Jacqueline's Dilemma - Part Twenty Five B - The Wedding?

Henry looked on the scene with horror. After all of Antoine's proclamations of his great love for Jacqueline, how could he do this? It was clear that he had not changed and would likely never change. This really was a man without morals. He turned to look at Antoine. His eyes were wide with horror and his face was ashen. He was probably dumb founded that he had been found out so quickly.

"How could you do that. After all you've said. Is this all she means to you."

"Your Highness, she is lying, I never..." but he did not get to finish his sentence. Henry had unleashed a punch which hit him square on the jaw. He fell backwards to the floor.

"After all Danielle and I have done for you. We believed that you had changed. You are obviously a more accomplished liar than I had thought. Renault take him to the dungeons and chain him up. Laurent, come with me, we have to decide what we are going to do." Everybody left that spot, nobody noticed that the woman at the centre of all of this had disappeared without a trace.

Down in the dungeons, it was cold and inhospitable. Antoine was led past the cells filled with thieves and murderers. They shouted and crowed when they saw that the prisoner being brought in was not a peasant or a gypsy like them, but a well groomed captain of the guard. He was taken to the last cell. As per Prince Henry's instructions Captain Renault chained his fellow guard and friend to the wall.

"I'm sorry for this, but it's the Prince's orders." He said as he locked the cuffs to the long chains.

"That's all right," Antoine said. It's your job, I'd do exactly the same thing." Renault then left, locking the door behind him. Antoine sat down and put his head in his hands. How could this be happening to him?

"What you in 'ere for?" a voice said from the other side of the cell.

"I don't know yet," Antoine said wiping his hand over his face. He winced as it passed over his jaw. The prince really had hurt him. It was less than he deserved though.

"We don't often get your type down 'ere," the man said. "Usually your the ones doing the locking up."

Antoine didn't reply. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts. There was no chance of walking away from him so he just ignored him, hoping he would go away. Sensing this, the prisoner sat back down and began to attack the mouldy bread he had been brought that morning.

An image of Jacqueline kept flashing in his head. That picture of her running from him on that fateful day in court. The hurt and shock on her face so apparent. If that had hurt her so badly, this would surely send her over the edge. That image was then replaced be a picture of the woman from the corridor this morning. Who on Earth was she? He knew he recognised her, but he knew not where from. He was hoping and praying that it had not been from the night before. The truth was he had been so drunk he did not know what he had been doing. Surely even in a drunken state though he would never do such a thing, not to Jacqueline. If he had done it he deserved to die.

He cradled a hand on his head, frantically thinking what he could do. The truth was though that he was not in a position to do anything. This was in the hands of Prince Henry. Undoubtedly Captain Laurent was not helping him think about this with a level head. He was probably insisting that they send for the chief executioner right now. But why not? If he had truly done this he deserved it and why would she make it up. She did not know him and had no reason to want to ruin his life. He could only conclude that it must be true.

The cell door opened and Prince Henry walked in with Laurent by his side. Antoine looked up at him with a completely defeated look on his face. He had nothing to say. He would just have to accept his punishment.

"Your Highness," he eventually said, breaking the tense atmosphere.

"Captain Polignac. I have something I need to ask you."

"I don't know if I can answer."

"Try. Did you spend the night with that woman?"

"I honestly don't know. I was so drunk last night I could have done anything and wouldn't have remembered."

"And we all know that you've done that plenty of times," Laurent added.

"Marc please," Henry said. This was difficult enough without his obvious jealousy getting in the way.

"I do know, that I would never consciously do anything to hurt her," Antoine said. "Even under the heaviest intoxication I could not imagine being in a state where she does not consume my every thought. This woman, whoever she is, must have been very clever if she in fact did make me forget Jacqueline even for a second."

"You genuinely do not know who she is?"

"No. I believe I may have seen her at court, but other than that I have no idea who she is."

"I believe I know who she is. I don't know what happened last night, but I can think of a reason why she would come up with such a falsehood. I also believe that you wouldn't do anything to hurt Jacqueline."

"Sire, you can't be serious. You know of his past."

"Yes, and I also know of his future. I am willing to believe his story. Captain Renault," he called. "Release him" Laurent thought it best not to argue this.

Antoine's cuffs were removed and he began to walk out of the dungeons with the Prince.

"You said you had a reason to believe that she was lying. Why would she want to hurt me?" Antoine asked. The Prince's reply chilled him.

"What makes you think that she wanted to hurt you?"

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"Henry, I'm not sure if I can do this," Jacqueline said, staring out of the carriage window. "What if we get married and he realises he doesn't love me? It wouldn't exactly be a preposterous thought would it. Then where would we be? He would be trapped with a wife he didn't love and I would just be trapped."

Henry smiled at his sister and took her hand.

"Jacqueline, he loves you as much as you love him. Just trust me on that one."

"Well if you say so," she replied, smiling broadly. She sat back in her seat fiddling with her new necklace. Henry had brought it for her that morning. It was a gold horseshoe on a chain. He had said it was for luck.

Eventually they made it to the cathedral. All was quiet outside except for her attendants, who were milling about waiting for her. The younger girls were Antoine's nieces, the others were Lionel's daughters. She barely knew any of them. The only person she felt comfortable with was Henry.

He got out of the carriage and straightened out his cloak before offering his hand to help her out. It was a breathtaking sight. She was so beautiful. The early winter sun shone on the gold silk of her dress and made her jewels sparkle. Her attendants almost skipped over to her and began arranging her dress so that they could carry the train.

Now she was giddy and nervous and scared and she just wanted it to be over. Henry took her arm and led her into the vast church. The choir was singing a haunting piece and the smell of incense was intoxicating. As the music began everybody turned to look at the bride. There was an audible gasp echoing around the vast chamber. Everybody concurred with Henry's thought that she looked beautiful.

Antoine breathed deeply as he sensed his Jacqueline nearing him. He was waging a desperate battle with his own will power not to turn and look at her. They had endured enough bad luck during their courtship, he was determined that it would not follow on into their marriage.

Eventually, after what seemed like an age, Jacqueline arrived by Antoine's side and he dared to look at his bride. It was all he could do just to stop himself from gasping openly. She was a vision so lovely she must have been crafted by God as the model of human perfection. Her dress shone making her skin glow, and the diamonds and pearls that were worked into her raven hair sparkled in the subdued light of the candles.

Henry offered Antoine Jacqueline's hand and stepped back to be with his wife and to watch this momentous occasion. As Jacqueline and Antoine knelt at the alter and listened to the cardinal as he went through the holy rite of marriage a wave of euphoria swept over them. It would not be long before they were joined as one.

When the cardinal asked the congregation if they knew of any reasons why the marriage could not happen the room stood absolutely still and everyone held their breath. There were many people that hoped this moment would provide them with gossip material for the next few years. Henry shot a warning glance over in Marc Laurent's direction. He had known for Marc for many years and knew that he was not of a vicious disposition, but jealousy could drive a man to do things out of character.

Fortunately the vast echoing chamber remained silent and the ceremony was allowed to continue although Jacqueline barely allowed herself to breathe until she had said her vows and the Cardinal declared that they were man and wife. Antoine helped her up from her knees and lifted the veil from her face. He looked straight into her eyes, at her face, his wife's face. He leaned in to take the kiss that would seal their marriage. For those few seconds the world stopped. She was finally his.

The cathedral was suddenly filled with applause. They newly wed couple turned to face the crowds with broad grins across their faces. Their families rushed up to be the first to wish them well. Danielle hugged her sister tightly and Henry kissed her on the cheek, whispering a private word of congratulations. The Marquis de Limoges, who had stood as groomsman for his cousin, kissed the bride and chastised his cousin for removing such a beauty as this from pubic admiration.

Suddenly, Jacqueline realised that there was somebody right in front of her, staring at her. She looked up at her cousin, Comtesse Celestine la Martine. As she approached the scene Henry held his breath. He could guess what was coming and as much as he knew he should, he could not think of a way of stopping her. As soon as Antoine saw her he went white. He knew that this had gone too well for him. He was finally going to get what he deserved, whether what she claimed it was true or not, he did not deserve this happiness and God was sending this woman to prove it.