Chapter One

The next morning

                (The first part of this chapter is directly from the movie)

                "Ah, monsieur Le Pieu, right on time."

                "It's all here, Baroness, right down to the very last candlestick."

                "My father's books, his paintings, you sold them to him!"

                "Yes, and now they're back.  I couldn't very well have us looking like paupers when the king arrives."

                "Thank you, monsieur.  This means the world to us."

                "I'm a businessman, Danielle, not a philanthropist."

                "I don't understand."

                "I couldn't very well have you around distracting the prince, could I?"

                "The baroness and I have come to, uh, an arrangement."

                "You for all this.  Although, I do think I'm getting the better end of the deal," Rodmilla says rubbing her hands together.

                Le Pieu's men come up behind her and grab her, as she gasps, "NO" she begins to shout as they carry her somewhat gently to the carriage.  As the men are about to put her in the carriage, Le Pieu whispers in her ear.

                "Danielle, your mother is waiting.  Quit struggling!" he quietly commands.

                She turns and looks at him with a questioning look.

                "You will understand shortly," Le Pieu says and lets his men place her unharmed into the carriage.  It takes off with him across from her.  A smile lights up his face at the thought of what is about to happen.

                Ten minutes later, they arrive at the Manoir de la Fere and Le Pieu sees the family waiting for them, as well as his bride Jenna.

                The footman opens the carriage door and helps both Le Pieu and Danielle out of the carriage.  Danielle looks around questioningly until she sees her family.  "Mother?"

                "Danielle, my child, welcome home," Nicole says happily, approaching her beautiful youngest daughter.  She grasps her arms as she gazes at her.  She was even more beautiful than she had imagined early that morning when she had met with Le Pieu.

                "Oh mother," Danielle says before she bursts into tears.  Nicole immediately embraces her as her daughter sobs.  This is a dream come true for both of them.

                At the same time, the young servant Jenna rushes forward into the arms of her to-be husband.  "Oh Pierre!"

                "My beloved Jenna!  I have loved you from afar for so long and now my greatest wish is coming true, to be your husband," Le Pieu says with passion in his tone.

                "Indeed, you will be married this very day," Duke Anthony de la Fere, Danielle's stepfather and Nicole's husband, tells them as he approaches them a moment later.

                "Thank you, milord.  We have both wanted this day to happen for so long," Jenna says as she leans against Le Pieu happily.

                He embraces Jenna  "Yes, thank you, Anthony.  If I had known long ago that Danielle was her daughter and your stepdaughter, I would have brought her home sooner," he says.

                Anthony nods and then turns to his wife and youngest stepdaughter and watched them as they embraced and waited to move toward them until they had parted.

                When they parted, Nicole introduced Danielle to the rest of her family.  "Danielle, this is your stepfather Duke Anthony de la Fere, your brother Michael de la Fere, and your sister Ariella de la Fere."

                "Hello, stepfather," Danielle says as she approaches him.

                "Danielle, please, call me Anthony.  Welcome home," he says as he embraces her tightly.

                Danielle smiles at the easy acceptance of her stepfather.  She never imagined that he would accept her like he was doing.  I guess not all stepparents are as bad as Rodmilla,  she thought.

                Anthony lets her go and she was immediately embraced by both her elder sister and brother.  "Welcome home, little sister," they said to her as they embraced her.

                Danielle laughed at that.  But they were right.  She is their little sister.

                When they parted, Nicole said, "Let's get Danielle inside and get her prepared for Jenna and Le Pieu's wedding and then we can explain everything to her."  She turned and began to walk into the manor, closely followed by Anthony, Danielle, Ariella, and Michael.  Jenna and Le Pieu lingered until the rest of the servants pulled them inside so Jenna could prepare for her big day.

                One hour later, Danielle stepped out into the rose garden, where Jenna and Le Pieu's wedding would be held that very afternoon, in a beautiful silk gown adorned with tiny pearls and gemstones along the neckline.  It was much fancier than anything she had ever worn before, even fancier than the gowns that Marguerite wore.

                Ariella and Michael stepped out a moment later, gazing at their youngest sister.  She was so beautiful and the dress and her hairstyle only added to her beauty.  They were so glad that she was home.

                A few moments later, Nicole, Anthony, and Le Pieu stepped out into the garden, accompanied by Jenna's mother, father, and the rest of her family and friends.  They were all looking forward to the nuptials.  A priest was already waiting at a makeshift altar that had been placed in the garden.

                A few moments later, a flute began to play and Jenna made her way into the garden and down the makeshift aisle toward where Le Pieu and the priest were waiting.

                An hour later, they were married and Le Pieu led Jenna through the manor, out the front door, and then helped her into the carriage waiting outside.  He then got in himself and, among wishes of happiness, took off for their home.

                Jenna's family then returned to their home while Nicole, Danielle, Anthony, Michael, and Ariella headed into the manor and into the parlor to explain things to Danielle.