Chapter 2: Who is that Girl?

“Marie, Henry, please sit down.” King Francis said when they reached his chambers. The King had several questions he wanted answered. He wanted to know who the girl was. He wanted to know what could possess Henry to consider marriage to a girl when he did not even seem to know her name. In addition, of course, he wanted to know if and how that girl could have saved Henry’s life. King Francis could tell that Henry was upset, so he decided the best way to get all the facts was to remain calm and add a touch of humor.

“I wonder who that girl was. Marie, I believe you said her name is Nicole and that she is a Comtesse. Henry, you also called her Nicole and said she was an apple. Baroness de Ghent said her name was Danielle and that she was a servant. The girl herself said Nicole was her mother and that the Baroness was her stepmother.” Continuing, he said, “Are we talking about one girl or half a dozen?” This caused a smile from Marie and a chuckle from Henry despite his lingering aggravation at Danielle.

“I believe she’s one girl with many identities,” Marie replied. “Baroness de Ghent told me that she was her cousin and that she was engaged to a Belgian.”

“My goodness, that girl does get around. Did she break that engagement too?” King Francis was intrigued. He enjoyed solving mysteries and this had the makings of a good one.

“I don’t believe she was engaged to anyone. She was just after my title. That girl ridiculed me in front of everyone and should be punished.” After Danielle had left, Henry had allowed himself to get all worked up at how she had embarrassed him, and by now he was even angrier than when Danielle first left. Rejection was painful, and his pride was hurt because Danielle made him look foolish in front of the crowd.

“Henry, yesterday you indicated you were in love with the girl, and now you are saying you want her punished. I know she said some unkind things about you but they did have a ring of truth about them. From what I could tell, the girl was upset because you chose to listen to Baroness de Ghent without giving her a chance to explain. Frankly, dear, I would feel the same way, so I am a little disappointed that you believe she should be punished.” Queen Marie knew of Henry’s feelings for the girl, no matter her station, and she did not want to see him say something in anger that he would later regret. Further, she had developed an admiration for the saucy girl who had stood up to both Henry and Francis.

“Mother, I don’t believe she deserves severe punishment, but you heard what she said about me; she shouldn’t say things like that about me in front of the whole court. Also, none of this would have happened if she hadn’t deceived me into believing she was Comtesse Nicole de Lancret, just so she could win my title.”

“Henry, before I consider punishing the girl, I need to know what offenses you believe to be appropriate to charge her with. If you are suggesting that she lied to you to win your title then, of course, if proven, that could warrant severe penalties. Is that what you are asking?” the King wanted to know.

Quickly, before Henry could respond, the Queen stated, “Henry, she said she came to tell you the truth, but you wouldn’t listen. I believe this entire debacle could have been avoided if you had only listened to her. Son, you have been born of privilege and that comes with specific obligations, not the least of which is to listen and get the facts before you act. Surely, you do not believe the girl should be punished for your failure.”

“No, Mother, I guess not but it seems that she should at least apologize.” Henry was uncomfortable. He had not thought this out. He did not really want to punish Danielle. He was angry because Danielle had bested him in a verbal skirmish, and he wanted it to be the other way around.

“Well, I am glad that is settled, and I believe we can forget about any apology. Henry, I admit I was shocked to learn that any girl would think that you were not good enough for her, but I am not going to bring that girl back and force her to apologize for breaking an engagement,” the King stated forcefully.

“We weren’t engaged.” Henry was exasperated. Before he could make it clear that he was going to reject her, Danielle had turned it around and made everyone believe that she was rejecting his proposal.

“Yes, the girl did agree that you didn’t propose so I believe we can all agree that there wasn’t any engagement.” Francis was not convinced but he did not wish to argue the point. “Henry, how did you meet the girl?” King Francis was ready to move on. It was late and he still did not know who the girl was or how she could have saved Henry’s life.

“She threw apples at me. One hit me in the head and caused me to fall off my horse.”

King Francis found it hard to maintain a straight face. Somehow he found the image of this young girl throwing apples at his son amusing. He knew there was an interesting story behind this but first, he decided to have some fun.

In his most serious voice, he said, “A physical attack on the Prince is a capital offense. I am going to have her publicly flogged and shipped to the Americas.”

“Francis you can’t be serious!” Queen Marie tried to look into his eyes but the King’s expression did not change so she said, “I know there has to be some explanation.”

“Father, she doesn’t deserve that kind of punishment.”

“Well, I guess I could throw her in the dungeon with the rest of the common criminals.”

“No, that place is awful,” Henry said.

“Then what would you suggest for such a dastardly deed?” King Francis was enjoying this. He knew there was an explanation and that Henry did not really want the girl punished.

“Nothing, oh I don’t know. Stop mocking me.”

“Henry dear, whatever possessed the girl to throw apples at you?” Queen Marie asked. “Also, you said you first met her when she rescued the servant. So was it before that?”

“Well, it happened early that morning. I just did not realize until tonight that she was the same girl. My horse had thrown a shoe so I took one from the stables of Baroness de Ghent. At first, I did not think she recognized me. She called me a thief and kept throwing apples. After she recognized me she threw herself on the ground. She was dressed and acted like a servant, and I could tell she was terrified. I gave her some gold coins for her silence and left.

“This is the same devious girl that was here tonight, scheming to get you to marry her?” King Francis asked.

“Yes, and she deceived me into believing that she was Comtesse Nicole de Lancret.”

“When was that?” King Francis wanted to know.

“It was that afternoon at Hautefort. She was trying to get the wagon master to release a servant. After she quoted Thomas More, I ordered the wagon master to release the servant and asked her for her name.”

“You didn’t recognize her from earlier that morning?” the Queen asked.

“No, first she was dressed as a servant and then as a Comtesse. I may have noticed a resemblance but it never occurred to me that they could be the same person.”

“So her reason for being there dressed as a Comtesse must have been to get your attention. She must know the penalty for dressing above her station.” King Francis said.

“Francis, I am not so certain that was her reason,” Marie said. “After Henry asked about her, I made some inquiries. From what I could tell, she was only there for a short time and left as soon as the servant was released. It was Henry who pursued her across the courtyard, and I understand that she was reluctant to give him her name.

“Also, one courtier told me that even before Henry arrived she heard the girl offer the wagon master 20 gold francs for the release of the servant. It sounds like she was there for the servant. Although I do not know what was on her mind, it does seem that a servant with twenty gold francs might cause many questions. Perhaps that was the reason for dressing as a Comtesse.

“By the way Henry, you said you gave her some gold coins. Was that where she got the twenty gold francs?”

“Henry, you gave a servant twenty gold francs?” King Francis asked angrily.

“I don’t know; I might have. I was upset and in a hurry with the guard breathing down my neck. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Why am I not surprised? Henry, you seem to be making a habit of acting without thinking. Son, you do need to start using your head and act responsibly. Promise me that you will at least try.”

“Yes Father, I’ll try.”

“Francis, try not to be too hard on Henry. I have noticed some improvements these last few days. And although I cringe just thinking about that horrible scene tonight, I believe if you had stayed out of it perhaps Henry and the girl would have settled their disagreements in private.”

“What did I do?”

“First you were yelling and frightening the girl, and then you were adding to the pressure Henry must have felt. You can be very intimidating at times.”

King Francis started to say something; instead, he just rolled his eyes and said, “Henry, you must have met the girl again. Tell us about it.”

“It was the next day at the river. Signore da Vinci had made these enormous shoes so he could walk on water and he tripped over her while she was swimming.”

“Did she know that you were going to be at the river?” King Francis asked.

“She must have. She was swimming alone in her undergarments, so why else would she have been there?

“What did you talk about?” the King asked.

“There wasn’t much time. She ran off after a few minutes but I asked about her attendants and she told me she gave them the day off.”

“Did you find out where she was staying?” Marie wanted to know.

“I didn’t think to ask. I found out later, but I did invite her to the tennis match with Marquis de Limoges.”