Jacqueline's Dilemma by Emma - Part Thirteen

"Jacqueline de Ghent," the footman called as Jacqueline entered the royal dining room for breakfast. All eyes at the large table turned to look at the triumphant girl. Jacqueline had truly been a success at the ball the previous evening. She had charmed every man in the room with her wit and beauty, every woman had admired her elegance and style and it was quite clear that she had given a good impression to Prince Ludwig. It was even reported that he would be visiting the court so as to make her acquaintance better.

Jacqueline was no longer nerved by the vast attention that was placed on her. She had realised that if she could be so thoroughly scrutinised as she was the night before, without bursting into tears, she could cope with anything life had to throw at her. That included a lifetime alone.

A footman stepped forward and pulled out the chair beside which Danielle would be sitting. She sat down and looked around the room. Many eyes were still trained on her, but now some people had gone back to their conversations. Opposite her Hélène and Lord grey were sitting, engrossed, no doubt, in a fascinating conversation about art or music. Jacqueline envied their close friendship, but she feared for their future. She knew what could happen when things go too far, and Hélène wasn't the only one who could detect love in a woman's heart. Jacqueline saw more in them than they would like to see in themselves.

Whilst Jacqueline contemplated these thoughts, the conversation across from her was indeed fascinating, especially to the outside observer. "I may be wrong Milord, but I believe that you danced with five different ladies last night," Hélène said, with a teasing glimmer in her eye.

"I may have done."

"There were many pretty ladies in attendance were there not?"

"Yes indeed, but you must remember some of those ladies I had already promised a dance to. Yourself, Milady Juliette and of course the Princess, had already consented to honour me with a dance."

"But I do not recall Thérèse de Moulins, or Josephine Talleyrand having been made such a promise. Am I to understand that the spirit of the dance is returning to you Milord?" Steven smiled and laughed at this suggestion.

"I think it was more to do with the spirit of two very pushy mothers." Now it was Hélène's turn to laugh.

"Do you tell me that Lord Steven Grey, Duke of Winchester, greatest swordsman and fighter in all of England was talked into submission by two elderly French women?"

"Yes that is exactly it and two more terrifying adversaries I have never encountered before." Now it was all they could do to stop bursting out into raucous laughter. They quickly had to compose themselves however as the arrival of the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess was announced.

Everyone at the table stood as the Royal party entered to take their seats. All of them looked very happy and with good reason. The ball had been a complete success for all of their ambitions. The King and Queen had good reason to believe that a successful trade link could be forged with Hanover, Danielle was now sure that Jacqueline and Laurent would soon be married, and Henry had shown to the world just how wise he had been in his choice of wife.

As the party ate a faint murmur of conversation came over the table as the guests all spoke in hushed tones so as not to offend their royal hosts. Most of these conversations were pretty much the same though. The joys of the previous night and the accomplishments of Jacqueline de Ghent.

"The musicians last night were simply divine," Danielle said, attempting to break through the silence that had engulfed the head of the table. "Would you not agree Jacqueline?"

"Oh yes," she replied, trying to remember just what the music had been like. She had been concentrating so much on her steps, she had barely listened to anything around her, not even her partners' conversations. All she could do was make occasional comments when she did happen to catch something they said. Fortunately whatever she said seemed to please them.

Danielle so wanted to engage her in conversation about the ball, but she felt that Jacqueline was not going to be drawn out of her inner thoughts. So she turned her conversation to Hélène and allowed Jacqueline to continue with her thoughts. She had her suspicions as to what she was thinking about though.

After the meal had been eaten and the party was beginning to leave the room, Jacqueline began to think about what she would do that day. Danielle has business to attend to with some of the ladies of the court, as did the Queen and the only time they had spare from this was when they were all to go to church later that morning, and of course when they were to all take tea with Marc's mother and sister. She was not too keen on spending any time alone as the only thing to do would be to sit and think, and she had no pleasant thoughts in her head at that moment. However her deliverance from yet another day of displeasing contemplation, came in an unexpected, but not unwelcome form.

As Danielle was getting ready to leave the Prince stood and walked over to where Jacqueline sat. "Jacqueline, since we are both without business to attend to now, I was wondering if you would care to join me in a walk before mass?" He asked. The surprise she felt prevented Jacqueline from answering at first. He may have been her sister's husband, but she hardly knew him at all and she did not really expect to get to know him either. After all he was the Crown Prince of France.

"Yes Your Highness, that would be very agreeable," she finally managed to whisper. Henry smiled and extended his hand to help her to her feet. Jacqueline curtseyed to the King and Queen and then left with the Prince. She had no doubt that Danielle had put him up to this. She would not want there to be any formality between members of her family and she would not want Jacqueline to be alone in the Palace.

Henry however knew the real reason for his wish to spend time with his sister in law. It had dawned on him the night before, how little he knew her. Her accomplishment as a dancer and conversationalist had come as a complete shock to him. He had never expected her to make such an impact on people. As his wife's only family, he felt that he had a duty to get to know her. Also, if Danielle was right, she would very soon be the wife of one of his closest confidantes, he wanted to know what sort of woman his good friend would be spending his life with.

As they walked down the corridors of the palace, Henry realised that he could not think of anything to say to her. Despite all opinion of him, he usually had difficulty in finding the words to say. More often than not it was the other person that had to carry the conversation. That was one of the reasons he loved Danielle so much, when he was with her, for the first time ever he had been able to speak openly and without needing to be pushed.

Jacqueline noticed the uncomfortable silence and so endeavoured to start the conversation. "The King has been most kind in helping me restore the manor."

"Well any thriving business is good for France as a whole," Henry replied. "And I believe your business is doing particularly well."

"Yes Your Highness. The stud farm in particular is doing very well. We have sold many of the unborn foals already. Of course this could never have happened without Crown support."

Henry was a little troubled by the formality which she felt necessary when they spoke. He knew that Danielle would not want it. "You know you don't have to be so formal when we speak. You are my sister now."

"I don't understand Your Highness."

"Well for a start you can call me Henry. My sisters would have laughed at me had I expected them to call me your highness and you are no different from they. I insist you call me Henry."

"Very well Henry." Jacqueline felt quite good about this new informality. She really was beginning to feel as if she were part of a family. A feeling she had not really known since the death of her father. This acceptance as his sister suddenly made her feel very bold.

"I was wondering Henry, don't tell me anything if you don't want to." Henry was puzzled as to what she was going to say.

"Did you ever consider Marguerite as a prospective bride? My mother was always so sure that she would be Queen, but I never saw any sign that you had any regard for her whatsoever."

Henry was positively stunned by Jacqueline's question. She was the last person on Earth he would expect to place such inquiries to him. But he did not mind. This was a topic which she deserved to know the truth in. "No, I never even thought about her as a wife."

Jacqueline smiled a little. She was glad to hear that he had never sunk so low as to consider someone who was so obviously after his crown. "Might I ask why? Most men found her very attractive."

"I cannot deny that she is a very attractive girl, or should I say was, I hear a servants life is not too kind on ones looks." Jacqueline smiled at the thought of this being Marguerite's punishment. "But Marguerite was quite unashamedly shallow. She openly flattered me in such a way that I knew she was insincere. I never had any doubt that she was only interested in my crown. To be honest I always found her younger sister to be the more appealing one."

Jacqueline smiled, thinking that he meant Danielle, but his intense staring at her made her realise that he was actually talking about her. She blushed a deep crimson. It was one thing to be complimented so by men of nobility but when such regards came from a man of the monarchy, it was difficult to control ones surprise and pleasure.

"Now might I ask why you thought I had no regard for Marguerite? Everyone else seemed to think I did."

"Just because you singled her out for walks on occasion did not mean that you thought any better of her than you did of anyone else. You always seemed quite bored by her company. Her remarks at the tennis match were overly flattering for your taste and you seemed quite embarrassed by her in the market."

Henry was astounded by her insight into the matter. "So you knew that your mother's efforts were in vain."

"I had a good idea. Also I could sense a change in you on that day in the market." Now Henry was intrigued. He just stared at her as if urging her to go on. "Your interest in meeting the servants, the complete lack of interest you had in your company and surroundings, even though you were master of all. I had a feeling then that you had been touched deeply by something greater than flattery."

"You really do have an insightful mind. I expect you know now that I had already succumbed to Danielle by that time. I fell in love with her when I first saw her in that courtyard and with every challenge she put to me, I fell deeper into her spell." Jacqueline could not help but let out a small sigh. To love and be loved like that must be the most wonderful thing on Earth.

Just then Captain Laurent walked around the corner towards them. Henry could see Jacqueline visibly tense up. It was as if she did not want to see him. This was not the behaviour of a lover. He had a brief conversation with the Prince before leaving to take care of business. After he had gone, her countenance softened a little. Henry realised that there was more to this woman's heart than he had realised. Just as she had deduced his heart was not with Marguerite, he was beginning to suspect hers was not where everyone expected it to be.