Cruely Yours

Chapter 1

Hello my darlings,it is time that I tell you the true story You may know me as ‘‘That devil woman”, but that is not the full story. I was never like the way you known me to be. I was a different woman baack then. We need get going ,if you want to know everything. My story begins in the wonderful city of London. I love everything here, fashionby far, being the best. I had the most lavish mansion for a home thre in London. There was this wonderful, grand staircase that leads to all the bedrooms on the second floor. There was room off to the side from the staircase was the meating room. I met my mother there every morning after school. My my, that was so long ago…The dining room was just off to the left. I was 9 when I started to learn how to become a lady. Mother always told me to be as formal as I can with introductions. It was a long time ago that things were like that. I would say it was bit overbearing at times. I was only a little girl learning everything around them.There was no one other than the queen herself was a rich as us. I know that no a single person could top over my family. My mother and father are the best that London has to offer. I only want the best for the city that I love.

Mother has, as far as I can remeber she was always busy. She is in charge of almost everything in mansion. The only person she does not is my father. I would say that she does consult him for most of the major discions going on between staff and outside affairs. She has taken long outings with her friends to discuss such matters, but not in the drama way you would expect. A high class lady like her would never entertain the mere idea of a discussion like that. The only other meeting she has is with new staff that come and go. They are like little ghost phasing and out. The younger staff tend to get traded from house to house around here. I would say it was for them to learn from other mansion staff. It was one of the few benefits they got. That was the case for many years before they changed it this year. Now, they have to stay at one mansion staff for at least 3 years to learn what is needed of them. I thought it was for the best they learned from the best mansions. By far ours was the best for new staff to learn.

My father always had a rutine to follow. He is punctual type of man and has met the deadlines for many of projects early. He was also sweet and loving toward me. He kept his distance from my mother. I had no idea until Anita told me as such. As far as my memory serves he would tuck me in and read a book or two to me. I was around 5 at that time. My mother was not exactly happy with his choice of books. I was always happy to see my father any time he had to spare. I did sometimes overhear the meetings with the staff. He did treat them just as well as he treated me. He did not see the staff the same way mother did. Father saw value in all of his staff members. He rarely ever did yell or shout, unlike mother. Anita and father got along well enough that he left her a key to the mansion. He enjoyed her small talk about the things that she was learning. He would talk all about he learned when he was our age. Father would alway try to get us to laugh and have a good morning before our lessons.



It was a busy morning the Boudoirs were coming over for lunch to discuss a new deal with father. I can see a slight worry in his eyes. This was the largest deal of year and only my fathe rcould settle it. It was about the new school being open on the outer edge of London. They need an investment to have all the repairs and add on to it. They Boudoirs were not an easy type to please. Mr.Boudior had a sharp look in his cold blue eyes. I could feel how cold it got. My mother was standing next to father, hoping he would work this ivestment in his favor. Anita was with me and dressed up for this. We were sitting near mother. Mrs.Boudior waved gently at us before sitting next to me. I could tell it was going to be a long afternoon with them trying to down play the cost of the long term part of it.

I was trying to keep my calm like mother tought me to. I knew about this deal changing quite a bit for them. Money was one of the main reasons for this. I can see it in his eyes what he was trying to. I do not want my father to be put in a bad deal, but I was too young to say anything. Mother just told me to sit and look presentable. I did that job well enough that she did not give me that dissapointed look. I knew she was more worried about the investment than of me. I knew better than to misbehave at the table. I would lose on my mother and daughter time after lessons. I did try my best to keep a slight, friendly smile as they talked in great detail abou the investment.

Father sealed the ivestment with a moutainus gainfor us and not them. He was speaking with Anita about all the smaller deatails with the investment. She was tilting her head as she listned to him boast about it. He took both of us up to my room to have a story read to us. Mother was still downstairs reading her little book before her outing. Mrs. Boudior came back to drop off small gift for Anita and I. Anita was a little suprised by the little braclet we both got. It was 2 half of a gold heart. Anita was quite thankful for it. I was too and then we were off back to my room to get ready for the day. Ms.Pickett was waiting for us outside my room. I had no idea that mother also got me a new outfit for today.

It was proper that I walked up and down the stairs a certain way. All of this was to prepare me to be just like mother, Lady Of The House. It was title given to all upper class married women. Mother wanted to know for herself if I was doing what was proper. I knew she would not talk to me otherwise if i did not. I don’t want to my mother not to talk to me. I want nothing more than to keep my time with my mother. I could see her in the entry way to the grand hall. She wante dot talk with me about the new kitchen staff and how to treat them. This was one of the few times she wanted me to treat them closer to family.

One of the older women has been with my father for many decades. She doesn’t get moved to any mansion. Her name is Ms.Jude and I did not quite like her when I wss younger. She has her own cookbook to follow. Mother wanted me to head downstairs to see her once in a while. Mother enjoys Ms.Jude’s pastries the most with the tea that is made. I would sometimes watch as she turned raw ingredients into 5 course meals for diner. She was rather on the plump side but she was full of life. Anita was always with me whenever I saw Ms.Jude. Father had considered her for governess when they were both youner. He would try to give her a heads up if more people were coming. He did once in awhile give her small gifts as thank yous. I hear she was also training new staff that day on table set ups.

Mother was about to leave after she got on her coat. She called for me to come up stairs to see if I had gotten an powder on me. Anita and I came up the stairs laughing and having fun.

M: Cruella, you know better than to get powder all over your evening dress. I really don’t know how many times I have to say that to you. Anita, the same goes for you to you will one day be working for Cruella. I don’t want to have to make a write up on your work file. I don’t have time for this foolishness.
C: I thought we were having fun. Yes mother, I do know better than to ruin an evening dress. Anita and I just want to have a little bit of fun with Ms.Jude.

M: I could care less if you would get changed for it. I am sure one of your old dresses would be fine to wear. I have to get going before I become late.

She left without me getting in another word. I didn’t bother going back up to my room to change. I had Ms.Pickett take Anita and I to the movies. Ms.Pickett came with as we were leaving the mansion for central London. It was a busy night for a good reason. The Boudior were giving a speach about the new school. I was only partialy listening to him as we swiftly went through the crowd. The show tonight was Make It Snappy. I enjoyed the flower bud inspired dresses. Anita was enjoying the show more than me and I was impressed that she was.

The showing made both of us tired. Miss.Pickett got both of us in the cart to go back home. We went to my room and had a little sleepover. I woke up the next day quite tired and it was not a school day so it did not matter as much. I still have to get dressed and see mother. She does not want to wait for me at all. We have to go out and have a cuppa with a few of mothers friends. It was colder out than usual but never the less I wanted to see them. I would like to know what cafe they were at. I followed behind my mother as she swiftly walked infront of me. I have been working on my speedwalking in heels but I was still quite slow in comparison to mother. I could see her friends inside sitting and waiting on us. Their chatter was making the staff a little upset as they cleaned another table for us to sit at.

Mother let me explain the news from yesterday. The new deal became public knowlege and her friends wanted to know my opinions to test me if I was on way to becoming a lady or not. A lady does not express opinion , but they can with factual evidence.

C: This deal would, long term, be great for us. There will be a fine tax break every year, if we give a decent donation. That is as far as I know about it. Father would be happy with this arrangement. As it stands now we will only lose 200 pounds this week but gain 4000 in the next because of the tax persentage.

M: Cruella is correct on the tax benefits for this. I wanted to discuss a little problem with that school. I found out about a small money laundering scheme by one of the vice princibals. I happen to have a paper trial in file at home.

Carole: I would say this would keep your family at the top of the upper class. I just remembered we also have a file or two on him as well. There is a social gathering for the Boudiors on Tuesday and all of us upper class were invited. I know it will go a tad later that what you would on a normal week day.

M: Yes, that would be fine for me. I do need to do a small errand at the dress shop. I won’t be long there as it’s only pick up from the hemstiss. She is wonderful for what she does. I would recomend her over the younger two that are there for now.

Carole: I don’t personally see any benefits with having a cup of tea with them. I just feel something off about them.

C: Mrs.Boudior gave me a necklace as a gift. I did not think to question wny she did that.

Carole: I would not expect you too. It was a nice gesture, however, that could be a cover up for something else. Anita has been reading all of the papers in the file to orginize them. She will tell me anything else if needed. I would hope that there won’t be any other illiagal stuff going on.

Heather: I do say, I have seen your daughter working on that file before we left. It seemed like a large file to go through on her own. Would you consider hiring a lawyer to help with that? I know three of the best in the UK.

Heather wrote down the infomation for mother. She handed the note to me, so I can give it to Anita whenever I see her. Mother and I left later that afternoon. I wanted to head into the small library we have. I spent some time scowering for any books that were relevant to the law. I found only four about parliment. Hours have passed before I even found what I was looking for. At that point I was thought about telling Anita everything. Mother warned me not to gossip at all. She won’t be around anyways when I do tell her. She needs to keep note on what they were doing was illigal. At the same time, I don’t really care if they were doing illigal things.

Anita came by for a cup of tea that evening. Father was in the awning waiting for mother to come back into the house. She was out smoking a cigerette to think everything through. Father was quite tired after all those phone calls to his office. The De‘Vil name is popular in town. It is brought up just as much as the queen. There is a trip that the upper class children get to go on to see the queen and spend the week there. Mother wanted me to go on that trip before the other children do. She has done so when she was my age.

Mother want to me about the other things she had noticed about them in the last meeting. There was a newspaper about us in the contract and how they thought they got our money. If anything I thought it was funny that they could even try to trick my father. At leat I would think that. Mothers face turned bright red after she read about her dirty laundry being put out. I was upstairs doing my lesson and she was on the other side. It was her day off after all, and the drama was a fire starter. I only remember her getting more distant from me. I went to bed that night wondering if I had something to do with it.

It was a long morning when mother woke me up to tell me she was going out and that she won't be back for a few weeks for her little vaction. I don't know why I can not go with her, sides my father was the one who was paying for it. That also meant I would be all alone for dinner again. I choose not to put much effort into thinking about to much and waltz down the staircase to get to the art room on the far right. I had a small canvas to work with but it will do for now. I had a tiny joy for painting whilst my mother was out.Father would come in and try to act as an inspector of my work. I had plenty of the top of the line paints and brushes around. They did from time to time let me test new products for the public. A little trial of new things won't hurt anyone.

After awhile mother did notice that there were more paintings around than normal and she interrogated the whole staff before she got to me about it. She would put on a fake smile to tell me how much she "loves" them. I fully believe her every word about it . Miss.Pricket would teach me a few things here and there.She did not break in front of mother at all. I sat outside the door on a small chair in the hall. Mother wanted proof that I was working on being lady and not some silly artist. Mother thinks I would not get far in life if I did that. She would disown me from the De'Vil name and get her hands on my inheirtents that is in my name. She has a lot of power and friends to do as she wanted with the family money. I just continued to wait until mother came out of the room dressed in a new evening gown as per usual. I try to complement her ,but she told me to hush my mouth and go to my room.

She left the house after she saw me walk into my room. I knew she was right it was getting late and I have a huge quiz for French tomorrow. I will need a lot of sleep to be as sharp as I can be. I got comfy for the night because I knew mother was not happy with the artwork as I thought she was. The morning meeting we have, are a privilage and she can take it away for any reason that she wants. I just want my mother to be happy and I am starting to think that I was asking for too much. Mother was my whole world other than my dear father. I say that a lot and I get looks for it all the time. I was not always a fan of the small treats that came with morning tea. It was alway too bland and dry for me to even try it. Miss.Tess was always baking at least 5 different small treats for me. Mother told me to always be thankful and to say that to her. Just because I did and I mean it in a nice way, her baking was awful. It would not be long before mother would pinch me and yell at me for being ungreatful. I would say she was right and mother was always right. It did not atter what I did, if she did not aprove it was wrong and I would get an earful as to why.

M: Cruella, you need to be wearing a dress at all times other than to sleep. You are to always look your best, you are going to be the lady of your own home one day. You need to act like it. A man would not find you a good lady if you keep acting like this. I will not tell you again.

C: As if I would want a man in my life, papa is the only man in my life that I need. He is the best person other than you mother.

M: Is that so then..I do not want to see your face for 3 weeks. You will stay in your room during that time til you learn. I could make this far worse if you continue to talk back to me. You need to listen better and I thought Miss.Pickett was teaching you well. I will have a small chat with her when I get back next week.

I really don't understand her thoughts on me speaking like she would. She was right that I would eventually be the lady of my own home. That was years from now and I still have plenty of time to find a decent man if I wanted. I know that I would not and I just want my money to be that.. just mine. It is my last name after all. I want to keep it all to myself. No one else can have it. I should have him lose his last name and not mine. I should not put much thought into it. A husband that will do whatever needs to be done is what i need. At least he won't amount to anything for me. A little bit to far ahead to consider any of that.
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Getting through this long tale of what the public should have known sooner. She is the one who kidnapped those puppies but for what. What does she have to gain from doing any of it. That is what I want to know. The fact that this is only the begining of all the notes I will hav to take is daunting.
My boss would be upset if he found out I was working on a side project like this. What if she is just going to lie the whole time? I need to get to Anita to fact check all of this. I can't let this get too out of hand. There is to much going on with this to even start that.