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In the hubbub of all the furniture and household goods being returned from Pierre Le Pieu, no one was paying attention to Jacqueline. But then, people rarely seemed to be paying attention to Jacqueline.
When she was younger, she hated it. Always playing second fiddle to Marguerite. Her mother only noticed when she did something wrong. Or when there was no one else she could pick on. Marguerite only seemed to care that she was there to make herself look and feel better.
So neither of them noticed at all when a messenger came and handed her a note. The man wasn’t wearing the prince’s heraldry, but the note was on the finest paper Jacqueline had ever seen. It clearly came from the palace. And it told her to be ready in the field at midday.
“I think I’ll step out for a bit of a stroll,” Jacqueline said loudly, as she grabbed a basket and walked to the door into the garden.
Her mother didn’t even look up from where she was counting the silver forks that had just been returned. The Baroness just waved a hand in the air. “Fine, fine,” she said.
Jacqueline walked with purpose out past the house and was pleased to see a familiar face already waiting for her by the leeks at the edge of the rows.
“Captain Laurent,” she said, looking down and giving a small curtsy.
He wasn’t royal, but she still felt a bit awed by him. A blush crept into her cheeks and she could not keep the smile from her face. They had spoken three times already, and each time she was more and more impressed.
“Mademoiselle,” He said, giving her a brief bow. “I have been sent to collect you.”
“To collect me?” she echoed, confused. There was no one who would send for her. Certainly no one in the palace, where he worked.
“Yes, by the palace,” he said, giving words to what she was thinking. Perhaps someone wanted to know more about her mother and the revelation at the ball. Or the prince had another question, after she had told him where Danielle was now.
She nodded. “Of course, I will come.” As if there was another response to hearing that you were requested at the palace.
Captain Laurent cleared his throat and looked down. “I am sorry to ask this of you, but my orders were to bring you and you alone. Without your mother or sister learning of it. Will that be a problem?”
Alone with the captain of the prince’s guard? No chaperone? No one told where she was going and who she was going with? Smaller mistakes had ruined much more impressive women. But Jacqueline knew her mother and sister would not look for her, would not ask where she had been. They were too consumed with thoughts of the prince and Marguerite.
Besides she trusted Captain Laurent. He had been kind to her, kinder then anyone else recently. Kinder then she had been herself to Danielle. Jacqueline wanted to trust him. She did trust him.
“Not at all, I doubt anyone will notice I am gone,” she said, giving him a small smile. “Please let us go now. They are more likely to pay attention if they know someone is here from the palace.”
He nodded once, “Very well, this way.”
Their eyes met and Jacqueline felt a spark of heat, felt her face turn red. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, let alone spoken to. And she could see, in his face, that he felt something too. She hoped, anyway.
He turned and lead her to the path that lead to the road behind the house. Clearly he had thought about how they might leave without being within full view of her family. It occurred to her that this might be a bigger deal then she had realized.
“Captain-” she started, hesitating. “I should have asked-” she wasn’t sure how to phrase it. “What I mean to say is…”
He gave her a hesitant smile. “All is well, you need not fear why I have been sent.”
All was well, he said. She thought about the last time she had seen him. Riding off with the prince in search of Danielle.
And she hoped.
+++
The room was fine, with plush rugs and vibrant curtains. Jacqueline had only ever been in the receiving room of the palace before. So she had not been sure what to expect. This seemed like a lovely room in any well kept manor. Perhaps just a step above.
She was too nervous to look around much. Once Laurent showed her in, he excused himself to tend to another matter and she found herself alone. She found herself a seat by the window and looked out, trying to keep her mind from wandering.
Thankfully, she did not have to wait long. A few minutes after she sat, the door to the room opened. Jacqueline jumped to her feet, just in case it was a royal, her eyes flying to the door.
It was the familiar face she noticed first. “Danielle,” she breathed out, feeling relief that her step sister was safe and away from Monsieur Le Pieu.
The next thing she noticed was how well Danielle looked. Her face was clean, her dress new and fine. And on her face was a huge smile, the likes of which Jacqueline had never seen before.
“Hello Jacqueline,” Danielle said.
Jacqueline could feel herself grinning back at her step sister. “I am so very pleased to see you are here. You look- well you look like a whole different person.”
“I feel like one as well,” Danielle said. “I feel like the world I live in now is a completely different one from where I woke up. Or even where we grew up.”
“I’m glad of it,” Jacqueline said. “As you say, the world where we grew up, it wasn’t a good one. Especially for you. I never could do anything, but-”
“But you have done something,” Danielle said. “You have shown me kindness when you could, even in little ways. And Henry says you helped him find me.”
Jacqueline was eager to talk of something other then their shared childhood. That she could not have done more to help her stepsister had been weighing on her for years. Instead she latched onto the last thing Danielle had said. “He came for you, then? The prince? You were rescued?”
“He did come,” Danielle said with a nod. “Though I rather think I had first rescued myself.”
“And now you are here,” Jacqueline said. “What will you do next? Where will you go?”
It was Danielle’s turn to blush, there was rather a lot of it going around that day. “Henry has asked me to marry him.”
Though they had never been very physical, Jacqueline could not suppress her urge to lean forward and embrace Danielle. “Oh, I am so happy for you.”
Jacqueline was not sure that she had ever hugged Danielle before. In fact, she was not sure the last time she had hugged anyone. But she was so overcome with gladness, with happiness for Danielle. So much had gone wrong for both of them, and yet here Danielle was, happy. Jacqueline could hardly contain herself.
Danielle hesitated only a moment before returning the embrace. She let out a low chuckle before pulling back. But she traced her hands over Jacqueline’s arms so that they were still holding hands, still connected.
“I was hoping you would be there for me, as one of my ladies,” Danielle said. “I haven’t had many friends in my life. But you, you are the closest I have to family.”
“Yes, of course,” Jacqueline could not agree fast enough.
There was another knock at the door, and Danielle glance at it for just a moment, her smile growing even larger, which Jacqueline hadn’t thought possible.
“Henry wishes to come in while you were here,” Danielle said, as the door opened.
In walked the Prince of France.
Jacqueline had spoken to him on a few occasions now. But this, being in his home, holding the hands of his intended. He suddenly seemed much larger then in her memory.
He came to stand next to Danielle. So close they were practically leaning against each other. She could see how much they both seemed to care, how happy they both were to be together. It was what Danielle had always deserved, someone to love her like that.
“Mademoiselle,” he said, giving her a small nod. “I wish to thank you for all you have done for my bride to be. And for me. WIthout your help I never would have found her again.”
“I am glad if I was able to help at all,” Jacqueline said, meaning it.
He nodded. “Danielle and I are still discussing what should happen to your mother and sister, but we both agreed that you should be spared, should be cared for.”
“I-” she wasn’t sure what to say. “Thank you. I have always regretted how Danielle was treated, and I am sorry I could not have done more. Truly I am not sure what I deserve.”
“We will make sure you are taken care of,” Danielle said. “I would like to, if it is okay with you.”
“Yes, yes of course,” Jacqueline said. “I trust you.” And for the first time in many many years, she truly felt seen.