Chapter 3
Rodmilla walked through the manor doors still gloating. She just couldn't believe her luck, Thérèse writing to her that way. Why, she hadn't heard from the woman in years. But, then again, Rodmilla hadn't exactly been the most popular person as of late.
First there was the treacherous act of treason committed by her husband, the Baron Jean de Ghent, which she had supported until the day he was beheaded. It was her affair with the Warden of the Bastille that saved her from the same fate. With his help, she fled Paris with her two young daughters, Marguerite and Jacqueline, and took refuge in an abandoned house on the outskirts of the province of Hautefort.
She had met her old friend and suitor, Auguste de Barbarac, when he knocked on her door, looking for shelter one night after his horse had thrown a shoe. Auguste had been smitten with the woman since they were sixteen, however, Rodmilla had been engaged to marry the Baron when she turned eighteen and he to her friend, Nicole de Lancret.
She never loved Jean and tried to see Auguste, but he would not have her as he had become more and more interested in Nicole. By the time they married, they were completely and totally in love with each other, leaving Rodmilla a bitter and jealous woman.
But time heals all wounds and the day Auguste found her again, she considered it a miracle. She listened to his stories and he to hers. He made her feel comfortable. She needed someone to marry to clear her name and he was willing to do so for his own reasons.
There was one thing she couldn't stand however and that was the name Danielle. It was Danielle this and Danielle that, in fact, that's all Auguste ever spoke about. It was enough to drive a woman mad.
She knew she had promised to care for Danielle as she had for her own daughters, but upon her arrival at the manor, it was obvious to her just where Auguste's love really did lie with and it wasn't with Rodmilla, of this she was sure.
Upon Auguste's death, Rodmilla had taken out all of her frustrations on Danielle, even though the child did not deserve it. She schemed to get Danielle out of the house and now it had been done once and for all. So far life had been good and now, with Danielle out of the way, things would change for the better.
Or so she had hoped.
Rodmilla walked through the manor doors still gloating. She just couldn't believe her luck, Thérèse writing to her that way. Why, she hadn't heard from the woman in years. But, then again, Rodmilla hadn't exactly been the most popular person as of late.
First there was the treacherous act of treason committed by her husband, the Baron Jean de Ghent, which she had supported until the day he was beheaded. It was her affair with the Warden of the Bastille that saved her from the same fate. With his help, she fled Paris with her two young daughters, Marguerite and Jacqueline, and took refuge in an abandoned house on the outskirts of the province of Hautefort.
She had met her old friend and suitor, Auguste de Barbarac, when he knocked on her door, looking for shelter one night after his horse had thrown a shoe. Auguste had been smitten with the woman since they were sixteen, however, Rodmilla had been engaged to marry the Baron when she turned eighteen and he to her friend, Nicole de Lancret.
She never loved Jean and tried to see Auguste, but he would not have her as he had become more and more interested in Nicole. By the time they married, they were completely and totally in love with each other, leaving Rodmilla a bitter and jealous woman.
But time heals all wounds and the day Auguste found her again, she considered it a miracle. She listened to his stories and he to hers. He made her feel comfortable. She needed someone to marry to clear her name and he was willing to do so for his own reasons.
There was one thing she couldn't stand however and that was the name Danielle. It was Danielle this and Danielle that, in fact, that's all Auguste ever spoke about. It was enough to drive a woman mad.
She knew she had promised to care for Danielle as she had for her own daughters, but upon her arrival at the manor, it was obvious to her just where Auguste's love really did lie with and it wasn't with Rodmilla, of this she was sure.
Upon Auguste's death, Rodmilla had taken out all of her frustrations on Danielle, even though the child did not deserve it. She schemed to get Danielle out of the house and now it had been done once and for all. So far life had been good and now, with Danielle out of the way, things would change for the better.
Or so she had hoped.