Reflections - So Life Goes On
Chapter Five
Henry and Danielle's coach had barely turned the corner and disappeared from view when Celeste and Isabelle started talking.
Did you see them? It was enough to make one sick... All that honey-sweet cooing and grinning. Even the Bishop looked happy... And Marie, what behaviour... Even old Francis got into the act. He must be going quite senile... Fancy Henry carrying his bride out like that. How common... The only good thing is that Rodmilla's brainless brat won't be on the throne. Imagine having that shrew as queen.... Huh! Fancy that frump of a daughter of Rodmilla's speaking like that. As if we'd say anything inappropriate about the Royal Family. I ask you... This is all Henry's fault you know. Marrying that gutter girl! It's indecent. It's -
"Shut up!"
Celeste and Isabelle stopped talking and looked at Celeste's husband. The Comte was shaking in anger. "Madam, I shall put up with no more. You are spoiling a wonderful event. You and your poor excuse for a friend will cease talking in this manner right now or - "
"Or what," snapped Isabelle.
"Or I shall repeat every word you have said to His Majesty and watch you both executed for treason." The Comte stood close to his wife and quietly, "Don't doubt it for a minute, madam."
"Come Isabelle, I am bored of standing here chatting." Celeste swanned off down the stairs.
Isabelle followed her friend and wondered if any of her other friends were in town. She had to talk about the Comte's behaviour with someone.
********
Jacqueline sat in her room. This was the easiest way to avoid Mother. To keep away from her prying questions as long as possible. She sat quietly on her bed and removed her oversleeves.
The quiet drive home had given Jacqueline time to ponder the last week and what had been happening. She realised now that she had been trying to fill Danielle's shoes; that the part of her that wanted to be as brave and as loved as Danielle had taken over.
Jacqueline had learnt a lot about everyone in the manor and her self in the last week. Some of her discoveries were welcome. Others simply showed Jacqueline that she wasn't a perfect person and often, no matter how hard she tried, she wasn't as good as she could be. But she had now learnt that she could not be like Marguerite or Danielle. She had to be herself.
Although her mother and sister were silly and foolish, Jacqueline loved them both. Just as she loved Danielle. They were her family and now her mother's actions had set in motion events that couldn't be stopped. Jacqueline wished she could cry for her mother and sister, for their foolishness. But she had wept so many tears for them in the past and now she knew that she had to look forward. To care for herself and for Danielle.
Filling Danielle's shoes for 6 short days had given Jacqueline experiences she would treasure and friendships she hadn't expected. Jacqueline didn't know what would happen in the future. Whatever lay ahead she suspected the next few days would change her life forever and that she would need the quiet strength of her new friends from 'below stairs'.
********
Yet again Gustave looked out of the window. If his master saw him he'd be in big trouble. Gustave had gone out into the fields again today to finish his painting of the castle and now was well behind in his duties. He was preparing paint for the master - grinding a coarse powder and oil mixture in the mortar and pestle he held in his hand.
There was a noise from the street below. Gustave saw a Royal Coach and Four travelling down the street. He leant a little further out the window and tried to get a glimpse of the Spanish Princess everyone was talking about. He was so surprised at what he saw that he almost dropped the mortar and pestle. It wasn't Gabriella in the coach. It was Danielle!
His childhood friend Danielle was a Princess?
Danielle was smiling and holding fast to the hand of the grinning Prince Henry. She caught sight of Gustave and called out his name. She waved. Gustave waved back, the pestle in his hand splattering partly ground paint on his shirt.
What had happened? Obviously Henry's marriage plans had changed. The last Gustave had known Henry had rejected Danielle. He'd heard that from da Vinci the day after the masque when the Great Master had visited this very studio.
Gustave was happy for his friend by also disappointed. Danielle had declared many times that she'd share any news or problem with her friend. Yet she hadn't told Gustave of the most important decision in her life. She hadn't even bothered to contact him since the masque.
The young painter sighed and brushed at the blobs of unfinished paint on his shirt. It appeared that Danielle had other priorities now.
********
Leonardo travelled back to the castle in style with the King and Queen. Leonardo had never seen Francis look more relaxed. He wasn't sure if it was besting the Spanish or seeing Henry happily married that made the King happier. He wondered if Francis knew himself.
Marie looked tired. The events of the day were wearing hard on her, so much so quickly. Leonardo pretended not to notice the way Francis affectionately patted his wife's hand and gruffly told her to look a bit happier and stop looking like someone had died.
The painter's romantic side would have liked Danielle to have a less hurried wedding. But his logical side couldn't argue with Francis' and Henry's reasoning for Henry marrying Danielle within an hour of her arrival at the castle. Much against Marie's wishes.
The Spanish had another piece to play in the political game. Gabriella had a 13-year-old sister and the girl was with the wedding party. Prince Henry had no intention of taking a child that young as his bride and he hadn't wanted to give the Spanish any time to regroup. So he had argued for an immediate wedding. Anyway, Leonardo had added silently to Henry's argument, it meant that Henry and Danielle could be together.
On the other hand, Francis could see a way out of the Treaty. With both Kings having mud on their faces there could be no obvious argument for war. Besides, Francis had argued, the church didn't take kindly to Princesses who reneged on promises and would back the French Throne's side.
The King also didn't trust le Pieu to be silent. If the armourer spoke out against Danielle before the wedding it would ruin her and the Cardinals would forbid the marriage. To speak out afterwards, well Francis would Danielle's father-in-law and woes betide anyone who attacked the family of Francis Valois.
********
Captain Laurent's party finally reached the manor. Life seemed to be returning to normal even though it was at it's most turbulent.
The Captain didn't like being in the middle of family squabbles. Being caught between Francis, his liege and employer, and Henry, his charge and friend, was hard enough for Laurent without the added complication of Henry's Romantic Adventures. The situation reminded him of why he'd been so happy to leave home at 12 years of age.
The last week Laurent had been behaving like an idiot, running around with his mind full of everything except his duties. Hopefully Henry's marriage would now calm down the Prince and make Laurent's own life calmer. Well, at least add some routine to it.
And now here he was, about to see Her!
********
The de Ghent women were beginning their evening meal with a dish of soup. Rodmilla had dismissed the servants to tidy Marguerite's room, which as usual looked as though a herd of goats had charged through it. In the kitchen Maurice stirred the remnants of the soup and waited for Louise and Paulette to come back downstairs and serve the main dish.
The old man paused in his task as he heard the Baroness and Marguerite interrogating Jacqueline about her conversation with the Prince. Maurice walked to the doorway and strained to hear Jacqueline's reply.
"...I think what he said was, 'Serves me right for choosing a foreigner over your...sister.'"
The old man nodded at the clever response. He smiled as the doorbell was rung heartily and the conversation collapsed into cries of "I'll get it" from all the women. Jacqueline's inquisition had been temporarily dismissed.
Now if only he could do half as well against Louise's questions.
********
Amazingly the bell was still on its bracket. In his eagerness Laurent was sure he'd wrenched it off the wall.
The front door was flung open and the Baroness and her daughters nearly threw themselves at him. Laurent could feel a grin growing on his face. Jacqueline was giving him what could only be described as a 'come hither sir' look. He tried to contain the grin and made his announcement on behalf of the King, summoning the Baroness and her daughters immediately.
"Is anything wrong?" the Baroness asked.
"No, milady," Laurent said to the Baroness. He stepped closer, "His Majesty demanded that you arrive in style."
The Baroness's reply, "Then in style we shall be," fell on deaf ears. Laurent barely noticed Rodmilla and Marguerite run into the house. He watched, a silly grin on his face, as Jacqueline smouldered at him and closed the door.
Whistling softly Laurent walked back towards the coach. He was so happy that he didn't even stop to glare at the smirking Edouard.
********
Paulette and Louise found themselves being ordered left and right by the Baroness and Marguerite. The women wanted to look their best but seemed uncertain of what to wear.
Jacqueline walked quietly into the room. "Mother, the dresses we wore to the Masque are the finest. Surely the finest is best for today."
Louise gave the girl a look of thanks as the Baroness agreed with her younger daughter.
Jacqueline continued. "Could I borrow Paulette for a few moments to help me get ready, Mother? It won't take long and then you can have both Louise and Paulette to help yourself and Marguerite." Louise and Paulette were surprised at Jacqueline's directness. She was rarely so brave in front of her mother.
Rodmilla agreed and Paulette left with Jacqueline. As Jacqueline had said, it took only a few minutes for her to be ready.
Paulette was lacing on Jacqueline's second oversleeve when something occurred to her. She whispered urgently, "Madamoselle Jacqueline can you speak to the Captain?"
"Uh...yes," Jacqueline's voice was hesitant.
Paulette was surprised by the girl's blush. "Can you tell him about Danielle?"
Jacqueline nodded. "Yes, I'll do that."
The girl seemed to be totally engrossed in arranging her skirt and was avoiding looking Paulette in the eye. Unsure if the girl was hiding something or avoiding the subject, the older woman continued, "He must tell the Prince. You will tell him?"
Jacqueline nodded again and continued to stare at the ground.
The light suddenly dawned. Oh ho, so that was it. Paulette smiled and whispered, "Does he like carrots?"
Jacqueline looked up, blushed bright red and hurried out of the room just as the Baroness began calling for Paulette.
"Seems he does," muttered Paulette while she answered the Baroness's summons.
********
Jacqueline hesitated on the stairs. She had looked forward to speaking to Laurent alone but now she suddenly felt very shy and nervous. Proper young ladies should not speak to gentlemen while unattended but she dearly wanted to talk with him.
She summoned up her courage, walked to the door and, after a moment's hesitation, opened it. The Captain was standing beside the coach. A look of surprise crossed his face when he saw her. Then he smiled broadly and quickly strode across to where she stood.
"My lady," he said quietly.
"Captain, my mother and my sister will be ready soon." Jacqueline said loudly. Looking up at her mother's window.
"Thank you, my lady," Laurent said equally loudly. He stepped a little closer and picked up Jacqueline's hand. Her heart was racing. Laurent leant over and whispered quietly, "Danielle is safe. Whatever happens today remember that I am with you."
Jacqueline blushed and nodded. "Thank you Laurent," she whispered.
"Marc," he whispered as he kissed her hand. He leant a little closer as if he were about to kiss her.
They both jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Maurice stood behind Jacqueline. He was giving the Captain the age old 'I think you've gone far enough, young man' look.
Laurent grinned at Maurice and said quietly, "When we have gone you can tell the other servants that She is safe."
A few moments later Rodmilla and Marguerite came downstairs to find Jacqueline waiting quietly by the open door and the Captain standing by the coach.
As Rodmilla climbed into the coach she said, "Captain Laurent must you whistle like that? It's most annoying."
"My apologies milady," said the Captain. To Rodmilla's further annoyance he hummed tunelessly for most of the journey to Hautefort.
********
The manor door swung on its hinges and closed with a reassuring thud. Paulette and Louise looked at each other; both of them exhausted by the day.
"Let's get our dinner," Paulette led her friend towards the kitchen.
"And see what that silly old husband of mine is up to," muttered Louise, the deep affection in her voice turning the insult into a gentle complement.
Paulette's eyes widened as she entered the kitchen. Through the open door they could see the kitchen garden and Maurice. The man was looking out into the fields, towards the road. Suddenly he laughed and ran back through the doorway and into the kitchen.
Maurice ran up to Louise and cried, "They've gone! They've gone!"
"What? Your wits?" Paulette replied as she backed away from the laughing man. Louise shot her friend an angry look that Paulette ignored.
"No, the de Ghents. They've gone to the palace."
"We know that." Louise said, worried by her husband's behaviour. "Why all the fuss?"
Maurice hugged his wife so hard she was afraid her bones would crack. "She's safe! Our Danielle's safe!"
"What are you talking about?" Paulette was shaken and uncertain of the situation. Maurice was usually the most calm of all of them.
Louise was complaining about being crushed and Maurice slacked his hold to a hug. "I talked to the Captain. He said that Danielle is safe but that I couldn't tell you until after they'd left."
A smile of pure joy lit Louise's face and tears began to run down her cheeks. "She's safe? Our Danielle's safe?"
Maurice nodded and pulled his wife close. Paulette enveloped her friends in a hug. They laughed and cried together, cleansing themselves of the pain of the last week.
Some time later they sat down and ate all the Baroness's dinner.
********
The coach arrived at Hautefort at dusk. The braziers along the roadway were alight and the flickering light danced off the stonework and the guards weapons. As the coach came to a stop Jacqueline thought for a moment that she was looking at a fairy world, a dream that would disappear before her eyes. But the castle and her fellow occupants of the coach were real. Very real Jacqueline thought as Marguerite kicked Jacqueline's leg in her hurry to disembark from the coach.
The Captain assisted Jacqueline to step out of the coach. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary. It didn't matter, for Rodmilla and Marguerite were already walking towards the open door.
"Remember what I said." The Captain said quietly to her wile they walked down the path.
"Yes, Marc," she whispered. Jacqueline smiled slightly at the way the Captain squared his shoulders a little more when she said his name.
While they walked, Jacqueline watched the pike guards take down the flags under the careful gaze of their Commander, a crusty old officer who Laurent greeted as "Captain Arnaud".
Jacqueline knew that the flags could only be flown in the day or when the light would hit them. To leave them up in the dark would, according to tradition, attract Divine retribution. It seemed that King Francis was not as extravagant as her mother had suggested or surely he would order candles be left burning all night for the flags.
Laurent escorted the women to a formal waiting room where the Assistant to the Royal Usher awaited them. The Captain left them in the man's care.
Jacqueline watched her mother pace around the room all the while alternatively rambling about etiquette and interrogating the Usher's assistant, who gave her diplomatic but useless answers to her questions.
********
Leonardo smiled at the sight before him. Danielle - her eyes shining with love and happiness - was being introduced to the members of the Royal Court by her proud husband. Moments before, the young woman who had fed pigs, thrown apples at Royalty, fought gypsies and enchanted a Prince and a Painter, had been crowned Princess of France.
The ceremony had been modest and beautiful, like Danielle herself. At the command of his father, Henry had asked her to repeat the pledge of allegiance to God and the French Throne and placed the pretty crown on Danielle's head. In all the ceremony had taken less than a quarter of an hour.
Leonardo knew that there would be a more formal coronation sometime soon, undoubtedly with enough pomp and circumstance for the haughtiest courtier. But this was Danielle's true moment. Free of politics and pretension.
The old artist smiled as he watched the Prince adjust the crown that was threatening to fall off his Princess's head. The Princess was close to giggling; something one did not do in Court.
Danielle's regal reputation was rescued by the Royal Usher's voice booming out, "Captain Chevalier Marc Laurent of the Royal Guard, Commander of the Royal Horse-Guards." Laurent had waited until an appropriate moment before asking to be introduced. Henry sent the Captain a look of gratitude as the guardsman stepped forward.
"Your Majesties, Your Highnesses," Laurent bowed low. "The persons you requested are here and awaiting your pleasure, Your Majesty."
King Francis nodded, "Thank you Captain."
Laurent walked over to stand beside Leonardo.
The old man chuckled, "This should be interesting." Leonardo looked up at the soldier. "Does your little mare know you're a real Knight? A bit thin on the ground these days, real Knights."
"I earned that the hard way," murmured Laurent in a cold voice as he watched Danielle leave the Throne Room and enter an anteroom. "In blood."
"Oh." Leonardo nodded, surprised by the answer and the tone in which it was given. "Let's hope we don't see too much of that today."
"Or just enough," murmured Laurent. In some ways Laurent was sorry for the Baroness. The foolish woman had played a deep game and found herself caught. She had made herself the easiest target for Francis and Henry's frustration with all the events of the last fortnight, including the Treaty and the behaviour of the Spanish King. He hoped that frustration and Marie's anger didn't spill over to include Jacqueline.
The Royal Usher's voice boomed out again, "Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent and her daughters Marguerite and Jacqueline."
The de Ghent women entered the room. Leonardo watched fascinated by the most hideously overdone entrance he'd seen since in years. Rodmilla and Marguerite were attempting to float and smile graciously. Instead they looked like ghouls. Beside them Jacqueline was almost, but not quite, stomping like a milkmaid. The young woman's actions made her mother's and sister's behaviour even more ridiculous than it already was.
The Baroness's posturing disappeared in shock as King Francis boomed, "Madam, did you or did you not lie to Her Majesty, the Queen of France?"
Queen Marie added forcefully, "Think wisely, Madame, before you answer. Your first words may be your last."
Oh ho! Leonardo could feel tension in everyone around him. What would the woman say?
To be continued
Chapter Five
Henry and Danielle's coach had barely turned the corner and disappeared from view when Celeste and Isabelle started talking.
Did you see them? It was enough to make one sick... All that honey-sweet cooing and grinning. Even the Bishop looked happy... And Marie, what behaviour... Even old Francis got into the act. He must be going quite senile... Fancy Henry carrying his bride out like that. How common... The only good thing is that Rodmilla's brainless brat won't be on the throne. Imagine having that shrew as queen.... Huh! Fancy that frump of a daughter of Rodmilla's speaking like that. As if we'd say anything inappropriate about the Royal Family. I ask you... This is all Henry's fault you know. Marrying that gutter girl! It's indecent. It's -
"Shut up!"
Celeste and Isabelle stopped talking and looked at Celeste's husband. The Comte was shaking in anger. "Madam, I shall put up with no more. You are spoiling a wonderful event. You and your poor excuse for a friend will cease talking in this manner right now or - "
"Or what," snapped Isabelle.
"Or I shall repeat every word you have said to His Majesty and watch you both executed for treason." The Comte stood close to his wife and quietly, "Don't doubt it for a minute, madam."
"Come Isabelle, I am bored of standing here chatting." Celeste swanned off down the stairs.
Isabelle followed her friend and wondered if any of her other friends were in town. She had to talk about the Comte's behaviour with someone.
********
Jacqueline sat in her room. This was the easiest way to avoid Mother. To keep away from her prying questions as long as possible. She sat quietly on her bed and removed her oversleeves.
The quiet drive home had given Jacqueline time to ponder the last week and what had been happening. She realised now that she had been trying to fill Danielle's shoes; that the part of her that wanted to be as brave and as loved as Danielle had taken over.
Jacqueline had learnt a lot about everyone in the manor and her self in the last week. Some of her discoveries were welcome. Others simply showed Jacqueline that she wasn't a perfect person and often, no matter how hard she tried, she wasn't as good as she could be. But she had now learnt that she could not be like Marguerite or Danielle. She had to be herself.
Although her mother and sister were silly and foolish, Jacqueline loved them both. Just as she loved Danielle. They were her family and now her mother's actions had set in motion events that couldn't be stopped. Jacqueline wished she could cry for her mother and sister, for their foolishness. But she had wept so many tears for them in the past and now she knew that she had to look forward. To care for herself and for Danielle.
Filling Danielle's shoes for 6 short days had given Jacqueline experiences she would treasure and friendships she hadn't expected. Jacqueline didn't know what would happen in the future. Whatever lay ahead she suspected the next few days would change her life forever and that she would need the quiet strength of her new friends from 'below stairs'.
********
Yet again Gustave looked out of the window. If his master saw him he'd be in big trouble. Gustave had gone out into the fields again today to finish his painting of the castle and now was well behind in his duties. He was preparing paint for the master - grinding a coarse powder and oil mixture in the mortar and pestle he held in his hand.
There was a noise from the street below. Gustave saw a Royal Coach and Four travelling down the street. He leant a little further out the window and tried to get a glimpse of the Spanish Princess everyone was talking about. He was so surprised at what he saw that he almost dropped the mortar and pestle. It wasn't Gabriella in the coach. It was Danielle!
His childhood friend Danielle was a Princess?
Danielle was smiling and holding fast to the hand of the grinning Prince Henry. She caught sight of Gustave and called out his name. She waved. Gustave waved back, the pestle in his hand splattering partly ground paint on his shirt.
What had happened? Obviously Henry's marriage plans had changed. The last Gustave had known Henry had rejected Danielle. He'd heard that from da Vinci the day after the masque when the Great Master had visited this very studio.
Gustave was happy for his friend by also disappointed. Danielle had declared many times that she'd share any news or problem with her friend. Yet she hadn't told Gustave of the most important decision in her life. She hadn't even bothered to contact him since the masque.
The young painter sighed and brushed at the blobs of unfinished paint on his shirt. It appeared that Danielle had other priorities now.
********
Leonardo travelled back to the castle in style with the King and Queen. Leonardo had never seen Francis look more relaxed. He wasn't sure if it was besting the Spanish or seeing Henry happily married that made the King happier. He wondered if Francis knew himself.
Marie looked tired. The events of the day were wearing hard on her, so much so quickly. Leonardo pretended not to notice the way Francis affectionately patted his wife's hand and gruffly told her to look a bit happier and stop looking like someone had died.
The painter's romantic side would have liked Danielle to have a less hurried wedding. But his logical side couldn't argue with Francis' and Henry's reasoning for Henry marrying Danielle within an hour of her arrival at the castle. Much against Marie's wishes.
The Spanish had another piece to play in the political game. Gabriella had a 13-year-old sister and the girl was with the wedding party. Prince Henry had no intention of taking a child that young as his bride and he hadn't wanted to give the Spanish any time to regroup. So he had argued for an immediate wedding. Anyway, Leonardo had added silently to Henry's argument, it meant that Henry and Danielle could be together.
On the other hand, Francis could see a way out of the Treaty. With both Kings having mud on their faces there could be no obvious argument for war. Besides, Francis had argued, the church didn't take kindly to Princesses who reneged on promises and would back the French Throne's side.
The King also didn't trust le Pieu to be silent. If the armourer spoke out against Danielle before the wedding it would ruin her and the Cardinals would forbid the marriage. To speak out afterwards, well Francis would Danielle's father-in-law and woes betide anyone who attacked the family of Francis Valois.
********
Captain Laurent's party finally reached the manor. Life seemed to be returning to normal even though it was at it's most turbulent.
The Captain didn't like being in the middle of family squabbles. Being caught between Francis, his liege and employer, and Henry, his charge and friend, was hard enough for Laurent without the added complication of Henry's Romantic Adventures. The situation reminded him of why he'd been so happy to leave home at 12 years of age.
The last week Laurent had been behaving like an idiot, running around with his mind full of everything except his duties. Hopefully Henry's marriage would now calm down the Prince and make Laurent's own life calmer. Well, at least add some routine to it.
And now here he was, about to see Her!
********
The de Ghent women were beginning their evening meal with a dish of soup. Rodmilla had dismissed the servants to tidy Marguerite's room, which as usual looked as though a herd of goats had charged through it. In the kitchen Maurice stirred the remnants of the soup and waited for Louise and Paulette to come back downstairs and serve the main dish.
The old man paused in his task as he heard the Baroness and Marguerite interrogating Jacqueline about her conversation with the Prince. Maurice walked to the doorway and strained to hear Jacqueline's reply.
"...I think what he said was, 'Serves me right for choosing a foreigner over your...sister.'"
The old man nodded at the clever response. He smiled as the doorbell was rung heartily and the conversation collapsed into cries of "I'll get it" from all the women. Jacqueline's inquisition had been temporarily dismissed.
Now if only he could do half as well against Louise's questions.
********
Amazingly the bell was still on its bracket. In his eagerness Laurent was sure he'd wrenched it off the wall.
The front door was flung open and the Baroness and her daughters nearly threw themselves at him. Laurent could feel a grin growing on his face. Jacqueline was giving him what could only be described as a 'come hither sir' look. He tried to contain the grin and made his announcement on behalf of the King, summoning the Baroness and her daughters immediately.
"Is anything wrong?" the Baroness asked.
"No, milady," Laurent said to the Baroness. He stepped closer, "His Majesty demanded that you arrive in style."
The Baroness's reply, "Then in style we shall be," fell on deaf ears. Laurent barely noticed Rodmilla and Marguerite run into the house. He watched, a silly grin on his face, as Jacqueline smouldered at him and closed the door.
Whistling softly Laurent walked back towards the coach. He was so happy that he didn't even stop to glare at the smirking Edouard.
********
Paulette and Louise found themselves being ordered left and right by the Baroness and Marguerite. The women wanted to look their best but seemed uncertain of what to wear.
Jacqueline walked quietly into the room. "Mother, the dresses we wore to the Masque are the finest. Surely the finest is best for today."
Louise gave the girl a look of thanks as the Baroness agreed with her younger daughter.
Jacqueline continued. "Could I borrow Paulette for a few moments to help me get ready, Mother? It won't take long and then you can have both Louise and Paulette to help yourself and Marguerite." Louise and Paulette were surprised at Jacqueline's directness. She was rarely so brave in front of her mother.
Rodmilla agreed and Paulette left with Jacqueline. As Jacqueline had said, it took only a few minutes for her to be ready.
Paulette was lacing on Jacqueline's second oversleeve when something occurred to her. She whispered urgently, "Madamoselle Jacqueline can you speak to the Captain?"
"Uh...yes," Jacqueline's voice was hesitant.
Paulette was surprised by the girl's blush. "Can you tell him about Danielle?"
Jacqueline nodded. "Yes, I'll do that."
The girl seemed to be totally engrossed in arranging her skirt and was avoiding looking Paulette in the eye. Unsure if the girl was hiding something or avoiding the subject, the older woman continued, "He must tell the Prince. You will tell him?"
Jacqueline nodded again and continued to stare at the ground.
The light suddenly dawned. Oh ho, so that was it. Paulette smiled and whispered, "Does he like carrots?"
Jacqueline looked up, blushed bright red and hurried out of the room just as the Baroness began calling for Paulette.
"Seems he does," muttered Paulette while she answered the Baroness's summons.
********
Jacqueline hesitated on the stairs. She had looked forward to speaking to Laurent alone but now she suddenly felt very shy and nervous. Proper young ladies should not speak to gentlemen while unattended but she dearly wanted to talk with him.
She summoned up her courage, walked to the door and, after a moment's hesitation, opened it. The Captain was standing beside the coach. A look of surprise crossed his face when he saw her. Then he smiled broadly and quickly strode across to where she stood.
"My lady," he said quietly.
"Captain, my mother and my sister will be ready soon." Jacqueline said loudly. Looking up at her mother's window.
"Thank you, my lady," Laurent said equally loudly. He stepped a little closer and picked up Jacqueline's hand. Her heart was racing. Laurent leant over and whispered quietly, "Danielle is safe. Whatever happens today remember that I am with you."
Jacqueline blushed and nodded. "Thank you Laurent," she whispered.
"Marc," he whispered as he kissed her hand. He leant a little closer as if he were about to kiss her.
They both jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Maurice stood behind Jacqueline. He was giving the Captain the age old 'I think you've gone far enough, young man' look.
Laurent grinned at Maurice and said quietly, "When we have gone you can tell the other servants that She is safe."
A few moments later Rodmilla and Marguerite came downstairs to find Jacqueline waiting quietly by the open door and the Captain standing by the coach.
As Rodmilla climbed into the coach she said, "Captain Laurent must you whistle like that? It's most annoying."
"My apologies milady," said the Captain. To Rodmilla's further annoyance he hummed tunelessly for most of the journey to Hautefort.
********
The manor door swung on its hinges and closed with a reassuring thud. Paulette and Louise looked at each other; both of them exhausted by the day.
"Let's get our dinner," Paulette led her friend towards the kitchen.
"And see what that silly old husband of mine is up to," muttered Louise, the deep affection in her voice turning the insult into a gentle complement.
Paulette's eyes widened as she entered the kitchen. Through the open door they could see the kitchen garden and Maurice. The man was looking out into the fields, towards the road. Suddenly he laughed and ran back through the doorway and into the kitchen.
Maurice ran up to Louise and cried, "They've gone! They've gone!"
"What? Your wits?" Paulette replied as she backed away from the laughing man. Louise shot her friend an angry look that Paulette ignored.
"No, the de Ghents. They've gone to the palace."
"We know that." Louise said, worried by her husband's behaviour. "Why all the fuss?"
Maurice hugged his wife so hard she was afraid her bones would crack. "She's safe! Our Danielle's safe!"
"What are you talking about?" Paulette was shaken and uncertain of the situation. Maurice was usually the most calm of all of them.
Louise was complaining about being crushed and Maurice slacked his hold to a hug. "I talked to the Captain. He said that Danielle is safe but that I couldn't tell you until after they'd left."
A smile of pure joy lit Louise's face and tears began to run down her cheeks. "She's safe? Our Danielle's safe?"
Maurice nodded and pulled his wife close. Paulette enveloped her friends in a hug. They laughed and cried together, cleansing themselves of the pain of the last week.
Some time later they sat down and ate all the Baroness's dinner.
********
The coach arrived at Hautefort at dusk. The braziers along the roadway were alight and the flickering light danced off the stonework and the guards weapons. As the coach came to a stop Jacqueline thought for a moment that she was looking at a fairy world, a dream that would disappear before her eyes. But the castle and her fellow occupants of the coach were real. Very real Jacqueline thought as Marguerite kicked Jacqueline's leg in her hurry to disembark from the coach.
The Captain assisted Jacqueline to step out of the coach. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary. It didn't matter, for Rodmilla and Marguerite were already walking towards the open door.
"Remember what I said." The Captain said quietly to her wile they walked down the path.
"Yes, Marc," she whispered. Jacqueline smiled slightly at the way the Captain squared his shoulders a little more when she said his name.
While they walked, Jacqueline watched the pike guards take down the flags under the careful gaze of their Commander, a crusty old officer who Laurent greeted as "Captain Arnaud".
Jacqueline knew that the flags could only be flown in the day or when the light would hit them. To leave them up in the dark would, according to tradition, attract Divine retribution. It seemed that King Francis was not as extravagant as her mother had suggested or surely he would order candles be left burning all night for the flags.
Laurent escorted the women to a formal waiting room where the Assistant to the Royal Usher awaited them. The Captain left them in the man's care.
Jacqueline watched her mother pace around the room all the while alternatively rambling about etiquette and interrogating the Usher's assistant, who gave her diplomatic but useless answers to her questions.
********
Leonardo smiled at the sight before him. Danielle - her eyes shining with love and happiness - was being introduced to the members of the Royal Court by her proud husband. Moments before, the young woman who had fed pigs, thrown apples at Royalty, fought gypsies and enchanted a Prince and a Painter, had been crowned Princess of France.
The ceremony had been modest and beautiful, like Danielle herself. At the command of his father, Henry had asked her to repeat the pledge of allegiance to God and the French Throne and placed the pretty crown on Danielle's head. In all the ceremony had taken less than a quarter of an hour.
Leonardo knew that there would be a more formal coronation sometime soon, undoubtedly with enough pomp and circumstance for the haughtiest courtier. But this was Danielle's true moment. Free of politics and pretension.
The old artist smiled as he watched the Prince adjust the crown that was threatening to fall off his Princess's head. The Princess was close to giggling; something one did not do in Court.
Danielle's regal reputation was rescued by the Royal Usher's voice booming out, "Captain Chevalier Marc Laurent of the Royal Guard, Commander of the Royal Horse-Guards." Laurent had waited until an appropriate moment before asking to be introduced. Henry sent the Captain a look of gratitude as the guardsman stepped forward.
"Your Majesties, Your Highnesses," Laurent bowed low. "The persons you requested are here and awaiting your pleasure, Your Majesty."
King Francis nodded, "Thank you Captain."
Laurent walked over to stand beside Leonardo.
The old man chuckled, "This should be interesting." Leonardo looked up at the soldier. "Does your little mare know you're a real Knight? A bit thin on the ground these days, real Knights."
"I earned that the hard way," murmured Laurent in a cold voice as he watched Danielle leave the Throne Room and enter an anteroom. "In blood."
"Oh." Leonardo nodded, surprised by the answer and the tone in which it was given. "Let's hope we don't see too much of that today."
"Or just enough," murmured Laurent. In some ways Laurent was sorry for the Baroness. The foolish woman had played a deep game and found herself caught. She had made herself the easiest target for Francis and Henry's frustration with all the events of the last fortnight, including the Treaty and the behaviour of the Spanish King. He hoped that frustration and Marie's anger didn't spill over to include Jacqueline.
The Royal Usher's voice boomed out again, "Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent and her daughters Marguerite and Jacqueline."
The de Ghent women entered the room. Leonardo watched fascinated by the most hideously overdone entrance he'd seen since in years. Rodmilla and Marguerite were attempting to float and smile graciously. Instead they looked like ghouls. Beside them Jacqueline was almost, but not quite, stomping like a milkmaid. The young woman's actions made her mother's and sister's behaviour even more ridiculous than it already was.
The Baroness's posturing disappeared in shock as King Francis boomed, "Madam, did you or did you not lie to Her Majesty, the Queen of France?"
Queen Marie added forcefully, "Think wisely, Madame, before you answer. Your first words may be your last."
Oh ho! Leonardo could feel tension in everyone around him. What would the woman say?
To be continued
