**** DISCLAIMER SEE CHAPTER ONE***** Sorry it has taken me so long to update. My amazing beta is back from Florida! RatchetxHide please go check out her amazing LOTR stories as well. So a mature some arent.
The next morning one of the Gypsy's wives gentle woke them just before dawn, so Danielle might be able to return home with limited punishment, along with a note from the Gypsy King explaining Danielle had been injured and unable to walk home. Their doctor had wrapped it to make sure she would be okay. Danielle hoped it would help the Baroness not punish her. They quietly made their way out of the cave not to wake the others. Two horses were waiting for them at the entrance of the cave.
"Thank you for a wonderful night, I will always remember it" Danielle told her mounting one of the horses.
"I as well, My lady. Thank you for amazing night. We enjoyed it." Henry agreed with Danielle.
"We enjoyed you both as well if either of you can join us again, please feel free to do so. My husband has not been put in his place by a woman besides our ladies in quiet a long time. It was refreshing to watch him be put in his place." Lita told them handing them the reins.
"I hope we can do this again soon." Danielle told her with a smile. Lita stepped away with a smile. Nodding her head in agreeance. Henry and Danielle quietly rode off towards her home.
As they neared, Henry slowed and dismounted, Taking Danielle's reins as she slowed and dismounted. Henry held her reins, he pulled Danielle closer to him. She laid her head on his chest feeling as if it will be the last time, she ever sees him again.
"Why does this feel as if its goodbye" Henry whispered in her hair.
"I know what you mean, it's like this horrible feeling like I'll never see you again." Danielle said whispering softly to Henry.
"I have to go I'll see you soon as I can" Danielle spoke softly.
"Meet me at the ruins in Cambridge tomorrow?" Henry asked as she started to walk away.
"I shall try" She told him softly with a smile.
Walking towards the house Danielle was scared what she was about to walk into, she knew the Baroness would be extremely mad that she was missing. She hoped the note from the Gypsy king would save her from a lashing. She slowly opened the side door to the servant's quarters to see Paulette sitting on her bed waiting for her.
"Good Heavens child where have you been? The Baroness has been in a mood since last night when you did not return. What happen?" She asked concerned.
"I am so sorry Paulette. I did not mean to make you worry. Our carriage broke a wheel, we started walking towards the Palace which I knew we would pass here so he could get a horse and ride the rest of the way. Gypsy stopped us. The king of them would not allow us to leave at first. But I made him a bet he said I could have anything I could carry. I picked Henry up and started to carry him, they were all shocked" Danielle told her with mirth.
"Oh, my child, you are your father's daughter. Proving them, we are just as good as them" Paulette smiled.
"It was late, so they offered for us to stay somewhere warm and safe, the wives are sweet and kind. Reminded me of how father used to tell me about my mother. I did tell him the truth about me. I could not lie anymore. He deserved to know the truth. He sat there and held me as I poured my heart and soul to him, all the fear I was feeling that he would leave me because I am me a low common born and he a crowned Prince. Paulette, he told me didn't care and loved me for me" Danielle told her in tears.
"He sounds like your father more and more. I am so happy for you child, but please be careful with the Baroness. If she found out I fear for you." Paulette told her cupping her face.
"I know, I am I even had the Gypse King's doctor write a letter saying I was injured I hope it will be enough to make the baroness not give me a lashing." Danielle told her handing Paulette the note.
"I pray child as well. Get some more rest child ill cover for you this morning if she will let you. I'll give her the note as well" Paulette said standing from the bed, pulling the covers back for her.
"Thank you, Paulette," Danielle said laying down on the bed.
"Your welcome child, now rest" Paulette said pulling the covers over her and kissing her forehead as she had done for many years.
Dainelle was woken to water being poured on her, jerking awake she sat up coughing, trying to catch her breathe. She looked to see her step-mother and sisters at the foot of the bed with such a look of distained that she was still in bed at this hour.
"Where do you think you have been? Out all night, acting like some crazy person. Are you ill? " Romilla yelled.
"No, ugh yes, I was out picking wildflowers and twisted my ankle. The Gypsie's found me and had their doctor help me. I gave Pauline the note he wrote, did she give it to you? Now can I please go back to sleep?" Danielle told her cranky her dreams of Henry were interrupted again.
" What about our breakfast?" Marguerite shrilled
" You have two hands make it yourself" Dainelle replied groggily
"Jacqueline go boil some water" Romilla said with a smirk.
"Always me" Jacqueline snipped walking away knowing what was coming. While she enjoyed cooking some it was different when she had to do it for her mother and sister. They were rude to anyone who cooked for them.
Hours passed; Danielle finally felt better she started her chores as required of her daily. She was trying to find a way to get away to see Henry tomorrow. She had to see him again, to be in his loving nonjudgmental arms. She finally felt safe again, just like when her father was alive.
Carrying wood into the room that used to be hers. She saw Romilla and Marguerite holding the last dress of her mom's. Her wedding dress she told her father she wanted Danielle to have before she died.
"What are you doing?" Danielle stopped in her tracks seeing them holding the dress.
"Airing out my dress, what else?" Marguerite said with a smirk.
" That's my mother's dress, and her shoes!" Dainelle said through gritted teeth seething at seeing it against her.
" Yes, and she's dead" Marguerite said with a fake pout in a mocking tone.
Before anyone knew what happen, Danielle punch Marguerite in the face, then chased her around the house. Marguriete ran to Danielles room, grabbing the last book their father gave Danielle Utopia holding it over the fireplace.
"NO" Danielle yelled seeing what she was holding.
"The book or the shoes Danielle? Neither will spare you a lashing" Romilla told her entering the room.
All of the servants had gathered to see what was happening. They all knew how Danielle cared about the last two things her parents had left her. Placing the shoes on the table, Marguerite threw the book into the fireplace.
"NO! NO! " Danielle let out a heart wrenching cry falling to her knees. The ache of losing the last thing her father gave her brought back all the feelings of losing him again. Just like she was an 8-year-old again and her world had gone cold and empty.
"Now lay across the bed, take your punishment," Madame told her, pulling out the whip. Making twenty lashes on her back several breaking the skin and bruising her.
"Now get to cleaning. I expect this room clean," Madame said to Danielle leaving her wounded back bleeding.
Danielle laid there on the bed, crying from the pain of her back some, but more from losing the last book her father gave her. Taking a few moments to gather her strength, Jaqiline returned to the room to help her.
"You're going to get punished yourself for helping me," Danielle mumbled, pushing her away.
"No, I won't. They went to town. They will be gone for a while," Jaqiline told her helping her up.
"Thanks Jac. She did good this time, I can tell. Can you start the strips?" Danielle asked.
"Sure, lay on the bed. I'll dress your wounds. What was done shouldn't have happened. Things were taken too far," Jaqiline said.
Danielle slowly moved to the bed laying on her stomach, keeping her back exposed to be treated. A few minutes passed before Jaqiline returned. Setting the bowl down next to them. Reaching in picking up the medical strips, carefully placing them over the marks on Danielle's back.
"Thank you for your help," Danielle told her wincing at the pain.
"You're welcome. While you shouldn't have smarted off to mother, she shouldn't have said that about your mother," Jaqiline told her placing the last of the medicine on her back. Covering her back in gauze. She stood up taking the supplies to clean them.
"Jac, can I tell you something important? But you must not tell mother," Danielle asked her sister who had always treated her with kindness.
"It's not illegal or dangerous is it?" Jaqiline questioned.
"Illegal, no. Dangerous, depends on if mother and Mara find out. I could be sold to anyone," Danielle told her.
"I promise Danielle, I will keep your secret," Jaqiline told her.
Taking a deep breath, fear stopping her for a moment looking to her sister's eyes, she saw the truth. She could trust her.
"I have found someone who can take me away from all of this when the time is right. He's amazing, Jac. I can talk to him about anything. He even took me to the monsitry. We talked about Utopica and how father was the last book that father gave me," Danielle told her smiling.
"I'm so happy for you. You deserve happiness. What's his name?" Jaqiline asked.
"Prince Henry..." Danielle whispered not look at Jaqiline.
"NO! Danielle, please tell me your joking!" Jaqiline said.
"No, I'm not. Remember the day Maurice returned home?" Danielle asked her.
"Of course. Mother didn't stop talking about how he shouldn't have been able to pay off the taxes," Jaqiline said shaking her head.
"Well the day before, I caught Henry with one of father's horses. I threw apples at him till he fell off. Then I saw his crest. I apoligized. He gave me twelve franks for my silence. I used them to bring Maurice home. I dressed up as my other to use them to get him back. Henry stopped me and wouldn't leave me alone. He wanted a name and I gave him Gastvus Nicole De Barbarac," Danielle said cleaning a table.
"Oh, Marquet was talking about that. I don't think she has put two and two together. I believe mother has, but nothing other then the name has been used at court," Jaqiline said.
"I wasn't planning to see him after that time, but the few times I was alone, we some how seemed to cross paths. He wasn't a prince when it was just us. Just Henry," Danielle told her sister with a smile she rarely had since her father passed.
"Wow. Wish I could meet someone like that. I'll be lucky if mother will ever allow that before Margerate," Jaquiline said with a sad smile.
"We will find you someone. Don't worry," Danielle told her.
"Thanks. I just want to be happy," Jaquiline said.
"Come on. I have to get this finished before they get back," Danielle said standing to clean again.
They finished the cleaning in record time. Seeing there was still plenty of daylight, Danielle looked out the window towards the ruins. Sighing thinking about Henry knowing she had to end it to protect him. Her stepmother would do all she could to him through her.
"I have to end it," Danielle told her.
"Why? You love him," Jaquiline asked.
"Because I love him, I must. Mother and Marg would do anything and everything to me to hurt him. I won't do that to him," Danielle told her.
"I know. I wish it was different," Jaquiline responded.
"Me too, because I love him," Danielle said as tears ran down her cheeks.
"Come on. Let's get you dressed to meet your prince," Jaquiline said.
Danielle nodded drying her tears. She followed her sister into Margrete's room. Watching her pull out a deep moroon dress with a white trim.
"That's beautiful. Won't she miss it?" Danielle asked.
"No, she hates it. Says it makes her look old. I believe it would be beautiful on you," Jaquiline said.
"If you say so," Danielle told her, starting to get dressed.
Once dressed, Jaquline partly braided her hair, adding a simple necklace.
"You're all set. You better go before they get back," Jaquline told her.
Smiling at her sister, she headed out to the old ruins to meet Henry. Walking out to the stables, she stopped at Black's door. Opening his door slowly, he walked out of his stall, nugging Danielle's should. He loved his rides with her. She rode like father with a gentle control. She gently saddled him and walked out of the stable, mounting him and heading to the ruins.
Danielle arrived at the ruins, unsaddling Black, letting him graze for the time being. Carefully walking into the ruins, looking at how they have changed since she was there as a young girl with her father. She enjoyed her time exploring with him when he was home for an extended amount of time. Taking a few moments to think of everything she wanted to tell him. After about ten minutes, she walked farther into the ruins to see Henry. He turned to face her with the biggest smile on his face.
"You came," Henry said grinning at her.
"I said I would try," she said smiling back.
"I'm glad you were able to come," Henry said pulling her into his arms.
Soon as his arms wrapped around her back, she cried out in pain. He quickly dropped his arms to see blood on them.
"What happened? Why are you bleeding?" Henry asked her very concerned.
"My step-mother, because I smarted off the morning I returned. She was going to allow Margerte to wear my mother's wedding dress to the ball. I lost it and punched her in the face. She burned Utopica and I got lashed for it. Jaquiline helped dress it, but it must have bled through. It's her normal punishment for me when something goes wrong," Danielle explained.
"That's so wrong. You're her daughter. She shouldn't treat you like this. I know you told me, but I still couldn't believe it," Henry told her, gently wrapping her in his arms. "Don't worry. She will get what's coming to her. Just give me a little more time please. It's only two weeks till the ball. We will tell my parents then."
Danielle nodded just enjoying her time with him. She would deal with her step-mother later.