Traitor's Vengeance - Part Fourteen
Henry was stalking about Hautefort like a man possessed. It had been hours since the Spanish confrontation, but he was still agitated. Most of all though he was angry. How DARE the Spanish come to France and start making such outrageous demands. He needed a plan to get rid of them. Something cunning. But the truth was another problem had surfaced.
He desperately needed something to make him forget, even if it was just for an hour. If these thoughts kept on plaguing him like this he would go mad. If only he could see Danielle. Just one word from her would usually make him forget everything. But he could not risk being seen going to the manor, what if he was followed?
As he passed the library, he noticed that the door was ajar. Odd, nobody had been in there in years. They all had so much to do the time to read was a luxury the family didn't really have. Maybe this was a good way of forgetting for a while, until he calmed down.
He pushed the door open and entered the dusty old room. The smell of the musty books that hit him instantly took him back to his school days. The library had been shut up after his last tutor left There was no need of it anymore. Henry hadn't the time to read anymore. He had his royal duties to attend to.
As he contemplated what to read he heard a rustling noise at the other end of the vast room. He went to investigate. His hand at his sword, he was ready to strike at anyone who was a threat. As he neared the spot where the intruder lurked he heard voices. He stopped for a moment to listen. There was one man and one woman and they were speaking in Spanish.
Stealthily, he walked towards the voices, trying to listen to what they were saying. However his Spanish was not good enough. Now he was beginning to regret never listening to his tutors.
Now he was right behind the final bookcase which hid these invaders. His heart was beginning to beat faster. Normally he would not be so nervous but he had more than just himself to think about now. He had to think about Danielle. What would it do to her if anything were to happen to him? He had to be very careful.
He checked his escape route in case anything went wrong, then he jumped out to surprise them. The two figures sitting at the table jumped as he appeared before them. He was about to thrust his sword at the man and demand to know what they were doing there when he noticed who they were.
Leonardo and the Princess Gabriella were sitting at the table looking shocked and afraid at Henry's surprise interruption.
"Signore," Henry said. "I thought you were intruders, you gave me a fright."
"We frightened you! We aren't waving swords at you." Leonardo replied. Henry replaced his blade in its scabbard. He then looked over at the frightened Spanish Princess. During all of his wallowing and self pity, he had forgotten that she had been going through the same thing.
"Your Highness," Henry said with a slight bow. He was not required to treat her with such formality but he had a great deal of respect for her and so believed that she deserved it.
In turn Gabriella stood up and addressed him in the same manner before breaking down in a flood of tears. It was reminiscent of their wedding. Henry almost felt like laughing as he had then, but he felt that now it was inappropriate. He instead moved to Gabriella's side and placed a comforting arm around her.
This had a remarkably soothing effect on her. She knew that she could trust him not to do something that would hurt them both. As he whispered comforting words to her she looked right at him and spoke.
"Please Henry, help me. To marry where I do not love would kill me. It would kill Carlos. It would kill you. But they won't listen. My parents insist that I marry you. Or if not you some other prince." Now she began to sob again and she ran from the room.
This speech had broken Henry's heart. Just how many people did the Spanish have the potential to destroy? He turned to Leonardo. "Please Signore, tell me what to do. I don't think I can do this alone. My world is falling to pieces and I assume Gabriella told you the same about herself."
"Yes my boy she did. She came to me for some guidance and I told her the same thing I have already told you. A life without love is no life at all you must let your heart rule you."
"But how can I do that when the future of France is at risk?"
"Your father is a great King. He would never allow you to do anything which could jeopardise the future of this great nation. You have the potential for greatness locked up somewhere inside you and I believe that she is the key. Your success depends on her love."
"I know that Father will sort it out, but..."
"There's more isn't there? It isn't just the Spanish." Henry nodded. He knew that the other was a problem that would need more delicacy to solve. Threats would not make it go away.
"A part of my past has just surfaced which I was not ready for. I do not know how I will explain it to Danielle."
"Am I to understand that one of you paramours has shown her face? And the Princess does not know of your past." Again Henry simply nodded. He wished that it was as simple as Leonardo's words made it sound. However there was more to consider.
It was true that there were many old lovers lurking in his past. He had always excused his behaviour by believing that it was what was expected of a Prince. Then when that failed to convince him he would simply think of the shameless way in which courtiers would throw themselves at him. But in this circumstance it really was different. He sat at the table, ready to tell Leonardo. Maybe it might help ease his conscience a little.
"When I was fifteen father decided that it was time for me to take a mistress. He felt that I needed to learn. As usual he was not content with allowing me to have my own choice. He said told me that such a delicate matter should be handled by him."
"Well that is hardly surprising. I have never known a Royal court where that was not the case. Surely these courtiers know the meaning of discretion."
"It is my own behaviour that troubles me. I expected my father to send an anonymous face who I was unlikely ever to meet again, or maybe even a servant who could be sent to another palace. But he did not. Instead he chose one of my childhood friends. Somebody who I could not avoid even if I wanted to. Hélène was the same age as I and had been forced into it by her father in the same way as I had. She told me that she did not mind but I didn't really believe her. Still it didn't stop me from carrying on. She cried all of the time she was with me. I thought that if we got it over with then the whole thing would be finished and we could then forget about it."
"But it didn't work like that?"
"No it didn't. She was sent to me again the next week and then every week after that. To all intents and purposes she became my mistress. This may sound like normal royal practice but for the next few years as I became more arrogant I began to have other women while still keeping Hélène as a mistress. I knew that she was in love with me and that every time I disappeared from court with another lady it broke her heart. But I didn't care. I was having too much fun. I almost sent her mad with the mental torture I bestowed on her, but I was blinded by the arrogance my position had bestowed on me. I was beginning to feel like a god. Aphrodite and Apollo* fought for control of me and I let them both in. I was driven by lust and I was unwilling to allow Hélène's love to interfere with that. When my tutors left and I was pushed into my royal duties I began to realise what I was doing to her and I stopped seeing other ladies."
"You did what was right. You had it in your power to ease the pain of another and you did. Why do you feel guilty about this now."
"You don't understand. What I did, I did to ease my own conscience but it was not the right thing. With every day I spent with Hélène, telling her that she was the only woman in my life, I gave her false hope and I knew I was doing it. She believed that one day I would marry her. I tried to love her as she loved me, but I couldn't. To me she was my best friend. The little girl who's hair I would pull. The little girl who would fight with me over where we would have our adventures. In the end I stopped seeing her. I refused to receive her when she came to my room at night. I purposely avoided her at court. I thought it was the only way ease her pain. Now I feel the most wretched sense of guilt over what I put her through. The day you arrived at court, I was going to Hélène to ask her to join me in Genoa. I had lost faith in finding true love and was ready to settle for somebody who loved me even if that was unrequited."
"But then you met your elusive Comtesse and you realised that you did not have to settle."
"Precisely. I forgot about Hélène and all I had done to her. I was so wrapped up in my own happiness that the only time I ever stopped to think about her was when I asked you about two ladies walking side by side. Hélène was my other lady."
"But I don't understand why this is bothering you so now. If she loves you so she will not wish to ruin your happiness."
"It is not for myself that I am worried. Mother has appointed Hélène as Danielle's lady-in-waiting. The majority of the court knew of our affair, but somehow Mother never found out. She just thought of Hélène as my friend who had been loyal to me throughout my life. The position is such a coveted one Mother would have seen it as a reward, not realising what serving my new wife might do to her. I have to live with what I did to her, but I do not want her to be punished too. I don't know what to do about it."
"This is a matter of the heart and one that I am ill qualified to help you with, as you say I walk on water but know nothing about life. This is a problem you must face alone. But I think that your priority must be solving the Spanish dispute. You may feel guilty over this Hélène, but imagine the unbearable torment that awaits you if you are forced to give up Danielle. It is up to you to help everyone caught up in this sticky web. Only you can plan the escape that will free yourself and Gabriella to be with your true loves."
"Escape," Henry murmured to himself. A plan was beginning to formulate, one that he would never have dreamed of before. It was risky, but possible. "Signore, you are a genius." He then stood up and rushed off, to find Laurent this is something he would need help for.
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*Aphrodite - The Greek Goddess of sexual love
Apollo - The Greek god of prophesy, charged with the protection of young men and noted for his cruelty and spite.