Chapter 5—The Queen's Investigation
"You wished to see me, Your Majesty?" Leonardo asked.
"Yes, Signore da Vinci. Thank you for coming. Please sit down. Would you like some tea?" Queen Marie replied.
"Yes, that would be nice," the artist said, taking a seat.
The Queen motioned for her aide to pour Leonardo some tea and told him, "I am trying to find out some information about the young lady, Danielle de Barbarac, and I was hoping you could give me some information about her background and character."
"I will be happy to. Let me start, Your Majesty, by telling you what I learned about her from a couple of meetings with her and then maybe you will have some questions," Leonardo replied.
"Yes, that sounds good, please go on."
"I first saw her as she was attempting to rescue a servant here at Hautefort. I could see right away that the girl was special. I also noticed and found it odd that a courtier would be wearing shoes that seemed too big for her feet," Leonardo said, revealing his remarkable powers of observation.
Continuing, Leonardo said, "Prince Henry too, recognized that she was rather remarkable, for he was quite taken with her. The next day, when I was with the Prince, I met her while she was swimming in the river. The Prince hurried to the river bank and recognized her just as we about to walk out of the river. She started to bow but recovered by telling the Prince it was very slippery there.
"Obviously, she was attracted to the Prince, and he was to her, but I could tell she was apprehensive about being with him.
"The next time I met her was the night of the masque. The Baroness de Ghent had locked her in a cellar and Gustave, a local artist and her lifelong friend, asked for my help. After I opened the door, she immediately told me who she was and her station in life. She told me she had deceived the Prince and did not wish to attend the masque. I encouraged her to go and suggested to her that if she told Prince Henry the truth, he would understand. I must say, I was rather disappointed that the Prince didn't give her the opportunity to explain.
Queen Marie almost felt obligated to defend Henry's actions, but decided to remain silent.
"Based on my observations and my conversations with Danielle, and the comments and vibes I received from Gustave and the de Ghent servants, I do believe her character to be impeccable. Your Majesty, do you have any specific questions?"
"I was wondering, could she adapt to the life of a courtier?"
"Your Majesty, during her early years, Danielle had a loving father and a life of privilege. I believe a person's personality is mostly formed during the first few years of life. Danielle might need a few lessons in deportment, but she is a caring and highly intelligent person. So yes, she could adapt very well to the life of a courtier. That should be her station in life."
"Did you form an opinion about her relationship with Henry?" the Queen asked.
"Of course, Prince Henry must make his own choice; but, Your Majesty, if ever two people were meant for one another, I believe it to be the Prince and Danielle. She has such a passion about life and justice; in my opinion, she would inspire Henry to be a great king." Leonardo replied with great conviction.
"I wish to thank you for sharing your wisdom and thoughts with me. You have been very helpful," Queen Marie said, indicating that the meeting was over.
"It is always an honor, Your Majesty," Leonardo replied as he turned to leave.
Queen Marie, read the letter from Bishop de Portal:
Your Majesty,
As requested, I have interviewed the artist, Gustave, regarding the young lady, Danielle de Barbarac.
First, I found Gustave to be a dedicated artist and a fine and decent young man. I found him to be truthful, and he appears to have no vices.
Gustave and Danielle were childhood playmates and they have always been close friends. Danielle is like a sister to him. After Prince Henry gave Danielle about twenty gold francs, Gustave said it was he who loaned her the gown of a courtier so that she could dress appropriately to go to Hautefort and use the gold francs to purchase the freedom of Maurice, a servant who is like family to her.
Apparently, Henry was the first and only man to capture Danielle's love. Gustave described how he once played matchmaker between the Prince and Danielle. A few days ago Danielle was playing in a field with a flying contraption made by Signore da Vinci. Prince Henry recognized it and rode up. While Danielle hid behind a hay stack, Gustave told the Prince that he could find Nicole de Lancret at the Manoir de Barbarac. Of course, Nicole de Lancret is the name by which the Prince knew Danielle. As soon as the Prince left, Gustave encouraged Danielle to run to the Manoir de Barbarac so that she could meet with the Prince.
According to Gustave, Danielle's father was Auguste de Barbarac. He was the proprietor of the Manoir de Barbarac and was a loving father to Danielle. She had a happy and privileged life before he died. However, after the death of Auguste de Barbarac, his wife, the baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, turned Danielle, her step daughter, into a servant.
Danielle was taught to read at an early age and, according to Gustave, loves to do so.
Based on my interview with the young man, I found nothing unfavorable about the character of Danielle de Barbarac. In fact, by all indications, she is a fine young lady of good character.
Your loyal servant,
Bishop de Portal
Rodmilla and her daughters had just finished breakfast when the royal guard with the Queen's carriage and representatives arrived at the Manoir de Barbarac. Upon seeing Comte de Forez, the Queen's chancellor, Rodmilla assumed Prince Henry had come to his senses and that the Queen would make arrangements for a wedding with Marguerite.
After being told they were at the manoir to take Danielle for an audience with the Queen, Rodmilla felt the most intense fury. "It is bad enough," Rodmilla thought, "for that addled-brained prince to be consorting with commoners, but now the Queen is doing so as well. It's just too much. The entire Royal Family must be losing their minds."
It required extreme effort; but, after a brief pause, Rodmilla regained her composure and sweetly said, "I'm sorry, that is not possible. You see, Danielle ran off, and no one seems to know where she is."
Comte de Forez asked Rodmilla if she had a place to speak in private.
"Yes, of course. Come this way," Rodmilla said.
After she led Comte de Forez and Jean Beaupère, a notary, to the parlor, Rodmilla asked, "What is this about?"
"All in due time, I just have a few questions. Jean Beaupère will take your oath and testimony," Comte de Forez replied.
"My oath is not necessary," Rodmilla stated emphatically, feeling insulted at the suggestion.
"Madam, I am here on the Queen's business. This is just policy, and no one questions your honesty. Now may we get started?" Comte de Forez said forcefully.
Rodmilla knew it wasn't policy, but what could she do?
During the hour-long session with Rodmilla, she was evasive and difficult to pin down, but the Queen's chancellor was an expert interrogator. Rodmilla had lapses of memory. She just couldn't recall how Marguerite got the injury around her eye and she was sorry, but she just couldn't recall much about any conversation about Nicole de Lancret. "I believe there was some inadvertent miscommunication about when and where my engaged cousin traveled by boat," Rodmilla replied.
Already incensed, Rodmilla was not completely able to conceal her anger when informed that the testimony of Marguerite, Jacqueline and the servants was also required. Rodmilla protested fervently. "Their testimony is not needed," she replied, but the Queen's chancellor told her that her truthfulness was not being questioned and that it was policy to verify and discover all the facts.
The sessions with Marguerite, Jacqueline and the servants were much shorter. Marguerite was evasive at first, but Comte de Forez told her that Rodmilla had confessed all and it would not look good if her testimony conflicted with Rodmilla's. He assured her that the purpose was not to file charges; they were just there to get the facts. However, he admonished, there were severe penalties for not being completely truthful.
Marguerite ended up telling all and even volunteered to tell the story of the page and necklace.
The Queen's chancellor found Jacqueline to be completely truthful, but she was unable to provide additional information. It was the servants, whom he questioned as a group, who told him the complete story of how Danielle got the twenty gold francs and why she had dressed as a courtier.
Before leaving, the Queen's chancellor gathered the household and the servants and told them that what they said was for the Queen only and that they were not to speak about what they said to anyone. Any questions regarding their testimony should be referred to the Queen. Then, looking at Rodmilla, Comte de Forez said, "Any attempt or coercion to get anyone to speak about what was said is to be reported to me as a direct violation of the Queen's orders."
Rodmilla was infuriated that Comte de Forez would even dare to treat her in such an insulting manner. After the Queen's chancellor left Rodmilla looked at the servants and barked, "Don't you have work to do?" Later, to her horror, she learned that Marguerite had even told about the page and necklace.
"But what choice did I have? He told me you had already confessed everything."
"Well, I am of noble blood, I'm allowed certain privileges," Rodmilla said, less sure than she sounded.
When the Queen's chancellor learned of Danielle's fate, he wrote a short letter to le Pieu and directed a member of the royal guard to deliver it. The note said:
Monsieur le Pieu,
Queen Marie wishes to have a talk with Danielle de Barbarac. Later today I will send her Majesty's carriage for the young lady. Please have Danielle ready and presentable for the Queen."
I'm sure I can expect your every cooperation in this matter.
Comte de Forez
Chancellor to Her Majesty Queen Marie
When the letter arrived, le Pieu was still eating a late breakfast. After being up all night in pursuit of Danielle, he had slept late.
After reading the letter, Le Pieu thought to himself, What is this all about? Out loud, he said to no one in particular, "Danielle is getting to be more trouble than she is worth!"
After unlocking the door to where Danielle was, le Pieu said, "This letter says the Queen wishes to see you! Do you know why she would wish to speak to you?"
"May I please read the letter?" Danielle asked.
After reading the letter, Danielle said, "I have no idea why Queen Marie would ask to see me. I can only guess. Am I to be punished for what I said at the masque or for deceiving Prince Henry?"
Le Pieu thought for a moment before answering. "No, if it was punishment, you would be appearing before the King and you wouldn't be picked up in the Queen's royal carriage." Le Pieu looked Danielle over carefully. He knew he could not afford to insult the Queen by sending Danielle looking like that. "Look at you, your dress is torn and soiled, and you are filthy all over. We must get you cleaned up and something decent to wear."
Without explaining further, le Pieu turned and left, without closing the door. Danielle was still chained but she could leave the room if she wished. After leaving Danielle, le Pieu paced back and forth trying to make sense out of the letter.
Le Pieu was thinking, Why would they be sending the Queen's carriage? Maybe Comte de Forez didn't mean one of the Queen's royal carriages. Maybe he meant just an ordinary carriage owned by the royal family. Could it be that the Prince wants Danielle for a mistress? If so, Danielle probably wouldn't be coming back. That must be it! In that case, no need to give Danielle an expensive gown. She is only a servant so let her dress as a servant.
Rodmilla had given Danielle's clothes to le Pieu. Le Pieu examined them—a couple of servant dresses and some undergarments. Le Pieu selected Danielle's best dress and undergarments. Even her best dress showed signs of considerable wear. "Not much, but clean—good enough for a servant," Le Pieu said to himself.
Le Pieu was a smart businessman and considering the Divine Right of Kings, he knew that his fortune was dependent on the good will of the King. He had paid a lot for Danielle, and he was not happy with this new occurrence. However, it wouldn't be a total loss. Le Pieu saw this as an opportunity to make a valuable gift to the royal family. Discretely, le Pieu would let the King know how much Danielle had cost. And no, he wouldn't think of accepting compensation for Danielle; however, if the King would consider granting him a certain exclusive trading privilege he would be certain that the profits would generate considerable extra taxes for the royal treasury."
Le Pieu was licking his chops over the thought of all the extra money he would make from an exclusive trading privilege. Not only that but, before long, when Henry tired of Danielle, le Pieu still might get her back. "After the Prince discards Danielle, maybe she will not be so persnickety. Yes, this might work out to be best after all" le Pieu thought to himself.
"Pierre, draw some water so Danielle can take a bath," le Pieu ordered.
Le Pieu then took the clothes of Danielle's he had selected and unlocked her chains before saying, "Take these clothes and come with me. Pierre is drawing water for your bath."
Pierre was arriving with the second bucket of water when le Pieu arrived with Danielle to the room with the tub. Inside the room were a couple of towels, a mirror, soap and a comb. As soon as Pierre poured the second bucket, le Pieu said, "Pierre, that should be enough water. Wait outside and bring Danielle to me when she has finished with her bath and dressed." Le Pieu was not taking any chances that Danielle might try to escape again.
The well water was shivering cold, and Danielle was almost blue from the cold water by the time she finished her bath. Still, it felt so good to be clean. The comb was barely adequate and Danielle could certainly have used a brush for her hair. True, she could have used some makeup, especially to help cover the scratches on her face, but the soap and cold water had helped a lot.
Danielle was apprehensive about her appearance in front of the Queen but was finally satisfied that she had made the most of what she had to work with.
It was noon when Comte de Forez returned to the castle. Before meeting with the Queen he ordered members of the royal guard to take the Queen's carriage to pick up Danielle. It would be a two-hour round trip, and by the time the royal guard returned with Danielle, he would have finished giving his report to the Queen.
Mostly, Comte de Forez only confirmed facts about Danielle that the Queen had already learned. The Queen was outraged when told about the page and necklace. Later, she would inform Francis, and the King would order the page relieved of all duties and privileges pending an investigation. The page would be permitted access to his quarters and public areas but not to the nonpublic areas of the castle. The page would soon realize he was in serious trouble. The investigation could take two weeks to a month.
Queen Marie knew word about the page would get back to Rodmilla and Marguerite. No doubt they would worry about what action would be taken against them. However, the Queen would do nothing for a while. Later, there would be time to determine an appropriate punishment.