Chapter 5

"Cinderella, I would like you to go pick some grapes for us," the duchess said, a few days after the hunting incident. "My family owns a vineyard across town. I've drawn a map for you. Here's a large basket for you to fill."

As Cinderella walked the five or so miles to the vineyard, she thought back on her stepsisters' dance lesson this morning. She had heard the music while she was sweeping the hallways, and got so carried away that she'd begun dancing with her broom. The instructor noticed her through the doorway and invited her to dance with him.

Dance had always been one of her best subjects before Papa left, so she and the instructor had floated gracefully around the room. When he had told Jeanne and Catherine that they needed to dance more like Cinderella, the duchess had dismissed him for the day. Cinderella felt bad about getting him dismissed early, but she had so enjoyed dancing again.

After reliving her dance for the third time, she thought about the hunters in the forest. She had seen them, standing just inside the grass around the clearing where she was comforting Jeanne. She recognized one as Prince Charles' page. The other, she decided, must have been the prince. She couldn't see well enough to know for sure, but he did look a lot like her Charles. Charles had mentioned that he looked quite a bit like the prince. Perhaps they were related. They couldn't be the same person, could they? But then, Charles had lied about his identity at first. Perhaps he still was. If she ran into him again, she'd ask him.

When Cinderella arrived at the vineyard the duchess had marked, she noticed the royal insignia on the fence. This wasn't the duchess' family vineyard, it was the royal vineyard!

She considered heading right back home, but the grapes were deliciously plump and juicy looking. Perhaps she could find the vineyard keeper and ask if she might collect a basket to take home. The royal family couldn't possibly eat all these grapes themselves.

While she was wandering the rows, looking for the keeper, she saw a familiar figure. Charles! Perfect, now she could ask him if he really was the prince. She was running towards him when she heard a voice.

"Stop thief!" An older man carrying a large stick ran towards Charles from another direction. Charles took off and the man followed. Cinderella ran after Charles as well. Was he a thief? Was he really stealing from the royal vineyard? If he wasn't the prince, then he really was a liar and a thief. The vineyard master didn't recognize him, so he probably wasn't the prince.

Cinderella was so consumed in her own thoughts, she didn't notice a branch in her way. She went sprawling to the ground and her empty basket rolled away. The vineyard master darted from a nearby row and stood over her.

"So, our thief is a young lady!" he growled.

Cinderella frowned. "I'm not a thief. I haven't taken any grapes!" She pointed to her empty basket.

"Not this time, at least not yet. But I've got you now!" He pulled the map from her pocket. "Ah, see here. Even got a map with the royal vineyard clearly marked. This is all the proof I need!"

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Charles checked behind him, but the royal vineyard master was no longer chasing him. Thank goodness! He was getting in better shape ever since he'd had such a hard time keeping up with Cinderella, but he still had a lot of work to do. He bent over and let himself rest. It was so much fun 'stealing' the royal grapes. He didn't feel bad at all. They belonged to his family anyway.

When he heard the wagon driving by, Charles jumped out of the way. He was surprised to see the royal vineyard master and. . . Cinderella! Oh no! She hung her head. The vineyard master was speaking loudly.

"When the King and Queen get through with you, you'll regret your thieving ways! Stealing from the royal family, and such a pretty young thing too. . ." his voice faded as they got further away.

Cinderella was taking the blame. She must have seen him stealing. She didn't know he was the prince. Oh no! He needed to get her out of this.

Charles jumped on the next wagon to go past. He hurried through the halls and into his chambers, where he changed back into his royal garb. Alex helped him fix his hair and he strode to the throne room. The vineyard master was coming out. He bowed at Charles as he passed. Cinderella was nowhere to be seen in the throne room.

"Where is she?" Charles demanded.

"Who, dear?" the queen asked.

"Are you looking for Isabel?" the king asked.

"No, the girl who was just brought in by the vineyard master."

"Oh, she was taken to the dungeon. Stealing is a very serious offense, you know," the queen said.

"Mother, I was the one stealing the grapes," Charles said.

"You?" the king nearly yelled. "Whatever for?"

"I wanted to see how vigilant our vineyard master is. He is a very good watchman, but he caught the wrong person. The girl was just an innocent bystander. She didn't steal anything."

"You're sure, dear?" the queen asked.

"The vineyard master found a map in her pocket with the royal vineyard marked on it," the king added.

"And did she have any grapes?" Charles asked.

"No, but she had a basket," the queen said.

"Then she didn't take anything this time. And if she'd been there before, she wouldn't have needed a map. Perhaps she was going to ask permission to pick some of our grapes. That is not unheard of."

"You're right, son. Perhaps we were too hasty in our judgement. And if you have been stealing grapes, then we have no cause to hold her."

"Thank you, Father, Mother. I would not want an innocent girl punished for my mistakes. I will not steal any more grapes, and I will go apologize to the vineyard master myself." Charles strode back out of the room and hopped on his horse to go to the vineyard master. He'd have to figure out how to make it up to Cinderella, as well. Maybe he'd have a large basket of grapes sent to her.

After he'd apologized to the vineyard master, made sure that Cinderella had been sent home, and had a basket of grapes and an apology sent to her, Charles sat in the sitting room he shared with Alex.

"Is something on your mind, Charles?" Alex asked. Charles had been pacing since they finished their dinner.

"Alex, my friend."

"Yes, that's me," Alex answered when Charles paused for a long moment.

"Do you think a girl could ever fall in love with. . . with a liar, and a thief?"

"What? No, at least, not a decent girl."

"Are you sure? I mean, liars and thieves must have some redeeming qualities, right?"

"Charles, is this about Cinderella? What happened? Does she think you're a liar and a thief?"

"She knows I lied about who I am, and she saw me stealing grapes today. She's the one the vineyard master falsely captured. She thinks I'm a commoner who lies about his identity and steals from the royal vineyard."

"Well, perhaps she is as forgiving as she is beautiful," Alex said, patting Charles on the shoulder.

"I hope so."

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Cinderella was relieved when the servant who delivered the grapes told her the real thief in the vineyard had been let off with a warning. She was still angry at Charles for getting her into such a mess, but she was grateful that he had turned himself in and saved her from the dark, clammy dungeon.

The duchess and her daughters were delighted by the arrival of the grapes. They hardly seemed to notice the note that marked them for Cinderella. She didn't mind, though. There were plenty to share. Even after they ate their fill, she and Pierre would have a lot, and she might have enough to make a dessert with the rest tomorrow.

The next day dawned dull and cloudy. Once Cinderella had finished her cleaning and made a jelly of the leftover grapes, the duchess sent her to town for a few things.

Patch walked with her to town. It was a quiet walk. Cinderella was so full of thoughts, mostly about Charles. He was a liar, and a thief, but he didn't seem like such a bad person. She wasn't sure how to make him out. Mostly, she found herself wanting to get to know him and spend more time with him.

When they got to town, Cinderella and Patch found a large tent set up next to the fountain in the square. Cinderella peeked in to find a mysterious figure in a hooded cloak.

"Come in, my dear, and I shall read your fortune," a cracked voice said.

"I haven't any money," she answered.

"That is a shame. Perhaps we shall meet again."

Cinderella continued on with her errands. When she passed the tent on the way home, there was a long line. She heard people talking excitedly.

"Did you hear? He predicted that Olga would marry a man passing through the square at that moment. She ran outside and right up to the man and he proposed on the spot!"

"I heard they are to be married in a week!"

Cinderella smiled and hurried home. While she unpacked her purchases, she told the duchess what she'd overheard. "This fortune teller seems quite talented," she ended her story.

"Indeed. You must bring him here, Cinderella! I want the girls' fortunes told. Tonight!"

"Yes Mother." Once she had everything put away, she hurried right back out the door. The line for the tent was gone. The tent itself was folded in. It appeared that the fortune teller was packing up.

"Sir," Cinderella called, hurrying to the tent.

"Yes?" A boy a bit younger than Cinderella peeked around the edge of the tent. "Are you looking for the fortune teller, miss?"

"Yes! Do you know where I can find him?"

"He's gone home for the day. You'll have to come back tomorrow."

"Oh, but my stepmother, the duchess Dalben, so wants him to read my sisters' fortunes. I'm sure she will pay him well. She asked me to bring him back to the house."

"If you give me directions, I can send him to your house tonight," the boy offered. "He will need a good meal and a room, though."

"Of course. Here." Cinderella quickly gave the boy directions to the house. "I'll go home to prepare a meal and a room for him. Does he need any help walking there?"

"No. He should be fine," the boy said.

"Thank you again! What is your name?"

"I'm Yan. And you?"

"I'm Cinderella. Thank you Yan!" She waved as she hurried back towards the house. She had some stew heated up when the fortune teller arrived. She sat him down with the bowl, then went to ask the duchess where he should sleep for the night.

"Give him your room, Cinderella. We haven't any other space to spare. You can sleep out under the stars. It should be a warm enough night."

"Yes Mother." Cinderella went up to her small attic room and tidied it up for their guest. When she returned to the dining room, he had finished his stew and Jeanne, Catherine, and the duchess were gathered around him.

"For you, Jeanne, I see a future of delicious food. You will marry someone who eats well."

"Ohhh! I bet there are great cooks at the castle!" Jeanne exclaimed.

"Catherine, I see in your future a handsome man of great renown."

"The prince! Oh, he must mean the prince!" Catherine squealed.

"Well?" the duchess prompted.

"Well what?" the fortune teller wheezed.

"What else?"

"I have told what I see in their futures. I expect 20 gold pieces, as I was promised."

"No until you give them more details!" the duchess said stiffly. "And you can forget about staying the night if that's going to be your attitude."

"Fine, but if I am turned out, I cannot guarantee what I have seen for them. Perhaps more will come if I stay longer."

"You may stay, then. Cinderella will show you to your room for the night."

The fortune teller followed Cinderella up the rickety back staircase to the attic. "Some guest room," he muttered.

"We don't have a guest room. I'm sorry, but this will have to do." She opened the door and led him in.

"This is your room?"

"Yes, but I can sleep elsewhere tonight. Please make yourself comfortable."

"Ah, what a sweet girl. Goodnight Cinderella."

"Goodnight!" She headed outside to the stable, where she found Patch curled up in a pile of straw. She curled up next to him and quickly drifted off.