Oh my gosh, you guys! I've had so many messages in my inbox about favorites for this story in the last week I can hardly believe it. Thank you all so much for your incredible patience and continued support for this story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I promise the next one will be out soon! R&R!
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De Barbarac Manor was in complete upheaval. The day of Gustav and Jeanne's wedding had finally arrived and Jacqueline was fussing over every last detail while Danielle watched amusedly. After graciously offering her new home as the wedding venue, Jacqueline had nearly taken complete control of the wedding details. The whole house was full of wildflowers picked from the fields just that morning and a great wedding feast was being prepared downstairs in the kitchen while Jacqueline gave orders to anyone within earshot. Danielle stood in her step-sister's old room listening to the hubbub in the hallways and laughed to herself, amazed by her tenacity. Jacqueline had never been one for confrontation, but she was now a force to be reckoned with.
Her eyes went to the groom who was standing nervously before a tall mirror tugging at his black leather wedding jerkin.
"Be careful with that," she said playfully. "You may just wring it to pieces."
"I'm so nervous!" he said, dropping his hands and looking at her through the mirror. "Were you this nervous? Well, I guess you would have been worse, marrying royalty and all…"
"My wedding was hasty and private," Danielle said as she grabbed his feathered cap from the nightstand. "I didn't have the time to be nervous."
"But still…" She jammed the cap onto his shaggy head and smiled warmly.
"You'll be just fine Gustav, trust me."
"But what about the wedding night?" he blurted before jamming a fist into his mouth and nearly knocking out some teeth. Danielle blushed violently and averted her eyes. She was obviously not a virgin as she was a mother, but she never would have chosen to discuss intimacies with Gustav of all people. Danielle glanced at the attendant in the room who was attempting not to laugh and excused them.
"Perhaps Henry could speak with you about that," she said a little awkwardly once the attendant had closed the door. "I'm not really… I mean, I don't…" Gustav only nodded violently.
Gustav's color had risen to a ripe tomato hue as Danielle exited the room, trying to stifle her shock and slight embarrassment. She pressed her cool hand against her cheeks to curb the blush building there and sought out her husband, currently in the gentlemen's den with Marc Laurent who was gracious enough to excuse them.
"Gustav would like to speak with you." Danielle said, biting her lips. Henry quirked an eyebrow.
"About?"
"His wedding night." she whispered. Henry paused for a moment before laughing.
"I am perfectly serious!" Danielle said fervently, her face pulled into a scowl at his apparent amusement.
"I know you are, my dear. I am sorry, I don't mean to laugh, it's only that I understand his concerns. I'll go to him right away." Danielle's frustration softened a bit and she kissed him.
"Do be good to him, will you?"
"Of course," Henry said, wrapping his arms around her. "You should go to see the bride, I'm sure she's completely nervous."
"Good idea, I have a gift for her," Henry's face pulled into a look of slight confusion that made her laugh out loud. "It's just a little something I'd like to share today, you'll see."
Satisfied, he put a kiss on her mouth before sweeping off down the hall toward Gustav's room, leaving Danielle to retrieve her wedding present and walk the other way toward the bride's chambers. With a nod to the attendant at the door, she knocked softly at the great oak door of the room that had once belonged to Rodmilla herself. She had not been inside her step-mother's rooms in almost three years and was thankful to see that Jacqueline had redecorated. The dark furnishings had been replaced by soft white gossamer curtains and a lovely crocheted bedspread covered the bed on which the little maid sat quietly in her wedding gown, hair perfectly arranged in dark ringlets around her head, almost blending in with the fittings.
"Jeanne?"
She turned to look toward the door and quickly stood to courtesy to the queen. Danielle waved her off, motioned for her to sit and sat beside her on the four-poster bed. The little parcel she had brought sat between them as she admired the bride's wedding dress.
"You look radiant," she said, and she was. The gown Jacqueline had procured for the bride was exquisite; the long sleeves were embroidered with seed pearls that continued in swirling patterns down the bodice to full, unembroidered skirt below.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the girl said demurely, color creeping into her cheeks. Danielle couldn't help but smile at the young woman who had stolen Gustav's heart.
"I have a gift for you," she said, holding the package out to the girl with a smile. "Something old for you to wear on your wedding day."
Jeanne eyes the package for a moment before taking it into her lap; it was just a simple container, inconspicuous and tied with string, but once it was open it quite took her breath away. Inside was a quite extraordinary pair of shoes made of glass. Jeanne's eyes grew large as she carefully lifted one out to examine with careful hands.
"They were my mother's," Danielle began as the girl gawked over the gift. "I wore them to my wedding and had hoped to pass them on to my own daughter if I ever had one, but I'd like you to wear them for your special day."
"Oh, Your Majesty, I don't know what to say," Jeanne gushed. Danielle took the shoe in her hands and slid off the bed to Jeanne's feet. Like a loving mother, she slipped off Jeanne's simple shoes and replaced them with the glass slippers.
"Perfect," she said, smiling up at the girl. Jeanne's eyes shone with unshed tears that threatened to spill over her thick eyelashes, but the smile on her face revealed them to be tears of happiness.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said, pressing the back of her hands to her eyes. "I owe you so much thanks, not just for the slippers, but for everything I have today. Without your great kindness and love for Gustav I never would have known how he felt about me. I wouldn't be marrying him today if it wasn't for you. Thank you so very much, Your Majesty."
Danielle smiled brightly. "It's you I should be thanking," she said. "Without you, Gustav would surely be lost. His happiness is incredible to me. We grew up here together, sharing our hopes and fears for the future. He never really discussed marriage, usually it was traveling or becoming an artist, both of which he's accomplished. It's incredible though, even his art is touched by your love, it seems."
She paused for a moment when a knock came from the door and Jacqueline stepped into the doorway holding a fairy crown of tiny pink wildflowers.
"We're almost ready for the ceremony," she looked at Jeanne proudly. "You look just lovely."
She took her in from head to toe, motioning for her to make a turn. The full skirt of the gown fell softly against the floor and the glass slippers tinkled sweetly as she stepped. Jacqueline exchanged a glance with her step-sister, who only smiled.
"A gift," she said simply. Jeanne lifted her skirt to reveal the slippers and Jacqueline smiled.
"A very lovely gift. Mine pales in comparison," she said, holding up the fairy crown. "But it'll have to do."
She placed the strung flowers artfully on Jeanne's curling hair and took her by the shoulders. "Now, are you ready for your wedding?"
"Yes," she said passionately. "Oh, yes."
Danielle and her step-sister escorted Jeanne to the chapel where the wedding party was waiting. At the end of the aisle Gustav stood proudly, his nerves quite gone, and instantly Danielle was thankful she had sent Henry to talk to him. She took her seat beside her husband, who took her hand to kiss as the ceremony began. Jeanne was a vision as she floated down the aisle toward her husband-to-be, the glass heels of the slippers tinkling sweetly against the stone floor. Danielle and Jacqueline exchanged smiles as Gustav and his bride knelt at the altar and the priest began his wedding sermon. Everything was beautiful, the wildflowers that lines the aisle perfumed the air and the lit candles lent a romantic glow to the stained glass windows of the little chapel.
"We come here today to celebrate the joining of Gustav and Jeanne in the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony," the priest began, his robust voice echoing powerfully over the small group of attendants. "The Sacrament of Matrimony is nothing less than a sharing of God's own life…"
Henry leaned down to where Danielle's head lay on his shoulder and kissed her forehead.
"This reminds me of our wedding," he whispered softly. Danielle smiled.
"It is rather similar, isn't it? Intimate and lovely." She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the little ceremony in the royal chapel a little over two years ago now. It had been such a great secret she hadn't even had a proper wedding gown, just a simple blue dress from one of the Queen's ladies who was about her size, but she had her glass slippers and Henry, that was all that mattered. When it was all said and done, the King himself placed her crown on her bowed head. When she opened her eyes, Gustav and Jeanne were exchanging rings.
"With the giving of rings and vows, I now pronounce you husband and wife in the sight of God and the Holy Catholic Church. What God has joined, let no man put asunder. You may kiss your bride."
The newlyweds kissed and walked back down the aisle hand in hand toward de Barbarac Manor where the reception would soon begin. Danielle and Henry would only stay a little while before returning to the castle, but Gustav and his new wife would stay at the manor until the following week.
"It was a beautiful ceremony," Danielle said to Jacqueline once the reception had begun and dinner was being served. The newlyweds at the head table were more than happy, they were glowing. "Thank you so much for providing all of this for them."
Jacqueline waved her off with a smile. "It was my pleasure. In fact, I might start doing this more often."
"Hosting weddings? Not a bad idea. The manor has really changed under your care, Jacqueline. I think you could do quite well with that."
"Well, Marc would have to allow me first," she said with a laugh, nudging her husband's arm. He simply rolled his eyes and hugged his wife to his side.
"I'll gladly allow you anything you like, my love, except another wedding so soon after this one."
"Don't worry," Danielle said with a wink to Jacqueline. "I'm sure it'll be a few months before you have another."
Henry sidled up to his wife and wrapped an arm around her. "My dear, I think it's about time we head back to the castle. I've some business to attend to this evening with my advisors."
"All right, but let us say goodbye to Gustav and Jeanne."
Danielle hugged her step-sister and brother-in-law goodbye before walking to the head table with her husband. Gustav and Jeanne were bent close together, whispering and kissing like newlyweds are apt to do, but they sat up as the king and queen approached.
"We have to be going," Henry said, reaching out to shake Gustav's hand firmly.
"But we'll be seeing you soon." Danielle finished, hugging Gustav and Jeanne in turn.
"Thank you again, for everything." Jeanne said, curtseying low as Gustav bowed.
"Yes, thank you. I'll be back to my duties in a week." Gustav said.
"Take your time and enjoy yourselves," Henry said, his eyes on Gustav, who smiled back. Whatever their exchange had been earlier, it seemed to have brought them closer and Danielle was relieved.
It wasn't until they were in the carriage on their way back to the castle that Danielle asked about what he said to the groom. Henry laughed.
"He asked me not to say anything since he embarrassed you earlier." Danielle blushed. "Don't worry, my love, they'll be just fine."
Henry pulled her to his side and kissed her sweetly before settling his head against hers and dozing. Danielle shut her eyes and drifted slowly to sleep as the carriage rolled on toward their home, ignorant of the dangers that lay on the road ahead of them.
DUN DUN DUN. R&R!
