Fury roared through Hilda. Seeing that young Italian's hand on Cinderella's arm while Pricilla was relegated to Cinderella's other arm was enough to reaffirm Hilda's efforts in confronting her stepdaughter.
Hilda whirled on her heel determined to set things to right. She flailed forward, tripping over baskets lining the path. Hundreds of them. But for a nearby servant she would have landed on her nose.
She jerked her arm from him. "Unhand me," she snapped, straightening her skirts. No servant would ever get the better of her. Soon she would have hundreds of her own. Such power allowed her a gracious turn. She awarded the servant a small turn of her lips. "Where did these baskets appear from? They were not here a moment ago."
"They are for the picnic, Madame."
"Of course, they are for the picnic, you insolent fool. That was not the question. What are they obscuring the path?" Hilda peered around him in time to see the girls seated in an open carriage already set in motion. The prince and the Conte's son alighted their horses and cantered ahead.
Hilda narrowed her eyes at the scene. Odd, she had yet to spend a single moment with her children in the time they'd been at the castle. Something she intended to remedy very soon.
"Hilda, dear? Is something amiss?"
Hilda started. She plastered a gracious smile on her face before turning to the queen.
"All is well, Your Majesty. I was hoping for an audience with my daughters before the outing. No matter, however. I shall speak with them later." she smiled.
"Come. You shall ride with me. Our carriage awaits."
Hilda followed since she had little choice, but she would have her little talk with Cinderella.