Royal Love

Chapter 15

   I was still in Henry's arms when I woke in the morning. I moved my head so I could look at his face. I woke him up by giving him a kiss.

   He smiled. "You are the best thing to have ever woke me up."

   I gave him a smile in return, which then turned to a frown. "You should go before my ladies arrive."

   He kissed my forehead. "They helped me sneak in before. As long as we are dressed before they arrive they won't think anything of it."

   "Are you sure?"

   "Very."

   We stayed in my bed for a few moments longer, but that was all we dared. I found a night gown and put it on. I couldn't put the dress back on because my ladies would know I had worn it yesterday. Either way I wanted the dress burned for what Emanuel had tried to do to me.

   I sat down and brushed my hair. Henry leaned against my bed watching me. I asked him questions. "Do you have siblings?"

   "Yes. A brother who is eight and a sister who is ten."

   "How old are you exactly?" I guessed he had to be a few years older than me.

   "Eighteen."

   "What was your favorite thing that you and I did?"

   "Is that even an actual question?"

   "Yes."

   "I liked what we did last night."

   I rolled my eyes. "Besides that."

   "The park."

   I smiled. "That is my favorite too." I stayed silent for a moment. "Do you think we moved to fast?"

   He walked over to me and kissed the top of my head. "I don't, but it was your decision. It would have been hard but I would have waited."

   I looked up at him. "I don't think you would have lasted much longer."

   "You are probably right."

   "We have only known each other a few days." I had to think about it again, it had seemed like we had known each other for years.

   "I know."

   My ladies came in a few moments later. Henry had been right they hadn't found it very strange that he was there.

   "Madam. We must get you ready," Ann said.

   "Yes the seamstress needs to finish the gown," April added.

   They were standing next to what appeared to be a dress with something covering it. "What is that? Are you getting me ready for?"

   They all stared at me confused. Ann cast a glance at Henry and looked a little frightened when she told me. "Your wedding to the Duke, madam."

   I sprang up off the stool, and Henry came to stand beside me.  "What! That is wrong the wedding is Saturday, and either way it should be canceled,"I said. My father must have called it off last night after what Emanuel had done.

   Susan spoke for the first time. "No madam."

   I started to pace. "I must talk to my father." I headed toward my door then I realized I was still in my night gown. I walked over to my dresser and found a black mourning dress. I looked at my ladies expectantly, but they looked shocked and looked at Henry. I sighed. "Prince Henry can you please give us a moment."

   He looked amused as I shooed him into the hall and closed the door. My ladies helped me into the dress then I stormed out of my chambers and into the hall. There had to be a mistake. I was not getting married today and even if I was it wasn't going to be to the Duke.

   Henry grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop beside him when I walked through the door. "Hold on. We have to think this through. You can't go storming to your father."

   I started walking down the hall pulling him with me. "Yes. I can. This is a mistake. He can't really still be making me marry the Duke."

   We walked down stairs together and found my father and sisters in the dinning hall. He stood up when I entered but frowned when he saw Henry with me. "Please tell me my ladies made a mistake." I told him.

   "I don't know what you are talking about," He said but I knew he was lying.

   "I am not going to marry the Duke today!"

   "Yes you are." His voice was clam, like expected this.

   "He attacked me last night!"

   "He was drunk. He wasn't thinking clearly."

   Henry stepped up beside me and took my hand. "That is not an excuse," He told my father.

   "Plus the wedding is scheduled for Saturday," I said.

   My father looked at were our hands were joined. "It was moved up a day," he said to me then he spoke to Henry "I told you to bring her to her chambers, not to bring there to her chambers and stay there with her."

   "Father stop! I love him. I love Henry, not Emanuel."

   My father looked outraged. "You, girl. Know nothing about love."

   "Don't I? I watched you and mother. The way the two of you looked at each other. I feel the same way toward Henry. These couple days have been wonderful. "I looked up at Henry and smiled. "The ball, the time in the library, the park, and my favorite last night."

   He smiled and kissed me. I looked at my father, who did not look happy. "You have lied, and have not been chaperoned for all of those occasions, and whether you like it or not you are going to marry Emanuel. And as for you," He turned he gaze on Henry, "Get out of my castle! Get away from my daughter, and never see her again. I can and will wage war on France, if you don't leave right now."

   "You can't do that!" I screamed.

   My father's gaze snapped back to me. "I can, unless he decides to make the right choice."

   I looked at Henry, he almost appeared to be thinking. "I...I will leave," he declared.

   "No you can't! Don't let him win!" Tears sprang to my eyes.

   He looked at me, pain was all over his face. "I am sorry, Princess Sarah," He paused to let the use of my title set in. "I can't cause war for France. I would never want to, but defiantly not over a girl."

    He turned to leave but I held his hand. "You can't do this! I love you!"

   "I don't love you," he said the words over his shoulder and they felt like I had been stabbed by them. He pulled his hand out of mine and left the room.

   I sank to my knees, I didn't hide the tears. The room had gone silent. My sisters hadn't said a word but I feel their pain, and terror, at what my father had done, at what Henry had done.

   My father's voice was cold, when he spoke again. "Get up off the floor. You do not show weakness. People should not give you pity. You don't deserve it anyway. Now we have a wedding to finish getting ready for," when I didn't move his voice turned angry.  "I am your father and I told you to get up."

   I slowly got to my feet and turned to face my father. "You are no father of mine," I spat the words at him. I didn't wait to see his reaction, I instead turned and ran to my chambers.