The Runaway Royals - Part Five
"Where exactly are we going?" Danielle asked Henry. "We seem to be on a road to nowhere. We have been riding for hours this morning and we have not seen a single person."
"You wouldn't, nobody takes this road anymore. Thieves drove people away from this area a long time ago."
"Then why do we take it? The idea of a confrontation with such people doesn't really appeal to me."
"Because nobody travels this road anymore, the outlaws have moved elsewhere where there are people and riches to be looted. We may not see anyone until we reach the coast."
"But where are we going? The suspense is killing me."
"You will just have to wait." Henry knew that she wouldn't be able to. During the morning she had become increasingly excited at the prospect of fulfilling her father's promise that one day she would see the sea. Henry wouldn't put it past her to use her feminine charms against him to get the information she wanted and he wasn't sure if he would be able to resist the temptation.
They had been on the road now for several hours and they were both exhausted. The rest that they were supposed to be having at Monsieur Dupont's farm ended up just taking more out of them. They had slept for less than an hour when the rooster crowed and they had to be gone. Henry was confident that they were far enough away to be able to get a good few hours rest later.
"Do you think they will have found the letters yet?" Danielle asked. Henry looked up at the sun. "I'd say we have a little while longer before they send out the guard. The sun is usually up for about three hours before we actually rise at this time of year." "It occurs to me you know, that I know nothing of your childhood." Danielle said.
"You don't seem to have told me anything."
"What do you want to know milady? I am your faithful slave and can conceal nothing from you." Henry could see that she was about to ask where they were going, but he stopped her before she got it out. "Except our destination. For reasons of national security I must keep that a secret."
"National security, what nonsense are you talking?"
"How do I know that you are not a spy, trying to coax me into giving away the secrets of my Kingdom?" Danielle decided to play along with his game.
"I can see Sir that you will not be easily persuaded to tell me anything. In that case I must use my secret weapon."
"And what would that be Your Highness?" She stopped grabbed Henry's reigns and stopped the two horses. She then leaned in and placed her lips on his, giving him a enticing kiss.
"I believe the word would be seduction. How can you resist telling me when such rewards await you?" Henry considered this for a moment, his head was still clouded with the intoxicating feel of her lips on his. However he was able to get a grip of himself before revealing his surprise. "Will you tell me Sir? Or do I have to put my weapon into action again?"
"You may have to try the seduction again milady as I am as yet unmoved to tell you anything." Danielle smiled and went in for a second kiss, making this once more passionate and lingering than the last. She longed to find out where she was going and would go to any lengths to discover what he had in store.
"Are you moved now Sir? Will you tell me?"
"Nevaah," he cried. Danielle laughed, remembering their game at the Gypsy camp. "I shall tell you anything, but not that. You shall have to wait and see when we get there." Danielle sighed and resigned herself to the fact that she would have to wait. She lightly dug her heels in and set off moving again. She decided to instead quiz him on something that he would be willing to disclose.
"Well tell me about yourself when you were a boy. All I know is a few things that your Mother has told me. Were you a rascal?"
"I was spirited. My nannies had a difficult time keeping up with me. Even when I was a toddler I would go running off into the woods so that nobody could find me."
"I bet you were a real monster, but an adorable one. Thick black hair falling over those big eyes. I'll bet you didn't get into trouble much, nobody can tell off a cute little boy. "
"I suppose they did treat me softly. Being the only boy and the youngest I was let of lightly. I was the apple of my mother's eye, my father's pride and joy and my sisters treat me like I was their son. I was so sad when Eleanor married and went to Poland."
"But you had friends other than your sisters."
"Oh yes. Hélène was my first friend. She was introduced to the court when she was just four. Her mother was determined that she should be the most sought after companion and wife in France. She saw starting he early as desirable. On her first day at court I was so glad to see another child my age that I quickly befriended her and we set about plotting our mischief. For a year or so it was just the two of us. The Duke would bring her to court everyday so that we could play together. We were like two peas in a pod."
"You sound very much like Gustave and I. We were inseparable. But it was just us two. I'm sure that you had more friends than just Hélène."
"Yes. Laurent was also part of our little group. His mother died in childbirth and his father was killed in battle when Marc was just 5. He was raised by the Comte and Comtesse de Bordeaux and because my father and his had been such good friends, my father acted as a guardian to him until he joined the guard at 15. The three of us got on very well, but it was Hélène and I who had the real bond of friendship." "It sounds wonderful. It's a shame you and she do not have the time now to do the sort of things you used to do." Henry nearly choked when she said this. For the past five years their activities had not been things that Danielle would approve of.
"Actually my love, Hélène and I have not been on the best terms for several months now. We just happened to drift apart recently."
"That would explain the awkward receptions between the two of you. Well I simply will not have that. I cannot have my husband and my lady-in-waiting on unfriendly terms. When we return to the Palace you must make time for just the two of you to spend some time together. I cannot bear to see old friends drift apart. That is why I have asked Leonardo to take over Gustave's apprenticeship, so that Gustave can be closer to the Palace."
Henry thought it best not to respond to this. He simply was not ready to tell her anything. He needed to broach the subject delicately and gradually. His revelation would be a real shock to her, and he wanted to do it with minimal damage to himself Danielle and especially Hélène. She had been through so much in recent years it was unfair to put her through more pain.
"Did you know that Steven spent some time at Hautefort when he was a boy? His father was the English ambassador to France. He was trying to negotiate a treaty. My father insisted the Young Marquis be brought too to provide male company for me."
"Were you good friends?" Danielle wished to know more about her secretive guard.
"We spent most of our time fighting. He was just as difficult as I and I could not bear to have any attention removed from me. Back then I usually beat him. I actually broke his nose once. It wouldn't happen now though. He has grown to be a fighter of superior skill. One that I could never match up to. That is why I chose him for your guard. You could not be safer if I called on Achilles and all the immortals of Greece."
Danielle smiled. Henry obviously took great pains to ensure her safety. "Do you know what sir?" Danielle said in a half stern, half playful voice.
"What milady?"
"I do not believe that you have told me how much you love me today."
"Well allow me to set the record straight." He tried to stop her horse and lean in for a kiss, but she suddenly dug her heels in and galloped away.
"Only if you can catch me first," she yelled behind her. Never one to back down from a challenge, Henry followed in hot pursuit. Danielle knew her Spanish Stallion was far faster than Henry's and so was able to get to her destination very quickly indeed. She had spotted a field in the distance with haystacks. On such a sunny day, it was a perfect for a small rest, where he could demonstrate how much he loved her. She tied her horse to a tree and ran off into the middle of the field. Henry was not far behind her and was soon chasing her.
Eventually Danielle gave up, wanting to be caught. She fell backwards onto a loose pile of hay and spread out her arms, glad to be feeling the sun on her. The warmth of sunlight was soon cut out and a shadow descended over her face. She opened her eyes and looked straight into Henry's breathless face which hovered just inches from hers. She ran a hand through his tousled hair. She loved the feel of his hair, especially when it was going wild from his adventurous exercise.
"Now then milady, what was it that you wanted? Oh yes how much do I love you? Well how should I express myself? Can I find words powerful enough to describe something so large?"
"I always say milord, that actions speak louder than words."
"Well then allow me to express it physically." He lowered his face so that it no longer hovered, but touched Danielle's. Once again they were in a state of total and utter rapture. The world disappeared and they were insensible to all other things. They knew that they should be looking out to make sure that they were alone and safe, but they couldn't tear themselves away from each other.
As they lost themselves in each other, they should have been more aware of where they were. The boy that watched them from the woods may not have recognised them as the Crown Prince and Princess, but he did recognise wealthy people. He ran back to the camp where the rest of his friends waited for news from their lookouts. Henry and Danielle were not so alone on this stretch of road after all.