His Cinderella in Disguise [EBOOK]

Chapter 1<br>
Marie<br>

“Hurry along, darling. The seamstress is waiting, and you know well enough that you must look your best this evening.”<br>

Marie glanced up in time to see her stepsister Harriet’s expression fall.<br>

“But Mother, I will be in disguise the entire night,” she protested. “What does it matter how I look?”<br>

Marie stifled a chuckle at the irritated look on her stepmother’s face. Bertha Parson, Dowager Countess of Dunwich, didn’t appreciate it when anyone flouted her authority. While Harriet was the only person in the household who could get away with the smallest amount of rebellion, even she had her limits.<br>

Marie wasn’t afforded the same luxury. Her stepmother took great delight in telling her what she could and could not do.<br>

“That’s no excuse not to look your best,” Bertha snapped. “You could very well catch the attention of an earl or even a duke tonight. Do you think he would pick you over all the other girls if you don’t outshine them?”<br>

“But, Mother…”<br>

“Enough complaining,” Bertha hissed. She clapped her hands, and two servants entered the room, followed closely by the seamstress. The woman had been making dresses for the Dunwich women since long before Marie’s mother had died, and her skills were unmatched.<br>

As she curtsied to Bertha and Harriet, her expression was wary and cautious. Marie couldn’t blame her. Her stepmother was a trying woman in the best of circumstances.<br>

Today, she would be especially difficult. She was determined that the evening’s ball would be where Harriet finally snagged herself a wealthy, titled husband. It was a matter of the utmost importance to the Dowager Countess.<br>

Marie’s own marriage was of far less concern to her stepmother, however. She wouldn’t be attending this masquerade or any other ball this season. Bertha had deemed it “unnecessary.” There was only one reason Marie could think of for the Dowager Countess to keep her away from the eligible bachelors of high-society.<br>

She’d already picked a husband for Marie herself.<br>

The thought wasn’t a welcome one. Marie had no doubt her stepmother’s choice would be a man with whom she had nothing in common. Within all probability, she wouldn’t even be able to tolerate him. Of course, whether Marie liked her husband or not was of no concern to Bertha.<br>

Indeed, she would love nothing more than to see her step-daughter miserable. She had made that perfectly clear over the years.<br>

“Could you not make yourself more useful?” Bertha suddenly snapped, yanking Marie from her thoughts.<br>

With a frown, Marie met her stepmother’s dark brown gaze.<br>

“What do you mean?”<br>

“You are sitting there as silent as a bump on a log,” Bertha hissed. “Would it be so difficult for you to encourage Harriet to attend tonight’s ball?”<br>

Marie released a sigh. There was no pleasing Bertha. If she were more active and conversational, the Dowager Countess would accuse her of trying to steal attention away from Harriet. If Marie were to sit quietly, she accused her of laziness.<br>

“Apologies, Stepmother,” she said in a quiet voice. “I’ll endeavor to do better.”<br>

She met Harriet’s eyes in the mirror as the seamstress dressed her. Harriet’s gaze was sympathetic, and even apologetic. Marie offered her a small smile and a tiny shrug.<br>

When Harriet was fully dressed, Bertha gushed, “Oh, you will be the most beautiful lady present tonight!”<br>

She ordered Harriet to spin in a slow circle so she could see the full effect of the luxurious Venetian Bordeaux gown. It was a gorgeous dress, but it looked heavy on Harriet’s thin frame. Still, it was so lovely Marie felt an unfortunate pang of jealousy that she couldn’t wear it herself.<br>

“Get that pathetic look off your face,” Bertha snapped, glaring at Marie. “You look like a dog denied its bone.”<br>

Her words were no harsher than usual, but they struck Marie particularly hard, given everything the Dowager Countess denied her. Feeling tears gather in her eyes, Marie pushed to her feet.<br>

“Excuse me, please,” she mumbled, lowering her head and dashing out of the room before Bertha could stop her. No doubt she’d pay for her hasty exit later, but all that mattered in this moment was that Bertha didn’t see her cry.<br>

She made her way through the manor to her room, shutting the door firmly behind her before collapsing onto her bed to weep. How had her life come to this? Why must she be saddled with that horrible woman instead of the loving parents she missed every single day?<br>

How long must she endure this torment?<br>

It was sometime later when she heard a knock on the door.<br>

“Go away,” she snapped, sitting up on her bed and swiping her hand over her eyes. She didn’t want to see anyone, especially not Bertha.<br>

“It’s me,” Harriet’s soft voice filtered through the door. “Please, may I come in?”<br>

Marie hesitated a moment, but then said, “Very well.”<br>

Harriet opened the door and slipped inside, closing it behind her.<br>

“Are you well?” she asked, hurrying across the room to sit next to Marie. She took her hand and squeezed it.<br>

“I’ll be just fine,” Marie assured her, although they both knew that was a lie.<br>

Harriet sighed. “I’m so sorry for what she said and how she treats you. It’s not fair.”<br>

Marie shrugged and forced a small, sad smile. “I’m used to it by now.”<br>

“No, you aren’t,” Harriet murmured. They sat in companionable silence a moment before she said, “I have an idea. One that I think will benefit us both.”<br>

Marie glanced at her with an arched brow. “Oh? What is that?”<br>

“What if you went to the ball tonight instead of me?”<br>

Marie’s eyes widened with surprise. “What…what do you mean? How?”<br>

Harriet’s gaze lit up with excitement as she explained, “It’ll be simple. It’s a masquerade ball, after all. You’ll wear my dress and mask, and no one will know you aren’t me.”<br>

Marie’s heart raced at the idea, but she shook her head. “What about you? If you’re not at the ball, where do you intend to be so your mother doesn’t discover you?”<br>

A deep blush colored Harriet’s cheeks. “I will visit Gerard.”<br>

Marie understood the full extent of her plan then. While she was posing as Harriet at the ball, her sister would sneak away to see her beloved. Gerard was the son of a merchant and had no title, so Harriet knew her mother would never approve of him.<br>

They stole moments together whenever they could, and it pained Marie that her stepsister had to hide her love in such a way.<br>

“Do you truly think it’ll work?” she asked. She rarely dared to hope that things in her life would go well for her anymore, but this might prove worth the risk of heartache and disappointment.<br>

Harriet nodded her head. “Yes, I’m certain it will. You need only do exactly what I say.”<br>