To my reviewers, TLSlark, Lil Lillian 14 and Dragon Healer, thank you for the excellent reviews!
And without further delay, here is chapter five
Chapter Five
That night
Danielle sat down in front of the gilded mirror in her bedchamber as her maidservant, Anne, ran a brush slowly through her hair. Anne was a young girl of 16, an orphan, upon her mother's death three years before had been taken in by the duke and duchess and had been trained to work for them. She accepted her place, but was not one to be quiet when there was an injustice in the household or in the kingdom.
Danielle had chosen the young girl for her servant a few days before because Danielle liked her spunk. She spoke her mind and no matter how many times she had been punished by the head servant, she had never changed her ways or her attitude.
Danielle closed her eyes, knowing that Anne would want to talk a bit about what had happened that day. She had discovered it was easier to listen and talk to the young woman if she had a clear mind.
"Mistress, do you want to talk about what happened today? The duchess told me it might be a sensitive subject for you," Anne said as she slowly pulled the brush through Danielle's hair.
"It's alright, Anne. You can talk about it. Today gave me a lot of hope for a possible reunion with Henry," Danielle said. She sighed slightly with each slow brush stroke.
"I am sure it did, mistress. After the prince allowed Princess Gabriella to go to her love, I'm sure you could see that he saw what love is all about," Anne said.
"I hope so. I love him so much. I know it will be a challenge for him to find me, now that I am with my mother. I just hope he doesn't try to stop finding me," Danielle said. She got up from the chair and walked to her bed. Anne pulled back the covers as Danielle crawled into the bed.
Anne covered her mistress quickly and then grabbed the candle and left the room as Danielle fell fast asleep.
Henry returned to Hautefort tired of checking throughout the countryside for where Danielle was. All he had to go on was what Jenna had said, "She is where she belongs. With her real family."
Henry had begun, with the help of the royal guard, to search every estate for wherever Danielle was. So far, there were no additional clues to where Danielle's real family was.
He entered his room and slumped down on his bed, tired, but hopeful. He was determined to find the woman he loved and he wasn't about to give up.
Henry quickly prepared for sleep and crawled beneath his covers and fell asleep.
Henry woke up bright and early the next day, hoping that today was the day he would find Danielle.
Within an hour, he and the royal guard continued their search for her.
Danielle woke up with a smile on her face at the sun shining in her window. Today, she knew would be the day that her beloved Henry would come for her. She was sure of it.
She quickly got Anne into her room and they got to work getting her ready for the day. She wanted to look perfect for Henry.
An hour later, Danielle came down the stairs dressed in a beautiful peach gown with lace trim, and peach ribbons entwined in her hair.
She walked into the dining room where her family was waiting for her. "Good morning everyone!"
"Good morning, Danielle. Apparently you slept well. Looking forward to Henry finding you today?" Michael asked with a smile.
Danielle smiled back at him. "Yes, Michael, I am," she said as she took her seat beside her sister at the table.
Ariella smiled. "I'm happy for you, sister. This is the perfect way for Henry to prove his love for you," she said.
Danielle laughed at her. "You are right! If he didn't truly love me, he wouldn't be searching for me right now," she said.
"And he will prove his love even more when he properly punishes Rodmilla and Marguerite for the way they treated you," Nicole said, giving her youngest child a small smile.
The servants began to bring their breakfast into the room, so everyone became quiet as they began to eat.
