Chapter 9 - The Chase (mostly from the movie, but some added scenes)

Henri felt simultaneously enraged and anxious. While he prayed and hoped that nothing terrible had happened to Danielle, fear and guilt harbored in his heart. Upon hearing that Danielle had been sold, he set up to depart immediately. He didn't bother to change for the ride, he was still wearing his red wedding doublet embroidered in gold, the thick dangling gold chain with rubies, tan colored breeches and tall black boots. He briefly stopped by the castle and ran to his chambers only to pick up a light cloak and Danielle's precious slipper from the box he kept hidden in his armoire. Then he asked Capt. Laurent to get the best and fastest horses and they left promptly with the Prince's personal guard.

The prince's hasty leave intrigued Colonel Jacques Brissac, who knew that wherever the prince was headed to, his personal guard was insufficient. He thought about informing the King, but then decided there was no time to waste: he gathered ten men from the King's Royal Guard and followed the prince at a short distance. It was important to protect the Dauphin –the King would appreciate it.

Henri rode fervently down the country road towards Beynac. The wind was blowing his hair and the grim expression in his face gave him the look of a possessed man. His mind was fixed on one thing—getting Danielle away from Le Pieu. Thoughts began to rise in his mind. Why didn't I find out she had been sold until now? he asked himself. I should have figured out that something grave had occurred when she didn't respond to my messages. Instead, I thought only about my wounded ego, judging her lack of response as resentment and abandonment. How stupid! I knew Danielle was incapable of resentment; she did not even show resentment towards her stepmother.

The thought of Danielle in Le Pieu's arms made him press his horse into a furious gallop, while Laurent and the guardsmen tried to keep up. He was keeping a tight tension on the reins and his eyes were strained by the cloud of dust rising from the horse's hooves, but he continued. In his madness, Henri was charging way ahead of his guard, forcing Laurent to push his horse as well.

"Great!"Laurent mumbled as his speed left the prince's guard behind in his own dust, hoping they would keep up themselves. "All I need is for Henri to get himself killed in this mad gallop and for the King to blame me for not protecting his precious son. His craziness is becoming unmanageable!"

Laurent kept lamenting his fate, as there had not been a restful day for him since becoming the captain of His Highness' personal guard. Just in the last four weeks Henri had escaped from the palace twice, and twice he had been chased and caught by Laurent with the help of the King's Royal Guard. He had been hit with apples by a peasant and thrown off his horse, attacked by Gypsies, punished by his father, left at the altar by a crying princess, and on and on. 'Seriously, I hope that now that he knows what he wants, he rescues the girl, marries her and settles down. I really hope this is not another fairy tale and he manages to convince the King, otherwise my life will continue like this until the end, I suppose.' Laurent just rolled his eyes as he sped ahead to catch up with the prince.

Château de Beynac

Just minutes before 1pm, Henri was finally able to catch sight of the formidable Château de Beynac sitting high on a rocky promontory 200 meters above the Dordogne River, its towers rising above the mid-day mist. He had managed to cover the distance from Hautefort to Beynac in less than two hours. Laurent had just caught up with him followed by the prince's guards.

The group thundered through the unguarded back entrance of the Château de Beynac. Few of Le Pieu's men were standing by the outbuildings and some servants were busy at work carrying supplies and tending to hunting dogs. A small number of soldiers guarded the battlements. At the sight of the Royal banner Le Pieu's men stepped aside and let Henri and his men into the courtyard.

Few minutes later they heard the galloping sound of hooves approaching announcing the arrival of Col. Brissac with twenty men from the Royal Guard. Henri hoped that these guards were not sent by the King, as he had left without his permission and his father always sent the Royal Guard after him every time he disappeared. But Brissac explained he was bringing the guards as reinforcement to protect him; the King didn't know about this particular expedition.

"Very well," Henri said to the colonel. "In that case you should spread the men into strategic positions and surround the castle in case we need to fight Le Pieu's soldiers."

"May I ask what mission brings Your Highness here?" Brissac ventured.

"All you need to know is we are rescuing a lady who was illegally sold."

"Is this lady from...?

"Don't ask any more questions, Brissac. Just do what I said and spread the men around the castle. We'll have time to talk later." Henri was getting impatient.

Brissac was not sure what exactly had brought the Dauphin here, but he knew he should just follow orders without questioning the prince, so he started positioning the men in strategic points around the outer walls of the château.

From his position outside, Brissac looked up, swiftly scanning the battlements for hidden soldiers, and ordered the archers of the Royal Guard to prepare to defend the prince from a possible attack. Le Pieu's men had no idea why the prince was here with his guard, but they did not attack. Le Pieu's men held the utmost respect for the royals, especially since Le Pieu had been the Court's armorer for many years and owed his fortune to the King.

Meanwhile, Henri and Laurent crossed into the central courtyard and examined all the entrances to the main castle and surrounding buildings. The courtyard was deserted, but they saw a young woman coming out of the keep on the far side of the courtyard. They quickly stopped the horses and as they dismounted Henri realized it was her, Danielle! At first he couldn't make her face, but then he saw her clearly. She was walking slowly through the courtyard, her eyes fixed on the ground, looking disheveled and tired, with a strange smile on her face. Henri's heart began to race. He gave the reins to Laurent and ran towards her.

When Danielle stepped out of the keep, she looked behind her in disbelief and said a silent thank you prayer. She marveled at the fact that Le Pieu had allowed her to leave even after she had challenged him. He could have easily killed her. She wondered why he didn't; maybe he didn't think it was worth it. In any event, she was happy it was over, and was proud of having survived this ordeal. Taking a deep breath she walked into the courtyard with a grin on her face, thinking of what to do next. She hadn't had time to think of life beyond servitude. She knew she couldn't return to the manor, she had no money and no wealthy friends. But she did have Gustave, Louise, Paulette and Maurice. She took a moment to breathe. Free at last! Now that she was free, she would not allow herself to be afraid; she would consider all the possibilities and would trust her ability to survive.

Her joy was short lived, for when she lifted her eyes she saw the prince running towards her. Henri! He was the last person she expected to see in this place. Her steps faltered and her smiled faded. 'Am I dreaming?'

She had dreamed so much about seeing him again! But now that he was here she was scared, and confused. 'Why is he here?' Just the sight of him made her knees weak and her whole body shake.

It had been a while since their last, ill-fated encounter. As Henri approached, conflicting emotions competed to take hold of her—love, sadness, desire, fear, longing. She was apprehensive. 'He rejected me before, what does he want from me now? How did he find out I was here?'

She looked down for a moment, embarrassed by her disheveled appearance. She felt so filthy and dreadful, her hands were soiled, her hair dirty and her dingy dress had a musty smell that made her uncomfortable. Instinctively, she ran a hand through her messy hair and attempted to straighten her dress. Her mind was telling her to get away from him, but her heart wouldn't let her run away as she wanted to.

Henri stopped a few feet from her, taking in her appearance, concern showing in his face. They were both overwhelmed —Henri by the desire to embrace her, Danielle by the desire to throw herself in his arms. But they did not move. They stood facing each other in the courtyard, neither speaking nor moving, their eyes locked as if trying to see into each other's souls, conscious of their respective mistakes, not daring to ask any questions.

Henri took a deep breath. There was so much he wanted to say... yet he could not articulate a word. After what it seemed to him an eternity, he just nervously said, "Hello."

"Hello." Danielle replied, a knot in her throat.

Seeing her so undone made Henri feel guilty. He understood at once the consequences of his actions—his love had lifted her from an imposed servitude and his rejection had thrown her into the arms of Le Pieu. He could feel Danielle's despair. She looked so tired, so vulnerable! 'What have I done?! And what had Le Pieu done to her?' His mind began to race but before it could go too far Danielle spoke.

"What are you doing here?" Her tone was not harsh, but it wasn't friendly either. The last few weeks flashed through her mind – she had endured servitude, humiliation and abuse at Le Pieu. She had spent sleepless nights afraid of being raped, had suffered physical pain and the heartache of knowing she was there for loving him and for his rejection. The emotional pain had been unbearable.

"I... uh... I came to rescue you." He knew that sounded ridiculous the minute he said it, but he didn't know what else to say. He felt embarrassed to offer her such a poor and late relief after she had already rescued herself.

Danielle shot him a sarcastic look."Rescue me? A commoner?" She turned away and walked past him. She couldn't quite understand. 'Has he come to further humiliate me?

"Actually, I came to beg your forgiveness." Henri spoke hastily as he followed her through the courtyard. "I offered you the world and at the first test of honor I betrayed your trust."

Danielle kept walking away from him and towards the stonewall at the far end of the courtyard. Her walk was tired, made difficult by the shooting pain stemming from her swollen ankles, bruised and blistered by the irons.

He followed her. "Please, Danielle!" he begged.

She swiftly turned her head and looked at him. Her heart jumped. How does he know my real name? "Say it again," She asked gently, hoping to hear him say her name again.

"I'm sorry." Henri spoke humbly. He was willing to apologize as many times as necessary to obtain her forgiveness.

A faint smile appeared in Danielle's face. She shook her head. He had misunderstood.

"No, the part where you said my name."

'There is hope,' Henri sighed in relief, his thoughts betrayed through his smile.

"Danielle!" He said enthusiastically, practically singing her name.

Danielle closed her eyes, sighing, briefly allowing herself this moment of joy. It had been her dream to hear him say her name.

He walked closer to her, pulling her glass slipper from the back of his doublet, holding it as if it were a precious item.

"Perhaps you would be so kind as to help me find the owner of this... rather remarkable shoe."

"Where did you find that?" She asked, surprised to see the glass slipper she had lost.

He came closer. He just wanted to be close to her, this shoe being the excuse that will link them again. He was so close she could feel his breath, the intensity of his gray eyes warming her soul.

"You are my match in every way. Please tell me I haven't lost you."

Danielle didn't know what to say. He was dangerously close, one more step and she would throw herself in his arms. 'I can't do this again' she thought as she made an effort and managed to look down and walk away from him. Oh, it was so hard to walk away, because despite the pain that he had caused her, she still loved him. But she knew this was her chance to unburden herself and finally tell him who she was. She must reveal why she had deceived him, and then they could go on with their separate lives.

"It belongs to a peasant, Your Highness, who only pretended to be a courtier to save a man's life." Her voice was soft, and she spoke in an apologetic tone, lowering her head and avoiding his eyes, as she knew that if she looked at him she would cry. Then, she sat down on the low stonewall, her eyes fixed on the dusty ground.

Henri approached her. "Yes, I know. And the name is Henri, if you don't mind," he said gently, standing in front of her.

She lifted her head and looked at him, trying to smile so she wouldn't cry, but the pain in her eyes betrayed her. She wouldn't dare call him by his Christian name again; she remembered his anger at the masque. She wouldn't repeat that mistake. Why has he come here to make it harder for me to move on? This is worse than the teasing from my stepmother.

"It has been a while since you and I saw each other," she said low-voiced. "Why did you come now, 'to rescue me' as you said? I don't want your pity."

"I don't pity you Danielle, I... I love you. All I want is to be with you," he said softly, looking directly at her.

Danielle remained silent, keeping her head down. 'Just breath,' she reminded herself.

Henri got closer. "I know you have reasons to doubt it, but I do love you!" An expression of sadness crossed his face. "I know I hurt you and I am sorry. I was...confused, but I love you and I want to be with you. I want you more than I want anything in my life!" The words almost choked him. "I have longed for you and cried for you and defied the King for you. And I hate that you… you didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth."

Danielle lifted her head, but didn't say anything. She had tried to speak with him at the masque, but her stepmother managed to sabotage her. She regretted not telling him the truth sooner, at the ruins. But it was not for lack of trust; it was fear. Fear to hurt him, and fear to be hurt by his rejection. At the end, her fears proved valid –he rejected her.

"You should have trusted me," Henri continued, coming even closer, looking directly into her beautiful green eyes, getting lost in them. "I know that I betrayed your trust, and I am begging your forgiveness. I was upset because you lied to me and... well, it doesn't matter now. Would you take me back, Danielle?"

"I never had you in the first place," she whispered. "That was an illusion. You thought I was a different person."

"No, you are the same person I thought you were; beautiful, smart, fascinating. I just... I didn't know your real name, or your station," he smiled softly, still playing with the slipper in his hands.

"I am not a comtesse."

"I knew that you were my match almost since the first time I laid eyes on you in the courtyard. I didn't fall in love with you because of a title, Danielle. The title just made it acceptable for me to bring you to my parents," he said with conviction.

"You rejected me when you learned I was a servant."

"No, Danielle. I reacted to your lie. I discovered who you were in front of the whole Court! I know I overreacted, I didn't give you a chance to tell me the truth and I am sorry for that."

"We belong to different worlds, Sire."

"Henri," he reminded her, but Danielle still could not bring herself to use his name.

"You are a prince, the Crown Prince! I am a commoner who had never been to Court before the masque. I have been forced to work as a servant since my father died; I believed it was my duty to my stepmother. I even believed that someday she would love me, and she would allow me to join the Court as her daughter. I was mistaken. I became a servant and that is who I am now. Three weeks ago you rejected me and then I was sold, practically as a slave. I was even wearing irons." Danielle lowered her head, ashamed. "But I am not a victim," she raised her head proudly. "I won't let you or anyone make me into one."

Henri didn't know what to say. Here was the only woman who made him feel completely alive, who excited him physically and intellectually, who argued with him and treated him as a man and not just as the heir to the Crown. He was offering her love, comfort, safety, riches, a life any woman in his kingdom would desire, but still he was about to lose her. For a moment his mind was conflicted, his arrogance rising; he pushed it back. He mulled solutions over in his mind. He wanted to tell her that he had been confused, that he was ashamed of his actions, but he realized that words were not enough. He needed to convince her with actions. How could he bring her back to him? He knew she didn't trust him. He grew desperate.

He stood in front of her, holding the slipper; his eyes low. He needed to do something right now, right here, or he would risk losing her forever.

He dropped to his knee. Placing the slipper on the ground he took Danielle's hands. Danielle lifted her head, surprised. What is he doing? Her heart was beating wildly as she let him hold her hands and relaxed into his gentle grip.

"I kneel before you not as a prince, but as a man in love," he said looking intently into her eyes. "But I…" –he whispered, slowly lifting Danielle's foot and removing her peasant shoe replaced it with her glass slipper— "would feel like a King, if you, Danielle de Barbarac...would be my wife."

Danielle tried to contain her emotions, following his eyes and then his hands as he slid the glass slipper onto her foot. She could not hold her feelings any longer and finally burst into tears, covering her face with her dirty hands.

She had been in love with him since the day they visited the monastery, but for the first time she felt completely vulnerable and she was not ashamed of showing it. He had shown his heart, and she would show hers. After a moment her sobs subsided and she started to giggle. She lifted her face to him, her giggles becoming a happy laughter, and then she reached out and threw herself into his arms.

Delighted, Henri swept her off her feet and began to spin her around excitedly, kissing her over and over. This show of desire and respect won her heart, and she opened up to him. When he returned her to the ground, he held her tight, cupping her face in his hands for a long, deep kiss. Danielle threw her arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers.

Now that they had overcome all that kept them apart and chosen each other, they felt they could conquer the world. Overwhelmed, they both started to cry, and then laughed, and cried again, caressing each other's faces.

Danielle sighed. Of course she would like to be his wife, although she did not think it was possible. But for now, she allowed herself to dream of the possibility.

"Is that a yes? I thought I had lost you! Henri sighed, relieved, kissing her eyelids, drying her tears with his hands. "Please don't cry, my love. Please," he whispered closing his eyes, pressing his lips on her forehead. His voice was broken with emotion. "I love you, Danielle."

"And I you." She took in a long deep breath and released a sigh.

They stopped talking and embraced quietly, happy to be in each other's arms.

Watching the scene from his library window, Le Pieu prepared himself for the explanations he would have to offer the prince. He knew this would happen sooner or later. He witnessed the encounter at the masque and was painfully aware of how the prince felt about Danielle. He knew that it was only a matter of time until the prince came looking for the young servant, but he didn't think that it would happen so soon. If the prince's wedding had taken place early this morning, he couldn't fathom what the prince was doing here today. Is Prince Henri making Danielle his mistress on the same day of his wedding? Couldn't he wait? That wily prince! Le Pieu was not pleased.

Nevertheless, Le Pieu didn't want the prince to find Danielle a prisoner in his castle, wearing irons. That's one of the reasons he let her go. He knew it was better for the prince not to find her here. What he must do is try to recover the money he had paid for her. 'Bad business this transaction with the baroness,' he said to himself. What he could not understand is why the prince was so taken with this little servant...there most be better looking ladies at the palace in Hautefort. Why Danielle?

Also observing the couple from afar was Laurent, who watched the scene from the outbuildings at the end of the courtyard, smiling and shaking his head. 'It seems that my prince has succeeded at convincing the girl. Let's just hope he convinces the King to accept her as well,' he said to himself. Aloud he said. "Perhaps my miserable days of running after him are over."

===================00====================

Danielle and Henri embraced in silence for several minutes, but suddenly Danielle tensed in Henri's arms. An unsettling thought entered her mind. 'I cannot go back to the manor and I could not possibly go with Henri to the castle dressed like this. Where could I go?'

As if reading her thoughts Henri asked, "Would you come with me?"

"To the castle? I don't know…I mean, I can't. I already risked everything by going to the masque. I can't go to the castle again…not after what happened."

He took her hands. "I am so sorry, Danielle. It broke my heart to see you crying that day. I was so happy to see you there, looking like an angle! And then I just thought about me. I hadn't known what your true life was like. Leonardo told me all it took and what you had gone through to be there. In the moment you were exposed, I let my anger blind me and now here I am again, thinking only of my joy and nothing more."

"I have no place to go. I have nothing. But I cannot possibly go with you to the castle. Look at me, I am dirty and my clothes are filthy. I'll be rejected by your parents and by the Court."

"Well, all I need is for you to say yes," he said embracing her. "The rest is my battle."

"Our battle. If we are to be together it will be our battle," she corrected him, loosening the embrace and looking into his eyes. "Henri, I've suffered many humiliations since my father died. I am not looking forward to another one, not from your parents, who are powerful monarchs."

"You have nothing to fear. I won't allow anyone to mistreat you or humiliate you, I promise. You have my love and protection."

"Yet, you were the one who hurt me the most," she said in a whisper.

He pulled her closer. "I know, and I am sorry. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. I didn't mean what I said at the masque; I was …hurt, and angry. I had opened myself up to you, given you my heart. I felt betrayed," he said, softly stroking her hair, caressing her face. "Still, I didn't have the right to hurt you they way I did." He lifted her chin up and looked into her eyes. "Forgive me?"

"Of course," she said gently. "I also ask your forgiveness for lying to you. It was not my intention to deceive you. I did it to rescue a dear friend, and then I was just trying to protect myself."

"I know. You are forgiven, Danielle. Always." He hold her tight for a moment, and then broke the embrace, concerned. "You were trying to protect yourself? From what?"

"From the King; he could have sent me to the stocks for pretending to be a courtier. When I went to Hautefort to rescue Maurice I didn't expect to speak with you or with anyone of the Court. When you approached me and asked my name I was terrified of being found out. I gave you my mother's name because I didn't think I would ever see you again. When you asked me to accompany you to the monastery I was trying to figure out when or how to confess the truth. I was afraid to tell you…. for fear you would think I was playing with you. Also, I was afraid of you. When I arrived at the masque, I tried to tell you that..."

Henri interrupted her. "You were afraid of me?"

"Not of you, but of your station; and your anger…and of myself." She smiled shyly, and relaxed, still in his arms. Her eyes grew distant thinking fondly about that day, the day of the monastery. She knew that he had also fallen for her the same day, right there at the Gypsy camp. "I know I hurt you, Henri," she continued. "You were embarrassed at the masque, and I understand your anger. I am not upset with you."

"Then come with me to Hautefort. I'll have the servants prepare a bath and new clothes for you to meet my parents."

She didn't answer. She pushed herself from him and tried to walk away, but he took her hand and pulled her back to him.

"Danielle, I am not afraid to confront the King; I am willing to move earth and sky for us. I don't think we met by chance; I think God put us on each other's path for a reason. We belong together; we should honor our love because it is... special. Our love has withstood the trickeries of the baroness, defied all social conventions, and it has survived our own stupid mistakes and betrayals. I am convinced that our union will serve a higher purpose." Henri smiled remembering how elusive Danielle had been when he met her. "You see, we are meant to be together, madame, even when you kept running away from me when you pretended to be a comtesse. Even when you disappeared from my life, you were always present not only in my dreams but in my heart. Now that we are together and we have forgiven each other, nothing should stand between us. I won't let you go."

"The King will never allow you to marry me."

"He will. He would have to. I know I am supposed to fulfill the needs of the country, place the needs of the Crown before my own. But I can't do it, and even if I could, I wouldn't. I love you, you inspired me and I am convinced that together we could change the world. You are the best woman for me and for France if I am to be King."

"What are you saying?"

"I am asking you again to marry me. I love you Danielle. Please, give me a chance to prove it to you."

Danielle escaped Henri's arms and walked few steps. Despite the warm weather she felt a chill and wrapped her arms around her body.

"You haven't thought about this. I mean... you don't know anything about me, we barely know each other. It would never work."

"I have thought about it and dream about it, and I am certain I want to marry you." Henri approached her and embraced her again, whispering in her ear: "I know everything I need to know about you: you are kind, and beautiful, and passionate." As Danielle slowly walked away again, Henri continued in a lighter tone. "Sinhore Da Vinci recently remind me that you were my match, and the old man is never wrong, you know?"

Danielle turned to face him. "Oh Henri, I am afraid the Court would condemn me. It would look like a sham. I was exposed as a servant in front of everyone, in front of your parents. I would feel so inadequate trying to meet the Court's expectations...The courtiers, they will make fun of me. Besides, there has been no courtship, nothing formal, like you would a woman of your station, even if I am not one. I not only want your love but also your respect."

"I love you and respect you, Danielle. Why are you coming up with more reasons to be away from me?"

She walked back to him and reached out to touch his face, tenderly tracing the line of his mouth. He held her hand over his lips and kissed it, each finger at a time. "I cannot go back to the manor, to my father's estate. Neither can I go with you to Court, Henri. I am not a courtier," she said looking at the ground.

He looked at her and smiled slightly. "No, you are not. You will be my princess, if you have me as your prince."

She smiled. "I love you Henri, but I want a life without lies, betrayals or wrong expectations."

"I won't let you go. You just said you couldn't go back to the manor. Where would you go?"

"I don't know. I could stay with my friend Gustave. He has a studio close to the manor. I also have an uncle, my father's half brother. I don't know where he is now but I could try to find him. Perhaps you could help me find him."

"The duke?"

"How do you know he is a duke? Do you know him?"

"Signore da Vinci told me you had an uncle who was a duke."

Danielle marveled at Leonardo's ability to find things out. "For two years after my father's death he came to visit me frequently, but I haven't seen him in a long time. He went to live in Italy years ago, and then he went to war. I don't think he is aware that I am no longer the mistress of the manor, but a servant. I think I was ten or eleven years old the last time I saw him. If you help me find him, I could go live with him."

"In Italy?"

"No. He has an estate in Montpensier. I think it is about a day's ride from Hautefort?"

Henri turned away, frustrated; then heaved a deep sigh. He considered the issue for a moment.

"We will find your uncle, Danielle, but you must come with me to Hautefort. If we are to marry, you must be living at the castle and learn the royal protocols and the rules we live by. And you need to be presented at Court, receive the blessing of my parents and choose your ladies. As my future wife, you will also need a personal guard or two, for your safety. I don't want to lose you again," he said with determination.

"I don't know if we could marry Henri, but you won't loose me, unless you wish it."

"I don't wish it. I never will."

"That is good," she smiled happily.

"Then, are you going to marry me?"

"If the King consents."

"I will convince my father. One way or another he will consent. I know I can count on my mother."

"And your sister, Marguerite? That's one more person that I have to meet and prove I am worthy of you?"

Henri didn't answer. He took her hands and lifted them to his lips, kissing it gallantly. "I promise I will do my best to make you happy."

The sound of horses neighing impatiently came from the side of the outbuilding where Laurent still held them. The high-pitched sound alerted them they needed to leave.

They walked together hand in hand towards Laurent who was arranging the saddle of Henri's horse.

"You know, I was captivated by you the minute I saw you in the courtyard. I found it fascinating the way you dared to challenge me. No woman in this land had ever talked to me like that," he laughed recalling the scene at the courtyard of Hautefort. "That is why I couldn't understand why you didn't confront your stepmother at the masque," Henri wondered.

"I thought about it for a moment, but I couldn't do it. I've never been able to defy her, she is the only mother I've ever known." Danielle sighed. "I guess I had always hoped she would love me one day. I know now that is not possible. At the masque I looked at you for strength, but there was such contempt in your eyes..."

"I shall forever regret it. Is that why you never responded to my messages?"

"Messages? What messages?"

"Danielle, when I realized what I've done I knew that we needed to talk, that I needed to hear your reasons. The following day I went to see Leonardo and he told me what your stepmother had done to you. I went to the manor looking for you. When I couldn't find you there I sent you several messages to meet me at Amboise."

"I didn't receive them. I would have met you, even if I were hurt. I was sold the morning after the masque; I had no way of receiving messages."

"I waited anxiously for your answer, day after day. Even today, right before the wedding, I had a slight hope to hear from you so that I could hold on to something to confront my father and King Carlos. Instead, I found myself in front of the altar, about to make the biggest mistake of my life."

"You were getting married today? To the Spanish princess?"

"Yes, I was. Luckily for us she cried out for her life all the way to the altar. It was incredibly bizarre. She was coming up the aisle and she was sobbing so loudly... she sounded like a dying creature. She really didn't want to get married to me and neither I to her. So I was able to stop the wedding."

Danielle felt very uncomfortable. He had been ready to get married to another, a princess, someone like him. This could happen again! She couldn't help thinking that if Gabriela hadn't cried out Henri would have married her. Unconsciously, her guard went up, and Henri noticed.

"Danielle, I was doing my duty. I had no choice. The marriage was part of an old treaty with Spain that my father didn't renegotiate. I don't love her; I don't even know her! For us royals and for many nobles marriage and love rarely go together."

She knew that. "I see." She said drily.

Henri felt lost. He was thinking that he could have been firmer and confronted his father with more conviction. Instead, he almost failed her, again. The reality was that he thought he had lost Danielle, so it didn't matter who he married.

"I am sorry Danielle, I thought you didn't want to hear from me."

"You said you love me, but you readily gave up."

"No, Danielle, I searched for you every day. But when I couldn't find you, I was convinced that you had run away as you usually do." He smiled at her. "Sometimes, I have this feeling that you are like water, always slipping through my fingers. It drives me crazy. I fear you'll disappear again."

"I won't."

"Even if I behave as the arrogant bastard you said I was?" he laughed at her.

"I never said that," she protested.

"Not to my face," he teased, "but that's what you thought when we met in the courtyard!"

They shared a laugh remembering that fateful day.

"Danielle, however hard the truth might be, please promise me that we will always be truthful to each other. I swear I'll listen," he said, kissing her softly.

"I promise," she said, lifting her hand and caressing his cheek. "I didn't deceive you to make you fall in love with me. It never crossed my mind that I could see you again, much less that we could fall in love."

"I know," he chuckled. "Obviously God had other plans."

He pressed his hands over hers and turned to kiss her. Both stood together pressed in a light embrace. As the moment lingered Danielle began to feel pain from the bruises circling her wrists and ankles. She moaned a bit and began to shake. The prince took notice. He turned to Laurent and called for the captain to go and gather the guard and saddle a horse for Danielle. They needed to return to the castle. Danielle needed care.

===========00===========

Thank you for reading. Please leave a review and let us know your thoughts