Cinderella and the Colonel by K.M. Shea

ruler of the kitchens. We’re fed only because of her diligence. Berta, come meet my lady love, Lady Lacreux.”
    Berta —a large, red-faced woman—wiped her hands on her apron. “So you’ve finally been bested, eh, Sir?” the woman laughed. “You must be quite the woman to tangle with the Colonel. Welcome to the First Regiment,” Berta said to Cinderella.
    “Thank you ,” Cinderella said, aware of all the other cooks and kitchen help staring at her.
    Berta turned aro und and bellowed. “What are you gawking at like a bunch of turkeys? Get back to cookin’ ‘n have the decency not to gossip of the Colonel’s Woman in front of her!”
    “Thank you , Berta,” the Colonel wryly said.
    “They’re a talkative lot , but they know the kitchens,” Berta said. “Just finished baking my famous molasses bread. Want a piece, Colonel?” Berta asked, waddling over to a wooden table to hack at a dark brown loaf of bread without waiting for a reply. “What about you, Lady? You’re all skin and bones. You could use some fattening,” she said, cutting a second piece.
    She slathered both pieces with butter before present ing them to Cinderella and the Colonel.
    “There . Don’t that hit the spot?” Berta asked.
    Cinderella took a bite out of the bread. “Fantastic ,” she said.
    “I would join th e Army again just to eat your food, Berta,” the Colonel said.
    Berta’s ruddy face turned a darker shade of red. “Colonel ,” she said, sketching a tipsy curtsey.
    “We’ll ge t out of the way. Thank you, Berta,” the Colonel said.
    Berta dipped a second curtsey and waddled back to her minions. “Stoke the fire , and get those dishes washed!” she roared as Cinderella and the Colonel left the mess hall.
    The Colonel led Cinderella through the grounds , waving and acknowledging his men, who watched them with ill-disguised interest.
    Cinderella was relieved when the Colonel led the way into a plain but solid building. “This is the regiment’s headquarters. Any visiting colonels stay here, but it’s mostly living quarters and offices for me, the general I serve, and the officers below us.
    “I see ,” Cinderella said, following the Colonel through the building.
    “Kurt! Kurt , where—oh,” the Colonel said when a huge, hulking soldier stepped out of the shadows in front of him.
    “This is Ensign Kurt Werlauf. Ensign , Lady Lacreux,” the Colonel said.
    “Good afternoon , Ensign,” Cinderella said.
    Kurt-the-giant bowed.
    “Kurt isn’t much for talking, but he’s a fantastic soldier. He carries my flag for me—though he’s sorely overqualified and should be a rank or two above that,” the Colonel said, slapping Kurt on the shoulder. “Kurt, please escort Lady Lacreux to my office.”
    “The book—” Cinderella started.
    “Is waiting for you on my desk. I’ll be along in a minute, although I shall miss you every second we are apart,” the Colonel said, clasping Cinderella’s hands.
    “I would have thought you wouldn’t act so silly in front of your men,” Cinderella said plucking her hands from the Colonel’s grasp.
    “Where would be the fun in that, Pet?”
    Cinderella waggled her hand at him. “Be gone. I want my book.”
    “As you wish , Dearest,” the Colonel said before he headed up the hallway.
    Ensign Kurt led Cinde rella in the opposite direction, the wooden floor boards creaking under his massive girth. He stopped outside a wooden door and opened it, revealing Colonel Friedrich’s office.
    It was stuffed with books, scrolls, maps, and papers. The walls were lined with bookshelves, a full scale model of Trieux and Erlauf was nestled into the window seat, and the fireplace was clean and empty.
    Writ ing utensils, sticks of wax, and bottles of ink were everywhere. There were two chairs in the room besides the Colonel’s stationed behind his desk, but they were the only bare surfaces in the room.
    Ensign Kurt bowed to Cinderella before he stepped out of the office and shut the