Bonjour! I am so sorry for the wait, but I went out-of-town, got the flu, and lots of doctors appointments. I know so many of you really want Danielle and Henri chapters, but we're not quite there yet. It's important to me to give the most important secondary and original characters real functions to the entire narrative. Also, I am trying extremely hard to stick to the historical and cultural details of the 16th century, while fitting the world of Ever After within that framework. I'm pretty sure you'll be pleased when Danielle and Henri can come together. However, everything going on around them is vital to the building of their future.
Queen Marie strode into the anteroom as if she floated on a cloud. She embraced Henri with a wide smile and tears of joy filling her eyes. "She's wonderful, Henri. She's everything you said she is and so much more. I think your father will forget all about His Holiness' mirages when he meets her."
"I'm not worried about that, mother," Henri chuckled. "How did the examination turn out?"
"Perfectly," Marie assured. "She endured it with grace and bravery. Henri, there are some things she would like you to know before your wedding. I'm about to meet de Montmorency in my apartments and instruct him to escort my sister to Château de Chambord when your father decides to move the court. It will give us time to search for more answers and give Danielle time to adjust to these startling revelations."
"The most startling revelation she will have to endure will come from me," Henri sighed, shaking his head. "I should have told her about Marianne-Therese a long time ago. I just didn't want her to think less of me. I didn't want her to think that I was the type of man that just bedded anyone he chose, not caring care how many lives he created or destroyed. She won't understand why my little girl doesn't live with me. Her relationship with her father meant everything to her, and her memories of that love helped her survive the Baroness' hell on earth. She will never forgive me if she believes I could not offer my children that same love."
Leonardo grasped the young Prince's strong, broad shoulders before he could start pacing. "Now, see here, Sire," the old man barked. "You're not giving Danielle enough credit. She is completely aware that she knows nothing about life in the royal court beyond what she has heard at home. What she does know, is the pain that comes from people obsessed with their own ambition. If you tell her the unvarnished truth, she will have nothing to forgive. After all, she was a child when your daughter was born. Just tell her everything exactly as it happened. Don't try to soften it, make it sound better, or more delicate than it was. The only thing that can destroy her trust in you is your secrets, just as her own secrets nearly destroyed your trust in her. You can't demand one set of rules for her, and another for yourself."
The Queen pulled her tortured son into an embrace. "My son, you've asked me time and again how I bear the fact your father has other women for his pleasure. Leonardo has given you the answer. Without truth, there can be nothing else. Not once did your father promise me his fidelity or his passion. He told me the absolute truth, and he kept his promises to give me children, affection, friendship. Your situation is very different, but the need for complete and brutal honesty is the same."
Henri sighed, and kissed his mother's cheek. "I want to tell her before she meets father. When can I see her?"
"Helene has given Danielle hot milk and honey to help her sleep and recover from her examination. I'll make sure you can both meet and talk before supper in my private garden. For now, come with me to meet de Montmorency and we can plan for the fallout of the realignment of the court," Marie gently commanded.
"Yes, mother," Henri agreed. He turned to Laurent with a faint smile. "Mademoiselle de Ghent will need an escort back to her home, Marc. Please see to it, and see that you help her make arrangements to attend my wedding. I want to make sure Danielle has someone to stand with her."
Leonardo chuckled. "We can do better than that, if we put our wits together!"
Henri laughed at the aged genius' childish glee. "Right now, I have three intrigues to wade through in order to be united to my wife in most holy wedlock. If you want still more, you irreverent old man, please leave me out of it!" he demanded with a playful wink.
Leonardo bowed his head low in deference to the young prince. "It shall be as you say, Sire."
Jaqueline quietly entered the antechamber and tried to make herself as unobtrusive as possible. Keeping her head down, she curtseyed to the Queen, and the Dauphin. "With your permission, Your Majesty, with your permission, Sire, I must be home before my mother and sister return."
Henri took her small, fragile, white hand and kissed it. "Why do you tremble so, Mademoiselle?" he softly inquired with a tender smile. "In my life, I have lost two older sisters whom I could not know, one sister that I did not get to love enough, and now the youngest has been sent away. I thank Almighty God that through my wife I am now blessed with another little sister. Am I so frightening to her?"
It took every ounce of courage in Jaqueline's being to raise her head to meet the eyes of her Dauphin. Hot tears pricked at their corners and built up in their lashes. "I do not fear you, Sire. However, I understand what my mother and our family is guilty of better than Danielle. I don't know what my late stepfather had that my mother coveted enough to marry him and move from Paris. Even as a child of six, I could see that she'd married Monsieur de Barbarac because he could raise her higher. Somehow, when he died, she realized he never meant to give her want she wanted, because it belonged to Danielle. My mother doesn't hate without reason, unlike my sister who hates for own pleasure. Everything they did to Danielle they did deliberately, and with a purpose. I am just as guilty as they are, because of my cowardice and silence. Soon, we shall have to face your justice, but I do not fear you. I am not a person who is at ease with anyone, for I am a solitary being."
Henri gently placed his hands on the young girl's shoulders. "There now, it is not as bad as all of that. You are a very brave young lady, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. How could you have spoken up? To whom could you have turned to as a child? You have been a true sister to my wife, and therefore you are also my own. Now, enough of recriminations. Danielle will decide your mother and eldest sister's fate. That is her right. Embrace your new brother, because I can see you desperately need one."
Jaqueline obeyed the tender command. Trembling violently, she managed to force her dry lips to peck her brother-in-law's cheeks four times as custom demanded. Henri drew her into a gentle, but loose embrace in order not to overwhelm the young woman further. As soon as he released, her she sank back into a deep curtsy. "I must go now," she implored in a thin, shaky tone.
Henri sighed and kissed her forehead when she rose. "Laurent, bring Mademoiselle de Ghent home safely. If she is late, tell La Baroness de Ghent that she has been of service to the Queen on a matter that requires the utmost discretion. Make it clear that by royal command, nobody may ask why or how she has served the Queen. I trust your silver tongue can imply a dark retribution if the order is unheeded, but take care to observe every courtesy."
"I understand, Your Highness. If you would come with me Mademoiselle," Marc, replied, bowing his head toward Jaqueline.
Curtsying for a final time to the Queen and the Dauphin, Jaqueline took her leave on the arm of the Captain…
Helene entered the antechamber and patted Henri's cheek. "She's warm and fast asleep now, Henri. I think she's a bit in shock, and what's happening hasn't really sunk in yet. Remember to be patient with her. She has no idea what being your wife actually means."
Henri's eyes narrowed and his voice came out from his throat frozen and soft. "She doesn't understand the protocol of her new status as the Dauphine of France, but our marriage will be what Almighty God has ordained marriage to be, and what we make of it." The two women shared a glance of bewilderment and concern. This Henri, they did not know. Henri ignored their concern and took his mother's arm. "Come, mother. Let us not keep de Montmorency waiting any longer," he sighed.
Leonardo and Helene both paid their homage as the royal pair left. Once entirely alone, Leonardo turned his dark shrewd eyes on the Comtesse. "Alright, Madame, if you would be so kind as to tell me everything that went on in that room I'd be very grateful. I saw what that dreadful woman did to that poor child, and I'm sure that once that interrogation disguised as a medical examination has left that poor child in shock."
"Dear, Leonardo, I think that I'll need your assistance in guiding our new Dauphine into this world. She's a simple girl. I doubt she'll understand or like the display she'll live under and assert to the world for the rest of her life," the ravishing matron sighed.
Leonardo chuckled and sheepishly lowered his eyes. "How graciously, and firmly you have set me back in my place, my dear Comtesse," he acknowledged. "You're concerns are logical, my lady, but you have known Danielle only a few hours in a state of trauma. I assure you that once she is rested, her strength will return. She has been raised to see only the vulgar display of wealth for evil purposes. She only needs assurance that she is in complete control of what she uses to portray herself and how she displays herself to the world."
"Herein lies a difficult problem for me," Helene answered with a demure smile. "The only clothing I can think of that is appropriate enough for her presentation to His Majesty is the unworn clothing of the late Queen of Scotland that were never sent to her before her death. Apart from their sad history, and the alterations that will need to be made, I know nothing of her taste. Normally, with any other young lady I would just find out what colors would look well on them and attend to the wardrobe myself. However, not only would that be entirely inappropriate for the future Queen of France, but she wouldn't appreciate being handled in such a way. I fear I must beg your assistance Leonardo!"
A mischievous grin lit up his weathered face. "Very well, Madame La Comtesse! I will give you what you ask. However, do not think it is your lovely eyes, sweet smiles, and honeyed words that have swayed me. I have been long immune to such wiles."
The Comtesse let out quite an undignified giggle at his statement. "My dearest, Leonardo, a man such as you, or any great artist, could never be immune to anything beautiful or charming!"
Sighing, the elderly man bowed in defeat. "Alas, it is so! Very well, Madame, I am your faithful and obedient servant. Lead me where you will!"
Marc offered to send for a coach to escort Jaqueline home, but she timidly refused. Although the de Barbarac manor sat nearly three miles from the palace, the young lady insisted they walk. After years of walking in the various campaigns of the King's never-ending competition with King Charles V, The Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, walking three miles in warm late summer weather posed no hardship. He offered his arm to the young lady and they set forth. As they exited the palace gates, he felt young Jaqueline tense up beside him. "Is everything alright, Mademoiselle?" he asked casting his gaze about the courtyard for any sign of the Baroness or the wretched Marguerite de Ghent.
"Forgive me," she stammered. "Seeing Danielle so afraid has left me disturbed. The first time I saw her, she frightened me. She'd been out playing with a young neighbor, and returned covered in mud and straw from the stables. I didn't know girls could run before I saw her fly into her father's arms. She looked like a baby wild animal. I knew my mother would be horrified and enraged that she would have to put up with her. What amazed me the most is that Danielle never even noticed our astonishment. For her, being covered in mud and her hair all a mess was just as wonderful as wearing a fine gown. Even after she lost her father, no matter what we did to her, she always kept her self-assurance. Today, she was vulnerable and unsure of herself. It broke my heart to see it. I find myself reluctant to return home, although I know that I must."
Marc came to a halt under a large oak at the crossroads leading to town and the Manor de Barbarac. "Mademoiselle, you must trust in the Queen, the Dauphin, and your sister. They have promised to make sure your future is a safe and rewarding. I realize my Prince is very impulsive and seems to shirk his responsibilities, but underneath his rebelliousness and bravado, he is intensely loyal. Despite his apparent distaste of his future as king, he loves his people and his country. He will keep his word and protect you."
Jaqueline's breath caught in her throat. Suddenly aware how close they stood together, a shiver shot through her entire body. Although she had seen the Captain accompanying the Dauphin numerous times, and even shared an interesting conversation at the masque, she never truly paid attention to his face. Instead, she'd become attracted to his genuine warmth, kindness, and frank demeanor. Now, as his eyes locked on to hers in earnest, a queer tightening sensation gripped her in the lower stomach. All at once, her senses absorbed everything about him. He stood taller than the Dauphin, and his eyes while blue, shined brighter like the sky. Heat rapidly warmed her milk-white skin as her eyes in his broad shoulders and strong arms. How had she not seen the balanced and solid features of his face, or notice the fine golden hairs of neatly trimmed goatee?
The young woman lowered her eyes, trying to compose herself. 'I'm as simple-minded as my mother and my sister have always said!' Taking a deep breath, she raised her eyes to look directly into his. "Monsieur, although I am little known at court, I have always paid very close attention to all I see and hear. I don't claim any wit, or intelligence, but I do know that what is seen on the outside rarely contains the truth. I understand the feeling of being trapped. I am grateful to God that the Dauphin has realized his prison he's tried to escape so for long, existed only in his mind. As for my family, their actions are clear treason, and while I never acted with them, I didn't stop it. I trust that the Dauphin and my sister will do all they can to provide for my future. I simply question how I am to atone for my inaction."
In the depths of Jacqueline's large forest-brown eyes Marc found the shadows of suffering, the same shadows in his own eyes. Shadows that spoke of the helplessness of surviving or being spared from harm that came to someone close to them. "Mademoiselle, as a young boy my father and I went with the former Dauphin and Prince Henri when they were exchanged as hostages for the King after the horrific battle of Pavia. My father was sent back to France almost immediately, however I had to watch as my Princes, my friends, were moved again and again; each time to a darker, more squalid fortresses. Until, finally, the Holy Roman Emperor banished every French attendant, tutor, friend. The male peasant servants they sold into slavery for their great Galleons sailing to the New World. The women they threw into brothels." Marc's voice shook and he turned away from the pale trembling maiden. As he forced back tears of agony he continued in a hoarse voice. "I beg of you, Mademoiselle, put the past behind you. As long as you are consumed with it, the less you can be of service to the Dauphine and to France. I won't lie and tell you the anger, the fear, and the pain go away. However, use them as tools for good, so that what happened to you and the Dauphine can never, ever happen again in your lifetime."
Jaqueline reached out her hand and laid in gently on his shoulder. "Thank you, Monsieur. I shall do as you say."