A very French Christmas

She could feel the weight of his body on hers as she woke. They had melted together as so often with her head nuzzled against his chest and his arm around her middle. She kept her eyes closed and took in a deep breath of the relatively cool air. The fire must have died down by now. Only now did she rememberer that today was Christmas, the one evening she had been anticipating for weeks. She could see it before her closed eyes, the decorated tree and all the people she held dear in life gathered around it. It would be perfect, she smiled to herself.

It was only when she felt him move against her, that she realized what had woken her. His hand was rubbing against her back, drawing small circles against the thin fabric of her night shift. She sighed, finally opening her eyes, only to find his looking straight at her.

„Morning" he mumbled, tugging a loose strand of her hair, which had fallen into her face, behind her ear. „I though you would never wake."

„How late is it?" she groaned, stretching out her arms and legs as best as she could, still pressed against him.

„Late enough." he gave her one of his cheeky smiles. „Your ladies are eagerly awaiting your assistance with that horrid tree."

„Oh stop it, the tree will look absolutely wonderful." she protested and reached for a pillow to lightly smother him with.

He let go of her and ducked, narrowly escaping the approaching cushion she had hurled his way. Laughing he ran his hands through his hair in an effort to calm his messy head of curls.

She bit her lip, marveling at the sight of her husband. They had been married for years now and still it felt like yesterday. He was as handsome as ever and his ever uncombed hair simply made him even more endearing.

Before she could lose herself even deeper in her memories, he scrambles out of bed with a determined speed. Now that she could see his whole body, she noticed that he was fully clothed. His doublet for the day was already in place. He had already been up for what must have been hours, she deduced.

„Where are you going?" she quickly scrambled out of bed trying to catch him before he reached the door. „I thought we would decorate the tree together?"

He stopped in his tracks and shot her a half apologetic look, his hand already on the handle.

„I am sorry dear. The council is already waiting and we have some urgent matters to discuss."

„On Christmas?" she looked at him, the disappointment blatant in her slightly furrowed brows.

„I am sorry, I will see you later." he quickly pressed a kiss to her forehead and hurried out the door.

She was left there standing utterly confused. What in god's name would be important enough to take him away from here, today of all days. She sank back against the bed, huffing with disappointment. Somehow her whole body suddenly felt very tense. She could feel the tightness deep down in her stomach and clenched her fists ins response. They had been looking forward to this day for weeks and for him to drop her like that, was more than unusual.

She bit her inner lip and decided to drop by the privy chamber later today to inquire to just what had been this urgent. When the maids helped her pick out and put on her dress for the day, a dark red gown that complimented her pale complexion, she did her best to push her worries far away. After all, there was still the decorating of the tree with her ladies to look forward to.

-

„Leith" Greer squeaked when his blond head suddenly appeared around the corner.

„Now, don't act so surprised." he smirked at her.

She was pressed against the corridor's wall and his hands trapped her at either side. Her eyes searched for an exit route, finding none. She was already late for Mary's annual tree decoration and whatever Leith had in mind, surely wouldn't make her more punctual. Her eye narrowed at him in warning but he just grinned like a little naughty boy, caught with his hand in the cookie jar.