Almost midway through the 16th century, France and England are crosshairs away from warfare. Malevolence is thick in the air between the two countries and both of the reigning kingdoms are desperate to avoid violence and keep the peace. A marriage b...
The late afternoon sun was beginning to lower in the sky, and Marie hurriedly walked through the gardens, towards her and Harry's spot. She wasn't even sure she'd find him there, but she had to try. After they left his chambers, Leopold went on a ride with some of his guards. It was funny that she already missed him. How had things changed so drastically in so little time? One day, she was dreaming about a life away from all of this, a life with Harry. Now, she was excited for her life with Leopold...the life she'd come here for...the life that she had previously dreaded. The tall hedges came into view and before slipping into them, she stopped just outside and took a few deep breaths. As soon as the thick branches rustled, Harry's head snapped towards the culprit. He chuckled when he saw that it was Marie. She brushed herself off and walked towards him.
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"Hello..."
"What do you want, Marie?"
"To see you...to see how you're doing."
"Oh, is that all?" His smirk is haunting, and she's sad that they had come to this.
"Stop."
"Stop what?" He spits, taking two big steps forward so that he's towering over her. "Stop being angry at you? Alright. Done. I'm not angry. Anything else?"
"You have...a right to be angry, Harry. I don't expect you to be happy about this...but you completely disrespected me last night. I told you to stop and you...you kept going! You kept..."
"Touching you? I kept making you feel things you've never felt before?"
"You were out of line and completely inappropriate!" He laughs, angrily.
"I guarantee, that had my brother not suddenly turned on his swooning effects and lured you into his arms, you would have been crying my name—begging me to do more."
"No, I wouldn't! I knew we could never take it that far!"
"Marie..." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "I have had you wound so tightly around my finger, if I told you to drop your garments right now, you would have. I've had you eating out of my palm since the moment that I met you!"
"Stop it." Tears fill her eyes and blur her vision. "You're being cruel."
"No, I'm being honest." He snaps. "Do I love you? Absolutely. Would I run away with you right this very minute, if you asked me to? Yes, I truly would. But am I certain that before my brother fed you whatever bullshit has you falling all over him, that you would have done anything for me? Yes. I am very much certain of that."
"That's not true."
"Don't lie to me."
"It isn't true! Yes, I chose to be with you but I knew the limits! I knew that we could never...we could never truly be together. Don't talk to me like I was some poor, weak little girl that you could simply have your way with!"
