To Aisling-Siobhan, LutzButz2687, TPolTucker, and Coolgirl123, thank you for the excellent reviews!
Here's Chapter Twelve. Enjoy and Review!
Chapter Twelve
Night of the Masque
Danielle sat in front of her mirror as Anne finished plaiting her hair. White ribbons were entwined in her beautiful braided hair. The same beautiful gown she had worn for the masque at the palace had been copied by the seamstress and the new gown seemed to glitter even more than the original and beautiful glass slippers adorned her feet.
Ariel watched from the doorway of her sister's room as Anne finished with her sister's preparations. "Let the games begin!" she whispered. Danielle was going to tempt Henry and would make him grovel at her feet. She was really going to make him prove his love.
Anne finished and Danielle rose from her chair, put on her white beaded mask, and she and Ariel walked down the stairs and outside to the carriage with Thomas and Melisande right behind them.
The carriage took off, traveling down the road to Chateau de Monfort for the masque.
Henry looked in the mirror in his room at the Paris Palace, making sure he looked perfect. He placed his mask on his face and was glad that he believed that Danielle wouldn't be able to tell that it was him behind the mask.
He left his room and walked to the entrance where Laurent, Jacqueline, and his mother were waiting for him. They headed outside and boarded a simple carriage and headed down the road to the Chateau de Monfort for the masque.
Danielle, Ariel, and their parents arrived outside the Chateau and the footmen helped them out and they were escorted to the door. Genevieve was waiting there for them.
"Danielle, you look absolutely beautiful! You do as well, Ariel! You two are just visions of beauty," Genevieve said to them with a smile.
"As do you, Genevieve. Has his majesty arrived yet?" Ariel asked.
"Not as of yet. But he assured father that he would be here," Genevieve said. "Let me guess, Danielle. This masque of mine is actually a proving ground for his highness to prove his love for you."
"Indeed, Genevieve. He must prove his love for me and that begins tonight," Danielle said with a smile.
"Good. I cannot wait to see what you have planned," Genevieve said with a wicked smile, which Danielle shared.
"Don't worry. You'll see what I have planned soon enough," Danielle said before she, Ariel, Thomas, and Melisande walked into the chateau and walked into the ballroom.
Ariel literally shot to her fiancé's side and whispered to him about Danielle's plan while Danielle was surrounded by her new friends.
"Well, Angelina, is everyone prepared for tonight's plan?" Danielle asked her good friend Lady Angelina de Vol.
"But of course, Danielle. The question is, are you ready my dear?" Angelina asked.
"I am ready. The plan will begin once his highness arrives," Danielle said.
"How long will your plan go on, Danielle?" Lord Michael duBois asked her.
"Until he has finally paid for how he hurt me. He wants me to forgive him, but he must truly pay for how he hurt me before I will forgive him," Danielle said.
"Danielle, he will pay for how he hurt you," came the voice of her former stepsister, now good friend Marie. "He listened to Rodmilla and we all know how much of a liar she is."
"By the way, Danielle, how is Rodmilla faring as a servant?" Angelina asked.
"It is a trial so far. Father had to lash her this morning and has had to do it almost every day since she was brought to the manor. She is not adjusting at all. Not like you did, Marie," Danielle said.
"That is because I knew I had to pay for how I had treated you and I tried to do my best to acquiesce to your commands and your family's commands," Marie said. "Then you gave me the greatest gift. You gave my true family back to me."
"And I will never regret doing so. Rodmilla stole our lives away from us for years and now we have been able to get those lives back. Not the exact same lives we were torn away from, but lives that fulfill us in the same way," Danielle said.
Both girls giggled and then quickly quieted as Jacqueline, Laurent, Henry, and Queen Marie entered the ballroom of the chateau. A sly smile came over Danielle's face at the sight of Henry.
"Well, my friends, if you are ready, let the games begin!" she quietly exclaimed.
The young woman gathered around her giggled as Henry turned his head toward them. Danielle turned her head and she and her friends walked as far away from his highness as they possibly could.