Part 8
When they returned to the palace, Jacqueline was still there visiting with Marie. Charles escorted her to her mother’s study. The moment Danielle walked through the room on the arm on Charles a blush formed on her cheeks. She didn’t quiet understand why she was blushing, but she blushed nevertheless. Charles left her in their care and then went to find Henry.
As Danielle took a seat, both her mother and Jacqueline gave her a curious look. “If you two wish to ask me something, I suggest you do it because I may occasionally be able to read minds but not today.”
Jacqueline spoke up first. “The Marquis seems to be a nice enough gentleman. And, if I am not mistaken, he seems to have taken quiet a liking to you. Although, I do not see how he could not take a liking to you since it seems that ever man in the kingdom has, we are just curious about it. For none of the other men have done anything but admire you from afar.”
“If you asking me if I have a particular liking for the Marquis, then I am sorry to disappoint. I have no attention of falling for any gentlemen in the kingdom for at least a year. I am young and have yet to learn whom I am before I try to figure out someone else. He is a friend and nothing more, so push whatever idea you have out of you head.”
Marie speaks up, “He is handsome. You will at least give him that.” She then pauses to think for a moment. In her mind, the quicker Danielle found a suitor the better. For she was afraid that once every found out that she was not of royal blood they might shun her. “There is no crime, my child, in settling down early. In fact, many people think it is better that way.”
“Mother, I appreciate the concern for my future, but I believe that I should follow my own heart. You are the one who is always arguing with father about how everyone should be allowed to marry whoever he or she wants to marry. So why are you trying to rush me into getting married?”
Marie went silent. Danielle had caught her there. For a moment, Marie was tempted to tell Danielle the whole truth of her past, but she knew she could not. For the next year, she knew that she would be haunted by the truth but no mater what she must hide it from her precious child as long as it was possible. Marie finally answers, “There is no rush. I just thought that he would make you a good husband. He is close to your brother, and I feel that he could be trusted. He is not the type of man who would marry you just because of who you are.”
“If that is all you two have to say on the matter, I would much rather we drop it.” The women agreed to drop it even though that was not all they had to say on the subject. After their very brief conversation about the Marquis, Danielle found herself in a quandary as to her feelings. If they had not said anything, she would have gone on thinking of him like a friend, but now they had put new ideas in her head.
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Charles left Danielle in the care of her mother wearing a smile. Once they had reached the river, they tied up their horses and walked along the shore for a half an hour. They talked books, philosophy, and science. Subjects which he never thought he would ever be able to discuss with a female. He now knew that Henry was not lying when he said that his sister was much more than she appeared.
After their walk, they lead their horses on a leisurely trip back to the palace. He had hated to part with her, but he knew that he would see her again. Nothing could stop him from coming back to see her. He found himself completely infatuated with her.
Once he had seen her safely into her mother’s care, he went in search of his friend. He found him in the library browsing the shelves. “Henry, I do not know whether I should yell at you or hug you, so I shall do neither. Instead I shall merely ask you not to do it again.”
Henry acted as if he had not heard what he had just said and started to talk about a different subject. “Father really needs to restock the library. It seems as if I have read all the books in here that are worth reading. Perhaps next time you come you could loan me a few books.”
“Sure I would not mind doing that, but Henry did you hear what I just said?”
“Of course, you asked me not to set you up little meetings between you and my sister. If that is what you wish, then I shall mind my own business.” Henry pulled out a dusty book. He rubbed the dust off the book, and hoped to discover a book he had not read, but disappointedly he had to put it back. “By the way, how was your visit with her?” asked Henry indifferently.
“I will have to admit for the first time in my life that you were actually right about something. She is more than just a pretty girl. She is very knowledgeable about subjects that most women would never think to even learn. I think that I can safely say that that is your doing?” Henry gives an affirmative nod. Charles continues, “One thing that puzzle me is why does she have such a strong dislike for you father?”
Henry faces Charles for the first time since his friend had joined him in the library. “I am no completely sure of why she dislikes him so much, I do have trouble remembering a time when they actually got along. I think it started when she was five and Father made her learn how to be a ‘proper’ lady and refused to let her come to my lessons once a week. Little disagreements seemed to have always happened between them and they are never able to just drop them. Stubbornness seems to run in the family. When father told her that she was going to boarding school, they had a huge fight, and ever since then things have never been the same between them. To get the whole truth, you would have to ask Danielle.”
“I did ask her, and she just avoided the question.”
“I would not be surprised. Give her time to adjust to being home, and then try again; she may feel more open then. If you ever do find out, please do tell me because I too am a bit curious.”
Charles promised that he would. “Now then, I think we have talked enough about me. It is your turn to tell me something new. Is there any lass whom has caught your eye? I find it hard to believe that you are not interested in a single one of the courtiers. Some of them are not worth a second glance, but I am sure that at least a few are.”
“I hate to be the one to disappoint, but none of the courtiers have caught my eye. Whenever I look at them, I can not help but think of the planning that might have gone into each outfit that they wearing. Each one seems to try harder than the next to get my attention. Now I ask you, how can I find someone to love if I can never get passed the first impression they make on me.”
“Henry, your problem is that you do not try hard enough to find someone to love. All you do is judge everyone you see. I am sure I have seen you talk to at least a half a dozen different courtiers at the ball and none of their conversations seemed to pain you too much. What about Jacqueline? I think that she is someone who you could trust and like?”
Henry shakes his head, “She is a sister to me. In fact, she seems more like a sister to me than my own sister.” Henry pauses in a moment in reflection. “It is actually quite strange. The more I think about it the more I am decided that I do not think of Danielle as a sister at all. For some reason, she just does not seem to fit in this family. Perhaps it is because she really does not look like anyone in our family.”
“What are you trying to say, that you have doubts that she is really your sister?”
“Of course not, it is just a feeling I have. Today, when you were with Danielle, I was walking down the hall that leads to the throne room; it is covered with old family portraits. As I went from picture to picture, I realized that no one had anywhere near the same hair color that she has.”
“That means nothing. She could have got her hair from your mother’s side. None of their pictures are hung up in that hall.”
“I know that she could have easily inherited it from my mother’s side, but I was just using her hair as an example. In all reality, I am having trouble finding any resemblance between her and any of our relatives. I am probably just reading too much into it.”