Chapter 40
"Yes Phillippe, at the request of Auguste de Barbarac the will and the deed to the property have since changed. The papers that you hold in your hand are no longer valid. Both the chateau and the manor are now in the hands of the Royal Family and to do with as Marie and I see fit. In light of Thérèse's death, both houses will go to Danielle de Barbarac in accordance with Auguste and Thérèse's wishes. And I do intend to honor those wishes.
"As for your claims that Danielle is a servant working at Thérèse's chateau, these rumors will be squashed by an edict that I intend to make public right after this meeting."
He looked at the three of them sitting silently across from him. Even Vivienne's foot had been eerily quiet for a change. "I have never seen the three of you this quiet. Are we all in agreement then?"
"Not so fast, Francis," Phillippe said, getting to his feet. "There is still the question of what Thérèse has been hiding from us all these years? What of that slip of paper she was clutching in her hand when you brought her in here?"
"PHILLIPPE!" Marie's voice rose to its loudest pitch. She stood up. "How dare you speak ill of the dead."
"Calm down, Marie," Francis said. He looked back at Phillippe. "You are out of order, monsieur."
"Are you refusing to answer my question?" Phillippe asked.
The King shook his head. "No, Phillippe. I cannot evade your question as much as I'd like to. What you saw clutched tightly in sister in law's hand were instructions on how to find a certain jewelry box. Thérèse already had the key to get into it. That's all that's left of your precious money, Phillippe. I hate to tell you, but there is none left. Whatever is left belongs only to Danielle."
Stunned silence filled the room. Not one word was spoken. Francis smiled. "Well, as long as we are all in agreement, I declare this meeting to be at end."
He turned to the Queen. "Come, milady, we have important things to do."
He looked over at Henry and Danielle. "Are you coming, children?"
"Yes Phillippe, at the request of Auguste de Barbarac the will and the deed to the property have since changed. The papers that you hold in your hand are no longer valid. Both the chateau and the manor are now in the hands of the Royal Family and to do with as Marie and I see fit. In light of Thérèse's death, both houses will go to Danielle de Barbarac in accordance with Auguste and Thérèse's wishes. And I do intend to honor those wishes.
"As for your claims that Danielle is a servant working at Thérèse's chateau, these rumors will be squashed by an edict that I intend to make public right after this meeting."
He looked at the three of them sitting silently across from him. Even Vivienne's foot had been eerily quiet for a change. "I have never seen the three of you this quiet. Are we all in agreement then?"
"Not so fast, Francis," Phillippe said, getting to his feet. "There is still the question of what Thérèse has been hiding from us all these years? What of that slip of paper she was clutching in her hand when you brought her in here?"
"PHILLIPPE!" Marie's voice rose to its loudest pitch. She stood up. "How dare you speak ill of the dead."
"Calm down, Marie," Francis said. He looked back at Phillippe. "You are out of order, monsieur."
"Are you refusing to answer my question?" Phillippe asked.
The King shook his head. "No, Phillippe. I cannot evade your question as much as I'd like to. What you saw clutched tightly in sister in law's hand were instructions on how to find a certain jewelry box. Thérèse already had the key to get into it. That's all that's left of your precious money, Phillippe. I hate to tell you, but there is none left. Whatever is left belongs only to Danielle."
Stunned silence filled the room. Not one word was spoken. Francis smiled. "Well, as long as we are all in agreement, I declare this meeting to be at end."
He turned to the Queen. "Come, milady, we have important things to do."
He looked over at Henry and Danielle. "Are you coming, children?"