Chapter Three
One Week Later
Danielle was in her room at the Manoir de la Fere getting ready to attend the wedding of Prince Henry and Princess Gabriella of Spain. Just as her mother had thought, Marguerite had lost her chance to be Henry's bride. He had decided to marry as his father had originally arranged.
A young servant named Laurel was helping Danielle with her preparations for the wedding. At the moment, they were doing her hair in ringlets that surrounded her face. Her dress was made of a shimmering gold satin with white antique lace trimming the sleeves and creating a layer of ruffles at the bottom. It was the true dress of her station. She was a Marquise and there was nothing anyone could do about it, not even Rodmilla.
Once she was done, Danielle got up from her chair and headed down the stairs and stepped into the parlor where her stepfather and brother were already waiting for her.
"Oh Danielle, you look absolutely beautiful!" Michael exclaimed when he saw his younger sister.
"Your brother is correct. You are the vision of an angel in that gown. An absolute vision," Anthony said with a smile.
Danielle blushed at the compliments her brother and stepfather gave her. "Thank you Michael, Anthony."
A moment later, both Ariella and Nicole both came down the stairs dressed in absolutely gorgeous gowns that put any gown Rodmilla and Marguerite could ever wear or afford to shame.
"Mother, Ariella, you look wonderful!" Danielle said to both her sister and mother. She smiled somewhat shyly as they both smiled at her.
"So do you, my darling. You are an absolute vision of beauty in that gown," Nicole said to her youngest child.
"Thank you, mother," Danielle said with tears beginning to fill her eyes. She still couldn't quite believe that she was with her true family.
"It's time to go, my dear. We need to get to the church before Rodmilla does," Anthony says.
They all nod and head out the door of the manor and board the carriage. Anthony signaled the carriage driver to head off to the church for the royal wedding.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the church early enough to claim a good spot to watch the wedding and to keep an eye on Rodmilla. Tonight, Rodmilla would receive her punishment for treating a noblewoman like a servant.
They sat down in their pew and watched as every noble that was invited for the joyous event came and took their pew in the church. One of the last people to come in is Rodmilla along with Jacqueline and Marguerite. Both Rodmilla and Marguerite were wearing black veils over their faces.
Danielle smiled slightly at the two of them. They had not won, she had. Marguerite was not marrying Henry and it was a sight to see. They had lost their chance the night of the masque when Rodmilla had said Danielle was just a servant. Today, Nicole had promised, Henry would be told the truth.
Danielle sat quietly as she watched Henry take his place near the altar as the kings and queens took their places in thrones on opposite sides of the room. Neither one of the pairs of royalty seemed happy that the arranged marriage was going forward. The ones who apparently weren't the happiest about it going forward with the arranged marriage were the king and queen of Spain. Both of them were dressed in black as if they were in mourning.
The grand organ began playing the wedding march. The princess of Spain, Gabriella, came in with her ladies in waiting holding onto her train and veil as she walked into the main area of the church.
A strange sound made its way to the congregation as the Princess was walking toward the altar. Someone was crying and crying loudly. It took Danielle a minute to realize that the loud crying was coming from Gabriella.
Danielle was shocked. She thought the Spanish princess would have tried to be happy about the wedding, but it appeared that she was not at all happy about marrying Henry.
The princess made it to the altar and her crying just got louder. She and Henry knelt in front of the altar and her sobs grew even louder and she bent over further and started gasping for breath.
Henry began laughing and rose from the altar and turned toward Gabriella and lifted her veil. He could see why she was crying as she tried to explain herself in Spanish.
"Madame, Madame," Henry said, quieting her. "I know exactly how you feel."
Henry kissed her on the cheek before allowing her to fly into the arms of the man she loves. Gabriella joyously ran into her loves arms and hugged him tightly.
