Bonjour Madams' et Monsieur's, I apologize for the lateness of this chapter, but it was a bit difficult to finish. However, I pushed through my obstacles and I think it's pretty good, but I'm not sure if I went overboard in the detail. This is the start of Danielle's transforming her view on *what* she is and realizing that she doesn't have to change *who* she is. I know everyone wants Henri/Danielle action and the next chapter I promise TONS!
Translations:
The Countess of Laurant
The Crown Prince
My Collette
The Crown Princess
My Dear (Feminine)
My Lady the Crown Princess
Little Maid of Honor
My Lady the Countess
Enter
Little Antoinette
My Dears
Flower of the Lily
French coins
Princess Madeline of France
My dear Crown Princess
The Beautiful Queen of Scots
The Princess and The Queen of Scots
La Cometess de Laurant, sighed at the masses of silks, brocades, velvets, satins, cloth of gold, and cloth of silver all piled in a heap before her. "Well, Leonardo, we certainly have some sorting to do," she chirped. "Collette, Julie, Antoinette, come and let's start culling the awful colors and things we know can't alter for our Dauphine. Leonardo, tell me about her personality, what you've observed about her tastes, and what in particular might enhance her beauty."
Leonardo ran his wrinkled and crooked fingers over all the sumptuous fabrics with a sigh of bliss. "Ah, to be young again and prance around in such finery. I tell you, ladies, I was quite dashing in my youth," he assured with a wink and courtly bow.
The three demoiselles blushed and giggled softly at the antics. A toothy grin forced its way on the usually serene Cometess' lovely face. "Tell me, my dear Leonardo, is it true you escaped a debtors' prison in Milan by using your creditors to portray Christ and his Apostles in your 'Last Supper', or is it a wild tale?"
His old hand waved away the suggestion, his eyes glittering and with a mischievous grin etched on his lips. "Now, my dears, I have tens of thousands tales floating around me, but that is one I will neither confirm nor deny."
Collette the eldest of the Chambermaids of the Dauphin's household, discreetly silenced her fellows, and guided them in the sorting. "Madame," she addressed softly with a happy lilting voice. "Perhaps we should discard the cloth of silver and gold, for the present. Although our dear Dauphine should have every right to wear them, there are others with influence with His Majesty who might insight his wrath by suggestions of conceit and haughtiness in her."
Helene knew exactly who Collette meant by 'others.' She referred of course, to Mademoiselle d'Hilly and her group of sycophants. Since the King's favorite could not wear cloth of gold or silver because she had no royal blood in her veins the king placated her with the honor of wearing whichever the Crown Jewels, (excluding the crown of the Queen) and regularly commissioned extravagant pieces that easily outshone any other ladies' at royal courts around Europe. "The Almighty knows how dearly I hold the memories of growing up with my brother, but how he lets himself be ensnared by the greed of that woman I cannot comprehend. You speak wisely, ma Collette, very well, gather it all and store it for later. Julie, Antoinette, what are your thoughts?" she asked the two younger girls.
"Madame, we have only seen la Dauphine only once when she ate her meal before going to sleep," Julie second in age and a pretty red-head answered. "From what I observed she has lovely eyes a deep green color with even deeper blue flecks in them. Reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and so on will all compliment her creamy complexion and chestnut hair. There is no bad color for her."
The youngest chambermaid Antoinette, a shy mousey girl of eleven, now, added her thoughts. "Madame, why should la Dauphine not wear the colors of our Dauphin? She his choice, and what could say that better?" she asked, a slight lisp lightly slurring her words.
Helene gently patted the child's cheek and gave her a warm smile. "A beautiful and romantic idea, ma cherie, and you are very sweet and kind to think of it. However, alas, our Lord the King might think it presumptuous of our Dauphine when he has not given his approval for the wedding."
Antoinette lowered her head demurely. "I did not think of that. I am sorry," she whispered.
"Nay, little one!" Leonardo exclaimed, lifting the child into his arms. "You, my pretty one, have found us the answer of what to do. Our Danielle should not wear His Highnesses Chivalric colors. However, colors come in myriads of shades, and it is this which will make it acceptable for her to wear blue, silver, and gold." After kissing Antoinette's cheeks, he set her down onto her feet. "Madame, I have a plan. All we need is your ingenuity in providing the proper necessities."
"As you say, Leonardo," the Comtesse replied.
The next hour raced by with a relentless pursuit of exquisite perfection, along with indomitable industriousness. Helene and her three hand-picked demoiselles moved in elegant synchronization, arranging and discarding anything Leonardo requested. The elderly genius painstakingly examined each piece of cloth or clothing, rejecting anything his sharp eyes showed to be inferior. Slowly, he settled into an elaborately carved chair covered in a rich yellow brocade. "I have a vision in my eyes, but I don't see a way to make it happen. The day I met Danielle, I tripped over her as I attempted to walk across the river. I was never a good swimmer and the girl not only brought me to safety, but my water shoes as well. The Dauphin draped his purple cloak over her, and for the first time in my life, I saw a truly pure woman. A woman at one with nature in its glory. A woman with the intellect and wisdom glowing through her eyes that reminded me of a great owl. A woman who spoke with righteousness in her heart. There, on that river bank, I saw a sopping wet peasant girl wrapped in purple velvet cape, and I knew I would never see another like her again. I want to see her with shades of blue and pearls, but nothing I see here is simple enough to let her shine through the luxury."
The Comtess's midnight black eyes welled up with bittersweet tears, not only from the beautiful image the great master had created in her mind, but also because she knew she had the very things he sought. However, the aged genius had no idea of what pain he might arouse by using them to complete his vision. "Collette, Julie, come with me! Antoinette, you stay with our Dauphine until she wakes," Helene gently commanded as she swept out of the room with the two eldest girls behind her.
The tall, exceedingly fragile child, curtsied to Leonardo. "If you excuse me, Master Leonardo, I must return to my Mistress' bedchamber now."
"Of course, child. Do not fear, the young Dauphine is very kind," he reassured with a grandfatherly smile.
Antoinette smiled back, bobbed another curtsy, and quietly returned to the bedchamber where her new mistress slept. Moving silently on her tip toes, the child checked on the still sleeping woman ensconced in fine linen and silks. 'She is beautiful. Certainly more so than many of the painted ladies covered in bright colors and so much jewelry that they give me a headache,' she thought to herself. 'Still, I can't see her as a queen.' She sighed and shook her head. The majority of bandages and poultices had been cleared out of the rooms, so she decided to finish tidying up and polish the mirrors one more time. As she worked she unconsciously hummed one of her favorite hymns, as she became so absorbed in the music, that she didn't notice a silver pitcher on the table and knocked it to the floor as she'd reached up to the mirror.
The crash shocked Danielle awake, and caused Antoinette to cry out in alarm. Danielle used to such commotions quickly leaped out of bed and ran to Antoinette and the pitcher. "Are you hurt?" she exclaimed, immediately raising the child to her feet. She also lifted the heavy silver pitcher and set it gently on the marble table.
"Oh no, Madame La Dauphine," Antoinette exclaimed, backing up and dropping into a curtsy. "You must never do anything those of us who are here to serve you do!" The young child insisted, heedless of her boldness.
Danielle giggled at Antoinette and arched her right eyebrow up. "Indeed, petite demoiselle!" she exclaimed, hiding a smile when the child looked up at her with defiance sparkling in her brown eyes. "Enlighten me, for I am at a loss as to why lifting a pitcher off the floor is beneath anyone."
Antoinette lowered her eyes once more, striving to calm her tendency to raise her voice when she felt passionate about a subject. "It's as you said, yourself, Madame, 'We are the legs you stand on.' You cannot think of yourself as one of the common people, or even a daughter of the lower landed class. You are the beloved of my Master the Dauphin, who will be king of France! Believe me that you can do more for 'your legs' from up high than trying to remain with us."
Danielle felt a deep, cold stillness fill her body as the words fell off from the demoiselle's lips. She took a deep breath, licking her lips, she spoke very softly. "What is your name?" she rasped out.
"My name is Antoinette Chabot, my lady," the girl replied with a gentle smile. "I've served my master for the last year, under the direction of Madame La Comtesse. She has frequently reminded me that the most valuable skill I can learn is to know when to keep silent. It is a lesson I am not learning well. However, my master says I make him laugh, so I try to learn while keeping the Dauphin amused. He has too many burdens, and his entire household is quietly trying with all its might to help him through them. However, my lady, he has extremely powerful enemies in this court and very few friends. I don't know you, my lady, but I know my master, and if he has chosen you, you are worthy to become my queen. However, you are entering a gilded cage of vultures. If you are friendly with lower servants like me, the ones who hate our Dauphin will disgrace you, not only calling your manners and deportment into question, but label you as completely unfit to be his wife!" Antoinette paused to take a deep breath. "My lady, I truly mean you no disrespect or harm. I want my master to find his heart's joy, and become the greatest king France has ever seen. I wish to live a long life to see his sons and grandsons achieve even greater heights. I know that you are the only person who can help him achieve his greatest potential. When you came as Nicole de Lancret to rescue a servant, my master gathered us all in from the highest to the lowest and told us all about the debate you both shared. As he told the story, I sat entranced thinking, 'finally, my master has begun to think about the good of his position. Perhaps he will realize he can change our world for the better of everyone: royal, nobles, and the common people.' My lady, you have brought him back to living. Do not become his weakness by refusing to raise yourself high," she pleaded.
Danielle closed her eyes to block-out the sudden all-consuming fear rising from her stomach to fill her whole body. A tear dripped down her warm cheek and she angrily brushed it away; then she raised her eyes to look directly into the deep brown pair in front of her. "Antoinette," she hoarsely whispered. "Until, eight years of age, I received a man's education in: Latin, Greek, a little Arabic, as well as Italian and Spanish. I learned mathematics, botany, history, philosophy. My father taught me self-defense with both weapons and unarmed. When my father married my stepmother, I can only assume he hoped for her to teach me the womanly arts. However, that didn't happen. A week after my father died, she gave her eldest daughter my room and stuffed me in the attic with a bundle of hey and a quilt. From then on: I learned field work, basic sewing, cooking, and caring for livestock. The only way I could keep up with my father's education, was to read his library in the dying fires. I do not know how to be the woman you say I must become. All am I sure of is that I love the Dauphin with all of my heart and soul. He will be the only man I ever could love, and I would give him anything, even my own life's blood, in order to help him down the road to reach the man he hasn't discovered he is."
A smile lit up Antoinette's face, revealing a slight gap-toothed grin. "Now, I can see you as a Queen, Madame La Dauphine," she answered. "The only nobles or Royals I've ever heard the absolute truth from are: Her Majesty the Queen, my Master, and Madame La Comtesse. If there is no truth, there can be nothing else. Remember this always, My Lady, I am your feet. Whomever you choose to be your Ladies will be your legs. Your heart will belong to my Master and the children of France. Your conscience belongs only to God. Your mind is your own. If you're willing to work hard and learn, there is nothing you cannot accomplish with God's Grace."
Danielle smiled at Antoinette in return. "Thank you, so much, Antoinette." She paused and giggled. "Am I not allowed to even thank my helpers?"
Antoinette burst out in loud laughter. "In the Royal Court a bit of eccentricity a vital trait to survive. This can be yours!"
The icy of riptide of fear that had washed over Danielle receded, leaving her feeling bathed in the golden light of love and faith. "I think that of the people I have met here today, you and I will begin as a firm foundation."
Antoinette rose, and curtsied once more. "I am but one stone in the foundation of your new life here, Madame La Dauphine. Take your time. Anyone not born to this court, regardless of their station, is overwhelmed at first. The Ambassador from England still can't keep up."
A soft knock came from one of the many entrances and exits of the bedchamber. Antoinette motioned to her new mistress that she should answer. "Entrez," Danielle called out, smiling at her own confidence returning.
Collette came in and curtsied before Danielle. "Madame La Dauphine, if you are ready, Madame La Comtesse, has chosen two ensembles for your introduction to the king this evening. She asks that you might come to the wardrobe as soon as you are ready to inspect them for your approval."
"Of course," Danielle answered, stifling a giggle as Antoinette slipped her cold feet into a pair of white satin slippers lined with warm rabbit fur. "I must say petite Antoinette has relieved my anxieties of making mistakes by telling me about the English Ambassador. I am much heartened now that perhaps I shall not make a fool of myself before my Sovereign the King."
Collette sighed at her younger assistant. "My dear, Toni, how many times must I and Madame remind you about gossip and silence?" she scolded tenderly, squeezing the girl's hand.
"It isn't gossip if it's the truth!" Antoinette insisted. "Is it not true that the Ambassador gets lost constantly, and once ended up in our own privy?"
Unable to keep her face from showing the great amusement of that aforementioned day, Collette's lips slightly quirked up. "Did you happen to mention that the poor Ambassador is short-sighted and cannot see beyond his plate and cup at supper?"
Antoinette signed and lowered her eyes to the floor, her cheeks blazing scarlet. "I may have forgotten that," she whispered.
Danielle smiled at the younger women's banter. "Tell me, does the Dauphin like the Ambassador?"
"Oh yes, our master likes him very well!" Antoinette blurted out, once again forgetting that Collette should answer.
Collette took a deep breath and continued. "Despite his short-sightedness, the Ambassador regularly visits our Dauphin to play chess. I believe His Highness considers him an amiable companion."
"I should like to meet him myself," Danielle replied as she rose from her luxurious chair. "I think I should not keep the Comtesse waiting any longer. If you would kindly lead me through this maze, Mes Chers, I think the most difficult part of the day is just beginning."
"Have no worries, Madame La Dauphine, nothing will be done without your approval," Collette reassured, holding the door to the wardrobe open for her.
As she stepped into the wardrobe, Danielle gasped as a golden beam of the setting sun lit the room with the glow of a thousand candles. Two exquisite gowns, one crimson and scarlet embroidered with pure golden threads. The second a sapphire and azure blue silk embroidered with sparkling silver threads and pearls. The awe of such splendor and truly elegant attire took her breath away, leaving her stunned and confused. Leonardo gently spoke in a soft voice to break the silence. "How are you feeling, my child?" he asked, guiding her further into the chamber.
Smiling at seeing her dear friend in the midst of these kind and loving strangers, lifted her spirits higher. It also gave her a true sense of security while separated from Henri. "I am very well, my friend. I can't remember when I felt so rested and at ease. It's been a hard day, however, it feels like a new dawn."
"And so it is, Madame La Dauphine," Helene answered with a warm smile. "With Leonardo's help, and from what little I've been able to glean about your personality during our short acquaintance, we have gone through a selection of different gowns, and pieced together two outfits for your approval. Take your time, and make sure you feel comfortable, and remember we can change elements that you dislike."
Danielle gnawed on her bottom lip as she gazed and the splendid garments; each so different and yet superlative in every way. "I confess I cannot see myself in such splendor. I believe the only reason I was able to dress in my stepsister's cast off dresses, and my mother's dress, is because I could not resist the company of His Highness. However, the idea of me wearing anything as wonderful as these confounds me. Just this morning I was a slave. I'm still trying to adjust to it all. The only thing that makes me believe it's all real is because His Highness brought me here himself. I've been held in the arms of my Lady the Queen, I've been examined to determine my chastity, and I've had my hurts tended to by my sister. After all of this, the sight of these dresses suddenly fills me with fear. Perhaps if I make a wrong choice, I shall be separated from the man I love, and may be condemned to slavery again."
Leonardo shook his head and offered Danielle his arm. "My dear child," he chided in a gentle, paternal tone. "You must learn to separate what you've been led to believe about status and how to show it, and how to properly dress and act according to your station. These are two very different things. You can no longer think of yourself as Danielle de Barbarac, the servant of the Baroness; nor can you think of yourself as the carefree daughter of a wealthy landowner. You are the future Queen of this country. It is not these mere garments you fear, but losing yourself in them. Forget about that wretched Baroness, and her spiteful daughter! They stole your rightful inheritance to cloak themselves in gaudy garb designed not for their status, but for treachery. You, donned a dress above your, 'supposed' station to save a man's life. You gave the first name that came to your mind when your future king demanded one of you. You never intended to pursue him, nor expected him to pursue you. However, he did just that, and you both fell in love. Greed, coveting, lying, scheming. These things don't originate with having status or wealth. They come from a heart where the seeds are allowed to sprout. Only you can lose what you value most if these seeds grow in your heart. The seeds are in everyone, Queen or slave. A dress doesn't determine virtue, and neither does having power. Free will to choose right or wrong determines these things."
Danielle impulsively threw her arms around the aging master. "Oh, my dear friend, I can almost hear my father's voice in your wise words. Thank you, thank you, again and again, for everything you have done for me since we have met."
Leonardo gently stroked the young woman's hair before letting her go. "That might be the highest praise I've ever received. I only wish I could have met Monsieur de Barbarac myself, but, we have very little time child, so we must proceed with the work of the moment."
Danielle took three halting steps to the dress forms and turned her complete attention to the crimson and scarlet colored gown first. The kirtle and underskirt were a scarlet silk brocade heavily embroidered with Fleur-de-Lis of pure gold thread, glittering like golden dew drops on the petal of a rose. Each symbolic bud of France was safely ensconced in a geometric grid of diamond panes, embroidered in silk scarlet chains. Danielle marveled at the craftsmanship of each stitch on the fine brocade. Secretly, she lusted after the red hues of the dress. Not even the Baroness could wear these shades as they were reserved for the royal family and high church leaders. Others could pay a tax for the privilege, but not even she could swindle up enough liveres to get a small enough piece of fabric for a kerchief. Additionally, her own birthstone the ruby, made her partial to the color. The thought of having the right to wear her favorite color intoxicated her with a pleasure she hadn't felt since her father came home with books for her very own. As she gently fingered the over-sleeves of the darker crimson satin over gown, her eyes slid closed at the cool, slippery, smoothness of the sumptuous fabric. Never in her life had she ever felt something so luxurious against her skin. The moment vanished as quickly as it came. There would be a time to deal with Rodmilla and Marguerite. While that time would come soon, she could not afford to let any seeds of revenge or improper pride blossom in her heart. Justice should be dealt with humility, and with as much mercy as possible. She opened her eyes once more and examined the soft fur turn cuffs, and, the glittering trimmings of gold, and pea sized rubies surrounded by dazzling diamonds. Her hand trembled as she reached out to touch one of the splendid clusters of jewels.
"Where does this dress come from?" Danielle asked in a soft dazed tone. "For surely, it seems a dress for a true Queen, and not of a princess or noblewoman," she added, slowly turning to face the Comtesse.
"Ah, ma Cherie, you are quite right. These gowns were originally made here for the former Queen of Scots, our own Princesse Madeline de France," Helene answered in a faintly mournful tone. Danielle gasped, and darted away from the dress forms. "Please do not be disturbed, ma Cherie La Dauphine. La Belle La Reine de Scots, never wore them. She died just before we could send them," the Comtesse tried to reassure the younger woman. "It is important that you look like the future Queen of France, in the way you dress and the way you carry yourself. You must convince the king that you can stand next to any other Princesse on earth and own the position of Henri's wife," Helene emphasized, hoping Danielle would not balk any further at being adorned.
Blinking away the tears gathering in her eyes, Danielle nodded in understanding and slowly moved to inspect her other choice. The shimmering blue gown was no less regal, but a great deal softer in its grandeur. The silk brocade sparkled and glowed with intricate embroideries of lily-of-the-valley. The tiny delicate shining silver leaves protected the buds of pearls the size of plump red currents. The motif spread across the whole front of the underskirt, and ended just below the waist where the bodice of the kirtle faded into bright azure blue silk brocade once more. The over dress, made out of deep ultramarine satin, fell into the fashionable bell shape at court with a small train that wouldn't impede activities such as dancing. The over bodice of ultramarine continued the exquisite lily-of-the-valley pattern and trimmed the raised curved neckline, and over-sleeves, in dew drop sized diamonds and pearls. The under-sleeves matched the kirtle with the embroidered with the pattern of the underskirt. Unlike the exquisite fur over-cuffs on the crimson and scarlet dress. The cover-cuffs were ultramarine satin with silver crosshatch embroidery.
"Comtesse de Laurant, please tell me about the former Queen of Scots. What was she like, how close was she with the Dauphin, and do you think she would approve that a woman of my humble origins should be wearing either of these gowns?" Danielle whispered.
"Ma Cherie La Dauphine, I can tell you that La Princesse et La Reine de Sots, was a great deal like her mother our Queen. She had a sunny disposition despite being consumptive all her life. She did not have a scholarly mind like you, or her siblings, but she had a keen ear for music and languages, and did well in her studies. She spent much of her time in the warmer climes while the court moved around, so she was a prolific writer with beautiful penmanship. She was literate in French, Latin, Greek, and Italian. Like her mother, she wove tapestries and embroidered alter clothes for poorer parishes wherever she lived. When she came to court she earned the pet name of La Lys Blanc de France, by the king and soon everyone used it. She loved beautiful clothes and jewels, but she always remained modest and demure compared to other women of lower status. She was never able to participate fully in the raucous festivities of the court, but she never failed to be amusing and a joy to converse with. About her relationship with the Dauphin, she was a mere babe with Henri, and dear Francois were taken to Spain, and both she and Marguerite were quite frightened when the young Princes returned, having so few memories of them. However, Madeline began to spend all her time with the boys, teaching them how to speak proper French again. When she heard that Henri suffered from terrible nightmares and headaches, she insisted that he come stay with her, away from court to rest and recover. I was appointed chaperone, and I think she truly saved his life. While they stayed with me, he could be himself, and vent his grief and rage without judgement. When they returned to court, everyone claimed I had civilized Henri, but it was really Madeline who just poured out completely unconditional love no matter his blackest moods. Unfortunately, due to their separation in her infancy, they only had a few short years. When His Grace King James the V of Scotland came to court to search for a wife, Madeline fell in love with him quickly. This young, strapping, redheaded young man who loved to wear the color of his beard. Oh, that made the nobles who couldn't wear red angry. He couldn't speak French well, but Madeline learned the Scottish tongue quickly entrancing him completely. A walk with His Grace meant more to her than all the jewels in Christendom. The young king petitioned our king for her hand but Francis refused twice! He knew the Scottish weather would hasten her death, but she would not be deterred. His Grace, loving Madeline more than himself fleetingly considered other candidates the king presented to him. That's when Madeline begged me to intercede for her with her father. All she wanted, she said, was to live however many days Almighty God granted her with the man she loved. Although I knew her health would never handle the Scottish weather, I could not deny her request. Henri and His Grace had bonded over mutual interests in hunting, sports, and jousting. He did have grave concerns over whether James could be faithful to Madeline as he had fathered at least five natural children. However, James swore on his father's grave that he would be as faithful to Madeline as she would be to him. Only then, could Francis give his consent. The wedding was marvelous, and Henri enjoyed beating James in the jousts. However, by the time they arrived in Scotland, Madeline became severely ill. She never fully recovered, but she wrote me to prepare her dresses for the coming spring, the red dress here was for the pleasure of her husband. The blue dress was to alleviate her homesickness, reminding her of her days as La Belle Lys Blanc de France. The Comtesse discreetly wiped her eyes with her handkerchief, when she finished speaking.
Danielle also wiped tears from her eyes. "Do you believe she would approve of me?"
Helene smiled and looked her future queen directly in the eyes. "The only thing she wanted more than to marry His Grace was to see Henri happy. I think if she lived now she would get down on her knees in thanks that Henri found you."
Danielle sighed, and asked one more question. "Does Henri truly love blue?"
The entire room filled with laughter and the Comtesse confidently replied. "Indeed, he does!"
Danielle smiled and made her choice. "I'll wear the blue dress."