Ghost of a Chance

Another EA Alternative

Prologue

It is April in the year, 1489. Everyone was gathered at Hautefort Castle to celebrate the birth of King Francis and Queen Marie’s new son, Prince Henry. Peasants as well as royalty had been invited to the grandest masque the province had seen in over twenty years.

The Duke Phillippe du Bois, the Queen’s younger brother, was there with his new fiancée, the Lady Nicole de Lancret. They had a lot in common. Not only were they the handsomest couple in the entire province, but they were the most desired. All the eligible young men wanted Nicole, while all the courtiers were interested in Phillippe. But they were too devoted and too much in love to even think about anyone else.

The engagement had been announced earlier that evening and everyone had crowded around the new couple to congratulate them.

Marie had invited her best friend, Nicole, up the castle stairs to the nursery. Francis and Phillippe had been talking outside when the King had been suddenly called away on urgent business. It was so beautiful outside that Phillippe began to walk, not paying attention to where he was going. When he realized he had walked out of the castle courtyard and onto the road, it was too late. He was ambushed by a passing gang of highwaymen and was left for dead when they discovered he hadn’t any money.

When one of the Royal Guards discovered him unconscious, he was brought back to the castle and taken immediately to the court physician. The royal family had been told. Nicole hurried down the physician’s quarters. Phillippe was alive and had regained consciousness long enough to speak to her.

"Who has done this to you, milord?" she whispered to him. "We had heard it was a band of thieves."

Phillippe looked at her. He could hardly speak and was barely able to pick his head up. "Yes, my love, two I did not recognize, but one we both know. Please, you must be careful."

"Who was it, Phillippe? Who could have done this terrible thing to you?"

But Phillippe never answered her. He had passed.

Phillippe was entombed in the royal family crypt in the churchyard at St. Etienne's, after a brief mourning period.

Nicole had been devastated and swore she would never fall in love again until Phillippe’s best friend, Count Auguste de Barbarac had begun to call her. Louis XII, Francis’ father, had given him that title officially after Phillippe had introduced Auguste to him.

It had started out innocently enough. Auguste was there to befriend and comfort her and to dry her never-ending tears from flowing. Love had developed and one year later, in November of 1490, they had married. They both settled down at Auguste’s manor farm and the new Countess had found that she was pregnant three months later.

Six months later, the Countess Nicole de Barbarac was dead, having died giving birth to their new daughter. Auguste had named her Danielle after Nicole’s mother.

A marriage arrangement had been set up between Prince Henry and the Lady Danielle ensuring their friendship and continued future together.

Nicole had been buried in the St. Etienne’s churchyard, not too far from the royal family crypt.

Even though he had married Nicole, Auguste knew that she had never gotten over Phillippe’s death and had devoted the rest of his life to raising Danielle. But it had become too much for him. Convinced that Danielle should have a mother’s influence, Auguste had married the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent against the advice of the Queen Marie, Nicole’s best friend. Two weeks later, he had fallen from his horse and died, leaving eight year old Danielle in the care of the Baroness.

With Auguste dead, Rodmilla had assumed the run of the manor, even though she knew it hadn’t belonged to her. Knowing Danielle was betrothed to the Prince from birth, she kept Danielle’s title from her and sent her from her father’s house, all the while pushing her own daughter, Marguerite toward the throne. The Baroness had told everyone that Danielle had died when she had been thrown from the horse she had been riding.

Danielle had been persuaded to stay with her former servants Maurice, Louise, Paulette and her son, Gustave. Once Auguste was dead, Rodmilla had gotten rid of anything that had belonged to Auguste. They were hiding in a small, dilapidated house that was situated on de Barbarac land, not too far from the manor house. It was in such a remote corner of the property. Rodmilla hadn’t even noticed that they were there.

Marie had never trusted Rodmilla and did not believe that Auguste’s and Nicole’s daughter was dead and had tried to find her for a while, but nothing had come of it. Finally, the royal family accepted Danielle’s death as they eventually accepted Rodmilla.

This is the story of trust and betrayal, of life and death, and good versus evil. It is a love story involving two couples that time and space could not keep apart.

Chapter 1

Thump.

Henry looked around. He had heard it, but there was nothing there. There was nothing to be seen in front of him and nothing following him.

Thump, thump, thump.

He still couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.

Actually, he didn’t want to be bothered. He had just come from another boring and depressing meeting with the lovely Marguerite Francoise Louise de Ghent. She was beautiful, but she had no brains in that lovely little head.

He was tired of women with lovely faces. He wanted a challenge, a sparring partner. There must be someone out there with a little intelligence.

Bump, bump, thump, whack.

Henry turned around again, annoyed now.

"Show yourself, sir," Henry said talking to no one at all.

There was still no one.

"Who are you talking to, my son?"

"I heard some noises, Father."

King Francis smiled. "I have heard them myself. Sounds like someone’s following you around, doesn’t it?"

Henry nodded. "Sometimes the chairs move, sometimes things just seem to fly off the shelves. You never know what to expect next. I hadn’t realized that this place was haunted."

Francis laughed. "Ghosts? You really think it could be? Might be mice, you know?"

Henry looked at his father. "Since when do mice move chairs, Father?"

The King couldn’t come up with an answer.

Chapter 2

Danielle and Gustave were walking outside gathering truffles with one of the pigs from the small farm that Maurice had established.

"I have heard that there have been funny things going on at the manor lately," Gustave told Danielle.

"Really?" Danielle looked up at him. She had just dropped a truffle in the basket she was carrying.

Gustave laughed. "Scared Marguerite right out her wits. We heard her screams and saw her running as far away from the manor as her legs could take her."

They both laughed until the tears ran down their faces.

"How did you ever see that?"

"Happened to pass by on my way back from St. Etienne’s. I just sold another painting.

"Oh, Gustave," Danielle cried happily, throwing her arms around him and giving him a big bear hug, "good for you. That is wonderful. How much did Louise and Paulette bring home."

"Paulette sold her bread and pastries so fast you didn’t even see them. Louise’s game pies also went very quickly."

"Excellent!" Danielle said. She released him.

"Yes," Gustave said, "I think we are a very resourceful group of outcasts."

Danielle sighed. "I only wish that I could help out."

Gustave shook his head. "No," he said, a little too loudly, "You just keep to yourself and stick to these woods where no one can see you or recognize you.

"Who would know me, Gustave?" Danielle said. "The last time anyone saw me, I was only eight years old."

"I meant Rodmilla and Marguerite. Jacqueline already knows you live with us."

"Yes, and she is good at keeping a secret," Danielle smiled. They both laughed.

Suddenly, Danielle stopped. She had noticed the shadows lengthening. "Come," she said, standing up, "the hour grows late. We should get this pig back before Marguerite or Rodmilla start to miss her."

Chapter 3

Henry and Laurent were on their way to the de Barbarac manor to see Marguerite Jacqueline de Ghent.

Laurent had fallen for Jacqueline from the first day he saw her in the castle courtyard two weeks ago. They have kept steady company ever since. He was planning on asking her to marry him, but he didn’t know if the Baroness would allow it. The eldest girl had to get married first, then the younger sisters. He thought he had waited far too long as it was

Henry, on the other hand, was not in love with Marguerite. His father and her mother were pushing this marriage and he had put it off and put it off. Now he had to, his father’s orders.

They were on their way towards the manor when Laurent noticed something or someone in the bushes. It was brown, very wet and crying its eyes out.

It was Henry who noticed the blond hair through all that thick and terrible mud caked on her skin.

His first impulse was to laugh and just keep going, but his royal duties had forced him to stop. After all, he was supposed to ask Rodmilla for Marguerite’s hand.

"Come, Marguerite," Henry said, when he reached the spot where she had fallen in the mud, "let me help you."

Marguerite looked up. "How did you know it was me?" She took his outstretched hand.

Someone or something intervened. It not only prevented any contact between Marguerite and the Prince, but it had pushed Marguerite right back into the mud.

She fell again, crying even louder this time.

Meantime, Laurent had spotted something else. Two people were accompanying a giant pig back to the manor farm. The girl looked strangely familiar, he thought, but he couldn’t place the boy. Laurent had no idea why he turned suddenly in that direction. The pig hadn’t made any noise at all and what was so important? Who were these people anyway?

"Henry," he called as he neared his childhood friend. Henry was still trying to help Marguerite up and was not having a great time doing it. "You have got to see these people."

Now, he asked himself, what made him say this?

Henry frowned. What people, he thought, what pig?

It was then that he saw Gustave and Danielle putting the pig back where it belonged. That face, he thought, why does she look so familiar to me?

He steered his horse over toward the two of them. It felt as if something was pushing the hose from behind, away from Marguerite toward Danielle.

"HENRY." Marguerite yelled. "Where are you going?"

But Henry hadn’t even heard her.

"You two, wait."

He galloped as fast as he could.

Finally he reached the place where they had been, but the two of them had disappeared.

Chapter 4

Gustave saw the Prince coming. "Quick, in here." Danielle grabbed Gustave and disappeared into the woods.

Something kept her running too far into the woods. In fact, she felt something pushing her toward the front of the house. She tried to resist as best she could, but the feeling was too strong. Gustave held on to her, but it was no use.

Meanwhile, Laurent and Jacqueline had picked Marguerite up out of the mud. Everytime someone tried to pick her up, she had somehow managed to fall down again. This time was different. They had both managed to pull her to her feet.

"Are you all right?" Jacqueline asked her sister when she regained her balance.

"Do I look all right?" Marguerite said, looking down "Look at me, just look at me."

Laurent was trying to hide a smile. He turned to Jacqueline who was already looking at him. She was trying to do the same thing.

Marguerite looked at the two of them. "What are you two laughing about. Aren’t you going to help me?"

"Of course, Marguerite," Jacqueline answered. She took her arm. "Come, let’s get you cleaned up."

"Wonder where Henry’s gone off to?" Laurent said, mostly to himself. "Now, I have to go find him."

"We should not be a long time. Should be done as quick as a flash of lightening."

Jacqueline gave Laurent a small peck on the cheek and helped Marguerite into the house.

Something had led Henry deep into the woods. It was as if something was pulling him closer. It was then he saw her standing there, Gustave stood behind her.

They stood staring at each other for what seemed an eternity. Not one word was spoken between them.

"HENRY," Laurent called.

"Wait, I’ll be out in a minute." He gave Danielle one last look before he turned his horse around. He rode out to meet Laurent.

Chapter 5

Danielle stood there and watched him ride off.

"Well, that was close." Gustave said, touching her shoulder. "What made you run out like that?"

"I don’t really know, Gustave," Danielle answered, "It was as if something was pulling me out there, whispering in my ear "Go to him, you are supposed to be together."

She turned to face him.

Gustave smiled. "You don’t really believe that, do you?" he asked her.

"I heard the voice and I felt the tug." Danielle answered. "I can’t explain it, but it happened. It was as if I was being pulled toward him somehow.""

Gustave looked puzzled, then he brightened. "Did you hear a woman’s voice or a man’s voice? he asked, giggling.

Danielle looked at him; then she reached for his stomach to poke it, then up to his nose to pinch it when she suddenly heard the voice again. It was a woman’s voice and she called her by name.

‘Go after him, Danielle’ the voice whispered in her ear. ‘He is getting away.’

Danielle tried to ignore the voice, but she couldn’t. She ran out of the woods to find him waiting for her. She had almost bumped into his horse.

Chapter 6

"Hello," Henry said.

Danielle curtsied, "Your Highness," she said.

Henry jumped off his horse. "You know who I am, but I am afraid I do not know you."

"My name is of no importance," she said, looking at him. They were staring at each other again.

"I must go," she said finally, but Henry stopped her. "Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are?"

Danielle smiled, "Yes, actually, they have. Now, is that all that interests you, sire? I have many other fine qualities." She laughed, "I really should be going."

Henry smiled. Finally, someone with wit and intelligence. She would make a great sparring partner. She wasn’t like anyone else he’d ever met before

"Danielle, please, the afternoon light is fading. We must return home."

"All right, Gustave," she said, looking in his eyes. "I’ve have got to go, sire," she said and they ran out of the woods, Henry watching her.

Her name is Danielle, he thought, as he watched her and Gustave disappear.

Chapter 7

Queen Marie arrived back at the castle with her ladies-in-waiting. One of them carried a painting the Queen had bought at the market at St. Etienne’s. King Francis stepped over to meet her.

"Over there, Isabel," the Queen said, pointing to a spot on the wall.

"Yes, milady," Isabel answered. She removed an old painting from it hook and put the new one in its place.

Francis admired it. "Nice portrait and a very good likeness, I might add. May I inquire who the painter was?"

Marie was looking at it also. "A young boy named Gustave de Pres. He is a wonderful painter. I watched him paint two portraits before mine. He will be a great painter some day, Francis, mark my words."

She looked up at him.

"There was something familiar about him, though. That and the two women he was with."

"Yes, I know. Even that name sounds familiar." Francis said. "Do you know the names of the two woman?"

Marie shook her head. "No, but I have a feeling I know them from a long time ago."

Thump. Bump. Screech.

Marie and Francis turned at the same time toward the sound.

"What in the world was that?" Marie asked, looking at Francis.

The King shrugged. "I have no idea, but Henry was saying he heard those sounds this morning, also. Funny, I’ve been here most of my adult life and never heard any of these noises before."

"Maybe you just haven’t been listening, Francis," Marie said and she walked out of the room.

Chapter 8

She stood at the window of the ruins of Amboise watching the sun retreat behind the clouds. This was always her favorite place to go after the day was done and this was no exception.

It was peaceful here in the quiet, quite a contrast to the busy day she had. She never had so much fun in her whole life. Especially watching Marguerite flounder in all that mud. She had never laughed so hard. But it wasn’t over yet; she still had so much to catch up on. She had so much to do and not enough time to do it. She sighed.

She walked outside the ruins and stood in the middle of the field, admiring the wildflowers. She bent down to touch one, to feel the petals between her fingers as she had when she was younger. This time the petals felt different, it was if she could feel nothing at all.

Suddenly, she heard the rustling of leaves behind her. She turned around. She couldn’t see who it was until they reached the top of the hill. She smiled as she recognized the face. It was Danielle. How beautiful she was, with her long brown hair and brown eyes. She was admiring her so much that she forgot to hide herself.

There was still time and she made for the ruined window, the one she had crawled out of. She was actually surprised when Danielle looked up and stared straight at the window. She was staring right at her, actually looking in her eyes. It was as if she had seen her. No, she thought, staring right back at her, no one is supposed to be able to see me.

"Hello," Danielle called out to nothing and no one. But that wasn’t true. She had felt it all day, something tugging her, pulling her toward this very spot. She had expected to find something or someone, and was disappointed to find nothing, not a single soul.

She thought she had felt something brush by her and jump into the ruined window of the church. She thought she had seen a pair of dark brown eyes staring back at her through that window. She thought she was seeing things until she walked into the church. It was then that Danielle saw her form, outlined against the slowly setting sun.

"Hello, Danielle," she said, looking straight at her.

Chapter 9

Thump, thump. Thump.

Henry looked around. This was the third time this happened to him today. He was tired of this. This was not a good day, not at all. He was supposed to propose to Marguerite, but for some reason, she never left the house. In fact, the only person to come out of that house was Jacqueline. She had no explanation, only that someone or something had prevented both Marguerite and Rodmilla from ever leaving the house. Clothes, furniture, pillows, everything lay strewn all over the floor.

It had taken hours to clean up; even Jacqueline couldn’t leave until she helped pick some of it up.

Henry and Laurent had a good laugh before they rode back to the castle. And of course, his father wanted to know if he had proposed. That’s where Henry made his exit. He went straight to the maze, a favorite game of his as a child.

He had almost made it to the middle when that thumping came up from behind him. Henry couldn’t believe it. He left the castle to get away from both his father and that noise.

"How long is this to go on? Why do you not show me who you are? Why must you hide all the time or are you invisible?"

"Yes, my nephew, I am invisible, but if you look in front of you should be able to make out my form."

Henry turned at the voice. He could almost make out the form in front of him, but he did not recognize him.

"Your nephew?" Henry asked.

"I am your Uncle Phillippe, Henry, your mother’s youngest brother?"

Henry brightened. "Yes, my mother has talked much of you. You were murdered by a gang of thieves. And then there’s that portrait…."

Phillippe laughed. "Awful thing, that. Not a very good likeness, I’m afraid. Always wanted to take that down." He stopped smiling and became serious. "They were not all thieves, Henry. I knew one of them or at least I thought I did. I have to make sure that I am right."

"Is that why you are here, uncle? I mean, on earth?"

"Actually, nephew, I never really left."

Chapter 10

"What do you mean, someone prevented you from seeing Henry. He was supposed to propose today, wasn’t he?"

Marguerite shrugged. "Whoever it was wouldn’t let me."

"Whoever it was?" Rodmilla screamed. "Didn’t you see this person?"

"There was no person, Mother."

Rodmilla looked at Marguerite as if she were crazy.

"It’s true, Mother," Jacqueline said, from the other end of the room.

Rodmilla turned an angry gaze on her.

"And what would you know about it? Minding other people’s business again, aren’t we?"

Jacqueline looked down. She wanted to cry, but would not do it, not in front of those two. She shook her head and she did something that she had never done in her life.

"I was there, Mother. I helped pick Marguerite up out of the mud. At first, I couldn’t catch her hand. When I was finally able, she was right back in the mud again."

"Is this true?" Rodmilla asked, turning to Marguerite.

"Yes, Mother, it is true. Jacqueline was trying to pick me up. Laurent put out his hand as well."

"And the Prince?"

"He tried also, Mother," Jacqueline started to say, but again she was treated as if she wasn’t there.

She turned and started to walk out of the room until Rodmilla called her back.

The first thing Jacqueline noticed was the big smile on her mother’s face.

"There have been new developments in my life which I must share with the two of you," she said, looking at Marguerite. "This just might help change the Prince’s mind a little."

Chapter 11

Francois always enjoyed his morning walks. It seemed to get the blood flowing. This morning he needed to get out. He was furious. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard, that his father was involved in a plot to murder his own brother. He shook his head. It wasn’t true, not any of it. He was very sure of that, no doubt about it.

Francois was the newest member of the Royal Guards. These were peaceful times and Francois was assigned to help train newer members, which included his brother, Alex.

"Francois, wait for me." He turned around and smiled. He should have known that it was his younger brother, Alexandre. Well, he thought, he really wasn’t that much younger. Alex was fifteen and Francois just turned twenty-one. They were handsome lads, long dark hair and hazel-gray eyes, just like their cousin, Prince Henry.

"I do not believe what you just did." Alex said.

"It was well-fought and fair," Francois said, still walking, eyes looking straight out in front of him.

"I hope you were right, Francois," Alexandre said. "I would hope that Father wasn’t involved in this." Alex could never keep up with Francois’ stride. He would always take two steps to Francois’ one.

"I am sorry I didn’t see the whole fight or even hear how it started. I am sure you will describe it to me."

Francois stopped and turned to his brother. "Alex, there isn’t anything to talk about. The fight is over and done with. Jacques had it coming. He could never keep his mouth shut."

Alex nodded and changed the subject.

"Do you think it’s true, Francois? About Father, I mean?"

"I am going to find out soon enough. I am going over tonight. Father would like to speak me on a few new developments."

Alex looked up at him. "I hear he’s getting married again."

Francois smiled. "I heard that also, Alex. Hopefully, all these rumors will be put to rest."

Chapter 12

"Who are you?" Danielle said, looking into her eyes.

The ghost smiled. "I am your mother, Danielle. I was granted permission to come down and meet you. I did not know if you would believe me."

Danielle stared at her mother. She had seen a portrait of her, hanging in her father’s study. She studied her, up and down, trying to remember what she had seen.

"Mother, is it really you?"

"Yes, my daughter."

Tears welled up in Danielle’s eyes and she began to cry. Nicole held her arms out to her and she ran into them, not thinking.

When Danielle realized what she had done, she stepped back, her eyes filled with fear. The tears were still falling from her eyes.

"Are you afraid of me, Danielle?"

She nodded her head and continued to stare. She didn’t know what to make of this.

Nicole smiled and put her arms around her. "Have you any questions for me?"

"What are you doing here? How long can you stay? Where have you been until now? Who granted you permission? Why are you…"

Nicole held her finger up to Danielle’s mouth. She smiled. "I will answer all those questions. Sit down, my love. This is going to take a little time."

Chapter 13

"Who are you talking to, dear?" Queen Marie said as she walked toward her son.

Henry turned to face the Queen, then turned to face his uncle. He was still there; but this time he held his finger up to his mouth and shaking his head.

Henry smiled and turned back to his mother. "Just thinking out loud. I guess I was a little too loud."

Marie smiled. "Have you seen the new portrait?" she asked.

"As a matter of fact, Mother, I have. I was inside admiring it." His uncle now stood in between Henry and Marie. He was making faces at his sister, who couldn’t see a thing. It was all Henry could do to keep from laughing. "It is a such a remarkable likeness, not bad at all as certain people might think."

Phillippe smiled.

Marie frowned. "Other people? Such as?"

Henry smiled and changed the subject.

"May I inquire about the painter? He has done such a beautiful job."

Marie smiled. "I only met him this morning at the market. Isabel and I were watching him sketch a lovely little girl. We were fascinated. It didn’t take him long at all. When she left, Isabel asked if he could paint my portrait. He agreed and this is the result."

Marie looked at Henry, smiling. Suddenly, she was distracted. All at once, she looked up and stared, straight in Phillippe’s direction. Phillippe stopped making faces and stared back at Marie, wondering if she could see him. When she did not make any indication that she knew he was there, Phillippe went back to making faces.

Henry ignored his uncle. "His name, Mother, I assume he had a name?"

Marie turned to her son. "His name? I believe his name was Gustave."

Chapter 14

Francois jumped off his horse. He had followed his father’s instructions. It hadn’t been difficult to get here, not at all. The meeting was to take place at the stroke of five and had been moved to the Manor de Barbarac.

Francois tied his horse to the post and looked around. It really was as small as everyone claimed it was. The stucco walls of the manor that were once white, was now yellowed with age. The wooden front door needed a fresh coat of paint. He turned to look at what was left of the farm. Nothing much, a few hens, sheep, goats and one enormous pig. How could his father even consider..

"Hello, you must be Francois."

Francois looked up at the sound of her voice. He looked up and smiled. There were two sisters weren’t there? The one with the blond hair, what was her name?

"Good evening, Marguerite, how nice to see you again? Is my father here by chance?"

Marguerite smiled. "Inside with my mother. They are preparing for the big announcement."

Francois looked at her. "Then it is true, they are to be married."

Marguerite nodded her head. "As far as I know it is true. Tell me, where will they live?"

Not at this tiny place, I hope, Francois thought. "I suppose we’ll find out," he said, smiling. He changed the subject. "Care for a walk? I suppose we should get to know each other better since we are to be brother and sister after a fashion." He held out his arm.

Marguerite smiled and linked it with hers. "Whenever you wish," she answered.

They had just begun their walk when Francois heard his father call his name.

"The Duke?" Marguerite asked.

Francois smiled, looking at her. "The Duke Jules du Bois, the Queen’s oldest brother and my father." He turned to Marguerite, a puzzled look on his face. "You already knew that though, you’ve seen him before."

Marguerite smiled and shook her head. "Have you ever seen my mother before?"

Francois smiled. "Alright, you win." He heard his name again and looked up. This time it was Rodmilla and Jules.

"Well, well, well," Francois said

All Marguerite could do was laugh. Still arm in arm, they headed for the manor.

Chapter 15

Nicole invited Danielle to sit.

"I have but one request of you," she said. "Before I continue with my story, I want you to promise me one thing."

Danielle looked at her. "What do you want me to promise."

"That you will never call me ‘Mother’ again. That is much too formal. Please call me Mama or Nicole."

Danielle smiled. "I often referred to my father as Papa, you would most likely have been Mama, anyway. I suppose in all the excitement.."

Nicole laughed. "No need for explanations." She took her hands in hers. "I have so much to tell you, I do not think that I can do it all in one night, but I shall make an attempt. It began with my fiancé Phillippe du Bois. Murdered by a gang of thieves, I might add, although he told me that not all of them were."

"What do you mean? "

"He told me he knew one of them, maybe two, he wasn’t quite sure. He could never give the names as he died minutes later."

"Your father was wonderful to me, Danielle. He knew that I could never love him the way I loved Phillippe, yet he married me and raised you till he died himself. I heard that he married again."

"Yes," Danielle said. "And I hear that the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent will marry the Duke Jules du Bois. I cannot imagine why or how they even met, but there you have it." She shrugged her shoulders.

Nicole looked at her. "A most unlikely pair, I have to agree. This is what brings me to your first question, why am I here?" She sighed. "I am here to avenge the death of my first and only true love, Danielle. I was granted permission by a court of angels, one of them being Auguste. Phillippe’s soul cannot rise unless his murderer is found and brought to justice."

"You asked me how long I can stay? As long as Phillippe’s attackers have not been caught and punished. I have requested to do this, daughter. There is no set time period."

"Will Papa be coming down?"

"For a brief period, yes, but your father has some other business to attend to. He is part of the restoration committee."

Danielle frowned. "Restoration committee?

Nicole laughed. "The committee members are made up of 12 angels. There are people, ghosts like myself, who stand in front of the committee and request to return to earth for a brief period of time. Whether it is a sad, happy or mysterious event, everyone who requests a return to earth will get one eventually. Each has some purpose, whether it is a service to perform or a puzzle to solve. They are granted more than enough time to complete the task and then they must return, bringing the new arrivals back with them. You see, Danielle. They are literally restored to earth."

"DANIELLE."

They both turned at the mention of the younger woman’s name.

Chapter 16

"Gustave?" Henry and Phillippe both said it together, but Marie only heard her son.

"Yes, Henry. Why do you know him?"

"Just met him this morning. He was walking with a girl by the name of Danielle and a very large pig."

Marie turned at the name. "Danielle?" she asked, surprised. "Danielle, Danielle de Barbarac?"

"Well," Henry answered, "they were headed in that general direction. Toward the manor I mean. Why do you ask?"

But Marie had disappeared inside the castle at the mention of Danielle’s name.

Henry turned to Phillippe. "What was that all about?"

Phillippe shrugged, "My guess is as good as yours, although I do know for a fact that Danielle was the name of my best friend’s daughter. His name was Auguste and he and my fiancée, Nicole, were married. I watched the wedding. When Nicole died, Auguste raised her. I visited the manor often until he died. When that witch he married, Rodmilla took over, I left. She threw Danielle out of the house, you know and told everyone she was dead. You two have been engaged to be married since you were children."

"What?" Henry couldn’t believe his ears. "Wait a second, this cannot be true."

"Ask your mother, she’ll tell you."

Henry stared wide-eyed at his uncle. "What about you? Don’t you want to see your own sister?" They were headed back to the castle.

Phillippe smiled and shook his head. "Nah, having too much fun. I always made faces at Marie when we were growing up, me being the baby brother and all."

Henry smiled. The apple really doesn’t fall too far from the tree, he thought, smirking.

They stopped before they reached the entrance. That’s when Marie and Francis came running out the door, arguing with each other.

"Come, Henry," Francis said looking at his son. "You are coming with us."

Henry looked at his uncle with a "you are coming with me" look.

Phillippe understood and climbed into the carriage with him, although he didn’t really have to.

Chapter 17

Francois couldn’t believe his ears. His father getting married to this horrible woman, a Baroness who lives in squalor like this? He just couldn’t believe it. Maybe she really is a witch, Francois thought as he sat outside the manor, thinking about what was just told to him.

"May I join you? You look so lonely sitting there and you are awfully quiet."

He looked up to find Marguerite standing there. Francois smiled. He couldn’t get over how beautiful she was. He was admiring the way the fading sunlight caught her hair as she sat down next to him.

"I was just thinking about this marriage, Marguerite. Don’t you find it rather strange?"

Marguerite looked surprised. "Whatever do you mean, Francois?" she asked. "In what way?"

He looked over at her, ashamed a little at what he had said. He stared at her with a smile on his face. If he were to marry her, her mother would be his…"

"Francois, are you still there?" Marguerite waved a hand in front of his eyes.

"Just thinking, that’s all," he said, still staring at her.

"About what?" she asked, smiling at him, which made Francois’ heart beat quicker. He couldn’t be falling in love with her already. They had only met this afternoon.

"About your father, I mean, your real father, the Baron Jean de Ghent? We have heard precious little except that he was beheaded for treason."

"I don’t really know too much. I was five and Jacqueline was three when he was killed. Mother never talks about it at all. I know she had to leave the city of Ghent very quickly though or, so the rumors go, she would have gone right along with him. So she married my stepfather within the first week they met. Everyone thought it was a little too quick a courtship on his side of the family. Even the Queen was against the marriage."

"Yes," Francois said, "I know. She is my aunt, after all." He couldn’t take his eyes off her. They didn’t speak for a long time again, not until the chapel bell at the castle chimed six.

"I have lost track of the hour," Francois said, getting up. He helped her up. He didn’t want to leave, but his reason for asking her the next question was twofold. He wanted to find out more about her father and her mother. He thought something suspicious was going on. Secondly, well, he though he was falling in love with her in spite of himself.

"Can I call on you tomorrow night?" he asked her, taking her hands in his.

"Of course you may, Francois," Marguerite answered, smiling at him.

Francois smiled. "Until tomorrow night, then," he said, kissing her on the forward. Then he walked over to his horse.

Chapter 18

"Danielle, where are you?" a male voice called.

Danielle looked over at Nicole as Gustave walked into the ruins. He looked at Danielle first, then looked at Nicole.

"Who are you with?" he asked.

Danielle stared at him, then at Nicole. "You mean, you can see her?"

"Yes, he can," Nicole said, walking over to Gustave. "If he wants to see me, he will. It’s all in the mind, Danielle. Our forms are always visible, but not all can see us."

"You mean, I wanted to see someone?" Gustave asked. "I didn’t know anyone else was here with her. I knew Danielle was here, she is always here, but usually here by herself."

"I know, Gustave, I used to come here alone myself." She smiled and looked at him. "I do not believe you saw someone, rather that you felt or heard something. Perhaps a tug or a pull, maybe little brushes against your clothes. You might hear talking or whispering in your ear or maybe just a sound, footsteps perhaps. You knew something was there, Gustave, and if you believe hard enough, you can feel or see anything."

Gustave stared at Nicole for a few minutes, then looked at Danielle. "You weren’t making it up, were you?"

"No, Gustave," Danielle said, looking at her mother with a smile. "I suppose I always wanted to meet my mother, maybe that’s why I felt this way all along."

"And I have always wanted to see my daughter."

"Then how do you explain what has happened to me," another voice called from the entrance of the ruined church. Danielle and Gustave turned around to look.

Chapter 19

Henry was standing at the entrance of the ruins with Phillippe by his side. He was staring straight at Nicole. He looked at his uncle who was already staring at Nicole with a goofy smile on his face. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. "Nicole, my love, it is so good to see you again." He walked up to her and they embraced each other. Henry walked over to Danielle. He looked at her. "I couldn’t stay away from you," he whispered, taking her hands. "I found out something tonight, it’s important that I share it with you."

"What is it, Your Highness?"

Henry smiled and looked into her big beautiful brown eyes. "You mean, your mother hasn’t told you yet?"

"How could you not tell her?" Phillippe asked releasing Nicole.

"We were interrupted," Nicole said, "and we are about to be interuppted again. Henry, tell her and I’ll back you up if you like, but do it quickly."

"We are engaged to be married, Danielle," Henry whispered. "Everyone thought that you were dead."

"Yes, everyone did," another male voice came up from behind. He stood in the doorway looking at Nicole and Phillippe. "I see you have found each other at last, the both of you."

"Papa," Danielle cried. She broke from Henry and ran to him, putting her arms around his neck. Auguste held her tightly in his arms then released her. "Here, let me look at you. My, you have grown, my love."

"What of the King and Queen?" Nicole asked. "Are they not coming?"

"I have taken care of that, Nicole. A wheel fell off their coach," Auguste said. "Should keep them occupied for a while." He looked at Danielle. "What Henry said is true, daughter. You have been betrothed to Henry since you were tiny babies."

"Why, how?" that was all Danielle had to say before Henry walked over to her and took her hand in his.

Auguste looked up. The light was fading and it was fading fast.

"We will have to continue this discussion tomorrow," he told Henry and Danielle. He looked at Nicole and Phillippe. "You two will stay here tonight, enjoy each other’s company. I am sure you have a lot to catch up on." He looked at them, hoping for an answer. He never got one, though.

Chapter 20

Francis was fuming. He was pacing back and forth.

"I know those wheels were checked before we left," he screamed at Jacques.

"It was an accident, Your Majesty," Jacques answered. "Every precaution was taken, every nut and bolt was tightened. I know, I worked on them myself."

Francis was about to say something, when Marie stopped him. "Calm down, Francis, or you’ll suffer from that stroke the physician keeps warning you about."

"What, and leave the entire country in Henry’s hands? All right, Marie, I see your point."

That’s not what I meant at all, Marie thought looking at him, then dismissed it.

"Where has that boy gotten to anyway?"

"He did say he was going to walk back to the castle. It’s not that far."

Francis turned and gave her a nasty look.

"Not that far? It’s half a day’s walk!"

Marie laughed. "He is young yet, milord. I remember you doing worse things at that age."

Francis looked at her. One thing he loved about Marie, she could always make him laugh. "Was I ever that age, milady? I can’t remember back that far."

Marie smiled as Jacques and the other two Royal Guardsmen were making the last few repairs.

Jacques looked the King with a smile. "It is done, Your Majesty."

"Splendid, splendid. Well, then," he said rubbing his hands together, smiling. He looked at Marie. "Shall we?"

"Yes, I believe we shall. Where are we headed to this time?"

"Why, to the Manor de Barbarac. I thought you were curious about Danielle."

"You are right, milord," she said, stepping into the carriage.

Chapter 21

Danielle and Gustave took Henry and Auguste to the little shack they lived in with Paulette, Louise and Maurice. Danielle was telling him how they all got there and why they still remained in that old dump.

Henry looked at her. "I can’t believe Rodmilla would do such a thing. Kicking all of you out of the house like that. It is unbelievable."

"What I think is unbelievable, Papa" Danielle said, looking at her father, "is how you could’ve married her in the first place?"

Auguste looked at Henry, then at Danielle. He smiled. "I wanted you to have a mother, Danielle. I didn’t know that she would never give you that luxury."

He looked over at Henry. "Everyone was jealous of Danielle, Your Highness, but nothing like Rodmilla." Auguste shook his head. "From the first night I brought her to the manor, she did everything possible to get rid of Danielle. I never realized, not until it was too late. She couldn’t do anything while I was alive, so she waited until I was dead."

Auguste shook his head.

"This is it." Gustave said, as he opened the door of the little run down house.

"I know," Auguste said, "I’ve been here several times," he said looking at Danielle.

"Really? I have never seen you."

Auguste smiled and walked through the door.

"Hello, everyone, " Gustave called as he walked out into the drawing room. Danielle, Henry and Auguste followed, laughing amongst themselves. Danielle had been looking at Henry, not where she was going when she almost bumped into Gustave. He stood stock still, staring at two people he never expected to see in his life, standing in the middle of the room.

Chapter 22

Nicole and Phillippe stood there, staring at each other, not sure how to react.

Nicole smiled and spoke first. "Cat got your tongue?"

Phillippe smiled back. "Just getting used to seeing you again," he whispered, reaching out to touch her hair. "You’re still beautiful."

Nicole laughed and reached out to take his hand in hers. "You haven’t changed at all. You are still the best looking man in the entire province."

Phillippe drew closer and brought his free hand up to her shoulders. "Always said we made a handsome couple," he said, pulling her closer.

They kissed each other, forgetting everything around them. When they finally came up for air, they stood looking at each other, not saying a word.

"Doesn’t Auguste ever get jealous?" Phillippe said first, still staring at her.

"Lucky for you, he doesn’t," Nicole whispered. "He always knew that we loved each other. He took care of me until Danielle was born. He promised me, after my death, that we would never be parted again, no matter what."

"Didn’t you ever love him?" Phillippe stared into her eyes.

"In my own way, Phillippe. I cared for him very, very much. I don’t think it was ever love. Not the way I loved you, anyway. Auguste always knew that."

Phillippe smiled. "You are repeating yourself, my love."

Nicole smiled. "I guess that’s what happens when you fall for someone."

"What happened with Auguste? Is there someone for him?"

"Why are you so worried about him?" Nicole whispered in his ear. She pulled back and looked at his face. "There was one he always loved better than I, Phillippe. Her name was Giselle. They had been engaged to one another, when she was taken from him in an accident. You see, Phillippe, she was a new rider and was thrown from her horse and broke her neck. He never forgot her, Phillippe, as I have never forgotten you."

They kissed again, this time they didn’t stop.

Chapter 23

Marguerite stood outside the manor watching Francois ride away with a smile from ear to ear. She couldn’t believe that he felt the same way about her as she had about him. Everything was going to be wonderful, Mother married for the third…

She stopped. The third time. Hmmm, she thought, and both husbands dead at that. Well, there was no suspicion there. Her real father, the Baron had been beheaded for treason; at least that’s what she was told. The second, Auguste de Barbarac, had fallen off his horse. He had a weak heart, the physician told Rodmilla, it was all a matter of time anyway. Nothing like murder to worry about.

"You can think whatever you want, daughter," a voice came from nowhere, "but I know the truth."

Marguerite whirled around and saw a gauzy white form smirking at her. "But you are dead," she shrieked, pointing at her father’s form.

"Yes, Marguerite, I am. And don’t listen what your mother tells you. It’s not true. Your mother is out for money. I had to come to warn you, Marguerite, I do not want another death on her hands.

"What?" It was all Marguerite could think of to say when their conversation was interrupted by the breaking of glass, followed by the sound of loud laughter. Marguerite and the Baron Jean de Ghent looked toward the manor where it had come from.

Marguerite turned toward her father. "Tell me the whole story, Father. Now I am intrigued."

Rodmilla and Jules had a glass of champagne to celebrate their engagement.

All right, Rodmilla thought, maybe a few more than one.

Then Jules did something unthinkable. He took the glass from her hand and dashed the two at the fireplace. He laughed as he watched them break. Rodmilla was startled at first. Two of her best glasses thrown into the fireplace like that, but then again, they weren’t really her glasses now, were they?

Finally, she thought, I am finally getting married and out of this little country manor. She would move into a beautiful new chateau and never look back. She would leave her two daughters behind, yes, even Marguerite. Maybe that was a mistake, but that was what Jules wanted, he insisted upon it and who was she to argue with that. Well, it would only be for a little while, anyway, just until he left the house and money to her. Rodmilla smiled. Number three was going to be so much better than the other two, especially that Auguste. He had lied to her about his holdings. She should have known better. She saw the tiny manor the minute she stepped from the coach.

She was going to have to come up with a better plan, though. She had almost been caught the first time. She had been lucky with Auguste, everyone thought it was an accident. Now she was going to have to think of something else, but not now.

She barely heard Jules’ voice calling to her, asking her to come upstairs with him. She tried to stand up, but she was much too dizzy. Must have had too much to drink. She knew all along that she couldn’t hold her liquor.

She smiled as Jules put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her up. He walked her to the stairs and helped her climb. She would worry about that new plan later.

Jules was just as tipsy as she was, he wasn’t sure. He might have had a little more than her, which hadn’t been part of the plan, but no matter. He would do what he had come here to do and would walk out undetected.

Chapter 24

Francois stood outside the soldier’s quarters, looking up at the stars. There was something very strange happening, he couldn’t quite get over that horrible feeling. His father marrying that witch, the one he always complained about. The one he said who had thrown his old friend Jean to the wolves and had, he was sure, had poisoned her second husband, Auguste, to get at his money.

He knew that if he were caught out here after curfew, he would go on report. He did not want to risk that, he had a perfect record since he first joined the guard at fourteen.

"Francois," It was his brother’s voice. Francois turned to make sure he was right. There was Alex running over to him. He rolled his eyes upward and stared at the heavens.

"Nothing has changed, Alex, it’s the same as it was since I spoke to you right after the meeting."

Alex finally reached him and stopped. "If you don’t come inside, you will be put on report."

Francois looked at his younger brother. "I know that, Alex," he answered. He turned back to watch the sky. "I just need to be out here for a while. I have to think about some things for a while."

"Francois. "

"Alex, please, not now."

Alex frowned. "All right, but I thought I’d let you know that you have a visitor."

Francois turned around. She was standing there, in back of Alex.

Francois eyes widened. His face brightened. "Marguerite," he said, smiling. "What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"

Alex smiled. "I smuggled her in here, Francois."

Francois looked from Marguerite to Alex, then back to Marguerite.

"You don’t have too long, Francois."

Francois smiled, looking at Marguerite. "Come," he said, taking her hand, "we don’t have a lot of time."

But Marguerite smiled and shook her head. "You have the wrong idea, Francois," she said, taking his hand, "We need to talk to you."

"We?"

Marguerite smiled and pulled at him. "Come, there’s someone I would like you to meet."

Chapter 25

Maurice stood up. "Hello Master," he said to Auguste, "Good to see you again."

Auguste smiled and hugged Maurice. "It’s an adventure, everytime I see you."

Maurice released him. "We have two unexpected guests, Auguste," he said, gesturing over to the two people who stood up as Danielle and Henry entered the room.

"Danielle?" the woman asked as if she had seen a ghost.

"Yes, Mother," Henry answered, "this is Danielle. She is very much alive. Has been for ten years."

Oh, my little love," Marie cried, "although I fear you not so little any more." She held her arms open and Danielle ran into them. Marie looked up to find Auguste looking at her. He was grinning from ear to ear. "See, Marie," he whispered in her ear. "I told you she was still alive."

"Yes, you did, Auguste." Marie said, releasing her, "and I did not believe you. "Let me look at your face, child."

Meanwhile, across the room, Francis and Auguste hugged each other. "Thank you for bringing her back to us, my old friend. Thank you for guiding us here."

"You will still have to deal with Rodmilla and your brother in law," Auguste said.

Francis looked at Auguste strangely. "I know she’s lied about Danielle and she will be dealt with, but I know little else."

"How long have you lived here?" Marie asked Danielle.

"My stepmother threw all of us out of manor after Papa died. She didn’t want to have anything to do with anything related to him."

Marie shook her head. She looked up and tried to catch Francis’ attention.

"Francis, we have to do something about this."

"It’s already been done, Marie." He turned to Maurice. "Beginning tonight, Maurice, you, your family and your friends will reside in the guest apartments until we find suitable homes for you. Danielle, you and Henry are to be married as soon as we return to the castle."

Auguste turned to the Queen.

"Marie, I almost forgot. Nicole and Phillippe are expecting you at the ruins tonight."

Marie looked at Henry who was looking at his mother. "You were talking to your uncle, weren’t you?"

Henry nodded. He had taken Danielle’s hand. "It has been a strange couple of days, Mother."

"Yes," Marie agreed, "it certainly has."

Chapter 26

Laurent couldn’t find Henry anywhere. The King and Queen were missing as well. What was going on here? Everyone was starting to see ghosts Ghost stories were springing up all over Hautefort. There were very strange times.

"Laurent, where are you?"

"Over here, Jacqueline, standing in front of the castle."

Laurent had made it though the maze first and was waiting for Jacqueline to finish. It was getting dark.

"Are you alright?" Laurent asked.

Jacqueline was laughing as she walked into his opened arms, "I never had so much fun in my life."

Laurent hugged her.

"Do you have to go home right away?" Laurent whispered in her ear.

"Don’t you have to get to your quarters?"

Laurent nodded. "Come, let us take a walk. My quarters are not far from here."

"Is this true?" Francois asked, looking at the Baron.

"Yes, Francois," Jean de Ghent answered.

Francois nodded. He couldn’t believe he was out here, talking to a ghost, a Baron beheaded for treason no less. These were strange times.

"So what you are saying is that Rodmilla set you up?"

"That’s how she escaped being beheaded, temporarily, anyway. She had already married Auguste by then. It was too late."

"Too late?" Marguerite asked. "What do you mean by "too late?"

"I believe your stepfather was poisoned, Marguerite."

Marguerite shook her head. "No, Father, Auguste had heart trouble. That’s what the court physician said it was. If he were poisoned, we would have known about it. It couldn’t have gone unnoticed."

"No one knew it, not even Auguste himself, until recently. So now he walks the earth, seeking revenge

"Against whom?" Francois asked.

"What is going on here?" a male voice interrupted

Chapter 27

"Nicole," Marie called, holding the torch up as she entered the ruins. "Phillippe, Nicole?"

"We are standing in front of you, Your Majesty."

Marie moved in a little and held the torch in up in front of her. She smiled as she saw them.

"Nicole," she cried and ran over to her, the torch in her hand forgotten.

"Careful," Phillippe said, taking the torch from his sister. "Someone might get hurt."

"Not amusing, my brother." Marie said, releasing Nicole and coming into Phillippe’s arms. Nicole took the torch this time. "Look at the two of you," she said, pulling out of Phillippe’s arms to stare at him, "you haven’t changed."

"We don’t," Nicole said, "If you die young, you stay at that age, but when you get older and you die, you lose your old age, at least, you don’t look or feel old."

"Well, the two of you did die very young, too young as a matter of fact." Marie turned to Phillippe and smiled. "It was you haunting the castle, wasn’t it? Never even noticed you."

"And talking to Henry," Phillippe answered, "Nice of you to notice, my sister, after twenty one years."

"Has it really been that long?" Phillippe nodded. "Henry was not even a year old," he said, laughing.

Nicole put the torch in an old sconce on the side of the church. Marie was surprised it held.

Marie turned to face Nicole. "Auguste said you had something you wanted to talk to me about."

"Yes, we do." Nicole said, looking at Phillippe, "but it’s not happy news and its not to be taking lightly."

Danielle and Auguste were standing outside talking to one another, catching up on all the years they missed together.

"I am sorry I left you with her, Danielle," Auguste said, looking at her. "If I had known then what I know now."

"Do not worry Papa," Danielle said, "Gustave and I were very happy growing up with the Louise, Maurice and Paulette. The little house was cozy and we made do on market days, plus Jacqueline always helped out."

"Auguste," a female voice called out. "The hour grows late. It is time." Auguste turned and smiled. He stood up and walked over to the woman and took her hand.

Chapter 28

Laurent’s voice boomed loudly. He looked straight at Francois. "You should be in your quarters, Francois, and you Marguerite should be leaving with Jacqueline."

"Not now, Laurent," Jacqueline said. "Can’t you see they are talking to someone?"

"Jacqueline, this is your father," Marguerite said, looking at her.

"The Baron?" Jacqueline whispered. She touched him. "Is it really you?"

"Of course, Jacqueline. My, you have grown."

"So it is true, then?" Francois said, changing the subject. "Rodmilla did murder Auguste and lied to save herself."

"Don’t forget your father, Francois. I know that it is hard for you to accept, but, well, your father was involved with Rodmilla before Auguste or I. They grew up together and loved one another, but each had their obligations to follow. There was our marriage, which had been arranged, and Jules’ arranged marriage…"

"Managed to end the same time as Auguste’s death," Francois said, turning to look at Alex. "Alex is three years younger than Danielle." He looked at the Baron. "Why would Father go after his own brother, though. What did that have to do with anything?"

"When your grandfather, Charles, died he had left most of holdings to his youngest son, Phillippe. It wasn’t even money, Francois."

"What was it, then?" a voice piped up. Francois, Marguerite and Jacqueline all turned to look Laurent who was now sitting straight up at the Baron from his seat on the ground.

"You can see him?" Jacqueline asked

"I can now," Laurent smiled. "Just have to concentrate a little."

"It was just a jeweled ring, Laurent," Jean de Ghent answered. It was promised for Jules, but in the end, it was given to Phillippe."

"I don’t believe that," Francois said, frowning. "You do not kill your own brother over a jeweled ring."

"He had not intended to kill him, Francois, just rough him up a little, make it look like an accident, so he could run in and out of the house long enough to take what his. But Jules never found the ring or documentation supporting his claim, or so Auguste says."

Chapter 29

"So it was Jules you saw, wasn’t it?" Marie asked.

Phillippe nodded. "Yes Marie, unfortunately, it’s true. He was standing on the side, watching the other two beat and kick me. When they were finished, Jules bent over me to see if I was alive or dead. That was it. He didn’t see me breathing, didn’t check to see if my heart was beating. They all assumed I was dead and left me there for the Guards to find."

Marie looked at him, shaking her head. "What about Father’s ring, Phillippe? Where is it now?

Phillippe looked at Nicole. Nicole picked up her finger and showed the ring to Marie.

Marie picked up Nicole’s hand and stared at it. She remembered it now. Father had always worn it on his little finger; it was so small. It was beautiful, the emeralds, rubies and diamonds all mixed into one ring. Marie loved the way it sparkled. That ring had always fascinated her. Apparently, Jules and Phillippe had felt the same way.

Marie looked up, still holding onto Nicole’s hand.

"You had it?"

Nicole nodded. "Phillippe gave it to me that night. I was wearing it the night of the ball, Marie. Jules never noticed."

Marie smiled and shook her head. "Jules never showed up, Nicole, but then again, I don’t think anyone would notice that ring when the wearer is more beautiful." She smiled and turned back to Phillippe.

"What about the will? I do know that Father mentioned to me that he would leave the ring to you for Nicole. He said Jules didn’t deserve it. By the way, how long was he seeing the Baroness?"

"The will? Marie, it couldn’t be any safer. It is with you, hidden under your clothes in the dresser drawer. We used to do that as children, remember? As far as Rodmilla and Jules are concerned, from what Auguste tells me, they have been seeing each since they were fourteen. But it was not to be, for.."

"Yes," Marie nodded, "I know. She was promised to the Baron and Jules was engaged to marry the Lady Isabel du Monde. They had two children before Isabel died mysteriously."

"Everyone said it was childbirth, Marie," Phillippe said, shaking his head. "I never believed it."

"Neither have the rest of us." Phillippe said. "It was suspicious from the start. It was all very coincidental."

Marie looked at her brother. "I agree, Phillippe."

Nicole looked from Phillippe to Marie, then back to Phillippe. "What are you saying? That Rodmilla poisoned her as she poisoned her Auguste"

Phillippe looked back at her and nodded. "And framed Auguste."

"Well then," Nicole asked, "If that is the case, why didn’t she just knock you off?"

"Supposedly, they hadn’t meant to kill me, Nicole, just make it look as if I was attacked. Besides, Rodmilla might have talked Jules into stealing the ring in the first place."

"Nicole, Phillippe," a male voice called out. "It is time."

Chapter 30

Auguste and Giselle were standing there with Francis, Henry, Danielle and the three servants. "Make haste. We are ready to return to the castle. Jean de Ghent is there with Francois and Marguerite. And," he turned to Danielle and Henry; "it seems there is going to be a wedding and everyone is invited."

Auguste found Jean de Ghent at the soldier’s quarters talking to Francois, Marguerite, Alex, Laurent and Jacqueline.

The wedding took place at the castle chapel. Marie thought it might be too late, the bell in the tower chimed ten, but Francis insisted. Everyone crowded around Henry and Danielle to congratulate them both, the dead as well as the living.

As the bells chimed eleven, Auguste called all the ghosts together.

"Quiet, everyone, please. I need your attention." Auguste held his hands up and everyone stopped talking. "All right, then. As the hour grows closer to twelve, I just wanted to wish everyone good luck and find out if anyone has a change of heart or has any questions to ask."

No one spoke. Auguste smiled.

"Well then," he said. "If there are no questions, then let us proceed. Everyone knows their assignments and what they must do."

"Wait, Auguste," a voice called out. "Can the living join in? I, for one, need a little excitement around here."

Auguste smiled. "Well, Marie, it is not regular practice, but if you insist."

Marie smiled. "Don’t make exception for me."

Auguste smiled. "No, you will all have a hand in this. A rather small one and it won’t happen until the very end, but as I have said, if you want to get involved. It will be a small part, but you must be patient and let us do what we have come to do. Is that fair?

Marie smiled. "Of course, Auguste. We will wait for your signal."

At the manor, Rodmilla was wide-awake. Jules, too drunk to do anything, had passed out on their bed. He was snoring. She had been tipsy, but it had subsided. She stood up, trying not to disturb Jules. She walked over to the window. Something was bothering her.

Something was not right and, for first time in her life, she was frightened. As the hour grew closer to twelve, she couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was coming to a close. Her whole life was to come crashing down around her feet. Everything that she built up, her hopes, wishes and dreams. She looked at the window as if she expected guests. What, at this hour she thought. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something very strange was about to happen.

Chapter 31

Standing on the other side of the window, staring at Rodmilla, was Isabel du Bois.

"Hello, Rodmilla," she mouthed and tapped the glass thinking Rodmilla wouldn’t hear it. But it was obvious that she had, she watched as Rodmilla backed up from the window.

She smiled at the reaction and waited until Rodmilla came forward again. Isabel tapped the glass a second time and she watched again as Rodmilla retreated from the window. This time Rodmilla had a puzzled look on her face. She was about to tap the glass again when Jean de Ghent stopped her.

"You really want to frighten her?" the Baron asked, "I’ll show you how to frighten her." He picked up a stone and dragged it across the windowpane. He was right, it had sent Rodmilla into hysterics. The two of them watched as she ran screaming from the window.

"Now comes the hard part," Jean said looking at Isabel, " we have got to get in there."

Rodmilla was about to walk away from the window when she heard a tapping on the pane. It must be birds, she thought, smiling. She started to walk away again when the tapping came a second time. She walked forward again to look out, but didn’t see anything. She was about to back away again when she heard that horrible sounding screech. This time, though, she screamed.

"JULES," she shrieked, as she ran toward the bed, panic-stricken, "WAKE UP, PLEASE." Jules turned in his sleep, but he didn’t wake up. Rodmilla, nervous now and not knowing what to think, needed to let loose a little water. She looked all over for the chamber pot, but couldn’t find one.

Finally, in desperation, she ran from the manor.

"Were you able to find it?" Isabel asked as Rodmilla opened the door and ran into the woods.

Jean held up the chamber pot to show her.

"Perfect!" Isabel said and they both laughed as they watched Rodmilla. They couldn’t believe their luck.

Chapter 32

Jules rolled over and felt the left side of the bed, the side that Rodmilla always slept on. He reached out and found her lying there next to him. But the body didn’t feel like Rodmilla and it was cold to the touch. It had seemed familiar enough, though. Maybe he was just dreaming.

"My little wild woman," he said, touching her.

"Why thank you Jules, although I do not remember you calling me that," Isabel said, turning around. Jules screamed and leapt from the bed.

"You are dead," he sputtered, not getting the words out right.

That’s right, Jules, I am dead, thanks to you and Rodmilla." She sat up and stared at him, not moving from the bed. "Is there something else I can help you with? Any other lies that you care to correct?" She got off the bed and stood up.

Meanwhile, out in the wood, Rodmilla was collecting herself when she heard something rustling in the woods.

"Jules?" she asked, calling out blindly, not knowing who was coming for her.

"I don’t believe so, Rodmilla, although the name does begin with a "j". My, my, I suppose it’s just you and I this time."

Rodmilla turned and found him staring at her.

"Jean, Jean de Ghent?"

Jean smiled as he bowed in her direction. "The very same, Baroness. Nice to see you again."

Chapter 33

Henry and Danielle decided to come along and watch the antics as did Laurent and Francois. Jacqueline and Marguerite brought up the rear.

"Sorry I never believed you, Jacqueline," Marguerite said, looking at her sister. "Is it too late to apologize now?"

Jacqueline smiled. "It’s never too late, Marguerite, but we are not really sure if Mother actually did what they say she did."

"Oh, she did it, Jacqueline. She bragged to me once. I used to think Mother was so smart and so wise. She’s been pushing me to marry the Prince forever and telling me I have no choice. Now that she’s going to marry this Duke, what is going to happen with us? She will move in with him and leave us in the manor?"

Jacqueline nodded. "Well, now that the Prince is married, what can Mother say?"

Marguerite looked back at her. "You have Laurent, the two of you are going to be married soon. I’ve only just met Francois and I’m not sure how he feels."

"He must have some feeling for you, Marguerite, he seems interested in you and wants to get to know you. I wouldn’t doubt it if the two of you were to get married."

"Quiet, everyone." Auguste said. "We are here. Everyone get to their places. Henry, Danielle, get to your places. Keep an eye on all the living creatures. I will handle the ghosts.’

That’s when they all heard voices. It seemed to be coming from the woods.

Auguste held his finger up to his lips and drew a little closer. He smiled a little as he listened. He walked back and motioned for everyone to report to their assignments.

He turned to Giselle. "There is no reason for you to be here, my love. None of these people have ever harmed you."

"But they have you, Auguste, and I, for one, want to be by your side. I want to see Jules and Rodmilla’s faces when this is all over."

Auguste smiled and hugged her. "Now I know why I fell in love with you in the first place."

Chapter 34

"What are you doing here, Jean?" Rodmilla asked. "I have not seen you since the beheading fifteen years ago."

"Ah, yes, Rodmilla, the beheading. Of course, you would remember. It was you and Jules who lied to the King. You set me up to cover your own tracks. All you wanted to do was get me out of the way so that you could take my money and move onto the next husband, is that not true?"

"That is not true, Jean, it was you who spoke against the King, it was you who wanted to change things, it was you who believed in equality and freedom for everyone."

Jean shook his head. "Yes, it was me who talked of freedom for all men, all those philosophers, especially Plato, who had written about a perfect society, how one day all men will be created equal. But I was not the only one, Rodmilla. It was Jules, not me, who convinced me to read those books. It was Jules, not me, who was overheard bragging, drunkenly, about a plot to poison the King and it was Jules who brought my name up when questioned, trying to save his own skin."

"No, Jean," Rodmilla interuppted, shaking her head, "You are wrong. Jules was found innocent. He had nothing to do with.."

Jean smiled.

"Still defending him, are you? Well, my love, I know it was you who lied to set Jules free and implicated me in an incident that I had nothing to do with. You knew I never attended those meetings with you and Jules. You knew the truth all along. You never even tried to clear my name afterward. You married the first man that came along who had fallen for you, didn’t you? Leaving town, just as they found out that it was you who had the vast knowledge of poisons? By then, my dear, it was too late. No one could find you, because you had changed your name and moved from Paris."

"You are so wrong, Jean. I am telling you that…"

"Just as you had nothing to do with my death, either, Rodmilla."

Rodmilla and Jean turned in the direction of the voice.

"Auguste," Rodmilla said, not believing what she was seeing. She turned to look back at Jean, who was looking at Auguste and smiling.

Chapter 35

Inside the manor, other things were happening. Beds began to move. Chair and tables were rearranged. Threatening messages suddenly appeared on the walls. All around him, Jules could hear all sorts of noises. Screams and footsteps followed Jules as Isabel chased him out of the upstairs bedroom. He had not been looking where he was going and did not realize how close to the bedroom the stairs had been. He took one wrong step and tumbled down the stairs, listening to Isabel laughing in the distance.

He was disoriented as he came to and discovered that he had landed on his stomach. He turned himself around and looked up at the top. Isabel seemed to have disappeared, he thought, sitting upright. He smiled, and, thinking that this nonsense was all over with, stood up. He was still feeling a little disoriented, but it wouldn’t take him long to come back to himself. He was beginning to think that this had been a dream and started up the stairs again, when he heard a voice call out to him behind his back.

"Hello, Jules," it said.

He turned around to find his brother Phillippe looking at him. Phillippe smiled and waved back.

"Phillippe, what are you doing here? Now you know I had nothing to do with your death."

"Is that so?" Phillippe said, "And you must know that I know that that is not true. I saw you there, Jules, do not lie to me. You stood on the side and watched them beat me up. You bent over me to see if I was alive or dead."

Jules smiled. "So you were not dead, after all. How much longer were you alive, dear brother? How much did you see? And what about that ring that Father promised me."

Phillippe looked at his brother and shook his head. "That ring was never yours, Jules. It was first promised to Marie until Francis married her. Father was thinking about giving it to you, but in the end, he said you didn’t deserve it. " Phillippe smiled. "It belongs to me, Jules, and I know where the documentation is to prove it, at least, I think I do."

Chapter 36

"Auguste, my love," Rodmilla said, "you know I had nothing to do with.."

"In the beginning, I had thought it was a natural death, until your daughter."

Rodmilla started to laugh. "Jacqueline doesn’t know what she is saying, why she is makes up lies all the time."

Auguste smiled. "It wasn’t Jacqueline, Rodmilla, nor was it Danielle. Oh," he said, hitting himself on the forehead, "I almost forgot, you lied about her too. You told everyone she was dead, didn’t you? Well, that’s not true, now, is it? You threw her out after I died, didn’t you? Just so Marguerite could marry the Prince?"

"He is close to doing that, Auguste," Rodmilla said, "He came here to propose to her only this morning. The royal family and I have an agreement.."

Auguste smiled and shook his head. "I had an arrangement first, Rodmilla. You knew Nicole and the Queen were best friends. You know that after she died Marie and I arranged for Prince Henry and the Lady Danielle’s engagement, or had you.."

"Forgotten my daughter had a title, too, Rodmilla." This was Nicole’s voice. She walked over to stand next to Auguste.

"I would like to commend you on your treatment of Danielle, Rodmilla. Because of you, she is stronger than a lot of women. She is mature and wise beyond her years and has a thirst for knowledge that most women at her age would not have."

Rodmilla didn’t say anything. She was taking this all in. How many ghosts were there? How many more would show up? And how many more would come to visit before this night was over?

She looked at Nicole and smiled. "You are dead, Nicole. Who will see you besides me? No one knows that Danielle is alive except you and Auguste." She laughed. "How can they tell anyone else?"

She shook her head. "No one will know anything, Nicole, and Marguerite will still marry the Prince, in fact.."

"In fact what, Stepmother?" they heard a voice call out.

Chapter 37

"You have no idea, Phillippe," because there is nothing to prove." Jules laughed.

"Really?" Phillippe asked, "Well, I just happen to have with me a copy of that particular document right here," he said and pulled a piece of parchment from his breeches. He handed it to Jules who took it from Phillippe, all the while staring at him in shock.

He read the paper over and over, shaking his head. He looked up at Phillippe. "I have nothing," Jules said. "Father left everything to you."

Phillippe smiled. "Come, come, Jules, you knew that. You didn’t kill me for a ring. I know better than that. You forget, I stayed here after death. You bragged, not only to Rodmilla, but to your accomplices as well, didn’t you? You were so proud of yourself. You wanted everything you could get your hands on and the only way to do that was to kill me. Father was smarter than that, Jules, he knew that you would try this, so he put a clause in. In case of my death, the chateau was to go to any living relatives or friends. It should have gone to my best friend, Auguste, and, in case of his death, it would go to his daughter, Danielle."

Jules shook his head. "No, that’s impossible."

"Read the rest, Jules, apparently you have not read it at all."

Danielle walked out of the bushes with Marguerite and Jacqueline. Rodmilla didn’t know which way to look first.

Danielle smiled. "Surprised to see me, Stepmother?"

Rodmilla ignored her and looked at Marguerite.

"You and the Prince," Rodmilla said, looking at Marguerite a little frightened at the answer she was about to give.

Marguerite shook her head. "I’m afraid I was too late, Mother. The Prince is already married."

Chapter 38

"Married?" Rodmilla asked. She turned to look at Danielle. "What do you mean married? Impossible! Your father was nothing and as far as I am concerned you are nothing as well."

"Does that make me a nothing as well, Rodmilla? If the answer is yes, then why does a Baroness marry a poor gentleman farmer? I had a title. It was one I never wanted and never used, but it was mine, all the same." He looked around and gestured toward the manor. "As was my home. I was very proud of these acres. Yes, it was small, but that didn’t matter, not to me, anyway." He turned to Nicole. "You were always right about Rodmilla, Nicole. You could never trust her."

Rodmilla looked at Auguste, not knowing what to say. She felt like a rat caught in her own trap.

Nicole smiled as Danielle left Marguerite’s side and walked over to stand at her side. "They were married tonight, upon the King’s insistence. We were all in attendance." Nicole said, taking over for Marguerite. "They were thrilled to discover that Danielle wasn’t dead after all, as was I." Nicole put her arm around Danielle and shifted her gaze from Danielle to Rodmilla.

"And why were you not there, Rodmilla? We were all expecting you to show up."

Rodmilla looked from Nicole to Danielle, then to Marguerite to Auguste, then to Jean, then back to Nicole. She completely ignored Jacqueline. She was panicking now. How did they all know? How could they?

She couldn’t get out of it any more; she had to admit it.

Rodmilla began to cry.

Chapter 39

She fell to her knees and looked at both Auguste and Jean.

"Forgive me," Rodmilla said, shaking her head. "It was I who committed those horrible deeds. It was I who lied for you, Jean, and it was I, Auguste, who poisoned you. And" Rodmilla said, looking at Danielle, "I lied to everyone. I not only kicked you out, but I told them you were dead." Rodmilla hung her head

At that moment, four Royal Guardsman suddenly appeared as if by magic. They were headed in Rodmilla’s direction.

Two of them stood guard as the other two tied a small rope around Rodmilla’s wrist.

Rodmilla watched as they finished. That was when she fainted.

Jules looked up at Phillippe. "You shouldn’t have given this to me, dear brother," he said, looking at him. "I can rip this up, you know, and no one would know. You are dead, Auguste is dead, and so his daughter, Danielle. No one is here to claim this, Phillippe, except me."

Jules smiled. "Alright, I did it, Phillippe. I did it for the money, for the chateau and for the one love of my life." He looked over at Giselle who was talking with Francois.

Phillippe followed his gaze over to where the beautiful ghost had been sitting. It was Giselle, wasn’t it, Auguste’s love.

"It wasn’t a riding accident, Phillippe," Jules whispered. Phillippe turned to look at his brother.

Jules was waiting for a response. When he didn’t receive one, he looked down at the piece of paper in his hands. When he looked up again, there were tears in his eyes. "Yes, Phillippe, it wasn’t Isabel and it certainly wasn’t Rodmilla. I wanted her money, brother, it’s all I ever wanted and tonight was going to be the night. I was going to kill her, Phillippe, with her own poison she was planning to give me. She might have started already, Phillippe. You see, poison does not kill you the first time you drink or eat it. It has to be built up in your system. Only after a certain period of time, does it take effect. We were going to do that with King Louis. Rodmilla had started administering it to him in small doses. She could get close, her husband Jean being so close. She would put it the fruit she gave to Jean as presents for the King."

Jules smiled, remembering. He continued.

"The next night, we mixed up a big batch of it and mixed it with homemade wine. It was a whole bottle, Phillippe. Can you imagine, a whole bottle."

Phillippe looked at his older brother and shook his head. "The two of you are insane, Jules."

"And who will know, Phillippe. Everyone is dead,"

"No, Jules, you are wrong. Not everyone is dead." Henry and Laurent walked out of the shadows and grabbed Jules hands while Laurent tied his hands together with rope. "I am arresting you in the name of King Francis. He has given me the authority this night to do so."

"No," Jules said, shaking his head.

Chapter 40

"Rodmilla," Auguste bent down to whisper in her ear, "get up. Enough is enough, do not do this. Everyone will believe that you have really fainted."

The Guards were not paying too much attention as they picked Rodmilla up off the ground.

She stood up and the Guards held on to her.

"Come, Baroness."

She shook them off. "I will go with you, I will not be pushed or prodded. Let me alone."

They escorted her to the front of the manor where Jules, Henry and Laurent were standing. Next to Henry stood Phillippe and Isabel. Giselle had been talking with Francois. Jean, Auguste and Nicole followed Marguerite and Danielle out of the woods.

Rodmilla looked up at Henry. "What will happen to me, Your Highness?"

"I cannot answer that question, Baroness," Henry said. "This is for my father and mother to decide. Come."

"No," Jules said, shaking his hands up and down, trying to break lose from the ropes. Instead, he broke free from Henry’s grip and ran into the woods, all the while screaming, "No, no."

Chapter 41

The Royal Guards caught up with Jules soon enough. Each was tied to the back of one of the Guards’ lead Guards’ horse with the rest of the army riding in back. Henry, with Danielle riding in back of his horse and Laurent, with Jacqueline, were up front. Marguerite rode with Francois. Jules and Rodmilla were escorted, on foot, to the castle under heavy guard to prevent another escape.

The darkness of the early morning was beginning to fade as they rode up to the front of the castle. Laurent and Jacques held on to Jules and two more Royal Guards escorted Rodmilla up the castle stairs into the audience chamber where the King and Queen were waiting for them.

Everyone filed into the room. Rodmilla and Jules were escorted down the aisle to stand facing the Francis and Marie. Henry and Danielle took their places on the dais standing next to the King and Queen. Marguerite, Jacqueline, Laurent, Francois and the other ghosts stood in the back of the room.

Francis stared at them. "What have you to say for yourselves, especially you, Jules. You are a disgrace to the royal family. I am ashamed to call you my brother-in-law."

Jules looked up at him from the floor, then looked down again.

"And Rodmilla," the King continued, "Not only are you a liar, but a murderer as well. I am of two minds at the moment. I do not know what to do with you."

He stood up and began to pace back and forth.

"Oh," Francis continued, "and by the way, you should congratulate my son on his nuptials last evening, Rodmilla. Do they not look splendid together?" He turned to face his son and new daughter in law and smiled. Henry and Danielle smiled back.

Rodmilla was looking very ill.

"And what of me, Your Majesty? Tell me of my fate."

Chapter 42

Francis hung his head and thought on the subject long and hard. When he finally sorted it all out, he looked up.

"Rodmilla, isn’t it obvious? We cannot throw the two of you down in the dungeons, even if you have killed people, but we certainly do not want you to remain in France and I will not have family blood on my hands. In short, and as part of the agreement we made with the ghosts…"

Jules looked around. Funny, he couldn’t see them anymore.

"Agreement, what agreement?"

"The ghosts?" Rodmilla asked, "I didn’t know that everyone could see them."

"Of course, Rodmilla. Turn around, they are right in back of you. Can’t you see them? I understand they gave you a pretty rough night." Francis was trying not to laugh.

"And is this the way that they behave?" Rodmilla asked. "I have often heard that ghosts drive you crazy. I never thought they existed until tonight. And I want to tell you that if it weren’t for them, I would…."

The King cut her short. "Baroness, please, let me finish."

Rodmilla looked at the King, then at Jules. She turned toward the back and noticed Jean and Auguste looking at her. They were both smiling. Rodmilla turned back and faced the King once more, not a word out of her mouth.

"As I was saying," Francis said, turning his attention to Jules, "as part of the agreement, the ghosts were to deliver you to us, to do as we see fit. It is rarely done, Jules, in fact it is highly irregular. Ghosts are usually left to their own devices, although it is my understanding that they let the two of you off rather lightly."

"How did they know, Francis?" Jules asked his brother in law. "How did they know?"

Chapter 43

"You forget, dear brother," a voice came from the back of the room. It began to get louder as it grew closer to him. "I did not follow the others on their journey to the sky. I was down here, with no way to escape until I found out who my murderers’ were and why I was murdered. Then, and only then, was I allowed to join with everyone else into the light."

"There must some sort of closure, Jules," Auguste spoke this time as he stepped forward. "All these people that you see around you, were murdered, except for Nicole who came down to help Phillippe prove his case. She had a suspicion it was the two of you from the very beginning. She just needed to get a confession and we all got one, and on the same night as well."

"What happens after they’ve received satisfaction?" Henry asked Auguste from the dais.

Auguste smiled and looked at Henry. "Well, Your Highness, usually if the person is happy with the final result, he will follow the others into the light where he will remain for the rest of his days. He may come down to earth again whenever he deems the time is right, but permission is always given. If the person still needs closure, he will remain on earth until he gets the desired result. Then he will join with the others."

"So Phillippe knew what was going on down here all this time?" Jules asked, looking at his brother.

"Unfortunately, Jules," Phillippe smiled, "I have indeed. It took a while for me to make my presence known, I needed to wait and prove that I was right about who killed who, and I had to look at it from all angles, so I bided my time. By the time I was sure that Nicole had been right and that it was the two of you, Henry was older and it was easier to bring my case to him. After all, Rodmilla, you wronged him just as you had Auguste and Jean. I needed to make that clear. Once a connection was established between Henry and I, I was able to convince others. Things were a lot easier when Nicole came to see her daughter, which, I am told, is the real reason for her visit."

"That is it, Jules, my entire existence on earth in a nutshell. Now I will be able to be with Nicole in peace." He turned to Nicole, but she was already standing by his side, her hand in his.

"Actually," Auguste said, "there was another reason."

"And that was?" Jules asked.

Nicole turned to Rodmilla. "To let Henry and Danielle know the truth about one another and to prevent you from taking something that wasn’t yours to begin with."

"What are you saying, Nicole? That Henry and Danielle were made for each other? Or that Marguerite will never be Princess?"

Chapter 44

"I am not interested in Prince Henry, Mother," Marguerite called from the farthest point in the room, "that was your dream. This is mine." She looked at Francois who had taken her hand. They walked towards Rodmilla together. "He is the Marquis Francois du Bois, son of, well…"

"He is my son," Jules snapped, trying to loosen the ropes that bound his wrists.

"Yes, Father, and if the King and Queen hadn’t known I was your eldest, I would be ashamed to even admit that I was ever your son, or even looked up to you." He let go of Marguerite’s hand and walked over to his father. He spat on the ground, not wanting to spit in his father’s face.

"I have resigned from the Royal Guards just tonight. I do not know what I will do the rest of my life, but something will develop." He smiled. "The King and Queen, my aunt and uncle, thought it wise to put me up in one of the many guest apartments. In the meantime, Father, I would like to get to know this wonderful woman who stands by my side. My love for Marguerite is forever growing stronger."

"Are you asking for my blessing, Francois?"

Francois looked at him and smiled. "Your blessing, Father? Does that mean anything in the eyes of a liar, murderer, thief and coward as well."

"We will give you our blessings, Francois, your uncle and I," Nicole said, gesturing toward Phillippe. She turned once more to Rodmilla.

"Telling Henry and Danielle the truth about one another was only part of the reason that you were brought here, Rodmilla. The other was to get you and Jules’ confession, so that Phillippe may be able to rest in peace and" she looked at him, "be together for the rest of eternity, like the Prince and Princess." Nicole smiled. "You know, happily ever after?"

At first, the room was silent. Everyone’s eyes were on Nicole and Phillippe as they kissed on another. At the other end of the room, Henry and Danielle were doing exactly the same thing

Jules and Rodmilla looked at each other. Jules was still working on the ropes that bound his wrists. He had succeeded in undoing his left wrist, now he was working on his right.

"Was there a purpose in bringing us to this room, Francis?" Jules asked, "because you have not shared this information with either of us."

"Yes, I have, Jules," Francis said, turning to face him. "Your orientation into the ghosts’ world has been completed. "Now I find myself in a position that I had not wanted to be."

"Oh," Rodmilla said, "and what is that?"

"Pronouncing your sentences, Baroness, or should I say Madame de Ghent."

Chapter 45

Rodmilla stood there. "What are you talking about?"

Francis smiled. "I cannot let the two of you keep your titles, you know, although where you are going it will not be necessary."

"Going, where are we going?" Jules asked, still fumbling with the rope. For some reason, he was having trouble removing the ropes from his right hand. It felt as if the ropes were being retied instead of the other way.

"Did you really think that you were going to get it away with this?" Jean de Ghent’s voice whispered in his ear. "We are not finished yet, Jules, not until we see the two of you safely aboard that boat to the Americas." Jean started to laugh.

So did the rest of the group in the back of the room.

Jules was more frightened than ever. Now he couldn’t move his hands at all. Jean was holding them down now, refusing to move.

"Jules," Rodmilla said, looking at him, "everything alright?"

"Did you hear anything?"

"Hear what?" Rodmilla said, as the laughter grew louder.

"Silence," Francis commanded and addressed Rodmilla and Jules.

"There is a boat leaving for the Americas in one hour. I will be there to personally escort you to the boat and make sure that you have safely boarded. As of this minute, you both are stripped of any title that you have had previously. You will arrive in the Americas as anyone else, no one need know that you were once nobles." Francis cleared his throat, looked at Marie, who bade him to continue.

"I will not take the blame for your deaths. Whatever transpires in that far-off country will be your fate. Good luck to you both."

The King and Queen stood up and left the dais, followed by Henry and Danielle. The Guards led Rodmilla and Jules away to await the arrival of the boat. The crowd of the living and the dead dispersed. All was peaceful and quiet again.

Chapter 46

The King did as he promised. He made sure that Rodmilla and Jules were safely aboard the boat to the Americas. The living and dead mingled once again to make sure that the two of them were indeed out of their lives once and for all. As the boat began to pull away, a cheer rose from the dock.

"They will never harm anyone again," Nicole said, "not in France, anyway."

At this point, everyone scattered, their task and purpose complete.

Isabel du Bois, Jules’ murdered wife and Jean de Ghent made their farewells. Isabel had a lot in common with Phillippe, although he didn’t know it. She had also been stranded on earth. Jean had taken her hand and both were preparing their journey to the sky.

"It was an education," Jean de Ghent said, smiling, "I hope we never have to do this again."

"And I quite agree," Auguste said. "We have three to bring up. Phillippe, I believe is ready." He looked at Giselle, who nodded her head. Isabel had already left with Jean.

"As soon as I say my good-byes to everyone, I shall follow with Nicole,"

Phillippe said.

"We can all go together, Phillippe," Auguste said, taking Giselle’s hand in his own.

Auguste, Giselle, Nicole and Phillippe were huddled in a small circle when they were joined by the King, the Queen, the Prince and new Princess.

"Well," Francis laughed, "that was some adventure you took us on. I hope that you all had your fun. I certainly did. Now that that’s over, what is it you are planning to do?"

Auguste smiled. "I would like to take it easy for a while, but the ghosts call me. I am on a panel of twelve angels that listen to those who want to return to earth. I am looking forward to seeing Phillippe’s reaction to his new home." Auguste smiled. "I so love bringing new souls toward that place up in the clouds. I love watching their faces light up. Their reaction is priceless."

"Yes," Nicole said. "I remember my first time."

Chapter 47

"Does it take a little getting used to?" Phillippe asked, looking at Nicole.

She looked at him and shook her head. "I’ll show you around, Phillippe. You’d be surprised at how fast you get used to the place."

"Well," Auguste said, looking at the Francis and Marie, then at Henry and Danielle. He threw his arms around her and she hugged back, then released him. They both had tears in their eyes.

"Have a safe journey, Papa, and, Giselle, it was wonderful to meet you. Do not be a stranger, Papa. We are so looking forward to another visit."

Auguste smiled. "I will be glad to, daughter," he answered, wiping the tears from his cheeks, "this time under happier circumstances." He turned to Henry and shook his hand, then hugged him.

"Take care of my daughter," he whispered, before he released him, "and keep her safe."

"I will, Papa," Henry whispered back, "you can count on me." They released each other.

It was Nicole’s turn next. She hugged Danielle and then Henry. Phillippe did the same.

"Sorry for scaring you like that, Henry," Phillippe apologized, "but I knew of no other way."

Henry smiled warmly at his uncle and embraced. When Phillippe pulled away, he could see tears in Henry’s eyes. "It was an wonderful experience meeting you, after everything I had heard about you. I hope we will see you and Nicole again."

Auguste turned to the King and Queen "Farewell, Francis, Marie, thank you for letting us complete this task and thank you for your cooperation. It was truly a joint effort."

"It has been my pleasure, Auguste, " Francis said, "but tell me, is this the first time the dead and the living cooperated in something of this nature?"

Auguste smiled. "First time to my knowledge, but I have a feeling it may not be the last."

Epilogue

Rodmilla de Ghent and Jules du Bois journey to the Americas had not been an easy one. Storms played havoc with them the entire time and Rodmilla did not react well.

Once off the boat, they were placed in the care of the frontiersman, Jacques Cartier. Every able bodied man that was sent over from France, criminal or otherwise, was used for his frequent explorations all over Canada, searching for the Northwest Passage.

Jules was assigned to one of these, but because of his age and status as an aristocrat, he was not used to hard work. Because of his aristocratic nature, he asked for more privileges than anyone else and was not well liked by the others.

Two months later, he was murdered in his own bed by several of his roommates.

Rodmilla was used as a cook and cleaning woman, and was often taken advantage of. Night after night, she slept alone in her bed and cried herself to sleep. Not used to the climate and hard work, Rodmilla eventually succumbed to pneumonia and died the first harsh winter she was there.

Phillippe and Giselle followed Nicole and Auguste up into the light. Their reaction was everything that Nicole and Auguste said it would be. Phillippe couldn’t get over the difference. He had spent so much time on earth that this was a wonderful change. He soon adapted and was accepted into society. Auguste had asked Phillippe help him with his work on the panel. He listened and discussed with everyone their desires to visit earth. He gave Auguste their names in order of importance, desire and need. This greatly improved the efficiency and flow of each person involved. Eventually, he became Auguste’s right hand man in all business matters and decisions.

His relationship with Nicole picked up right where they had left it before he had been murdered.

Auguste was finally united with the love of his life, Giselle.

Jean and Isabel had found themselves in love as well. They too, stayed together for eternity.

The couples remained friends forever. Each couple would share separate quarters, but would never be far apart.

The rules of marriage were quite different than on earth. If each couple desired to be with one other, then they were considered married, with all the rights and privileges that are part of that union. Infidelity was frowned upon, so very rarely would a marriage be dissolved unless permission was granted and that was not always the case.

As death did not exist in this world, each couple would remain together for all eternity, unless an objection arose, and there was a request for a partner change. As with everything else, each individual would have to prove his case to the same twelve-angel judgment panel. It would be judged the same as request to return to earth.

Back on earth, things were beginning to look up. The manor, now empty, was taken over by the royal family with Danielle’s permission. Paulette, Maurice and Louise had moved back in, not as servants this time, but as owners. Gustave, however, stayed on at the castle as Marie’s private painter. News of his wonderful paintings of the Queen and the Royal family spread far and wide and soon everyone wanted to meet this wonderful painter they had heard so much about. Eventually, he was appointed the official painter of the court. He married one of his beautiful models Lady Eva Le Bon and had two children.

Francois and Marguerite eventually got married and moved into the family chateau that Rodmilla, at one time, thought was hers. They raised two boys.

Jacqueline and Laurent were married a week after Marguerite and Francois. At first they lived in the soldier’s quarters, but it was cramped. When Phillippe overheard a conversation between the two, he mentioned it to Henry who eventually spoke to his father. Marie spoke to Jacqueline and the newlyweds were invited to move into the guest apartments where they remained. Jacqueline became Danielle’s Lady in Waiting.

Marie never did get over the death of her youngest brother and never forgave herself for not noticing that he was lurking inside the castle walls. But Marie’s wish to make it up to him came true. Phillippe and Nicole, along with Auguste and Giselle, were making regular visits to and from earth.

Everyone, living or dead, was pleased with the arrangements and everything remained as it was; the visits continued uninterrupted.

No one was happier than Prince Henry and Princess Danielle. They moved into the brand new royal apartments, ones that Francis and Marie had been keeping empty until Henry was ready to marry. Over the next several years, Henry and Danielle would have five children, their first a set of twins, one boy, one girl, not to mention the other three: one boy, two girls.

And, as you might have guessed, all remained together and lived happily after ever after.

Author’s note: One thing I found in my research on "poisonous drinks" was that it was very popular during the 16th and 17th centuries. A woman named Toffana, who lived in 17th century Italy, actually came up with her own mixture in 1690 and used it to murder 600 people. Catherine de Medici, wife of Henry II, used poison as well, although she tested her concoctions on the poor and the sick of France. Another woman known as La Voisin, sold poisons to wives who wanted to get rid of their husbands. Of course, the most notorious of these were Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia. They came up with a secret poison and the composition is still unknown today. Even Leonardo de Vinci experimented with the stuff.

Brothers always killed brothers, especially among royalty and it was more for power than money.

Jacques Cartier was an explorer sent by France to look for the Northwest Passage. Indians fascinated the French with stories of gold and riches and Cartier set out to look for it. He eventually went back to France and settled on his estate. He died there in 1557.

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