"Cynthia, here's your gown for the evening," Geppetto draped the high waisted gown over the cork counter.

"Mister Geppetto, you know I abhor fuchsia," The gold haired girl fluttered her eyes petulantly looking like a parody of a school girl. Jade camouflaged her snort by a cough. She was sitting on an armchair at the edge of the counter in one corner so she had a good view of the pretty blonde. The girl was dressed richly with fashionable clothing and sparkling earrings and yet, here she was shopping in a place so removed from the capital's fashionable high street. Jade found that odd.

Jade averted her eyes from the woman and looked around the stuffed shop. Even though her new accommodations were off the beaten path they were an improvement over the inn. She was free to do what she pleased and no eyes judged her presence or a lack of a male one with her.

After Jade's fourth visit to Mr. Geppetto's workshop he had offered her his empty lodger's place. Jade was hesitant, of course. She trusted the man well enough to visit him often but living in the same house as him was a different kind of fish. She had changed her mind only after she realized that she was being followed by ruffians every evening she made her way back to the inn and the comforting presence of elderly Edna, the house keeper, who pledged to share the room with her.

"I do, young lass, but it's the colour of the season and you shall look dashing in this fuchsia ensemble. I even have a pair of gloves ready for you," Mr. Geppetto cooed charmingly.

Cynthia smiled saucily adjusting her fustian Pelisse as she fingered her new empire waisted gown.

"Well, I shall take your word for it," Her lips curved further. She let Geppetto pack her dress as she looked around at the costumes and clothes displayed along the walls. It took a few more minutes and finally she handed her maid the package and left the building after she gave an enquiring look at Jade.

"A splendid actress! Her Shakespearian tragedies never fail to rob a tear from my eyes," Mr. Geppetto commented nostalgically.

"You mean she's a-" Jade whispered, her ears turned red at the thought.

"Like I said an actress," Geppetto's white eyebrows wriggled knowingly. It was very well known what actress was an euphuism for.

"I've never actually met a," Jade shrugged awkwardly, "woman of the night."

"Woman of the night! What sort of ladies novels have you been reading in the candlelight?" Geppetto chuckled as he sorted out a box full of hats.

"I never had to read about them in novels. My horse trainer's youngest son was a fount of knowledge on this subject. They perform on stage and after their work is done they make money by being friendly with the gentlemen pursuing them. Not very respectable."

"My dear, what is a green chit like you doing all alone. Get yourself leg shackled to a nice, young gentleman flush in pockets with coins and live happily ever after."

"I wouldn't even if I could. My stepmother's probably spent my dowry already and I refuse to lower myself to become betrothed to a ... merchant," Jade was sickened at the idea of having to stoop so low, "A gentleman's blood does not mix with a commoners."

"Typical," Geppetto raised his hands in the air, exasperated, "You gentlefolk have the most odious customs. I daresay even the Royal family is less sapheaded then you land owners."

"But you can't deny the Royalty is a strange breed. The youngest Prince has his guards take a shoe door to door so he can find the girl he's met only once. If that isn't strange then what is?"

"True, the youngest is surpassing his father's penchant for dunderheadedness; our esteemed sovereign during his father's reign used to sneak out in the middle of the night to act in incredibly scandalous plays."

"Scandalous plays? That old coot!" Jade was surprised. Their monarch didn't seem like the man with much vigour for life.

"He's a great bloke though, finicky about being clean but friendly although I did have to break his nose once; kept making eyes at my sister."

"Dear Lord, aren't you full of surprises. Was it some great big romance about feuding families?" Jade propped her hand to support her face, fully absorbed by the conversation.

"Hah, far from it. My sister was betrothed to another with whom she was madly in love with. Even the prospect of becoming the future queen did not entice her," Geppetto smiled fondly as he talked of his sister.

"And then what happened?" Jade blinked; surprised anyone could reject a Prince.

"My sister got married, had nine children while the King got married to a lady of Quality and produced his own brood."

"And did she ever regret her decision?" Jade asked eagerly.

"Never, and don't think they never met again. He recommended her when she applied for a position in the castle. As a matter of fact she was a nanny for both the Princes and the Princess."

Jade raised an eyebrow trying to imagine a man rejected in love.

"I wouldn't be so gracious," She whispered softly, "Did he ever try again..." Jade trailed off.

"The King never married a woman because his parents wanted him to. It was obvious even when the banns were announced to the kingdom that it was love match."

"These royals seem to have all the luck in love," Jade snorted.

"Silly chit, don't believe everything you read in those novels. Our King was lucky he fell in love with a titled man's daughter. His father would have rejected even a rich land owner's brood for his children. A noble is only noble by blood and the Royal family couldn't stoop any lower."

"And what about Prince Luke, isn't there a great chance that his Lady love turns out to be from a humble background," Jade asked.

"Ah, but our King is different. He values the strength of love. And also Luke is the spoilt younger son used to have each and every of his whims dealt with. I doubt the Crown Prince Edward will ever make a move quite this scandalous."

"Perhaps," Jade was distracted by the hats in front of her.

Jade tried a gypsy hat on and tied the bow around her chin. The straw covered hat filled half her face absurdly.

"How do I look?" She giggled.

"Like a shepherdess," Geppetto pulled her hat off, "Something a little less farm yard should look far more appropriate." He lumbered off to find something in one closet.

Jade pulled out a tin box from under a pile of boas and stoles. She stuck her fingernails under the metal lid and opened the box with a clang. Inside the rusty, biscuit box was an assortment of hairy moustaches and beards.

She picked up one brown moustache that matched her hair the most and plastered it to her face.

"How do I look?" She bit her lip trying not to burst out laughing in an un-Lady like fashion.

"Would you be too upset if I told you that you would make the most perfect boy?"

..........

"Luke, I see you are awake," Elliot raised his white strewn eyebrows in surprise.

Luke stood before him wearing fawn linen lined trousers and a soft, white cotton shirt. He looked pale after so many days of seclusion. Elliot fondly remembered the time when Luke barely reached his shoulders. Now the young man towered over him and Elliot felt proud that he had contributed in raising him.

"You are leaving, Elliot, I could not let you go without saying goodbye," Luke replied tonelessly. Elliot did not mind the lack of effusive emotion because the Prince's dark eyes spoke volumes. The prince was too upset to reveal how he felt and Elliot understood completely.

"I still have a few more days to depart; after all I could not leave without finishing my duties."

"What duties?" Luke questioned him.

"I need to find my replacement," Elliot explained patiently.

"No one can replace you," Luke's dark shoulder length hair swung as he finally showed some true emotion.

"You cannot live without a secretary forever. You scarcely know your advisor's names and someone needs to keep your paperwork in order."

"Why can't you do that, Elliot, why do you have to leave?" Luke muttered angrily. His hair hid his face as he looked down.

"I cannot live forever and I most certainly cannot follow you halfway over the Kingdom looking for the love of your life," Elliot tried to reason with his charge.

Luke looked up and his eyes narrowed over the older man.

"Half way over the Kingdom? Do you know something?" Luke asked.

"I had someone with more expertise look over that shoe and he has confirmed my suspicions that the shoe is made from magic."

"Magic," Luke whispered, "You cannot mean to tell me that she was nothing but a magical creation."

"No, she was probably a real girl but her shoes were constructed out of magic," Elliot explained.

"But what about the halfway over the Kingdom bit. How do you know where she is?" Luke asked quietly.

"As you know it is possible to extract the essence of magic from a magical component," Elliot stated.

Luke nodded wearily trying to understand where the lecture was going.

"The essence can accurately pin point the origin of where the magic was performed."

"And so we must extract the essence. It will lead us straight to her."

"Already done," Elliot replied easily and pulled out a red velvet pouch from his breast pocket. He pulled at the gold string keeping the pouch closed and upturned the contents onto his other palm. Seven glass balls came out.

"Marbles?" Luke asked sceptically. In the matter of seconds the balls started moving and rearranged themselves in one line. Luke noticed one of the balls at the very end of the line had a small black arrow etched into it.

"That points towards east," Luke stated.

"Very good, Luke. I had a few able bodied men follow this path and they confirm this path leads out of the capital. Even beyond the rural city limits. It sounds like a challenge to find the place you are searching for. There is a chance that place of origin might not even be where she resides at," Elliot warned.

"Then it's a challenge I shall have to accept," Luke spoke strongly, voice filled with determination.

...

"He is going to be so lost without Elliot. They can rarely stay in the same room without bickering but the boy has known him since before he can remember. Luke does not take goodbyes very well."

"Oh, I remember the fuss he created when you told him you were too old to be his nanny, Bertha. Although he is surely now a grown up that facet of his personality does not seem to have changed," Mr. Geppetto smiled over his warm tea. His sister sipped on her tea still looking lost in thought.

"Indeed. Elliot has asked me to help him find a suitable replacement. The interviews will start Monday so if you know any young men with a solid education and refined manners than send them my way," Bertha said.

Mr. Geppetto stood up abruptly, "Speaking of gentlemen. There is someone I would like you to meet."

He opened the door of his parlour and faced his worried looking lodger. She was wearing a frock coat with Bingham Broad Falls, a high waisted trouser. Her eyebrows and her upper lip were covered in auburn hair strips that looked like her natural hair. Her longer, shoulder length hair was covered in a similarly coloured wig. She was so pale in fright that her freckles stood out mercilessly.

"I don't know about this," Jade hissed from the corner feeling very self conscious, she tugged at her shirt mercilessly, "I don't know if I can do this."

"Oh, it's just my sister. She has a sharp eye and I want to see if my efforts to fool her would work," Mr. Geppetto urged.

"Oh, very well," Jade responded. She patted her mustache and walked out behind her friend.

"I would like to introduce to this very fine gentleman, my new lodger, Mr. err," Mr. Geppetto paused realizing he had forgotten a crucial piece of information.

"Jade," Jade coughed out hoping she would mishear.

"Err... Jayden," Mr. Geppetto blurted out.

"Jayden, very nice to meet you," Bertha welcomed the younger man warmly. Jade bowed as she had seen all of her male peers behave in front of a new female acquaintance.

"And you too Madam. I have heard much about you from your brother," Jade spoke, huskily. She had a good singing range so it was easier for her to go down a notch but to herself she sounded forced and awkward.

Bertha smiled. "I should hope nothing too awful."

"Oh everything was quite complimentary. I doubt anyone could find anything bad to say about you," Jade replied winningly.

The lady urged Jade to sit down and Mr. Geppetto settled her down on an armchair. He offered her tea that she graciously accepted. After small talk about the recent downpours and the horrid former lodger Mr. Geppetto had Bertha began asking more serious questions. Jade felt the woman was eyeing her too closely and she hoped Bertha could find no fault in her manners.

"I daresay would you me mind asking what a refined young gentleman as yourself is doing in my bother's dump. Your manners are impeccable," Bertha gained a smile from Jade and a harrumph from her brother.

"My stepmother ousted me from my father's home after he passed away. I was left a pauper without a penny to my name but Mr. Geppetto helped me and gave me shelter when I needed it the most. I shall hopefully soon find a job and repay him back for his kindness," Jade responded truthfully. Bertha was horrified and offered her sympathies.

"I hope your father imparted you with knowledge enough for a young man to survive on his own," Bertha looked at Jade sadly over her cup of tea.

"Yes, my father took great care in my education that included learning multiple languages, arithmetic and even art. I am well versed with numbers and I was hoping to find some employment as a simple clerk."

Bertha's eyes brightened.

"What if I can suggest something else?"

"Something else?" Mr. Geppetto was confused.

"The royal palace is holding interviews for the position of the youngest Prince's secretary. You fit the description perfectly," Bertha was delighted to have solved two problems at once.

"I do?" Jade felt her heart beat faster.

"Here you go. This is my visiting card. Hand it to Elliot and he will know that you have my reference."

Jade was dumbfounded as she held the visiting card with trembling hands.