Chapter Three: Reunion
The hot water felt good against Danielle's skin but it offered little comfort. No matter how hot the water was, or how much soap she used Danielle still felt dirty. Disgustingly dirty. Like a whore. She was unconscious during most of the attack, but her body now recounted in vivid detail what had been done. Everything hurt. Her arms, her legs, her face, even her hair. Everything.
Le Pieu had been redressing when he happened to glance over and see Danielle blinking back into reality. She looked over at him, horrified to see that he was pulling his pants back on. She knew she'd never forget that look on his face. An evilly satisfied grin, eyes burning with lust and a twisted sense of triumph.
So now as she breathed deeply in the large marble tub, she closed her eyes. There he was grinning back at her. Forever burned into her memory.
He had allowed her to bathe after he was finished dressing. He watched hungrily as she redressed as well, and was sure to fallow her to the bathroom. Certain, no doubt, that she would try to escape again. She had dismissed the servants sent to assist to her needs. She undressed slowly. She was terribly sore. That was the first time she saw them. Those nasty awful bruises that seemed to be everywhere. Some were a deep purple, others were a sickly yellowish gray. That was when she started crying. She was in too much shock to cry when she first woke up. But when she looked down and saw the five long bruises that encased her wrists, there was no stopping the tears.
She could hardly get into the tub. Her vision was all but non-existent. Clouded permanently by tears. Her breath, coming in loud spurts between sobs. It had taken her a long while before she gained the coordination to sink into the water, and an even longer time to begin washing.
She did the best she could, but after scrubbing down her whole body three times with the rough cloth her skin began to turn an unhealthy color red. And still she felt dirty. As if she'd rolled around in human feces. She felt greasy, and just the thought of that man's skin brushing against hers was enough to roll her stomach. A few times she'd thought sure she'd be sick right there in her own bath water.
Then an even more sickening thought crossed her mind. Suppose it was time in her cycle when conception was possible? Suppose she bore Le Pieu's baby? She could think of no worse possible fate. A baby would be innocent, and more importantly it would be a part of her. Her baby. But Danielle could hardly imagine loving a little person so dearly, and looking into his sweet face and seeing a man she hated with all her heart.
The tears came again and she closed her eyes tightly, desperately trying to keep the room from spinning. And again Le Pieu's face was staring back at her. Mocking her merrily. She supposed she'd have to get used to this picture. She was sure she'd be seeing more of that wicked grin later.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The ride to the estate of Pierre Le Pieu moved at a much quicker pace then the one to recover Danielle at the manor. It seemed like the party moving west down the highway was riding a lightning bolt. Now matter how fast his mare moved it felt painfully slow to Henry. The ride to the manor had been filled with thoughts of love and laughter. This ride was quite different.
"FASTER!! FASTER!!" He continually shouted much to the dismay of his comrades. But he couldn't help himself. It was the only thing he could do to keep his mind from those vicious thoughts. Thoughts of what Le Pieu was capable of. The horror Danielle must be feeling.
He couldn't believe what Paulette had told him. A servant in her own home? After the vicious things he said to her at the masque, he finds out that she is nobility. Her father was in fact a Baron, her mother a Countess. Her mother had died in childbirth, and after many years the Boron had married Marguerite's mother. Only tragically, days after the wedding the Boron had died of a sudden heart attack.
The Baroness was terribly jealous of all the attention Danielle received from her father, and the staff of the manor. So, little by little the Baroness had converted Danielle from well-kept little girl, to a common house servant. The Baroness had kept her daughters from conversing with her by telling them stories about Danielle having diseases and fleas. The girls, of course, believed their mother. Why would she have reason to lie? The Baroness, in turn convinced Danielle that she was ugly, and deserved to be treated in such a manner. But even that didn't seem to break her spirit.
"What an amazing woman she is" Henry murmured out loud. He was blinking back tears as he pictured poor little Danielle screaming her father's name, as he lay motionless on in the driveway.
"What was that Milord?" Laurent asked. His voice was nearly drowned out by the frantic pounding of hoofs.
"We have to go faster." Henry replied, his tears flowing freely now, his voice croaking. "We have to find some way to go faster."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"You look haggard, child, what's wrong?"
'As if you don't know' Danielle thought bitterly. Le Pieu rose from behind his desk. He looked her up and down critically. Her skin, he noticed, was pink in color and appeared to be enflamed. Her eyes, bloodshot and puffy. A bruise had appeared across her face from when he had struck her. Though her hair was neatly brushed and done in a French braid and she was dressed in an elegant grown she looked like hell.
"I do hope you enjoyed your bath."
"Rot in hell." Before Danielle could stop herself the words flew out of her mouth. She brought her hands up to her mouth as if searching for some sort of confirmation that she had spoken. The look on Le Pieu's face was all that she needed.
"Pardon me?" He spouted.
"You heard me." Danielle was shocked by her own boldness. What was she doing? And then she realized she had nothing to lose. If she died, it wouldn't matter. She had nothing left to live for anyway. The farm would no doubt be sold when Henry married Marguerite. 'Henry' she thought. Her eyes stung as unshed tears clouded them. Henry was gone. He hated her for lying to him. And even if by some miracle he forgave her, they could never be together now. Not after what had happened. She was damaged goods. Perhaps stepmother was right, maybe she was diseased all along. Even if she wasn't then, she was now. She didn't deserve to be a Princess. She didn't deserve Henry. She had destroyed their chances of being together, and by doing so she had cursed him to a life of misery and pain with Marguerite. Surely, the Baroness and her eldest daughter were beating down the castle doors by now. Throwing themselves in the faces of the King and Queen. Dropping little hints, and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Even after everything they'd been through, Danielle still wanted Henry to end up happy. She still wished him the best. Even after the venom he'd spewed at the masque he still deserved better then that spoiled, selfish, cow.
"I'm afraid it's too late for tears." Snapping out of her sadness, she noticed that Le Pieu was heading towards her. His footsteps deliberate and angry. He grabbed her chin hard and stared deep into her eyes. "I told you, you belong to me now. I suggest you adjust your attitude accordingly."
"My apologies milord." Danielle said. She wasn't sorry. She was merely attempting to avoid another attack.
"That's more like it," he chuckled softly, "I take it we won't have a repeat of this morning."
"No. I believe not." With that, Le Pieu pulled Danielle close to him. He forced his tongue deep into her mouth and when Danielle was out of breath she pulled away. "I do fear however, Milord, that I am quite sore, I'm unsure if I'm able to… perform." Danielle blushed slightly much to Le Pieu's delight. A sly grin creeping across his face.
"Well then, my dear, I suggest that we practice a bit more. Practice makes perfection." He pulled Danielle in for another kiss and soon his kisses moved down to her neck. Danielle's breath caught in her throat, her chest getting tight. She froze, unable to move or even protest.
"Not again." She moaned sadly. She was thankful that he didn't notice.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Henry, Laurent and the Royal Guardsmen came blazing into the courtyard of the Le Pieu estate. The servants, dozens of them, some pushing wheel barrows, some weeding, some burning dead brush all stopped what they were doing to look in wonder at their company. Henry glared at them, spinning his head wildly. He was searching for some evidence of Danielle's presence. The male servants bowed, and the female servants curtsied as if they had just recognized their visitor. Henry would have thought it funny, had he stopped and thought about it.
The Royal Guardsmen and the Prince dismounted their horses and raced to the front entrance of the manor, and lead by Laurent forced open the door. They stormed into the entrance, in the process nearly giving a much-confused maid a heart attack. She was a small old woman. Fragile looking and pale. The kindly grandmother type. When the room was clear, Henry entered. The maid relaxed slightly when she realized that the people invading the house were the good guys.
Henry approached the woman. His strides were regal and serious. His voice though, reflected his tense nerves and uneasy stomach. "Madam, my guards and I are here to seize a woman. She was sold to the master of this house three days ago. Her name is Danielle." The maid thought for a moment.
"Is she a younger girl, with long hair?"
"YES!! That's her! Where is she?" Henry said a bit more forceful then he intended.
The maid obviously missed his excitement. She turned slightly and resumed dusting a rather expensive looking end table by the stairs. "Oh I'd do anything to have hair like her. You know I was the prettiest girl in my village. My late husband Michael used to tell me; you know what he used to say? He used to say Mildred, if I could I would pickle you in a jar and…."
"MADAM PLEASE!! I DON"T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR LATE HUSBAND!! I'M HERE FOR DANIELLE!" Henry lost all cool and all the anxiety that had been building spilled out into his words. The maid taken totally by surprise clutched her chest, her eyes wide and her face white. Henry looked over at Laurent and the Guardsmen. Even they had taken a few steps back. Henry took a few deep breaths. When he had regained control he spoke again. This time much calmer. "Forgive me Madam, I've had quite an odd morning. Danielle, she means everything to me and …"
"Say no more," Mildred interrupted, "Danielle's room is at the top floor, last room to the left. But I'm afraid she's in with Monsieur Le Pieu at the moment, and he has asked that they not be disturbed."
"Le Pieu, where is he now?" Henry's asked, his pulse racing.
"In his office. Top floor, first room on the right."
"Thank you. I assure you that your cooperation will be greatly rewarded." Having said that, Henry led the Guardsmen up the stairs.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Le Pieu's kisses were growing my desperate, more passionate. Danielle could feel her stomach roll. The room seemed to spin as panic took over her senses. She couldn't believe this was happening again. Hadn't once been enough?
Just as he had turned his attention away from her neck to undoing the back of her dress, Danielle heard footsteps. She expected it to be a servant, but as she listened she realized it wasn't just one set off footsteps she heard. Instead it was a chorus of marching feet heading up the stairs. Le Pieu perked his ears up. Panic flashing in his eyes. The footsteps stopped just outside the door. Somebody knocked once.
"I told Mildred that I …" The door flew open and six Royal Guardsmen flew into the room and grabbed Le Pieu, leaving him unable to move or even protest.
"I don't give a damn what you said." Danielle heard his voice before she saw him. Henry walked into the room slowly, unsure of what he would find. His eyes searched for Danielle and when he saw her the air caught in his throat. The first thing he noticed was the prominent bruise that graced her face. Her lips were swollen, and it looked as if someone had bitten the bottom one. The dark bands of bruises on both of her wrist looked horribly painful. And yet, she was beautiful. Even in her obviously beaten condition she looked like the most heavenly angel. "Danielle." He said, his voice practically a whisper.
"Hen…" She couldn't even fully pronounce his name before the tears began to fall again. As the room spun wildly and her ears rang Danielle lost her balance and collapsed.