Out of habit, Danielle woke up before dawn. She was still extremely exhausted, but one day couldn't erase what she had forced herself to do for the last 12 years. Confusion overwhelmed her the second she opened her eyes; the room was not her usual post by the fireplace. Automatically, she reached for her favorite book, Utopia. "No!" She cried, tears stinging her eyes. She remembered that it wasn't there and why. Marguerite had burned it. Suddenly, all the events of the whole entire week washed over her. Sleeping for the first time in a real bed in days, it had made the whole traveling experience seem like one horrible nightmare.
Danielle stretched out in bed, raised her arm high over her head and took in her surroundings. The inn was small and cozy. She liked it better that way. It would have been odd and very uncomfortable if the room had been large and expensive. A warm fire blazed a few yards from the foot of the bed, and Danielle smiled to herself. This was the first time anyone had lit a fire for her. It added to her feel of liberation. She closed her eyes again and thought about going back to sleep, but then suddenly they shot open with the realization that she needed work. Groaning, she jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. A small wash basin had been placed on a stand in the corner, and she thankfully scrubbed the week's dirt and grime from her face. She felt better than she had in days.
Albert's offer somehow made its way into her thoughts and she found herself considering it. A housekeeper probably wouldn't be so bad. It wasn't the same as being an unpaid slave. Yet, housekeepers had to know how to cook, and she didn't have much experience in the kitchen. Paulette and Louise had always taken care of gardening and fixing the meals. Maybe she should at least try for it... But she shook the thought out of her head. It wasn't so much that she minded being a housekeeper, she would probably enjoy it, but the thought of working in the house of Albert's mother would most likely mean that she would see him quite often. That was the only issue holding her back. She always felt uneasy around Albert, and she detested that feeling. It wasn't anything like love; she knew how she had felt the first time she'd met Henry. Her first meeting with Henry had been...amazing. But she didn't even know how to describe what she felt toward Albert. She only knew that most likely the less she saw of him, the better.
~*~
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Henry squinted at the map of rural France and then at Laurent.
"What makes you think I'm wrong?" he retorted, swatting away a few gnats. "The map is pointing us northeast, away from the Seine River. The nearest town is Reimoins, and that's about thirty miles from here. It should take us about a day and a half to get there and settle in."
Henry sighed and glanced around him. It was so...quiet. He was accustomed to Paris and its roads, the marketplace, and the people he saw every day. It was such a dramatic change from these trees jumping out at him every which way he looked. It wasn't an unwelcome change, it was just different. "Everything here is so calm and tranquil," he murmured to himself.
"I suppose it's all right." Laurent commented, sniffing at the air. "If you're the woodsy type of person."
Henry gazed at his friend thoughtfully and patted him gently on the back, as well as he could, from his own mount. "I know how much you miss Jacqueline. I'm sorry."
Leraunt shrugged and nodded gratefully at him. "You have no idea how much of a difference she has made in my life, Henry. I love her so much. And to be parted from her so soon, hardly two weeks after our wedding day...well, it's just so hard."
"I understand, Leraunt." He whispered to him solemnly, his brown eyes round and soft, "I understand."
Suddenly alarmed, Leraunt shot Henry a nervous look. "I'm sorry, Henry. I forgot all about Danielle. I know you must be going through the same thing."
Absentmindedly, Henry stroked the mane of his horse and rose his eyes to the road before them, as if searching. "Don't be sorry." he said quietly, "I just wish I knew where she was. If she's safe."
Leraunt let a long pause pass before he decided to gently change the subject. "Do you remember the directions your father gave you upon entering each town?"
Despite himself, Henry couldn't help but smile. "Yes. He wants me to find room and board at an inn, and to take the humblest room they have. He wants me to imitate the dress of those of the village and immerse myself in their activities of entertainment, as well as labor. Yet, at the same time they shall know me as Prince Henry, and see for themselves that I can relate to the people. I suppose he intended to punish me, but he has no idea that all these things are exactly what I wish. I want to become like them."
"The commoners?" Leraunt asked.
"No." Henry shook his head. "The People."
~*~
"Are you sure there's no way I can be of service to you?" Danielle asked one last final time, hoping against hope that he might change his mind.
The large man before her scratched his head and glanced back at his wife, who stood only a few feet behind him. She pressed her lips firmly together and shook her head at him.
"No, I'm sure there isn't. I'm sorry." He was about to close the door, but Danielle stuck her toe in the crack out of desperation. She had gone over almost the whole entire village that morning, and no one had said they needed help with anything. She had to find a job soon, or keep moving.
"Do you know of anyone that might need a worker? I can do almost anything." She bit her lip and glanced pleadingly at the man, unconsciously clasping her hands together in front of her. "Please."
"Who are you?" Suddenly, the large man was pushed out of the doorway by his wife.
"D- Ju - Julie DeLoin." Danielle stuttered nervously, almost forgetting her alias.
The woman shot her a suspicious glance and stared her down, as if measuring whether she was actually capable of doing any type of useful work. "I know someone who needs a worker."
"Oh, please, tell me!" Danielle begged, suddenly filled with hope.
"Where are you from?" The woman asked again, her hands on her hips.
"Uh- oh, Paris." She couldn't think of any other town or city to name in its place.
"Paris, huh?" The woman sucked on her teeth, and, finally deciding that she was worthy, pointed further down the road. "Marie is looking for help. She lives in the house at the end. Second to last."
Danielle nodded gratefully and gave the woman a thankful smile. "Thank you so much!" The door closed and Danielle raced off down the road, chanting in her mind the entire way, 'Please say yes, Please say yes, Please say yes.'
The house wasn't as small as all the others had been. In fact, it looked as if some rooms were being added on to the main building. Frames were propped up against the outside wall, as well as nails, hammer and brick. Danielle hesitated a moment at the gate and smoothed her hair over. She wanted this interview to go well.
The door to the house was wide open and revealed a small, narrow hallway. She knocked on the door a few times and then waited. Nothing. She couldn't hear any footsteps or voices. The house was empty. 'No!' Danielle thought despairingly. There had to be someone home. There had to! Again she rapped on the door, but a little more loudly, thinking maybe someone was home but hadn't heard it the first time. Still nothing. Danielle bowed her head and sighed deeply. It looked like she was going to have to travel to another town again.
Turning around, she let out a surprised gasp at the sight of a middle-aged woman looking at her with curious eyes. "Hello?" the woman said. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm looking for work, and someone in the village said you might hire me."
The woman smiled a little, stepped forward and stretched out her hand. "What's your name, dear?"
"Julie. Julie DeLoin." Danielle pronounced the words without error. She was determined not to slip up again.
Suddenly, the woman's eyes brightened and she grasped Danielle's hand warmly. "How nice to meet you! Yes, as a matter of fact I am looking for someone to help me with household chores. Oh, this is wonderful. Can you start immediately?"
"Y- yes, I can!" Danielle smiled brightly at the woman, relieved to have finally found a situation, and one with such an amiable woman. "Thank you so much! I have my bags with me already, so I don't have to go back to the hotel to get them."
"Fantastic! I'll just show you to your room then. By the way, my name is Marie." She gazed into Danielle's eyes and brushed her hair from her forehead. "You must have come such a long way. I know you'll be a great service to me."
"I'll do my best, ma'am. I promise." Instantly, Danielle felt a sudden security. She remembered feeling the same way one time when she was very young, and her father had held her in his arms and hugged her. She had always felt safe with him. And after he died, she had thought she would never feel that type of protection again. But, here it was. She was filled with excitement and a new motivation. She knew she would like this new life.
"Mother!" a deep voice called from further off behind the house. "Where are you?" Danielle frowned for a moment. The voice sounded oddly familiar. But who would she know here?
"I'm in the front, Albert!" Suddenly, Danielle's face paled as Albert Dumonde de Lorraine appeared before her, at his mother's side. He stopped mid-step when he saw her, and his mouth curled up into a pleased grin.
"Well, it sure is nice to see you again, Julie."
Danielle could only stare at him and attempted a feeble smile. "Yes, it is."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note: I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I'll try to do it more quickly. I promise! Please R&R in the meantime. Thank you vedy much.
Danielle stretched out in bed, raised her arm high over her head and took in her surroundings. The inn was small and cozy. She liked it better that way. It would have been odd and very uncomfortable if the room had been large and expensive. A warm fire blazed a few yards from the foot of the bed, and Danielle smiled to herself. This was the first time anyone had lit a fire for her. It added to her feel of liberation. She closed her eyes again and thought about going back to sleep, but then suddenly they shot open with the realization that she needed work. Groaning, she jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. A small wash basin had been placed on a stand in the corner, and she thankfully scrubbed the week's dirt and grime from her face. She felt better than she had in days.
Albert's offer somehow made its way into her thoughts and she found herself considering it. A housekeeper probably wouldn't be so bad. It wasn't the same as being an unpaid slave. Yet, housekeepers had to know how to cook, and she didn't have much experience in the kitchen. Paulette and Louise had always taken care of gardening and fixing the meals. Maybe she should at least try for it... But she shook the thought out of her head. It wasn't so much that she minded being a housekeeper, she would probably enjoy it, but the thought of working in the house of Albert's mother would most likely mean that she would see him quite often. That was the only issue holding her back. She always felt uneasy around Albert, and she detested that feeling. It wasn't anything like love; she knew how she had felt the first time she'd met Henry. Her first meeting with Henry had been...amazing. But she didn't even know how to describe what she felt toward Albert. She only knew that most likely the less she saw of him, the better.
~*~
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Henry squinted at the map of rural France and then at Laurent.
"What makes you think I'm wrong?" he retorted, swatting away a few gnats. "The map is pointing us northeast, away from the Seine River. The nearest town is Reimoins, and that's about thirty miles from here. It should take us about a day and a half to get there and settle in."
Henry sighed and glanced around him. It was so...quiet. He was accustomed to Paris and its roads, the marketplace, and the people he saw every day. It was such a dramatic change from these trees jumping out at him every which way he looked. It wasn't an unwelcome change, it was just different. "Everything here is so calm and tranquil," he murmured to himself.
"I suppose it's all right." Laurent commented, sniffing at the air. "If you're the woodsy type of person."
Henry gazed at his friend thoughtfully and patted him gently on the back, as well as he could, from his own mount. "I know how much you miss Jacqueline. I'm sorry."
Leraunt shrugged and nodded gratefully at him. "You have no idea how much of a difference she has made in my life, Henry. I love her so much. And to be parted from her so soon, hardly two weeks after our wedding day...well, it's just so hard."
"I understand, Leraunt." He whispered to him solemnly, his brown eyes round and soft, "I understand."
Suddenly alarmed, Leraunt shot Henry a nervous look. "I'm sorry, Henry. I forgot all about Danielle. I know you must be going through the same thing."
Absentmindedly, Henry stroked the mane of his horse and rose his eyes to the road before them, as if searching. "Don't be sorry." he said quietly, "I just wish I knew where she was. If she's safe."
Leraunt let a long pause pass before he decided to gently change the subject. "Do you remember the directions your father gave you upon entering each town?"
Despite himself, Henry couldn't help but smile. "Yes. He wants me to find room and board at an inn, and to take the humblest room they have. He wants me to imitate the dress of those of the village and immerse myself in their activities of entertainment, as well as labor. Yet, at the same time they shall know me as Prince Henry, and see for themselves that I can relate to the people. I suppose he intended to punish me, but he has no idea that all these things are exactly what I wish. I want to become like them."
"The commoners?" Leraunt asked.
"No." Henry shook his head. "The People."
~*~
"Are you sure there's no way I can be of service to you?" Danielle asked one last final time, hoping against hope that he might change his mind.
The large man before her scratched his head and glanced back at his wife, who stood only a few feet behind him. She pressed her lips firmly together and shook her head at him.
"No, I'm sure there isn't. I'm sorry." He was about to close the door, but Danielle stuck her toe in the crack out of desperation. She had gone over almost the whole entire village that morning, and no one had said they needed help with anything. She had to find a job soon, or keep moving.
"Do you know of anyone that might need a worker? I can do almost anything." She bit her lip and glanced pleadingly at the man, unconsciously clasping her hands together in front of her. "Please."
"Who are you?" Suddenly, the large man was pushed out of the doorway by his wife.
"D- Ju - Julie DeLoin." Danielle stuttered nervously, almost forgetting her alias.
The woman shot her a suspicious glance and stared her down, as if measuring whether she was actually capable of doing any type of useful work. "I know someone who needs a worker."
"Oh, please, tell me!" Danielle begged, suddenly filled with hope.
"Where are you from?" The woman asked again, her hands on her hips.
"Uh- oh, Paris." She couldn't think of any other town or city to name in its place.
"Paris, huh?" The woman sucked on her teeth, and, finally deciding that she was worthy, pointed further down the road. "Marie is looking for help. She lives in the house at the end. Second to last."
Danielle nodded gratefully and gave the woman a thankful smile. "Thank you so much!" The door closed and Danielle raced off down the road, chanting in her mind the entire way, 'Please say yes, Please say yes, Please say yes.'
The house wasn't as small as all the others had been. In fact, it looked as if some rooms were being added on to the main building. Frames were propped up against the outside wall, as well as nails, hammer and brick. Danielle hesitated a moment at the gate and smoothed her hair over. She wanted this interview to go well.
The door to the house was wide open and revealed a small, narrow hallway. She knocked on the door a few times and then waited. Nothing. She couldn't hear any footsteps or voices. The house was empty. 'No!' Danielle thought despairingly. There had to be someone home. There had to! Again she rapped on the door, but a little more loudly, thinking maybe someone was home but hadn't heard it the first time. Still nothing. Danielle bowed her head and sighed deeply. It looked like she was going to have to travel to another town again.
Turning around, she let out a surprised gasp at the sight of a middle-aged woman looking at her with curious eyes. "Hello?" the woman said. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm looking for work, and someone in the village said you might hire me."
The woman smiled a little, stepped forward and stretched out her hand. "What's your name, dear?"
"Julie. Julie DeLoin." Danielle pronounced the words without error. She was determined not to slip up again.
Suddenly, the woman's eyes brightened and she grasped Danielle's hand warmly. "How nice to meet you! Yes, as a matter of fact I am looking for someone to help me with household chores. Oh, this is wonderful. Can you start immediately?"
"Y- yes, I can!" Danielle smiled brightly at the woman, relieved to have finally found a situation, and one with such an amiable woman. "Thank you so much! I have my bags with me already, so I don't have to go back to the hotel to get them."
"Fantastic! I'll just show you to your room then. By the way, my name is Marie." She gazed into Danielle's eyes and brushed her hair from her forehead. "You must have come such a long way. I know you'll be a great service to me."
"I'll do my best, ma'am. I promise." Instantly, Danielle felt a sudden security. She remembered feeling the same way one time when she was very young, and her father had held her in his arms and hugged her. She had always felt safe with him. And after he died, she had thought she would never feel that type of protection again. But, here it was. She was filled with excitement and a new motivation. She knew she would like this new life.
"Mother!" a deep voice called from further off behind the house. "Where are you?" Danielle frowned for a moment. The voice sounded oddly familiar. But who would she know here?
"I'm in the front, Albert!" Suddenly, Danielle's face paled as Albert Dumonde de Lorraine appeared before her, at his mother's side. He stopped mid-step when he saw her, and his mouth curled up into a pleased grin.
"Well, it sure is nice to see you again, Julie."
Danielle could only stare at him and attempted a feeble smile. "Yes, it is."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note: I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I'll try to do it more quickly. I promise! Please R&R in the meantime. Thank you vedy much.