Chapter 3: Another Broken Engagement

It was after two o’clock in the morning when Comte de Bayard decided to close his investigation of Danielle and called a meeting to go over the facts. Jacques had found old guest lists showing that Auguste de Barbarac and his wife Nicole had been invited to royal functions. Furthermore, Jacques had found that the Manoir de Barbarac was titled to Auguste de Barbarac. Nicolas had already told Comte de Bayard about meeting some gypsies and their interesting story of how Danielle had rescued Henry.

Several courtiers remembered meeting Auguste’s first wife, Nicole. Words used to describe her included strikingly beautiful, charming, and graceful. Nicole was from another Province and had never revealed much about her family.

Comte de Bayard himself had talked to a widowed courtier who remembered asking Nicole about her family. “What did she tell you?” he asked.

“It must have been twenty years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. She was not someone you would forget. She was more than beautiful; she was so passionate and full of life. There was something about her--she would stand out in any crowd. She told me she was from another province, that her father was interested in horses, and that her mother had a flower garden that she had loved to tend. The next thing I knew I was telling her about my family. She was so interested in what I was telling her that I did not realize until later that I never found out much about her family. Sometime later, during one of my trips, I met someone who heard she was the daughter of high-ranking Nobles and that her parents were upset because Nicole married Auguste instead of some duc.”

After giving each person an opportunity to tell what he or she had learned, Comte de Bayard expressed his appreciation for their help and then, after dismissing everyone else, asked Barron du Bellay to assist in writing the report. Two hours later, Comte de Bayard was satisfied with the final writing of the report. Walking up to the guard stationed outside the King’s quarters, the Comte handed the report to the guard and said, “Please see to it that the King gets this after he wakes up.”

The next morning, one of the King’s attendants handed him the report and said, “Your Majesty, Comte de Bayard left this for you.”

King Francis read it over and then handed Marie the report on Danielle, which read:

The girl’s name is Danielle de Barbarac. She is about eighteen years of age. Her father, Auguste de Barbarac, was a prosperous businessman and owner of the Manoir de Barbarac. He died ten years ago, a few days after marrying Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent. Nicole de Lancret, the girl’s mother, died soon after giving birth to Danielle. Nicole was described as a lady of exceptional beauty, grace and charm. According to one unconfirmed account, Nicole was the daughter of high-ranking nobles. We have been unable to confirm if either of Danielle’s parents had any titles, but they did have court privileges.

After the death of her father, Danielle de Barbarac was relocated to the servants’ quarters and was raised by servants. At first, Baroness de Ghent mostly ignored Danielle. However, the Manoir de Barbarac suffered a serious decline under the stewardship of Baroness de Ghent, and within a few years, after the loss of most of the other servants, Danielle became an unpaid servant to Baroness de Ghent. Danielle had taken on the role without complaint. However, two days ago, in a dispute about a dress that belonged to Danielle’s mother, Danielle struck Marguerite, causing bruising around her eye. For this, Danielle was severely beaten.

Later that day, in another dispute over the same dress, the baroness locked Danielle in a cellar. She remained locked in the cellar, without food or water, for over a day until last night Gustave, a local artist and friend to Danielle, contacted Signore da Vinci. It was Signore da Vinci who opened the door to the cellar and encouraged Danielle to come to the Masque. Signore da Vinci also made the wings that she was wearing.

According to Baroness de Ghent, Danielle is very common and not fit for any position other than a servant. In contrast, Signore da Vinci says Danielle is an exceptionally intelligent and resourceful girl and believes her to be Henry’s match.

Without disputing the opinion of Baroness de Ghent, two events within the last week indicate that Danielle is certainly resourceful.

First, the Baroness had sold one of her servants to pay her taxes. This servant, an old man named Maurice, had then been sold to Cartier and was bound for the Americas. Maurice had been a servant at Danielle’s home since before she was born. He is like family to her. After Prince Henry gave her 20 gold francs, Danielle dressed as a courtier to purchase the freedom of the servant. She knew the penalty for dressing above her station; however, she was willing to take that risk to obtain freedom for the servant. Prince Henry arrived during a dispute she was having with the wagon master over the servant. Danielle convinced Prince Henry to order the release of the servant. Prince Henry was quite taken with the girl and asked her for her name. Rather than giving her true identity and risking being thrown in the stocks, she gave Prince Henry the name of her mother and led him to believe she was a Comtesse.

Second, as a result of that first meeting, Prince Henry, while still believing Danielle to be Comtesse Nicole de Lancret, met her again a couple of days ago and invited her to the Franciscan library. After leaving the library, Prince Henry may have been in some danger when, after getting lost, he fought with one gypsy and was surrounded by other gypsies. However, the gypsy leader agreed to let Danielle go. She then got the gypsy leader to swear that she could take with her anything she could carry. The gypsies had her gown and believed she would choose to take her gown. Instead, she lifted Prince Henry on her back and started carrying him off. Her quick thinking defused the situation and resulted in Prince Henry and Danielle making friends with the gypsies.

After reading the report, Queen Maria was almost certain that Rodmilla and Marguerite deliberately lied to her regarding an engagement to a Belgian and the cause of Marguerite’s bruised eye.

Henry arrived a little late for breakfast, but the King was in such a good mood over the upcoming marriage between Henry and Princess Gabriella that he said nothing.

Queen Marie noticed that Henry was not his usual cheerful self and said, “Henry, how are you feeling? I trust you slept well.”

Henry had tossed and turned most of the night thinking about Danielle and replied, “Well, I have had nights when I’ve slept better, but I’m fine.”

“I believe you might be interested in reading this report about Danielle de Barbarac.” Queen Marie says as she hands Henry the report.

Queen Marie observes Henry while he reads the report and concludes correctly that he still has strong feelings for Danielle. Henry was angry with Danielle when he agreed to marry Princess Gabriella. Henry, like most young men, was impulsive and prone to make rash decisions. However, this time, before the Queen had time to suggest to him that he consider his decision to marry the Princess, King Francis quickly accepted it. The King had for months been negotiating a treaty that included a contract for marriage between Prince Henry and Princess Gabriella; therefore, with the investment of so much time and effort, Henry’s decision to marry the Princess was one the King also wanted.

A few minutes later a page enters and says, “Sire, a letter from the Ambassador of Spain.

King Francis reads the letter, which read in part:

“ ... We feel you have not been forthcoming in the type of girl best suited for your son as indicated by his interest in Danielle de Barbarac. Danielle is a very spirited girl of exceptional beauty. Princess Gabriella on the other hand is demure and is not a flashy girl, having more of an inner beauty.