Jacqueline's Dilemma by Emma - Part Twenty
The court was stunned as they watched Jacqueline flee the room in floods of tears. Nobody could quite believe the scene that they had just witnessed. This was sure to be the best scandal of the year. They were now glad that they had decided to stay behind rather than dash off to
spread what they thought was the best story of the day. This was infinitely better.
As soon as she had disappeared the whispering began once again. They all stared at a faint looking Antoine, who could not believe what had just happened. All of his dreams had been shattered by a few words. He was so shocked he could barely move. All he could do was watch as his love disappeared. All colour had drained from his face.
"I thought she'd know, or I would never have said anything," a voice whispered in his ear. He looked round and he was face to face with Sabine. A look of pure hatred crossed his face, but he didn't say or do anything to her. He simply began to run out of the throne room after Jacqueline.
Half way down the corridor, he grabbed hold of an unsuspecting page. "Have you seen Jacqueline?"
"Who?"
"Jacqueline de Ghent, where is she?" He shook the man roughly.
"She was heading towards the courtyard, last I saw her." Antoine barely let him finish the sentence before he dropped him and ran in that same direction. He had to catch her and explain. He could not let her leave him like this.
As he ran through the corridors, he kept having visions of all of those ridiculous courtiers who he had seduced and then discarded. He had never thought twice about it before, but now the guilt and shame stabbed at him like a red hot knife. Why had he thought that he could do that and get away with it? Jacqueline deserved more than this. More than him, but he could not give her up without a fight, she was too precious.
Before he knew it he was running out into the glaring sun that shone over the courtyard. He could barely see anything. "Jacqueline!" he called out in desperation. Everything fell silent except for the pounding of hooves drawing away from him. He raised his hands to his eyes, so as to shield them from the sun, and looked up just in time to see Jacqueline exiting the palace gates on a horse.
"Saddle my horse," he barked to a nearby junior guard. He couldn't let her get away like this. He had to catch her. Within minutes his horse was brought to him. He was just getting ready to mount when Prince Henry and Princess Danielle came, almost running, through the palace doors.
"Captain!" Danielle cried as she saw him trying to get on the horse. She rushed over and grabbed the reins. "Where are you going?"
"After Jacqueline, I must talk to her."
"Do you think that is wise?"
"I cannot let her leave me like this, I must explain myself."
"Yes I suppose you must, but not now Antoine," Henry said as he joined the conversation.
"What better time than now. I need to tell her before she begins to make it up herself."
"Antoine, if you caught her, do you really think she would listen to you now? She is upset and probably very angry, you will do more damage if she is faced with you now."
"But I can't just let her ride off alone. There are many dangers out there and it will be getting dark soon. I cannot just leave her out there alone."
"Laurent," Henry said. "Go after her. Make sure she comes to no harm and try to persuade her to come back to the palace, or if not, get her to go to the manor. Just make sure she is safe."
"Yes Your Highness," he said leaving to get his horse.
"Now, as for you," Danielle said, looking at Antoine. "I think we should talk." Antoine, looking thoroughly defeated, nodded and dismounted his horse. They left the courtyard with a thousand eyes staring at them wondering what else today could throw at them.
Danielle, followed by Henry, Steven and Hélène led Antoine through the palace towards her parlour. She was going to have it out with Antoine, she wanted to know everything before she let him pursue her sister.
As they neared the room she began to dismiss her companions. "Henry, I think you should perhaps let your parents know what is happening, they will surely wish to be kept up to date."
"Of course," he said. "I shall do that immediately." He kissed his wife's hand and left.
"Hélène, I think the Captain is in need of a drink, could you ask the kitchen to send up some wine and then could yourself and Lord Grey perhaps do that thing I had asked you to do this morning?" For a moment Hélène looked puzzled, but it didn't take long for her to realise what the
Princess was saying.
"Certainly Danielle, I will see to that immediately. Lord Grey, shall we?"
"Yes milady," He replied and they left also, leaving just Danielle and Antoine. They entered the sitting room.
"Please sit down Captain," Danielle said, pointing to a chaise as she herself took a seat. He did as he was told. Any fight he had in him was quickly draining. "Now I think we ought to start right at the beginning."
"The beginning Your Highness?"
"When were you acquainted with Marguerite?"
"Oh, that beginning. I first met your step sister when she was fifteen, six years ago. I was seventeen then and had just joined the guard. She was one of my first conquests." Danielle winced at the use of this word. She could tell that his honesty would be brutal, but she was prepared to hear the worst.
"Go on," she said, she wanted to hear it all.
"Contrary to popular belief, I did not choose this life. Being a guard, the drinking, the women it wasn't what I wanted."
"Really. It would seem that you did a good job at hiding your disdain for your forced circumstances," Danielle said with a caustic tone in her voice. Now it was Antoine's turn to wince at the words.
"I wasted most of my life doing nothing in Aquitaine. My mother, God rest her soul, was indulgent to the point of destruction of my moral character. I found from a very early age that I could have anything I wanted if I shouted loud enough and frequently I did. My father died when I was five, and I became the Duke. Of course I had staff who oversaw the running of my estates for me, but as I entered my teens I wanted more control of what was mine. I wanted more responsibility in running my estates. However, my mother had married again. The Marquis de Marseilles, my step father was not an easy man to get on with and he believed that before I should be given responsibility I should be taught some discipline. This had little to do with my behaviour however and more to do with his son. Claude was a year older than I and we did not
get on well at all. I overshadowed him in everything. I had a higher status than he, better income, I was a far superior swordsman and he resented that. I tried to be what my step father wanted me to be, but that was never enough. When I was sixteen he was still controlling my life. He sent me away to join the Royal military academy and eventually become a guard. I had no liking for war or military duty at all and so at this point I stopped being the son he wanted me to be."
"And what sort of son was that?"
"Obedient, pious, moral. These were qualities he had advocated for many years. He felt for me to be any less would be to disgrace him. I felt I had to break his control over me and so I rebelled. I know that this does not excuse my actions, but it is the only explanation that I can offer. As soon as I joined the guard I threw myself fully into the lifestyle that is enjoyed by many of the men. I joined many of the captains in their drinking sessions, I allowed myself to get sucked into reckless fights with anybody who happened to cross my path. I began to chase women. I had little taste for the brothels which many of my companions frequented, so I turned to the ladies of the court for my pleasure. I had heard many stories about how a guards uniform was very seductive to high born ladies. My friends had never had any luck, but this did not stop me. For years it was my favourite past time to choose a lady and then set about seducing her. I rarely failed in my task. I found Marguerite a very beautiful woman and I could not resist. She was seventeen by this time and I had it on good authority that she had entertained many lovers from the court, but none from the guard. I felt that she would be a worthy conquest. It took little to seduce her. My form of flattery appealed to her vanity. I do believe that she fancied that I would propose marriage to her, she would have delighted in turning me down, only the Prince was good enough for her. I enjoyed my folly with her for a week or so and then I moved onto the next vapid courtier."
"And this was the life you led? All those women, never regretting how you treated them."
"I never had time to regret. I usually found that they had moved on to somebody else very quickly. I had my mission and that was to irritate my step-father. When he died two years ago, I found I could not stop living the lifestyle I had begun without losing some respect from the guards who I believed were my friends. I had an awesome reputation to uphold and I did it in a way that would have made any immoral man proud. Of course I feel guilt now, what sort of a man would I be if I did not?"
"I take it Sabine de Bruges was one of your lovers," Danielle said standing up. "I know that she can be a very spiteful woman, but I think there was more to her outburst than simple spite."
"And you would be right Your Highness. I engaged in a somewhat odd relationship with Sabine. I suppose now, looking back, she was my mistress. I used her between lovers, of course she did the same to me. We used each other in the way we deserved."
"Did you ever feel any affection for her?"
"No, never. I despised her as a woman, but she was a great beauty and somebody who I could keep in the background when other plans went wrong. I think she is a little angry with me still about finishing our relationship."
"Why did you?"
"I had been given my first real post as a guard, at the manor. When I first wrote the letter breaking it off, I told her that it was because my work was keeping me away from the court, but that was a lie. The moment I first saw your sister Jacqueline, I felt something that I'd never felt
before. I was just helping her out of a carriage when she had come to visit the Queen, but something about her touched me even then. As I spent more time with her my regard for her grew very quickly. I didn't even realise that what I felt was love until a few days ago. The sensation was so alien to me, it took another person pointing it out to make me realise. But now I know that it is love, and being here without her, knowing what she thinks of me, I just want to die for what I have done to her." Tears were forming in his eyes.
As he said this last part, Danielle had watched him closely. The sincere looks of tenderness and pain on his face were more than enough to convince her that his feelings for Jacqueline were genuine. She could no longer doubt that this was a man who loved her as much as it was possible to love another. This was her soul mate and Danielle knew that they should be together.
There was a knock at the door. Antoine stood and walked over to the window, so as not to let this intruder know that he was crying. Danielle called the person in. It was a servant with the drinks she had sent Hélène for.
"Thank you Celeste," she said as the tray was placed on the table. "Could you please go and ask for Captain Polignac's horse to be saddled immediately?" She looked over at Antoine, who was now looking at her. "I believe he has somebody that he must see."
"Yes Your Highness," the servant said as she curtseyed an left the room.
"I do believe you to be sincere in your love for Jacqueline Captain, and I think that she needs you as you need her. I think that it might be wise for you to go after her now, and for you to tell her what you just told me."
"Thank you Your Highness," he took her hand and kissed it.
"I think it the right thing to do, brother." He smiled as she said this and dashed from the room. Danielle only hoped that he could catch Jacqueline. But for now she had other business to attend to.
Members of the royal court were still gathered around the palace discussing the events of that afternoon. Danielle had only one person she wanted to speak to though. She had found Hélène and Steven in their drawing room and asked them to join her. She felt that to do this she had to look the part of a Princess and so her entourage would be necessary.
In the centre of a large group of women, stood the object of her excursion.
"Sabine," she said as she made her way towards her. "Might I have a word?"
"Certainly Your Highness," she said. It was obvious by the look on her face that she expected to be thanked for revealing Antoine's chequered past. She began to walk away from the group.
"There is no need for you to move anywhere, I can say what I need to say he0re. When you gave us the information about your friends in court those months ago, which led to our being able to punish the traitors, the King gave you the benefit of doubt that you had no involvement in the plot.
He was right to do so, after all you had helped us. However, I do not believe that what you did this afternoon was intended to do anything other than hurt those who your comments were directed at." The smile quickly faded from her face.
"Your Highness I..."
"Do not interrupt Your Princess. I am not finished. This sort of behaviour would usually be over looked, but not when it involves a much loved sister of mine. Your actions can not be ignored. I feel that what I am about to do is greatly deserved and it is my right to do it. I believe the King will agree with my telling you that you must never again return to this court. For as long as the Valois rule this country, you are to remain a stranger to us. Any attempt to gain admittance will result in your being forcibly removed by the guards and placed in the stocks. All members of the court will be informed that the Royal family will not accept invitations to any event where you are in attendance. From this moment on you cease to exist as a member of this court"
"Your Highness, I..."
"I said do not interrupt. This punishment I give, applies only to you. Any children you might have will be more than welcome to attend court, but you must not be with them. You must simply explain that you are not welcome." Sabine looked stunned. her plan had backfired badly. "Now I must ask you to leave. Captain Lacroix, will you please escort Mademoiselle de Bruge from the palace grounds?"
"Certainly Your Highness." With that Danielle turned and walked back to her chambers. She felt that she deserved a drink. It had been a difficult day, she just had to hope that it would all turn out fine in the end.
