To my reviewers, TLSlark and KoalaHC, thank you! It's nice to know you are liking the story. And this chapter will show, at least to start, what happens at Hautefort upon their arrival.
Just a little note: I may not be updating as fast as I was before. I am a junior at college and my classes are a little harder than before as well as I am working when I am scheduled, so I don't have as much time as I used to to write. So don't expect an update real soon.
And without further delay, here's chapter six
Chapter Six
King Francis paced in one of his private conference rooms in the palace. A missive he had received earlier from an old friend of his had intrigued him.
Marina de Bella had been a good friend of his long before he had married Marie. They hadn't kept in touch through the years at all. At least until a few hours ago when he received her letter.
He was also curious about the way she had signed the letter. He did not know that she had married until he saw her signature. He looked down at the missive again and read it over.
Dear Francis,
A great injustice involving a member of my family must be righted and I need your help to do so.
We will arrive in Hautefort later today, and I implore you, listen to what we have to say.
Sincerely,
Marquise Marina de Bella du Loncret
Francis continued to pace impatiently. The words of the missive were cryptic but just from her new last name, he figured out who it involved. The young woman from the night before who had probably stained the name of the family by using the name of a deceased family member.
At that moment, a page entered the room. "Your highness?"
"Yes?" Francis asked impatiently.
"Marquis and Marquise du Loncret and granddaughters are here, your highness," the page announced.
"Let them in," Francis said. The page left the room and Andrew, Marina, Meredith, and Danielle walked into the room.
"Marina, it is good to see you again," Francis said, embracing his old friend.
"It is good to see you as well, Francis. May I introduce my family: my husband Marquis Andrew du Loncret, and my step-granddaughters Lady Meredith and Lady Danielle du Loncret," Marina said in introduction as they parted.
Now Francis understood the missive differently. The injustice, he now knew, had been done to Marina's step-granddaughter and he knew it would be righted if he had anything to say about it.
"It is a pleasure to meet all of you and to realize what Marina's missive meant," Francis said to the three of them before solely addressing Danielle. "My dear, please accept my apologies for how you were treated last night by Henry and for how I reacted to it."
"It is alright, your highness. You did not know the truth. I did not know the truth either until after the masque when grandfather was waiting at the manor to fetch me," Danielle said, giving the king a gracious smile.
Francis smiled back at her. He embraced the young woman before sitting in a chair and waving the others to sit in the other chairs and sofas around the room.
"Well, I am sure you are here to seek punishment for the people who mistreated you granddaughter, am I correct?"
"Yes, your highness. We are here to seek punishment against Rodmilla de Ghent for the mistreatment of Danielle as well as against Esther de Ville for how she treated Meredith," Andrew said with determination.
Francis nodded. "Of course, Andrew. They must be punished for what they did to both your granddaughters. I can already see what Rodmilla needs to be punished for. She treated a noblewoman as if she was a servant," he said.
"Both women did that, Francis. And both women basically stole what truly belongs to both girls. Both women married their fathers and upon their deaths took control of the homes and fortunes that belongs truly to both girls," Marina said to them.
"That is correct. The Baroness was married to Danielle's father, August du Barbarac and Esther was married to Meredith's father, Comte Daniel de Lov. The manors truly belong to both girls, not the women who claimed them," Andrew told Francis.
"Understood. What punishment do you wish to seek for both women and quite possibly for their daughters?" Francis asked.
"Amelia and Emilie, your highness, are not to be punished. They never mistreated me. I was always considered their sister," Meredith spoke up.
"And Jacqueline will not be punished either, your highness, because she has been mistreated herself. Rodmilla has always doted on Marguerite and Jacqueline has always had to help her," Danielle spoke up after her cousin,
"Indeed, the girls are correct, Francis. Amelia and Emilie are on their way to the Chateau and Jacqueline is being given the Manoir du Barbarac, which will be wonderful for her and Laurent, who she was with at the Masque," Marina explained.
"And Marguerite will be punished along with her mother for how she treated Danielle, but her punishment has already been given to her," Andrew finished the explanation.
"And what punishment do you wish to seek for both women for what they have done to both girls?" Francis asked.
"Shipment to the Americas, at least, for both women, unless you believe they deserve a harsher punishment," Marina said.
"Well, we shall see after an investigation into both of them. Then their punishment will be fully given to them," Francis said.
"Thank you, your majesty," Andrew said with a smile.