8 - Darcy’s Ordeal - Draft

Darcy had held her mother, Henrietta as she died beside her. She laid helplessly frozen in bed as she witnessed Juanita screaming as she was being driven away, never to return. Then she was ripped from a car while guns were trained on her mother, Frannie’s head.

She had been rushed inside the palace and placed on a couch where guests were normally received. The Royal Physician, Dr. Smith rushed to her side. Police and guards tried to gently question her. Darcy wasn’t there though. Her brain and body had shut down once Henrietta died. She didn’t have a chance to recover before more tragedy befell her. She assumed that her whole family was dead. She had never felt so alone.

Dr. Smith examined her and kept a close eye on her. He ran blood tests to check for anything that couldn’t be spotted on a visual examination. Except for a few well treated cuts and bruises there was nothing wrong with her. Nothing to explain her paralytic state. He brought in psychologists to see if they could help her but there were no quick fixes or definitive solutions, especially considering they had no idea what happened to her. Nobody was talking. Dr Smith began dreading the queen’s arrival.

Queen Narcissus barged into Darcy’s bedroom, where the staff had placed her and looked after her once the original ordeal had died down. She had been informed of her daughter’s health almost two days ago yet had never asked questions or checked on her condition. She was far too consumed with an elaborate weeklong celebration at the estate of a favored Lord and Lady across town. Once she became bored with the whole affair, she decided to go to Darcy and gain the country’s sympathy.

“What has happened to my precious baby?” Narcissus cried as she entered with the press in tow. She dramatically flung herself on Darcy’s lifeless body as the photographer clicked away. She managed to bring tears to her eyes, showing just how devastated she was.

Once her act was complete, she told the reporters that she wanted time alone to be with her baby and grieve in private what had befallen her precious daughter. The photographs and articles touched the hearts of all. An outpouring of support and sympathy came from her not only staunchest allies but also her most vocal critics.

Once the doors were closed from the press, she questioned and berated Dr. Smith. She then went on to question everyone involved to find out what they knew and what they’d shared with others. Once she had all of the facts she spun an elaborate web to make herself look good.

She spoke freely in front of Darcy but never to her. She was simply a piece of furniture in her eyes. Darcy heard everything though.

Darcy listened as she told the police incredible lies about Henrietta and her family. She told various people to leak stories that destroyed Frannie’s reputation so that anything she said about Darcy wouldn’t be believed. The police were told to talk to the orphanage that held Juanita and spread lies so that her voice would be silenced as well.

During Queen Narcissus’s interview, Darcy lay in the Royal Wing of the hospital across town. She arrived in secrecy and all who attended to her were told that she was a distant royal who wasn’t important. Those who attended to her spoke freely about the events of the day and kept the news on. Darcy continued to see and hear all in silence.

It wasn’t until three years later when Darcy caught a small blip of news that spoke of Juanita being reunited with Frannie that Darcy spoke once more. Darcy knew the power that Narcissus held. She would do absolutely nothing to hurt her family or put them in harm again. She already blamed herself for Henrietta’s death and everything that happened afterwards. She couldn’t harm them again.

The Queen was informed of Darcy’s recovery. It took her several months before she decided that she could use Darcy to her advantage. Once Darcy turned sixteen, the press became more persistent in their questions about the princess, her education and possible suitors. It was time to take on the role of the doting mother to a young woman just starting her own life. There was matchmaking to be involved with, a wedding to plan and the role of grandmother. It would consume the press and endear her even more to the nation. It would be her finest hour.

Darcy was removed from the hospital in the same veil of secrecy that she had arrived. Dr. Smith had personally escorted her to her bedroom in the palace before informing the queen. Nurses, maids and ladies in waiting attended to Darcy as she settled into palace life.

The queen visited Darcy a week after she was settled in to assess her. Darcy’s ladies in waiting made her as attractive as possible for the queen’s arrival. They all commented about how beautiful she was. While it was their job to fawn over her, they genuinely believed that she was beautiful in not only appearance but heart. They enjoyed serving Her Royal Highness and felt privileged to be assigned to her.

The queen examined every inch of Darcy with displeasure on her face before saying a word. “I guess that I can work with this,” was her analysis. “We have so much work to do to undo what those people did to you.” She emphasized the word those, making them less than human and to be despised.

The queen set up trials to assess her knowledge and abilities in all things Royal. While the princess’s royal tutors in the art of being royal were impressed with her knowledge and abilities from the beginning, the queen was sure to point out every small flaw. During a test of her ability to handle a garden party, a puppy bounded into the garden and quickly knocked Darcy’s glass from her hand. Although Darcy recovered beautifully and made light of the incident, Narcissus said that she shouldn’t have allowed it to happen in the first place even though no one else had managed to catch and control the puppy either.

The tutors always kept their opinions to themselves and never questioned the queen. Darcy was forced to endure the slights and abuses from her mother while believing that the queen was right. In the beginning, Darcy wanted to fight back, to flee to the loving arms of her mother, Frannie and sister, Juanita. She dared not put their lives in further jeopardy though. She simply endured in silence.

Once Narcissus had deemed that Darcy’s graces were adequate enough for her debut into royal society, a ball was arranged in her honor. While the ball was to showcase Darcy, her opinions and desires were consistently ignored and openly mocked. Darcy was given lessons on what she liked, what she believed and what she wanted. Everything from her favorite color to her opinions on social issues was dictated to her by Narcissus.

By the time of the ball, Darcy had all but been erased. She spoke eloquently in favor of things that she despised. She fawned all over the single men in attendance, flattered the women and married men and cooed nonsense to the press. Everyone was taken with her. This did not escape the Queen.

Narcissus kept guiding Darcy away from the limelight while taking center stage herself. To explain her behavior, Narcissus commented on the shyness of the princess. Darcy obediently obeyed her every whim and never contradicted her.

After Narcissus had closed the ball while receiving a standing ovation and rounds of applause that lasted nearly a half hour, she sat down with Darcy to discuss the events of the evening.

Darcy had retired to her bedroom where her ladies in waiting helped her get ready for bed. They all commented on how lovely Darcy had been. They mentioned her many suitors of the evening and argued over who was the best catch. Darcy enjoyed the lighthearted conversation and was pleased with her performance.

Once Darcy was changed, her makeup removed and her hair was brushed out, the queen made her entrance. One brave young lady felt bold enough to speak directly to the queen about the evening, “Your Majesty, you threw the ball of all balls. It was glorious. I have never seen nor heard of a better ball than this one.” The queen showed her pleasure at the comments so the foolish young lady continued, “Her Royal Highness was spectacular in her coming out. I’m sure that you will have no trouble making her a good match. All of the young men commented about her great beauty and grace.”

“I’m glad that you believed so. You have much to learn about court life, my dear,” Narcissus began before focusing her attention on Darcy. “You did a fine job, my child. While I find you to be the most beautiful young lady, the gentlemen found you rather plain. Some men don’t mind a plain wife so don’t be discouraged. We will find you a suitable husband, my dear. Your grace and mannerisms weren’t spectacular but that’s simply due to your nanny not providing you with an adequate education. Many of the suitors commented that they were sure that with time your etiquette would improve. Thankfully it wasn’t a huge stumbling block. Well, anyways, get some rest dear. We can begin fresh again in the morning. Good night.”

Narcissus kissed her daughter’s forehead before making her exit. Her first stop was to have the despicable young lady in waiting who dared to address Her Majesty fired immediately. Darcy and her ladies in waiting had barely recovered from the queen’s words when the head matron in charge of the female personnel had come to spirit the young lady away.

It was painfully obvious to everyone that the princess was the number one enemy of the queen after that night. This left Darcy being treated like a pariah by everyone lest they too incur the wrath of Her Majesty.