Strongman 6
Chapter 6
The Baroness was stunned. The Courtiers murmured among themselves wondering what was going on here. Even the King was momentarily stunned. He recovered quickly and banged his staff on the floor for silence.
"Duke Asa," he cried, "What is the meaning of all this?!"
"It's a rather long story, Your Majesty." said Asa brushing himself off.
"Tell me," said the King, "Does this have something to with this young lady and what we read in our archives last night?"
"Indeed it does!" said Asa, "If you'll permit us we'll explain."
"Well by all means do so!" commanded the king.
Asa turned and nodded to Danielle. Danielle started to curtsy but the king waved her off.
"Never mind that formal nonsense," he said, "Make your explanation." Danielle took a deep breath and began.
"My name is Danielle De Barbarac, I am the daughter of the Baron Auguste du Barbarac and the granddaughter of the late Duke Julian Du Lancret. He was my grandfather on my mother's side."
Several whispers passed between the courtiers.
"Duke Julian's granddaughter is alive?!" was on their lips.
"If you are Duke Julian's granddaughter," said the King, "then why do the royal records say that you died of fever when you were 8 years old?"
"That was the Baroness's doing," said Danielle
"Your Majesties," snapped the Baroness, "This child is crazed how could I have altered the records in the royal archives and furthermore what purpose would there be in it?!"
"You purpose is the same as it's been for the last ten years!" retorted Danielle
"Yeah," agreed Asa pointing first to marguerite then jabbing his thumb over his shoulder at Prince Henry, "to marry this boob to this Boob!"
Queen Marie bit her lip slightly to keep from laughing.
"How dare you insult my daughter that way." Snapped the Baroness
"And How dare insult the Prince of France that way," snapped King Francis
"Can you think of a better word for someone who offers a girl the world and then at the first test of honor humiliates her and throws her to the wolves in front of the whole kingdom?" Asa retorted getting angry, "Especially after that girl had saved his stupid neck!"
"What?" said The King.
"Saved my life what are you talking abo_," Henry stopped short and the color drained from his face.
Asa gave Henry a knowing look.
"Yeah, that's right," he said, "You forgot all about the gypsies didn't you?" Henry suddenly became very interested in his feet.
"Gypsies, saving the prince's life, what are you all talking about!?" cried the king exasperated
"Let me start at the beginning," said Danielle, "It's a story that started ten years ago, long before I ever met the prince."
The king nodded for Danielle to keep going.
"My father died two weeks after marrying the Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent and bringing her and her two daughters to live and the Manor De Barbarac."
"The Baroness De Ghent is your stepmother?!" Exclaimed the King, half rising out of his throne "Then why did she tell us at the Masque that you were her servant?!"
"Francis," snapped Duke Michael, "If you will stop bellowing and sit down the girl will explain." King sat down and composed himself. Danielle continued.
"After my father died, the Baroness stripped me of my rights as De Barbarac's daughter, hid my lineage from me, and everyone else, and forced me to be servant in my own home. Because of that, a servant is what I have been for the last ten years."
"Why didn't you tell me that at the Masque?" said Henry stunned at what he had just learned.
"Well she wasn't exactly given a chance now was she?" snapped Asa glaring at Prince Henry. Henry hung his head again, embarrassed.
After that the rest of the story came out. Danielle's account of crowning Henry with an apple when he tried to borrow her father's horse actually cracked up the king who poorly disguised his laughing as coughing and clearing his throat.
Danielle then told the rest of the story of her impersonation of a Comtesse to save Maurice, and her second meeting with the Prince. She explained that not knowing that she was a noble and as such had every right to be there and wear that gown anyway, feared the punishment for dressing above her station, and had given the Prince her mother's name not expecting to ever see him again.
That of course was not the case, she had seen again and again. She told about saving him when they were ambushed by the gypsies, their subsequent friendship with the Gypsies and everything else, including, telling the Queen the truth about Marguerite's black eye and the necklace.
Here Asa took up the story telling about how he and his godparents had found Danielle unconscious in the mud on the road to Hauteford the night of the Masque. This earned Henry another round of glares. Making the dauphin feel about three feet tall. Asa told about nursing Danielle back to health his investigation into what was going on, and ended with an account of the Baroness and Le Pieu's attempts to kill them. Finally he explained that all this happened because the Baroness was trying to safe guard her scheme to make Marguerite the next queen of France.
When Asa finished the King was livid. He ordered the Baroness to come forward again.
"What have you got to say for yourself, Baroness?!" he snapped
"A-a woman would do practically anything for the love of a daughter your majesty. Perhaps I did get a little carried away." stammered the Baroness nervously. Neither the king nor the Queen were impressed the Baroness's answer. The king ordered the Baroness, Marguerite, and Le Pieu confined to their respective homes until he had thoroughly investigated the matter. Then he ordered Laurent to find and arrest Claude. Lastly he ordered Atlas to get out of Hauteford within the hour and not to come back.
Danielle and Asa turned and headed for the door after the king had dismissed the court. They had just emerged into the outer hallway when they heard running footsteps behind them. They turned to see Prince Henry hurrying to catch up with them.
"Danielle," he said, "I'm sorry for the way I've acted and for all the things I said and did, please forgive me."
"All right I forgive you," she said. Henry smiled and grabbed her hand to kiss it. But she pulled it away leaving him kissing the palm of his own hand.
"I said I forgive you, your highness," she said, "But that doesn't mean you have me or my heart again just like that, I trusted you with my heart once before and you betrayed that trust."
She turned to continue on her way.
"Danielle, Please," said Henry stepping in front of her.
Danielle stopped again but refused to look the prince in the eye.
"Asa," she said quietly Asa reach over and in one fluid motion grabbed a hold of Prince Henry picked him up and moved him out of Danielle's way. After her way was clear, she turned to the Prince on last time.
"Actions speak louder than words, your highness," she said, "If you can be trusted, prove it!"
TBC ….
Who will Danielle choose? Will it be the now repentant Prince or her Childhood friend Asa.
And what of the Baroness and Le Pieu, is this really the last we've heard of them and their scheming?
Stay Tuned…