Chapter 2—Who is that Girl?
"Marie, Henry, please sit down." King Francis said when they reached his chambers. The King had a number of questions he wanted answered. He wanted to know who the girl was. He wanted to know what could possess Henry to consider marriage to a girl when he didn't even seem to know her name. And, of course, he wanted to know if and how that girl could have saved Henry's life. King Francis could tell that Henry was upset, so he decided the best way to get all the facts was to remain calm and add a touch of humor.
"I really wonder who that girl was. Marie, I believe you said her name is Nicole and that she is a comtesse. Henry, you also called her Nicole and said she was an apple. Baroness de Ghent said her name was Danielle and that she was a servant. The girl herself said Nicole was her mother and that the Baroness was her stepmother." Continuing, he said, "Are we talking about one girl or half a dozen?" This caused a smile from Marie and a chuckle from Henry in spite of his lingering aggravation at Danielle.
"I believe she's one girl with many identities." Marie replied. "Baroness de Ghent told me that she was her cousin and that she was engaged to a Belgian."
"My goodness, that girl does get around. Did she break that engagement too?" King Francis was intrigued. He enjoyed solving mysteries and this had the makings of a good one.
"I don't believe she was engaged to anyone. She was just after my title. That girl ridiculed me in front of everyone and should be punished." After Danielle had left, Henry had allowed himself to get all worked up at how she had embarrassed him, and by now he was even angrier than when Danielle first left. Rejection was painful, and his pride was hurt because Danielle made him look foolish in front of the crowd.
"Henry, yesterday you indicated you were in love with the girl, and now you are saying you want her punished. I know she said some unkind things about you but they did have a ring of truth about them. From what I could tell, the girl was upset because you chose to listen to Baroness de Ghent without giving her a chance to explain. Frankly, dear, I would feel the same way, so I am a little disappointed that you believe she should be punished." Queen Marie knew of Henry's feelings for the girl, no matter her station, and she didn't want to see him say something in anger that he would later regret. Further, she had developed an admiration for the saucy girl who had stood up to both Henry and Francis.
"Mother, I don't believe she deserves severe punishment, but you heard what she said about me; she shouldn't say things like that about me in front of the whole court. Also, none of this would have happened if she hadn't deceived me into believing she was Comtesse Nicole de Lancret, just so she could win my title."
"Henry, before I consider punishing the girl, I need to know what offenses you believe to be appropriate to charge her with. If you are suggesting that she lied to you to win your title then, of course if proven, that could warrant severe penalties. Is that what you are asking?" the King wanted to know.
Quickly, before Henry could respond, the Queen stated, "Henry, she said she came to tell you the truth, but you wouldn't listen. I believe this entire debacle could have been avoided if you had only listened to her. Son, you have been born of privilege and that comes with specific obligations, not the least of which is to listen and get the facts before you act. Surely, you do not believe the girl should be punished for your failure."
"No, mother, I guess not but it seems that she should at least apologize." Henry was uncomfortable. He had not thought this out. He didn't really want to punish Danielle. He was angry because Danielle had bested him in a verbal skirmish, and he wanted it to be the other way around.
"Well, I am glad that is settled, and I believe we can forget about any apology. Henry, I admit I was shocked to learn that any girl would think that you were not good enough for her, but I am not going to bring that girl back and force her to apologize over breaking an engagement," the King stated forcefully.
"We weren't engaged." Henry was exasperated. Before he could make it clear that he was going to reject her, Danielle had turned it around and made everyone believe that she was rejecting his proposal.
"Yes, the girl did agree that you didn't propose so I believe we can all agree that there wasn't any engagement." Francis wasn't convinced but he didn't wish to argue the point. "Henry, how did you meet the girl?" King Francis was ready to move on. It was late and he still didn't know who the girl was or how she could have saved Henry's life.
"She threw apples at me. One hit me in the head and caused me to fall off my horse."
King Francis found it hard to maintain a straight face. Somehow he found the image of this young girl throwing apples at his son amusing. He knew there was an interesting story behind this but first he decided to have some fun.
In his most serious voice he said, "A physical attack on the Prince is a capital offence. I am going to have her publicly flogged and shipped to the Americas."
"Francis you can't be serious!" Queen Marie tried to look into his eyes but the King's expression didn't change so she said, "I know there has to be some explanation."
"Father, she doesn't deserve that kind of punishment."
"Well I guess I could throw her in the dungeon with the rest of the common criminals."
"No, that place is awful," Henry said.
"Then what would you suggest for such a dastardly deed?" King Francis was enjoying this. He knew there was an explanation and that Henry didn't really want the girl punished.
"Nothing, oh I don't know. Stop mocking me."
"Henry dear, whatever possessed the girl to throw apples at you?" Queen Marie asked. "Also, you said you first met her when she rescued the servant. So was it before that?"
"Well, it happened early that morning. I just didn't realize until tonight that she was the same girl. My horse had thrown a shoe so I took one from the stables of Baroness de Ghent. At first, I don't think she recognized me. She called me a thief and kept throwing apples. After she recognized me she threw herself on the ground. She was dressed and acted like a servant, and I could tell she was terrified. I gave her some gold coins for her silence and left.
"This is the same devious girl that was here tonight, scheming to get you to marry her?" King Francis asked.
"Yes, and she deceived me into believing that she was Comtesse Nicole de Lancret."
"When was that?" King Francis wanted to know.
"It was that afternoon at Hautefort. She was trying to get the wagon master to release a servant. After she quoted Thomas More, I ordered the wagon master to release the servant and asked her for her name."
"You didn't recognize her from earlier that morning?" the Queen asked.
"No, first she was dressed as a servant and then as a comtesse. I may have noticed a resemblance but it never occurred to me that they could be the same person."
"So her reason for being there dressed as a comtesse must have been to get your attention. She must know the penalty for dressing above her station." King Francis said.
"Francis, I am not so certain that was her reason," Marie said. "After Henry asked about her, I made some inquires. From what I could tell, she was only there for a short time and left as soon as the servant was released. It was Henry who pursued her all the way across the courtyard, and I understand that she was reluctant to give him her name.
"Also, one courtier told me that even before Henry arrived she heard the girl offer the wagon master 20 gold francs for the release of the servant. It really sounds like she was there for the servant. Although I don't know what was on her mind, it does seem that a servant with twenty gold francs might cause a lot of questions. Perhaps that was the reason for dressing as a comtesse.
"By the way Henry, you said you gave her some gold coins. Was that where she got the twenty gold francs?"
"Henry, you gave a servant twenty gold francs?" King Francis asked angrily.
"I don't know; I might have. I was upset and in a hurry with the guard breathing down my neck. I wasn't thinking straight."
"Why am I not surprised? Henry, you seem to be making a habit of acting without thinking. Son, you really do need to start using your head and act responsibly. Promise me that you will at least try."
"Yes father, I'll try."
"Francis, try not to be too hard on Henry. I have noticed some improvements these last few days. And although I cringe just thinking about that horrible scene tonight, I believe if you had stayed out of it perhaps Henry and the girl would have settled their disagreements in private."
"What did I do?"
"First you were yelling and frightening the girl, and then you were adding to the pressure Henry must have felt. You can be very intimidating at times."
King Francis started to say something; instead he just rolled his eyes and said, "Henry, you must have met the girl again. Tell us about it."
"It was the next day at the river. Signore da Vinci had made these enormous shoes so he could walk on water and apparently he tripped over her while she was swimming."
"Did she know that you were going to be at the river?" King Francis asked.
"She must have. She was swimming alone in her undergarments, so why else would she have been there?
"What did you talk about?" the King asked.
"There wasn't much time, she ran off after a few minutes but I asked about her attendants and she told me she gave them the day off."
"Did you find out where she was staying?" Marie wanted to know.
"I didn't think to ask. I found out later, but I did invite her to the tennis match with Marquis de Limoges."
"So was she at the tennis match?" Marie asked.
"I don't believe so. I looked for her but I didn't see her."
King Francis decided to have more fun. "Let's see if I got everything right so far about this devious girl. In order to win your crown, she throws apples at you and calls you a thief. She arranges to see you at Hautefort under the pretense of rescuing a servant, and then runs off when you attempt to talk to her. She somehow arranges to meet you at the river but runs off after a few minutes, during which time she still manages to wrestle an invitation to a tennis match, but doesn't show up. Have I got it right?"
"Father, things are not always the way they seem."
Looking at Marie King Francis said, "Whatever. I always knew you women were clever, I just didn't know how clever until now." Then, looking at Henry, he asked, "Did she also arrange for your horse to throw a shoe?"
"Francis, will you behave and stop teasing Henry?
"Henry, any other meetings with the girl?" the King asked.
"The day before yesterday I was looking for Signore da Vinci and met a young artist who told me she was staying with Baroness de Ghent. I went there and, knowing her love for books, invited her to visit the Franciscan library with me. After we left the monastery, the carriage broke, so we took off on foot and got lost.
"All of a sudden I was surrounded by gypsies. I was in a fight with one of them, and I'm not sure what the others might have done."
"Henry!" gasped the Queen. "Was anyone hurt?"
"No, well maybe a minor bruise or two but nothing else."
"What happened then?" the Queen wanted to know.
"The girl insisted on the return of her gown and that she be given a horse. The gypsy leader told her she could have anything she could carry. She asked him if he would give his word of honor and he said, 'On my honor as a gypsy; whatever you can carry.'
"Everyone thought she would grab her gown. Instead, she lifted me on her back and started walking off. The gypsies started laughing and their leader said, 'Stop, come back, I will give you a horse.' We ended up making friends with the gypsies and stayed with them for the rest of the night."
"So that is what the girl meant when she said she saved your life. Henry, from what I understand, the girl's quick thinking rescued you from abduction or possible death," the King reasoned.
"It appears so. At least, she did get me out of what could have been a very bad situation."
"I believe she is the most remarkable peasant girl since the maid over eighty years ago." (The maid, la pucelle, was a common expression at the time for Jéhanne la pucelle, now commonly known as Joan of Arc). In spite of his disapproval of Henry's involvement, King Francis was developing an admiration for the girl.
"Why did she want her gown returned? Wasn't she wearing one?" Queen Marie wanted to know.
"No, she removed it so she could find the way to Hautefort."
"Henry, that's ludicrous!" The Queen replied in a tone that left no doubt what she was thinking. "Young ladies don't take off their gowns to go to Hautefort." Queen Marie could not believe Henry would dare even suggest such a preposterous reason.
"Mother, it wasn't like that. It was completely innocent—nothing happened." Henry replied, feeling very uncomfortable.
"I would think that proper young ladies would keep their clothes on." The Queen replied rebukingly.
"Mother, please let me explain. After we got lost, we were at the bottom of a high cliff. To determine the direction back to the castle, the girl climbed the cliff. She couldn't very well climb the cliff in her gown, so she removed it, but she was still covered from head to foot by her undergarments. She was climbing back down when the gypsies arrived, and one of them grabbed her gown.
"Still, that girl seems to make a habit of letting you see her in her undergarments." the Queen observed, not at all convinced that Henry was telling all.
"So then what happened?" the King quickly asked to change the subject.
"We visited with the gypsies and they gave us a horse. Afterwards, and by the time we left, it was well after midnight. I took her to back to the Manoir de Barbarac and asked her if she if she would meet me later at the ruins at Amboise."
King Francis just couldn't resist. "So now I understand the plan of this clever diabolical girl. She arranges an artist to tell you where she is staying so that you will invite her to the monastery. She also causes the carriage to break so she can get you lost on foot so she can rescue you from the gypsies. Then she wrenches an invitation to the ruins at Amboise so you will propose. How do you suppose she managed to do all that?"
In response to the question, Henry just rolled his eyes while Marie said, "Francis, once and for all, will you behave yourself and let Henry tell us what happened? Go on, Henry; tell us what happened at the ruins at Amboise."
"When she first arrived she told me she couldn't stay long, but she had to see me because there was something she needed to tell me."
"What did she say?" Marie asked, when Henry didn't continue.
"Well, I suppose I didn't give her a chance just then. I had some things I wanted to show and tell her. Anyway, before she left, I asked her what she wanted to tell me and she told me that the previous night had been the happiest night of her life. That was the last time I saw her until tonight."
"Henry, did she say that before or after she thought you proposed?" the Queen asked.
"It was after. Why?"
"Nothing much, I was just wondering if that was all the girl was planning to tell you." Queen Marie had surmised correctly that Danielle had planned to reveal her true identity.
"My boy, what are your current plans about getting married?" The King asked.
"I am going to agree to your treaty with Spain and marry Princess Gabriella."
"I'm glad to see you come to your senses. Tomorrow we can inform the Ambassador to Spain and put this fiasco behind us." King Francis was ready to forget about Danielle and move on.
"In view of the late hour, if you both are agreeable we will have breakfast one hour later at 8:00." After Henry and Marie indicated their agreement King Francis said, "All right, until breakfast tomorrow. And Henry, I expect you to be there on time. Is that understood?"
"Yes father."
After the meeting, a page gave Henry the note from Signore da Vinci. Curious as to what Leonardo wished to speak to him about Henry told the page to bring Leonardo to his quarters. Leonardo realized that for Henry and Danielle to make up they needed to be alone together and that might have proved to be difficult unless Henry made the first move. The return of the slipper would provide the excuse for Henry to see Danielle.
"Henry, what have you done?" Leonardo said after arriving at Henry's quarters.
"I have been born to privilege and with that comes specific obligations." Henry's voice was mechanical, infuriating the artist.
"That's nonsense! Go to the girl and apologize."
"I apologize!" The idea was preposterous. He should have had her put in stocks for what she did to him. The Prince was already infuriated that Danielle had embarrassed him in front of the entire court, and he didn't appreciate Leonardo questioning him about the matter. Henry turned to Leonardo, a warning gleaming in his eyes. "You are out of line, old man."
"No, you are out of line!" Leonardo da Vinci spit out the words, staring in disbelief at the young man before him. Was this the same Henry who had begged him for advice on how Fate worked with love, the same Henry who had tried to run away because of an arranged marriage? No, this was not, this was only a shell. "Do you have any idea what that girl went through to get here tonight?"
"She deceived me!" The first sign of life erupted from Henry's lips with an angry retort.
"She came to tell you the truth and you refused to listen!"
"What do you know?" Henry was bitter. "You build flying machines and walk on water, but what do you know about life?"
The artist sighed. "I know that a life without love is no life at all."
"And love without trust, what of that?" For the first time, Leonardo da Vinci saw the pain behind the Prince's anger. So there was hope, after all.
"She is your match, Henry!" His hopes were dashed within the next few seconds.
It was several seconds before he spoke. Like a slap in the face, Henry remembered her last words, "I will not marry you because frankly sire, I can do much better." If she thinks she can do better, Henry thought to himself, then let her try.
Turning to Leonardo, Henry finally responded with determination. "She has made her choice and I mine. I am a prince of France and I will not yield!"
Leonardo simply sighed and placed the slipper on the table. "Then you don't deserve her," he said before he turned and left.
Henry, reluctantly, turned and found his eyes riveted to the beaded glass slipper sparkling like diamonds. It reminded him of Danielle. She, too, had sparkled and brightened his life, and now she was gone forever. Henry was discouraged and miserable. He would do his duty and marry Princess Gabriella but that would not make him happy—not like Danielle would. Henry regretted that he did not listen to Danielle, but she should not have embarrassed him in front of the world. Henry realized why Danielle had misled him at Hautefort but she could have, and should have, told him the truth at the gypsy camp or at Amboise. He would have understood—maybe something could have been worked out, he thought wistfully.