Author's Notes:
To: phobos 19. Re your review of 2005-06-07 as follows:
Medieval inheritance laws would automatically grant ownership of the manoir to Daniel upon her reaching the age of 16, or her marriage. Rodmilla would be granted protectorship of the manoir until that time. If she refused to give control of the manoir over then it would be taken up with the king and the court of wards, it wouldn't go to trial. The church would uphold the kings decision and advise.
As you may know, my first priority, except for the what if, is for the story is to conform to the movie. My second priority, after complying with the first priority, is to be reasonably historically accurate (However, I only do a limited amount of research).
Also, I realize what I find on the internet may have errors. Nevertheless, errors or not, an internet search revealed the following:
The Court of Wards and Liveries (England), 1540-1645: Land InheritanceThis research guide only covers the inheritance of land by those (usually wealthy) people who held some of their lands as tenants in chief of the crown, and were therefore subject to various feudal dues.
The Court of Wards and Liveries, which replaced a previous, looser, system of administering the king's feudal dues, was established as the result of two statutes in 1540 (32 Henry VIII c. 46) and 1542 (33 Henry VIII c. 22). When a tenant-in-chief (holding land directly from the Crown) died, his or her land reverted to the crown until the heir paid a sum of money (a relief), and was then able to take possession (livery of seisin) of the lands. However, if the heir was under age (under 21 for a male heir, under 14 for an heiress) then the wardship of the heir, custody of their lands and the right to arrange their marriage passed to the monarch, until the heir came of age. The wardship and marriage was not usually kept in Crown hands, but was sold, sometimes to the next of kin, often simply to the highest bidder.
The Court was a financial institution, responsible for collecting these feudal revenues. However, it also had to cope with the practical and legal consequences arising from wardship and livery. When feudal tenures were abolished by the Long Parliament in 1645, the Court also came to an end. The abolition of the Court was confirmed by Charles II in 1660 (12 Charles II c. 24).
Therefore, it appears you comments would only be applicable in England after 1540 and after the setting of the movie.
Chapter 8—Conclusion
After Danielle passed her first probation test, le Pieu insisted Rodmilla pay him for all the items he had returned in exchange for Danielle. However, Rodmilla would not be able to pay without first selling most of her jewelry and personal possessions so she refused. As a result, le Pieu sued Rodmilla for the value of the items he had given for Danielle. Rodmilla immediately filed a motion for dismissal claiming (1) that, until the court rules otherwise, the items were the property of the Manoir de Barbarac and therefore, le Pieu only returned the manoir's property—property he had no right to keep; and (2) that even if le Pieu did own the items they were given in exchange for all the rights and interest Rodmilla had in Danielle. Therefore, it was like a quit-claim deed. That is, she gave up any right and interest she had in Danielle in exchange for the items. She did not warrant that she owned or had title to Danielle.
In dismissing the lawsuit, the court used the term, let the buyer beware. Otherwise, it was the responsibility of le Pieu, and not the courts, to make certain he is receiving adequate value in a transaction. Losing both Danielle and the property caused le Pieu to become blood-boiling furious and he was determined to appeal. However, his attorney convinced le Pieu that he had very little chance of prevailing, and that pursuing an appeal would not worth his time, energy, and costs.
With diplomatic discussions regarding Princess Gabriella, it did not take long for word to leak out that Gabriella may not return to France and that the marriage may be annulled. How word leaked out would not be determined. Some diplomat or aid, after obtaining a promise of secrecy, just had to tell his wife or close friend. People are like that. They can't keep a secret—they just have to tell someone. Nevertheless, even though they themselves cannot keep a secret, they trust the person they tell not to tell anyone else.
Upon hearing the rumors about Princess Gabriella, Rodmilla is so elated that she temporarily forgot about her desire to sabotage Danielle's efforts to improve the Manoir de Barbarac. The important thing would be for Henry to marry Marguerite and then they could move into the castle. Rodmilla thinks to herself, With Princess Gabriella out the picture, Prince Henry will have to choose Marguerite as the best and only choice. Marguerite is so refined and beautiful. Certainly, Henry could not possibly choose someone that does hard labor and is as common and unsophisticated as Danielle. That obtuse girl even works in the fields.
In early March, Jacqueline accepted a proposal of marriage from Captain Laurent. They planned a June wedding. Perhaps, under the pretense of again meeting and offering his congratulations to Jacqueline, the fiancée of the Captain of the Guard and his good friend Captain Laurent, Prince Henry, along with Captain Laurent, visited the Manoir de Barbarac.
Rodmilla was standing outside her cabin, thinking about how she could arrange an interlude between Henry and Marguerite. Then suddenly! It was impossible. Nevertheless, there was Laurent, with Prince Henry himself, riding toward the manoir.
Think clearly, think logically, Rodmilla commanded herself. She smoothed back her glossy black hair and straightened her dress before making a dash to the back entrance of the manoir's primary residence. Danielle had ordered Rodmilla to ask for permission before entering. However, Rodmilla never paid much attention to that. Rodmilla had stayed away mostly because that horrid little urchin, Dori, followed her every move.
But this was no time to dwell on misfortune. Because Rodmilla had the feeling her ship had finally sailed into port. Rodmilla found Marguerite gaping at the prince through the drawing room window. Rodmilla cupped Marguerite's face. This was the daughter with potential … with Marguerite's face and figure, she could win the heart of any man. The prince would surely succumb to her charms if mother and daughter played their cards right.
"Change quickly girl and do it with utmost care, because you are about to be visited by your future husband," Rodmilla said, her eyes bright.
Marguerite let out a half gasp, half giggle.
"Remember, courtesy is currency," Rodmilla added, swatting her on the behind and gesturing toward Marguerite's bedchamber. "Now go!"
Then Rodmilla's glance fell on Jacqueline, who stood hovering in the background. "You! Help her!"
"Your Highness, what a lovely surprise," Rodmilla said, rising from her curtsy and bestowing her most charming smile on the prince, who for some reason had been looking in the direction of the farmers and Danielle. Not that it mattered. "I wasn't expecting such handsome company." She gestured to the room around her, which had just undergone that fastest tidying up it had ever had. "To what do we owe this honor?"
Prince Henry smiled. "I wished to give my congratulations to your daughter, Jacqueline, on her engagement."
"Oh … well yes of course, Your Highness." Rodmilla wondered why she, of all people, had ended up not only with a vile stepdaughter like Danielle, but also with a flesh-and-blood daughter like Jacqueline, who was so … so … so gauche. Then looking at the prince coyly, she added, "I am looking forward to having such a fine young man as my son-in-law."
As if on cue, Marguerite burst into the drawing room; eyes wild and hair disheveled, a near panic-stricken Jacqueline on her heels. Rodmilla forced away the tight, strained smile that naturally appeared on her lips, and instead gave her daughter the most approving of looks. Better to keep her relaxed … much easier to make a good impression on the prince that way. And at least she had the good sense to wear her most revealing gown.
"Oh, hello ladies," Rodmilla said gracefully, as if the prince dropped by everyday. "Look who's here."
"Your Highness," the sisters said in unison, dropping in a synchronized curtsy.
Rodmilla turned to the prince. "May I again present Marguerite Françoise Louise of the House of Ghent? I know she is looking forward to renewing your acquaintance."
Marguerite beamed. Jacqueline gave a tiny, self-conscious cough.
"And Jacqueline," Rodmilla added, barely noticing the smile that Captain Laurent gave her younger daughter. Rodmilla was too busy planning her next move.
"You may indeed present them," Prince Henry said. "Jacqueline you are getting prettier every day and, I must say Marguerite, that gown looks incredible on you."
"This old thing?" Marguerite cooed. "You are too kind."
Rodmilla resisted the urge to wink at her daughter. Then noticing the prince looking at that annoying little monster, Rodmilla fought back a frown and said, "This is Dori, the daughter of one of my servants."
Dori bowed. "Dori, I'm pleased to meet you," the prince said.
"Her face lit up with a big smile, as she replied, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Dori, ask Paulette or Louise to bring our guest some wine. And Your Highness … Laurent, won't you please have a seat," Rodmilla said, as the excited little girl went off to give the message to Paulette and Louise.
To the consternation of Marguerite, after a few minutes, Prince Henry asked where Danielle was. Masking her resentment, Rodmilla at first thought about saying Danielle had left. However, she knew Danielle was working in the fields. She decided it would be better to let Henry see the contrast between her beautiful, well-dressed daughter and that grubby Danielle working in servant's clothes. Giving Marguerite a slight wink, she said, "Marguerite, why don't you take His Highness to see Danielle?"
Understanding her mother's intention, Marguerite replied, "Oh yes! Your Highness, if you will come with me."
"Your Highness! What are you doing here?" A surprised Danielle said, as she curtsied to the Prince.
Henry smiled! "I wanted to see you." Then lightly taking Danielle's arm to lead her away from the others, he said, "Come, talk to me for a few minutes."
There is something about a pretty girl with windblown hair, a smudged face, and a tattered gown that young men often find just as alluring as a lady all dolled up.
At times, Marguerite can be empty-headed, but she is not blind. She saw Henry's expression, the way his face lit-up, when he saw Danielle. An expression Henry did not have for her. Marguerite remembered that at the ball, Henry gave more attention to Danielle. And now, even when Danielle is dirty and working in servant's clothes, Henry is still obviously more interested in Danielle. Marguerite cannot help it. Her confidence and self-esteem were taking a hit. Marguerite may not give up on Henry, but she will no longer put all her eggs in one basket.
Realizing her younger sister was the first to become engaged caused Marguerite to put more emphasis on getting married herself. It was not long before Marguerite was seeing Jean de la Fin the younger son of a vidame, the lowest titled noble and typically serving a bishop. This caused a big quarrel with Rodmilla who wanted Marguerite to keep pursuing Prince Henry.
"At the very least you should marry a Duc; not the son of some lowly vidame," Rodmilla insisted.
However, Jean was very handsome, confident, and self-assured and the chemistry between them was explosive. Furthermore, Marguerite's hormones were far more aroused by the sizzling hot-blooded attraction between herself and Jean than the though of being with some older man of high rank. Rodmilla's constant criticism of her involvement with Jean just made Marguerite more resolute so within a month, Marguerite and Jean were engaged.
Marguerite's engagement left Rodmilla feeling very unhappy and despondent. For years she had coached and taught Marguerite how to become the wife of a prince, so she could be the mother-in-law and power behind a future king; and now with Marguerite about to marry the younger son of a lowly vidame all her hopes and expectations vanished. To Rodmilla, Hell could not be much worse than living out her remaining days on this despised manoir. With little to keep her occupied and without a goal to aspire to, she seldom ventured out, became very cantankerous and ill-tempered, and received few visitors. Unless Danielle could get Rodmilla to change—to work in her garden, teach the children, and/or take an interest in her daughters, she would live out her remaining years an embittered woman that even her daughters and future grandchildren would seldom visit.
King Charles V just could not accept the fact that his daughter had grown up to become her own person or even that women had minds of their own. So after months of badgering, Princess Gabriella agreed to return to France. King Charles V wanted a grandson that would be in direct line to being the King of France. However, Princess Gabriella wanted to be with the love of her life. Before leaving Spain, Princess Gabriella promised him that she would remain true and that within a few months she would return to Spain.
The Queen of Spain was pretty much convinced that even if Gabriella returned to France, things would not change. Nevertheless, to acquiesce to her husband, she returned to France with her daughter. King Charles thought, while in France, the Queen could persuade Gabriella to consummate her marriage. In any event, Princess Gabriella and Danielle were pleased to renew their friendship. Gabriella told Danielle about the man she really loved and how her father was being so stubborn and pigheaded. "Sometimes, I believe all men are like that", she joked. Danielle invited Gabriella and her mother to visit the manoir to see the improvements. And like she would with any visit from royalty, Rodmilla made certain that she and Marguerite made a good impression on the princess and queen.
After returning to France, Gabriella and Henry renewed their pact with even more conviction than before. It did not escape the notice of the Queen of Spain that sometimes Prince Henry and some pretty French Mademoiselle would leave together in the evenings and disappear until late at night. Nevertheless, in honor of the visit from the queen of and the return of Princess Gabriella King Francis decided to throw a ball. A masked ball.
For the masque, Danielle dressed as the Greek goddess Athena. Carissa made Dainiele a simple white gown. The full skirt was ankle length. The top was hip length, sleeveless and trimmed with a band of gold cloth and gold cording. There was an attached sheer drape. Lionel made a thin crown or headband of highly polished brass and a narrow matching brass mask to fit around Danielle's eyes. Dressed in her costume, crown, and sandals, Danielle truly looked like a Greek goddess.
Danielle's poise and the simple elegance of her white and gold dress was such a contrast to the other courtiers that she quickly caught the attention of Nicolas d'Angorne, the handsome twenty-two year old elder son of a duc. In Rodmilla's opinion, other than the prince himself, Nicolas would be perfect for Marguerite but he only seemed to have eyes for Danielle.
Danielle and Nicolas danced, drink wine, talked, and later went to the outside upper walkway where Danielle allowed Nicolas to kiss her briefly before returning inside. Nicolas invited Danielle to visit their castle and meet his family. During her two day visit, Danielle made a hit with Ana, the seventeen year old sister of Nicolas. Ana was fascinated by Danielle's descriptions of her meetings with both Henry and Gabriella. Nicolas tried to talk Danielle into staying longer, but Danielle had felt her responsibilities to the Manoir de Barbarac required that she return. She did let Nicolas know that he was welcome to visit her most any time.
Danielle easily passed her six-month probation test. The manoir was doing so well that the bishop indicated the final one-year probation test would just be a formality.
During the first week of June, Jacqueline and Captain Laurent were married. During the party and celebrations that followed the wedding, Prince Henry spent a lot of time with Danielle making certain that her goblet of wine was always full. During the gaiety associated with her stepsister's wedding, Danielle did become a little tipsy. Nevertheless, after the bride and groom departed, while flirtatiously suggestion perhaps another time, she was still able to deftly decline Henry's invitation to join him in his quarters. Danielle was one of the very few that knew of the pact between Henry and Gabriella; but, while Henry was married, Danielle was determined to maintain proper propriety. However, Danielle's reluctance would only encourage Henry to make greater efforts to see Danielle.
To have a steady supply and variety of vegetables the farmers used relay and succession planting and would plant both cool-season and warm-season crops. They also planted a very large variety of crops. The manoir has some of the best soil in the province, so the farmers were able to choose quality over quantity. And they used a number of proven methods to protect the crops from pests and varmints.
When the first crops were being harvested, Danielle made a deal with the proprietor a large upscale café. Each day she would provide him with only the best, most tender, and highest quality vegetables. Although the proprietor was paying a premium price, he was very satisfied because the produce was always carefully selected to be of the highest quality and he only paid for what he used. Each day or as soon as any of the produce showed even the slightest signs of wilting or over-ripening, any produce he had not used would be removed by Danielle and the farmers and sold in the market at a much lower price along with the lower quality vegetables.
This arrangement proved very advantageous to both Danielle and proprietor. The proprietor did not need to take the time to shop in the market place or deal with suppliers that often would try to pass off lower quality produce and the manoir was assured of a steady income during the growing season.
By the time the vegetable were first being harvested, Danielle had used up all of her gold francs. She even sold several of her gowns and the more valuable items of jewelry she received from Marguerite during the equitable division of personal directed by Father de l'Orme. However, now that the crops were starting to be harvested, the manoir was able to show a profit, and Danielle was able to start paying current and back wages.
In late June Marguerite and Jean were married. Rodmilla made a final attempt to talk Marguerite out of the marriage but, if anything, that only made Marguerite more determined. The wedding, attended by Rodmilla, Jacqueline, and Danielle, was held in a church in the diocese of the bishop that Jean's father served. Jean and Marguerite would never have a lot but would always be better off than all but the most prosperous peasants.
By the end of August, the manoir would make a profit of over a hundred gold francs and considerable more would be earned from the vineyard. This would put Danielle and the manoir on sound footing, and allow the cash for the construction of more cottages and additional staff. During the following years the manoir would be even more profitable.
Epilogue
By late September Gabriella insisted she was returning to Spain. The two Kings finally realized that the marriage between Henry and Gabriella would not be consummated so they agreed to allow the church to annul the marriage.
After the annulment Henry would almost certainly propose to Danielle, unless she was already engaged to Nicolas. I leave it to the readers to decide if Danielle stays with the manoir she loves, or chooses to marry Nicolas or Henry.