Reflections - So Life Goes On

Author's Note - a lot of the first scene may be familiar. I hope you like the different point of view

Chapter Six

Laurent watched as the Baroness tried to squirm out of the predicament she'd got herself into. "A woman will do practically anything for the love of a daughter. Perhaps I did get a little carried away."

'Your Majesties,' added Laurent silently. King Francis hated it when people didn't use his correct title in the Throne Room.

Marguerite fared a little better, "Mother, what have you done? Your Majesty, like you, I am just a victim here." And then she ruined it, "She has lied to us both and I am ashamed to call her family."

'Oh dear, Marie won't like that,' thought Laurent. The Queen rated family loyalty very highly.

"How dare you turn on me, you little ingrate!" Rodmilla cried as she attacked her daughter.

Laurent could feel a laugh building inside him as the Baroness and Marguerite created a scene worthy of two fishwives fighting over a bargain in the marketplace. The look of exasperated disgust on Jacqueline's face added to Laurent's appreciation of the fight. 'That's right, sweetheart. Keep calm. Don't fall with them.'

"You see? You see what I put up with?" Marguerite screeched at the King and Queen.

Oh, that was a very bad move. No one screeched at Francis Valois, not even the Queen could get away with that.

"That's enough!" King Francis commanded. He looked at Jacqueline, "Are they always like this?"

"Worse," Jacqueline replied. "Your Majesty," she added as though she could hear Laurent's silent prompting.

Rodmilla turned on Jacqueline. Leonardo could feel the Captain tense up beside him as Rodmilla snarled over her shoulder, "Jacqueline, darling, I'd hate to think you had anything to do with this."

"Of course not, Mother," replied Jacqueline calmly. "I'm only here for the food."

Leonardo smiled at the set down and shot a look up at the Captain who was nodding at Jacqueline and grinning broadly.

Queen Marie had had enough of this nonsense. She spoke, "Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, you are hereby stripped of your title and you and your horrible daughter are to be shipped off to the Americas on the next available boat, unless, by some miracle, someone here will speak for you."

Rodmilla appealed to the Courtiers for assistance. Leonardo watched as no one stepped forward. 'You reap what you sew, you foolish woman,' he thought. 'And what have you sewn except deceit and folly? Where are your fair-weather friends now?'

The Baroness turned to the Royal Dais and smiled inanely, "There seem to be quite a few people out of town."

A gentle regal voice calmly cut through the tension in the room - "I will speak for her." The Courtiers bowed to the slim young woman who entered the room from the antechamber. "She is, after all, my step-mother," said Danielle coming to a halt close to the Baroness.

The Courtiers rose and watched as the scene before them unfolded further. The Baroness slowly sank to the floor before the young Princess, "Your Highness."

'That's right, acknowledge her you foolish woman.' Leonardo looked at the kneeling Baroness. 'You could have been the stepmother of the future Queen of France. Instead you chose to lie to the Throne you sought to control and you lost your only chance. How ironic!'

Leonardo watched as Prince Henry explained the situation to the empty headed pretender for his hand. "Marguerite, I don't believe you've met my wife." Leonardo was hard pressed not to grin at the smirk on Henry's face and the answering look of horror on Marguerite's.

The artist was surprised by the soft affectionate smile on Jacqueline's face as she looked at her stepsister. How in the world had that harridan of a Baroness got it right with two of her children and so wrong with Marguerite? It was a puzzle he'd have to ask Danielle about later. If there was one thing he loved it was solving puzzles.

His attention returned to the events in progress as Danielle said, "All I ask Your Majesties is that she be accorded the same courtesy that she bestowed on me."

King Francis nodded and wondered for a moment if he could convince Pierre le Pieu to take Rodmilla as a servant. Tempting as the thought was, it wouldn't do. The King imagined that le Pieu would be nagged into madness within a year and smothered a grin with his hand.

Francis controlled his wayward thoughts as Marie, his ever-sensible wife, passed judgement.

"Rodmilla and Marguerite de Ghent. You are hereby to be removed to the servants' quarters where you will be provided with appropriate clothing and put to work in the Royal Laundry. You shall remain there for a period of one week at which time you will be sold to another Household. You will remain servants for the next ten years, the same length of time that servitude was placed upon another by you. At the end of ten years the Crown will provide each of you with one set of clothing, ten francs and the freedom to start a new life away from France. You may not at any time return to Manor de Barbarac. All your personal belongings are hereby deemed to be the property of Jacqueline de Ghent."

Rodmilla's thoughts were completely calm, too calm. She smiled complacently at the Queen, her mind temporarily unable to cope with what was happening.

Marguerite stared at the Queen in horror. That...that red headed foreigner was telling her to leave! This was her castle! Her Throne! Marguerite was shaking with anger. She yelled at the Queen, "That fat cow's not getting my things! I won't have it..."

"Remove them!" bellowed King Francis. "And wash that one's," he pointed a Marguerite, "mouth out with soap and water for insulting a Lady of the Court."

While Rodmilla and Marguerite were removed Danielle walked up to the dais, curtsied to the King and Queen, and took her place beside her husband.

Jacqueline found herself standing alone in front of the two most powerful people in France. She didn't know if she should leave or stay. She was so glad to see Danielle happy and in love. She was also mentally and emotionally confused by the events of the day.

Queen Marie smiled down at the obviously nervous young woman, "Jacqueline de Ghent, step forward please."

Jacqueline walked closer to the Queen's throne.

"My dear," Queen Marie said, "As the Throne has deprived you of your family the Throne is now your guardian. You will stay here, at Hautefort, until the Manor is appropriately staffed for your safety or until you make an alternate decision on your future."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Jacqueline curtsied.

The Queen nodded. "This Page," the Queen waved to the Royal Usher who ordered a Page forward, "will see that you are shown to your quarters."

Jacqueline looked down at the Page who had walked over to her. She turned to the Queen who was turning away to speak to the King. "Your Majesty, may I please be so bold as to beg for a different page."

The Queen gave her a look of surprise, "Why ever do you want a different Page child?"

The young woman swallowed nervously. "I do not trust this Page, Your Majesty, he was in the employ of my mother."

********

"I beg your pardon?" the King bellowed at Jacqueline. He had hoped that the dramas would be over with the removal of the Baroness. Now this accusation had extended them and was keeping him from his dinner.

Jacqueline's small supply of bravery was disappearing quickly. She could feel herself beginning to shake in the way she did whenever her mother yelled at her. She saw Danielle start to move towards her but Henry held her back.

"My mother...paid him to...supply information on...the Prince's location and other...things, Your Majesty." Jacqueline's voice was so quiet that the King had to lean forward to hear her.

Captain Laurent stepped forward to grab the Page as he lunged at Jacqueline.

The small man was yelling, "She lies, Your Majesties. She's evil! Just like her mother! See, she even looks like her!"

"Silence," roared Francis.

The Page stood still in the Captain's grip. The Page's eyes glaring accusingly at Jacqueline.

The Captain didn't know what to think. Jacqueline had been doing so well and now what he'd feared most had happened - Francis was angry with her. Please, Lord, make her be telling the truth and don't let her suffer her mother's fate.

"What 'other things', child?" asked the Queen.

Jacqueline looked at her hands. Her courage had fled and she was lost for words until the Captain quietly murmured, "Remember." He was standing by her in more ways than one.

"Speak up girl," King Francis ordered abruptly.

Jacqueline looked up at the Queen. "I don't know what it was, Your Majesty. This Page gave...my mother something, a possession of yours, which...Marguerite...gave to you outside the church. From what my mother said I...I believe that Marguerite may have said that she...found it and was...returning it to you."

The Queen looked shocked, "It was the very pendant that Princess Danielle is now wearing. Your sister told me that she had found it when I dropped it. But I didn't remember putting it on."

The Courtiers all began talking. The King raised his hand for silence. "Do you have any proof of your claim?"

"Only what I saw, Your Majesty." Jacqueline said quietly.

"I'm sorry, child," said the King solemnly, "But theft from the Crown is a Capital Offence. If this charge is proven then your mother and sister must pay the price for their actions. However, if you are found to be lying to the Crown then you will join your mother."

Jacqueline nodded and felt the last remnants of her courage evaporate. Queen Marie looked at her in concern. The girl was shaking and crying silently but she did not seem to be fully aware of it. The Queen believed the girl's story. In hindsight Marguerite's act at the church had been too contrived. But how to prove it?

"As for you," the King pointed at the Page. Laurent pushed the small man forward so hard that he almost fell to his knees. "You will be removed from duty and placed under house arrest until the charge is proven or cleared. Have no doubt that if you are found guilty your sentence will be death. Remove him!"

The whimpering Page was taken away by two guardsmen.

"The Court is now dismissed," commanded Francis. "It will be reconvened in," the King looked to the back of the room, "Two days time. The Guard will escort the members of the Court to the Banqueting Hall for the Wedding Feast."

Laurent led Jacqueline to the side of the Throne Room while the Courtiers filed past them. The Captain ignored the rude comments made to Jacqueline by some of the Courtiers as they passed by. They'd keep.

As the last of the Courtiers left, Leonardo looked at Laurent and Jacqueline. The Captain was trying in vain to calm his lady by patting her hand and begging her to stop crying.

Leonardo sighed. Some young men had no idea. The painter walked up to the couple, brushed the Captain aside and pulled Jacqueline into a gentle hug.

"Stop this child," Leonardo said quietly. "Or you will make yourself ill." The old man patted her back and heard a low growl from beside him. Leonardo looked up for a moment then continued, "Please stop crying before Captain Laurent kills me."

His comment broke through the young woman's hysteria. Jacqueline looked at Leonardo in surprise, "Sir, we haven't been introduced!" She stepped away hurriedly from Leonardo. "Besides, Marc wouldn't..." She saw looked up, saw the expression Laurent's face and quietly stepped closer to the Captain.

Leonardo grinned and walked away as Marc pulled Jacqueline into a tight embrace, much to Danielle's surprise. The Princess had been on her way to comfort her stepsister. Instead she found herself being intercepted by Leonardo, who took her by the arm and led her back to her new family.

"Young men today, no idea at all!" the artist said to King Francis who replied, "Tell me about it."

"And there speaks the expert," said Marie, a sparkle of amusement in her tired eyes.

The King grumbled light-heartedly and declared, "Today's been all too much. It's time we ate our dinner and got some sleep." Francis turned to his son who was about to comment, "Don't say it! You're supposed to be a gentleman."

"Yes, Father." Henry grinned. The grin turned into a laugh as Danielle gave him a scolding look.

"Captain Laurent!" bellowed Francis, "Drag yourself away from what you shouldn't be doing in my Throne Room and escort Milady de Ghent to the Banqueting Hall."

"Yes, stop horsing around," added Henry, grinning broadly. The Captain glared at Leonardo, who smiled innocently. Henry winked at the Captain who quickly did as he was ordered.

Henry laughed and said to Danielle and Leonardo. "I don't think I've ever seen Laurent blush before."

"Remember, you are supposed to be a gentleman, Your Highness," Danielle smiled up at her husband. She took Henry by the arm and said, "So, my love, shall we go to our wedding feast?"

********

Henry and Danielle shared another kiss as the Courtiers cheered. Leonardo smiled as he looked around the Banqueting Hall. The Wedding Feast was in full swing. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Well, everyone except for the women with daughters of marriageable age, who all looked rather subdued.

The function was a very traditional affair. The Royal Family and their special guests, including Leonardo, sat at the top table. On one side of the hall were tables reserved for the men of the court. On the other side, tables for the women. Leonardo wondered what Francis would think of the new fashion in Italy for shared banqueting tables for the married members of the Court. He'd probably think it as wicked as the Buffet table at a masque.

The artist looked down the table to the newly married couple. Henry and Danielle were talking softly and sharing a cup of wine together. The new Princess looked so happy. Leonardo prayed that the Prince would do nothing to change that. That young man could be so impetuous.

Speaking of silly young men. Leonardo's attention was drawn to a few young nobles who were conducting a sing-a-long at one of the men's tables. The songs had started as polite little ditties but with each song the words were becoming less and less appropriate for a Royal Function. The Royal Usher had already asked them twice to moderate their behaviour. They had obeyed; behaving themselves for a while and until the next cup of wine sank in.

The young men had begun to sing a crude song that was never, ever sung in polite society. Leonardo watched as the King raised his eyebrows and his voice. "If you don't stop that singing right now, you'll be singing in the dungeons. For a week!"

The singers fell silent. One bright spark stood up to drink a salute to the King and discovered his legs weren't as stable as he thought. His friends, the King and most of the men in the room laughed as the young man landed on his backside on the floor.

The King shook his head in disgust and ordered the guards to "pour them out of the room and take them somewhere to sleep it off".

********

Jacqueline looked at the food in front of her. The meat, what there was of it after the men had taken their share, was well cooked and smelt delicious. And the baked vegetables looked very inviting.

It was all very nice but she really wasn't hungry. She had been hard pressed to finish the first cover, a small bowl of soup. She sighed and put down her fork.

"The food not good enough for you, Miss High-and-Mighty?"

Jacqueline looked across the table into the scowling face of Celeste.

"No, it's very nice, Madame. I'm just not hungry." Jacqueline said a little angrily. It had been a horrible day without this added harassment.

"Nothing's ever good enough for the likes of you is it? Is that why you're such a liar?" Celeste snapped at her.

"Yes," Isabelle turned to face Jacqueline. "I recall the lies you said about Celeste. Maybe I should tell the King."

Jacqueline swallowed nervously. What stories would these horrible women make up about her? She was trying to think of something to say to them when a Page walked up to her chair.

"Mademoiselle de Ghent? Princess Danielle would like a word with you. Please follow me."

"Oh, yes, thank you," Jacqueline stood. She ignored the scowls from Celeste and Isabelle and followed the young man. They walked between the women's tables and the wall. Along the way, the Page stopped to allow a couple of guardsmen carry a very drunken young man past him and out the door. He then led Jacqueline up to the Royal table.

Jacqueline curtsied to Royal Table. "Your Highness," she said to Danielle.

Princess Danielle smiled and waved to a chair that had been placed beside her, "Please come and sit with me Jacqueline. We have not spoken in so long."

Jacqueline walked around behind the table and found she was to sit between Danielle and the King. Jacqueline was still embarrassed at her improper behaviour in the Throne Room, although Marc's hugs had been wonderful. She wondered again what 'official business' he had left to do as she sat on the chair and gave the King a tiny smile. "Your Majesty," she said in an equally tiny voice.

To her surprise the King winked at her and said, "You have a nice gossip with Danielle. Don't mind about me." The King turned to back to resume his conversation with Queen Marie and Signore Da Vinci.

********

The Page looked up at the large man who loomed over him. "I'm only off duty. You can't question me," the Page stammered, conveniently ignoring that he was currently locked in a cell with his tormentor.

"You are a possible threat to the Crown." Laurent growled. "I can do what I like with you." Captain Laurent had no intention of physically hurting the Page but a good scare was another matter. A scare just might make the man tell the truth, now or later. Besides it had been a long day and Laurent was missing the Wedding Feast, so someone had to take the brunt of his temper.

Laurent continued to ask questions which the Page either refused to answer or denied all knowledge of the events. Laurent was really starting to lose his temper when there was a knock on the cell door.

"What is it?"

"The prisoner's dinner, sir," called the cell guard through the grating in the door.

"He'd not hungry. Take it away." The Captain looked down at the Page. "If I have to miss my meal then so can you." He smiled in the mischievous way that had sent his brothers and sisters running for cover and picked up the small man. "Let's try this another way."

The Page squealed as the Captain held him upside down by his feet. "Did Rodmilla de Ghent give you money for information?"

The Page squeaked and fainted.

Laurent sighed in disgust, dropped the man on the pallet of straw in one corner of the room and called for the guard.

********

Danielle and Jacqueline chatted quietly about the manor and the events of the last few days. Danielle's eyes sparkled when Jacqueline told her of Paulette's comments about the Baroness and she giggled when told of Maurice warning off the Captain. Jacqueline smiled, "Maurice is so nice. He's been driving the carriage for years but I never really talked to him until recently."

Danielle agreed. "Louise is so sweet too," she smiled "Now if we could only get Paulette to behave."

Danielle is so kind to me, thought Jacqueline, and I've done nothing to deserve it. She looked down at her hands, "I am sorry that I could not be at your wedding," Jacqueline said quietly. She added in a soft voice, "I am sorry for so many things that have happened in the last ten years."

Danielle hugged Jacqueline, regardless of the prying eyes of the Courtiers. "Don't be sorry for things you couldn't change." She smiled, "I am so glad that you are my stepsister and that I can share my happiness with you."

Jacqueline smiled mistily and listened as Danielle began to tell her of the wedding. Danielle spoke quietly, so that only Jacqueline, Henry and Francis could hear her voice. "I was so nervous waiting outside the church. But Leonardo, and that nice Captain of yours, cheered me up. Yes, Henry, she's blushing - don't make her blush more. Where was I? Oh Jacqueline, Leonardo gave me away and he said the nicest thing - that he was there on behalf of Papa. I almost cried. Oh, and the Bishop was so kind, he made a lovely speech and promised to ask the Brothers to sing a special prayer for us. And the choir boys sang so wonderfully." Danielle giggled, "And Henry looked so handsome and he was so sweet. After we were married he carried me out of the church to a beautiful coach. It was all so, so beautiful." Danielle sighed happily and was rewarded for her speech with a kiss from the Prince.

The King turned to Jacqueline, "I believe Milady de Ghent that you'll get a more," he smiled at Henry and Danielle, "organised description in a day or two, when the excitement has worn off. If not, you can always ask Signore da Vinci."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jacqueline smiled.

"Francis, really!" Queen Marie tapped her fan on the back of the King's hand.

The King turned away and the two young women smothered their giggles behind their hands. Henry didn't bother to hide his laughter.

Listening in on the young women's conversation had convinced King Francis that Jacqueline wouldn't have lied to the Crown; at least not knowingly. He also had a pretty good idea of what Laurent saw in her. Like Danielle, she was a breath of fresh air after the leeches in the court. However, she lacked Danielle's backbone and her directness, which would make it all the more difficult to get the girl out of her current predicament with her reputation intact.

Francis drained his goblet and hoped that he wouldn't have to make Jacqueline a servant. Unfortunately, if she couldn't prove her innocence he'd have no option but to do exactly that.

To be continued