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Chapter 2. A Royal Visit
I returned to the house late in the morning to find Marguerite and mother returning from town, an enormous, gold brooch attached to the low-cut neckline of Marguerite's dress. She made no secret of her delight in the jewel and was obviously pleased that the ornate item displayed a great deal of her assets.
"My Lord, Marguerite!" I exclaimed as I walked in the door after her. "If that thing was any larger, you'd be feet over head in no time. Are you sure it isn't a little too extravagant?"
My seemingly innocent question was met with a look so cold it could freeze the sun.
"Oh Jacqueline, you cannot possibly be this naïve! There is nothing on this earth that is too extravagant for the Prince of France! Or for that matter, his wife," she smirked. "You're just jealous because you know when he sees me wearing this he won't be able to take his royal eyes off me." Having said that, she pivoted on her heel and strode into the house. Love shouldn't be a silly game of seduction or for that matter a pursuit of a crown, I told myself as I followed her in. I only wished for Danielle's bravery which would give me the strength to tell Marguerite myself. But my cowardliness knew she would only further patronize and ridicule me. As she has for my entire life to this point.
In the bedchamber, mother and Marguerite continued to gush and exclaim over the exquisiteness of the brooch, while trying on dresses and dresses which could be worn for the meeting with the prince. I rolled my eyes and slumped into a chair, as I was more than used to this. Every week some beautiful item was bought merely for Marguerite's pleasure, and if we didn't all compliment it incessantly, oh there'd be hell to pay! Their games, their follies and intrigues had begun boring me many, many years ago, but though I'd learnt to play along and stay out of their way, a part of me still longed for the sort of affection mother had bestowed upon Marguerite daily. Even if it was selfish, materialistic-based, affection, I couldn't help wanting it. Sighing, I picked up a white quill from the table, plucking at the feathers in a poor attempt to release me from my jealousy and my boredom.
Quite suddenly, I heard the sound of hoof beats, galloping outside the manor. Mother must have heard them too for she was at the window within seconds.
"Oh my Lord, he is here, Marguerite he is here! Oh what an hour for him to come!" Mother exclaimed, her anxiety showing in her pale face. "Child, quickly! Put on other gown, you cannot possibly expect him to see you as you are!"
"Mother, who is it?" I begged, anxious to know what was exciting her so.
"Oh you twit! Can you not imagine who it is?" shrieked Marguerite, now also in a frenzy. "It is Prince Henry, he is galloping through the gate as we speak. Oh, how shall I greet him, mother?"
"There is no time for that!" mother explained heading for the door. "Just put on that lovely red dress of yours we bought last week. It'll look stunning with the brooch, he won't be able to resist the sight of you!" she assured Marguerite before heading for the stars to meet the unexpected Prince.
"Come on, help me with my dress, I can hardly breathe in it!" Marguerite ordered.
"But what about me? I have to prepare to meet with the prince also. Why are you allowed to do everything, and I nothing?" I pouted, though I still went to assist my sister in squeezing into her dress. I know I sounded childish, but I admit I was jealous of my sister always receiving the finest of everything. Myself? I was barely treated with anymore respect than the servants!
"Oh, Jacqueline, how can you be so selfish at a time like this?" Marguerite screamed as she finally squeezed into the gown, panting for air. "We both know the Prince doesn't even cares you exist, and still you act so selfishly when you know one day you will be the Queen's sister! Now I am going down those stairs to win me a crown!" With the last word barely out of her mouth, she raced for the open doorway, towards the stairs. Not wanting to miss seeing the Prince, I raced for the stairs, grasping for the quill as I went.
As we ran down the stairs, we both grasped and grappled to be the first one out the front door, and therefore, the first one to catch the Prince's eye.
"Get out of my way, I need to get out, let me out!" shrieked Marguerite, pushing me backwards, as she fell through the door.
"Oh Marguerite, wait for me!" I pleaded as I practically fell through the door, right into my sister, as Prince Henry and his men looked on.
"Oh ladies. There you are," began my mother, as both myself and Marguerite attempted to regain composure. As we curtsied before royalty, I could detect the embarrassment in my mother's voice over her daughters creating such a scene.
"Your highness, may I present Marguerite Francoise Louise of the house of Ghent?" she spoke proudly, as she presented Marguerite to the prince as though she were some prize. "….And Jacqueline."
I felt humiliated at my degrading introduction towards the prince, as though I didn't deserve the prestigious title my sister was awarded. In an effort to appear more impressive towards the prince, or even more appealing, I hid my quill behind my ear as I have sometimes heard of women at balls and parties to increase their attractiveness for their partners.
"Ladies, you seem to have blossomed overnight," complimented the Prince, though his praises, in my mind, seemed less than sincere. His indifference towards me seemed hardly surprising as I hadn't been permitted the time Marguerite had to appear pretty and presentable.
"We're so looking forward to celebrating the engagement of your own Spanish rose," gushed my mother, stepping forward to stroke the Prince's horse.
The prince's face turned sour, as though it were an event he'd much rather forgot. Marguerite took this opportunity to step towards the Prince, keeping on her face her seductive smile, which I'm sure she thought would be enough to capture the Prince's heart. Not wanting to be left behind, yet again, I walked forward, eager to hear the Prince.
"Yes well, there have been several new developments in regard to Spain." The Prince replied to my mother's intrigue, avoiding eye contact with anyone. When once again he glanced in the direction of Marguerite and myself, Marguerite's brooch seemed to have worked to its proper effect, as Prince Henry could hardly take his eyes off her.
"I must say Marguerite, that brooch is…stunning," he praised.
"This old thing? You're too kind," Marguerite replied with false modesty, obviously pleased with Prince Henry's reaction to the expensive jewel. Feeling the pangs of jealousy in my heart once again, and eager for the same attention Marguerite was receiving I grasped the feather quill from my hair, and placed it in my dress directly inside my cleavage and smiled what I thought to be my most flattering smile. Before any of Henry's attention had a chance of reaching me, my mother stole it with another of her questions. Feeling defeated once again, I let my gaze slip. My interest though was risen when I heard an amused chuckle. I raised my head to see the man on the horse next to Henry's hiding a laugh at the unsubtle placement of the quill. In his captain's uniform he appeared strangely handsome, though his deep brown eyes were so warm I couldn't help but smile. To see him so jovial amused me greatly, though not so much at the red tinge that swept over his face as I smiled at him. I chuckled as the same warm, red tinge spread over my face, sending Goosebumps over my body.
"Good day ladies," the Prince's farewells brought me back to reality, though I couldn't stop smiling at the captain, as I curtsied farewell. As they rode off, I couldn't help but stay and watch, though Mother and Marguerite continued back into the house. As the Prince and the captain reached the gate, Prince Henry kept on riding towards the castle, but to my surprise and delight the captain briefly stopped his horse and looked back at me. I could feel his warm smile from the gate, and even after he rode out of sight, I could still feel the warmth like a warm summer breeze. It was a feeling I had never felt before in my life, nor have I felt anything remotely like it. Though I had sometimes read of the characters in Danielle's beloved books feeling those feelings, I had never expected to feel them myself. How wondrous! I wonder if I'll ever see him again, I thought to myself with a smile, as I wandered back into the house to join mother and Marguerite.
There's chapter 2 finished. I've had a lot of spare time, so it's done quickly. Again, please review, even if you don't like it or you want me to fix up a heap of stuff-constructive criticism's fine as long as it's honest. Chapter 3 should be up fairly soon, but if you have any ideas for it, or the rest of the story, I'll be happy to hear them.