Jeanne Kipke

Cinder Girl Jeanne Kipke

Ever since Jillian's father, the Duke of Belwin, went missing, Jillian has been reduced to cleaning cinders and emptying chamber pots. How could her stepmother treat her so cruelly? And why does Jillian stay and endure such mistreatment?Madam Duchess insists on obedience and is quick to switch any who would question her. Char, the eldest, minds her as any good daughter should, but Lotte, Madam's youngest, remains defiant and refuses to treat her stepsister differently. Char always dreamed of having a personal servant - why shouldn't Jillian be her very own Cinder Girl? After all, she's not their real sister! Besides, the Duke ruined everything by leaving them to fend for themselves!Meanwhile, the Queen has announced a royal ball, from which her son, Prince Charles, will choose a bride. Although Char's compliant nature would make her an ideal wife, Lotte is the beauty of the family. Madam is determined to end her woes by marrying her daughters off and if not the Prince, then surely there will an abundance of available Lords eager to wed someone as lovely as Lotte or as submissive as Char. But Lotte has other plans - besides, she has absolutely zero interest in marrying anyone, much less a man, Prince or not!While Madam schemes with friends in the upper city, Jillian finds respite with Lotte visiting a lake in the Forbidden Forest. There they meet a mysterious youth who speaks of a faery named Frey. Lotte doesn't believe in faery tales, but Jillian knows better. Besides, Jillian believes her deceased mother communicates with her, so why not believe in faeries as well? Soon, Jillian and Lotte start their own schemes - not for the ball, but to escape the Duchess. Things get complicated as the date for the Harvest Ball arrives. Jillian prefers to stay home, but Madam insists she comes in service to her daughters. After all their planning, everything goes wrong! Can anything be worse than finding yourself running from the castle dressed in rags and left with only one shoe? Will Frey save the day - and what does a missing shoe have to do with anything?