Traitor's Vengeance - Part Nineteen
After a night of pleasure with Henry the cold light of day was beginning to bring Danielle back to Earth. Her fears on returning to the palace were steadily increasing. Would the Spanish still be there? What would happen if they heard of Henry's involvement in their Daughter's escape?
As they travelled towards the palace in a royal carriage these thoughts drifted around in her head. She was getting more nervous with every foot closer they got to Hautefort. Henry could feel her body tensing up.
"Don't worry," he whispered to her. "They can't do anything now." It was as if he was reading her mind. She didn't answer him, she simply moved closer so that she could feel the warmth of his body. His voice had such a soothing effect on her. The only other person ever to have such meaning to her was her dear father's.
Henry heard the fanfare that signified their arrival at the palace. They couldn't be there already. They only seemed to have had a moment alone together. He knew that once their royal lives took over, time spent together would be scarce.
"I do wish my father was here," Danielle said. "I think you would have liked him."
"And if he was anything like you my love, I am sure I would have liked him."
"And he would have loved you. You remind me of him in fact. Your both stubborn, difficult and wonderful." Henry knew that this was the kindest compliment anybody could give him. To be compared favourably to somebody you know was worshipped by the one you love is the most precious thing in the world
The carriage came to a stop. Henry was desperate to hold this moment for as long as possible. He lifted Danielle's face so she was looking at him and kissed her. Just as Henry expected the coachman who opened the door for them soon retreated at the sight of the royal couple in such an intimate clinch.
After a minute Danielle came up for air, flustered. "What was that for?" Danielle gasped, surprised at Henry's forwardness.
"Since when do I need a reason to kiss my wife?"
"You, my love will never need a reason to be near me." She continued to kiss him, tenderly. These were the moments that Henry now lived for. These precious moments alone with his beloved Danielle. He aimed to forget what had happened in the past. The Gods were now ejected from his soul. The love he felt for his wife would be his only guide.
"Aren't...your parents...waiting...for us?" Danielle asked
"They can wait," Henry murmured as he kissed her neck. "They're used to being kept waiting by me."
"But they aren't used to it from me," Danielle said as she gently pushed Henry away. She adjusted herself and sat up. "And I won't have it starting."
"Milady, your wish is my command... But maybe not right now," and he kissed her again. Danielle knew that she was a slave to passion. When Henry kissed her she felt like she would never wake up and to be honest she didn't want to.
Henry was also a slave, but not to passion. He vowed that he would never become so blind again to what is happening in the real world. People had suffered because of his enslavement to his own selfish sensibilities. His eternal servitude was to Danielle. He could not imagine a time when he would ever say no to anything she wanted. Pandora's box, the Holy Grail, nothing could be kept from his love if she wanted it.
Danielle was finally able to remove herself from Henry so that she didn't fall back into what they had been doing, which would be so easy to do. Henry sighed. He would much rather carry Danielle straight up to their chambers to carry on with what their previous business. But his parents were waiting for them and he doubted that they would feel comfortable with them in their room.
Henry pushed open the carriage door and jumped down onto the ground. He adjusted his crumpled attire and offered a hand to Danielle, who was likewise straightening her dress. Danielle took his hand and gently stepped out of the carriage.
For one, unnerving, moment she was reminded of that fateful day that her father brought the Baroness back to the manor. She stepped out of the carriage so grandly that she almost felt Rodmilla's pomposity flowing through her. She felt ashamed that even one action of that woman's had an effect on her.
Their must have been a hundred courtiers watching her as she walked arm in arm with Henry towards the palace. They were being closely pursued by Steven and Laurent. Henry was still worried that a Spanish assailant could leap out at any moment and three to one were odds he preferred.
Danielle could hear the sounds of hooves and wheels coming to a stop in the courtyard. She turned around to see Jacqueline and Hélène emerging from the second carriage. Immediately a page approached them and placed a piece of paper in Jacqueline's hand. She read it and was quickly escorted towards the palace.
Danielle was intrigued. Why would Jacqueline be so eagerly sought after? After all she wasn't exactly well known at the court. In all her years of serving the Ghent's Danielle had managed to work that out.
Inside the palace they slowly made their way to the throne room. Occasionally stopping for the odd kiss while nobody was looking. The King was already in there speaking with one of his advisors while a war was raging in the background. The Spanish King and Queen were engaged in an almighty battle of words. Presumably over the unexplained disappearance of their daughter.
"Welcome home my dear," the King beamed as Danielle walked towards him. "I trust you had a nice journey from the manor."
"It was most pleasant Your majesty," Danielle said giving Henry a sly smile, which was eagerly returned.
At that point there was a mighty clatter behind them and they all turned just in time to see Queen Isabella bring a silver tray crashing down over her Husband's head. She threw out a few words at him, presumably not very nice ones, before storming out of the throne room, giving Danielle and Henry a menacing glare.
King Charles was a little dazed for a moment, but he was quickly back on his feet. He walked over to the small huddle of French Royals, as calmly as anyone who had just been smashed with a tray could. "You may have won this time Henry," he said menacingly. "But mark my words that this is not over. You have disgraced your country and humiliated Spain and I will not rest until I see you begging for my mercy," and with that he staggered from the room in pursuit of his wife.
"Where is mother?" Henry asked, noticing the Queen's absence.
"Oh she had somebody to thank for something or another. She said that she'd be right here." Just as he said this the Queen entered the room. She looked a little pale.
"Mother, are you all right?" Danielle asked noticing her sallow complexion.
"I am fine my dear. Francis may I see you alone for a moment?"
"Now? Surely it can wait."
"No I don't believe it can. I need to see you now. I have some information that you must hear."