Jacqueline's Dilemma by Emma - Part Eleven
With every inch closer to Hautefort, the Royal carriage got, Danielle became a little more excited. The reason? It brought her closer to Henry. He had promised her that he would be waiting for her in the courtyard on her return from the manor. She knew that she could trust him to keep his promises. He had never let her down before, despite what he may think.
Hélène could see the visible change in her mistress. During her time at the manor she had been somewhat subdued. The lively young woman of whom she had become so fond seemed to lose her spark for those few days. On occasions she had seen a glimmer of her real self, but that had quickly faded. But now the happiness and vitality was plain for everyone to see. Hélène could not even feel sad at the reason for her happiness. She felt that she could begrudge the Princess nothing.
Jacqueline however could see or think of nothing except for the small piece of paper which she had hidden in the pocket in the large cuff of her sleeve. She feared what it might say, but she also realised that it meant hope for her. The way he had looked at her so pleadingly, could it mean that he returned her affection? She knew that she could not allow herself to think this way. It was dangerous for her to get carried away with such an idea. But her heart would not allow her to do anything but hope for her happiness to be contained in this piece of paper.
"I think when we return to the palace Jacqueline, you should retire for a few hours to get some rest," Danielle said suddenly. Jacqueline was pulled from her thoughts.
"Pardon Danielle." Danielle smiled, she had no doubt what Jacqueline had been thinking about. She was not the only one who would be reunited soon with somebody special.
"I was just saying that you should retire on our return to get some rest. You have to look fresh for the ball."
"Yes I think I shall," Jacqueline replied. She was not particularly eager to get any sleep, she did not feel that she could even if she wanted to. But this would afford plenty of time to read Antoine's letter away from prying eyes. No matter what it said, she did not know if she would be able to hide her reaction.
Before the party knew it, the fanfares that announced their arrival at Hautefort were blaring out. Danielle quickly straightened her hair and gown, she knew that Henry would think her beautiful if she had been rolling around in mud, but she wanted to always look her very best for him.
As the carriage rolled to a stop Danielle looked out of the carriage window, scanning the courtyard for a glimpse of her husband, but she did not see him. She did not understand. He had to be there he simply HAD to, he had promised her that he would be. But on closer inspection
he did not seem to be there at all.
Hélène could see the visible disappointment of on Danielle's face at her husband not being there. She had hoped that Henry would break that habit of disappointing women with Danielle, quite clearly he had not. This vexed her greatly. She had thought he would have learned from past mistakes and behave properly with Danielle. Over the past month she had slowly began to forgive Henry for his lack of judgement in Bordeaux, but now her annoyance with him was growing again. But she did not want her mistress to know this as it would surely make her even more upset.
"He is probably inside waiting for you Danielle, or he has been unavoidably detained," she said quietly. She did not believe this, but the main thing was that Danielle did.
"Probably," Danielle replied, her voice quiet and subdued.
Just then the carriage door opened and a hand appeared to help the ladies out. First Jacqueline absently took it and stepped out without even looking at who had offered it. The it was Hélène's turn. She elegantly stepped down to the floor and turned to thank her assistant. A mixture of relief and shame at her thoughts came over her when she saw that it was Henry.
He raised his finger to his lips as if asking her not to give him away to Danielle. He quite clearly wanted to surprise her. Hélène nodded and smiled at him before stepping away to stand beside Jacqueline. He once again extended his hand and Danielle absently took it and stepped down
into the courtyard.
"Thank you Monsieur," she said as she looked up at the castle, still not aware of who it was. She did not even notice that her aide had not relinquished her hand until she felt a pair of soft lips brush the back of it. She was about to turn to admonish whoever it was who had breached decorum so shamefully, but she soon stopped on hearing that voice.
"Milady, I do hope that you do not allow every man you come across to take these liberties with you. For I do not know what your husband would say about it."
"HENRY!" She cried, spinning around. She threw her arms around him and he received her embrace most happily. "I had thought you had not come," she whispered in his ear.
"But did I not promise that I would meet you here on you return?"
"Well yes but..."
"Danielle, if I promise you something be assured that it will happen, for I could deny you nothing which I have promised to you." He kissed her lightly on the lips, before linking arms with her and leading her into the palace towards the drawing room where the King and Queen were waiting for the return of their daughter-in-law.
On their entrance into the room, the Queen stood and quickly walked over to Danielle, giving her a motherly embrace. "Danielle, my dear, I cannot express how pleased I am to have you back. I have been quite desolate without you." Danielle smiled nervously. After two months at the palace, she still found maternal affection a somewhat odd concept.
Next it was the King's turn to welcome her home. Like his wife, he engaged her in an embrace and gave her comforting and friendly words. She then sat down on the chaise with Henry and the King and Queen turned their attentions to Jacqueline.
"Danielle sent us word that you are to be staying with us for a while," the King said, smiling broadly.
"That is if it is convenient to Your Majesties," Jacqueline said quietly and respectfully.
"Of course it is my dear!" The Queen enthused. "I cannot remember when I had so many ladies whom I could talk with around. I shall enjoy your time here with us immensely." Jacqueline smiled
"I believe I shall enjoy it too Your Majesty."
"Mother, Jacqueline was unable to get much sleep last night because of some business at the manor. Perhaps it would be a good idea for her to be shown to her chambers now so that she might rest before tonight."
"Yes of course," the Queen said. "You poor dear. I had no idea you were working so hard. Of course you must get some rest. Avis," she called to her lady-in-waiting. "Could you please show Mademoiselle de Ghent up to her chambers."
"Yes Your Majesty," and with that Jacqueline was led off to her room.
As soon as she was definitely out of earshot Danielle turned to speak with Henry. "Where is Laurent? I should have thought he would be here to meet us."
"He is with his family," Henry replied. "I gave him the afternoon off so that he might show them the palace grounds." At any other time, Danielle would have appreciated this idea, but this time it interfered with her plans.
"I had hoped that he would be here to meet us as it would have given him a chance to speak with Jacqueline. How is he to propose if he hasn't the chance to spend any time with her?"
"So you really do think he means to propose then?"
"Yes of course I do. Did you not say yourself he quite clearly holds a great deal of affection for her?"
"Yes, indeed. I have never seen him happier than when he is in her company. But Laurent is a very sensible man, he would never rush into anything. His proposal may not be anytime soon."
"Don't speak nonsense Henry," Danielle admonished. "Lovers do no act sensibly, they are irrational. I should have thought that you of all people would know that." They Royal couple smiled at each other and Henry gave his wife a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"And you are quite sure that Jacqueline will accept him?"
"Oh yes, I am left in no doubt as to her heart. She acts very much like a woman in love and there is nobody else who I can think of who could stir such feelings. No I am sure that Marc is her dream. If they are not married within three months, I shall be very much surprised."
As they spoke to each other, Hélène could not help but here them. She was not entirely sure if she agreed with these assertions of theirs. She certainly thought that Mademoiselle de Ghent esteemed the Captain and liked him very much, but whether that was love, she could not be so sure. The regard she had seen Jacqueline display towards Marc had not really gone beyond friendship. She did however perceive symptoms of love in Jacqueline's countenance. She knew however, that they would have to look elsewhere to find the object of her affections.
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As Avis d'Avignon left Jacqueline in her apartments, Jacqueline took a moment to look around her. These were the same chambers in which she had slept last time she had stayed at Hautefort. It was very probable that these would be where she stayed most of the time from now on.
She slowly walked over to the writing desk and took a seat. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out the piece of paper which Antoine had so eagerly pressed into her hand. For a minute, she just looked at it. This letter had the power to either realise or crush all of her hopes and dreams. She had never before realised the power of words, but now she was beginning to see just how important they were.
Then, when she could stand the suspense no longer, she broke the seal, unfolded the paper and read the beautifully scripted words.
Dear Jacqueline,
I am writing to apologise for my appalling behaviour last night. I know that my actions must have repelled you and for causing you such hurt I can only apologise.
I wish you to know that my appalling conduct happened in the heat of a very intense moment that I am sure you must have felt. I just went too far with my emotions. Please be assured that I harbour no feelings for you that would cause me to repeat my actions.
I realise that you may want me to leave my post and have another guard brought here. I understand if this is the case, but I promise if you allow me to stay this will never happen again. I would genuinely miss our friendship were you to sever our connections with each other.
Please think about what I have said
Yours Antoine de Polignac.
At first she did not know what to think of it. On the one hand he was affirming to her, just how much their friendship meant to him, but on the other he was making sure that she knew exactly where she stood and that she did not really figure in his plans for his future.
She wanted to be pleased that he was so eager not to break their friendship, but she could not be. Those words 'I harbour no feelings for you' were just more than she could bear. How could she have been so stupid as to possibly believe that somebody like that could return her affections? He was charming and wealthy and handsome. A fine prize for any lady, but far beyond her reach.
She was beginning to realise just how foolish she had been. But alongside that was a sense of overwhelming remorse. She walked over to her bed and laid down, burying her face into a pillow so that her sobs would not be heard. For a few hours she had allowed herself to believe the impossible and she had never been so happy. Now that happiness was gone and she was once again left with an empty shell.
