Chapter 1
Laurent handed Rodmilla and Marguerite over to Paulette and Annette who were there to greet the new arrivals. Francois jumped down from the driver’s seat and walked over the Paulette.
"That can’t be the Baroness?" Paulette asked, looking at the chains around her wrists. "Francois, what is going on?"
"Prisoners, Paulette." Francois answered, "I will have to explain later. Right now…" he took Paulette into an embrace.
"Francois," Paulette said, hugging him, then releasing him, "Where have you been?"
"At the castle meeting my long lost cousin." He looked at Paulette. "You knew all the time, didn’t you? Why did you not say anything?"
Paulette shook her head. "We heard rumors that you were the Prince’s cousin. We did not know for sure. Rodmilla forbade us to tell anyone." She looked at him, smiling. "It is true, then?"
Francois nodded. He felt a hand touch his shoulder. "Come, "Laurent interuppted, you’ve got to help me with them."
He turned to Annette. "Is everything satisfactory? Were you able to…"
Annette smiled. "No trouble at all, Captain. All preparations are done and all is accounted for."
Laurent smiled. "Well done. Francois, I will check to see that everything is in order and keep everyone calm. You have to teach Rodmilla and Marguerite to serve."
Francois smiled. He looked at Paulette. "This is my first ball," he laughed, looking at Paulette’s puzzled face. "It was Laurent’s idea to accompany him and teach the women had to work in the kitchen, then serve. I came to see their faces, actually, I’m the one who has to tell them that they will be not only serving the food, but preparing it as well. Brilliant idea, Louise had, bringing it to the manor." He winked at her. "This should be fun."
Laurent and Francois went their separate ways. He was on his way down to the old servant’s quarters. He was smiling. I’m not even dressed for this, he thought. No matter, it’s worth it just to see their faces when they are told that they will be at the ball tonight, only not the way they had originally planned.
And I will be in charge.
Chapter 2
Danielle and Jacqueline were helping the others in the kitchen while Henry and Francis were making last minute preparations for the masque. Laurent joined them.
"Everything in order?" Henry asked, looking up from the papers he was looking at. They were maps of the manor, inside and outside. Danielle had given them to him.
"Everything is in place and ready," Laurent smiled.
"Then let the festivities begin," King Francis exclaimed loudly, clapping Henry on the back. "Tell me, Henry where is lovely bride of yours, the big announcement comes as we begin the ball."
Henry looked up and turned to Laurent. "How many would you say have arrived?"
"Most of the court has turned up, along with some friends. Not much at all, as you requested, Henry."
Henry looked at his father, then back at Laurent. "Where did you say she was?"
"In the kitchen with Jacqueline, Paulette and Annette. Once Rodmilla and Marguerite arrive with Francois, I will escort Danielle to the dais with Jacqueline."
"And you shall join me as well," Henry said, smiling, "we have two announcements to make with regard to you and Jacqueline."
He clapped Laurent on the back. "Come, there is work to be done."
Francois found the two of them in what was left of the servant’s quarters. No one stayed there anymore, now that Rodmilla had let almost the entire staff go. Sold for taxes, he thought, as he made his way toward where they were. He couldn’t leave two of them in this place. Maybe they’ll stay in Danielle’s loft, he decided, then shook his head. No, that was too good for them. He began walking toward them when another thought came into his head. He smiled at first , then laughed.
He would make them sleep in the stable.
Francois whistled all the way down the hallway.
Chapter 3
"Marguerite, do you not know anything?"
Rodmilla was having a tantrum. This was the third time that Marguerite had dropped the bread on the floor bringing it from the oven to the table.
"No, Marguerite," Paulette said, "this is the last time that I will be able to show you anything."
Marguerite looked at her mother.
"Really?" she said, "and why should that be?"
"I have to show you how to serve, Rodmilla. In fact, you both have to learn."
Rodmilla looked at Paulette. She was not used to a servant addressing her as if she were a common woman. She was nobility and she had been falsely accused. Why, she would never try to take advantage of anyone. She only gave them what they deserved.
"Come ladies," Paulette said, "the masque has begun."
And this is the only way that I will be able to go, Marguerite thought. I’ll play along for now, but I will make it out of here with or without Mother. You just wait and see.
They both followed Paulette outside, waiting further instructions.
Once outside, Francois was waiting for them.
"Good evening, ladies," he said, trying to hide his ever-widening smile. "I am here to teach you to serve, which is what you will be doing. I will be instructing and Paulette will be showing you the various steps that you must perform to keep royalty happy."
"I do not need such training," she said, "I have been well versed in this sort of thing. Do not forget, I am a Baroness and I.." she stopped. Paulette and Francois were waiting for her to finish.
"I was a Baroness," she corrected, "and I have done some entertaining in my time and I have not always used servants to accomplish certain tasks. And my daughter," she continued, "does not need this training. She has never waited on anyone in her life and has no intentions of learning this from anyone, especially a stable boy and a servant. Come Marguerite, we have been here long enough."
Francois and Paulette looked at each other.
"Madam," Paulette said, we must, at least, get you…"
Francois shook his head. He looked at the two of them.
"Well then," Francois said, "and where do you think the two of you are off to? You cannot move into this house as anything else but as servants." He smiled at the two of them. "I have my orders." He smiled. "Now, you will do as I ask and if not, you will go out there anyway, trained or not. As I have said, I have my orders."
The mantle clock in the drawing room struck five. "Come ladies," Paulette said, "we have work to do and the hour draws late."
She gave Francois a last look and herded them out of the kitchen. Francois watched with a smile on his face. He couldn’t help but laugh.
Chapter 4
As promised, Laurent escorted Danielle up to the makeshift dais to join the royal family. Laurent and Jacqueline remained in the front, Laurent ever watchful over the Prince.
Everyone mingled around the front garden to await the arrival of the King and Queen. Henry and Danielle had left the dais for the while and joined Laurent and Jacqueline.
It was at that moment that tremendous clatter could be heard in the distance. It was accompanied by a loud scream.
"Marguerite, look what you made me do!"
The suspense in the room was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. The silence was broken every now and then by giggles or little bits of laughter.
"WHAT I MADE YOU DO!"
"Well, if you hadn’t walked into me that way."
More clatter as Marguerite dropped her dishes on the floor.
"THAT IS IT, MOTHER. I AM LEAVING."
"No one is going anywhere," Francois said, suddenly standing behind them. "You will clear everyone of these dishes up this instant. That goes for the food as well. Then the both of you will clear out and remain in the kitchen until you learn the proper style of serving food and this time I will not accept excuses. " He looked around, but found that he didn’t have to look that far. "Emil, please, accompany this ladies to the kitchen. I will follow shortly."
He looked around, searching for anyone, then shrugged his shoulders and began to follow Emil where a woman’s voice stopped him.
"Don’t you think you were being a little hard on them?"
Francois turned to find Danielle standing there or who he thought was Danielle.
Francois looked at her a little strangely. "Rough?" he asked, staring at her. "After the way they treated you? All those things that they’ve done to the two of us." He continued to stare. "Since when did you care so much about what happens to the two of them?"
The woman stared back at him. "I should have expected that sort of behavior from a prince," she said, shaking her head. "I should have known better."
She disappeared into the crowd, leaving Francois more confused then ever. "She thinks I’m the Prince," he said half out loud, half to himself.
"Who thinks you’re the Prince?" another female voice called to him. He turned around and was looking in Danielle’s eyes.
Chapter 5
"Danielle?" he asked this time. "Is it you?"
"Of course, it’s me, silly," she teased him. "Whatever do you mean?"
Francois looked at her and shook his head. "I am not sure," he said, still looking at her. He picked his hands up to touch her face, then smiled.
"I’ve got to go," he said, bring his arms back down to his sides. "Excuse me a minute, please?"
He disappeared into the crowd.
Danielle shook her head. She was about to follow him when she heard a voice in her ear. She turned to face it.
"Mother and Father are up on the dais, waiting," Henry whispered. "We should join them."
"This is it, the big announcement? Everyone knows."
Henry put his arms around her, then shook his head. "Not everyone, Princess. We have to let everyone know." He looked at her. "By the way, where did my cousin get off to?"
"Don’t know, Henry," Danielle said, putting her arms around his neck. "I just wanted to ask about Rodmilla and Marguerite, but he seemed to have disappeared. "He was acting very strangely."
Henry smiled, then brought his lips down to meet hers. They stood there kissing for a while until Laurent tapped him on the shoulder.
"Come, you two. Their Royal Majesties are awaiting your arrival."
"We’ll be there, Laurent," Henry whispered, still looking at Danielle. "You are so beautiful and I love you so much." They kissed again with Laurent looking on.
Chapter 6
Francois was about to give up. He couldn’t find her anywhere. Besides, he had to get back to Rodmilla and Marguerite. I’m supposed to watching them, he thought. He turned to go back, but he had no idea where he was. In all the years he spent at the manor, he had never once been in this section before.
He looked around. How far was he from the main house? It was alone and quiet and…
"Hello, again."
Francois looked up and smiled. She’s here, he thought, she’s really here.
"I am sorry I spoke to you the way I did. Can you ever forgive me?"
He couldn’t get over her resemblance to Danielle. Everything was the same except the eye color. Her eyes were blue as opposed to Danielle’s brown.
"Yes, and I hope you accept my apology. I am sorry I spoke to you that way as well." he said, "May I inquire as to what you are doing out here? "
She smiled. "I could ask you the same question."
Francois smiled. "I just needed to find you and make sure that I wasn’t seeing things, that’s all."
She looked at him and frowned. "I am not sure that I understand you, Your…."
A tall, brown haired male who had a slight resemblance to the woman had interrupted their conversation. He appeared to be the same age as Danielle.
"There you are Adrienne, your presence is requested at the masque. The King and Queen are ready to announce Prince Henry’s marriage."
Adrienne turned to Francois. "Well then, shouldn’t we be getting back. Your bride awaits."
Francois shook his head. "I am not married milady. You see, I am…"
"Francois," Laurent called. "I have been looking all over for you. Your charges are out of hand. I have had to calm them down more than once."
Laurent turned to Victor and Adrienne.
"Excuse me, milady, but I need to tear him away for a few minutes."
Adrienne smiled, looking at Francois. "By all means, Captain." She looked up at her companion. "Come, Victor, we must follow." She turned and smiled at Francois.
"Come, we shall all walk back together."
Chapter 7
"How dare you insult me," Rodmilla said, hurling another plate of food at Marguerite. "I am of noble blood."
"YOU ARE A BIG NOBODY, JUST LIKE ME" Marguerite screamed at the top of her lungs. She threw another plate back at Rodmilla.
Rodmilla tossed another. "You little spoiled brat. How can you speak to me in such a tone? I am still your mother and I do deserve a little respect."
Very little, Marguerite thought, looking for another plate to throw. "I am doing what you told me to do all these years, Mother. It is a good thing that I…."
"STOP IT THE BOTH OF YOU!!!" a male voice boomed loudly.
Rodmilla and Marguerite looked up.
"YOU ARE JUST A STABLE BOY. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO TELL US HOW TO BEHAVE?" Marguerite screamed. She picked up a plate of food.
"Now, now, Marguerite," another male voice called. "I’d be careful who I throw that plate at."
Marguerite looked at the two of them. She wasn’t close enough to tell which on had the scar on his eyebrow.
"What is going on in this room?" This time it was King Francis. Henry and Francois looked up at him as he surveyed the room.
There was food on the floor, food on the table, food on the chairs. He sidestepped a plate that Marguerite threw. It had been meant for Francois.
The King was furious. "Guards," he called loudly. "Take these two servants downstairs and lock them in the root cellar until further notice." He looked at Henry. "Danielle did mention that there is a root cellar in this house," he said under his breath.
"Of course there is, Father. Would you not agree, Stepmother?"
Rodmilla had nothing to say as they led her and Marguerite away.
"Wait, Uncle," Francois said, "I think we can skip the root cellar for the time being."
Francis and Henry stared at him.
"And what did you have in mind, nephew?" the King asked.
Chapter 8
Francois followed the King, Henry and Laurent up to the dais. Henry asked Laurent and Francois to stand with the crowd until the King called him by name.
Francois joined Laurent and Jacqueline in the front of the crowd. He turned around and scanned the crowd for Adrienne. He spotted her, still talking to Victor. She turned, caught him looking, smiled and waved. He smiled back and returned the wave.
Laurent noticed, also.
"The two of you have met, I see."
"Met?" Francois asked. "Have you any idea who she is?"
"You mean, YOU DON"T?
"Should I?" Francois asked again
Laurent smiled and shook his head. It wasn’t Henry he was talking to. Sometimes, he forgot that.
"That is my cousin, the Lady Adrienne de Richaud. Her companion, Francois, is her brother, Victor."
Francois smiled. Her brother, he thought, turning to look at her. He turned back. "Did you know that she has a resembles the new Princess?"
Laurent shook his head. "Never did notice it, until her arrival earlier this evening." He smiled. "I never really did get a look at Danielle until yesterday."
Francois laughed. He was just about to add something when he heard the King clear his throat.
"Esteemed friends and honored guests. I have the extreme honor and pleasure to present to you my son, Prince Henry’s new bride, the Princess Danielle. This small gathering is in honor of their union." King Francis looked around the room
At the same time, I would like to present my nephew, Francois du Bois." The King smiled. "Francois, if you would approach me?"
Chapter 9
"Come on, you two, let’s get a move-on. We don’t have all night."
Annette was standing over Rodmilla and Marguerite with a rolling pin in her hand. The two of them were on the floor cleaning up all the food.
"It’s not fair," Marguerite said, "why do I have to do all the dirty work?"
Rodmilla looked up at her. "And what does it look like I am doing?"
"Quiet, the two of you." Annette commanded.
"We’re missing it, Mother," Marguerite said. "We are missing the entire ball. I so wanted to go, Mother. I want to go the ball. I have that beautiful dress that I will never wear."
She began to cry while Rodmilla stared at her daughter.
Francois couldn’t believe it. Yesterday, he was only a stable boy, today he was the Marquis Francois du Bois.
He was standing in the stables looking up at the loft, remembering everything that led up to this moment.
"So, how does it feel to be Marquis?"
Francois turned to find Adrienne looking at him. He marveled at how closely she resembled Danielle.
"I don’t feel any different at all, milady," he said, smiling.
"Were you really a stable boy?"
"Yes, I was. I slept right up there," Francois said, pointing, "I wouldn’t think of sleeping anywhere else, although I have."
"Are you really going to make those two women sleep there later tonight?"
Francois looked at her. A wide grin split his face.
"I would love to, mademoiselle. Unfortunately, I think we have other plans for them. I will be checking as soon as I leave here to check on them."
"I heard about the two of them throwing plates of food at each other. And please, Francois, call me Adrienne."
Francois smiled, a little surprised by her boldness. Just like Danielle, he thought. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she might be related to Danielle somehow.
Chapter 10
"What do you plan on doing with us now?" Rodmilla said, looking up at the King and Queen. "This is an outrage and an attack on my reputation."
"Silence!" King Francis commanded. "How dare you speak of reputations when you have ruined so many."
"I wanted to go to the ball," Marguerite cried. She had been saying the same thing over and over since they were first called to appear before the King and Queen.
"Marguerite, please," Rodmilla said, "grow up."
"You heard me," the King said. "Be quiet."
The ball had been called off, due to contamination and lack of food. Francois had suddenly disappeared and no one knew where he was.
"Francis," Marie said to him, "calm yourself or you will have that stroke the physician talks about."
He just looked at her. She pointed this out everytime she had a chance. He was almost sorry the court physician saw him all the time. He is a madman and a nuisance. He would live forever, he knew it.
He was getting nervous and starting to sweat. He couldn’t believe it. What would happen next? Maybe the physician was right.
WHERE HAD FRANCOIS GOTTEN TO ANYWAY?
Chapter 11
"Yep, the two of them were wasting all that food. I couldn’t believe it when I first walked in the kitchen."
They had just left the stable and were walking side by side, following the river to a little stretch of beach
Adrienne laughed. "I guess I should have minded my own business and kept my nose out of it."
Francois looked up. "No, not really. I never would’ve noticed you if you hadn’t.
This time when he looked at her, he couldn’t stop staring.
"Something wrong, Francois?"
There was no answer.
"Francois? Are you alright?"
"I’m fine," Francois said, still looking at her. "I just can’t help thinking that…"
"That I am related to the new Princess? Yes, I noticed that, too. In fact, everyone at the ball noticed it." She looked at him. "What about you, did you always know you looked like the Prince?"
Francois tried to hide his smile. "As a matter of fact, I did. We always knew it. I just never knew that my father was the Queen’s brother, and a Duke at that." He shook his finger at her. "You, Adrienne, are avoiding the question."
She smiled. "I don’t know," she said. "My mother so often told me of how one of the servant’s discovered me wrapped in swaddling clothes by the servant’s entrance to the manor."
"And Louise always told Danielle that she had a sister, but she was too small and too weak to live."
They both stared at each other. There was no sound at all save for the castle chapel bells, which had just chimed out eight.
"Oh, no," Francois said, "I’ve got to get back to the manor." He took her hand in his. "But this time, you are going to come with me."
Chapter 12
Henry and Danielle were spending their wedding night at the ruins or so they thought. They had tried twice, but had been interrupted by Marguerite’s and Rodmilla’s actions. Now that it had quieted down, the two of them attempted to slip out through the manor door only to be run down by Francois and Adrienne.
"Francois," Henry said, a little angrily, "where have you been? Everyone’s been searching for you."
He didn’t even notice the lovely lady beside him.
Danielle had, though.
She walked over to Adrienne and touched her face.
Henry’s gaze followed her.
"She looks just like…"
Francois nodded. "I’m surprised you didn’t notice her at the ball."
"No one noticed her at the ball, Francois," Danielle said, "especially me."
She turned to look at Adrienne. "My servant, Louise, would tell me tales as I grew older of a twin sister. The births weakened my mother and she died. Both infants were premature and one twin survived while the other did not."
"And I," Adrienne said, "was left in front of the servant’s entrance and found by my servant, Babette."
"Come," Francois said, grabbing Adrienne’s hand, "the four of us must visit Paulette and Louise."
"This is my wedding night, Francois," Henry said, then thought about it. "Well, actually last night was my wedding night, but I…"
"Come on, Henry," Danielle said, turning toward him. "This should take only but a few seconds. Maybe we could learn a little something." She walked closer to him and put her arms around him. "We waited this long for our perfect night, what is a few seconds longer."
Henry looked in her eyes and sighed. "Well, when you put it that way," he said, smiling. "You are right as always, Princess. "
They turned to Francois and Adrienne. "Alright, let’s go," Henry said, smiling. "Maybe we’ll all learn a little something."
Chapter 13
Marguerite and Rodmilla were led to the stable in chains. Two Royal Guardsmen accompanied them, then stayed to watch over them.
"Mother, how did get into this situation?"
"Quiet, child, or I will.."
"Or you will what?" Marguerite taunted. "You have no authority to do anything except be a servant."
"Silence, you two," one of the Guardsmen answered.
Rodmilla looked at him. "And what would have us do in here, pray tell? Isn’t it a bit too late for chores."
The Guardsman smiled. "You will be quiet, madam, and head up to the hayloft."
He turned to Marguerite next. "And you, mademoiselle, will join her."
"What are you talking about?" Marguerite asked. "You would think that we have to sleep in here."
The Guardsman smiled. "Hit the nail on the head, you did," he answered, smiling, nodding his head. He pushed Marguerite up with the back of his hand. The smile disappeared.
"Now get up there, King’s orders."
"Or what?" Rodmilla said, as she watched Marguerite climb the ladder. "What else do you have in store. Where else could you put us?"
The Guardsman smiled again. "You don’t really want to know, do you?"
Marguerite turned around. She attempted to climb back down, but was stopped by the Guardsman.
"Turn around, milady," he said, "or else we will have to place you under arrest."
"You wouldn’t do that to me, would you, my handsome young man? Especially to a beautiful girl like me."
She sidled up to him, making him sweat a little. Maybe later on, he thought, maybe later on while Rodmilla’s asleep. I could sneak in here and…
He stopped and shook his head no. He pushed Marguerite away.
"Come on, the two of you. Let’s go."
"No stable?" Rodmilla said, innocently. She smiled. "Where to now?"
"You will find out, madam," the Guardsman said, "and once you do, I guarantee, you will not like it. Not at all."
Chapter 14
Louise stared at the four of them. "Yes, Danielle, it’s true. We were not sure if the baby had lived or died."
She looked at Adrienne. "We all thought you were dead, child."
"Did you know I was alive?" Adrienne asked.
Louise smiled and nodded her head. "We really weren’t sure. You see, Danielle was first, then you. No matter what Annabelle or I did, you did not breathe or move a muscle. Everyone thought that you were dead."
"How did you know that I wasn’t?"
"Annabelle decided to return, Adrienne. She felt so guilty about what she had done that she had to tell someone, so she told me." She looked at Danielle. "She made me promise not to tell anyone, Danielle, so I hinted at it. I could’ve told the authorities but Annabelle was still my sister. I could never betray her, no matter how much I wanted to."
"What happened to her?" Danielle asked.
"Annabelle? We talked deep into the night. She told me the whole story. I told her to get some rest and we would sort everything out in the morning. She agreed and made me swear that I would not tell anyone else what she had done. I promised and we went to bed both of us laughing as we had done as children. When I awoke the next morning, Annabelle had disappeared. I never heard or saw her again."
The four of them just stared, first at each other, then at Louise.
"What was the horrible thing that she did?" Henry asked, the only one who spoke, "I mean, I have some idea, but I would really like to hear it from you, Louise."
The four of them stared at her, waiting for her answer.
Louise smiled, shook her head and began to tell them the story.
Chapter 15
Marguerite looked around the tiny room where they had been thrown. How long had it been, she thought. It had to have been more than three hours now, according to the castle chapel bells.
They had been blindfolded, put in a cart and taken somewhere. It hadn’t been too long a ride and it seemed as if they were going around in circles, but that didn’t matter now.
The room looked so familiar, she couldn’t place it. It must have been a long time ago that she was here, or so it seemed.
She looked over at Rodmilla, still sitting in the spot where she had been thrown, snoring. She shook her head and wondered how she ever looked up to this woman that she called her mother. It was how she had treated Jacqueline and Danielle that had annoyed her the most. Marguerite, the most loyal of all her sisters and instead of being treated as such, was being held in this tiny room somewhere, first as servants, now as prisoners. What was next? She wondered, walking to the tiny door. She shook it. "Help," she cried out, but there was no one there to listen
Marguerite walked away from the door, expecting a Guardsman to show up, but so far no one had. She looked around again. This room looked so familiar. Why couldn’t she sort this whole thing out.
There was a table by the side of the room and dirt and hay on the floor. She looked carefully at the contents on the table. Maybe this might produce a few clues as to where they might be.
No, she thought. There was nothing here of interest to her. She began to turn away, when she spotted something on the table, shiny and glowing on the table.
Out of curiosity, she picked it up and held it in her hand. She turned it over and over. It was so beautiful, she thought. This reminded her of something she had had as a child. Something that was given to her as a gift, something that was…
"Stolen," she said out loud, looking at the silver chest in her hand. She had grabbed it because this was Danielle’s last gift from her father, her stepfather whom she hardly knew. He had given it to her a day before he died, along with a book of Plato’s works.
Marguerite knew how much Danielle treasured these gifts and was so jealous over their close relationship, that she grabbed both of them and hid them down here, where no one could find it ever again.
Or so she had thought.
Chapter 16
Standing guard over Rodmilla and Marguerite were two Royal Guardsmen, Jacques du Monde and Alexandre du Bois, son of the late Duke Jules du Bois, the Queen’s older brother and first born.
The Captain wanted everything kept secret, the women were not to be told where they were being held or that they were being watched.
Right now, Jacques was asleep and it was Alex’s turn to watch them. He smiled remembering the encounter he had with Marguerite earlier that evening in the stable. He couldn’t believe he was still thinking about it.
Maybe it wasn’t it at all, maybe he was thinking about her.
He looked over at Jacques. Yes, he was still asleep and Rodmilla was asleep as well. Maybe it wouldn’t be as difficult as he thought.
Alexandre had a crush on Marguerite from the first time he saw her. She was a beautiful woman, not much on brains, but he could get past that. When she flirted with him in the stable, he thought that she meant it. He didn’t know how she knew how he felt, but she had known and that was enough for him. Now all he could think of was getting her out of her prison and get her into bed.
Maybe they could run away and get married. That would be the best thing to happen to him. Of course, he would have to quit the Guard, but there again, this was no problem. He hated it anyway and would never want to come back to the province of Hautefort again. As long as he could be with the love of his life, everything would be wonderful.
The smile turned into a large grin. He just needed to wait a little bit longer and he would go in there. He couldn’t wait.
Chapter 17
Marguerite kept turning the chest over and over in her hand. She always wondered why she hated Danielle so much. Was it her mother’s influence? She supposed it was.
Rodmilla had become so hateful of Danielle’s father, Auguste de Barbarac, that she rid the manor of anything having to with him, including Danielle and her cousin, Gustave. She never really knew who Francois was, Auguste would never talk about him except to say that the boy was an orphan and was left in his care.
Maybe she should make it up to her. If she ever got out of this place, it would be…
Wait, there was something in there. She stopped turning it over and over and shook it. Yes, there was something in there. She put it back down on the table and began to open it.
At least try to open it, the chest was locked. It needed a key.
"Augh," she screamed, and she took the chest and threw it out the door window with the bars on it.
Wait a minute. She recognized where she was. How could she forget? Rodmilla locked Danielle and Francois in here all the time. Could it be? Was it true?
Were they really in the manor and that this was the root cellar?
"Something wrong?" a male voice called out.
Marguerite looked up from the floor where she was sitting yet again. She smiled. It was the Guard from the stable. The one she flirted with at the stable. He was so cute, she thought.
She stood up. "I had no idea you were out there."
"Yes, we are keeping an eye on you and your mother for a while." He looked at her. "Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked. "Anything at all?"
"Anything?" she asked him.
She could see him smile through the bars in the window. "Anything," he answered, looking in her eyes.
How nice, she thought. He has a crush on me. She smiled. This was going to be really easy.
"Well," she asked, "maybe you could let me out?"
Chapter 18
"As I explained to you," Louise said, taking a deep breath, "the babies were born a few minutes apart from each other. Danielle was first and the second baby we all thought was stillborn. No matter what Annabelle or I did, the baby wouldn’t breathe. At that point, Annabelle took charge of the situation. She brought the baby down to the drawing room and started to clean it and prepare for burial when the baby’s hand moved. Annabelle picked the baby up again, put it against her chest and patted it on the back. The baby began to cry and she knew it was alive."
She stopped and looked at their faces, then continued.
"The first thought that my sister had was to come back and tell me that the baby girl was alive, but she decided against it. Annabelle had always wanted a baby to love and she thought that she could run away somewhere and take the baby with her and that is exactly what she did. After all, one baby was still alive, who will know that the other baby was still alive."
"Where could she go?" Francois asked, looking at her.
"She found a stable and stayed there for a few hours, but she began to feel guilty. She knew of a family who could not have children of their own and left the baby on the doorstep of the servant’s entrance, because she knew that the baby would be found and taken care of."
The four of them sat there, stunned. No one spoke a word for a few seconds, then Adrienne said something.
"How did she know about the de Richaud’s?"
"Your father had ties to the King and Queen. They had informed him of a family that was desperately looking for a baby when they heard Nicole was pregnant. Annabelle remembered that and brought the baby over there."
Louise stopped and waited for a question, but there was none. She continued.
"She did not come back for a few months, but when she did, it was as if she had never been away. I tried to get her to stay, and I thought I had convinced her to stay, but as I explained to you, she disappeared, and I haven’t heard from her since."
She turned to Danielle. "I am so sorry I lied to you and did not tell you sooner, child. This is not the way that I wanted you to find out. Will you ever forgive me?"
Danielle smiled at her old friend and took her in her arms. "Of course I do, Louise, she whispered in her ear. "I do understand how you feel. It must have been so hard for you to hold on to this horrible secret." She held Louise tightly in her arms. She held on while Louise cried on her shoulder and waited patiently for her tears to subside. She let her go and moved to her newly discovered sister and hugged her. Tears flowed from the eyes of both women as the realization that they were sisters long parted and now reunited sunk in.
Chapter 19
Marguerite stood up. "Do you have the key? Can’t you just open the door and get us out of here?"
"It’s not that easy, Marguerite," Alexandre told her, from the other side, "and I can’t let the both of you go."
"Well, then, just answer me, can you get me out?"
Alex smiled. "I’m am working on that very thing, Marguerite, but you must give me time. I cannot do it right away." He moved closer to the door. "There are two of us out here, you know, and I don’t have the key."
Marguerite sighed. "Can you get the key? Where is the other guard now?"
"He’s asleep, not to far from me."
She smiled. "Well, then what are you waiting for?"
"I’m not sure he has the key, Marguerite, and even if he did, I wouldn’t know the first place to look."
Marguerite couldn’t believe she was listening to this. Did he have any brains in his head? How could he possibly be a guardsman? She shook her head.
"Well," she said, "I guess this is it, then. The two of us will never be together." She sat back down on the floor. "By the way, what is your first name? You seem to know mine. And why are we in here? What crime did we perform?"
Alexandre couldn’t believe what she had just said. He didn’t hear anything else but her second sentence. How the two of them would never be together. He opened his eyes wide and smiled. There was hope after all.
"It’s Alex, Marguerite. "Remember me?"
Chapter 20
"We must celebrate," Henry declared, as Adrienne and Danielle released each other.
"We already tried that," Francois said, "it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be,"
"If you were where you were supposed to be," Henry said, "this might not have happened."
"Stop it, the two of you," Danielle said, looking at Adrienne, then she looked up at Henry. "I think we should have a private homecoming for my new sister, Henry. Let’s just forget about Rodmilla and Marguerite for one night. They’re safe and sound aren’t they? "
"Yes," Henry answered, "for the while." He looked at Francois. "But Francois is not quite finished with the two of them just yet, isn’t that right, cousin?"
Francois turned to face Henry with a grin. "No, I wasn’t cousin, but Danielle is right." He turned to the two women. "We will leave you two alone, get to know one another."
Adrienne looked at Danielle, then back at Francois. "No, Francois, we would like the two of you to be there."
Francois and Henry both looked surprised. They looked at each other for a long time before Henry spoke. "Well, if that’s what you want," he said, looking at Francois with a smile. "And I have the perfect place, but we would need to leave now."
Chapter 21
Marguerite grinned. She looked over at Rodmilla, but she was still asleep. She turned again and faced the front door.
"We grew up together," she said, laughing. "I do remember you."
"We were never apart," Alexandre said, coming closer, "not until…"
"Not until my mother decided that I should marry Prince Henry."
"You almost did, until…"
Marguerite looked up. "Danielle, always Danielle. That little brat always gets in my way all the time. She ruined it for me with my stepfather and then she.."
"Stole the Prince," Alex said, "right out from under your very nose."
It was then Marguerite heard what sounded like that of a key turning. The door swung open.
There stood Alex with the key in his hand. He let it drop to the floor and held out his hand.
"Come, Marguerite, let me take you out of here before these two people wake up." He pushed a sleeping Jacques inside the root cellar with Rodmilla. Marguerite walked over to him, put her hand in his and stared up at his face.
Alex was still the most beautiful boy she had ever seen. His black curly hair was a sharp contrast to his olive green skin. He had always been a scrawny little fellow. Not anymore, now he had muscles on top of muscles. She had a crush on him then and she had one on him once again.
"You will get into trouble," she said, staring into his lovely big green eyes.
Alex smiled. "So will you, milady, so will you."
They both laughed as he helped Marguerite step over the sleeping guard and out the door to freedom. Alex slammed the cellar door shut and locked it.
The two of them stared into each other’s eyes.
"Come," he said, "I know the perfect place when no one will find us."
Chapter 22
Rodmilla finally stirred. It was the noise that woke her. Some loud male voice calling for help. At first, she had no idea where it was coming from. It sounded so far away, as if it were a bad dream. She tried to go back to sleep and shut it out, but she couldn’t. The sound wouldn’t disappear.
"Stop it," she screamed, not realizing that she was staring at the noisemaker. "What is going on? Where am I? Who are you? Where is my daughter?"
Jacques turned around to face her. "Your daughter is gone, madam," the Guardsman said. "She left with my friend and fellow Guardsmen, Alexandre. Where they have gone, I do not know, but as soon as I get help, I will be going after them, madam. Wait and see."
"What is going on here?" a new voice called out. "You know that I have constantly asking you to…"
Laurent stopped. He couldn’t believe the scene in front of him. One of his most loyal and most trusted lieutenants locked in the root cellar with a prisoner.
"Where is the key, Jacques? Do you have it?"
Jacques shook his head. "It was taken from me while I was asleep. Alex must have taken it with him."
"No," Laurent said, noticing two shiny objects on the floor. One was a silver chest, the other looked almost like…
"Is this it?" Laurent said, holding the key up to the door.
"But how," Jacques said, "how could this be?"
"Will someone let me out? I am finding it difficult to breathe in such close quarters."
They both looked at Rodmilla, who was still sitting in a corner.
"Come," he said, putting the key in the lock. "I will get you both out."
Chapter 23
Marguerite and Alexandre were free. At least for the moment, anyway. Alex wasn’t sure how long it was going to last. The two of them settled in the loft on what was, up until two nights ago, where Francois had slept.
And where Rodmilla and Marguerite had refused to sleep earlier that evening.
"We’ll spend the night here and rest," Alexandre told her, "no one will come looking."
Marguerite looked up at him, puzzled. "You cannot be serious, Alex. They will catch up with us before we’ve even left."
Alexandre looked back at her. "I’ve been planning this out all night, Marguerite."
Marguerite kept looking at him. She shrugged her shoulders. "Alright," she said, "but I am not so sure."
"Why? All we need to do is take one of those prize stallions from bunch and we’ll be out before daybreak."
Marguerite sat up. They had been lying in the hayloft on what was left of Francois’ palette. "And where do you intend to sleep, monsieur?" she asked.
Alex smiled and sat up on his elbows. "Why," he said, "right next to you, of course." He reached up to pull her back down, but she shook her head.
"I am sorry, Alex, if I gave you the wrong idea. If you want something from me, you know that I want to marry first."
Alex sat up again. "Marguerite, you know I love you. I have been looking forward to being together like this all day."
"Well, you’ll just have to wait a little longer. Besides, this is not my idea of sleeping quarters."
"Ah," Alex said, looking into her eyes. "But it is alright for you and your mother to provide sleeping quarters in this very room for servants. Is this not so?"
Marguerite looked at him and smiled. "My mother and I have always provided some sort of shelter for our servants. Gustave and Francois wanted to stay in here, if you want to know the truth."
"I wouldn’t doubt it," Alexandre said, continuing to stare into her eyes. "My only question about this is if they asked to sleep in here, where else would you have them sleep. There are at least three empty guestrooms in the manor, plus the loft. Why did you let them sleep with the horses, I wonder."
He smiled and moved closer, waiting for her answer. When there wasn’t one, he pulled her closer and brought his lips to hers.
Chapter 24
"What is going on here?" Francis was furious. He and Marie had been interuppted from a sound sleep and summoned to the drawing room. Before him stood Rodmilla, Jacques, Laurent and Jacqueline who held a small silver chest in her hand. Prince Henry, his new wife, Princess Danielle, his nephew Francois and someone known as Adrienne de Richaud was missing, according to her younger brother, Victor.
"There is a problem, Your Majesty," Laurent spoke first. "Marguerite and your nephew, Alexandre du Bois, are missing."
Francis turned to Marie. "This is a common thing with your side of the family, isn’t it?"
Marie ignored him and turned to Laurent.
"I believe that I know where my son went with his new bride, Laurent." She turned to Victor.
"I have a funny feeling that your older sister, Adrienne, is with Henry, Danielle and Francois."
She turned to Rodmilla next.
"I am surprised at my nephew for disappearing like that and jeopardizing his career as a Guardsman. As to why he went with Marguerite is simple. He has been infatuated with her ever since I can remember. I am surprised that you, as Marguerite’s mother, have never realized that. Haven’t you ever seen the two of them together? Or were you so intent on getting my son together with your daughter that you haven’t noticed anything else?"
Rodmilla didn’t answer, which was unusual for her.
Marie turned to her husband next. "You must be living your life in a cave, Francis. All this has escaped you." She turned to Laurent.
"What else do you have to report?"
"Well, my Queen," Laurent said, trying not to laugh, "my wife, Jacqueline, found this outside the root cellar door."
Jacqueline held out her hand, the small silver chest clutched tightly inside.
She handed it to Marie who turned it over and over again.
"It has something in it," she said, shaking it.
"It belongs to Danielle," Jacqueline said. "It was a gift from her father. Right after his death, Marguerite had taken it and brought it down to the root cellar so that Danielle would never find it. As for its contents, I can only imagine what is in there. It is locked, you see, and Danielle is the only one who holds the key."
She turned to Rodmilla and looked at her. "I am sorry, Mother, but this had to be done. I have tried to lessen the charges filed against you and Marguerite, as has Danielle."
Marie spoke. "It is true, Rodmilla. Now you are free to go about your business, but you will remain a servant until you are told differently. As for Marguerite and Alexandre, we will have to deal with their punishment as we see fit. Do you understand?"
Rodmilla looked at her. "What choice do I have, Your Majesty."
"Good," Marie answered. "I am glad you agree. Jacques, Laurent, Jacqueline come, the five of us have much to discuss. Victor, I must talk with you personally and reassure you that your sister is in good hands." She turned to Emil who had been standing next to Rodmilla. "Take her to the servant’s quarters and keep a close watch on her."
She turned to the King. "Come, Francis, we have a lot to do."
This is the end of Doubles II: The Sequel. Doubles III: The Trilogy will be coming very soon.
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