Jacqueline's Dilemma by Emma - Part Seventeen
Henry's head was spinning with the revelations of the afternoon. One moment he was bored out of his skull and the next he was confronted by his chequered past and then a guard who wanted to marry his sister. These were not usual occurrences and his mind was not equipped to deal with them. Usually his first inclination would have been to go to Danielle, but he knew that he could broach neither subject with her. After her, the best person to speak with would be Marc, but obviously he could not go to him for counsel, not in these circumstances. What if Danielle really was right and he was in love with Jacqueline? This sort of thing could destroy him.
It had been an hour since Danielle had left him because she couldn't make sense of his muttering under his breath. An hour that he had been able to ponder what had happened, and an hour that he had been able to get more confused. These were not things he was going to be able to get to grips with easily. He needed counsel, but who had he to go to. There was nobody in the castle who was not involved with Antoine or Jacqueline. Even Leonardo, the great thinker, had heard too much court gossip and was too close to Jacqueline to be impartial.
He stood up and walked from his study into the corridors. Maybe a walk in the grounds would help clear his head. The early November air was crisp and cool, just what he needed to be able to think straight. The corridors of the palace were, as usual, filled with guards, senior members of the household and high ranking courtiers. The onset of winter had driven them all indoors. God forbid they should get a speck of mud on their gowns. Since knowing Danielle he had not been able to understand why the twittering maidens of the court all worried so much about what other members thought of them. Danielle was her own woman she could, and frequently did, do anything.
As Henry walked he noticed that his appearance in public view did not create the excitement it would have a few months ago. The various comtesses and duchesses with young daughters, who usually haunted the court, had lost interest in gaining his attention now that he was married. He would be worth nothing to them now until their children had daughter of their own who they could marry off to his sons. No matter what they were determined that one of their descendants would be Queen of France one day. For now though they were happy badgering dukes and foreigners to take their worthless offspring off their hands.
As he stepped out of the doors into the courtyard, the cold hit him like a slap in the face. This was just what he needed. What he didn't need was what was coming towards him at that moment. He couldn't deal with this person right now. It would be too much to hide what he knew. From the looks of it though, he would just have to do his best to keep his mouth shut.
"Henry," Laurent said as he approached the Prince. "There is something I need to discuss with you have you the time?"
Henry sighed. He had heard this line already today and he was worried where it was going to go this time. he did not want to have to tell Marc anything that could possible cause him pain. He was too good a friend. However he could not deny Laurent his time. This was something which would have to come out soon, he would just prefer it not to be now.
"Yes I have time," he replied reluctantly. "I was just going to walk for a while." The two of them began to make their way towards the gardens.
"My parents have enjoyed being back at the palace. They asked me to extend an invitation for you and the Princess to visit the chateau whenever you please."
"We should be delighted. If I don't see them before they leave, I trust that you will thank them for me."
"Certainly sire. My mother has also expressed a wish to get to know Mademoiselle de Ghent a little better before she has to return to Avignon. I know that my sister in particular was very taken with her. She found her very agreeable."
"Jacqueline is perfect company for elegant ladies such as Angel. I am very lucky to have married into her family."
"Yes you are," Laurent said quietly. it was this sort of comment which unnerved Henry greatly. He did not want Jacqueline put in a position where she would feel guilty for accepting a proposal of marriage. Knowing that it would cause another pain would surely upset her greatly. After all despite having to grow up quickly she was only seventeen and still just a girl really. "If you don't mind me asking Henry, what do you think of Jacqueline?"
"I hold her in great esteem," Henry said cautiously. "She is a very elegant and amiable girl. Her family is an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise untarnished woman."
"So you like her then?"
"Very much, she is Danielle's sister, how could I not?"
"I'm glad you think so." This put an end to the conversation for a while. Neither seemed to know exactly what to say in this situation. They were men of action, not words. Declaring intentions to a lover was hard enough for them, but to a comrade in arms, it didn't seem right. This was something that would need to be done carefully."
"Henry, how do you find marriage?" Laurent asked, somewhat tentatively.
"I like it very much, but that's because I have found my soul mate."
"You do seem very happy," Laurent replied. "I have to admit that seeing you this happy has made me turn my thoughts to marriage. And also my parents have tried to nudge me in that direction. I suppose they're right, I'm 25 years old and I don't cut the most dashing figure in a guards uniform."
"Don't let anybody rush you into marriage Marc," Henry's words flowed more freely now. This was a subject on which he had strong views. "I know more than most what pain a loveless marriage would cause. It's something that I wouldn't wish on anybody."
"Don't worry about that, it wouldn't be loveless. Not on my part anyway. I have my eye on a certain lady, and I really needed to speak with you to ask for your blessing if I decide to court her."
"You don't need my permission, but if that is what you want I give you my blessing if the lady is in agreement." Laurent broke out into a broad grin.
"Thank you Henry." Just then Danielle and Hélène appeared, wearing full winter cloaks and shivering in reaction to the cold.
"Henry," Danielle said. "What are you doing out here, it's freezing? I've been looking all over for you. Hello Captain Laurent, as always its a pleasure to see you."
"The pleasure is all mine Your Highness. I was wondering where your sister is Your Highness, there is something very particular that I have to ask her."
"I believe that she is in one of the Queen's gardens. Don't let us keep you if you have business."Danielle couldn't suppress the grin which was spreading across her face.
"Thank you Your Highness." Laurent then bowed and headed towards the Queens gardens. He had a feeling which one she would be in. he made his way straight there. this was something he could not wait for.
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"He loves me, he loves me not," Jacqueline murmured as she absently plucked the petals from one of autumn's last blooms. She had been sitting under the frosty branches of a great oak thinking about the last few days. She could hardly believe that it was her who had gone through all of those emotions. She had no idea that she was capable of living that sort of life.
All of this love and passion that coursed through her veins was new to her. At times she did not know how to deal with it. She sometimes considered just running away from it all. Maybe she could go to Florence or to Austria or even England. She would very much enjoy living in one of those countries, but they would never be able to take away the fact that her home was France. She had responsibilities to the manor and all who lived there, and to Danielle who had done so much for her.
The stifling atmosphere of the palace was doing little to help her uneasiness about herself. She had to act like the perfect lady all of the time and she was unable to do her own thing as she was at the manor. She had to accept that the manor was where she belonged. Even if it did hold an uncertain future for her, she never felt better than when she was in the manor.
At the same time as willing her return though, she dreaded it too. What would happen when she first set eyes on Antoine again? Would she be able to be mature and accept what he had said? Or would she act like a stupid little girl and burst into tears? She feared the latter. Were she to act in such a ridiculous manner in front of him, she would never be able to live it down.
"Oh it's useless," she said to herself aloud. "Whatever I do there's going to be problems."
"Surely not milady," a familiar voice said from behind her. She turned around and looked straight into a familiar face. She could not help but smile at his appearance. "A lady as charming as you will surely never want for happiness."
"Well I like to think so. What brings you here? Surely you duties are not all taken care of?"
"I must be truthful milady, I have abandoned my post to come in search of something very special."
"Prince Henry will not be happy, his guards being absent from their posts so soon after his appointment as Commander of the Guard. Please don't let me detain you, I was just muttering to myself as you saw."
"I am in no rush to go anywhere, I'm quite content being in your company."
"How long were you standing there? Behind me."
"A few minutes, I found something very enticing in here." She blushed, it was quite obvious what he was looking at. This was a fact that should have surprised her, but oddly enough it didn't. Nothing surprised her any more.
As the redness crept into her face, he smiled. It was a nervous smile, not the self assured grin she was used to. They stayed in the same position for several minutes, before he realised that he needed to break the silence and to say what he came to say.
"Jacqueline, there's a reason for my being here, in this garden, it isn't just chance. I have come in search of you. I had a feeling you might be here. This seems just the sort of place that would suit you perfectly. It's open and beautiful."
"You came to see me!" She swallowed hard, nervous about what would be said next.
"Yes, especially for you. There is something I needed to ask you that would not wait another second. Since I first met you I have felt something very special for you, something that has developed into the deepest regard and, dare I say it, love. I love you with a passion that scares me Jacqueline and I am come here to ask for your hand." He dropped to one knee.
"Jacqueline Claude Isabelle, I would be honoured if you would consent to court me. No, that is not enough, I want you to become my wife."
Jacqueline looked into his eyes and she could see that he was sincere. A tear rolled down her cheek. Since Danielle's wedding she had been imagining a scene like this. She now had the chance of becoming a wife, a dream that she never thought would come true.
He however took her silence as a rejection and stood. He looked like he was close to tears. His greatest fear that she could not love him was realised. However she was not willing to let this dream slip through her fingers, she had envisaged this to many times in all of her very favourite slumbers.
"I need only one word to answer your heartfelt plea. Yes, I will marry you and I will be the happiest of women." She placed a soft hand on his cheek and watched as his eyes came alive again. He moved his head so that he could kiss the palm of her hand as a tear finally escaped from the corner of his eye. He then could not resist the temptation of pressing his lips to hers. She accepted his kiss with warmth and passion. They stood locked in an embrace for several minutes before he could bring himself to break the connection so that he could whisper in her ear.
"I love you Jacqueline."
"I love you too Antoine, and I mean that from the very core of my soul."
This was a scene of great joy for all involved. Dreams were coming true in this magical winter garden. It would have been perfect if it was not for the looks of desperation on the face of one heartbroken bystander.
