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When Ella was born, the fairy Lucinda gave her a gift: the "gift" of obedience. Any direct order given to her - from "put on your hat" to "jump on one foot" to "cut off your head" - she had to obey. As she grew, of course, she learned ways to get around orders, like following "hold this mixing bowl" but walking around the kitchen while doing it (and making the cook, Mandy (who was also her Fairy Godmother), follow her around and call her a minx) or so forth. Mandy and her mother were the only ones who knew about the spell, and they were generally good about not giving too many orders.

Ella loved her mother dearly - Lady Eleanor was her best friend. Her father, Sir Peter, didn't pay much attention to her when he was home, other than to tell her to keep out of the way and not get under foot - he was a selfish and uncaring man. Then, when she was 15 years old, Ella's mother fell ill and died. Unwilling to look after Ella himself, or take the time to interview governesses for her, Sir Peter sent her off to finishing school with Hattie and Olive, the daughters of Dame Olga, who Sir Peter had the intention of marrying (for her money).

It was in the coach on the way to the school that Hattie figured out about Ella's "gift" - not the specifics, of course, but she knew that Ella must do as she was told, and determined to make the most of this knowledge, starting by forcing Ella to give her the silver-and-pearl chain that had been Lady Eleanor's.

Her first few days of finishing school have been a trial, though she has one friend. Now if only she could be free of her curse...