Chapter 20
"What's this all about, anyway?" Henry asked as he entered the office of the Director of Palace Affairs.
The Director smiled. He was more than ready for this line of questioning and would have been disappointed had Henry not asked at all.
"Have a seat, Henry," the Director sad, motioning to the chair facing the back of his desk. "Of course, you have a right to know and frankly, I'm surprised that you hadn't heard about this sooner. "
Henry narrowed his eyes. "And just what is it that I was supposed to have heard?"
The Director smiled and stood up, extending his hand. "We'll get to that soon enough, but first, let me introduce myself. My name is Geoffrey Antoine Duval and, as I'm sure you have surmised by now, I have been appointed the Director of Palace Affairs."
Henry smiled back and took Geoffrey's hand in his. He met his eyes. "Duval?"
The Director withdrew his hand, but he was still smiling. "Yes, that's me. We are cousins, Henry. You do remember that your father had four brothers, don't you?"
Henry looked a little confused. "Yes, I remember, but my father or any of his relatives weren't royalty so I don't really understand the connection here."
"Well," Geoffrey said, walking around his desk. "Allow me to explain this to you. For one thing, you aren't a prince, if that's what you were wondering. Neither am I, although your mother was a princess until she married Frank."
Henry stared at him. "Listen, I don't have a clue as to what you are talking about. What are you trying to tell me here? And if I'm not a prince, what does that make me?"
"Actually," Geoffrey answered, "it makes you a Count. The King gave your father that title when they married, but he never acknowledged it, thanks to your mother. Marie never wanted to be a royal anything. She was eighth in line for the throne anyway, and had accepted that long ago. "
"I never knew my mother, Mr. Duval. She died when I was…"
"Yes, yes," Geoffrey said, waving away his comments. "She died of complications, however, they were able to save you. Your father wasn't the same after her death and passed two months later, leaving you to be raised by his younger brother."
Henry continued to stare at him. He was a little angry now. "What's going on? This explains nothing. Why are telling me all this now?" He stood up.
Geoffrey sighed. "Your father had plans for you, Henry. You were supposed to marry the Princess, but Renee didn't want that. She didn't think that you were good enough for Danielle, but she didn't want you in the family, either. She wanted Danielle out of her life after Auguste died and she would have married Danielle off to the furthest foreign kingdom that would take her. It was King Roland and Queen Emily who came up with the engagement to their son, Rupert. Renee agreed to the arrangement, but substituted her niece Margo instead. Now the two of them are in love and want to marry. And, if I'm not mistaken, he's already gone off with her by now and with Danielle's blessing to boot."
"And again, Mr. Duval, where does this leave me?"
"Well, for one thing, I wish you would call me Geoff. I am still your cousin, you know. Secondly, we need someone to take the throne and we need it to be someone that she already loves."
Henry's eye's narrowed. "Already loves? What do you mean? I've never met Princess Danielle in my life."
Geoffrey looked at him. "Sit down, Henry. I've got a lot to explain and not nearly enough time to do it in."