Chapter Nine: Off to a Rocky Start
Danielle stepped out of the tent timidly. She noticed the kindly woman standing not far from her, and when the woman noticed her, she offered a warm smile. A million and a half thoughts flew through Danielle's head, and yet she couldn't seem to put her finger on any of them in particular. So many questions to ask, but she bit her tongue. Somehow, somewhere deep down inside her guts Danielle felt like she already had all the answers. Strange
"There you see? This is much better!" The woman's smile was bright and cheery, but Danielle couldn't be drawn from her eyes. They were beautiful. Grey and sparkling. But beyond that beauty Danielle could see a storm brewing, she could practically see the woman's mind race.
"Yes, I must agree." Danielle finally managed. She attempted to smile brightly but failed.
"Good." Danielle caught the woman giving her wounds a look over and cleared her throat abruptly. The woman's cheeks in turn grew rosy with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry my dear. I did not mean to pry. I was just thinking that perhaps your bruises could use some tending to?"
"That's not necessary –"Danielle paused realizing she did not know the woman's name.
"OHH!! Forgive me, here I am going on and on, without proper introduction. I am Mary Grace." Her embarrassment shined even brighter, and Danielle felt her mood lighten.
"Mary Grace, I can assure you that I am fine." Danielle informed her.
"Yes," Mary Grace replied, a little undecided, "yes, I'm sure you are." She tried to reassure Danielle with a bright smile, but it only made her worry more. The two women made there way slowly back to the fire. Neither was in a hurry. Each for their own reasons. Danielle was simply too tired to rush, and Mary Grace, well that was another story.
She had not asked but Danielle could feel the question hanging in the air. Thick like fog. And as the distance between them and the rest of the camp grew smaller and smaller, Danielle found herself searching frantically for a cover story to explain what she feared was her dreadful appearance.
"I fell off of my horse," Danielle said breaking the silence. "Oh?" Mary Grace inquired. "You see, I was alone at home.... Bored...." Danielle could feel her voice shaking, "and I decided to take Whisper.... That's my horse, you see, out for a nice long ride in the country."
"Did you enjoy it?" Mary Grace asked. Something about the question bothered Danielle but she let it slide.
"Oh yes!! That is until Whisper was startled...." 'By? By what Danielle? THINK, THINK!' she screamed at herself mentally.
"Did he see a snake?" Danielle gave Mary Grace a sideward glance but continued talking.
"No, a mouse actually." The words were spoken before Danielle realized that a snake was probably a much better choice.
"Oh, I would be frightened too! I can't stand rodents!" Mary Grace tried to sound interested, and take the pressure off of Danielle. But the nagging feeling in her stomach intensified.
"Yes, apparently neither can Whisper"
"Did Whisper run off?" There it was again. Danielle grew more restless
"What?"
"You came alone, no Whisper, so did he run off?"
"OHH!! Oh yes, he's a testy old thing, I must say."
"Interesting. Well, I'm sure then you will heal in no time. I have seen many ladies fall off of horses."
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"You have a lovely home, Baroness." Henry let his eyes wonder as he, Marguerite, Rodmilla and his parents made their ways through the many rooms of the manor.
"Your compliments are most flattering, your highness." The Baroness cued.
"I mean every word, I assure you," He flashed a warm smile towards the Baroness who returned the favor three fold, "no doubt you have some gifted servants, Madam, I should love to learn their secrets."
"It's quite simple really, sire. The secret to a spotless house is frightened servants." She left the words drip from her tongue and linger in the air. Henry could have sworn he heard Marguerite, whom he had linked arms with, laugh menacingly. He turned around so he was walking backwards and locked eyes with his father.
"I told you father, we spoil the slaves. Perhaps the Baroness could give you some lessons in discipline." Henry winked at his father. The king merely nodded his head, but his insides were twisting and turning mercilessly. Try as he might, during the entire tour of the house Henry had been unsuccessful at turning the conversation towards Danielle, and without any evidence the next three phases of the plan would fall apart. Surly he was the King and could do whatever the hell he damn well pleased, but he'd much prefer to have the court on his side. And with no evidence, the after effects of the evening would seem like a senseless attack. No doubt the Baroness was smart, and by the look in Henry's eyes, Francis could tell that his son was wondering if she was too smart.
Henry had turned back around as the party came to the final staircase and began to decend. It emptied out into the back of the parlor where the tour had begun in the first place.
"And that, your Highness' is our home" The Baroness humbly ended the tour a made a quick curtsy The King and Queen thanked her kindly and Henry did the same. His mind was racing, heart pounding. He had not planned on the Baroness being quite as sly, although he wondered now why. Surly anyone who could out maneuver Danielle was quite the character. Henry again let his eyes wonder, looking for momentum in the far corners of the room. There must be some way to turn this thing around. He noticed his mother standing still admiring a painting to one end of the room. She must have felt his stare because she turned to him, and Henry flashed her a "Mayday!!" look of alarm. She shook her head sadly. Apparently he was in this alone.
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"It's not looking so good." Jacqueline mumbled as she scurried into the kitchen. Paulette looked up from mashing the potatoes and saw the look of concern that had scrunched up the younger woman's face.
"Oh dear, what's gone wrong now?" She asked, although she wasn't sure that she actually wanted to know.
"Henry's doing his best, but he can't seem to get the Baroness to discuss Danielle. She just won't budge." The sweeter De Ghent sister sighed in frustration as she began arranging food on plates, and making little last minute preparations for dinner.
"He's just going to have to come right out and say it. There's no other way. The Baroness is just too smart for games. Hell!! Half the games he's trying to play, that WITCH invented!!" Paulette instantly wished she hadn't said that. After all, it was Jacqueline's mother she was talking about. No mater what the feelings were, they were still blood. "I'm sorry miss, I don't know what gets into me. I just say what I feel, I guess I'm too old to...." She stopped short when she realized Jacqueline was laughing. And soon both the women were roaring in laughter.
"What's so funny?" Louise asked. She wore a huge smile on her face. It was nice to see the mood was so light around the house for once.
"Oh nothing." Jacqueline replied. She noticed Louise's disappointment and quickly added, "We were just being silly."
Louise brightened momentarily, but then her mood grew serious. "What in heavens name are we going to do about that mess out there," she pointed out the kitchen door, "That poor Prince looks like a trapped animal."
"Jacqueline was just telling me that things aren't looking so well. We have to intervene."
"I agree completely!" Louise consented.
"Well me too," Jacqueline chimed in, "but how? The Prince has tried everything!"
"Not everything." A sly grin crept over Louise's face, and the two younger women huddled closer so them could plot in secret. "I figure." She continued, "That we have the home court advantage. You see, the Prince, try as he might, can't make her talk because he doesn't know what angle to attack her from. We, we all know what makes that woman tick, so I figure we know how to break that sweet, concerned façade she's wearing."
"I'm listening." Paulette urged.
"So if we take the one thing that we know irritates her beyond any means, we can hit her with it, and she'll crack! May take a couple tries, but it'll be worth it. I mean, it has to be better then listening to the Baroness and Marguerite complain all night."
"I like where this is going." Jacqueline smiled in an almost giddy manner. The three women whispered softly to each other for the next few minutes. By the time they were done, each of them wore a satisfied grin.