The Queen and her Lord.

Birthday Boy

As the summer went on from May to June Stephane and Catherine spent more time together. They went from seeing each other once a week to a couple of times a week to spending days together. Sometimes they went riding, other days they spent time in the music room. Though he'd never admit it, his favourite thing to do with her was lay in the long grass and look up at the clouds and watch them go by. The pair were inseparable. Catherine brought out Stephane's sensitive side. Stephane brought Catherine out of her shell. In truth when they were together they were their true selves.

Stephane was sitting under the old oak tree by the lake when he felt two soft hands over his eyes. He couldn't help but smile as the smell of her sweet perfume surrounded him. "Happy birthday" Catherine said and put a bottle of his favourite wine on his lap and a little cake too. "I can't believe you remembered" he said with a bright smile and kissed her cheek. Catherine smiled at his kiss and quickly pulled away. Over the month they had gone from descrete touches on the hand to doing everything in their power to keep their lips apart. They were all to aware of the dangers of been seen sharing a kiss. "I remembered it was your favourite" Catherine said with a smile and gestured to the wine. "It comes from the village where I grew up" Stephane said and took her hand in his. She then gently rested her head on his shoulder.

Stephane took a little box from his pocket and gave it to her. The box contained a delicate little silver hair pin. It was painted to look like a peacock feather.  "Oh Stephane it's beautiful" Catherine said and looked into his big blue eyes. "This must have cost you a fortune. You shouldn't have." she said as she turned the colour of her red dress. She hadn't been special to anyone.

"Catherine I love you" he said and looked back at her. "I love you more than I thought I could ever, would ever love anyone. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. I know that I can't ever have you. I know I won't ever be the man you marry" he said and looked into her eyes. "I can't give you a ring to show you my intentions but in another world I'd be yours and you'd be mine. Someday you'll marry Henry and I'll be a distant memory. I want to give you this to remember me by. I love you Catherine" he said and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Catherine was stunned to silence. She couldn't believe her ears. "You love me?" she asked. She looked down at the hairpin and back at him. She looked at his lips and not his eyes. Before Stephane had the chance to answer her question she kissed him. His eyes lit up as he felt her soft lips against his. He kissed her back with more passion than he had kissed anyone. "I love you too birthday boy" she said and and caressed his cheeks. The pair looked into each others eyes for a moment before going their separate ways.