Disclaimer: I don't own Ever After. I only own this Fanfic and Danielle's thoughts in it and what's not in the movie.
Once I was finally clean, I got dressed (with help, of course), and went to play with Marguerite and Jacqueline. They were in the sitting room. I bounded into the room, tripping over my own feet, but caught myself at the last second. Jacqueline smiled, looking like she might be stifling a giggle. Marguerite just stared at me like I was an idiot. They both went back to meticulously stitching. I decided to try to make them like me.
"Marguerite, Jacqueline," I began. They both looked up expectantly from their needlework. "Would you like to play?" I bit my lip, hoping at least one of them would say yes. Jacqueline looked excited, as if she wanted to say yes, but then she looked over at Marguerite, as if asking permission. Marguerite's face was hard.
"I don't think mother would like it," she said, and immediately became engrossed in her needlepoint. Jacqueline looked disappointed, but didn't question her sister's judgment. She, too, went back to her needlework, but not happily.
"Oh," I said, dismayed, and then thought of a plan. "I'll be outside if you need me." I walked around the corner, but not quite out the door. I opened and closed it to give the appearance that I had left. I still had a sliver of hope that Jacqueline would come. I almost giggled in anticipation.
I peeked around the corner. Marguerite was still concentrated on her needlepoint, so she couldn't possibly see me. Jacqueline's hands were still. She sighed. Then she looked wistfully out the window. Before she looked back down at her work, she saw me, and her eyes locked on mine. She gave a little half-smile.
"Coming?" I mouthed. She nodded. Her face twisted up into a thoughtful look. I figured she could come up with a plan of escape without me, so I stood and turned back around the corner, out of view. I heard her get up and mutter some excuse to leave. Marguerite didn't even give a response. Jacqueline walked gracefully around the corner. When she was out of Marguerite's line of vision, she ran silently to me. A look of elation spread across her features. I put my finger to my lips, signaling silence and stealth. She nodded. I grabbed her hand with my free one and we dashed quietly out through the front doors and into the sunlight.
Once we were free of the confines of the house, Jacqueline talked openly. She babbled on a bout this and that, and I added my own tidbits here and there. We talked about her mother, Marguerite, my mother, my father, the servants, her old home, and many other things for quite a while. We told jokes to each other, laughed, and enjoyed ourselves immensely. We walked all around the manor, walking aimlessly for a time, then I directed us towards my favorite spot—the pond.
We finally reached it. The pond isn't that deep, only a few feet. Many creatures, such as fish, frogs, and lizards live in it. There's quite a variety of plants there too. My father and I sit and talk there. We read sometimes, too. It is my favorite thinking spot. I pulled Jacqueline near, our conversation still going, when she stopped. She stopped talking, and stopped walking dead in her tracks. I tugged on her hand, but she would step no further. I looked back, a question on my lips. Her face was full of terror and dread.
"What is it, Jacqueline?" I asked. She blinked her eyes a few times, now out of her trance.
"Oh, n-n-nothing," she said, faking a smile, but her voice faltered. "Well, we better head back," she continued with forced cheer, "Don't want to be late for my first dinner." She turned and headed back up the hill, towards the house. Well, if she didn't want to tell me, she didn't want to tell me. I let it go and hurried up the hill to catch up.