The Doctor stood still on the grounds of the majestic Versailles. Behind him, the massive fields that belonged to the castle were eerily silent. All the guards slumped against the walls, no children played outside, no women chattered as they walked by.
Versailles was in mourning.
'Reinnette' he whispered. 'I just missed you'
He knelt down and caressed the damp soil underneath him. He looked up at the tombstone and closed his eyes. He tried really hard to remember her smile, her scent, her very essence.
A grin graced his face. He remembered coming out of that damned fire place, hair tussled and coat undone. 'What?' he had shouted. 'When am I?'
'Just in time' a voice behind him said. 'Care to join me?'
'Reinette!' the Doctor yelled. 'Here you are'
The mistress wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tightly. 'I thought you would never come back, my angel. I waited'
'I'm sorry' the Doctor replied, vaguely being aware of the amount of times he had said those words. 'I'm so sorry. I came as fast as I could. Put it's tricky you see. All these windows looking into your life. Have you seen a sign of …' he stopped. 'The monsters … Reinnette are you listening?'
Madame de Pompadour stood there as if she was frozen. Silent as death and her eyes wide and fixated to a point behind him. Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak but could not.
The Doctor felt his hearts pick up speed. 'The monsters are back.'
He slowly turned around, his hand gripping the sonic screw driver. He readied himself for a battle and as he turned around … he rolled his eyes dramatically.
Reinette was not looking at a clockwork monster but instead he was looking at a horse stood in the middle of her grandiose bedroom.
'Arthur!' the Doctor moaned. 'Not now! Go back'.
The horse huffed and shook his head.
'Arthur' the Doctor repeated, more sternly this time.
'A friend of yours?' Reinette asked.
'Yes … no …weeeeellll, no. Kind of. Perhaps… We'll see' he replied.
Reinnette blinked twice in surprise. 'My angel, she thought. 'Handsome, heroic … and slightly mad'