The Christmas Cinderella

THE CHRISTMAS CINDERELLA , my upcoming Christmas novella is about Sally Destry, a schoolgirl at Miss Mallard’s Seminary for the Daughters of Gentlemen. At the start of the story, she’s utterly miserable and talking about her problem to the nicest teacher at Miss Mallard’s — Emmaline Westwood. 

You might remember Emm as the heroine of MARRY IN HASTE — but she hasn’t met her hero yet, and she only has a tiny role at the start of this novella. The  Christmas Cinderella is therefore a prequel, but it’s a stand-alone story, mainly about Sally.

Sally does appear later in MARRY IN HASTE, in an incident where nasty gossip is being spread about Emm by a Mrs. Oates. If you’ve read the book, you might remember it. Here’s a small reminder, where Sally is now in a position to repay Emm for her kindness. . . 

Emm, her new husband Cal, and her step-nieces are at a fashionable London ball. Emm is nervous, but planning to confront the nasty Mrs. Oates about the gossip she’s spreading. Now read on . . . 

“Goodness me, what a lot of former Mallard girls there are here tonight,” Emm exclaimed, noticing several more. “I had no idea they were all in London. And what a coincidence that they’re all at the same party.

* * * * Coincidence? Anne interjects. I think not. <g> * * * * *

As Mrs. Oates entered the room on her husband’s arm, a group of dashing and elegant young women, led by the former Sally Destry, linked arms with her and bore her gaily off to an adjoining anteroom. She went with them, flushed and laughing. Emm counted five former Mallard girls.

Emm sat back down with a thump. “They must be friends of hers. How very disappointing. I’ll have to wait until she comes out. I don’t want to involve anyone else.” Cal handed her the champagne glass. She emptied it in one gulp.

* * * snip * * *

“They’re out.” Emm jumped to her feet. The dashing young women emerged from the anteroom with Mrs. Oates. “Now.”

But just as they released her, Lady Peplowe, Mrs. Braxton and some of their friends took Mrs. Oates’s arm and led her back in.

“What’s going on?” Emm gave Cal a puzzled glance. Cal shrugged, snagged another glass of champagne from a passing waiter and gave it to his wife.

“You don’t think they’re—? No.” She sipped thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose—?” And shook her head.

Cal didn’t know what was going on, but he was pretty sure the nasty young woman was getting an earful from Lady Peplowe and her friends. As for the fashionable young women who’d carried her away so gaily the first time, whatever they’d said to her hadn’t been anything gay or frivolous. She’d emerged from the anteroom looking quite shaken.

* * * * *

So that’s a little teaser. I’ll post a snippet from The Christmas Cinderella next week. I don’t have a cover for it yet — I’m still doing a final edit of the story, but as soon as I have a cover, you’ll see it here first. I plan to have the e-book and paperback up for sale some time in October, but I’ll let you know as soon as it’s up.