Chapter Four

Refusals & Romance.

The moon was high in the night sky, and the stars shined in the heavens. The numerous revellers of the ball all headed to their own homes in their carriages and Henry lay in his bed, unable to sleep. He needed to see Danielle, explain to her why he had done what he had. He stared out of the window of his bedchamber and slowly, a plan formulated in his head. Quickly, he jumped out of bed and got dressed. He then took his sheets, made a rope – something which he was rather an expert at – and he tied it to the end of his bed. He tiptoed over to the window and peeked down. There was no-one around to see him, so he swiftly threw the rope over the window ledge and climbed out. Once on the ground he ran to the stables and 'borrowed' his father's horse. After making it ready and jumping onto its back, he squeezed its sides and it flew into a gallop. It seemed to cover miles and miles of ground before Henry even had time to think.

Before too long, he was at Danielle's home. He jumped from the horse and ran to the front door. Not caring if he woke anyone up, he banged on the door with his fist.

"Danielle! Danielle!" he called loudly, "Danielle!"

Suddenly, the door opened and there stood a kind faced servant. However, her expression was one of sympathy.

"She doesn't wish to speak to you," was all that the servant said to him.

"Please, just let me in. I have to speak to her," he pleaded. The servant shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness but she expressed a wish to be left alone." The servant quietly shut the door. Henry stamped his foot, growling with anger. He banged on the door again, calling for Danielle to come out.

He was there for what felt like eternity, but no-one answered the door. Defeated, he walked away from the house and got back onto the horse, slowly riding away. For the first time in his life, he knew what it felt like to be truly alone.

Henry was unsure of what to think of the day's events. First, he'd chased Danielle to her house – him on horseback, she on foot – then second; the two of them had spent a beautiful afternoon together in the library at the monastery. Thirdly, they had then been set upon by gypsies. And now, somehow, he found himself at the gypsy camp surrounded by cheering, drunken gypsies whilst playing "Rock, Paper, Scissors" with an equally drunk Danielle. His father would've rather died than know of his presence here. Once more, he and Danielle found themselves at a draw: both of them had chosen paper. Danielle giggled.

"You are reading my thoughts my lord."

"Then they are as fuzzy as my own!" Henry teased. Danielle smiled brightly.

"So France concedes?"

Henry's pride was one aspect of his personality which had remained undiminished by the alcohol.

"Never!" he shouted. Danielle nodded, presumably admitting defeat. Henry took pity on her, and leaned forwards.

"My next choice... will be paper," he told her. She smiled slyly, and they played again, and Danielle showed her hand as a rock, whilst Henry showed his to be... scissors. It was most striking to think that she was intending to let him win.

"It is your turn!" she said loudly, "and it had better be good."

Henry looked at her for a moment, watching her drink from her tankard. Even when she was drunk, she was still the utmost image of beauty. Her eyes were darker in the firelight, but by no means less beguiling. A certain lack of security overcame him. He felt that right now, he could tell her anything and she would never tell anyone unless he asked her to.

"I have no desire to be king."

Danielle stared at him for a long while. She frowned slightly, as if this was the most ludicrous thing she had ever heard. Henry watched her, apprehensive. He did not wish to upset her, far from it.

"Why?" she asked. "I mean, think of the wonderful things you could do!"

"Yes, I know, but to be so restricted by your station..."

"What? And these gypsies are not?"

"They are gypsies. That is all," Henry snapped.

"And yet, they are painted as thieves and criminals, and nothing else. They are just as defined by their station as you are to yours."

He did not know why, but her words touched him deeply. She seemed to have this magical ability to see into him and pinpoint exactly why he was so angered by the world and its people. Clearly, she had taken this silence of his as anger, and she trailed off into silence.

A moment passed between them, the atmosphere somewhere between contentment and awkwardness as the two of them tried to decide what to say next.

"I am sorry," the girl whispered, "my mouth has run away with me again."

Henry continued to look at her. Finally, he leaned towards her, a slight smile forming on his lips.

"No. My lady, it is your mouth that has me hypnotised." Without one more word, he pressed his lips to hers. As they kissed, it felt to Henry as if it was only the two of them within the whole world.

Suddenly, the gypsy leader noticed them, and he cried out, joyously teasing them. Danielle pulled away from Henry, smiling slightly, her expression glowing with happiness. Henry smiled back.

It was extremely quiet when they got back to Danielle's house. A little way off from the house, she asked Henry to stop, and he gladly did so. Anything she asked of him, he would gladly do it. Such a lady could not be allowed a refusal from anything. He jumped from the horse, and helped Danielle down. They caught each other's eye, and the two of them could not help but smile.

"You saved my life back there you know," Henry murmured.

"A girl does what she can sire," she said, barely able to contain her happiness. Henry rolled his eyes at the word "sire".

"Henry. Please."

Danielle chewed on her bottom lip, smiling happily.

"Henry." The name had never meant much to him, but when she said it, he felt like he could do anything, anything at all. Unable to resist, he kissed her once more. Her eyes and smile bright, Danielle walked down the path, and Henry watched her, smiling still. He knew now, that he was in love with her, for she completed him, body and soul.