Cinderella and the Prince

Four days after Mrs. Valencie returned from her trip to the solicitor, she called Gabriella to her sitting room. ‘Sit down, Gabriella, and please listen to me carefully. I would be grateful if you would not say anything until I have finished.’ Gabriella sat down. Her face was pale and her eyes heavy. Mrs Valencie appeared not to notice. ‘Now I have some bad news.’ Gabriella lifted her eyes in query. ‘Yes. Unfortunately your father’s affairs were not as good as we thought. He has not left much money at all. It will have to be carefully managed.’ ‘My father led me to understand there would be plenty of money for us all. He promised to leave me some money,’ said Gabriella, ‘and I am certain he also would have provided for you and his step-daughters.’ ‘Your father has left everything to me, but there is very little money. Your father has taken this step because he believed it would be better managed by someone who has more experience and will take into account your best interests,’ said Mrs. Valencie. Gabriella inhaled sharply. ‘That’s not what he told me,’ she said. ‘Please,’ said Mrs. Valencie in a louder tone. ‘Let me explain. When it came to writing his will, your father took advice from his solicitor and has made proper arrangements. I am to oversee what small amount of money there is and I will invest it as wisely as possible. In the meantime we will have to economise as much as possible so that we have some security. ‘First of all,’ she continued, ‘I am making changes in the household arrangements. Nanny and her husband are getting too old to cope with their duties and I cannot afford to pay them as well as new staff. Therefore, they will have to leave. I will then be able to afford new staff who will do twice the work.’ ‘But where will Nanny live?’ asked Gabriella. ‘And what pension can you give them?’ ‘I’m sure they have relatives they can go to. As to a pension, there is not enough money.’ ‘Madam, please, Nanny and Mr. Georges have worked for us most of their lives. Nanny brought me up when my mother died. I must do what I can for their future. All I can think is that I pay their wages from my allowance. Then if you really wish, you can take on new staff.’ ‘I’m afraid you do not realise the extent of the problem I have been left with,’ said Mrs. Valencie. ‘Your allowance will have to be cut. In fact, there is so little money that there will be times when I cannot give you any allowance at all. You will live here, of course, but your expenses must be curtailed as much as possible.’ Gabriella was not expecting this and the shock kept her quiet for a short time. ‘Then you leave me with no choice, Madam,’ said Gabriella. ‘I know of no relatives Nanny can go to, nor can I expose her to the shame of living off charity. I, myself, will do whatever work Nanny and Mr. Georges cannot do. Between us we will do everything your new staff would do and more besides. You will not need to pay me but you will continue to pay Nanny her proper wages. This will be cheaper than taking on staff who would expect larger wages than are given to Nanny and Mr. Georges.’ It was clear that Mrs. Valencie had not thought of this solution to her problems ‘I am not sure I can agree to this. I am by no means sure it will work. If you wish to help, that is your affair. I would, moreover, expect you to keep the standards up, and I do not see how you can do that.’ ‘I often helped Nanny after my mother died so I know what to do. I will do everything necessary to keep the standards as before.’ ‘Very well, I will give you a month’s trial. If the service is not as I would expect Nanny and Mr. Georges will have to go.’