Chapter Two
Days went by during Annaliese's visit with no response out of the young woman. The doctor had come to check on her every day, but he saw very little improvement in her condition, which he, of course, expected.
The day of the royal wedding arrived and Annaliese, Cecelia, Marcus, and Anthony were preparing to take the trip to the church for the wedding. Marcus walked into the young woman's room and gazed at the young woman laying there on the bed. She was so beautiful. He couldn't believe how stupid his good friend was. He had heard what had happened at the masque and had figured out who she was.
"Oh, Danni! I can't believe that Henry treated you like this! And your stepmother will pay for this! I promise you! I had always wondered what had happened to you, where you had gone. Now I know," Marcus said.
"Marcus, what are you talking about?" Cecelia asked as she came into the room.
"Mother, do you remember my good friend Danielle de Barbarac?" Marcus asked his mother.
"Of course. But I have not seen her in years, not since her father's funeral ten years ago," Cecelia said.
"Mother, we've had her here in our home for the past few days," Marcus said.
"Are you sure?" Cecelia asked. "Are you sure that this young woman is Danielle?"
"Yes, I am. I heard what happened at the masque and that it was Danielle who had been the young woman who had said she was a comtess. His highness turned her away at the masque when she admitted that what her stepmother said was true," Marcus explained.
"What did Rodmilla do to Danielle?" Cecelia asked, a menacing tone in her voice.
"Apparently, for the last ten years, she has been a servant to Rodmilla and her daughters," Marcus said.
"That woman! How dare she do this to Danielle! She will pay for this!" Cecelia exclaimed before leaving the room and heading down the stairs to where Annaliese and Anthony were waiting.
Anthony turned to his wife and saw the fury in her eyes. "Cecelia, what is going on?"
"Marcus knows who the young girl is. It is Danielle de Barbarac," Cecelia explained.
"August's daughter? Are you sure that it is her?" Anthony asked his son.
The nineteen year old nods. "Yes, I am sure. I remember her well. And I found out what happened at the masque to lead her to be on that road that night," Marcus said.
"We shall discuss this in the carriage on the way to the church," Anthony said before he and his family headed out the door of the chateau and to the carriage that was waiting to take them to the church for the royal wedding.
By the time they reached the church, Marcus had explained everything to his father and he could see the anger and hatred for Rodmilla filling his eyes.
"How dare that woman do this to Danielle! She will pay for this!" Anthony shouted, then calmed himself. He knew better than to get upset. He knew that they had to have evidence of what she had done to flaunt in the woman's face when they would confront her abut how she had treated Danielle.
The four of them walked into the church and sat in their pew before four sets of eyes turned and glared at Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent and her daughters.
The church quieted a few minutes later as King Francis and Queen Marie as well as the King and Queen of Spain took their places in the thrones set on two sides of the church.
A moment later, Prince Henry himself came in and took his place at the front of the church. Now, they only had to await the entrance of Princess Gabriella.
A small choir began to sing the Kyrie as Gabriella and her ladies-in-waiting began to walk down the aisle as everyone stood and bowed or curtsied slightly as the princess made her way down the aisle.
Marcus smiled when he noticed that Princess Gabriella was crying. Apparently she did not want this wedding to take place. He then looked over to the side of the room and saw a man that had come with the Spanish contingent that was also crying.
Marcus touched his mother's shoulder and Cecelia looks and sees the man crying and nods. Both of them realize that the man and Gabriella must love each other and are saddened by the fact that they are about to be separated.
Princess Gabriella makes it up to Henry's side and they both kneel in front of the cardinal and the Princess's sobs become louder.
Henry began to laugh and he rose, bringing Gabriella with him. She tried to explain herself in Spanish, but Henry didn't understand, but it didn't seem to matter.
"Madame, I know exactly how you feel," he said before kissing her on the cheek and letting Gabriella go to the man she loved.
Henry rushed out the side door of the church and began to quickly walk away.