Jacqueline's Dilemma by Emma - Part Three
"Luc," Jacqueline called across the courtyard. Her chief gardener stopped what he was doing and looked over at his mistress. Jacqueline walked over to him.
"Is everything all right milady?" he asked a little nervously. He had been sent from Hautefort only two weeks ago and did not want to anger his new employer so soon after taking the position. Jacqueline sensed his discomfort and wanted to quickly put him at his ease.
"Yes everything is fine. I was just wondering if you've had a chance to make a start on the maze yet?" Jacqueline and Luc had spent several hours discussing his plans for gardens. They certainly would look very grand, maybe even a little too exalted for such a small home as the manor. However Jacqueline loved the thought of walled gardens for privacy and the maze would be wonderful, especially if she ever had children to visit.
"I've made my request to the palace for the shrubs I need, milady, but they haven't arrived."
"I'm sure there is much to be done in the palace gardens, they will not be long." Jacqueline could sense his discomfort so she dismissed him, so that he could get on with his work.
Jacqueline enjoyed this daily tour of the manor almost as much as her daily ride. While she was on her horse she liked the company of her escort, but on her walk she liked the time to think. She also liked being able to look over all she had done. She knew that she would not have been able to do any of it without the King's help, but she did like to think that it was her co-ordination that had been able to bring it all together.
She wandered over to the stable block, which was bustling with activity. She insisted on her horses being groomed and exercised every day. She had great hopes for the stud farm, it had the potential to be the jewel in the crown for the manor, therefore her beasts had to be properly cared for.
"Monsieur le Chateaubriand," Jacqueline said, on seeing her head groom. He was a lovely white haired old man, who Jacqueline had become fond of during his time at the manor. He had been one of the most senior grooms at the palace and was very highly regarded by the King.
"Good morning Milady de Ghent," he said cheerfully. "I take it you've come to check on Guinevere." Jacqueline nodded.
"How is she Monsieur?" Guinevere was one of Jacqueline's favourite mares. She was pregnant and due to have a foal soon.
"She's very well milady. I think we have about two or three weeks before we have a new addition to the stables." Jacqueline smiled. This would be the first foal born as part of the stud farm and it as a great moment for her. She still had not decided if she would sell it or keep it. She had already sold several of the unborn foals, but for this one she had not been able to bring herself to seek a buyer yet.
"Has she been taken out for a walk?" Jacqueline asked.
"No milady, we wanted to wait till it got a little warmer before we took her out."
"Thank you Monsieur." The old man smiled and got on with brushing a stallion, and Jacqueline made her way down to Guinevere's stall. The proud grey mare, was drinking from her water trough when Jacqueline entered. She looked at the animal's distended belly. Chateaubriand was right, it would not be long before the foal was born. Jacqueline could not wait.
"Hello girl," she said as Guinevere turned to look upon the intruder in her space. "It seems your time is near. I bet you can't wait? A new life. You certainly have that gleam in your eye of an expectant mother." She took down a brush from the wall and began to smooth down the horse's coat.
"I wonder when I shall see that gleam in Danielle's eye? I should think she will be wanting children, and Henry and the King will certainly be wanting an heir to the throne. It will be wonderful to see a child at the manor. I should love to have a little niece or nephew to spoil. But for now, I suppose foals will have to do." Guinevere nodded her head, as if to agree with her.
"Do you think you'll have a girl or a boy. I don't suppose you'll mind either way. I know I don't care. If things were to stay forever as they are now, I don't think I would care. Everything is perfect the way it is. In the last month alone, the manor has made astounding profits, thank goodness we have royal backing, none of this would have been possible without the help of the King. He is such a good man. I do not understand why everyone sees him as such an ogre. I admit I find him intimidating, but I can see the gentleness beneath. He treats me as a member of the family. That's a feeling I'm not used to. Even when I had my mother and sister around me I never felt as if I was a part of the family. Back in Ghent I was happy though. My father always made me feel special, I was his little butterfly. When he died my cousin Lionel, did everything he could to make me feel welcome in his home. I sometimes cursed my mother for taking us away to Paris. But if she had not, we would not have ended up here. I suppose that's something I must thank her for if nothing else.
"I don't think anyone knows just how much I love it here. I have friendships that I did not think existed. My mother disapproved of my having friends. She said that in my case it would always lead to disappointment. I suppose I still have those fears in the back of my mind that she could be right. As these friendships grow closer, there is a real danger of complications. Such problems I fear more than anything. Who knows what might happen if things go too far. I could lose both of them."
Just then she heard the stable door open at the back of her. She turned around and saw Antoine standing there. She blushed, worried about what he might have heard, although she had no reason to worry. Her speech was so cryptic, she could barely understand it herself.
"Antoine," Jacqueline said, composing herself. "Is everything all right?"
"Yes, everything is fine. I just came to check on Guinevere. Chateaubriand tells me that she hasn't long before her confinement." he looked down at her belly. "I would say he is right."
"I did not realise that you took such an interest in estate business."
"I don't, but I do take an interest in Guinevere. I come here every day to check on her. She is a magnificent horse. I also know what it means to you." Jacqueline blushed. Could it be that their friendship meant as much to him as it did to her?
Antoine realised what he had said and was embarrassed. He did not want to make her uncomfortable and such a familiar statement would almost certainly do that. He sought to immediately rectify the situation. "I just mean to say that you have put a lot of effort into this venture and you deserve to do well, you've certainly been through enough." This dispelled any notion of Jacqueline's that he valued their relationship as much as she did.
"Are you looking forward to the ball this coming weekend?" Antoine asked, desperate to change the subject, so to save both of them from further embarrassment.
"Yes, I am. It will give me a chance to spend more time with my sister. I am so busy here that we barely have any time to speak."
"That must be difficult for you. I can see that the two of you are close."
"Yes, well we were when we were children, it became difficult for us to be so as we got older though. That is why I am glad to have these chances to be with her. It was very kind of the Marquis to invite me to his ball for I hardly know him." The following Saturday, the Marquis de Limoges was to hold a ball in honour of the visiting Prince Ludwig of Hanover. The royal family had accepted the invitation most readily. The Hanoverians may have been Protestants, but they would make good trading partners. The Marquis had specifically included Jacqueline in the invitation as she was now a highly respected courtier.
"I think there are few people that do not know you now. Remember, your sister is the Princess. And Arnaud has an eye for a pretty lady, I expect he has heard of your beauty and wants to see for himself." Jacqueline's face turned scarlet for the third time in as many minutes.
"Y-y-you know the Marquis?" Jacqueline managed to stammer.
"Yes. My estate is not 20 miles from his own home estate, when he is not here at court. We are actually cousins, our mothers are sisters."
"So you will be in attendance on Saturday then."
"Sadly no. Arnaud did issue an invitation to me, but I had to decline. My duties keep me here."
"You can be spared for one night. I would not have you snub your own cousin."
"My orders come from the King. I am not to leave the manor without securing a competent guard to take my place, and most of the higher ranked guard are going to the ball." Jacqueline felt a little disappointed. She had hoped to see if his charm extended to dancing.
"Oh well, I dare say you have been to enough balls to make missing one no real disappointment."
"Indeed I have." 'But I was hoping to see something special at this one' he silently added.
"Is my sister here Monsieur?" a voice said from outside the stall.
"She is in with Guinevere Your Highness," Chateaubriand said. Jacqueline quickly tidied her hair. Danielle may have been her sister, but she was still a princess. Danielle wandered into the stall, with a bright smile plastered across her face. Antoine simply bowed and left.
"She looks very well," Danielle said, motioning towards Guinevere.
"Yes, she doesn't have long now."
"I hope it doesn't happen over the weekend, I would hate for you to miss it. I know how fond you are of these horses."
"Monsieur Chateaubriand assures me that she has two or three weeks left. I do not think I shall miss anything."
"So you will not be constantly worrying about these horses at the ball then?"
"No Danielle, I won't. I think I can forget for one evening." This was a lie, but it made Danielle feel a little better.
"I received a letter from the Marquis on Thursday, telling me of his plans for the ball. It sounds wonderful. Musicians are coming all the way from Sicily to provide music for the dancing. And there will be plenty of partners." Danielle gave Jacqueline a sly look.
"I expect many will wish to dance with you."
"I cannot possibly, I am a married woman. The only men I am permitted to dance with is my husband, my father-in-law, my guard, and of course, Senore da Vinci. but you can dance with as many as you wish. I believe that many members of the guard will be in attendance. Of course Henry cannot attend without Captain Laurent. I expect he will want to dance with you."
Jacqueline looked down at the floor. She knew of Danielle's expectations, regarding herself and Marc. That they would be married was almost certain in her mind. However Jacqueline was not so sure. She was very fond of him and he had proved to be a good friend to her, but that intense regard she once thought she felt for him, had somehow lessened. She was not so desperate to be in his company anymore and that time when she would have given anything for a kind word from him was over. She could not think what could have made her change her mind so dramatically.
