Read Online Cinderella and the Colonel by K.M. Shea - Free Book Online Page A

her porridge.
    The Colonel shrugged. “We shall argue about this later. I must go. After you eat, a squad of soldiers will escort you home.”
    “ That is unnecessary—”
    “It is very necessary, and they are under orders to see you all the way to the front door of Aveyron. You will not wriggle out of this one, Pet,” the Colonel said.
    Shocked by the improper nickname , Cinderella could only gape.
    “Eat your porridge and rest. Stay at Aveyron tomorrow. I will send some men to check on you. Until then,” The Colonel said, running a finger down the back of Cinderella’s hand before ducking out of the room.
    Cinderella gloomi ly stared at her porridge. Yes, she had forgotten how powerful the Colonel was.

    Friedrich was in his office, his hands folded behind his head, when Colonel Merrich found him.
    “What are you smil ing at? You look like a creepy, old geezer,” Merrich said, leaning on the doorframe.
    Friedrich’s smirk grew. “Just thinking.”
    “Of?”
    Friedrich didn’t answer.
    “I heard about the attack against you today. General Hardbutt threw such a fit his heart almost stopped. I will be impressed if he doesn’t kill you himself for be ing alone with a civilian with no escort when you report in tomorrow morning,” Merrich said, playing with the medals pinned to his chest.
    Friedrich stopped smirk ing. “So you heard?”
    “Everyone within hear ing distance of Werra heard.”
    “Ah.”
    “So this girl you were with, word is she is a Trieux noble?”
    Friedrich renewed his smile. “Cinderella Lacreux, Duchess of Aveyron.”
    Merrich whistled. “ That’s some pedigree and title she’s toting. She’s one of your prospects?”
    “She is the prospect,” Friedrich said.
    “What is she like?”
    “She is unexpectedly kind. She hides her hot temper behind pretty words and manners, but her loyalty goes deeper than the oceans,” Friedrich said.
    “Is she beautiful?” Merrich asked , folding his arms across his chest.
    “ She is exotic.”
    “Funny , I never thought you would be able to like, much less love, a Trieux brat.”
    “I did not think I would either , but Cinderella…” Friedrich trailed off. “I want her,” he said.
    Merrich strolled into the office and ruffled Friedrich’s hair. “I’m so happy for you . Congratulations, good boy.”
    “I’m not a dog ,” Friedrich said, kicking his friend away. “And even if I’ve decided on her, she still hates me.”
    “So you have your work cut out for you? That makes it all the more fun. You’ve always enjoyed a good challenge.”
    “She’s filled with hate ,” Friedrich said, ruefully smiling.
    “Do you want some help with her?” Merrich asked.
    “Please, no. You would make her hate me more,” Friedrich said, standing up in a liquid movement of deadly elegance.
    Merrich chuckled and slapped Friedrich on the back. “When will you tell your men the good news?”
    “Not for as long as I can avoid it.”
    “They’re busy bodies. They’ll find out soon enough.”
    “I know.”
    “I can’t wait.”
    Friedrich slung an arm across Merrich’s shoulders and dragged him into a headlock. “If you tell them , I will pay a social visit to your mother.”
    “ That’s playing dirty,” Merrich said.
    “ Perhaps, but you keep your patty-paws out of my love affairs.”
    “Got it . I’ll leave the Trieux Troll alone.”
    “Her name is Cinderella .”
    “Could you have said that and sounded anymore love-sick?”
    “Shut up. Let’s go eat.”
    “After you, lover-boy.”
    “I hope she slaps you in the face when she meets you,” Friedrich grumbled.
    “More and more , your descriptions of her intrigue me. You call her exotic and theorize she would punch me. She must be built like an ox.”
    Friedrich brief ly reminisced on Cinderella’s beauty: her adorable button nose and the breath-taking combination of her brilliant red hair, the dusting of freckles, and stormy gray eyes. It was doubtful there was a man alive who