My name is Georgia. I am a Godmother. Many people think that Fairy Godmother is a hyphenated word where one cannot be said without the other. We at Godmothers Rule Everything All the Time (G.R.E.A.T.) have become rather resigned to this mindset. It is not even slightly true, but to many of the Godchildren of the world, much of what we accomplish seems like magic.
I am a Godmother because when I was a small child a horse threw me to the ground, causing internal injuries. The extent of my injuries were unknown until I was married and trying to conceive a child of my own. At that time, my physician informed me that scar tissue had formed in such a way that I could never become pregnant. My formerly darling, loving spouse decided he would seek a more robust woman and we divorced.
Many of my friends, knowing of my sorrow, requested me to stand as Godmother to their children. Although my means are limited, I am very good at finding bargains and always seeming to know exactly what will make a child smile the widest.
One of my best known Goddaughters is commonly called Cinderella, although her baptismal name was Eleanor Abigail and she was named in part for Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her mother Margaret had been reading about Eleanor and admired her force of will greatly. In the custom of the times, Margaret hoped that naming her child after this historical figure would provide the child with a role model and possibly personality traits to go along with it.
Because, you see, although Margaret didn’t share this with anyone except me, she knew shortly after she became pregnant with Eleanor that she wouldn’t live to see her raised and married. Margaret had had a foretelling. She had The Sight, but didn’t use it for profit or spite, fearing the brand of “Witch” and all the negative connotations that go along with that appellation. “I am trusting you to keep her safe and ensure she marries well, Georgia. You know that Bertram is easily swayed by a pretty face and figure. Promise me that you will watch out for Eleanor.” Of course I promised readily. What other choice did I have?
Eleanor was nearing six years old when Margaret sickened and died suddenly. Poor Bertram was heart-broken and kept asking us all how he was to go on. I gently reminded him that someone needed to look after Eleanor. Bertram was an only child with no close female relatives to act as chaperone for his young daughter. I had other matters to occupy my time, so I could not make the offer to care for her myself. Bertram rapidly saw the wisdom of my condolences.
Unfortunately, he also proved Margaret’s assessment of his weakness. After less than a full year of mourning, he brought home a new bride and her two scalawag she-brats. Because Bertram was so often gone on business, Eleanor was quickly reduced to assisting the household staff. Her new stepmother Giselle had never been chatelaine of a fine establishment before, so she thought merely screaming at the staff, many of whom had been with Bertram and Margaret since their marriage, should suffice to produce their best work. Of course, staff have their ways of wreaking revenge on the less than ladylike Lady. And they were horrified that Giselle would allow Eleanor to run about with no shoes on and associating with the stable boys. Yet Bertram remained uninformed and blissfully ignorant.
Eleanor was approaching her fourteenth birthday. I had visited to invite her to spend some time with me. I was planning to help her in acquiring the wardrobe she would need for formal affairs. I had heard some rather unsettling rumors about Giselle selling items from the country house to settle accounts in town. I was seriously concerned about the well-being of my Goddaughter.
Giselle welcomed me into her home and immediately began to complain about Eleanor’s rudeness and harridan-like ways. “She back-talks and tells me I am not her mother and therefore have no authority over her. She dresses and acts like a common milk maid. Perhaps you can take her in hand. The girl gives me headaches.”
This description sounded so unlike the sweet child I had previously visited that I insisted Giselle call Eleanor to us at once. This was the first time I heard that odious name, Cinderella. I later learned the meaning. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Eleanor came immediately. She was without shoes and in loose clothing which did nothing to hide her maturing figure. I was appalled. She made her curtsy to me in proper fashion. I held my arms out and she glanced first at Giselle before running to me for a hug.
“How do I find you today, Child?” I asked quietly.
“You find me in good health and spirits, Godmother,” Eleanor replied in an even tone. “And yourself?”
“Doing well also. I have come with a proposal for her father that you come spend some time with me, but we will have to wait until he arrives home to discuss it with him first.”
The child’s face was glowing as she smiled. “I would be very much in favor of that proposal, but will wait for my father’s permission, of course.”
Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing to indicate the truthfulness of Giselle’s complaints.
“Bertram is to arrive home this evening. You have chosen the best time to visit. Shall
Cinderella show you to your room so that you may refresh yourself from your travel?”
“That would be more than acceptable. I look forward to dining at your table this evening, Giselle. By the by, where are your two daughters? How are they doing?”
“They are currently with their Dance Master taking lessons. You will see them at dinner. I hope that Bertram arrives before the thunderstorm. We will see you at dinner.”
Eleanor led me away to the room next to her mother’s old one. “Where do you sleep now, Child?”
“In the garret, Godmother. Maman Giselle had need for all the rooms on this floor so that was the only space left. I don’t mind too much. I can see out over the valley from my window when I arise. It makes me feel at one with the birds, being so high off the ground.“
“Why does that woman call you Cinderella? Is this some nickname that her daughters have given you out of jealousy?”
“No, Godmother, it is a name they gave me after I helped the footman clear out the kitchen chimney one day. I was covered in black soot and they were outraged that I would willingly get dirty in that way. Shall I stay here and talk with you, or allow you to rest?”
“I think I do need to lay down for a few minutes. I am feeling a bit lightheaded. I have much to ponder before I speak to your father. Will you come from me before dinner time?”
Of course, everyone knows the story of Bertram’s demise. Lightening from the storm startled his carriage horses on his ride home that night and his neck was broken. Giselle refused to allow me to take Eleanor with me after the funeral, saying she “needed all her girls at home now”. If only I had known.
Giselle was gambling away the entirety of Eleanor’s inheritance. After she paid off the moneylenders, she then dismissed all the servants. Once a month, she hired a local boy for yard chores. All the rest fell on Eleanor’s shoulders. The remaining money from the sale of Bertram’s business was used to lavishly outfit Giselle and her daughters for an endless round of parties in pursuit of her next late husband.
While all of this was going on, Prince James was growing up at the Palace. He was had attained the age of matrimony and no high born lady of any title seemed to hold his interest. With the continuation of the Arnhem line at stake, his mother declared that a series of balls would be held throughout the kingdom for the presentation of eligible ladies to the young heir. When I heard this news, I knew that Eleanor should be allowed her chance to meet the Prince. While I couldn’t imagine a more perfect match for him, I would allow her to decide for herself. I went shopping for a suitable outfit for her to wear and made my way to Lockley Keep.
Where I was summarily dismissed by Giselle. “You must not fill her head with these unattainable fantasies, Georgia. She is little better than a street urchin now. I have tried, but alas, one must have something to work with. I cannot possibly let her go with you now. I would not have Bertram’s memory besmirched by others discovering that he and Margaret’s daughter is only slightly above the village idiot in intellect and comportment.“
I smelled a rat. A big fat one with an unquenchable appetite. I directed my coachman to take us to the nearest inn and took lodgings for the night. After settling in, I headed down to the taproom and requested a light repast. As the young serving girl scurried away, I hailed the barkeep to come over. Inviting him to sit with me, which he refused to
do, I began my enquiries and discovered that Eleanor’s lot was even worse than I feared. The barkeep was also the innkeeper and owner, as is so often the case in these houses, so I informed him that I would be staying for several days. I also requested that he instruct his staff, many of whom were his family members, that my presence was not to become common knowledge in the neighborhood. He agreed willingly. It seemed the situation for my Goddaughter was an unpleasant topic in the area, but while all agreed something should be done, no one had any idea of where to start.
I did. Taking a deep breath, I began to make a list of what to do, headed with “Get Eleanor to the Royal Ball”. I knew that her beauty was so fresh and breath-taking, the Prince would be immediately enchanted.
It was close. My coachman hid our carriage in the woods at a short turnoff near the Keep. My footman watched through the shrubbery for Giselle and her girls to depart in their rented carriage. I rushed in to the house as the carriage wheels were still rolling in the yard.
As I called out for Eleanor, she came running down the stairs. In less time than it takes to tell this tail, we had her all cleaned up and groomed, The dress I had chosen fit like it had been custom made. Now for the crowning present.
“And what do you think of these slippers?” I asked as I opened the box. ” They will go well with the dress, don’t you agree?”
The girl was breathless with admiration. “Oh, my, Godmother! Are they glass?”
“I know not the material, Child. I only know that the glimmer reminded me of your eyes when you smile. The light dances on these shoes the same way the light dances in your eyes when you are truly amused. How do they fit?”
Eleanor stood. She twirled around. She stopped turning and gave me a long hug. “Oh, Godmother! I do miss my parents so.”
“No sniffling! You’ll get me started. Now, off to the ball.”
I saw no reason to go in. I had already met all these people and they bore me. I cautioned Eleanor that my coachman would be back with the carriage to pick her up and return her back to the Keep on the stroke of Midnight. “Do not be late in meeting him. I want to keep this whole night a surprise from Giselle for as long as possible.”
“But, Godmother, you do know that she and my sisters are in attendance here tonight? They will know I have been here.”
“Child, you are transformed tonight. No one who overlooks you most of the time will recognize you in that dress. Dance with Prince James if he asks. Be prepared to write me a complete report of your evening.” And away she went.
I gave my coachman his instructions, ordered some unwatered wine from the barkeep and made my way to my bedchambers.
Of course, she lost one of her shoes while running out to catch the carriage ride back to the Keep. After dancing all night long with Prince James, her feet had begun to ache, so she had taken them off and was running down the steps to the carriage in her stockinged feet and dropped a shoe. Thinking it was of no real import, she left it lay where it fell. As it happened, she arrived home with barely enough time to disrobe before Giselle and her daughters arrived and demanded she assist them in disrobing. Eleanor did have the presence of mind to mess up her hair on her way to her stepsisters’ chambers, so they believed that she had just arisen from her bed.
Who knew that Prince James would be so stricken so quickly? He had followed her out of the ballroom and picked up her shoe. Now he was sending out announcements throughout the kingdom that he planned to marry the owner. “She whom the shoe fits shall be my bride,” he avowed.
Margaret’s daughter had the same wide-toed foot as Margaret herself had had. They were the only less than perfect feature about my darling friend. Few people have that particular feature and it was so difficult for her to find well-fitting shoes. The shoes that Eleanor had worn to the Ball was the same pair that Margaret had specially made for her wedding day. She had given her entire wedding day ensemble to me for safekeeping as soon as she knew she was ill. “Bertram won’t take proper care of it for our daughter. I know you will.”
I would wish that I could have seen the look on Giselle’s face when she was commanded by Prince James to bring her ‘other daughter’ forth to try on the shoe. And then when Eleanor pulled the other from behind her back. And when James asked Eleanor herself if she would agree to marrying him and her reply was, “If my Godmother Georgia approves of you.”
Magic? Pshaw! Deep knowledge of human behavior.
Does anyone know if it is proper to call the child of your Godchild your grand Godchild?