Chapter Seven
While Andrew stayed in the conference room with Francis to start the investigation, the three women headed out into the castle gardens and joined Queen Marie for tea.
"Oh, Danielle, I am so sorry for the way you were treated by Rodmilla and my son last night," Marie apologized to Danielle.
"It is alright, your majesty. It is not your fault. It was Henry's decision to allow it all to happen last night," Danielle said before taking a small sip of her tea.
"But I still feel guilty about it, my dear. My son has been taught better than this," Marie said.
"Your majesty, no matter how we teach our children, they have to make their own mistakes," Marina said.
"Very true. My son, I know, will come to regret his actions last night. Of course, DaVinci is on him about it every single minute of the day. He will single-handedly make Henry regret treating you like that," Marie said.
"I wouldn't doubt it. DaVinci is a very strong presence right now in his highness's lifte and he could be the one to teach him how to treat a young woman," Danielle said with a slight laugh. She knew that DaVinci would do his best to knock some sense into the prince.
Leonardo DaVinci and Henry walked the garden path nearby and they were not very quiet. DaVinci was very loud about how Henry had treated Danielle the night before.
"Do you not care that you broke that girl's heart with what you did?" Leonardo asked loudly.
"No, I do not care. She lied to me and she deserved how I treated her!" Henry exclaimed as they continued to walk.
"No, she did not! I have told you time and time again that she was going to tell you the truth!" Leonardo exclaimed.
"But she still lied! She should've told me the truth all along!" Henry exclaimed back.
By this time, they were almost within earshot of his mother and the other women and Henry, of course, didn't realize that Danielle was nearby. His next words would wound her heart. "I will never forgive her for lying to me! I will never forgive her for deceiving me! Never!"
A gasping sob was heard at that moment and Leonardo and Henry looked ahead to the table to see his mother, Marina, and Meredith trying to comfort a distraught Danielle. She had heard every word of his declaration. The words had cut through her already broken heart, decimating her hope for any type of reunion with her beloved Henry.
Marina and Marie turned toward Henry with anger in their eyes. He had spoken the words that would forever be remembered by the sobbing young woman behind them.
Henry approached the table and saw who was there. His eyes glared at the young woman until he noticed his mother and Marina glaring at him.
Henry opened his mouth to ask what was going on when his mother spoke venomously. "Do you realize what you have done, my son? If the Marquis sees her in this state, your reprimand from him will be much worse!"
"It is too late, your highness. I heard every word the prince has said and I see my granddaughter's distraught state. Her heart has been wounded now, beyond repair. She will never be the same carefree young woman again!" came the angry voice of the Marquis.
Henry turned and saw a man that for years he had held in high esteem, but now that man seemed somewhat disappointed in him. "You have no idea the lies she has told me, Marquis."
"And you have no idea of the lies you have believed that the Baroness de Ghent told you! Danielle is my granddaughter, your highness. She is a noblewoman! Her mother was my eldest child and I am glad Nicole didn't live to see the pain you, Rodmilla, and Marguerite have set upon her! You have decimated her heart and you shall pay for it!" the Marquis exclaimed.
Henry stared in shock at the Marquis and then turned to Danielle, who had dried her tears and had approached Henry with determination in every step she had taken. She was about to tell the man she had loved every truth she could to hurt him as much as she had been hurt by him.
"Your highness, I am not who Rodmilla said I was. My father was Rodmilla's husband, making her my stepmother. Upon my father's death, she turned me into a servant in my own home. She didn't allow my beloved grandfather to take me to my new home as my father had asked him to do upon his death. She has put me through excruciating pain and suffering for the last 10 years, 10 years that could've been spent learning how to be a true noblewoman and courtier. And now you add to the pain by believing her lies and saying that you will never forgive me. Well, your highness, I will never forgive you for believing her lies, for hurting me! My love for you has been destroyed!" Danielle exclaimed before turning away and walking into Marina's arms.
Henry was shocked by her words. The pain in her voice had been obvious and she had spoken the truth vehemently. The truth of who she was. He turned to his father for confirmation of her words. Instead of nodded, the King turned away from his son.
Shame filled Henry as he turned to the sight of the woman he loved in the arms of her stepgrandmother. She glared at him before she, Marina, and Meredith turned to leave.
The Marquis turned to Francis for a moment. "I will be waiting to hear from you," he said before he followed his family.