a cunning woman—not at all what he expected.… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“What do you think of the ball?” her companion asked. “It is lovely,” Cinderella said. “What do you enjoy most? The dancing?” “The food.… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Bless the army for increased patrols, and bless me for memorizing their routes for library trips.” — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“For the longest time, Cinderella had doubted Friedrich was ever serious about her. Now, as she saw the way his fingers twitched with nervousness… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Of course I would fall for Captain Emotionally Constipated. I could train a rock to hold more affection for me.” — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Although…it does raise an important question.” “Yes?” “We have both admitted we love each other.” “Yes?” “And we’re engaged.” “Yes?” “May I finally kiss… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Cinderella smiled through the tears in her eyes. “Cristoph Friedrich, before I answer, there are some things that must be stated,” she said. “Yesterday,… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“When will you desist playing tour guide?” he asked. “I should think never. It is the greatest aspiration of my life to give historic… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“It’s been months since Friedrich was attacked. Isn’t the danger over by now?” “Not as long as the Colonel courts you, Mademoiselle.” Cinderella sighed.… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Isaia wasn’t Briar’s true love. She might love him, but it was the young innocent affection bred out of familiarity.” — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Startled, Cinderella fixed her eyes on his mask. It was to her shame, but he was right. It wasn’t the thought of her marriage… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“And all the sweet talking of your mother?” “I want you two to get along. You need to get along,” Friedrich said. Cinderella peered… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“He lowered his head towards Cinderella. When he was a hand away, Cinderella covered her mouth with her hands. “Do not even dream of… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Now do you see why I wanted to be sure you loved me before I told you? Although you still haven’t said you do…”… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
“Friedrich frowned. “I hoped you two would get along, but I cannot say I wanted you to bond this well.” Cinderella blinked. “Why not?”… — K.M. Shea Copy Share
