Cinderella walked back to the kitchen and prepared a bowl of thick oatmeal. She placed it on a tray with raisins, brown sugar and a cup of warm tea. Stepping carefully so as not to trip, she carried the it to Olivia. Olivia swallowed a large bite of oatmeal. “Go now. I’m sure Elizabeth will want a hot bath, so fetch more water.â€?

A small sigh escaped Cinderella’s lips. Bringing up the water was a strenuous task that had given her more muscular arms than any woman she knew, not proper for a lady. She lit a fire in the pit under the tub to warm the bath. Sure enough, when it was beginning to warm Elizabeth called to Cinderella in her sing-song voice.

“Cinderella? Where have you gone, I need a— oh, there you are, and the tub is warmed, too. Thank you Ella.â€?

Cinderella unbuttoned the soft silk morning gown, revealing soft milky skin that had never seen the light of the sun. Elizabeth submerged herself with pleasure as Cinderella unpinned Elizabeth’s glossy locks so they flowed over the edge of the basin.