Chapter Three

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A/N - Hiya! Thank you so much for reviewing and giving me the initiative to continue this story. You guys are great. As for who she falls in love with...I'm not telling! Mwah ha ha ha ha!

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"I can't wear this thing!" cried Rebecca as she looked in the mirror with shock at the brown monstrosity she was wearing. "It's a torture device." The monstrosity itself was a plain brown dress with white sleeves, layered skirts and a heavily corseted waist.

"Yes, I'm never quite sure why women insist on suffocating themselves, but you need to fit in around here. People will think you're insane if you prance around in that future drag outfit you arrived in." said Gustav tersely.

"The skirt's too short, we'll have to get some more made." Leonardo chuckled. He was right. Five hundred years worth of diet improvements had left Rebecca a good head taller than the usual Renaissance woman and the gown she had been donated only reached mid-calf giving making her look like one of the Von Trapp children.

"Always an excuse to go shopping." sighed Gustav irritably. "That allowance the king gave you won't last forever, you know."

"Oh nag nag nag! Who are you? My mother?"

"At least I take some responsibility around here. You're not living it up in Florence any more."

"Erm... Excuse me?" said Rebecca. "If you two love birds are finished bickering, can we please get going? I want to see the town."

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The town square was buzzing with activity for the weekly market. The dresses had been ordered, the fabrics chosen and the measurements made. At which point Rebecca went off on her own to explore the town.

"Are you sure you'll be all right on your own?" asked Leonardo.

"Hey, don't worry. I'm from London." came his reply and he nodded in agreement.
Hautefort was a haven of peace compared to that place.

The young girl practically bounced with excitement as she strolled around the market place with a small purse of coins that her new protector had given her. Of course she was worried about her present situation. That was the problem, she wasn't in the present! However this was the opportunity of a lifetime and Rebecca was not going to let it pass her by. The hustle and bustle of the town, the sights, the sound and the rather disgusting smells. Mental note - the next time she time travelled she would have to go to one of those perfumery towns, then maybe the odour wouldn't be so bad.
She passed many stalls, most of them selling farm produce or livestock. there was one that sold honey and beeswax, another had wool and linens. Then there were the artisans who had shops of there own, the blacksmiths, the carpenters, the cobblers and there was even a barber shop which probably provided surgical procedures as well.
Rebecca winced as she saw a man through the window having his teeth pulled.

Suddenly she heard someone gasp behind her and spun around to see two elderly women pointing at her.

"Hello?" she said hesitantly and walked towards them "Is there something wrong?"

"Danielle?" asked one of them nervously then looked at her closely and realised her mistake. "Oh sorry! My mistake. The resemblance is uncanny though."

"Yes, uncanny." said the other one.

"Sorry. You lost me there." said Rebecca. "What's uncanny?"

"You look just like her royal highness." exclaimed the first woman "Tell me. What is your name, child?"

"Um... Rebecca. Rebecca Miller."

"You don't by any chance have any relatives here, do you?" said the other.

"Well sort of. My uncle, André de Barbarac, used to live here but I don't think you'd know him..." she was cut off by yet another gasp from the two ladies. "Is something wrong?" but they had already go to the back and were whispering fiercely amongst themselves.

"The master's brother!" whispered one of them.

"You mean the one disappeared?" said the other.

"Yes!"

Do you know what this means? She could be Danielle's last living relative!" said the other and turned back to Rebecca. "Sorry dear, how rude of us. I'm Louise and this is Paulette. We are the princess' servants."

"Oh OK." said Rebecca "You mean like ladies in waiting?"

"Oh no! Only noblewomen are allowed that job!" exclaimed Paulette "We look after her land while she's away."

"Well that explains the stall."

"Danielle...I mean her highness lets us keep all the profits the farm makes and refuses to accept rent."

"That's very generous." said Rebecca and smiled "It looks like you're doing well too."

"Oh yes very well. The farms never been in better shape, actually, and the manor. Do you know it? It's called Chap deVialle."

"No can't say that I do." said Rebecca but she had a fair suspicion. "But it does seem to grow good apples, how much are they?"

"Two coppers by the dozen but for you I'll make it one." said Louise and winked conspiringly.

"One penny? You've sold them to me that cheap!" said a voice behind. Rebecca turned to see a skinny bald man with a very unusual beard and an earring. 'Hmm, Right Said Fred the Pirate years' she thought and suppressed a chuckle.

"You're rich enough so we can charge you extra." Paulette snapped to which the man only laughed.

"But I supposed such a beautiful customer deserves a discount on everything." he said smoothly. Rebecca once again had to use all her willpower to not burst out laughing.
But, wait a minute! Was he coming on to her!

"Yeah it must be difficult for the facially challenged." said Rebecca, shoulders shaking with laughter.

The man's eyes flared with anger "Do you have any idea who you are talking to?" he snarled.

"I dunno, Sir Francis Drake?"

"Who?"

"Never mind."

"I, mademoiselle am Pierre Le Pieu the royal armourer and the richest man in he province."

"Really?" said Rebecca feigning astonishment.

"Impressed are we, my dear?" said Le Pieu smugly.

"You don't by any chance have a brother called Pepe, do you?"

"No."

"Shame, because that would have really impressed me."

"Be careful Rebecca." whispered Paulette worriedly. Confident as she was, the girl was on dangerous ground.

"Rebecca? What a beautiful name. It's so nice to meet a young girl with spirit. They're so rare these days. Why don't we discuss this further at my chateau and we can share those lovely apples of yours?"

That sentence was so full of sexual connotations that Rebecca would never be able to look at an apple in the same way again. She should have been offended but found herself incredibly amused instead.

"No thank you, monsieur, I've got far more interesting plans...like eating glass."

"Very well, but remember my offer. There may come a time when you might need a wealthy benefactor... I know I could do with someone as wilful as you." said Le Pieu and sauntered.

"Oh that dirty old man!" cried Louise. "Someone should teach him a lesson."

"Yes, you're right." said Rebecca and picked up one her apples and threw it hard at the retreating man's bald head which ricocheted off and sent him hurtling into the mud much to the amusement of everyone at the market place.

"She's Danielle's relative all right." said Louise and started laughing and shouting "Don't worry! That's ones on the house."