Cursed Corsets!
A Cinderella Story
By LeAnn Mathis
Copyright 2014 By Hearth Publications
All rights reserved
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Cover art: Anonymous- Second-hand Source: Le Corset by Libron. 1933. (Public Domain Picture)
Chapter 1
When I was younger, I used to love watching my mother dance. I would sneak out of my room and watch her from the upper railing as she glided around the room. She seemed to float on air when she sarabanded with my father, and she always jumped higher and twirled faster than anyone else when they were doing a country jig. When she danced, energy and joy could be seen in every step and twist of the arm.
I wanted to dance just like her when I grew up. I practiced for hours every day. My partner and I swirled, dipped, and trotted through the steps I had seen my mother do.
We only stopped when a servant would “cut in.” After bowing to each other, I would hand him over so he could go back to his regular life as a broom.
Life was perfect.
Then my mother got sick. She didn’t have the energy to dance anymore, and it felt like a part of her died. I visited her every day, and she would stroke my hair as she told me a story. Any story I asked for. Fairy tales, tall tales, and true tales filled the room when I visited.
One day, I went to visit her and saw Father by her bedside. He wasn't usually home this early. They were talking quietly and hadn’t noticed me. I knew I should leave, so I did (just not all the way).
Father said, “Don’t talk like that, Dear, you are going to get better.”
“But what if I don’t?"
Mother’s voice was so soft I could barely hear her. "I don’t feel right. Every day, instead of getting stronger, I feel a little more of me slipping away.”
“I won’t let that happen. I’ll get the finest doctors for you. I’ll send you abroad if I have to.”
“No. I don’t want that. The only two people I want around me are you and Isabella. Even if I had two lifetimes, I couldn't use up all the joy you two have given me."
Father started to cry and Mother whispered some more things to him that I didn’t hear because I was crying, too. She couldn’t die. She couldn’t!
Chapter 2
As Mother got weaker, I tried everything to help her feel better. I made soup, brought flowers, and started telling her stories. But nothing worked.
We buried her in our family plot, and I planted flowers all over her grave: Sunflowers, daisies, tulips, and gerberas. Every flower I could think of - as long as it was yellow. That had been my mother’s favorite color because it reminded her of the sun.
After that, it was just Father and I. After dinner we would spend time together in the library. I would sit by his feet while we talked or he read me a story. Sometimes we would dance. He would show me the steps he and mother used to do, and I would show him a way to improve it.
He would follow me as I added an extra twirl, did a side jump to the left, or held my hands up like claws and ROARED.
We would trot back and forth in front of the crackling fireplace until we both collapsed, laughing.
One night, Father said, “Isabella, there is something I need to tell you. Before your mother died, she wanted me to remarry so you would have a mother to help you through your adult years.”
“I don’t need a mother,” I said. “I have you.”
“That’s what I thought, too. But you are growing up too fast. Soon you will be a woman, and you will have questions that only another woman can answer.”
I hadn't thought of that.
Father took a deep breath. “Since I have to remarry, would you want a mother who already has children or not?”
It was a difficult question. On one hand, it would be nice to have the new mother all to myself, but the older, single ladies were always saying I was too loud or too wild, when I wasn’t. I didn’t want a mother who would yell at me all the time. On the other hand, I got along well with most of my friend’s mothers and a playmate would be nice. Even if I did have to share.
“I think I would like someone who already has children,” I told my father. "But no boys,” I added. “All my friend’s brothers are mean, and I don’t like them.”
Father laughed like I had just said something funny. “All right, dear. I will do my best to find you one new mother with children, but no boys.” He kissed the top of my head, still laughing silently to himself.
***
He brought home a couple of potential mothers before he found one we both liked. Her husband had died about the same time my mother had, and I was just a little bit older than her own girls. She was the most elegant lady I had ever seen, and she showed me how to put my hair into a twist like hers.
Her daughters, Gretchen and Henrietta were quiet at first, but had plenty to say about a new dance step I showed them. They loved to dance, too.
I told my Father I thought they were perfect, and he agreed.
He and Helen were married shortly afterwards and I got to be a bridesmaid. I watched in awe as my new mother braided and pinned my hair into the most beautiful style I had ever seen. I was so glad Father decided to get re-married.
Chapter 3
Life changed a lot after the wedding. Father couldn't stop smiling for weeks, and sometimes I was late meeting him at the door, because I was too busy playing with my new sisters. We would take turns hosting picnics, performing plays, and putting on applause-winning musical recitals.
For my twelfth birthday, Helen asked me what I wanted to do. I raised an eyebrow, and she laughed as she pulled out a sheet of paper filled with questions.
"I know you want a dance, but which songs do you want played? What food do you want served? Who do you want to invite?"
I blinked in response. I never knew so much planning went into a party before. I had no idea where to begin. Helen suggested we start at the top of the list and work our way down. When we were done, I knew I was going to have a fabulous party.
The big day finally arrived. I was getting ready when Helen came in carrying a long thin container. I was still in my under-dress, but I squealed as soon as I saw what she was carrying and ripped it out of her hands.
“What is it?” I asked, unwrapping the package.
“It’s your birthday present,” she said.
I rolled my eyes as I opened the box. I pushed the paper out of the way and reached in to pull out ribbon and a… thing. It was lacey, white, and hard. It looked like an hourglass that had been squashed flat.
“What is this?” I asked.
“It’s a corset. Now that you are no longer a little girl, you get to wear one of these.” She placed the corset around my stomach and laced it together with the ribbons. She then helped me into my dress.
When she was done, she turned me to face the mirror. I looked... beautiful. I didn't know I had a waist and curves before. I was a woman, now.
Helen smiled and began putting my hair up into my favorite twist. When she was done, I handed her some yellow daisies to put in my hair. She looked at them and nodded. She knew they were my way of remembering my mother. She fit them in beautifully.
We walked down the stairs and my friends started arriving. We had hired an instructor to teach us a new dance called the polka. It was fast, upbeat, and full of skipping. It was perfect. After his lessons, the band started, and we practiced our new moves on our own.
As we raced around the room, exchanging partners and twirling in circles, I kept losing my breath. Before the song ended, I was eyeing an empty seat next to Henrietta and went to join her.
“Why aren’t you dancing?” I
asked.
“I don’t like up tempo songs. I can never keep up, but you should go back out there. You love going fast.”
I smiled at her and shook my head. “Not today. Helen said it's my duty to make sure everyone has a good time, and how can you do that if you are the only one sitting out?"
Henrietta laughed, and I sat down to next to her with a grateful sigh. As we talked, I couldn't stop looking at my friends as they swirled past me. I wanted to join them, but I didn't have the energy.
I felt light-headed. Every time I inhaled, it felt like something was pressing against me with equal force. Why couldn't I breathe right?
Then I remembered the corset. It was the only explanation. I wanted to run upstairs and rip it off, but I couldn't be gone from my party that long. There was nothing I could now. The stupid corset had ruined my birthday.
Once everybody left, I went back to my room and took the thing off as quickly as I could. It felt wonderful to breathe again. I never wanted to wear a corset ever again. I didn't care how good I looked in it. If I couldn't dance, then it was not worth wearing.
Chapter 4
Two days later, our family was invited to a boating party with the Martins. I loved the feel of the cold lake water against my hands and watching the fish fight each other for our bread crumbs. As everyone gathered to get into the carriage, Helen looked at me and said, “Isabella, are you wearing your new corset?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Go back and put it on. You can’t leave for the party without it,” Helen said.
“What!"
"You are not a little girl anymore. Part of growing up is dressing appropriately. It is no longer modest for you to be seen without one.”
“But I don’t like it.”
“This is not a debate. Put it on, or you can’t come with us.”
I looked at Father, willing him to say I wouldn’t have to wear it.
Finally he spoke, “Helen, that seems a little harsh. She only 14. If she doesn't like it, then I think she can put it off a few more days."
I beamed at Father.
“No!” Helen said sternly, crossing her arms. “This is something I will not move on. You might as well ask me to let her walk out of here naked. You married me for precisely this reason so I could help her know the proper way to act and behave as a woman.”
Father and Helen stared at each other, neither one moving.
“Come on, Isabella. Just wear it. I’m wearing mine,” Henrietta said, but I ignored her and kept my eyes on Father.
Father lower his head, and I knew I had lost. He knelt down so he could look me in the eyes. “Please, sweetheart. It would make your stepmother happy, and she knows more about these things than I do. You can take it off as soon as we get home.”
I was completely betrayed. I stomped my feet all the way back to my room.
When I came back down, Helen smiled at me and said, “Thank you, Isabella. Now we can go.” I glared at her as she led our way into the family carriage.
Chapter 5
When we arrived at the lake, Father helped Helen and Henrietta set out our blanket and picnic items while I grabbed Gretchen’s arm and dragged her towards a boat. I didn’t want anything to do with the others.
I pushed us off the bank, and soon we were free, floating in the middle of the lake.
We each took an oar. I looked for fish on the right side, while she looked for fish on the left. I forgot about my troubles as I watched a large silver fish glide gently underneath our boat.
“I see one," I said. "It just went past me. It will come out on your side any second now."
She immediately let go of her oar and leaned over the side of the boat, anxious to see the fish.
“Gretchen, stop that!” I chided her. “You’re leaning too far over. You’ll fall in if you’re not careful.”
“Wait, I see it. It's so pretty. I think I can touch it.” Gretchen giggled as the fish nibbled her fingers. She leaned even further over the edge, and the boat started to lean over with her.
“Gretchen, no!” I screamed, but it was too late. We were both in the water.
Gretchen started swimming to shore, and I followed, but something was wrong. I kept sinking. I screamed for help, but the water poured down my throat.
I fought my way to the surface and choked out a sound before the weight of my clothes pulled me back under. Why was I so heavy? Of course! The corset! I knew I shouldn't have worn it today.
I kicked and pushed as hard as I could, but the surface was too far away. I was closer to the bottom of the lake than the top, but I would never be able to walk along the bottom in time. I was going to die.
I looked up at the surface one last time and waved my hand goodbye. Suddenly, a dark figure grabbed my arm and pulled me to shore.
Air. Fresh air. I leaned over the bank and coughed and coughed. I kept swallowing the water I was trying to remove and for a long time all I could focus on was trying to breathe.
When I finally recovered, I turned my head to the side where my rescuer lay. It was Father. He had saved me. But something was wrong. He didn't see me, even though he was looking right at me. He had one hand over his chest, and Helen clutched the other one. She was rocking back and forth, crying.
“Father?” I asked. “Father? Are you okay?”
He never replied.
Several people ran towards us, but I barely noticed them.
Chapter 6
After Father died I swore I would never wear a corset again. Not to please anybody. I went home and cut it into as many pieces as I could before I threw what I couldn’t cut into the kitchen fire.
Helen knew, but she didn’t say anything about it for several months.
Then, on Gretchen and Henrietta’s twelfth birthday, Helen brought me another box.
“Here, Isabella.”
I opened it up and saw another corset. I closed the box and handed it back. She didn’t accept it.
“The girls are having their birthday party today, and if you want to come, then you have to be properly dressed.”
“I am not going to wear one of those ever again,” I said as I tried to hand her the box.
Helen sighed. “Isabella, I have tried to be reasonable, but this has got to stop. Refusing to wear your corset is not going to bring him back. You can't blame it for his death. I have allowed you to go this long without wearing it because we didn’t go anywhere. You only saw family members or servants, but this is different.”
“I don’t care if I was going to see the King himself. I am NOT wearing it!" I said, crossing my arms.
"YES, you are," Helen said, imitating me. "Henrietta started wearing hers a year ago. It is indecent for you to go any longer without wearing one."
“But you don’t make any of the servants wear them,” I pointed out.
“They are not ladies. You are. As such, you are held to a different, higher standard.”
“Then I don’t want to be a lady,”
“If that’s the way you feel, then so be it.” Helen took the box and placed it on top of my dresser. “When you are ready to put your corset on and dress like a lady, you will be treated like the lady you are. But if you insist on dressing like a servant, then you will be treated like one. It is your choice: the party or the kitchen. Do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly.”
She left, and I got changed. Wearing my beautiful party gown, I found Helen at the party. After giving her my finest curtsey, I continued on my way - straight into the kitchen.
I spent the rest of the evening decorating the heart shaped brownies and creamed tortes that my step-sisters had requested for their party.
After I brought out the first tray, Gretchen stopped me before I could return to the kitchen. “Why aren’t you at my party?" she asked, tears in her eyes. "Do you hate me?"
I quickly wiped the powdered sugar off my hands and gave her a hug. “I could never hate you," I said. “You are my sister,
and I would love to come to your party, but I can’t come without a corset.”
“But, I have one!” Gretchen said, her face brightening. “Mother just gave it to me. You could put one on and join us in time for presents.”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it.”
“Why not?"
I shook my head again, "I just can't wear one ever again."
"Not even for me?” Gretchen asked, her eyes begging. I shook my head a final time, and Gretchen went back, disappointed, to her party.
I knew they all meant well, but I just couldn’t do it. I’d rather iron clothes, sweep floors and clean the privies than ever wear one of those cursed corsets again.
Chapter 7
As the months passed and I still refused to wear the corset, I got to do all those things and more. I fetched water, made beds, chased stray animals, and cleaned out the fireplaces. I would get so dirty the other servants would laugh at me and affectionately calling me, “Cinderella.”
When punishment didn’t work, Helen tried bribery. She took her daughters to the best concerts and plays. They received private lessons from the best dancers, singers, and pianists in the area. I could join them anytime I wanted, if I was “properly attired.”
Her plan might have worked if it weren't for Gretchen's dance lessons in the barn and Henrietta's whispered singing tips while I was gardening.
One day, I was cleaning the kitchen silver when I heard Gretchen’s voice coming from the entryway. “Look! The royal seal.”
“Well, don’t just stand there. Bring it in here so we can all look at it," Henrietta replied.
We had never gotten a letter from the palace before. Curious, I put the silverware away and went to join the others in the drawing room.
“And the prince is really going to be there?” Henrietta was asking when I entered the room.
“That’s what it says,” Gretchen said.
“What is it?” I asked.
“A ball. At the palace. To celebrate the prince’s return,” Gretchen said as she grabbed my arms and began to dance around the room.
“A ball! There hasn’t been a ball in ages,” I breathed.
“The girls and I were going to go get new dresses made for the occasion. Would you like to come with us?” Helen asked.