Second Chances - EA Alternative

Second Chances

Prologue

Henry looked out over the castle turret.  He had one hand on the wall, the other on her shoe. It was the shoe that Leonardo had found in the driveway, why, just last night.  She had lost it running from the ball.  If only he had treated her differently.  If only he hadn’t let her go.  If only…

He had been too late to rescue Danielle from le Pieu’s. He had wanted to surprise her, had wanted to propose to her. So he went back to the castle to look for the shoe.   That had turned out to be the wrong thing to do.  The King and Queen of France were trying desperately to calm a distraught King and Queen of Spain.  The Princess of Spain had run off with some nobleman right in front of everyone and with Henry’s blessing.  Well, he didn’t know or realize that he was never going to see her again. 

His father had tried to speak to him, but he wouldn’t stop for him.  He knew he had to get to Danielle.  He did have his mother’s blessing, however. She was the one who told him to go after her when the ball ended so abruptly.  His father stopped him that night and he had tried to stop him again, but this time he wasn’t going to listen. He knew what his father wanted to tell him, but he didn’t want to hear it.  She had changed his mind so completely that he would never see things the way he had before he met her.   He would never be the same without her. 

He had to find her.  He had to explain that it was safe now.  Pierre le Pieu had confessed to everything, including Rodmilla’s hand in the plot to sell her.  Jacqueline had confirmed it, even going so far as to tell of Rodmilla plot to get him to marry Marguerite. 

Marguerite and Rodmilla had been locked in the servant’s quarters until further notice and Pierre had lost his job and his property confiscated.  He was in the dungeon, waiting for the next boat to the Americas. 

Henry was wasting time standing here. He had to find her.  She was his only chance of survival and he wasn’t going to stop until he had.

Chapter 1

Danielle ran until she could run no more.  She wasn’t sure where to go exactly, she hadn’t stopped to think about it until now.  She was still afraid that Pierre le Pieu would come after her somehow.  The sun was setting in the summer sky when she realized that le Pieu wasn’t going to come after her.  She stopped and gathered her thoughts together.  She couldn’t go home.  Rodmilla would be waiting for and she wasn’t going to be their servant.  No, not in her own house or ever again.  She knew she wanted the manor, but she could not take it by force and not by herself.  She was going to get it back; she didn’t care how.  But now was not the time to think about this.  It was time for seclusion until she could formulate a plan to take the manor from her.   

There were three people who kept running through her mind, Gustave, Leonardo and Henry.  She couldn’t go to the castle.  Everyone would be there. They would never accept her.  She was a commoner after all.

Danielle looked around. It was getting dark.  She was only two blocks from the center of town where Gustave’s studio was.  She couldn’t wait to get there.  She knew Gustave would be surprised, no, he would be shocked to see her standing in his doorway.  She smiled, thinking about his expression when he opened the door.  She began to run toward the small corner building when she heard the clatter behind her.  She turned around but it was too late.  The runaway wagon was already right behind her, the driver screaming at her to get out of the way. 

The next thing she knew she was on the ground, but she couldn’t move.  Danielle managed to drag herself the two blocks to Gustave’s building.  Weak with exhaustion and pain, she stopped at the front door.  She pulled herself closer to the front door and managed to grab the bell pull.  After that, she knew no more.

Chapter 2

Henry was on the way out to the stables when his father stopped him. 

“And where do you think that you are going this time of night?”

“Father, please,” Henry said.  “I should be going, I have to find Danielle.”

“And when you do?  What do you intend to do with her?”

Henry looked at him, oddly.  “Marry her of course.  I love her, Father.  There is no other woman in the world for me.  I know now that she is my match and there is no equal.  It’s is that simple.  Besides, I have Mother’s permission.”

“And you have mine, Henry,” the King said, watching Henry’s startled face.

“What?” he asked.

“I believe that you have heard me, son.  Your mother really didn’t have to convince me that she is the best thing that ever happened to you.  I have never seen such a change in you.  It’s almost as if you want to carry on the family business, shall we say?”  Francis smiled. 

Henry smiled back.  “Then I have your permission?”

“Of course, my boy. However, there is one thing that I want you to do. Do not rush into this.  Make sure that this is what you want.  And if you know that this it, then go after her.  Make her yours.”

Henry smiled.  “Thank you, Father.  You will not regret this.”

Henry embraced him and then he ran for the stables.

Chapter 3

“Is she alright?”

“She will be, she just needs rest.”

Gustave and Leonardo da Vinci were standing over her.

“I have set her broken leg, Gustave.  It will take time to heal.  You will have to keep her here for a while until it mends.”

Gustave smiled.  “I am so glad that you were here when it happened, Leonardo.”

Leonardo nodded.  “I have used my medical knowledge, limited as it may be, to help her.  Tomorrow, I will go the castle and inquire after the physician.  He should arrive quickly and it will speed…”

“No,” Gustave yelled, angrily.  “She is not ready for that, not yet.  Didn’t the Prince embarrass her enough at the ball?  I do not think she wants to see him right at this moment.”

Leonardo shook his head and smiled.  “I had forgotten about that.  But what does the court physician have to do with it?  He will only help her, Gustave.”

“Henry will know that she is here and will come looking for her.  I don’t want him to know just yet.  Not until she healed.  I will not have him looking for her without her permission.”

Leonardo looked at him.  “Maybe you are right, Gustave, but you should talk to Danielle first.  I have spoken to Henry since the ball and I really do believe that he has had a change of heart.  I know he felt just as embarrassed as Danielle.”

Gustave smiled.  “All right Leonardo, perhaps you are right, but I will not disturb her.  She needs her rest.  I will speak with her as soon as she awakens.”

Gustave looked down at Danielle.  She was lying on his small bed, asleep and calm.  He had never seen her like that, in all the years that they had known each other.  All of a sudden he felt helpless.  He sat beside her on the bed and stroked her hair, then kissed her on the forehead.  He looked up at Leonardo.

“Well, what are you waiting for?  Go, before the night is through.”

“And just where am I going?”

Gustave smiled.  “Why, to fetch the court physician, of course. “

 

Chapter 4

       

Henry had no idea where to go.  He was about to enter the small village when he saw a rider on his horse. He was dressed all in black.  The small cap on his head covered long gray hair and he had a flowing white beard. Henry recognized him immediately and smiled.

“Hello Leonardo, what brings you out this time of night and where are you bound in such a hurry? And I must pose another question.  Have you seen Danielle?”

“Hello Henry. It is nice to see you again, this time in good spirits, I trust?”

“You are avoiding my questions?”

“Am I?  Well, when you put it that way, I am on my way to the castle to fetch the court physician.  There has been a accident involving a beautiful young girl and you know her very well, Henry.  The two of you need to set things to rights.”

Henry’s eyes grew wide.  He smiled.  “Is she hurt? Can she speak?  Do you know where she is? Will she speak to me again?  What about?”

Leonardo picked his finger up and placed it to his lips.  “I promised Gustave that I would not tell you.”

He smiled.

Henry’s face lit up.  “Leonardo, I won’t tell a soul.  I will bring the court physician at once.  You return to Danielle and watch her.”

Leonardo shook his head.  “No, Henry, if I do that then Gustave will get the idea that I have spoken to someone about Danielle’s condition.  Come, we will go together and I will explain on the way.”

It did not take long to call for the court physician.  Within minutes, they were headed toward Gustave’s studio, wasting little time.

The three stopped their horses in front of the house and rang the pull.

Gustave answered the door.  He looked at the three of them.

Henry covered himself in his purple cloak so that he would not be recognized.  

“Three?” Gustave asked.

Leonardo smiled.  “Of course, Gustave.  Here is the court physician and this is his assistant.  May we enter?”

“Of course.  Leonardo, please show everyone upstairs.  I will follow as soon as I can.”

Chapter 5

Gustave kept staring at the physician’s assistant.  Why did he look so familiar? He wasn’t doing much of anything, just kept staring down at Danielle as if he knew her and hadn’t seen for a long time. 

He walked over to Leonardo.  “Are you sure that he is the physician’s assistant?  He is dressed oddly and I thought that only royalty could wear the color?”

Leonardo smiled.  “Well, they are from the castle, aren’t they?”

Gustave didn’t argue with him; he had to give in.

The physician and the assistant had just returned.

“You have excellent medical training, Leonardo.  I see that you had no trouble applying the splint her leg.”

“Thank you, Rene. Let’s hope she heals and heals well.”

The physician smiled.  “Oh, she will heal.  She is young yet.” He looked at Gustave.  “You must allow her to rest.  Give her at least two weeks, a month at the most.  I will send Francois, my assistant; to keep an eye on her and tend to her should the urgency arise.  If, by chance there is anything else I can do for you, let Francois know and I will come without fail. Now if you will excuse me.”

“Wait,” Gustave called as the physician was leaving.  “What about your assistant?”

“I will take him back later, Gustave,” Leonardo answered.

Gustave nodded, then turned to look at the man hiding inside the purple hood.  He was administering something to Danielle. Gustave was about to walk in there when Leonardo stopped him. 

“Is something bothering you, Gustave?”

Gustave looked at him.  “Do you not find this a bit strange?  I, for one, am curious.”

Leonardo smiled and shook his head.  “I understand your concern, Gustave.  The two of you have known each other since you were children.  But there is nothing to worry about.  Francois will not harm her.”

Gustave looked at him, then smiled.  “I suppose I have to trust someone sometime, don’t I.”

 

Chapter 6

Gustave sat by Danielle all night watching her, just to make sure everything was right.  The Leonardo and the assistant had returned to castle, but that next time it would only be the assistant coming by to keep an eye on her.  He fell asleep sitting at her bedside.

“Gustave?” He stirred.  He had heard her voice, but it seemed so far away.

“Danielle?” He had made a great effort to straighten himself up.

“Yes, Gustave, it’s me.”

“At least you look as if you are doing better.”

Danielle smiled.  “I don’t know what happened, Gustave.  I don’t remember anything at all.”

“You were nearly flattened by a runaway wagon.”

“What happened to me, Gustave.  I can’t move my leg.”

“It’s broken, Danielle.  You broke it when you jumped away from the oncoming wagon.  The court physician said…”

Danielle’s eyes widened. “The court physician?”

Gustave nodded.

“But how and why?”

“Leonardo was able to bring him here from the castle.  He had an assistant with by the name of Francois.  He will be visiting from time to time, just to keep an eye on you.”

“Well, how did I get here?”

Leonardo found you and brought you upstairs. He was the one that set your leg. It happened just two blocks from here.”

“How long do I stay here?”

“As long as it takes for your leg to heal, Danielle.  The physician does not want me to move you.  At least for another month. He really did not expect you to regain consciousness until tomorrow.”

“But I have to find out about the manor, Gustave, and about Rodmilla and Marguerite and about…”

Gustave smiled. “Get some rest, Danielle.  We will talk about this as soon as the sun rises.  Come, go back to sleep.”

Chapter 7

“Where am I?” Danielle called into the blackness.  “I can’t see.”  She put her arms out, moving them up and down trying to feel for something, anything. 

“I’m here, Danielle,” Henry called out to her, reaching for her flailing arms.  He tried to grab them, but for some reason her arms moved further and further away.

“Who are you?” Danielle asked, “What do you want of me?”

“Do you not know who I am?  I have been looking everywhere for you. I wanted to apologize.  I want you to marry you.”  He brought out her shoe.  “Danielle, please, you dropped this at the ball.  Please accept this as a token of my love.”

“I don’t know who you are and I can’t see you.  I do not know what you are talking about.  Who are you and what do you want? Leave me alone. Where am I?”

She stopped moving her arms about.  “Is that my name, Danielle? Please tell me who you are and how did you get here?”

Henry stared at her.  This couldn’t be real; she wasn’t like this yesterday.  All she had was a broken leg.  It was a dream, must be a dream.  Wake up, Henry, he called to himself, wake up, wake up.

Henry sat up with a start. The sweat poured off of him.

He looked around in a panic.  There was no Danielle calling to him, moving her arms up and down, not seeing him even though she had been facing her.  He had been close enough for her to reach him, but the arms would never reach. He shuddered.  It wasn’t true, not any of it.  It was all a dream, just a dream.

But what if it was true?  What happens if she wakes up and wouldn’t know who he was?   What would he do then? How would he react, how could he react?

He would still love her; he was positive about that.  And he would marry her no matter what the consequences of the accident. 

He got up from his bed and ran to the window.

.   

The morning arrived, quicker than anyone had realized.  Henry couldn’t sneak over to Gustave’s today, he was expecting his cousin, the Lady Michelle du Bois. She was the younger daughter of Marie’s older brother, Duke Jules du Bois.  He knew that he would go over later, even if he had to take Michelle with him.

 

Chapter 8

Danielle woke with a start.  She was sweating and at the same time, she was freezing.

”GUSTAVE,” she called. 

“I am here, Danielle,” Gustave said, “sitting right beside you. What is wrong?”

“I had a dream, Gustave, I had a dream that I was blind and that I lost my memory.  I couldn’t remember anything, not anything at all.”

She shuddered to think about it.  “I suppose that it could have been worse.  It could have been more than just a broken leg.”

She looked up at Gustave and smiled. Gustave smiled back and stroked her hair. 

“Well, thank the Lord that’s all that happened.  I don’t know how I could have reacted if you had been blind and couldn’t remember anything.”

He bent down and they embraced.

“Well, now that that is settled,” he said, pulling away from her. “I believe that we have a visitor.”

Danielle sat up and looked. 

      

She saw him; long dark hair tied in a queue, beard starting to sprout, not fully grown.  The hood was down; same purple cloak as before. 

“This is another of the physician’s assistants, Danielle.” Gustave said, “and his name is not Francois.”

“Is that who was here last night?”  Danielle asked.

“Yes, milady, “ the assistant said, “but he had to return to Avignon.  There are family problems and he has been summoned there. The court physician has sent me.  I am his replacement. My name is Armand and I am here to serve you.”

Chapter 9

“Where have you been, Henry?  I have been waiting for hours.”

Henry smiled and walked over to embrace his cousin Michelle.  “It is so good to see you again.  How have you been since last I saw you?” He bent and kissed her cheek. 

“Do not make it sound so long, cousin.  You know that I come every year with my brother.”

“Yes,” Henry smiled wider.  “How is Alexandre these days?”

“He didn’t want to come this time.  He is in love, or seems to think that he is.  Father already has set his engagement.  He won’t stand for it, though.”  Michelle looked at him and smiled.  “Ever since you and the Spanish princess.”

Henry shook his head and smiled. “Great example I turned out to be.”

Michelle looked at him a little confused.  “What about Danielle?  I thought that…”

Henry shook his head.  “I really do not want to speak about it, right now. Gustave will not let me in, he says that she is not ready to see me.”  Henry shrugged.  “Maybe he is right.  It might upset her.”

Michelle frowned.  “That cannot be true, Henry.  We will talk to Gustave together, right after I let Aunt Marie and Uncle Francis know that I am here.”

Henry nodded.  “Well, we shall see.  It really is nice to see you again, Michelle.”  He smiled and took her hand.  “Come, let me take you inside.”

Chapter 10

“He is not much help,” Gustave said, frowning.  He was talking to Leonardo; Danielle had fallen asleep again.  “I don’t understand this whole situation.  Why does he come here in the first place?  Armand arrives just before daybreak, sits and talks with Danielle and leaves.  He had been doing the same thing for three days now.   Maybe you can find out from the physician just what it is he is supposed to be doing.”

“I already know that, Gustave.  He is keeping an eye on her and helping her get her strength back.  Keeping her in good spirits, so you might say.”

“Well, I can do the same thing,” Gustave said, a little angrily.

“And you have, my boy, you have been excellent company for her. And she is coming along quite nicely.  Armand tells me that she is in excellent condition.  Her leg has healed well.”

Gustave walked around to see the painting that Leonardo was working on.  “It is a beautiful likeness of her.”  It was a portrait of Danielle, a sketch right now.  Her head was tilted to one side and it looked as though she was deeply in thought. He looked up at him.   

“Do you think that she is well enough to be told about Rodmilla and Marguerite.”

Leonardo looked up.  “If she asks again, Gustave, you may tell her. There is no reason to keep it from her.  They are no longer a threat to her.”

“Yes thanks to Jacqueline’s quick thinking.  But as for still being a threat, the King just banished them from Hautefort.  They are still in France somewhere.”

Leonardo nodded.  “Probably in Paris, from what I have heard.  Gustave, they cannot come back here and they cannot set foot into the manor.  It is and always was Danielle’s.  Come now, boy, you worry far too much.” He looked at the sketch.  “It is only a rough sketch, Gustave. I will finish it soon.  Right now, however…”

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the bell pull.

“Wonder who that might be this time of morning?” Gustave asked, looking at Leonardo. 

But Leonardo hadn’t taken his eyes from his rough portrait.

Gustave smiled.  “I guess I’ll go down and find out whoever it is and whether it is important.”

Chapter 11

A beautiful girl stood in the doorway. Gustave had never seen anyone face so lovely in his life. 

She was not a peasant, he knew that; too finely dressed.  She was a noble of some sort, maybe even royalty.  He looked into her beautiful gray eyes, tinged with flecks of green, exactly like the physician’s assistant, and, if he remembered right, exactly like…

“Is there something wrong?” she asked, trying not to laugh.  “I’ve been standing here for ten minutes and you haven’t said one thing.”

Gustave blushed and then bowed.  “How may I serve you, milady?  We are just poor painters.  Are you sure that you are in the right place?”

She smiled.  “To have a portrait done?  Of course I am in the right place.”

Gustave looked at her, now a little confused.  “How did you know that we…”

“I told her, Gustave,” Leonardo said, walking down the stairs.  “This is the King’s niece, Henry’s cousin, the Lady Michelle du Bois.  I was expecting her arrival sometime this morning.” He smiled.  “What kind of a portrait would you like, milady?”

Michelle smiled.  “I never thought about it, actually.  I didn’t realize that there were more than one.”  

Leonardo smiled.  “Come up the stairs, and I will show you.”

Michelle smiled back.  She turned to Gustave.  “I believe that Henry shall be here within the hour.”

“Henry?” a voice called from the other room.  “Do you mean Prince Henry?”

Chapter 12

All three of them hurried into the small supply room.  Gustave had set up a temporary bed here just for emergencies and if he needed to stay late.  Two other beds were set up against the far wall, one in front of the other.

Danielle was in the second bed, the one furthest from the door. 

“How is he?” she asked, wondering why she had.  She had thought she never wanted to see him again.  Not after what he had done to her at the ball.

Michelle smiled, walked over to the bed and sat down next to Danielle.

“And you must be Danielle.” Michelle smiled.  “Henry has told me so much about you.  He has been searching for you everywhere.”

Danielle looked at her.  “What do you mean searching? Jacqueline has been here with Laurent.  Leonardo knows where to find me.” She shook her head. “Does he know that I am here?”

Leonardo glanced at Gustave who had turned beet red. 

Danielle turned her gaze toward him.  “Gustave, you don’t look very well. Something wrong?”

“Lady Michelle,” Leonardo called to her, “A moment, please.”

Michelle stood up.  “Certainly, Signore,” she said.  

Chapter 13

Danielle was looking out the window in Gustave’s studio. Leonardo, Gustave and Michelle had gone downstairs to check on the supply of paints.  Leonardo wanted Michelle to pick out the colors of her portrait.  He also wanted her to choose a pose and he had a lot to choose from. 

She was thinking about so many things.  What had happened to Prince Henry? It had been a week now and she couldn’t understand why he hadn’t come at all.  He must know where I am, she thought.  Everyone else does and according to Michelle, he had no idea she was here, no idea at all.  How could that be?  She would never understand.

“Danielle?”

She turned.  She hadn’t been paying much attention and didn’t realize that someone had been standing in the doorway. She smiled at the sight of him.

“Armand, what are you doing here?  It is not time for your visit.”

He smiled.  “I know, I am early.  I came here to collect Prince Henry’s cousin, the Lady Michelle.  He told me that she was here.”

“Yes, she is downstairs with Gustave and Leonardo.  They should be up soon.”

Armand smiled.  “I see that you have made progress.”

Danielle smiled.  “Yes, I guess I have.  I have made it over to the window.  A long trip to make when you are first learning to walk again.”

“And you are doing a fine job.  Once that splint comes off next week, you will have been fully healed.  After that, you will not be seeing so much of me.”

Danielle looked at him.  “I am disappointed to hear that, Armand.  I do look forward to your visits.  I don’t think I could have come this far without you.”

Armand smiled.  “Thank you milady,” he said and bowed.

“No need for that, Armand.  I am of no importance.”

Armand looked at her, a little startled.  He frowned.  “How can you even think that way, Danielle. Of course you are important, especially to me.  And I was thinking that after this is all over, that is when your leg has healed, well I was thinking…”

Chapter 14

“Thinking what, Armand?”

“Maybe we could see each other?  You know; I can come to call on you.  You are so wonderful, Danielle.   I want so much to get to know you better.  I want to be more than just assistant and patient.  I want…”

“Armand, what are you doing here?”

Armand stopped talking and stood up.  Gustave had been standing in the doorway with Michelle and Leonardo next to him.

“I have come here to fetch the Lady Michelle.  And I see that she is well taken care of.”

“Do I know you?” Michelle asked, looking at Armand. She seemed a little confused.

“I am Armand, the physician’s assistant,” he said bowing.  “Henry sent me here to fetch you.  I am to return you to the castle at once.

“I was expecting..” but something in his eyes stopped Michelle from finishing the sentence.  She smiled. 

“Come Armand, we will be late,” she said.

Armand turned to Danielle.  “Will I see you later?”

Danielle smiled.  “Of course, Armand.  I will be here as always.”

Chapter 15

Gustave stared at her.  “What were you even thinking, Danielle, walking around like that.”

“I only walked over to the window, Gustave.” Danielle said, walking away from it now.   She had been standing there all this time.  “I didn’t go any further from this room.  I did not walk down those steps to follow Armand out.”

“Is that what you wanted to do?  Have you fallen for him now?”

“And what if I have?”  Danielle said, angrily, “Do you have to approve anyone that I see?  I am a big girl, Gustave, and older than you to tell the truth.  Besides, he reminds me of Henry.  And if I remember right, you actually pushed the Prince and I together.”

Gustave blushed.  “You mean that day in the hayfield, when I was painting the castle and you were flying Leonardo’s contraption.”

Danielle nodded.

“And what about what he did to you at the ball?”

Danielle gave him a cold stare and limped back toward the bed.  She didn’t say anything.

“Danielle, I am sorry.  Maybe you are right.  But you are my friend and I care about you.” He sat down next to her.  “Perhaps Armand is sincere, but for someone who knows you for only six days, he is moving entirely too quickly to suit me.  There is something about him, Danielle, something that he is hiding.  Watch out for him.”

He played with her hair, stroked it awhile and stood up.  He began to walk away when Danielle called him back. 

He sat down on the bed.  “Did you call me?”

Danielle looked at him, smiled and put her arms around his neck.  She pulled him close.

“I am sorry, Gustave,” she whispered in his ear.  “I know how you watch out for me.  But believe me, I can take of myself.  Don’t worry.”

Chapter 16

“How long do you intend to keep this up, Your Highness?” Leonardo asked, dabbing a little more black paint on the tip of his brush.  He turned to face Henry. “This has been going on for a fortnight.  I really do believe enough is enough.”  He applied this in little dots on Henry’s chin making it look as if he had an unkempt beard.

“I will tell her this morning, Leonardo, I promise.  I am surprised she hasn’t guessed it already.”

Leonardo smiled.  “Yes, Henry, you are right.  But did you ever think that she might already know that you are not really Armand?”

   

Henry looked at him.  “And do you think that it was right was she did to me.  She lied to me, Leonardo.”

Leonardo laughed and shook his head.  “You still haven’t forgiven her for that, have you, my boy.  Anyway, Danielle did not really lie to you.  You just assumed that she was the Lady Nicole de Lancret and she went with it from there.  You gave her the name and the title and she didn’t have the heart to tell you otherwise.”

“Until the night of the ball when I embarrassed her.”

“In front of everybody, Henry. You did exactly what Rodmilla wanted you to do.”

Henry nodded. “By the time I realized that, I thought it was too late.  I never needed someone so much in my life, Leonardo.  I am glad you were there to explain things and set me straight.”

“Then,” Leonardo said, smiling.  He put the paintbrush down.  “Stop the masquerade.  Go over there and tell her the truth.  Tell her who you really are.”

Henry shook his head.  “Gustave won’t let me in if I go as myself.  I need to get up there.  I will tell her the truth this time.  I did promise and I will never go back on my word.”

“Why all of a sudden did you agree with me, Henry?  We have been arguing over this since you began.  You have what you wanted.  She loves you, doesn’t she?”

Henry shook his head.  “I fear she loves Armand, not me.  And I must have her love me again.  My father will not object to this.”

“You know?” Leonardo asked, “Gustave and Michelle have been seeing each other for a few days now.  I know that they like each other.  Maybe you can get the two of them out of the studio for tonight. “  He smiled.

Henry brightened at the thought.  “You know, Leonardo, you might have a point.  And I think I might take you up on your suggestion.”

He walked over to the looking glass and stared at his face.  “This is the best work that you have ever done.  It’s a shame that I after tonight, I will go from physician’s assistant to Prince Henry.”

He turned to smile and Leonardo and found that he was smiling back.  Then they both laughed.

Chapter 17

Leonardo managed to get Gustave and Michelle out on a night trip.  It was a beautiful night, he told them.  Just right for stargazing.  He had a new invention to try out. 

Michelle and Gustave watched him set it up.

“Why don’t you two take a walk together?” Leonardo said to the both of them.  “I will be doing a few tests and taking notes.  I am sure that you don’t want to stand around watching me.”

And so the two of them took a walk.  The stars stood out brightly twinkling against the black sky.

“There are so many of them,” Gustave said, looking up. He smiled and turned to her.  Michelle was looking up.  The moon light on her face made her look lovely.  He looked at her and a feeling swept over him that he had never known before.  He wanted to take her into his arms and just laugh and kiss her. 

“They are so beautiful,” Michelle said, looking up at the stars.

“Just like you,” Gustave said, half to himself, half out loud.  He was looking straight at her. 

“What did you say?” Michelle asked, looking at him now.

“Did you hear something?” Gustave said, “I don’t think I said anything.”

“You told me that I was beautiful, didn’t you?”

“Is that what you heard?” Gustave said, looking into her eyes.  

“That’s what I heard, Gustave.  You are the only boy that ever called me that.”

Gustave frowned.  “What are you talking about?  You are the loveliest woman that I have ever met.”

Michelle shook her head.  “Then you haven’t met too many women.  Most people don’t see me that way, Gustave.  Most of the boys at home find me rather, what you would call plain.”

Gustave smiled and shook his head.  “I don’t think so and I don’t care what the other boys think.  Besides, everyone sees beauty differently. Your portrait is almost done.  Wait until you see it.  You might change your mind.” 

Michelle smiled.  “Really?”  A thought crossed her mind.  It had suddenly dawned on her.  “You are a painter after all.”

Gustave laughed and took her in her arms. “And, is there something wrong with that?”

Michelle shook her head.  She stopped smiling.  “No, Gustave, there is nothing wrong with that.”  She looked at him.  “I have never felt this way before, not about anyone.”

Gustave had stopped smiling and looked in her eyes. “I feel the same way, Michelle.”

He brought his lips down to hers. 

Meanwhile, Leonardo packed up his invention and walked back toward the studio to work on his sketches.  He would be downstairs and he was sure that Henry and Danielle would be upstairs.  This way he could keep an eye on Michelle and Gustave. 

“Mission accomplished,” he said smiling and turned toward the studio.

Chapter 18

“Danielle?  Is that you?” 

Danielle looked up.  She was waiting for him outside the door of the building. Leonardo told her that he was coming for the last time.

“Yes, Armand, I am here.”

Armand smiled.  “You made it down the stairs, I see.”

“Yes, thanks to you, I can walk again.  I have made fine progress.”

Armand shook his head.  “You shouldn’t push yourself, Danielle.  I don’t want you to destroy the wonderful progress you have made.”

“It is such a lovely night for stargazing and I do know the perfect place.”

Armand’s eyes lit up.  “Is it far? Do you think you could go?”

Danielle smiled and put her hand into his.  “Come I will show you.  It’s not far at all. It’s only up there. ”  She pointed to the roof of Gustave’s building. 

Armand smiled. “Back up the stairs, huh?”

She nodded.

“I don’t want you pushing yourself.” 

Danielle smiled.  “And even if I do, you are here.  You are a wonderful teacher.”

“And you are the best student.”

They made it to the roof, Armand marveling at how much she had improved..

“Here we are,” she said, stepping out on the roof.  The sky was bright and there were a million stars in the sky. 

 

“You are right, Danielle.  This is lovely, but nothing can compare with you.”

Danielle looked up at him.  He was looking at her.

“You should be watching the stars,” she smiled.

Armand looked at her. “I can’t concentrate,” he whispered.  “Not when you are around.”

He pulled her close and began to kiss her.  He almost forgot what he had to tell her.

Chapter 19

“Danielle,” he whispered when they had come up for air.  “I have something to tell you.  You see, I am not really…”

“I know, Your Highness,” she said, smiling now, a little nervously. She was almost afraid to look into his eyes, but she managed to pick her head up anyway.  She looked in his eyes..

Henry looked back at her, a stupid grin on his face.  He shook his head.  She continually amazed him, like that night in the gypsy camp, when they kissed for the first time. He had that same wonderful feeling now.

“Please,” he told her, “call me Henry.” He looked into her eyes.  Leonardo was right,” he whispered.  He suddenly found that he lost his voice. “You knew it was me all the time.”

“No,” Danielle smiled, “not at first.  It was certain things that you did.  Certain mannerisms that you have performed as the Crowned Prince of all France.”

“Such as?”

“The pointing,” she smiled, holding out her two fingers instead of one. “That’s how they are taught in polite society.  That is the way my father taught me.”

Anything else?” he smirked.  He loved her all the more.

“Yes,” she said, letting him put his arms around her shoulders.  “You couldn’t disguise your voice very well.  And you resembled the Prince too much. But I need to ask a question, Your Highness.  Why?  Why didn’t you just come as yourself?  To get back at me?”

“Why?” Henry asked, frowning.  “Why what?  Why did I disguise myself?” 

She nodded.

“Gustave wouldn’t let the Crowned Prince of France in here to see you.  I tried, but to no avail.  So the court physician, Leonardo and I invented the physician’s assistant.  I needed to know a few things and I had to sort some others out for myself before I came to my conclusions.”

Danielle looked at him. 

“And were you able to decide?”

“Of course, Princess,” he said, letting it slip for the first time.  He had wanted to call her that for two weeks.  Henry turned red and put his hand over his mouth.  He giggled softly. 

Danielle looked at him, a little confused. 

“And?” she whispered, taking his hand away from his mouth.  She placed it on her shoulders again.

Henry got down on one knee.  “I love you, Danielle. I can’t live without you and you are my perfect match. Leonardo convinced me. I have gotten permission from both my father and my mother. I just needed your answer.”

Danielle looked at him. “Your father knows that I am a commoner.”

Chapter 20

“Yes, he does.  He discovered that at the ball when Rodmilla let the world know you true identity.  It was the same time that I had found out. I was so in love with you that it hurt.  I was confused and embarrassed at the same time.  I did not know what to think.  My father was on my back and it wasn’t making things any easier.  So I dismissed you in front of everyone.  After that, I was so upset that I left and went to one of the turrets and brooded there.  That’s when Leonardo brought me this.”  He reached toward the back of his breeches and pulled something out.  Danielle gasped.

It was the shoe she had lost running from the ball.

“Where did he..”  she began, but never finished.

“Leonardo and I had a long talk that night.  He was the one that made me realize how much I needed you.  I’ll never forget what he told me.  ‘She is your match, Henry,’ he said.  It took a while to sink in, but he was right.

After I called off the arranged marriage, I ran from the church,  to begin my search for you.  Jacqueline had told me that you were sold to Pierre le Pieu that same day.  I went back to the castle to look for your shoe, but was detained by my father.  They were trying to calm down the King and Queen of Spain. She had run off with some Spanish noblemen.  It was my fault, I had let her go.”

He looked at Danielle and laughed, Danielle looked at him strangely.

Henry stopped smiling and became serious.

”You had just left le Pieu’s and I had just missed you.   After questioning le Pieu for hours, he finally confessed, implicating Rodmilla as part of a plan to kidnap you and make you his servant.  Marguerite was named as an accomplice.

Two of the Royal Guardsmen had him bound and shackled and was taken to the castle to be dealt with later.  I went with the other two over to the manor to question you stepmother and stepsister when…”

Danielle stared. “You know that also?”

Henry nodded.  “Leonardo explained everything to me and apparently he talked to my parents, for they knew everything when I returned with Rodmilla and Marguerite.  I hadn’t known that just yet.  I was so distraught in missing you that I ran to the castle, your shoe still in my breeches.  I took it out and stared at it and I realized that I had to find you, Princess.  That I could never live without you.”

Chapter 21

“You know, Henry, you’ve been on one knee now for while.  Doesn’t it hurt?

Henry looked down.  He hadn’t realized that he was sitting on both knees.  He looked up.

“Danielle,” he said, standing up.  He took her hands in hers.  “Please marry me.  You made me realize that I can do anything, even take on the responsibilities of the kingship.  But  I can only do that if you are by my side. My parents realized this and have accepted you into the family.  Please, Danielle, forgive me and say yes.”

    

Danielle smiled.   “I’ll have to think about it, Henry.”  She turned and began to walk away.  “I mean, I still have the ball to consider.“   She stopped and turned to face him.

“If you could behave that way under pressure for one night, imagine what you could do every night after we are married.”

Henry’s frown turned into wide smile.  “Does this mean that you..”

“Of course, Henry, I will .”

They ran toward each other, Henry grabbed her, picked her up and swung her around.  He put her down and looked into her eyes.  He brought his face down to meet hers and then they kissed.

“Well now, that’s more like it.”  The two of them looked up to find Leonardo standing there, watching them, with a smile on his face

Henry and Danielle looked at him, then at each other.  They smiled and looked back at Leonardo. All three of them looked at one another and laughed.

Chapter 22

‘You did what?”  Henry said, looking at Leonardo.  “That might not have been such a good idea.”

“Why, Henry, if the two love each other..?”

Henry shook his head.  “No, Leonardo,  I’m talking about Gustave and Michelle. You know, getting them together like that.”

Leonardo frowned.  “I only did it to get them out of the way so that the two of you could get to know each other once more.  It worked.”

“It’s Michelle’s parents, my mother’s brother, my uncle, the Duke Jules du Bois.”

“What about him?” Danielle asked. 

“Well, you know my father,” Henry said. “He’s a stubborn mule headed fool.”  He turned to Leonardo.  “There are two things wrong with this match, Leonardo.  One is that Gustave is a commoner.  The other thing that’s wrong is that Michelle’s marriage has been arranged.”

Leonardo looked at Henry.  “Well, what’s wrong there? This is just the one time.  I do not believe that this will harm anything.”

“Henry, I think that Leonardo is right.  What harm would that do?  Gustave does not move very quickly.  In fact, he’s very shy around any other woman, except me, of course.”

“Besides,” Leonardo added, “if Gustave does make a move, she can always tell him that she is engaged.”

Henry shook his head.  “No, she cannot for she doesn’t know that she is betrothed to another.”

Chapter 23

“So you see how it is, Gustave,” Michelle said.  “You are a commoner and I am a noblewoman.”

They were headed back toward the studio.  They were walking hand in hand. 

“And that means what? That I can never have you? Hold hands with you? Maybe we shouldn’t be interested in one another, if that is the case.”

Michelle smiled and shook her head.  They had stopped walking

“I never said that, Gustave, you did.”  She looked at him and cocked her head to one side.  “I was intending to tell my father about you.  I know my mother will not question this.  I know she will understand.”

“And how do you know?” Gustave asked.  “First of all, we only know each other for two short weeks.  Secondly, how do you know your mother will accept the two of us?”

“Because, Gustave, my mother was not of noble birth when my father married her.”

Gustave looked at her, a little confused.  “What?  How can that be true?”

“It can, Gustave and it is.  You see, my father had an arranged marriage, but he had a childhood friend who would be there for him and tend to his every need.  As they grew together, they fell in love and married, secretly.  When it came time for the marriage to take place, my father informed my grandfather that he could not marry the woman that had been chosen for him.  At first, my grandfather would not accept her, but when they met Viviane, they changed their minds.  She was a charmer, Gustave and she still is.”  She smiled and reached out to brush his cheek.  “A lot like you.”

Gustave looked at her, a little smile on his face.  He had been captivated from the first day he met her.  “Perhaps you are like her a bit yourself,” he answered, reaching out to toward her hair.  But his hand stopped mid-air as reality sunk in. 

“Wait a minute.  What are you saying? Do you want me to marry you, in secret, as your parents did?”  

Michelle played with his ear.  “Is that what you think?”  was all she answered and picked up his arms and threw them around her neck.  They kissed again.    

Chapter 24

Gustave and Michelle were hand in hand and laughing as they entered his studio. 

“Danielle?” he called.  He thought she was the only up here.  At least that’s how he left the studio that afternoon.  Leonardo and Michelle were on their way up the steps when he heard them talking.  He had come out when he heard the two of them talking.

Now he saw Leonardo and Danielle, but who was Danielle with? It looked like Armand at first, but something made him look closer.  He squinted a bit, then shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Your Highness?”  he asked.  “What are you doing here? How did you get in? And how come you are in Armand’s clothes?

Henry smiled.  “Well, for one thing you can call me Henry.  Now that’s that out of the way,” Henry said, looking at him, taking his eyes from Danielle,  “you are correct, I was Armand. You let me in yourself.”

Gustave looked at Danielle who he found was looking back at him.

“And you are comfortable with this arrangement?” he asked.   What about what happened at the ball.”

“We have taken care of that, Gustave,” Henry said.  “It’s all been discussed.”

 “I was talking to Danielle,” Gustave said, a bit angrily, “not you.”

“What Henry says is true, Gustave.  He was disguising himself to get in here to see me. Does this sound familiar to you at all?”

“A little,” Gustave said, a smile playing on his lips.  “But I might have a  little surprise of my own to let you in on.”

Chapter 25

“Well, well, well,” a new voice called out, “so this is where you have been going  for the past two weeks.”

Michelle recognized the voice.  She really didn’t need to turn around.  “Hello, Father.  How nice to see that you have been keeping such a close watch over me.”

Jules du Bois frowned.  He looked at his daughter.  “Is this your husband?” he asked, pointing at Gustave.

“Husband?”  Danielle, Henry and Leonardo said it in unison. They stared at Gustave.

Michelle looked at him angrily.  “We didn’t get married, Father, not yet.  We walked into St. Etienne’s and talked it over with Father Thomas, as you well know. The only thing that came of that was the fact that Gustave and I are engaged.”

The Duke was outraged.

“I would like a word in private, daughter.”

“Uncle, listen,” Henry began, but it was to no avail.

Jules glared at his nephew.  “Silence, you little imp. Always causing a stir, aren’t you?  Marie always worried where you had gotten off to half the time. Climbing out of windows, playing tricks on others with your cousin, Francois.  Now you are marrying a commoner and your parents must accept it.  But is doesn’t matter with her,” he said, pointing a finger at Danielle.  “She has nothing and is gaining everything. But this boy,” he now pointed at Gustave, “has absolutely nothing to give my daughter except this.”  The Duke opened his arms and turned about the room.  “What is this, daughter?  Did you ever stop to think?  He has no money, why, he’s not even an artist yet.” 

“Father, listen…” Michelle answered, but never finished.

“How dare you,” Gustave started, mostly under his breath.  He lunged toward Jules but Danielle stopped him. 

“She’s already betrothed, Gustave.  To someone else.”

“That can’t be true,” Gustave said, so loudly that everyone heard.  “She would have told me.”

“She didn’t know herself, Gustave,” Henry said, looking at Michelle.

“That’s not true, cousin,” Michelle said, “I knew.”

Chapter 26

“How did you find out?”

“Mother told me, Henry.  She said it wasn’t right keeping it a secret any longer.  I told her I wanted to marry for love and she smiled and gave me permission to visit you.  I was hoping that I would meet someone and fall in love with them, however, I didn’t expect it would be in two weeks.”  She turned to her father.

“Mother said you would follow me, just to make sure your little prize would stay safe away from other men’s charms.”  She moved closer to him. 

“Father, you must let me go.  I have seen seventeen summers pass and will soon turn eighteen.  I must try to live my own life.  I do not want what’s best for you.  I want what’s best for me.  After all, it is my life.”

She stormed out of the studio and down the studio, Gustave running right behind her.

“This sounds all too familiar,” Leonardo said, trying not to laugh.  He looked at Henry and found that Henry was looking at him.

“I guess the nobles need to create a little excitement in our lives,” he said and they both started to laugh. 

“Is that what I am?  Excitement?”  Danielle scolded Henry. 

“More than you know, Princess,” Henry said, turning to her.  “More than you know.”

He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her.

“Aren’t you going to go after your daughter?” Leonardo asked the Duke.  He was trying not to smile.

The Duke looked at him as if he had two heads.  “And who, may I ask, are you?  That boy’s master?”

Henry sputtered as they came up for air.  He couldn’t believe what he had heard.

“He does excellent work, Monsieur le Duke,” Leonardo piped up, “and someday he will make a great artist.”

“Do you mean to tell me, uncle, that you do not know who this man is?”

“Henry, please, not now.”

Chapter 27

“Do not stop me, Signore,” Henry said

He looked at Jules. 

“This, my dear uncle, is Signore Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest painters and inventors the world has ever seen. I understand your feelings, but you should never judge a book by its cover.  That is what Danielle taught me. He turned to her and put his hands into hers.  “She has an inner and outer beauty, which is only two of her qualities.  She is rich in other ways, although she is mistress of her own manor, so to speak.  One that her father had left her to do as she pleases.  It is not big, uncle, but it will suffice.  She is my match and I will marry her as Gustave will marry Michelle.  I will see to that.”

Danielle’s eyes went wide.  “What did you say about the manor?”

Henry smiled.  “It is yours, Danielle, to do with as you wish.  According to Maurice, the manor has been left to you in his care.  Didn’t you ever realize that the servants have been calling you ‘Mistress’ when Rodmilla’s back was turned?  Or were you always too busy to notice?”

“Is that what they told you?”  Danielle asked.  She was smiling now, unable to believe what she had heard.

 

Henry smiled and nodded his head.  They both began to laugh.  He had almost forgotten all about his uncle. 

“How dare you, you impertinent little child.  You will not speak to me in such a fashion, no matter if you are Prince or King.  I will not tolerate…”

But Henry wasn’t listening any longer.  He was much busy elsewhere.

“Would you like to take a little stroll, Monsieur le Duke?  I know it is on such short notice, but I feel I might be of some help to you.  I am a great listener as well as a great painter.”

 

Jules was becoming angrier by the minute, but he did relent.  He was never sure quite why. 

“So you are Signore da Vinci, is this correct?”

Leonardo bowed.  “At your service, Monsieur le Duke.  And please, call me Leonardo.”  He smiled and gestured toward the door.  “Come and walk while we are still young.  They will be busy for quite a while, I’m afraid.” He looked at Henry and Danielle.  “Ah, to be young and in love.”

Leonardo started to walk toward the door, Jules still staring at the couple.  He was about to say something, when he heard Leonardo’s voice.

“Monsieur le Duke?”

Leonardo walked out the door, not waiting for an answer.  Jules gave one last look at the couple and ran out after him.  He suddenly realized that he had a lot to say.

Chapter 28

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Gustave asked, “or are you just doing this to spite your father?”

Michelle looked at him.  They hadn’t gone outside at all.  They were standing on the first floor, looking at Leonardo’s unfinished paintings and sketches. 

“Of course, Gustave, I love you  I don’t care about money and titles, there is more to life than that.  All I want is to be free of my parents, especially my father.”

“But do you know what it is like to live this way?” Gustave asked.

Michelle frowned.  “And what way is that?”

“Hand to mouth, painting to painting.  Wishing and hoping that someone will commission me to paint their portrait or buy one that was just finished.” Gustave shook his head.  “This is no life for you, your father is right.  I don’t know what I was even thinking about. You might think you love me now, Michelle, but in a few years, you will see me for what I am, a poor painter who cannot support you in the manner that you are used to.”

Michelle smiled and shook her head.  “Leonardo tells me that you are an excellent painter, Gustave.  When he looks at you, he sees himself when he was your age.  He believes that you will be the next court painter and I shouldn’t tell you this, but he is going to recommend you for the post.”

Gustave stood there gaping at her.  He shook his head.  “That can’t be.  I am not that good.”

Michelle touched his cheek and smiled.  “You are a wonderful painter, Gustave.  How many people do you need to tell you that?”

“It’s what you think, Michelle, not anyone else.  I want to make you happy.  I really do want to marry you.  I guess I never thought about the differences until your father showed up.  I don’t want to ever disappoint you.  I want you to realize what you will have if you marry me.” He put his arms around her neck. “It won’t be an easy life and I really want you to think about what you are doing.”

Michelle smiled.  “I have thought about it, Gustave, and I want this marriage more than you know. I will never leave you, I am not like that.  Please believe me, my love.”

Gustave looked in her beautiful brown eyes.  She didn’t blink or pull away.  She stood her ground and looked right back at him.  Right then and there he knew what he wanted.  Danielle was right, he thought, when you meet that certain someone, you know it immediately. It will hit you over the head.

“Of course, I believe you.  I feel the same way.   I knew from the first minute I saw you at that front door, that you were the one.”  Gustave told her.   “I don’t know why, I just know.  Please forgive me for questioning you the way I had before.  I never meant to hurt you.”

Michelle smiled and shook her head. “There is nothing to forgive, Gustave. I feel the same way.”  She put her arms around him and brought him down to her level.  She brought her lips to his.              

Chapter 29

“So you see, Monsieur le Duke, Gustave has the potential of becoming a great artist.  He reminds me of myself at his age.  He’s got the same dreams and desires.  His work is excellent and I will  recommend him highly for court painter.”

“So does this mean that you will quit the post?”

“Not for a while, Monsieur le Duke, but I will have to stop painting soon.  My right hand refuses to obey me.  Besides, I would like to concentrate on getting my scientific papers in order.”

The bell at St. Etienne’s chimed nine.  They had taken a short walk up the road.  They kept close to the side to avoid the carriages and horses that seemed to populate the road all at once. 

“You would think that most people would be abed, Signore,” Jules said. 

Leonardo smiled and nodded.  “Yes, I suppose that is true.  Usually this road is dead at this time of evening.  I know, I am always here this time of night.”

He looked at the Duke.  “You do not have to call me Signore, you know.  Leonardo will do just fine.”

The Duke smiled.  “And you can call me Jules if you like.”  The smile left his face and he became serious.  “I would like to offer you my apology, Leonardo.  I suppose I should have known who you were.  Your name is well known, Signore.”

“Ah, my name,” Leonardo said, “but where would you have you seen my face.” He looked at the Duke and smiled.  “There is no need for an apology, Jules, I understand, believe me.”

“What does that post carry with it, Signore?  Have they given you everything that you asked for?”

“And more, Monsieur.  They have given me a title and a studio at the castle.  They have also given me my own manor, not that far from the castle.  I have never lacked for anything.  I have more than enough time for myself and it is usually spent here with Gustave.  I do my best work in this tiny studio than anywhere else. I do not know why.”  He smiled.  “Gustave asks a million questions and all at once, it seems.  But he is a smart boy and is learning rather quickly.  If you come downstairs with me, I will show you some of his work.”

The Duke smiled.  “Yes, Leonardo, I would happy to.”  He thought for a moment.  Do you really think that Michelle and Gustave will be happy together?” 

“Yes, of course I do, Jules.  I wouldn’t have gotten them together otherwise.” It was a tiny fib, but who cared?

“And you really do think that boy has potential?”

Leonardo was becoming impatient.  “I would not have said it if I did not mean it, Monsieur le Duke.”

The Duke suddenly grinned. “Come then, Signore,” he said.  “Let us visit the first floor.  I am very anxious to view Gustave’s paintings.”

Chapter 30   

“I would not worry, cousin,” Henry said, looking at Michelle.  “The Signore is very good at bringing people together. You might say that he has been like a second father to me.”

“And me,” Gustave said.  “He has taken me under his wing and taught me everything he knows.  I have learned much from him.”

“As I,” Danielle said, laughing.  She looked at Henry.  “I would have never gotten to the ball without his help.”

“What do you mean, Princess?”  Henry asked.

“Rodmilla locked me in the cellar and held on to the key.  Leonardo managed to unhinge the door and freed me from my prison.  He painted on my masque and sent me to the castle in his own coach.”

She looked at Henry.  “He convinced me to tell you the truth, Henry.  I wouldn’t have done so without his urging.”

“And I sent you out into the night, in front of the whole world.  I have never forgiven myself for that.” He shook his head.  “Yes, Danielle, Leonardo told me everything that night after the ball, which only made it worse for me.  I never thought that you would ever forgive me.”

Danielle smiled.  “You have proven yourself worthy, my love.  Of course I forgive you.  I never thought that your parents would ever accept me.”

“Neither did I, Princess,” he whispered.  He looked at Gustave and Michelle.  “Come, we must get back to the castle.  We have much to prepare for.”

“What about your father and Leonardo?”  Gustave asked Michelle. 

She was just about to answer when the front door opened.

“What about us?” Leonardo said as the two of them entered the studio.

Michelle stood and looked at her father. “I do not need your blessing, Father. “

“But you shall have it anyway, daughter,” the Duke said.  He walked over to his daughter and kissed her on the forehead.  “Congratulations, my daughter.  I pray that you will be happy as your mother and I have been.”

Michelle looked at him, a little confused.  “What about my arranged marriage? What about your displeasure over this poor painter?”

“Leonardo has made everything clear to me.  Besides, you know, your mother was a commoner.  I had almost forgotten that in my arrogance.  If you are happy, who am I to interfere.  As for your arrangement, that will be taken care of.  Your mother never cared for him, anyway.”

“Then we must return to the castle at once,” Henry shouted as he stood up. 

Leonardo shook his head. “I suggest that we stay here tonight.  Tomorrow we will return to the castle and celebrate the marriage the Prince and his new bride.” He winked at Gustave.  “And there just might be room for one more.”

Chapter 31

“You look lovely, Danielle,” Jacqueline said, as she put the finishing touches on her wedding gown.  “I wish I was getting married.” 

Danielle smiled.  “You will, my sister, in another week.” She smiled.  “It sounds lovely.”

Jacqueline shook her head.  She smoothed out the last of wrinkles.  “I don’t want to wait another week.  Look at Gustave and Michelle.  Married not even an hour ago.”

Danielle nodded.  “Did not even wait for us.”  She laughed. “We don’t even know where they disappeared to.”  She shook her head.  “This isn’t like Gustave, Jacqueline.”

“Well, I think that I know,” the Queen’s voice called from the door. “but I did calm my brother down. I am sure I know where they have gotten off to.  It wouldn’t be the first time that someone disappeared.”

“I suppose you mean Henry, Mother,” Danielle said.   She looked up at the Queen.  “I wouldn’t worry about Michelle, Your Majesty.  She is well taken care of.”

Jacqueline stood up, brushed the last bit of lint off the gown.    “Come it is almost time.”  She looked at the Queen.   

Danielle is right, Your Majesty.  This is the time of celebration.  They will turn up sooner or later.”

“Well, then, you have our blessings as I hope that I will receive from you.”

All three of them turned.  It was the sound of a man’s voice and one Danielle quickly recognized.

“Gustave?” she asked as she turned to face him. “What are you doing here and where have you been?”

Chapter 32

“Look, Henry,” Danielle exclaimed, “look at it.  Isn’t it lovely?”

Henry looked at his new bride and smiled.  “It certainly is, Princess and the amazing thing is that it is all yours.”

“Ours,” Danielle smiled, looking at him.  He smiled back.  “Ours,” he repeated, never taking his eyes from hers. 

They were standing in the tiny loft that she used as her room since she was eight. This was where Rodmilla had thrown her and all her belongings while she used her room downstairs.

“Where is that hope chest? Jacqueline told me that she put it in there.”

“Are you sure about this, Princess?” He shook his head.  “It can’t be this simple.”

“Some people change, Henry, although I can’t really believe this myself. Now where could it be?”

“Hold it, Danielle.  This is our time to be together before the reception. Are you sure you really want to look for this chest?”

“Aren’t you the least bit curious?” Danielle asked.  “Jacqueline put these articles in herself.  She explained that Rodmilla gave them to her.”

“It might be a trick.” Henry said. 

“I don’t believe that it is, my Prince,”  Danielle told him.

She looked around the room trying to remember where she had hid it last.  She kept moving the chest from place to place so that Rodmilla and Marguerite had a hard time finding it. 

Finally, she saw it a corner of it lying under the bed.  So that’s where she hid it last. I am glad Jacqueline remembered, she thought smiling.  She looked down and pulled the chest out from under the bed. 

Chapter 33

       

“This has been one hell of day Princess,” Henry said, looking at her, “and it has turned into one interesting night.”

Danielle smiled and nodded. “I think for once I agree.”  She touched his cheek.  “We didn’t even go to our own reception.” 

Henry looked in her eyes and put his hand toward her neck and pulled her forward.  They were lying naked on the bed in the loft.  They had just finished making love for the first time since their marriage earlier that morning.

He kissed her, then shook his head.  “There is no where else I’d want to be than in your arms.” He laughed.  “No, Danielle, I am not sorry we sneaked out into the night and arrived here.  It will take a while for people to realize that where we are and I am sure they’ll all be here by morning.  This way, it gives us a chance to be alone. To get to know each other before they all pounce on us.”

“Yes, Henry, I suppose that’s true.  Give us a chance to reflect on the day’s happenings.”

Henry smiled.  “Who want’s to reflect on anything?  I just want to focus on you right now.  Perhaps later we will have a chance to reflect.  Right now all I can think of is you in my arms and…” but the sentence was left unfinished as Danielle kissed him.

Chapter 34

“Where could they have gotten off to this time?” Francis was standing on the dais in the Grand Ballroom, watching all the festivities.  Everyone was here except the Prince and the new Princess. 

“They did go the manor to pick up some things,” Marie said.  “They should have been back by now.”

Francis smiled and looked at her.  “I do remember something, Marie.  It was after you gave birth to Henry.  Right after the baptism?.  Do you remember?”

“How could I ever forget,” Marie whispered.  “We sneaked off somewhere inside the castle and left little Henry with the nurses.  We never did get to the reception.” 

“Perhaps we should leave them alone tonight.  Let’s finish our reception and dedicate it to all newly married couples.”

“And a few older ones also,” Marie laughed.  “Come, let’s retire.  We will surprise them in the morning.  I believe Leonardo has something to give them.  I can’t wait to see what it might be.”

Chapter 35

Danielle woke in the middle of the night.

She looked over at Henry lying next to her on his side, his arms tangled around her.  Once she freed herself, very carefully so she would not wake him, she slid off the bed and lit the small candle by her bedside.  She grabbed the ring and headed for the hope chest, but something made her turn and stop. 

It was the tiny window she used to look out of when she grew up here.  It wasn’t even a window, she thought, it was just a plate of glass that Gustave put in so that she would be able to glimpse the outside world from time to time. 

Things were certainly different now.  She had married a prince this morning, the Crown Prince of France to be exact.  Danielle smiled.  In her whole life, she never thought that she would even meet a prince, much less marry one.  And the wedding ceremony was too much to be believed. Two priests, including Father Thomas, and several clergy were on hand. Two choirs sang hymns and praises as Danielle made her way down the aisle.  She had never seen so many flowers all in one place before.

Danielle had worn the Queen’s wedding dress and it didn’t even have to be taken in too much.  She looked absolutely lovely.  Everyone thought so, including Henry.  But the face she would never forget was Gustave’s when he knocked on bride’s chamber door.

His mouth had dropped so far that she was afraid that she would need a crowbar to pick it up.  Gustave couldn’t speak through the whole ceremony.  But he didn’t have to, she knew that the two of them spoke to Father Thomas and married in the tiny chapel right then and there.  They waited a little before going back to the church to attend her wedding. 

She kept looking out, even though she saw nothing.  She had no idea what time it was until the castle chapel bells rang twice.  That caught her attention.  She had to do what she started out to do before the sun rose.  She looked around for the small silver candlestick and found it next to her. 

Chapter 36

She picked it up and carried it over to the hope chest where it still lay, open to the sky for the entire world to see.  She set the candle down again and picked up the three articles that they had found inside earlier that afternoon.  A note lay atop the missing things: To Her Highness, the Princess of France written on the front. 

Dear Danielle:

I am writing this letter as we have packed up our things and are waiting to be escorted out of Hautefort proper.  I do not know where we shall go, I have always wanted to go to Paris and this is where, I suppose, we will journey next.  However,

I wanted to leave this with you.  I have given this note to Laurent, who will take it to Jacqueline and, who I trust, will hand it to you. 

Your father wanted you to have these at his death, and I kept them for safekeeping.  Please accept them in the spirit that it is given and hear my apology and accept my forgiveness for I know now that I have been wrong.

Your loving mother,

Rodmilla

Danielle smiled at the tiny note.  Did she really expect to be believed?  She picked up the first of the articles, her mother’s set of brushes, combs and lovely silk ribbons to tie her hair back with. 

The second was her mother’s wedding dress,  a copy of the one that Danielle wore to the ball that night.  She had made the other, Jacqueline had explained, in case anything had happened to the first one.  It was a slightly different design than the one Danielle had burned that night after the ball, but similar in lines, texture, fabric and color.

The third was the second copy of Utopia by Thomas More, her father’s last gift to her the night before he died.  She had been only eight at the time and he had given one book to her to read.  He had said something about putting it in the library, but she thought he meant the copy that he had given her, the one that Marguerite threw into the fire. 

She hadn’t realized that her father had brought home two of them.

She turned the book over and over in her hands and cried softly, hoping not to awaken Henry. 

“Don’t cry, Danielle, please,” someone whispered in her ear and they reached over and grabbed her and brought her close.

“It’s all over now, you will never have to worry about her or Marguerite again.”

Henry held her tight and placed his arms around her shoulders. 

Chapter 37

“I don’t believe this,” Danielle said, shaking her head and laughing, “what else could happen this night?”

Henry smiled.  “Actually, Princess, it’s morning.  Look, it’s getting lighter.”

Danielle picked up the glass slipper.  “And you tell me that this isn’t the one that Leonardo gave you that night?”

Henry nodded.  “That one is back at the castle, Danielle.  You watched as I put it in that little silver chest.”

“Then this has to be the other one, the one that I set fire to, along with the…”

She stared at the slipper, then picked it up and turned it around in her hand.  “Where did you ever find this?  I thought it was gone, like the gown and the book and…”

Henry smiled. “It was on the side of the bed, not quite under it.  I almost stepped on it when I came to get you.”

Danielle kept looking at it.  “It was almost as if it wanted to be found,” she said.

“Maybe,” Henry said putting his arms around her, “it did.”

They both laughed.

“Do you think that Rodmilla and Marguerite are both gone for good?”

Henry nodded. He touched her cheek and stared into her eyes.   “They can’t hurt you anymore, Danielle.  I’ll see to that, anyway.” 

“I love you, Princess,” Henry said, getting serious.  He looked in her eyes.

“And I love you, my Prince.”

They barely kissed before Henry pulled away. 

“Something wrong?”  Danielle said, looking at him.

He wasn’t looking at her, he was looking at the tiny window. When he looked back at her, he was smiling and getting to his feet.

“Come on, Princess,  hurry and get dressed.  I want to share this with you.”  He helped her up.  “I want this to be my first wedding present to you.”

“Where, Henry?” she said.

Henry smiled.  “I know just the place. If we leave right now, we’ll just about make it.”

Chapter 38

“It’s beautiful, Henry,” she whispered.  He had brought her to the hill at Amboise, near the ruins of the church.

“Isn’t it?” Henry whispered.  They had their arms around one another. 

“I’ve come here often,” Danielle said, “but I never realized you could see the sunrise from up here.  How often do you come?”

Henry laughed.  “I come here sometimes to be alone, as I’ve explained to you.  I have never come here to see the sunrise.”

Danielle frowned. “How did you know about this hill, then?”

Henry smiled.  He turned to look at her.  “Let’s just say I have it on good authority.”

Danielle nodded.  “If you don’t want to tell me, I’ll understand.”

Henry shook his head and turned all red.  “My parents, Princess. I have often heard them talking about sneaking off to come here. They’ve even hinted that I was conceived here one night.”

Danielle smiled.  “Henry,” she giggled.

“If you ever tell anyone,” Henry began, but didn’t finish.

“Do you think that I would ever do that?”

Henry looked at her.  “I wouldn’t put anything past you, Princess.  You know all the tricks and more.”

“Perhaps,” Danielle whispered, “but your parents have shown me respect and given me every courtesy under the sun.  I would never dream of hurting them or embarrassing you for that matter.”

Henry had that goofy smile again, the same one he had at the gypsy camp.  “You are really extraordinary, Danielle.”

“You know, Henry, the morning grows short. We must return to the manor with all due speed if we are to greet our guests.”

Henry face lit up in a playful smile. “Let’s make them wait a trifle longer, shall we?” and he brought his mouth to hers.    

Chapter 39

“What?” Francis yelled, looking at his wife.  “How could you let him get away with this?”  He paced up and down the room.  “Your own brother no less.”

 

“Francis, please,” Marie said, “I cannot control what my brother does.  I never could.  He is the youngest of my three brothers and always the wildest.  He was able to get away with so much more than the rest of us.”

Francis smiled and shook his head.  “And you were a woman, also.”

“Precisely,”  Marie answered.  “Men always get more than their fair share.  It is, after all, a man’s world.” 

“And what does that mean?”  Francis asked.  He stopped pacing and looked at her again.  “Where is he now?  When is he coming?”

“Phillippe is here, my lord,” she said, “waiting for you in the Audience Chamber.”

Francis rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.

“I will do this,” Francis said, looking at her, “but only because he is your brother.”

Francis started toward the door, then stopped as the grandfather clock in the hallway struck nine.  He turned to Marie.  “The morning is wearing thin, Marie. Our son and his new bride have not returned.”

Marie nodded. “I will make arrangements to head for the manor at once, Francis.  In the meantime, my brother is waiting.”

Francis gave Marie a last look, turned and stormed out the door.  He let it slam behind him.

Chapter 40

  

“YOU WHAT?” the King yelled at the top of his lungs.  “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?  HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO YOUR SISTER?”

“How could I do what?  I’ve known the woman, correction, we’ve known her all our lives, Francis,” Phillippe said.  “You have practically ruined her life.” He shook his head.  “And all because of a little misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”  Francis looked at his brother in law.  He couldn’t believe it.  “She has done unspeakable acts to a woman whom I now refer to as my daughter.  You want to marry her and I am supposed to pardon her and let her return to Hautefort so she can do more damage?”

“Rodmilla has changed, my brother,” Phillippe said, “she has returned to her former self and seen the error of her ways.”

“No one changes, Phillippe, unless they want to change.  You can’t do it for them, they have to want to.  So, because Marie is your older sister and she loves you, I will give you the benefit of the doubt.  We will watch and wait.  But if Rodmilla  returns to her old tricks, the both of you are headed toward the Americas on the next available boat.  Is that understood?”

“Have you told my sister about this? I am sure she would disagree.”

“No, Phillippe,” Marie said, coming out from the shadows.  “I would not.  This was my idea, not the King’s and I mean every word that I said.  I will not hesitate to carry out this plan.  I will say no more on this subject.”  She turned to Francis.”

“My lord,” she said, turning toward him. “All the arrangements have been made.”

“Very well, then, we must be off, my Queen.  We must tarry no longer.” He turned to Phillippe.  “Coming?”

Chapter 41

“Well,” Danielle said, looking at Henry as he helped her down from the horse.  “You were right.  Just look how many people have arrived already.”

“Danielle, Danielle,” Danielle turned to find Jacqueline standing there.  “I do not know how my mother got here, but there she is.”

Danielle followed her fingers and, sure enough, there was Rodmilla chatting up the Queen. 

“How could they be so friendly toward each other?” Danielle said, a little confused and angry.  She turned to Henry.  “I thought you told me that they had been banished.  Even the note…”

“Do not blame Henry, Danielle.  He did not know.  It was a deal,” Jacqueline told them.  “Your uncle, Phillippe married her not knowing or caring what fate has befallen her.  Now he wants her pardoned.  She is being watched every second, Danielle, even as we speak.”

Henry shook his head.  “Thank you, Jacqueline, this news is most unexpected, although I should have guessed it. This is too much like him.  A troublemaker and always full of surprises.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he did…”

“Watch out,” Jacqueline said, “she is on her way over.  And I am sure it is not to see me.”

“Hello, Your Highness,” Rodmilla said.  She looked at Henry and did a deep curtsey, all the way to the floor. “I wish to bestow upon you my blessings for a happy and long marriage.” Now she looked at Danielle.  Please accept my forgiveness and would like to express my sincere apology at what I have done.”

She curtsied again and stepped back, not really expecting to hear anything from Danielle, but she was wrong.

“Duchess,” she answered, doing her own curtsey.  “I accept your apology and forgiveness and I hope that we may continue to be friends in the future.  I would like to thank you for the note and all three of my mother’s articles.”

“I know you do not believe me, Danielle, but I have tried to make amends and I know that I will never be favored in your heart.”

Danielle was about to answer when, it seemed, the entire manor swooped down upon the two of them offering their congratulations and best wishes.

Chapter 42

“Everyone, please, gather round,” Maurice called.  “We are proud to announce the unveiling of a new da Vinci portrait.  Please all gather in the drawing room as the mystery is revealed.”

Danielle looked away for a moment and surveyed the front yard.  When she found what she was looking for, she excused herself and headed over to where Gustave was standing.

“Gustave,” she said, hugging him.  “I have been meaning to talk to you all night.”

“As I,” Gustave whispered.  He looked around.  “I don’t suppose that there is any way that we can be alone, is there?”

Henry and Michelle were laughing as they approached Danielle and Gustave.  “We have decided,” Henry said.  “After the unveiling, the four of us will spend the afternoon together, get to know one another better.”

“Sounds like a great idea,” Gustave said, “but first, the unveiling.  Leonardo insisted that one of my paintings be unveiled with his.”

“Come, then,” Henry said, putting his arms around his cousin to his left and Gustave to his right.  “Let’s go see this painting of yours.”

Epilogue

“That portrait of yours was so beautiful, Gustave,” Michelle told him. “It was the last thing that I ever expected.”

“I told you that I was doing a portrait,” Gustave said, pulling her closer to him.  “How could you have forgotten?” 

“I don’t think it was that,” Danielle interuppted.  “No one expected anyone else’s portrait other than Leonardo’s.”

“And that,” Michelle said, “was the most beautiful portrait that I have ever seen of Leonardo’s.  It put mine to shame.”

“Thanks,” Gustave said, looking at her, “but I suppose I could agree.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Gustave.  Is that any way for the new court painter to talk?”

“You are right, Danielle,” Gustave said, although he had his eyes somewhere else.  “Maurice, watch your little sister, please.”

“Do I have to, Papa?” three year old Maurice asked.

“Louise cannot walk by herself yet. She is not even a year old yet.”

“Here, Maurice, let me help,” three year old Henri Francois demanded.  He took Louise’s other hand. 

   

“Hey,” Nicole Paulette called, “Wait for me.”

“Do not say ‘hey,’ Nicole,” Danielle scolded her three year old daughter, “remember, hay is for horses.”

“Look at him, Princess, already he has kingly qualities,” Henry marveled.    

“I hope the same for the one that’s in here,” Danielle said, rubbing her belly.  “And this time I hope it is only one.”

Henry smiled.  “No twins this time?  And I actually thought that you really wanted them again.”

“I don’t think I could make it through a second time,” Danielle looked at him. “The first time was hard enough.”

They all laughed.

“It’s funny, your father marrying my stepmother,” Danielle said looking at Michelle. “But she really has changed, you know.  That’s the funny part.”

“My father’s influence.  He has loved her all his life.  He needed a companion since Mother died five years ago.  He never thought he would ever find anyone again, especially Rodmilla de Ghent.”

“Well,” Henry said, getting up, “all’s well that ends well.” He helped a very pregnant Danielle up from where she had been sitting.  “I have never appreciated this place more.  In the four years that I moved out of the castle.“

“We really did do wonders with the manor since Rodmilla and Marguerite moved out.”

“Speaking of Marguerite,” Gustave asked, “has anyone ever heard from her?”

“Last news that I received, she was in Paris, baby in tow, three year old Henry Francis.”  It was Jacqueline and Laurent, newly arrived.  Tagging after them was three year old Jeanee.  Another was on the way.

As soon as Jeanee saw the other four children, she ran screaming over to join them.

The parents all looked over at them, alarmed at first until the children settled down.

“Named for me, is that it?” Henry almost laughed.  “I hope she doesn’t claim it to be mine.”

“Not yet,” Jacqueline answered, meeting and greeting everyone.  “She supposedly has a husband or someone she’s living with.  Goes by the name of Francois.”

“MY COUSIN, FRANCOIS,” Henry went wide-eyed.  Jacqueline shrugged. 

“I will ask in my next letter.  Is he living in Paris?”

“They don’t know where he is,” Michelle answered.  He ran away when he was fifteen.  Everyone thinks he’s dead.”

“Don’t you ever hear from him?” Henry asked.

“Do you?” Michelle answered, looking at him.  “He was closer to you than he was to me.”

“Well, Leonardo isn’t doing too well,” Gustave said.  “He lost the use of his right hand months ago.  Now he is using his left and stopped painting completely.  He is just writing over his scientific papers now. This is what he’s always wanted to do it seems.”

“Dinner is ready,” Paulette announced to everyone.  “Jacqueline, Laurent, you are just in time.”

And they all went to sit at the table laughing and joking with one another, one eye on the food, the other on the children.