To my reviewers, Coolgirl123, lovedoves, Fairychild2004, and angeldanielle, thank you for the wonderful reviews!
And without further delay, here is chapter eleven.
Runaway
Chapter Eleven
Three days after Marie went home with her parents, Melisande and Thomas fetched Rodmilla and she began her year of servitude for the family. Rodmilla hadn't expected to be claimed for her service so soon, until they explained to her about their discovery. Rodmilla was shocked that her biggest secret had been revealed.
She then told them that her eldest child had been a little girl named Marguerite and that she had died several days after Christmas when she had been three years old. Rodmilla and her husband Jean had been devastated by her death and Jean was scared for his wife since she had been pregnant with Jacqueline at the time and he feared they might lose their child, so Jean planned carefully a plot to kidnap a child that looked like Marguerite. The kidnapping had been successful and it was kept a closely guarded secret.
The one thing that Rodmilla hadn't known was that the child was a noble's child. If she had known, she would have made sure she was returned to her parents, but Jean made her believe that it was a peasant child that would be better off with them. So now, she regretted her actions, but all of them believed that her regrets were not enough. She still needed to pay for what she did to Danielle and to Marie.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Jacqueline roamed the gardens around the Paris palace with her beloved Laurent talking about Danielle and her kindness toward Marie after the discovery of the truth.
"She forgave Marie so easily for everything. Why won't she forgive Henry as easily?" Laurent asked.
"Because Henry did it all himself. Marie was influenced by my mother. That is why she won't forgive him as easily. But I think she might be ready or close to ready to forgive him. He just needs to give her a little time yet before she's ready," Jacqueline said.
"I hope you're right," Laurent said
--------------------------------------------------------------
Danielle roamed the gardens at the Manoir when a sound came from behind her.
"Ariel, you scared me!" Danielle exclaimed when she turned quickly at the noise.
"I am sorry, Danielle, but we just got an invitation from Genevieve. She's throwing a masque ball at the Chateau!" Ariel exclaimed.
"A masque! How wonderful! Will your fiancé be there, sister dear?" Danielle asked coyly.
Ariel blushed. "Yes, he will. But of course, his good friend Andrew will be there. And you know how much he likes you."
Danielle blushed. "And I like him. But not as much as I love Henry. But I have every right to start a relationship with someone else. And this is a way Henry can prove his love, by fighting against someone else for my heart."
"Exactly. He must prove that his love for you was not a lie and this is a good way to do so," Ariel said.
"Let the games for my heart begin!" Danielle exclaimed as Ariel laughed at her sister's antics.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"A masque? Where?" Henry asked.
"At Lady Genevieve de Monfort's chateau a few miles away from Danielle's new home," Laurent said, reading from the invitation they had just received.
"This is perfect! I broke her heart at a masque and I will regain it or start to win it again at another. Danielle and I will be together!" Henry exclaimed joyously.
"It is perfect. And knowing my stepsister, she will have some sort of test for you to pass and I know that you will pass it," Jacqueline said from her chair.
"Yes, I will pass it. I will pass any test that Danielle gives me to prove my love to her," Henry said with a smile.
"I have no doubt that you will, you majesty. You will do whatever it takes to win her heart back," Laurent said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danielle sat in front of her mirror that night allowing her servant Anna to comb through her hair. Anna was quiet most of the time, but tonight, the young woman was not happy at all.
"Who does that woman think she is, mistress? Who is she to be telling us that she is in charge?" Anna asked furiously.
Danielle sighed. She knew exactly to whom Anna was referring. "Rodmilla must learn her place. Do not worry, Anna. Father will take care of it in the morning."
"I do hope so, mistress. Miss Marguerite was better than her. At least she understood. Rodmilla does not," Anne said.
A few moments later, Anne finished the combing and helped Danielle finish her preparations before she crawled under her covers and fell asleep.