To my wonderful reviewers, Aisling-Siobhan, Alexia31, and Beauty0102, thank you for the reviews!
Sorry this chapter took so long. Between work and school, I haven't had much time to write. But I will try to have the next chapter out a lot sooner.
Read and review!
Chapter Seven
Minutes later, Henry ventured out into the gardens of the manoir with Laurent just behind him. The fresh air filled his lungs as he chose the path to the right. He walked through many types of flowers and flowering plants before coming to the pond where Danielle was sitting, just as she had the day before. He watched as she gently ran her hand through the water, the petals of the flowers surrounding her hand.
Danielle spoke a moment later. "Hello."
Henry knelt at her side and kissed her. She returned it. She smiled as they parted. "Did mother and Anthony tell you about who I am, your highness?"
"Yes, they did. And it's Henry if you don't mind," Henry said with a smile.
"Henry, Rodmilla and Marguerite must be punished for how they treated me. You know that as well as I do," Danielle said, looking into his eyes.
Henry returned her glance. "Of course, they must be punished. And punished properly, Marquise," he said with a teasing smile.
"You have an idea of how you can punish the two of them, do you not?" Danielle asked, her eyes twinkling.
"How would you like it if we made those two into servants in the palace or here serving your family?" Henry asked.
Danielle giggled. "That sounds like the perfect punishment for the two of them. Assign Rodmilla to the palace and Marguerite here and have them discover just how they treated me by treating them the same way," sje said.
"I know. I wonder if father would agree to it," Henry said.
"Why don't we allow your father to have some fun with them first? Make them think that their punishment is something else, then tell them that they have a different choice," Danielle said.
Henry smiled. Danielle knew exactly what to do. "That sounds perfect! Now, your mother mentioned that it was time for the midday meal, so we had better get inside," he said.
Henry helped her up and the two of them headed back into the manor for the midday meal.
Later that afternoon, Danielle and her family followed the royal guard as their carriage rode toward the palace. Henry kept his horse alongside the carriage so that he could gaze upon his beloved.
Henry knew his father would be shocked once he heard the truth about Danielle. Duke Anthony de la Fere had been his father's friend for many years. For King Francis, finding out that his good friend's stepdaughter was mistreated would cause his father to take action. Henry knew that Rodmilla wouldn't be a baroness much longer.
Their arrival was met by Queen Marie. "Oh, Nicole! I am so happy for you! I am glad you have your daughter with you."
"Thank you, your highness. Now, I would have had her with me if it hadn't been for Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent turning her into a servant in her own home," Nicole said.
"Of course. Francis is waiting to hear what happened and how you wish to proceed," Marie said.
The family, Marie, and Henry entered the palace and walked into the King's conference room where King Francis was waiting.
"Anthony, Nicole, welcome. And Marquise, please accept my humblest apologies for how you were treated the night of the masque," Francis said/
"It is alright, your highness. You didn't know the full truth about who I am. I didn't even know the truth about who I am," Danielle said.
"I am glad that you found your youngest child, Nicole. I should've done something to reunite the two of you much sooner," Francis said.
"I doubt that you could've done very much. Auguste probably would've kept her with him at all costs, while Rodmilla would've hidden behind a lie," Nicole said.
Francis nodded, knowing now how adept Rodmilla was in lying. She had lied at tea with Marie days before, she had lied at the masque and she had lied to Nicole for years about Danielle. He was definitely going to make that woman pay.
A moment later, Laurent came into the room with Jacqueline by his side. When she saw her stepsister, her eyes went wide.
"Danielle, what are you doing here? Who are these people with you?" she asked.
"Jacqueline, this is my mother and stepfather, the Duke and Duchess de la fere, my older sister, the Marquise Ariella de la Fere, and my older brother Lord Michael de la Fere," Danielle said to her stepsister.
Jacqueline's shock grew, then changed to anger at her mother. "Mother kept you away from them all these years. She will pay!"
