Here is the next part... I thought I had posted it here as well as at LJ... obviously not LOL oops, sorry! Anyway, read on and review… I really would like some more reviews for this. Thank you!
Also thanks to sunshine231 & chinkerchickchu (Chinkerchickchu:- LOL my PotO one is updated LOL :D Thanks for reading that too.)
B U Part 4 /U /B
B U Confessions /U /B
"That is not all, Henry." She exclaimed as he turned from her. She would not let this opportunity pass, she could not. "Please sit."
Taking a seat at her feet she sighed, turning from him she paced forward a few steps and then came back kicking dirt nervously.
"Your highness." Henry opened his mouth to insist she use his given name, but she raised a hand to stop him. "Don't interrupt!" Mumbling he was sorry, he looked away as she glared. "Anyway, I am not a courtier." Her voice just above a whisper, her eyes moved from him her shoes seeming interesting all of a sudden.
Henry sprung up in shock. "Of course you are! You were at court!"
"I believe I told you this as well, Sire. I distinctly remember saying 'Who said I was a courtier, Your Highness?' I do believe you just laughed."
"I thought you were joking! Dear God how? Why… Dani--" His tone changed then from shock but warm to terrifyingly cold, causing Danielle to let out an involuntary shiver. "Mademoiselle, why did you lie to me?"
"I never lied, Your Highness. I merely did not tell the whole truth." Henry gaped at her.
"As if that is any better!" He shouted, seeing her flinch from him he ran a hand through his hair, frustrated beyond the definition. "Please, why are you doing this to me?"
"Henry please…"
"Do not address me so informal, Madam. I am a prince of France...and you are just like them."
"Let me explain! Please?" She cried at him, tears streaming down her face. "Please?"
Turning to glare at her, Henry nodded.
"I never meant to deceive you."
"Did you not? My, that is a surprise." His lips rose as he sneered at her, eyes betraying his disappointment, loathing and hurt. "Why Danielle? Was it for the crown? The money maybe?"
"Oh God, NO! None of that matter to me, Hen--Your Highness, I never thought I'd see you again!"
Ignoring everything she just said he continued, "So how did you do it? Did you have your spies inform you I would be at the lake?" He accused her, his tone cold; eyes steel his new countenance tearing into her heart.
'This can not be the same man I was speaking to but a few moments ago. It can not be!'
"YES! Is that what you want to hear? I knew you'd be here so I jumped in the lake and made sure Signor de Vinci tripped over me. Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!"
"I knew it!" He exclaimed his icy stare once again pinned on her tear streaked face.
"Good God, can you not tell I am joking?" Danielle raised a shaky hand to wipe away the tears, effectively rubbing dirt across her cheek. "I did not know you'd be here. I did not even know you'd be in court that day."
"Really. Most convenient that I was, don't you think?"
"I was trying to save a mans life! He was sold to Cartier, I- he has a wife, Sire. He is old, he would have surely died had he sailed! He was my friend, like a second father to me! I could not let him go! God," She laughed, it sounded bitter and cruel. "Why can't you see that not everything is about you? You are arrogant!"
Henry's mouth dropped in shock. "Madam, how dare you speak to the Crown Prince of France in such a manner!"
Looking up at him, pity shinning in her hazel eyes, she smiled sadly. "Sire, it does not matter who you are, or how I address you, the fact is you are arrogant. And I will have nothing to do with you!" Henry opened his mouth to speak again, but this time she was faster than he was. "Believe what you will about me M'Lord, good day."
Turning from him, trying to keep her sense of composure and dignity, she briskly walked from him, tears stinging her eyes. Refusing to wipe them away until he was out of site she merely blinked and helped them fall faster. Passing Leonardo, she nodded to him and kept walking. Once the trees blocked her from view she took off, running as fast as she could in the direction of the manor, forgetting about her pig.
XXX
"Believe what you will about me M'Lord, good day."
Henry stood frozen in place, not understanding fully what just happened here. That girl, that servant, had just walked out on him. She had left him! He was finding that concept very hard to grasp. Looking up at Signor de Vinci he wasn't surprised to see him shaking his head and frowning.
Sighing he headed up towards him, trying to act as if Danielle's desertion and rejection didn't matter.
XXX
Leonardo heard the shouting as soon as it started, occasionally he moved closer to the edge to voice his opinion but always stopped himself, feeling that they should sort it out themselves or not at all.
When Danielle walked past him, a slight tilt of her head all that showed she even knew he was there, and ran once she thought she was out of site. She was wrong, Henry may not have seen her but he had, he knew she hurt and it took every ounce of willpower not to go after her, or better yet go down there and beat Henry over the head with a rock.
Looking over the edge, he saw the boy in question walking back and forth glowering.
'Serves the fool right.'
Frowning down at him, Leonardo shook his head making sure Henry knew how disappointed he was in him when, and if, the boy would look up. Seeing Henry come bounding up the cliff side Leonardo figured something must have gotten through to him.
"Who does she think she is? Dismissing me? Me!"
Shaking his head again, the Signor realized that no, nothing could get through that thick arrogant skull of his, they needed Danielle!
"Good God, boy, she's right!" He muttered disgusted at his behavior, he stood their whining while the best thing that may have happened to him walked out of his life. "No, she missed something. You're also a fool!"
He raised his arms to emphasize his point, desperately trying not to pick up the rock he was eyeing. Henry noted his gaze and bent down; handing the rock to the older man he figured he was being helpful. Grinning proudly at his thoughtfulness he was barely able to dodge the flying object.
"Why thank you, Your Highness. I couldn't quite decide to throw it or not, but you chose for me it seems."
"Are you insane?" Henry exclaimed, running a hand across his head checking for bumps just incase. "You nearly hit me!"
"But I didn't. Nearly is not did, boy." He argued, Henry shook his head and leaned against the carriage. "What happened up there?"
"She… she wants nothing to do with me, said so herself. What have I done?" His voice cracked under the strain of his barely suppressed emotions. It was not right for a man to cry in public let alone the prince, but he couldn't seem to stop himself, and without Danielle didn't seem to care. Bursting into tears, he let them run down his face unheeded, Danielle's tear streaked face burned into his memory, closing his eyes he chose to see it, no matter the dirt or the wet tracks she was beautiful. She was intelligent, witty, strong, brave, kind, beautiful, and perfect and he let her get away. He was… he was everything she had said, she and Leonardo.
"I must get her back!" He stood, looking for his cloak only to remember she took it with her. He could only image she'd burn it when she returned to her home, or give it to the pigs. He found himself laughing at the thought of livestock sheltered with his expensive clothing.
"You have lost her, yet it amuses you so. Why?"
"That is not what amuses me Signor, rather what she will do with my attire once she remembers she possess it."
"Leave her be." Leonard shouted suddenly, ruining the happy mood they had created altogether. "She needs time." When Henry looked ready to protest the painter raises a strange looking object, paper and sticks attached to strings. "How about we fly my kite? And call upon her tomorrow?"
Knowing it was fruitless arguing, Henry nodded his consent and together both men headed back down to the lake side.
XXX
