"Luke, have you lost your senses," A hoarse voice echoed in the dark room.

"Maybe," A reply emerged from beneath the pile of goose feather pillows.

Luke heard sounds of curtains being opened and tried to submerge in the covers as the rare patch of sunlight filtered in.

"You haven't stepped out of your room in ages; the staff is beginning to talk," The man who pulled the curtains scolded. The young man entangled in his covers did not reply.

"I know what you want but your recent bacon-brained behaviour is ridiculous. Nobody can get what they want by moping in bed."

"I can't find her, Elliot. I've made public announcements; offered rewards. It's hopeless," Luke finally spoke mournfully, "I am on the verge of taking that shoe to every available female to see if it fits someone."

"All this trouble for a girl you've only met once," Elliot grumbled, pushing his toupee backwards.

"She is all that I have ever dreamed of," Luke murmured intensely trying to dispel her smiling face from his eyes.

"You young men and your dreams," Elliot muttered, "In my youth we'd find a bit of muslin to have fun with and leave this sapheaded love business for the books." He pulled out a white linen shirt with flowing shirt sleeves and a grey waistcoat from the closet for his charge.

"You know I'm leaving soon," Elliot broke the silence as he retrieved a matching frock coat.

"What," Luke finally broke out of his reverie to face his secretary, "You never informed me of this." His grey eyes blinked as he adjusted himself to the light in the room.

"My knees are wearing out and my cough that you so detest is taking a toll on me. Your father already knows of this and so would you if you ever paid any attention to me. You need young blood to follow you around."

With this pronouncement the elderly man went back to digging in the closet for suitable clothes.

_______

"Have you 'eard about the trouble brewin' in the Royal palaces?" The young girl ironing Jade's plum blouse whispered to her neighbour.

"What?" The washer woman leaned in curiously completely missing Jade who was waiting for her clothes to be ironed.

"Young Prince Luke's fallen in love!"

"Really," The young washer woman blushed profusely at the thought, "The Prince is such a catch; what a lucky lass, but what possible trouble could it have done."

"The fact that he's besotted with a Lady whose name he don't know and he's only met her once at this year's ball," The lady speaking pushed some more coal in her iron.

"She must be ever so pretty to get his attention," The ironing girl sighed wistfully.

"Won't have a chance with a bloke like Prince Luke with my pointy looks," The washer woman shook her head. The two women were so busy looking miserable that Jade wanted to interrupt them with a cough.

"But you still 'ave a chance, lassy," The young one squeaked as she remembered an important detail, "They say the mysterious gal's left behind a shoe."

"A shoe," The washer woman was put off.

"A glass slipper that every marriageable female must try on."

"And then what?"

"And if it fits the Prince will marry the lucky lass."

Both women sighed again.

"Are you done ironing my clothes?" Jade asked trying not to snap. Who the young prince fell for was the least of her problems. She was standing in a grimy stall in her chemise and underskirt waiting for her clothes to be ironed so she could start with her day's work of job hunting.

"Here you go, miss," The younger girl handed Jade her clothes and Jade tried to wear them swiftly but her lack of experience with wearing her own clothes slowed her down. Her Abigail used to help her dress and undress so this aspect of clothing herself was new.

Once Jade was done she walked out towards her room but not before she heard the two servants tittle-tattling again.

"No luggage, no abigails, no father or husband to guard her; I've never 'eard of ladies being so independent."

"Either she's one of those kind of ladies or she's a runaway. Can't tell these days."

"Aye."

Jade paused a moment longer to regain her composure. She then walked out with her head held high.

This was the third day out of her home and she was having no luck finding stable shelter or employment. Jade crossed out her last job listing in the Daily Herald. The last opening she had applied was for a governess and Jade was pleased that she was suitable for the job. Her rudimentary Latin and French were impeccable and her Arithmetic knowledge was solid so Jade for the first time in days was feeling optimistic but unfortunately what she lacked was a reference letter. Without a letter from a previous employer no respectable household would hire a new tutor or governess for their precious offspring.

Jade turned a corner in a bad mood when she was suddenly confronted with a group of people crowding the road.

"Gently, my dear, we wouldn't want to break it," The voice startled her from her thoughts and Jade wondered what possibly could be going on in the middle of the circle of people. Middle class men and women; merchants from the surrounding shops were chattering excitedly and a regal barouche was standing at the edge of the pavement.

"Look, it doesn't fit," Someone very near the middle yelled.

"Anyone else who fits the Prince's criteria?" Another voice announced.

Jade stood at the very edge of the group and even with her height was unsuccessful at finding out what was happening. As she finally decided that trying to peer in was no good someone next to her started to bounce on the balls of his feet.

"We have a suitable lady right here!" The merchant couldn't have been louder. Jade was rubbing her ear when she realized everyone was now staring at her.

"You do, well, send her in," The voice called out.

The crowd parted just for her.

"Me, I-" Jade felt humiliated under the scrutiny. She tried to stall but finally decided to go inside the gathering just to sate her curiosity. Inside the circle were two Royal guards heavily dressed to nines according to state protocols, wearing red greatcoats decorated with their gold medals of rank. They bowed when she stepped in front of them.

"Good day, Madame, You might know that every Lady possessing certain qualities is being requested by our young Prince Luke to try this glass slipper on. He hopes he can find someone he is looking for."

"Yes, but," Jade tried to convince the people around her she silenced finding no words to help her out of this predicament.

"Delicate questions, if there were ever any, but are you currently betrothed or married?"

"No," Jade squeaked and felt her face go red, "But I have never stepped into the palace or attended any royal event; I was in mourning for my father during the days of the ball," Jade spoke loudly while the next part of the sentence she grumbled to herself, "although my stepmother found time to attend it. Try that shoe on her dainty feet."

"My condolences Madame, for your loss but the Prince's missive clearly states that every female of a marriageable age in this kingdom must try this shoe on."

Jade sighed heavily as she gave an envious gaze at the glass slipper was displayed prominently on a red display cushion that was obviously too small for her feet.

"Oh, very well," Jade conceded.

Jade picked the elegant slipper up and sat down on a footstep on the door behind her not caring whether her dress was fouled. She slipped out of her worn slippers and pushed the shoe on her foot. As she had expected her the glass slipper was less than half the size of her foot. The crowd around Jade slumped in disappointment.

"See, I am not the girl your cork-brained Prince is searching for," Jade thought bitterly for her own pleasure and handed the shoe back to one of the guards, "Good day, Sirs, I wish you luck."

Jade gathered her dress in what she hoped was a dignified manner and walked along the footpath and away from the overpowering crowd. As she walked along the sunlight began to get dimmer and the houses too turned shabbier. Jade could feel blisters forming on her toes and even they seemed to be aching for her curricle. One of the things she missed the most was being able to lead her two most well bred horses in the country side at full gallop.

Two stray drops fell on her nose and Jade knew the capital's weather was about to churn again. For the past three days the weather was steadily grim so the brewing storm was not unexpected. Jade looked around hoping to find shelter but all she found in front of her was the Gladstone Park.

_______

Jade shivered sitting under a gazebo on the bench waiting for the rain to stop.

Jade looked down at her sodden clothes sadly. Her woolly Spencer was weighing down on her so she took it off. The gown she was wearing was the same one she had left her home in. It was looking a little frayed on the edges but it was still decent enough for people to hold doors for her.

Even with the loss of her luggage Jade was still not completely in the woods as yet. A search through her under pockets revealed a surprising amount of money. Her abigail must have decided to be generous when Jade was busy packing her things.

Jade had found enough to rent a room in the inn Ambrose had recommended and pay the washer women to clean her dress everyday. The rooms themselves were clean and habitable but Jade was tiring of getting stared at whenever she passed through the lounges. No respectable young Lady would ever choose to reside all alone in an inn frequented by the working class for a round of drinks.

Jade scrunched the newspaper in her hand thinking of going back to the inn. The leers were proving beyond what even her metal clad disposition could handle. She looked up and was surprised to find a lone traveller walking on the brick path that followed the edges of the park.

An old man wearing a drenched greatcoat was leading his grey dripping wet dog through the rain as if nothing was impeding his motions. For a few moments the wind reached such gale force speeds that the little dog looked like it would fly away along with his master.

"Sir, why are you taking your dog for a walk in this storm?" Jade shouted trying to make herself audible over the howling wind.

"Trying to stay out of my home until my busybody room renter shifts out," The old man shouted back.

"Why don't you join me on this bench? It's a lot drier," Jade shouted again.

The old man shrugged and picked his dog up and sat down next to her. The covered bench area didn't protect them from the elements but it was much better than being out in the open.

"Isn't the park much more peaceful when none of the young dandys are around?" The man sighed looking relaxed even though his rounded hat was on the verge off spilling off. Jade surveyed the empty gardens and found them to be anything but peaceful. The trees were thrashing frantically and wind was howling eerily.

"Sorry about your loss, miss," The old man spoke after a bout of silence.

"Thank you, but how did you find out?" Jade replied sadly trying to look dignified with her dress flapping wetly in the wind and rain. She tied her cap around her face with more force than was necessary.

"These eyes may be old but they are not as unobservant as they look. You have a mourning band around your wrist."

"Yes, I am still mourning for my father. He was great man," Jade fidgeted with her black ribbon.

"Ah, it's always the great men who leave from this mortal existence first," The man sighed.

"Sir, I don't believe we've made introductions," Jade asked bluntly.

"My name is Mister Geppetto," The man introduced himself.

"I am Miss Durnn," Jade smiled though she was conscious that proper introductions required a third party to make them but since she was breaking all the rules as her days of freedom passed by so another infraction did not faze her.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," Jade let him strangle her gloved hand, "You can't possibly be out in this rain just to avoid a lodger."

"Oh, yes, I can," Mister Geppetto trailed off mysteriously, "On another note, you need new clothes."

Jade eyebrows reached a new high at the bluntness.

"I am a costume maker. I can outwit any modiste's new fashions if I wanted to. I would be quite honoured if you could visit my little shop," The old man explained.

"But I barely have enough money for my inn stay. I couldn't afford any fancy new clothing even if I wanted any."

"What if I tell you I am willing to give you clothing free of cost?"

"But why?" Jade scrunched her nose trying to find a reason for the random burst of generosity.

"You look sad and I think you need cheering up," Geppetto pulled at his brown kid skin gloves.

"But still, why?" Jade was still suspicious.

"Because I am growing old and weary, profit does not matter any more. A little kindness could not hurt; who knows you might call me your own personal fairy God Father," Mister Geppetto looked embarrassed as Jade tittered at his comment, "Here's my card."