The Runaway Royals - Part Eleven
"Hélène," Steven said as she emerged from the Princess's chamber. "How is the Princess?" He had sat outside the chamber in which Danielle was being attended to, for over an hour. He had tried to convince the prince to get some rest but he would not move from the chaise, he had therefore elected to stay with him.
"She has not stirred." She shot a venomous look at Henry. "She has several wounds but she is fine apart from being asleep. She needs nourishment, I am going to make soup." As she moved to go to the kitchens Henry stood.
"Hélène," he said reaching out to touch her arm. She spun round and glared at him.
"Do not speak to me. I cannot even bare to look at you right now. You may feel wretched but your wife, my friend, may be dying because of your reckless stupidity. If you are sensible you will avoid me, for I have no pity to give you, only contempt." And with that outburst she stormed off to the kitchen.
Steven followed her. "Do you want any help?"
"No thank-you Steven, you should arrange with the Duke to get a message to Hautefort. They need to be told so that we can arrange for the Princess to be removed
from here back to the Palace where she belongs."
"Yes, of course. I shall speak with the Duke forthwith. But Hélène you need to rest yourself and you must allow the physician to look at you hand. I believe it is almost certainly broken."
"I need to attend to my mistress first. I cannot rest until I know I have done everything I can for her. Once I know she is comfortable I will seek treatment for myself, but not before."
"There are many ladies maids here in the chateau who can take over for now. Please get some help before any damage is permanent." Steven could not bear the thought of those delicate hands being so deformed forever.
"Those maids have not promised to serve Danielle as I have. I owe a duty to her which is greater than my own well being. You are an aristocrat, you know what duties to the monarchy are and you know how we are obliged to fulfil them." Steven sighed.
He knew that she was right. They were raised in Royal courts and trained never to avoid ones promised duty to the crown. Such a mentality could never be overcome. Hélène turned to continue with her task, but Steven stopped her once again. "Hélène, what happened earlier, before we were interrupted, I..." "Please don't say anything about that. I was upset and you were only being kind. We were swept away in the moment. I am sorry for putting you in that situation. I realise how I must have embarrassed you." She did not want to say any more about it, so she walked away and did not give him the chance to respond.
As she disappeared Steven's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. For a brief second that day he had been faced with a lifeline, something that would deliver him from his life of seclusion into happier times. He had thought that perhaps he and Hélène could help each other. But after what she had just said, he was not so sure.
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Henry opened the door to Danielle's chambers and peered inside. It was empty apart from the tiny figure of Danielle lying languidly on the bed. He quietly walked in and closed the door behind him. His actions suggested that he did not want to wake her, when in truth he would have done anything to see her eyes open.
He moved over to the bed and sat beside it, taking her delicate hand in his. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to her hand. Despite the cut across her forehead she looked so serene and peaceful. It was as if she had fallen asleep for the night. She was so beautiful it made his heart ache to think that she may never be the same again. Never flash that engaging smile at him, never run her hand through his hair, never whisper to him in bed.
These thoughts brought tears to his eyes and suddenly he started to think about everything Hélène had said to him. He knew that she was right. He had been arrogant and stupid to think that he could just run off and everything would be fine. His expeditions invariably never ended well, what madness made him think he could ever be successful? From the very beginning he had been deceitful in his motives and had not given a thought for her safety. And then after it had happened he had not really thought of her, but of himself. What HE would do if he lost her, what HIS life would be like when she was gone.
And then there was also the simple manner in which Hélène had spoken to him. It was cruel, punishing, no less than he deserved but a shock for it to come from her. For over fifteen years they had been inseparable. The best friend he had ever had. He had been close to Laurent and other children, but it was nothing like what he had shared with Hélène. To hear her normally soft, ladylike voice brimming with such anger was bad enough, but when it was directed at him it was unbearable. This was the woman he had once thought himself in love with. How things had changed between them.
"Oh Danielle," he sighed. "How could I have been so stupid? This was never a good idea. Once again my own selfish desires have eclipsed the needs of those near me. I have lost count of the times I have hurt people through my arrogance." Just then he began to listen to what he was saying. "My God, will you listen to me? Here I am again only thinking of what I will lose. I am so sorry my love. If I sound selfish it is only because I fear for the state of everything if you are not here to govern it with me. What sort of tyrant will I become?"
Just then the door quietly opened. Henry did not turn but he recognised the authoritative steps of the Duke of Winchester. They very much suggested that he was a man with a purpose. If he had been with them this would never have happened. The thought that measures could have been taken to prevent this from happening sickened him.
"Your Highness," Steven said in his slow, English voice. Henry did not reply. "The Duc de Bordeaux is to send a messenger to the Palace. Is there a message you would like to send yourself?"
Henry let out a little sigh and replied. "No thank-you. I don't think it will matter what I say, the King will put his own interpretation on it."
"Is there anything you would like before I go to instruct the courier?"
"No thank-you, I just want to be with my wife."
"As you wish Your Highness." Steven turned to leave his grief stricken Prince.Despite the stupidity of Henry's actions Steven could not help but feel sorry for him. If there was anybody who knew what he was going through, the pain he felt, it was himself.
"Lord Grey." Henry said, just as Steven placed his hand on the door knob. "Do you think that there is such a thing as soul mates? Two people who are meant to spend eternity together."
Steven was surprised by this sudden question. It did not seem the sort of question that a Prince would ask somebody who was not a friend. But since his marriage Henry had become more open, more like a man who will be King. "I don't really know," Steven replied. "Once upon a time I did believe that. But I suppose things change. People change. You can't always believe the same things that you did as a young man." Steven was a little surprised at the candour in his answers. This had been a day for openness for him. Revealing things to others, getting to know himself.
"So you don't think so any more?"
"I don't think you ever know until you find that person who you love with your whole heart. If you are lucky enough to know true love, then it is possible to believe anything."
"Lucky like me," Henry whispered, tightening his grip on Danielle's hand. "Thank you Lord Grey. Your presence here is a great comfort. I know Danielle will appreciate your help and your concern."
"I am glad to be of help Your Highness." He turned to leave once more but the Prince stopped him again.
"And can you tell Lady Hélène that I am indebted to her for her caring for Danielle when she is injured herself. Her selflessness will not be forgotten. I would tell her myself but I do not think she would listen to me at the moment. It would be better from you."
"As you wish Your Highness." This time he was able to leave.
"Why do you think he lived for so many years alone?" Henry asked Danielle. "He was just eighteen when he arrived in Calais 4 years ago. Nobody knew why King Henry had suddenly exiled him. We all knew the Duke of Winchester to be the King's closest friend and confidante so you could imagine our surprise when he arrived at the Palace asking for permission to live out his exile in France. I expect that you have your theories about him."
Just then the door opened again. Henry could here the tapping of a cane on the hard wood floor. "I was wondering if you wanted some company Your Highness," the Duke said. "I realise that you may want to be on your own right now, but the words of a silly old man who's been there can be surprisingly good."
"Thank you Your Grace. I would love the company." the Duke came and sat on the other side of Danielle. "I must let you know how much I appreciate your hospitality to us all. I am sure a Royal entourage is that last thing you want."
"Oh it's nice to have the company. Since my dear wife died and my daughters married the castle has been empty for me. I spend most of my time running my estates from my offices and avoiding Pascal."
"Oh him," Henry snorted, still angry that he almost turned them away.
"I would have gotten rid of him years ago if he wasn't a cousin to my late wife. His was an impoverished branch of the family. I employed him to help her run the household. When she died she asked me to keep him here. Personally I can't stand him. Mark my words he'll be getting a good dressing down when I see him next over the way he treat you."
"Really Your Grace there is no need on my account."
"Don't spoil my fun boy. It isn't often he puts a foot out of place. I have to seize every opportunity carefully." Henry laughed at this. He liked the refreshing way in which the Duke spoke to him. There were few people with the nerve to call him 'boy'.
"I was so sorry when I heard of your wife dying." Henry said. "I recalled her time at court with much fondness. She was very kind towards me." Henry thought back to times when the young Duchess had purposefully sought him out at court to lavish affection on him. She had been more than 15 years younger than the Duke but it had been a love match that was almost unprecedented in the French Court.
"My wife was very fond of you. I can't count the times I told her to stop her indulgence, she was spoiling you rotten. your father would not have liked it. Had she fattened you up with treats you would never have become the fine soldier you undoubtedly are. But trying to stop Emmeline from doing something only made her more determined."
As he said this Henry looked down at Danielle's ashen face. The lady he described was so much like his own beloved. Henry could not help wondering, would Danielle be like the lovely Duchess? Would she lavish affection on all children who crossed her path? Would she be a mother to the nation as Duchess Emmeline was to the people of Bordeaux? Of course she would. If only she was given the chance.
"Your Grace. Why did you leave the court?" Henry asked. It had been a question which had, on occasion, bothered him over the years.
"Emmeline yearned for home. Our daughters were here with their nanny. She did not want to subject them to the court and so left them in the care of another of her cousins, but for all she trusted her she wanted her girls with her. So I gave up the life of a courtier and returned here with her. I would have done anything for her." This reminded Henry so much of his own feelings for Danielle. Is this what their life together would be like. The Duke and Duchess had enjoyed the happiest of marriages. Just to have a small piece of what they had would be a blessing to any marriage.
"Had I been twenty years younger I expect I would have tried to avenge her death." Henry thought back to the details. Several years earlier she had fallen from her horse and had been miraculously saved. But on the day of her death she was attacked by bandits who pulled her from her horse and severely damaged her neck which had been injured in the first fall. She could not survive such injuries and died that night in her bed, with her family around her. "But I was old and I had a family to think about. My daughters still needed a parent."
Thinking about this made Henry realise just how important it was to have his parents and Jacqueline there. If she did die it would be important to have her family around.
He looked out of the window. It was now very late. Usually Hautefort would be finishing its day about now. The Duke's words had affected him in more ways than one. He realised just how lucky he was to have known this wonderful woman. He had also put an uneasy thought in his mind.
"I think I may actually go and get some sleep," Henry said standing. "For if anything should happen, I fear I may need the energy."