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Part 5

And A Chicken Please?

Reaching the manor in record time Danielle threw open the door and quietly eased inside, shutting it behind her. She did not need her step-mothers grief on top of everything else.

"Danielle, you are back. I was beginning to despair." Jacqueline smiled at her. "I went looking for you, but you were nowhere to be found. I did, however find your pig, and brought it home." Noticing the purple velvet cape that adorned her shoulders Jacqueline frowned. "Danielle, where did you get that? Never mind, take it off before mother sees."

Wondering what her step-sister was talking about, she raised her hand to trace her shoulders, gasping as she felt the material. Pulling it from about her, she began to cry again as she remembered how it got there.

"Dear sister, what ails you so? Shall I call a doctor?" Her voice raised an octave in worry, before Danielle hushed her.

"I'm fine, bad memories, nothing more."

"Where did you get that cape?" Reaching out to touch it, but then thinking better of it pulled her hand back quickly.

"Hen- Prince Henry, Jacqueline. I went swimming in the lake and a guest of his tripped over me." At the brunettes gasp Danielle frowned. "He was being a gentleman, not a good one at that, Marguerite is welcome to him."

"You must tell me everything." Danielle opened her mouth, only to be interrupted by Rodmilla calling for supper. "After dinner. Come, don't be late."

XXX

The three women, Rodmilla, Marguerite and Jacqueline, sat around the dinner table while Danielle and Paulette stood to one side, awaiting orders.

"Perhaps I shall ship you off to the Americas with all the rest of the thieves."

Looking up Jacqueline smiled, finally able to contribute something important to the conversation. "Oh didn't you hear? The prince went to the king and asked him to release all those men."

"He didn't?" Danielle was stunned; she practically jumped off the back wall to find out more. He was so arrogant though, maybe something she said reached him somehow.

"Mm now by-by loyal decree," She began, smiling at Danielle. "Any man who sails must be compensated."

Laughing at the absurdity of it all, Rodmilla waved her fork in the air dismissively. "Compensated? Oh, honestly. What is the world coming to?"

Marguerite growing bored of the conversation, changed it to something more relevant to her, the chase of the crown. "Well, I want to know is, who this Comtesse everyone keeps talking about. There must have been 10 courtiers speaking of her today and how the prince fell all over himself."

Rodmilla, not one for competition, sneered at the mention of this other woman. "Well, we should find out who she is and bury her." Raising her glass, Danielle walked over and nervously tried to re-fill it, resulting in knocking it over. Righting the glass, she poured some into it and excused herself, sappy smile plastered over her face.

'Maybe he really did like me.'

XXX

Later that evening, the three women of the manor left in the carriage for the Prince vs. the Marquis tennis match. Jacqueline having been hounded into helping Marguerite find an appropriate outfit, did consequently not have enough time to find out the details from Danielle. After Prince Henry fell over the edge of one of the sidelines into a group of young woman, and having no ball, Marguerite held up one she brought along with her. Thanking her mother's evil cunningness silently she waved it over in his direction till he approached her.

"You're looking well Marguerite."

"You're welcome to look, your highness." She leaned forward slightly, the indecently low cut dress showing her assets quite well. Looking away with a frown Henry immersed himself in his game again.

XXX

Having invited the three of them on a walk through the market place after the game, Henry was listening to Marguerite ramble. He and Marguerite taking the lead, while Rodmilla practically held Jacqueline back from them. Hand feeding the blond chocolate Henry glance distastefully at them young woman's open mouth.

On the other side of the market, actually only a few stalls down Danielle was being harassed, not physically, by Monsieur Pierre le Pieu.

"Danielle de Barbarac...you get prettier every week." He leered at her, not attempting to hide any interest he had for the young woman.

"And you Monsieur Le Pieu are wasting your flattery." Turning away from him she continued to run her stall. Paying her no attention le Pieu walked closer to her, and grabbed her arm.

"I may be twice your age child, but I'm well endowed." And that was as far as he got when Henry came running over from his place beside Marguerite.

"Danielle!" He smiled at her, then noting le Pieu's hand on her arm, calm but firmly told him to remove it. Glaring at the other man until he turned and left, Henry resisted the urge to stick his tongue out when he left. "I, well Signore de Vinci and I, we were going to call on you later. The Barbarac manor I presume?" She just nodded at him. "That man, he wasn't causing any trouble, was he?" He asked concerned. Looking to the left and right of him, he noticed two terrified, shocked servants staring at him. When they saw him looking at them, they immediately lowered their eyes to the ground and bowed low.

"Hen-Prince Henry, these are my friends Louise and Paulette." Henry smiled at both ladies and greeted them. "Paulette is married to Maurice." At Henry's blank look she grinned slyly. "You remember our meeting at court, don't you highness? Maurice is the man I bought back from Cartier."

Looking down at the floor ashamed, Henry nodded. "Um, yes I remember."

Paulette looked over at Danielle confused. "Mistress?"

"Not to worry, the prince and I had a disagreement over the crowns treatment of servants. He seems to have made amends now." Henry lifted his head hesitantly to meet her eyes, and at her amused smile, smiled at her in return.

Laughing heartily Henry began to bait her once more. "Now, now, I couldn't be seen talked down to by a woman in my own court could I?"

"No I suppose not, only serves to make you seem more arrogant, Sire." Henrys mouth opened and closed as he struggles to find someway to save his fall from grace.

"Um, well, anyway, yes, so… um?" The two servants shared a look and smiled over at Danielle.

"Don't cause yourself distress, M'Lord, Danielle's mouth runs away with her at times."

"But it's her mouth that has me hypnotized, my good ladies." Danielle blushed furiously and ducked her head. Laughing loudly as she hid from his gaze. The two women laughed amongst themselves at the compliment of their favorite person. Snapping himself out of his daze he pulled his eyes away from Danielle and addressed the servants "You will excuse her for a moment?"

Not waiting for an answer he grabbed her arms he pulled her away from the stall, and the ears of the surrounding people. "Highness, what is it?"

"Henry!" She looked over him in confusion, and nodded hesitantly. "I was going to call on you to apologize."

"It does not matter, Henry."

"Yes it does. I was rude, and arrogant and a fool. You are right! I'm so sorry, I should have listened when you tried to explain, I should never have accused…"

"Henry… don't talk to me."

XXX

Watching furiously as the prince left her daughters side for that servant, Rodmilla passed out her hand to stop Marguerite from having the temper tantrum she knew she so wanted to have. She wondered what on earth the Prince would want to talk about with Cinder soot, then seeing him shoo away le Pieu only to begin talking to the other servants astounded her so.

"Marguerite dearest, patience…"

Casting her mother a look of exasperation, then a glare in Danielle's direction, their watched anger brimming below the surface of their skin as Henry dragged Danielle into a corner out of site. Having had enough of being on the side lines, Rodmilla took her daughters hand, ignoring Jacqueline and dragged her over to the stall.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I'm sorry, madam?" Louise asked, frightened.

Suspicious now and wondering if they even knew what the Prince planned she tried to get Danielle in trouble instead. "Was there just the two of you?"

"And the chicken." Paulette answered.

"I… see. " Glaring at the two servants Rodmilla grabbed Marguerites hand once more and dragged her over to the corner after Henry and Danielle. "Come along, dearest."

Raising her head in time to see the oncoming step-mother and sister Danielle prayed that what she was about to say would not hurt Henrys feelings.

"Henry… don't talk to me."

"Excuse me Dan- M'mselle?" He caught himself as he saw the other two approaching. "What's this about chickens?" She raised an eyebrow at him and he subtly shrugged his shoulders, not being able to think of a better excuse.

"Danielle? What about chickens?" Rodmilla asked her tone steely. "Highness, did we do something to displease you? For you quite hurt poor Marguerites feelings when you ran from us so."

"Oh, forgive me, I meant no disrespect, I remembered... I, uh, had to buy a chicken."

"You had to buy one? Yourself? What is wrong with your servants?"

"Um, well, my father doesn't think I deal well with commoners. I have to integrate myself." Looking at Danielle, he smiled in apology for his way of speaking about her precious commoners. "I was putting it off till tomorrow but I figured, there's a chicken, I should buy it today and free up my time."

"You wish to buy a chicken from my servants? Why would you need a secluded…" She looked around herself; Henry suddenly seemed to notice where he brought the young woman unaccompanied. "…Corner?"

"Well you see, I insisted on buying the animal and M'mselle…"

"De Barbarac."

"M'mselle de Barbarac here, seems to want me to take it free of charge. I did not want to cause a scene, you see."

"Nonsense, highness. Come I shall give you the chicken, then you shall have no more thoughts what so ever about paying."

"Um, how very kind of you Baroness." He shoot Danielle a pleading look, she only smiled in return. "Forgive me Marguerite." Taking her arm in his the three of them walked back to the stall. Henry took the chicken and left them.

Danielle only left the corner once the Prince and his entourage, as well as her step-family had left the market place.

XXX

Captain Laurent nodded to Henry as he walked back over, pointing at the chicken Henry seemed to have acquired from nowhere, Henry frowned sordidly. Holding it as far from him as possible, he practically glared holes in the animal.

"Where did that come from?"

"You don't want to know." Handing the animal to his friend they all turned and left. Heading back to the castle as Laurent struggled to keep the foul away from him this time.

XXX

"Come girls, let us leave." The baroness turned on her heels and left the market, two daughters following like chicks on water.

Once they had left, Danielle emerged from the corner to be pounced upon by curious servants.

"Dear what happened?"

"He did not harm you did he?"

"Why did the Baroness give the Prince our chicken?"

"Why did he not pay?"

"One at a time, please!" And as one all three began to giggle. Danielle eventually calmed enough to tell them everything that had transpired away from watchful eyes and prying ears.

XXX

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