Cinders and Sparks: Magic at Midnight. Lindsey Kelk

Sparks was floating!’

      Closing her eyes and crossing her fingers, Cinders prepared herself for the worst. But Margery didn’t say a thing. When Cinders opened her eyes, she saw that her stepmother was far too busy reading a golden scroll to listen to her daughters.

      ‘And then the lady with the wings disappeared!’ Aggy squealed. ‘Poof – just like that!’

      ‘Agnes, I do not have time to listen to your nonsense,’ Margery announced. ‘And I’ve told you before, I won’t have you telling lies.’

      ‘But it’s not a lie,’ Aggy said sulkily. ‘There was a lady with wings and Sparks was flying and—’

      ‘Enough!’ snapped her mother, waving the scroll in the air. ‘Can any of you guess what this scroll says?’

      Aggy and Elly shook their heads.

      ‘Obviously not,’ Cinders replied, breathing a sigh of relief. ‘Who sends scrolls any more? Why wouldn’t they send you a DM like normal people?’

      ‘Because it isn’t from normal people,’ Margery replied. ‘This is from the palace. It’s an invitation to the king’s ball, the most fabulous party the palace has ever thrown.’

      Elly and Aggy forgot all about Brian as soon as they heard the word ‘ball’.

      ‘Will we have new dresses, Mother?’ asked Elly.

      Margery nodded.

      ‘And new shoes?’ asked Aggy.

      Margery nodded.

      ‘Can I go too?’ asked Cinders.

      ‘Certainly not,’ replied Margery. ‘Your name isn’t on the invitation, so you’re not invited. And I don’t want to hear another word on the matter. Now haven’t you got chores to do?’

      Of course the answer was yes. Cinders always had chores to do.