Traitor's Vengeance - Part Twenty
The Royal Court was in session. The crowds of nobles who had gathered to see what was happening were getting exited. Something was obviously amiss. The King had never called the court to session so late in the day. He obviously had some pressing business.
The ladies of the court were also anxious to be there as it gave them the opportunity to gather a multitude of gossip. The servant Princess with her royal mistress attendant and her recluse guard. Just to see one of them would be enough to cause some excitement but just imagine the commotion caused in idle minds when all three appeared together. Questions about the Princesses heritage, Steven's exile and Hélène's affair flew around the room silently.
As this happened, Danielle looked out at them She knew what was buzzing around those empty heads. She had spent years studying the wonder that was Marguerite's disposition, and she had gained a talent for knowing what other people were thinking. Especially when that person had so little to think about that their curiosity was always about other people.
Danielle had no idea why the King had called this emergency session. In the few days of their acquaintance, Danielle had learned that the King was a secretive man. He always seemed to have some little scheme in mind. Like when he called the Baroness to court to receive punishment. Danielle leaned over and whispered in Henry's ear. "Do you know why we are here?"
"No, father refused to tell me, but it looks like somebody is in for trouble. He's been storming around the palace in a rage ever since he spoke to mother." Danielle looked over at her father in law. He looked reasonably calm, but Danielle could see that occasionally the corner of his eye would twitch, a sign that he was agitated.
Danielle could see Jacqueline and Hélène at the front of the crowd. As attendant and sister to the Princess they now enjoyed a very high standing in court. They had both been led to expect to hold new and exalted positions by this time, but not like this. Jacqueline had expected Marguerite to be in Danielle's place. Hélène had hoped it to be herself.
"Have the Spanish court left the palace yet?" Danielle asked Henry.
"They were preparing to leave as we returned to the palace."
"So they will leave immediately." Danielle hated to admit it, but the thought of them still being in the palace scared her. What if they found out about Henry's involvement in Gabriella's escape.? What would they do to him?
Now the Queen turned around to speak to her daughter- in-law. "Danielle my dear, I almost forgot. The King has suggested that we hold a reception in your honour as a celebration of your marriage." She looked very exited at this idea, but it made Danielle nervous. French royal functions were noted for their glittery hospitality. The royalty of Europe would frequently turn up. Would she feel comfortable?
The Queen could sense her apprehension. "Of course my dear it will be held according to your wishes, we do not wish to smother you, but it is custom for a royal marriage to be celebrated in such a way that other monarchs may rejoice in the occasion also." How could Danielle refuse?
"I think that it is a wonderful idea Mother. It is just a shame Princess Gabriella will not be able to join us. She seemed to be such a nice person."
"There is a rumour spreading around the court that she and Don Carlos have fled to Genoa, where they will stay with an old friend of his before settling in Egypt." Henry said, smirking a little.
"Henn-ry. How did these rumours come to start?" Danielle disapproved of rumour, but in this case she could forgive it. But she wasn't about to let him know that. "I would hate to think that my husband was indulging in idle gossip."
"You wound my Milady. I would never. Of course if I happened to mention something to my cousin yesterday, it isn't my fault if that gets around. The Comtesse de Nice is usually very discreet."
Danielle couldn't help laughing. "Even I have heard of the Comtesse De Nice and her daily bulletins." Henry laughed with her. He had often joked that his cousin should be given the job as Nice town crier.
Just then the King called the court to order. Danielle and Henry calmed down, safe in the knowledge that they had the freedom to continue their teasing later, in private.
"I have called this session to try and shed some light on a most serious matter. We have very good reason to believe that an act of treachery has taken place. An act of treachery so calculating that I have never dealt with anything so vile."
Whispers began to buzz around the room. The King was obviously very serious. Charges of treachery were few and far between. Henry was just a tiny baby the last time anybody had been convicted of treason. Just the thought of that time sent shivers down the Queen's spine. She had been terrifyingly close to losing her baby.
"Jacqueline de Ghent, step forward," the King commanded. Danielle's glance shot to her sister. Was she being accused? Surely Jacqueline would never be involved as such a thing as treason.
"Henry what's going on?" She was worried. Besides Gustave, Jacqueline was her oldest and best friend.
"I don't know," he replied as he tapped his mother on the shoulder. "Mother why is father calling Jacqueline?"
"Henry you should know better than to speak while court is in session All will reveal itself soon." Henry stood back and allowed his father to continue.
"Mademoiselle de Ghent, tell the court exactly what you told Her Majesty the Queen and myself earlier today."
Jacqueline nervously cleared her throat. " Yes Your Majesty. I believe that one of your subjects did conspire with their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain to try and draw France into a war."
"And on what do you base this assumption?"
"King Charles once said that a courtier had advised him on the matters regarding Your majesty's treaty. But it is well known that King Charles does not discuss matters of state with courtiers. Therefore it is my conviction that only a member of this court could have had such a knowledge as to be able to advise."
The entire court gasped. Never before had COURTIER been placed on charges of treason. The closest any noble had ever been to such charges was the Baroness de Ghent and even that wasn't treason.
"And what was there of motive?" The King asked.
"I believe, Your Majesty, that the main factor was jealousy. There were many families in France intent on having one of their daughters married to His Royal Highness Prince Henry. One family in particular was very upset at his marriage to Princess Danielle."
"Tell us that family was."
"It was my own, the House of Ghent. My mother and sister may have received punishment, but our family is close and I understand that a cousin of mine, one who was particularly close to my mother, has befriended the Princess. You see I believe that the main object here was not to harm France, but to destroy Her Highness."
Danielle's head was spinning with these accusations. Who could be so cruel as to do this to another human being?
"Tell the court the name of these person whom you are accusing."
"Comtesse Adèle la Martine. Now Danielle gasped. Adèle had been so nice to her before and all the time she had been plotting against her.
In the crowds a clearing appeared around Adèle. The moment that anybody is attached to a case of treachery, they become outcasts. To betray one's country is to sink to the very depths of corruption.
"Thank you Mademoiselle, you may step down." Jacqueline curtseyed and resumed her position in the crowds. The King's voice suddenly became menacing. "Comtesse la Martine, stand up to face these charges. Adèle stepped towards the large thrones tentatively. "Comtesse la Martine I do hereby charge you with high treason. Do you have anything to say in your defence?"
Adèle looked shocked and confused, but if there was one thing her Aunt Rodmilla had taught her, it was how to formulate the right words. "Your majesty. These accusations are the product of childhood rivalries. Jacqueline and I constantly competed with each other as children. I usually won at everything and so naturally she has always been jealous."
"Then how do you explain the testament of a former page that you were seen visiting Rodmilla de Ghent just last night?"
"She is my aunt. I know that what she did was wrong, but I was particularly close to her and so I could not bear not seeing her. She was like my own mother."
"And the word of a coachman at your estate, saying that you bribed him to allow a Spanish guard to take his place. How do you answer that?"
The truth was that she couldn't. She knew that she was for the hangman's noose.
Just then another lady stepped up beside Adèle. It was Sabine de Bruge.
"What do you want Mademoiselle?" the King asked, rather irritated at her interruption."
"Please Your Majesty I want you to know that Adèle was not alone in her treasonous act. Comtesse Eloise de Lanscon and Comtesse Yvette Martignac also took an active part in plotting, and I myself know of their conspiracy." She kneeled before the Royals, as if offering penance for what she has done. "I realise Your majesties that I must be punished for my part in this, but believe me when I say that I never wanted any of this to happen."
The King summoned Yvette and Eloise before him and demanded explanations, but they could give him none.
"Comtesse la Martine, you are sentenced to death for high treason against the realm of France. Comtesse de Lanscon and Comtesse Martignac, you are both to be shipped to the Americas for your part in this crime." The severity of these punishments appalled Danielle, but she knew that they must be carried out. They had gone too far to be able to cheat the King's justice. They were led from the court by armed guards before having a chance to say anything.
"As for you Comtesse de Bruge, your actions have been commendable. You confessed and you let us know who the real traitors of France were. You shall be spared punishment." Sabine breathed a sigh of relief. The King dismissed the court and the nobles filed out of the room. Stunned but a little more wise to the world than they were before.