Chapter 7
The prince looked at Connor
"What are you going to do?" he asked
"Your Highness," said Connor, "I can save Danielle but the one condition must be that niether you nor anyone else here asks any questions, now or ever."
As quickly as he could, Connor had herded everyone outside and shut the doors behind them. He turned back and looked at Danielle as he quickly removed his jacket.
"Hold on Danielle," he whispered, "Hold on." Her breathing was getting more and more labored. Connor knew he had to work fast. Turning Danielle on her side and taking ahold of the dagger, he pulled it out. Dropping it to the floor he reached under his jacket and pulled out his own dagger. Holding it in his teeth he rolled up his sleeve he used the knife to cut a four inch opening in his own arm. He immediately stuck his thumb in edge of the wound then he turned his arm over and let his own blood run into danielle's open wound as he braced her with his knee. As soon as the blood entered the wound the affect was immediate and astonishing to anyone but Connor. In the space of ten minutes, The lung tissue began to regenerate itself at a phemonal rate, the groove the blade had made in the rib disappeared, Muscle grew back over the whole works and the skin closed. Danielle's breathing became serene and strong as the blood that had filled her lung was absorbed into the tissue and recycled into her system. Connor's reason for sticking his thumb in the cut he had made in his arm became apparent when he removed it. The wound disappeared in a matter of seconds.
A split second after Connor's wound closed Danielle's eyelashed fluttered and she woke up. She sat up and looked around Connor was over by the wash basin putting his jacket back on.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," said Connor flashing a smile.
Danielle was confused for a moment, but then gave a start.
"The Page with the Dagger he's in league with my stepmother!"
"I know, Don't worry," said Connor soothingly, "we got him."
This visibly calmed Danielle. She examined her side and was stunned to see no trace of a wound not even a scar! She looked up at Connor in astonishment.
"How?!" she asked. Connor smiled
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He said
A few minutes later, after she had cleaned herself up as best she could, Danielle and Connor stepped out into the hallway to join the others. Henry had the now conscious page against wall and was boring into him with blazing eyes.
"I am warning you, Claude," he growled, tightning his grip on the man's collar "If Danielle dies I will personally make sure you follow her!"
"Calm yourself, your highness," said Connor. The Prince saw Connor and shoved the page back into the arms of a couple of nearby guards. The prince didn't see Danielle as she was standing directly behind Connor who was a head taller than she was.
"Is Danielle going to be alright?!" he asked anxiously. Connor didn't reply he just stepped to side so the prince could see Danielle. Standing there in the now slightly bloody white gown and cloak.
"Danielle," he cried happy rushing to kiss her clean glove. He moved to embrace her but she stepped back.
"Not so fast, Henry," she said, "I have agreed to forgive you, but I have not agreed to trust you again just like that."
"I don't understand," said Prince Henry, "I give you my word!" Danielle shook her head,
"Not good enough, you've given me you're word before," she said, "and we all know how that turned out. Actions speak louder than words. Until you've proven by you actions that you won't betray my trust again you cannot have my love."
With that Danielle turned and left a stunned Henry standing there with his mouth hanging open as she approached the King and Queen. She sank into a deep curtsey.
"I believe your majesties wished an explanation of all this," she said, "I am now feeling well enough to give you that explanation." The King and Queen nodded and led the party into the private royal chambers.
Once everyone was seated Danielle took a deep breath and began her story. She Told about her Father Auguste de Barbarac was a Baron and the lord of the Manoir De Barbarac. She told about. Him Marrying her stepmother the Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent, and dying weeks later. She then spoke of being stripped of rights and inheritance, her banishment to the servants quarters, ten years of being a servant in her own home, running away after the heartbreak at the previous Masque, Meeting Connor, and her great aunt and uncle as well as finding out the hidden truth about her family. She spoke in great detail of the Baroness's cruelty and her conniving to make Marguerite princess. Starting with the necklace and how Claude had stolen from the Queen's chambers and given it to the Baroness to help the woman when the queen favor for Marguerite. The King Roared with laughter when she told him how Marguerite really got that black eye. The color drained from all three royal faces when Danielle turned around, dropped her cloak and lowered her gown enough to reveal the whip scars on her back.
Now the truth of that day at Amboise was sickeningly clear to the Prince.
"Francis," said the Queen slamming her fist on the table next to her in a very unladylike gesture, "That vile woman must be punished!"
"Don't worry," Said the King, "She Will be!"
"One thing, if I may, your Majesties," said Danielle, "I ask that Jauqueline be spared any punshiment. She was a true sister to me. She is a gentle and kind soul. She even did her best to tend my back after I was whipped. I bear her no ill will."
"It will be as you say," Replied the King, "We shall investigate the Baroness first thing in the morning, and we would be most pleased Danielle if you and yours would stay here in the palace as our personal guests."
"We would be happy to accept your kind offer." Said Danielle with another Curtsey.
The King called a servant and instructed him to show the guests to their rooms. After a gesture of blessing and dismissal from the King, Danielle, Connor, and the Duke and Duchess turned and made there way out of the room. The prince almost twisted the handle off his dagger when Danielle stuck her hand in the crook of Connor's arm as they walked out.
The next day about mid- morning the Prince was walking down the hall when he spotted Danielle sitting at a table on one of the balconies over looking the garden. Making sure he was presentable he stepped out on to the balcony. Danielle was reading her new copy of Utopia and sipping tea. As the prince approached Danielle he thought that now was his chance to be alone with her. But as he stepped all the way through the doorway his mood was immediately punctured like a balloon and deflated rapidly. Connor was sitting on the other side of the table. A steaming cup of strong black coffee on the table in front of him and an open Astronomy book in his hand.
Danielle looked just then.
"Good Morning," she said happily.
"Good Morning, Danielle," said Prince Henry, being forced to store away the romantic little speech he had planned "I trust you're well this morning."
"Very well, indeed," said Danielle catching onto the fact that Henry was not to happy about Connor's presence, "And yourself?"
"Well thank you." Said Henry secretly wondering why Connor couldn't have chosen any one of the fifteen other balconies to read on. For a moment or two the prince lapsed into an uneasy silence shifting back and forth on his feet.
"I trust the investigation is going well thus far," said Connor laying down his book and looking up matter of factly.
"Yes," said the Prince, grateful for the change of subject, "That traitorous page was given a choice, stretch a rope or cooperate and get deportation instead. It didn't take him long to start singing like a bird. His confession only served to corroberate what Danielle revealed last night about the necklace and what Connor suspected about the attack on Danielle. it was the Baroness's doing. It seems she promised this page that when Maguerite was princess he'd be made captain of the guard!"
"That woman is unbelieveable." Muttered Connor shaking his head and downing the last of his coffee.
"You have no idea." Said Danielle
"Right now," continued Henry, "My Mother and Father are having the other courteirs questioned to find out what they know abou the Baroness's schemeing. It may take another day or two to get all the facts and proof together in one place."
Just then a young brown haired page appeared in the door.
"What is it, Jacque," said the prince when the saw the boy
"You highness," he said, "I merely came to tell the Cometesse and his lordship that their horses have arrived from Calais."
"Wonderful, thank you, Jacque," said Danielle, "A ride in the countryside is just what I'm in the mood for!"
The prince squared himself up and opened his mouth to ask Danielle to go riding, when Danielle jumped up and grabbed Connor by the hand.
"Come on Connor," she said dragging him out of his seat and toward the door. The prince was left standing there with was mouth hanging open. Finally the prince groaned and in frustration kicked the leg of the solidly built oak table. The table wasn't hurt but the fact that the prince was now hopping around on one foot said he wasn't so lucky.
The young page who had seen the whole thing bit his lip to keep from laughing in front of the prince and hurried off to take the books back to the library. A few minutes later Queen Marie passed Henry in the Hallway and wondered why her son was limping again.
Danielle and Connor rode there horses down through a shady glenn and over a couple of rolling hills. It was beautiful day and Danielle was full of life as usual. Suddnely Danielle reigned in her horse. Connor rode up beside her.
"What's wrong?" he asked
"We just crossed onto De Barbarac land," she replied, "we're on the back boundry line. I know this place blindfolded. My father and I had our picnics here."
Connor was about to say something when he heard a faint twang. Like flash Connor's hand shot up and caught a crossbow bolt in mid-air right before it struck Danielle.
They turned to see half a dozen men on horseback emerging from the nearby grove of trees.
"Mercenaries," said Connor as they wheeled their horses around and spurred them to a gallop, "The Baroness doesn't quit!"
To Be Continued….
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