Part 28
A few weeks went by, and Francis was back on his feet again. I would like to say that he was a changed man but that would mean I was lying to you. He was just as stubborn as ever. Danielle and him did finish their chat, and they ended up agreeing to disagree. He respected that she was going to run her own life, and she tried not to yell at him too much for trying to run everyone else’s lives.
Anne spent very little time at the castle. Danielle had now given her complete control of her business, and she went back home to run it. She could never stop thanking Danielle for that gift. It would suit Anne’s taste just fine. Now she could prove to the world that she was not just a count’s daughter. However, she did wish that the business had been one that would distinguish her more as an equal to men. To help this, she also started to sell men’s clothes.
Antoine found that palace life was not for him, but he did not want to give up on being swept off of his feet yet, so he went to Paris. Here he was also instructed to find out what the newest fashion was and report it back to Anne. In the end, he ended up marring a daughter of a knight. Both of them were madly in love with each other, which is proven by the fact that they had eight children with the biggest age gap being thirteen months. If you asked Antoine the reason for such a large gap he would reply, “I was out of town.”
However, the story does not conclude here. There is much that has been left unsaid. Henry and Danielle tried to keep their new relationship a secret from the rest of the world. Everything was so new to them, and they did not want to jinx the relationship before it had actually got started. The two of them did an excellent job of keeping it a secret. To the rest of the world, they looked as if they were just reconnecting.
Danielle missed her friends, but she knew that it was best to stay where she was. With Henry, everything was a new adventure. Neither of them was sure what was going to happen between them, but they could not fight something that seemed so right.
One day, after they had been secretly courting for a month, Henry took Danielle to Amboise. They went for a picnic. It was a place which both were familiar with. They had spent a great deal of time there for it was one of their father’s favorite spots or at least it used to be. Now, he never went there.
Danielle took in the scene around her. “I have not been here for so long. I think the last time was when I was eight. It has changed so much, and yet it still looks the same in my eyes.”
Henry watches her explore like a small child. “I come here all the time. It is one of the few places that I can go and feel comfortable. No one judges me here and no one tells me what I can and can not do. It is my sanctuary.”
The two of them sat down to a peaceful lunch. They really did not talk much. They just enjoyed the fact that no words were necessary between them. When they were done, Henry insisted on them take a little walk around the ruins.
They walked hand in hand for a while, but Danielle’s sense of adventure got the better of her. She started to walk ahead of him looking for obstacles. Henry started to speak behind her, “Danielle, there is something I would like to ask you.” He got not response. “It is of a great deal of importance.” This time he got her to turn and face him. He put her two hands into his. “Danielle, I think that we were destined to be together. Otherwise, why would have fate left you on the palace doorstep. You were destined to be something great and I only hope that with all of your greatness there is room for me. I know that we have hardly started courting but in a sense I have been courting you since the day you were born. Would you do me the great honor of being my wife?”
Danielle bit her lip and let go of his hands. She started to walk away from him. “Henry, you know that I can not marry you. Who knows who I am or where I came from? She looks up at him. I would love nothing more than to be your wife, but you know I can not do so with a good heart until I know where I came from.” Tears had started to roll down Danielle’s face.
Henry put his arms around her. “If I could find out who your parents were, would this idea appeal more to you? Would you be able to be the wife of a silly Prince?”
Danielle laughs and looks back up at him. “The idea of being the wife to a silly Prince does not appeal to me, but the idea of being the wife of the man I love does. Henry I would do anything to be with you.” She leans up and kisses his lips.
********************************
Later that day, Henry left the palace on a mission. No one was going to stop him from marrying to woman that he loved. He was going to give the boulder in his path two choices. He knocked on the door of the manor. Of course, Marguerite was the one to answer the door. “It is such an honor to have such a visitor.” She curtsied low. “Are you here to call on me?”
Henry laughed in his head that was not obvious. “Marguerite have I ever can to call on you?”
“No, but I am not the same girl that I use to be. I am not my mother,” said Marguerite angrily.
“I suppose you are not, but I am here to see Auguste. Is he in?”
Disappointed, she answers, “He is in his study reading. It seems like all he does is sit in that study and read.”
Henry smiles. “Start reading some of those books Auguste reads, and I can guarantee that men will find you much more interesting than they do now. Excuse me.” Henry hurries up the stairway and into the study. “Auguste, I have a bone to pick with you.”
Auguste jumps slightly, “Is that how you are being taught to enter rooms now? Are you trying to scare everyone to death?”
“Yes, well what I need to talk to you about is very important. Do you mind if I take a seat this may take awhile?” Auguste gestures to a chair. “Thank you. What I have come to talk to you about concerns your daughter and a marriage proposal.”
Auguste acts startled. “Please do not tell me that you have asked Marguerite to marry and are asking for my permission. I would rather die than let you marry her.”
“No, but you have just reminded me of something. I should have done this before I asked Danielle. It seems that I have got my order of things all messed up. I am here for many reasons. One of them being to ask your permission to marry Danielle. She and I have been courting for a month now, and I want to make her my wife.”
Auguste just stared at Henry for a moment. He certainly had not seen this one coming, but it was a welcome surprise. “Danielle and you would be perfect for each other. I would be more than happy to have my daughter settled so well. What else was it that you wanted to ask me?”
“Well,” hesitated Henry, “in order for Danielle and I to marry, we have to know her background. My father would grant us permission and give her a title, but Danielle wants it done the right way. She wants to know who her family is. I did not tell her yet, but if you don’t then I will.”
“You do not leave me with very many options do you?”