Chapter 17: Lady Jacqueline, Matchmaker

"I must admit Jacqueline, that I have enjoyed having Henry here the last week." Jacqueline could see a smile tugging at Danielle's lips. The sight brought a smile to her face as well. The two women were in the kitchen working hard on yet another Sunday dinner. Though it was only their third together, it had easily become the most anticipated time of the week. Jacqueline, the family had discovered, was a natural at kneading and baking bread. Her loafs were a much-coveted treat, especially to the workingmen of the house. Jacqueline kneaded the bread dough fiercely, and Danielle stood not far from her. She was preparing apples to be baked in a pie.

"I believe that he has enjoyed being here as well." Jacqueline admitted.

"Yes, I've noticed that. Is it me or has he changed a bit?" Danielle asked her hard working sister

"Come on, Danielle. Love makes people do crazy things. Things they'd never dreamed of doing before."

"I suppose you're right." Danielle giggled.

"There's no supposing about it. He's hopeless in love, and that fact alone is molding him." Danielle thought hard for a moment. She bit her lower lip softly. There was a thought swirling around her head, an idea, in fact and she didn't quite know how to express it.

"I think there's more too it then that, Jacqueline. I've never seen Henry so passionate, so eager to live life. It's as if he's blossoming here."

"Is that a bad thing?" Jacqueline asked giving Danielle a sideways glance. There was a hint of confusion in her voice that directly matched Danielle's confused thoughts.

"No, I don't suppose it's bad. I just…. I just don't want Henry to think that this is a permanent arrangement when it may not be."

"I see. Well, no scratch that I don't see," Jacqueline felt a surge of power and determination run her veins. Maybe she couldn't convince Danielle to take Henry back but she decided she was going to give it a try. "Danielle, Henry loves it here, and why shouldn't he? He spends every day with the woman he loves. He works hard but in return he feels like he's part of something. He's proud to help us tend the grounds; in fact he and Maurice have bonded quite well. You told him you still love him, and he obviously loves you, so what's the harm?"

"How do you know all that?" Danielle asked, a bit of suspicion painfully evident in her voice. Jacqueline searched for an answer, but found only the cold truth.

"I've spoken with him on many occasions about the whole situation."

"You have?" Danielle asked, quite shocked.

"Yes I have. If this upsets you, then I am sorry, but I can't turn him away. Not after all the wonderful things he's done for us. And I admit that I enjoy listening to him speak of you. "

"He speaks to you about me. What does he say?" Jacqueline planned her words carefully. She wanted to make sure she got the desired results.

"He loves you so much Danielle, just hearing your name makes him giddy. Every time you look at him, laugh with him, it makes his heart skip a beet. It gives him new hope that things could work out in your relationship. I meant what I just said. He loves it here, in fact, if he had his way he'd spend the rest of his life here, with you." Jacqueline stopped. She wasn't sure how to maneuver around the delicate topic in front of her. "Listen Danielle, I know that there are things, circumstances, that I don't understand. I'm really glad your bruises have healed so well. And though I've desperately wanted to know how they got there, I didn't ask because I didn't think it was my place. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't owe me an explanation. Though you are my sister, and I do love you, I'm not in love with you, I'm not the one who's future is going to be decided based on your actions. Henry's the one who needs to know what happened. You need to tell him, and until you do you'll both spend every day wondering what the other is thinking, and it's going to drive you both, and me as well absolutely crazy."

Danielle noticed a few tears run down Jacqueline's cheek, but she could find the strength to say nothing. She watched Jacqueline wipe her eyes and when it became apparent that this wasn't helping Jacqueline left the kitchen. Danielle sighed heavily. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Jacqueline was right. It wasn't fair for her to expect the people she loved to live in the dark. Constantly wondering what had happened and why. She knew that they knew something had happened, but they had no idea what it was. That was wrong. It was wrong to think that they didn't deserve to know, especially now that they were trying to rebuild the farm and become a family.

Henry, or Jean, as he now referred to himself had been wonderful to her. Patient, devoted, soft and charming. She couldn't ask for a better friend and she didn't want a different husband. She wanted him, and obviously he wanted her. Somewhere in the back of Danielle's mind was that worry that he would find her unattractive. He would think of her as dirty and he'd reject her. But now she realized that that was his decision, that if she risked it, sure she could be rejected and it would hurt, but by not risking it, she was hurting him. And she never wanted to hurt him. She would talk to him tonight.

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Supper was quiet. Although Jacqueline still appeared to be upset she did her best to put her happiest face on. Henry was feeling a bit under the weather; he had a temperature and a slight headache. Danielle spent of the meal gazing at him. Since she had decided to talk to him about their relationship she'd been surprised to feel a weight lift off her chest. Although she was nervous she knew it was long overdue. As always the entire family helped to do the dishes and clean up after the big meal. Even during the clean up everyone was silent. The sun was going down, and Danielle decided that it was time to talk to Henry before she lost her nerve.

She found him in the hay field, laying in a huge pile and watching the sunset. As she made her approach the image made her smile. The man she loved in this beautiful place watching the sky change colors.

"Henry," she said when she was within earshot. He turned to her and smiled brightly. His eyes were dancing and brimming with what she was sure was love. "May I join you?" She asked.

"Of course!" Henry made no attempt to hide his excitement. Any moment with Danielle was a good moment, even if he wasn't feeling his best. He moved over so that she could lie next to him on the pile of hay. "I came out here to do some thinking. And I figured the fresh air would help snap me out of this cold."

"I meant to ask you how you were feeling at dinner, but I was a little distracted. So, how are you feeling?" Danielle giggled feeling a little nervous. She wasn't sure how to start the conversation she had planned in her head all through dinner.

"I'm feeling much better now that you're here. Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure."

"And you won't be upset?" He seemed a bit concerned.

"I shall try." Henry took a deep breath.

"You know that it's only a matter of time before I have to leave this place. I don't want to, but surly my father will demand my return to the palace. I came here Danielle, I came here as Jean Paul to show you that I care. You were angry because I was throwing my money around, and you told me that you were different, and that you'd never be the same. I invented Jean Paul to prove to you that I don't have to be a rich man to love you and it doesn't matter how much you've changed. I wanted to show you that I was willing to start over, and get to know and love you all over again. Perhaps it was a silly plan, but I did the best I could with what knowledge I had at the time. I love you Danielle, and I know that you love me too. I guess what I'm trying to say is that tomorrow I'm going to have to go to my father and give him an update on what I'm doing, and I don't know what to tell him. Should I beg him to give me more time here? Do you want me to stay?" Henry breathed deep and Danielle sat in stunned silence. Her well thought out speech forgotten, she scrambled for a response.

"I do love you Henry, and I want you to stay. Knowing you're here and you love me has given me more joy then you can imagine. We need to talk, about a lot of things. I know we do. I'm just so afraid that after we do I'll have to watch the love I have seen in the last two weeks disappear from your eyes. That would kill me." A few tears rolled down Danielle's face. Henry turned so that he was on his side and able to look at her. He wiped the tears away, and Danielle was shocked that the sensation didn't bother her. In fact, she felt sparks, and was delighted to feel herself relax.

"It would kill me too." Henry whispered, his voice horse with love. He leaned over, and Danielle knew instantly what was coming. But she didn't move, she didn't object, instead she looked forward to it. Their lips met in a soft kiss. A kiss that threatened to grow deep and hungry. After a moment she pulled away so she could stare in his eyes. What she saw felt like magic. She couldn't ever remember feeling so loved