The Beginning of Everything

by noblecrescent

While hiding from the Family, Martha Jones & the 10th Doctor (currently John Smith) come across a woman who does not want anything to do with them. But, it's almost as if she knew the Doctor. After the Family is gone and the Doctor returns, he comes face to face with Renata Cartwright, who, despite his insistence, outright refuses to travel with him. *First of the Home Saga*

21. The Marchioness of Gallifrey

A/N: The pronunciation of 'Marchioness' is mar-shuh·nes

---

The TARDIS wardrobe was ransacked the morning the Doctor suggested the group take a trip into the past so Gabby and Donna could meet royalty. The idea stemmed from a passing remark Renata made the previous night about having to explain to Gabby how royalty worked in the future. The Doctor thought it would be a nice idea if Gabby and Donna could see royalty up close. Plus, it was always fun having a leisure day in the past. And after their recent trips full of danger, Gods, alien bees...they needed a leisure trip.

So as soon as he made his idea known, Gabby and Donna zoomed for the wardrobe room. If they were going to travel back in time to meet royalty then they would need to find dresses and jewelry and do their hair. The Doctor prepared himself at the idea that they would be spending a long time getting ready.

Renata, for her part, hadn't taken long. She knew where to go, what to pick, how to do her hair. She was done in half an hour and that was only because Donna couldn't quite figure out how to tie her corset. Now, Renata helped the two human women.

"I can't believe we're actually going to meet a Queen and King!" Gabby gushed as Renata finished doing her hair. She was sitting in front of a vanity desk and was watching Renata through the mirror as she did wonders with her hair.

"Gabriella please stop moving so much," Renata had to physically hold Gabby's head for a few seconds to keep Gabby still. "And I don't know why you're so excited," Renata said once she could trust Gabby to keep herself from moving.

Suddenly, Donna scoffed from the side of the room. She was getting changed like Renata told her to. She was next in the hair department. "Why we're so excited!?" Donna called. "Because we're meeting flippin royalty!"

"Yeah, but they're people. They're literally just people," Renata shook her head. She focused on pinning the last butterfly hair pin on Gabby's hair. "There we are. What do you think?"

Gabby once again gushed at her reflection. "I love it! You really do know how to do hairstyles!"

Indignance flashed across Renata's face. "What - did you doubt me!?"

"No!" Gabby laughed and went back to looking at herself in the mirror. Renata had curled her hair - proving once and for all to Gabby and Donna that she did know how to use a curling iron - and made a few braids to be left down while others were pulled to the back. The braids on the back were connected by a lavender butterfly pins.

"Alright, my turn!" Donna came out wearing an ornate emerald green gown with white lace at the squared neckline and cuffs. "Up, up!"

Gabby got up from the chair and hitched the sides of her baby blue dress to move around. "What are you going to do to Donna's hair?" she curiously asked.

Renata's hands were already massaging Donna's hair. She looked at Donna through the mirror with a warm smile. "I'm thinking we leave this fiery hair down and curl it."

"You're the Noble one," Donna laughed at her own joke.

"Oh Donna, I'm really not," Renata's smile had become strained but with all the excitement going on no one noticed.

"Course you are! Now c'mon! Before the Doctor changes his mind!"

~0~

The Doctor really had almost changed his mind after so much waiting. He would never understand why it took most women - and a few men - so long to get changed. Like, was there an invisible force keeping them from getting ready quick that he wasn't aware of? What was it?

Words could not explain the relief he felt when he heard Renata's voice asking their companions to calm down. She must have been helping Gabby and Donna get ready because as far as the Doctor knew, Renata never took long to get changed for a trip. He didn't know if it was part of her customs back on Gallifrey to be ready as quick as possible or if she just wasn't affected by the invisible force he wasn't sure existed or not.

"Please try to act normal," Renata was instructing the women when she strode into the console room. "Nothing gives you away like screaming and being all giddy."

"Finally!" the Doctor made a point of saying it loudly and as frustrated as he actually was. He started making his way towards the doors. "I've been parked outside the 16th century for hours! I thought you got lost in there!

"They did," Renata came around the console to check the monitor. She wanted to make sure he had actually landed them in the correct spot and not some alien version of 16th century Earth. "And then I found them. They're very fond of the 1920s. Apparently, the whole Agatha Christie trip didn't fill them up but they are ready - I got them ready."

"You make us sound like children," Donna huffed with her arms crossed.

Renata cast a look at Donna as she started for the doors. "In my eyes, you might as well be."

Donna rolled her eyes at the woman while Gabby giggled beside her. Just because Renata was right didn't mean Donna would admit to it.

Renata stepped out of the TARDIS to find a bright green garden field. She would've immediately assumed the Doctor had taken them to the wrong place if she hadn't caught a glimpse of a tall palace in the distance.

"Is that a real castle!?" Gabby squealed so loud that the others flinched.

"To be correct, it's the Hampton Court Palace," the Doctor began to explain. "King Henry VIII and his new wife Anne of Cleves are living there. The Hampton palace is known for it's incredible size and rooms. I'm sure you'll all love it." And judging by Donna's and Gabby's faces, he was right. "Shall we-"

"I'm off to meet royalty!" Donna happily declared before taking off first.

"Me too! Maybe I'll meet a prince!" Gabby gushed again and rushed off.

"Remember what I said about not being all giddy!?" Renata was left to call for them. "You're going to get us caught!" But neither woman seemed to hear.

"Ah, they'll be fine," the Doctor said with a tone that fully believed in what he was saying.

Renata wouldn't be so naive. She scoffed lightly and reached behind them to close the TARDIS doors. "Are you sure leaving the TARDIS here is a good idea?"

"Yeah, we don't want it too close to the palace. She'll be fine here. We'll be fine too so please relax." The Doctor was holding his arm out when Renata turned around.

"What? I am relaxed!"

The only reason the Doctor wouldn't scoff is because he would rather move onto something he'd been keeping back. "You look lovely, Renée."

He'd thought she looked right at home in such an elegant gown. She knew exactly how to best compliment herself, probably accustomed in her days on Gallifrey. She had chosen a gold and white dress that, under the sunlight, looked a bit orange. It had three-quarter sleeves and a flared skirt. The bodice had deep v-neck with the stomacher, in a whiter shade than the rest of the dress, covering her chest. There was a small, orange gemstone attached to tip of her bodice, perhaps bringing just a bit more attention to her chest. She wore a small, glimmering orange necklace. Her hair was tucked in an elegant low bun with two strands of her blonde curls left to frame her face.

Renata shifted for the first seconds while she figured out a way to not look like an idiot. The Doctor always got her like that too and it was utterly ridiculous! She was 756 for God's sake! She was a grown woman who shouldn't get mad blushes over a simple compliment.

"...thank you," she pressed down on the side of her dress, awkwardly clearing her throat. "I'm a bit sad though that I couldn't bring my sonic screwdriver around. No pockets." The Doctor smiled as he got the image of Donna shouting at him for assuming her wedding dress had pockets. Renata was none the wiser about it. "And I think I may have chosen something a bit ahead of this time period, but-"

"You'll be setting a style," the Doctor moved to stand beside her with his arm still held out for her. "What do you think? Lady? Duchess?"

There was a novel glint in her eyes when he asked. "...Marchioness."

The Doctor hummed and swayed his head as he tested the title out. "Marchioness Renata..." It made sense for her to pick that title instead of a Duchess which was the next higher rank. If he knew Renata, and he thought he did, she chose 'Marchioness' because it would attract the lesser attention amongst a group of royals. She never like getting so much attention, she preferred simplicity. And if he was being honest, the title sounded a lot better than 'Duchess'. The Doctor didn't know why it was, but it just was.

Renata curled her arm around his and pulled him after their companions. "It's an appropriate title given the fact I am a widow."

The Doctor went serious for a moment, knowing she was right. "Of course." She was being completely logical, as usual, but there was an unusual (and recently new) feeling in his stomach when he thought about Renata being married.

~0~

The Hampton Court Palace seemed to be in a rush when the travelers reached the entrance. There were carriages arriving and leaving, bustling employees going to and from and the employees not moving about were decorating the building and cutting the bushes.

"I wonder what's going on," Gabby remarked to the group.

"I bet the old chap Henry is having a party today," the Doctor said. "Very famous for those too."

"How are we getting in?" Donna inquired once they'd reached the entrance. They didn't seem to be lingering like they were going to think of a plan. The Doctor was leading them straight for the entrance.

"Oh, did I forget to mention I've already met Henry?" he flashed the women a smirk at the same time he pulled out his psychic paper from his coat.

"Oh great, the return of the lying booklet," Renata sighed lightly but let it be.

The Doctor presented the psychic paper to the guards and the male servant greeting guests at the door. "John Smith - known better as the Doctor - Marchioness Renata, Lady Donna and Lady Gabby," he read off so calmly and smoothly that no one would eve rethink twice about disbelieving them.

As soon as the servant saw the psychic paper, his eyes stuck to the Doctor. "Doctor, welcome back!"

"You do know them," Donna's eyes widened, gasping lightly.

"Good to see you too, Barnard" the Doctor shut his psychic paper. "What's it been?"

"About seven years, sir," Barnard gave a dutiful nod before glancing at the woman.

"Good, hasn't been that long yet," the Doctor mumbled. He missed Renata rolling her eyes at him. She only dreaded what kind of mischief he'd gotten himself into the last time he was around. Hopefully Martha had been around to keep him in check.

"And you've married," Barnard's hazel eyes flickered to Renata who still had her arm curled around the Doctor's. Her face went a rosy tint within seconds. "Your Most Honorable Marchioness." He did a courtesy bow for the blonde.

"Oh n-n-no! Not married!" Renata shook her head and elbowed the Doctor to get him in on the corrections.

He yelped from pain and tried agreeing while rubbing his side. "Not...married..."

"Widowed," Renata corrected. "Mr. Smith has offered to guide me and my..." she glanced at Donna and Gabby, both humans amused with the show, "...sisters to the city. I hope his majesty does not mind 3 extra guests to...?"

"His Majesty has decided to throw a celebration tonight. No other reason than to, uh..." Barnard trailed with a smile.

"To party?" Gabby asked, from now on putting on an accent to fit the sisterly role Renata had appropriated on her. It was surprisingly easy.

"Yes," Barnard nodded abashedly. "But please come in. I will inform his majesty of your arrival and appoint you bedrooms."

"Oh but we're not staying more than a day," Renata said, looking to the Doctor for some help again. She didn't think that they could last a day without causing trouble, whether it was by accident or not.

"The party will last two days my Lady," Barnard explained. "I believe his majesty will like it if you stayed."

"We'd be honored to," the Doctor grinned and glanced at the others. Donna and Gabby seemed to agree, Renata being a bit weary as they were allowed into the palace.

~0~

There was definitely a party to be held that evening for every room had servants going back and forth. Renata pitied the overworked men and women forced to prepare what would no doubt be a ridiculously huge party.

"I don't like the idea of staying overnight and making these people work extra," she quietly told the Doctor as a different servant escorted them down the hallways for the gardens where most of the higher-ranked courtiers and guests were. "Plus, I don't know how long we can keep this charade going."

"Oh don't worry. Henry and I are actually good friends - we've had jousting matches!" the Doctor smiled nostalgically. "It didn't work out for him in the end, though."

"Doctor, focus!"

"Right," the Doctor shook his head and offered her a reassuring smile. "We'll be fine."

"This way," the servant led them down the steps into the garden. "His and Her Majesty are greeting the guests right now. Barnard has made them aware of your presence."

"Good, thanks," the Doctor said, completely at ease unlike his two human companions.

"We're meeting the bloody King and Queen of England!" Donna was straining her voice so it wouldn't come out in a shout, but Gabby was squealing like a little girl beside her.

"This isn't going to work," Renata brought a hand to her forehead. "We'll be beheaded in an hour."

"Would you relax?" the Doctor shot her a look, almost begging her to keep quiet. At this point, he'd rather take the squealing humans beside them.

The servant left the trio with Barnard once more who then led them through the circles of guests mingling. The travelers immediately spotted the King and Queen at the center conversing with a couple and before they could even think about how to best greet them, King Henry turned and yelled for the Doctor.

"It is you!" the tall man threw his arms into the air and laughed. He waved off the couple he'd been talking to and strode up to the Doctor. As traditions called, the Doctor was about to bow but Henry took him into a hug. Renata, who'd had her arm around the Doctor's, was forced to let go and stumbled into Donna. "Been far too long!"

"Yes, yes, it has," the Doctor agreed with his own laugh.

"Oh my God that's King Henry VIII," Gabby whispered to Donna as she practically clung to the ginger's arm.

Donna didn't seem the least bothered by Gabby's relentlessly shaking her arm. She was so excited too! "I bloody know!"

Renata cleared her throat at the two, shooting them a stern look. Calm down was written across her face.

"I have brought a few extra guests for tonight's, uh, celebration," the Doctor said once he was able to pry the King off him. "I'm assisting them on their journey to London and thought we should stop by to see an old friend."

"Well of course!" Henry laughed and started studying the three women. While he did that, the women studied him as well. He was fairly tall, probably the same height as the Doctor. However, they differed in that Henry had a pudginess to his face and he wasn't as slim as the Doctor. He had a receding hairline but even then his hair seemed to be thinning. He did have a full beard though, shading between brown and a light ginger.

"Ladies, his Majesty, King Henry," the Doctor gestured to the man. "Your majesty, Lady Gabby Gonzalez and Lady Donna Noble..." he barely got to introduce before the two humans bowed.

Gabby immediately plunged herself a bit too low out of her excitement. "Your majesties."

Donna did the same, much to Renata's dismay, and smiled at the royal pair. "An honor to meet you."

"Stand up," Renata hissed under her breath and in doing so she claimed the King's attention. Seeing this, Renata did the appropriate bow and gracefully smiled. "Your majesties."

"This is the Marchioness of..." the Doctor struggled for a few seconds to find the appropriate land for Renata, something she felt guilty for because she hadn't even considered it herself. But, just like that, the Doctor realized there was only one possible answer. "This is the Most Honorable Marchioness of Gallifrey."

Renata's eyes widened and snapped to the Doctor, but even then she finished bowing and rose like she hadn't been shaken. "It is an honor to meet you, your Majesties." She could see the Queen was cautiously standing behind her husband, no doubt waiting to be introduced by her husband, so Renata offered the woman a kind a smile.

"Doctor, you married such a beautiful jewel," Henry's eyes seemed to spark with something that Renata hadn't been able to describe in that second. She was more focused on the incorrect assumption about her status...again.

"We are not married," she said with a strain in her voice. Henry looked at the Doctor for his confirmation, something that reminded Renata how badly this period was for women. Her word was not enough. Only the Doctor's words mattered.

"We're not," he agreed. He didn't miss the way Henry's face lit up at the news. What the hell are you so happy about? The silent question came in an unusual angry way.

"You're widowed, my condolences," Henry's tone didn't exactly portray the feeling of his words. He took Renata's hand without warning her, choosing to ignore the small "Oh!" that slipped her lips when her body was jerked towards him.

The Doctor did not miss it. Gabby and Donna giggled as quietly as they could when the King kissed the back of Renata's hand.

"You are too kind, your Majesty," Renata took her hand out of his the moment she could. "It was a very long time ago, though."

"Oh, really?" Henry lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Still," the Queen suddenly spoke up, "You have our deepest condolences." She did offer a genuine kind smile that Renata could take to heart.

At the reminder of his wife's presence, Henry stepped back to stand beside her to introduce her. "Doctor, unlike you, I have married. Her Majesty Queen Anne."

All the travelers once again bowed according to custom. The Queen, unlike her husband, seemed like a kind woman. Her warm smile was a charmer. She was a tall, slim young woman - if the timing was right, she was only 25 - with fair blonde hair tucked into a pony-tail hanging over her shoulder. She had a pointed chin and slim cheeks. Her dark chocolate brown, though heavily lidded, eyes gave each of the travelers a welcoming look.

"Honor to meet you, your Majesty," the Doctor said had the agreeing nods of the women.

"I have heard about you, Doctor," Anne confessed, a hint of curiosity etching across her face. "And if what my husband said is true then I look forward to having you at our celebration this evening."

"Thank you," the Doctor gave a polite nod of his head.

"Have your things been assigned to bedchambers?"

"Uuh..." the Doctor quickly looked at Renata, his mouth slightly opened.

"We had a carriage sent to London hours ago," the Time Lady supplied the excuse within the second, and she said it so smoothly as well. "We only have what we are wearing. We didn't know there was a celebration tonight. Apologies."

"No matter, we can supply you with the right clothes," the Queen said, glancing at Henry to see if agreed.

"Of course!" He laughed, clapping a hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "Anything for my good friend the Doctor and his lovely friends."

The Doctor had the light suspicion that Henry was really only talking about one of his friends.

~ 0 ~

"What's wrong with you, giving me that Marchioness title?" Renata was deciding whether to laugh or smack the Doctor. The group was taking leisure in the gardens much like everyone else was that afternoon while they waited for evening to fall.

"I think it's funny," Gabby chuckled behind them. "The Marchioness of Gallifrey?"

Renata shook her head at them both but there was a smile creeping across her face. "You two are ridiculous."

"I thought it was fitting!" the Doctor exclaimed. "You're the pinnacle of what every Time Lord family wanted out of their daughters. You should have been the Marchioness of the entire planet."

"Oh Doctor," Renata sighed and picked up her pace. "Look at us, focusing on stupid titles when we're in such a beautiful garden. Aren't they finishing up a maze around here?"

"Actually," the Doctor began, making her and Gabby stop, "You're thinking of The Maze that won't be started until 1689," the Doctor corrected.

"Oh..." Renata's eyebrows rose as her face flushed. "...miscalculation?"

The Doctor's mouth curved into a fond smile. "A bit."

Renata bobbed her head as she slowly turned away from him. "Oh, we can't all be like you!"

"Thank goodness, I don't think the world can handle another 'me'," the Doctor motioned Gabby to start walking with them. "Can you imagine that?"

Gabby chuckled. "I don't think I can!"

"Still, this place is marvelous," Renata stopped by to admire a bush that'd been shaped into a horse. "There are clearly some artistic hands in this place." She glanced specifically at Gabby. "Maybe we can find them for you. It'd be a good idea for you to meet some human artists and get new perspectives."

Gabby adored the idea. She'd already met an alien artist so it was only fair she met genuine human artists too! She spun around, her eyes scanning the crowds of guests in the garden. "Do you think they're here?"

"Probably not the ones who made this bush, but...I'm sure there has to be somebody artistic here," Renata took a few steps towards the girl, joining Gabby in the search for an artist. "Perhaps we should ask Donna. She's certainly made herself comfortable amongst the royalty."

The Doctor hummed in agreement. Everyone's eyes found their ginger friend laughing away with one of the Queen's Ladies-in-Waiting. It was truly an amazing sight because none of them had ever pictured Donna like that.

"She's even speaking like them," Renata brought a hand up to her mouth to cover her laugh.

"Hmm, truly never underestimate Donna Noble," the Doctor slid his hands into his pockets and watched in amusement as Donna retold a story about herself in London...in the same time period.

"Oh great, you're teaching them to lie!" Renata dropped her hand from her mouth and whacked the Doctor's arm with her other hand. "We're teaching them to lie!"

"What - I didn't tell her to make up stories!" the Doctor rubbed his arm and turned to Renata.

"Well, go tell her not to tell stories! She'll get us caught!"

The Doctor groaned, swaying his head as he once again cast a look in Donna's way. "No...she won't..." But Donna actually seemed pretty animated over the story she was telling.

"Doctor, this is not a time period we can so easily mess with," Renata argued with a very good point on her side. "I'm not saying she shouldn't tell stories just...maybe tone it down a bit?"

The Doctor sighed in resignation. "Yeah, alright." Who knew, maybe in Donna's excitement she might say the wrong thing. It was a long run back to the TARDIS.

"And you Gabriella," Renata ushered the young girl towards the crowd, "We most definitely can find somebody worthwhile for you speak to. It would be so exciting if we could actually find an artist."

"Mhm!" Gabby agreed.

"Tell you what, I'll go look over there and you take Donna's side."

"Right - wait!" Gabby's eyes widened with realization. "You mean I have to talk to all of these people!? By myself!?"

"It'll be fine," Renata gave a dismissive wave of her hand. She was already scanning the crowds for the most viable candidates. "An artist usually caries a different air around them. And around this time, they're primarily male."

"Oh! That makes it better!" Gabby fervently shook her head and stopped walking. "I can't talk to these men! I don't know them and what if I get caught?"

"You won't. And if you're that nervous about it, have the Doctor or Donna help you. Go!" Renata once again ushered Gabby forwards.

"But what about you?"

"I'm a Marchioness to these people, nobody would bat a suspicious eye at a widow trying to make small talk with men." Of course as soon as Renata heard her own words, her nose crinkled. "Oh...that sounded a lot better in my head."

Gabby giggled at the Time Lady. "Now you're sounding like the Doctor."

"Oh just go!" Renata shooed her away. She herself took the other side of the crowd and started going through the crowds, presenting herself as normally as she could.

She admitted that it was pretty simple considering this is more or less what life was like back on Gallifrey, minus the royalty. It was easy engaging humans in conversation when the topics were dim: jewelry, parties and the same old gossip.

"You are a charming woman, my Lady," Lady Margaret Douglas laughed at what Renata didn't think was so amusing. She'd only made up a story about a trip she supposedly took with another Lady in Waiting.

"I don't know if I'd go that far," Renata chuckled along with another Lady in Waiting, Susanna Hornebolt.

"How is it that we have never met?" Susanna asked after receiving a flute from a passing servant. "You should clearly be at every event his Majesty holds. A Widower who has traveled more than any of us is somebody who holds many interesting stories."

"I'm not the type to attend so many, uh, public events," Renata cleared her throat and discreetly continued to search through the crowds. These two women were possibly the most chit chatty people she'd ever met and so far neither of them had given her any indication of just who was at this event. Before them she had stopped by a few Dukes under the guise of a confused woman asking where her sisters were. That sparked conversation and while Renata did get a few identities of other guests, they weren't any artists. Before the dukes, she'd caught a Duchess and her brother. Neither of them knew the guests.

How helpful they were.

Renata thought that these two Ladies might have more information. She could tell Gabby was getting far too flustered to keep her conversations going. There was only so much the Doctor could do for her.

"Excuse me," Susanna had to part when the Queen called for her assistance.

"Look at her, so eager to help," Lady Margaret huffed beside Renata. She cast Margaret a puzzled glance. Margaret chortled. "If you stay, you will learn what truly goes on around here. Lady Susana, for starters, is a widower herself. She is in severe financial troubles. Everybody knows that she is searching for a new husband to ease her problems."

"Oh, and you're helping her by telling me this?" Renata couldn't help the sour tinge covering her words. It was too petty for her.

"Simply so you know to keep your own prospects under a close eye."

Renata's face contorted to a deeper level of confusion until Margaret inclined her head in the Doctor's direction. Soon as Renata understood she groaned and not as quietly as a true Marchioness would have. "For the love of - we are not married and we are not getting married! I am not looking for a husband! Is that all you people think about?!"

Margaret was taken aback by what would be considered an abrasive reaction in the time period, but Renata wouldn't take anything back. Why didn't anyone believe that she and the Doctor were only friends!? Was it too hard to understand the concept of friendship?

"My Lady?" Henry was approaching the women, instigating for Margaret to stiffen.

So that's how you shut her up, Renata silently thought.

"Your Majesty," Margaret did her dutiful bow.

"I wish to speak to the Marchioness alone. Leave us," Henry didn't spare the woman a look. He had said his rather cold words all while he smiled at Renata.

Margaret nodded and rushed off but Renata noticed the lingering look the human had on her. Renata sighed inwardly sighed. She knew what thoughts must be starting up in that human head of hers.

"My Lady, I have heard you were asking several of my guests about their professions? May I ask why? Not looking for a husband right now, are we?"

Renata literally forced herself to resist the urge to snap. "No...your majesty. I am not looking for a husband in any of these men. I was merely curious because one of my sisters has an interest in art."

"Ah," Henry's face lit up. "You should have asked me, then. I do love myself the crafts. If your sister is interested, we can allow her to view the portraits I have collected from around the world."

A genuine smile spread across Renata's face. "Oh, really? That would...that would actually be very kind of you. Gabriella adores all types of art so, really, anything you would share with her would be deeply appreciated."

"Say no more," Henry made a gesture for a servant to come by. "See to it that my Art room is fit for the Honorable Marchioness and her sister by tomorrow morning." The servant quickly nodded his head and rushed off.

"I truly appreciate it, your Majesty."

Henry took pleasure in her beaming face. "Please, it is the least I can do for one of the Doctor's friends."

Renata missed the emphasis Henry had put in 'friends' due to her search for Gabby in the crowd. She wanted to tell Gabby as quick as possible - the girl would be so excited!

"May I ask what are your interests?"

"What?" Renata's head snapped in the King's direction when she realized she was getting lost in her search. "I'm sorry?"

"Your interests, my Lady. One of your sisters is interested in the arts, and you?"

"Oh, uh..." Renata started looking away while she racked her brain for humanly qualities. "I...I like..."

Be simple, she told herself. The Doctor wouldn't complicate backstories so much. "I like to help people, teach," she settled for. Back on Gallifrey that's what she did. Teaching Gabby about outer space was a bit out of her element but when she was on Gallifrey, working her foundation, she knew exactly what to do. "I, uh...I do a lot of charity work. There are so many people, children, that require our help."

"Ah, truly noble of you then," Henry gave a small nod. "I do like women who are vastly educated. My wife, it seems, is not as educated as I was made to believe."

Renata pursed her lips. Queen Anne of Cleves was known to be an incredibly kind, docile woman with a German education...but not to the type of education that Henry had expected before marrying her. "I'm sure she is educated where it matters."

Henry bobbed his head but didn't outright insist on his opinion. "Do you like the study of astronomy?"

The smile that came to Renata's face was automatic when it came to that subject. "I suppose I do."

"Have you seen our Astronomical clock hanging on the gatehouse of inner court?"

"No, I have not actually."

"We must correct that. A woman of your education and beauty must see it." Henry offered Renata his arm and though he was doing it kindly, Renata suspected that declining wasn't an option. He was infamous for his cold, sometimes dangerous, behavior.

Just like she would on Gallifrey, Renata accepted something she did not want. She took Henry's arm and allowed him to lead her away.

From a distance, the Doctor caught them leaving. He was initially perplexed, almost thinking that the woman couldn't be Renata. But he would recognize those fair movements of hers anywhere, along with her elegant hair bun. Renata was leaving the party - where there were plenty of people - to be alone with Henry? That didn't settle right with his stomach.

~ 0 ~

Renata wasn't so sure about this alone time with Henry but all her concerns washed away when she saw the mesmerizing clock hanging up on the building. It was truly an astounding sight.

The outer rim of the clock was a stark blue, nearly matching the skies had it been a lighter shade. It had the Roman Numerals carved as the 24 hour segments. There were three more main segments - copper dials - within the clock, each donning their own brilliant shades of blue. A few golden and red decorative segments were between the rim and the second segment. The other three copper dials were rotating at different speeds.

"This is truly amazing," Renata laughed and brought a hand to cover her mouth. She was opening it too much for a King, she probably looked out of place.

But Henry was admiring her reaction. He was grinning, really, as she continued to gawk over the clock. "We have other clocks in the palace but I wanted this one to be different. This one can be used by our incoming guests using the River Thames."

"I think they could," Renata agreed with a fervent nod of her head.

"The central dial rotates only once per lunar month," Henry explained and pointed up at the baby blue dial in the middle of the clock. "It also gives us the time when the moon crosses the meridian..."

"So you can be aware of the tides," Renata finished his sentence, meeting his impressed gaze with a laugh. "Yes, I'm familiar with the concept."

"I can see," Henry nodded, now laughing himself. "Well then, the middle dial...what do you think it's showing us?"

Renata would've laughed at the human who thought he could challenge her, a Time Lady, with time. You are so cheating Renata, she told herself but she was simply having too much fun. It was her chance to show off for a change. "Let us see," she put her hands behind her back and took a few steps towards the clock. She raised her head and studied the second dial.

Behind her, Henry watched her with bemusement. The Marchioness of Gallifrey was proving to be as exotic as the Doctor. How he had found her, Henry had no idea, but he would be damned if he let the Doctor take her away.

"I got it," Renata announced and turned around just as Henry took the steps she had taken to be face to face with her. "It's showing the age of the moon and your outer dial-" she pointed a finger over her head, "-shows us the months and the zodiac. I also admire how you worked in the movement of the sun."

Henry's eyebrows nearly shot up to his receding hairline. "Marchioness of Gallifrey, you have just impressed the King of England in the span of 10 seconds. That is a true record."

Renata smirked proudly. "I do have my moments." The Doctor always told her that but she never quite believed it. Maybe she should start now.

~0~

Once evening began to fall, Renata and Henry returned to the garden. Henry then announced the party would start in one hour. Everyone was to report to the Great Hall starting at seven. Barnard was tasked to bring the travelers to their appointed bedchambers.

"If you need anything, please let us know," Barnard stopped by the last door which had been Gabby's bedchamber.

"Thank you," the Doctor said with a strained smile. Barnard gave a dutiful nod then left the group.

"I am so excited!" Gabby gushed once they were alone in the grand hallway. "And do we really get to wear actual dresses from this place!?"

"You better believe that I'm going to be wearing one of them!" Donna's eyes practically radiated with excitement.

"I think it would be nice," Renata agreed with a small laugh. "But please remember to keep yourselves as calm as possible. We don't want to attract attention."

"Right, will you be taking your own advice then?" the Doctor's sudden question put Renata off for a moment. He was a little surprised himself but his irritation got the best of him.

"What?" Renata laughed out of confusion.

Gabby and Donna exchanged glances with each other. They'd noticed that the Doctor had been a bit tensed earlier in the day and neither really understood why. He hadn't said anything to either of them - he barely uttered a word to them in fact - in the gardens.

"I only mean that for somebody who's intent was to blend in, you're not doing a very good job," the Doctor put a hand into his pocket. He glanced away from Renata. She arched an eyebrow at him, naturally questioning his words.

"What do you mean?" she heard the Doctor scoff and frowned. "Excuse me, what do you mean?"

"Nothing...except I couldn't help notice you practically spent the whole afternoon with the King."

It took 2 seconds for Renata to figure out what he was trying to say. Her eyes blazed with fury that would have scared anybody, but the Doctor was all upset on his own.

"I will not...I will not tolerate such an accusation!" she pointed a finger at him then stormed away.

"Oh, yeah, go off!" the Doctor called after her, but after a few seconds his face scrunched. He needed to know what she was doing the whole afternoon with Henry. He sprinted after her, leaving Gabby and Donna to do the same. "You know, I had the Queen asking me if I'd seen her dear ole husband this afternoon! I had to tell her that I had no idea where he was!"

Renata kept her fast-paced walk down the hallway. "Nobody asked you to lie!" she uncharacteristically snapped.

"You shouldn't have gone off with him!"

Renata came to an abrupt stop outside her bed chamber, turning quick enough to bump into the Doctor. "Why shouldn't I have? I wasn't doing anything wrong!" Her narrowed eyes met his and without him actually saying anything, Renata saw the doubt sprinkled in his irises. She deeply gasped, her hand moving up to cover her mouth as she stepped away from him.

Gabby and Donna each winced with that type of gasp. For a moment they thought something physically hurt Renata.

But nothing physically hurt, only her hearts. "Do you think...?" Renata could barely say the words without sounding like she'd lost air. It also seemed like she was trying not to scream right there and then. "Do you think that I was doing something...immoral with Henry?" Even saying the word, through all her efforts, disgusted her.

The Doctor said nothing but there was a terse air around him. His hearts were hammering under his chest, a loud voice in his head was screaming at him to take back his unsaid suspicion. Even if she had done something, what did he have to say about it? First of all, she was not his anything except his friend and second of all...he'd done something more or less similar with Zuriah. He had absolutely no right to even ask that question.

So how could he get the image of Renata and Henry out of his head? And why did it bother him so much?

His long silence answered Renata's question. Her face went red fast and she was scrunching it as if she was about to scream. For a moment, Gabby thought she might explode.

"I - he was showing me something!" she settled for an exclaim but every word she said was a risk that might lead to a shrill scream. "This stupid astronomical clock that I actually admired and I was going to show it to you tomorrow so you could see how beautiful it is!"

"Well that's..." the Doctor's mouth opened several times but there was nothing to argue about that. She was looking at a clock you idiot. "Just keep your eyes peeled for Henry. I know him and I know when he has someone new in his eyes."

Those words still didn't calm Renata down. "You are being ridiculous!"

"I am not!"

"YES!" Renata caught herself shouting and lowered her volume but it was still louder than a typical exclaim. "We were only talking! He was showing me a clock and do you know what else he's going to do?"

"What?" there was a clear sourness in the Doctor's single-worded response.

"He's agreed to let Gabby see his art room!"

Gabby gasped on instinct. "Really!?" Donna quickly cleared her throat, throwing a "Not the time" under her breath that reminded Gabby to stay silent.

"That's how he starts!" the Doctor shouted but Renata scoffed in disbelief. "Renata you are beyond intelligent! Can't you see he has his eyes on you!?"

"He was being kind!"

"Yes!" the Doctor's voice went high pitched there for a second. "Because that's what he does each time he wants a new wife!"

"Oh, that's preposterous! We all know he'll be meeting a new woman in a matter of months! He does not want me!" Renata's chest heaved up and down with her ragged breathing.

They heard the squeaks of shoes coming towards them. A young female servant approached them in a hasty sprint. "My Lady," she did a courtesy bow for Renata, "His Majesty has arranged for a selection of gowns to be brought in a few minutes."

Renata's eyes widened in mortification. She looked at the Doctor who couldn't be more smug that he was right. They practically heard her sharp intake of breath after that.

"That-" she jabbed her finger at the Doctor's chest, "-proves nothing!"

The Doctor swayed his head. "Actually-"

"Thank you," Renata told the young servant before storming into her room and slamming the door shut.

"You know I'm right, Renata!" the Doctor called from his spot. He opened his mouth as if to say more but closed it in the end. He awkwardly shifted until he was able to pull himself away from the door and storm away.

With a simultaneous sigh, Gabby and Donna turned to each other. What a mess, they thought the same thing. Fortunately, they both knew what to do.

"You take Renata!" Donna exclaimed at the same time Gabby exclaimed, "You take the Doctor!"

They agreed with firm nods and split after their respective Time Lord.

Gabby didn't even bother knocking on Renata's door. She burst in, demanding for Renata to hear her. "You're not going to seriously argue over some creepy King, are you!?"

Renata was sitting at her vanity desk, pulling off her necklace. "I am not speaking about this with you, Gabriella. You don't need to concern yourself over this anyways."

"Oh, don't give me that, Ren!" Gabby marched up to the Time Lady, stopping right behind her chair. "You don't like arguing with the Doctor and neither do I nor Donna."

"I wasn't arguing, I was only animatedly conversing with him."

"And yelling."

"Speaking in a slightly louder volume."

"Renata, I swear to God!"

Renata shifted in her chair to meet the girl's genuinely concerned gaze. "What do you want me to do? Apologize? I haven't done anything wrong."

"No, but you are ignoring the fact that the Doctor might be a bit right when he says King Henry likes you."

Before Renata could once again deny, or at least argue, there was knock on her door. "Come in?" Renata said, exchanging a look with Gabby.

The same young female servant from before had opened the door to allow an older man inside. He was carrying a chest that seemed pretty heavy. Behind him came two more female servants carrying smaller chests in their arms.

"My Lady, the gowns that his Majesty has sent for you," the female servant said as the man set the chest down.

"And the accompanying jewelry," one of the older female servants said as she and the other woman put the smaller chests on the drawer dresser.

Much like the Doctor had, Gabby fixated a sharp look on Renata. The Time Lady huffed but thanked the servants for bringing the things inside.

"Okay, so he might have a point..."

"He might!?" Gabby crossed her arms over her chest. "Renata, this guy is clearly trying to entice you!"

"And do you all think that I am so naive as to fall for it?" Renata stood up from her chair with new anger tracing her features. "I'm not stupid. I know how to take care of myself!"

"No one ever said that, not even the Doctor," Gabby sighed. She didn't want to argue like the Doctor had. That wasn't the way Renata would be listening to anyone. "Ren, no one is blaming you for anything. Of course Henry would like you - have you seen yourself?"

Renata playfully rolled her eyes but once Gabby saw the flushed smile, she knew that Renata was calming down. "Gabriella..."

"No, I mean it," Gabby helped Renata move around the vanity chair so that they were face to face. "You're frikin gorgeous. Of course you'd have the King of England falling for yah, though between you and me...I don't think he's the one for you." Because despite all her fears for them, Gabby was sure that Renata would be much happier with the Doctor. Gabby couldn't picture Renata choosing Henry of all people. The mere thought of it made her gag (which then caused Renata to half smile out of amusement). "But listen, I really think you and the Doctor should talk again because I think he was just trying to protect you."

Renata was quick to scoff. "Right, by shouting and treating me like I'm a child."

"Alright, so he didn't go about it the right way but you gotta admit that you were being just as childish as he was."

Renata turned her head away and instead went to inspect the small chests left on her dresser.

"Ren, do you really want to argue with the Doctor? You guys have seemed so close lately."

Renata opened one of the chests to find beautiful jewelry inside, but it didn't make her even half as happy as how she'd recently been feeling with the Doctor and their travels. Things had been going so smoothly lately. Each night when Gabby and Donna were asleep, she and the Doctor had their own little fun adventures. The Doctor would show her some rare, sometimes odd, places that would leave Renata with permanent wide eyes. Even when she got to choose, though her places were much calmer than the Doctor's, he would still have fun with her. It was amazing...and Renata didn't want to lose that.

"We have, haven't we?" Renata whispered, her lips curving into a small smile. Despite the Doctor's insistence to keep an eye on her health, they were bonding more and, perhaps, Renata often felt like they were once again the Doctor and Zuriah.

Gabby was relieved that despite everything Renata still continued to be a practical, logical woman. "Yes, so I say we get ready for this party and meet the Doctor and Donna there. I'm sure you guys can solve things if you're both willing to talk."

"You're right." Renata's agreement made Gabby sigh in relief. Renata turned around and with a brand new smile on her face too. "Let's get ready."

~ 0 ~

"Doctor! You need to stop!" Donna was doing her best to keep up with the striding Time Lord, but she was a huge disadvantage. "Doctor! C'mon! This dress weighs a lot!"

"Go to your room, Donna," the Doctor wearily said as he made a turn for his room.

"Oi! I'm not some kid you know! But you sure are acting like one!"

That jab made the Doctor stop and turn around. "Excuse me?" he frowned at her.

"Look at you, over 900 years old and you're still arguing like some jealous human bloke!"

"Jea - I am not jealous!"

Donna set a hand on her hip and arched an eyebrow. "Seriously? I'm not wasting my breath arguing over that topic. I'm more interested in how you're going to apologize to Renata."

There the Doctor scoffed and loudly too. "I'm not doing anything. I'm right and you know it."

"Well of course I know Henry's got his eyes on Ren but arguing with her is not the way you'll get her to listen. You could've explained it to her calmly, you know? There was no need to be sour nor shouty!"

The Doctor rolled his eyes at her.

"Look at me spaceman!" Donna commanded and, to her luck, he met her gaze. "It's just me, Doctor. Again. It's just you and me so please talk to me. I'm on your side and right now...you look bad." A light chuckle came to her lips. "Since when does Renata make you go all...like that?" She waved her hand at the Doctor's put-out face. She was trying not to be so smug about it since she heard the story of 1913, but the Doctor was making it clear as day what he thought about Renata. "Oh, spaceman. The uptight Time Lady has caught your eye too."

"Donna, don't say such...don't say that," the Doctor muttered and turned to continue on his way for his room.

"Why not? It's what I'm seeing - it's what I've been seeing - and it's what I heard back there," Donna went after him but thanked the heavens that he was walking at a normal pace. "You're smitten with Renata!"

"Would you stop saying that before somebody hears you!" The last thing he needed was for that to make its way to Renata. It was nonsense what Donna was saying, complete nonsense...

"Like Renata?"

"Donna!" the Doctor abruptly turned around, revealing a glowering face. "Seriously. I am not smitten! I am worried about Renata-"

"Right, and smitten."

"Donna," hissed the Doctor but with bare energy.

He was aware that lately he'd been having some specific thoughts and feelings about Renata and he honestly had no idea where they came from. But seeing Renata go off with Henry today set something off inside him. Up until now, Renata had always been with him. Whether they bickered or they had dinners or they were having regular adventures, she was always with him. He supposed he could've gotten used to the idea of having Renata with him...but he could feel there was something else. And that 'feeling', while small right now, was a bit scary. He didn't know where it came from - actually, every time he thought about it his mind would go back to 1926 where he had to kiss Renata to save her life. It was literally done to save her life yet there was a warm feeling in his chest when he thought about, remembered it...

And then 1913 popped into his head. There was so much that happened in that year, the instinct to be with Renata, to get to know her. He would never finish understanding why even his human version had been so enamored with Renata if he only knew for a short period.

"Doctor, I don't know what your plan is but I can tell you that being the jealous type isn't going to bring Renata any closer to you," Donna brought the Doctor out of his thoughts. "Plus...it's just not you. You don't shout at people, especially your friends. If you have some feelings that you're not sure about, it's fine, but please don't lie to me about it. I can see it in your eyes."

"Yeah, alright," the Doctor relented this argument with a heavy sigh. One argument was enough for him. "I don't like arguing with Renata."

"I know," Donna gave him a small nod of her head. "So don't go arguing with her you big dunce!"

"But I am right about Henry. I've seen him try the same tricks with his previous wives!"

"So then let's make sure he keeps his grubby hands off our uptight Time Lady!"

"Yeah - hold on," the Doctor pointed a finger at Donna, "Don't call her upright."

Donna scoffed in his face. "Now I know fur sure you're smitten. You used to think she's uptight-"

"I still do-" the Doctor winced when he blurted his words. Donna laughed and, despite his restraint, the Doctor chuckled a bit too. "She'd kill me right now..."

"Yeah she would," Donna leaned on him as she sobered from her laugh. "And I would so watch."

~ 0 ~

Renata and Gabby arrived at the Great Hall before the Doctor and Donna and the party was in full swing. Gabby's eyes dazzled at the dancers in the middle of the room. The room was full of people and Gabby was sure that half of them weren't even the same ones she'd met in the gardens earlier. There were long tables set against the wall behind the dancers and were full of food. Servants kept coming to drop off new plates and take away the empty ones. There were lavishing couches on the far left where people were mingling and, Renata was sure, they were doing a little bit more than just conversing about the weather.

As Lady Margaret pointed out, people were on the hunt for matches.

"Gabriella, stay away from that group," Renata had suddenly taken a tight hold around Gabby's arm.

"Hm? Why?" Gabby followed Renata's gaze towards the couches. People were just talking and laughing, albeit loudly, but she didn't see any harm.

"Just listen to my words and stay away from them," Renata pulled Gabby towards the opposite direction.

"My Lady Renata," Lady Margaret had cornered the two and was sweetly smiling, "You look darling tonight. Is it true his Majesty offered you an entire chest of gowns for tonight's occasion?"

"Wow, word flies fast around here," Gabby blurted and more-or-less glared at Margaret. She knew what kind of people that woman was. It reminded Gabby far too much of high school with the endless rumors and people who just loved to create and spread them.

"Uuh, yes, and I was very grateful for it since my sisters and I had our clothes taken to London earlier," Renata calmly explained, something Gabby admired because if it was her, she would've snapped.

"Oh," Lady Margaret seemed disappointed as she looked away, but it only last for a few seconds. "So it is true then," she said with a newfound grin on her face, "His Majesty has taken a, uh, liking to you..."

Renata's eyebrows knitted together but just as she was about to inquire what the hell Margaret knew, the King himself approached them. Lady Margaret immediately did the dutiful bow but Renata was too irritated to follow and much less make Gabby follow.

"Marchioness, you look beautiful," Henry seemed genuinely astounded with Renata's appearance but the Time Lady wished he would stop looking her up and down. "The color red was made for you."

"Thank you," Renata politely said and gave a nod of her head.

"Please, allow me to dance with you," Henry held his hand out for her.

Just like before, Renata knew that despite his kind request there was no actual option behind them. She had to dance with him. No one said 'no' to the King of England, not even her apparently. If I had pants and the TARDIS I would, she begrudgingly thought when she took Henry's hand.

"Ah, it is all true," Lady Margaret remarked as Henry led Renata away. Gabby craned her head at the woman, almost tempted to ask why she was still standing next to her, but Margaret was too engrossed in the scene. "You know, everyone knows that his Majesty is not satisfied with his wife."

"You mean the Queen?" Gabby's sharp tinge in her tone did nothing to snap Margaret out of her gossipy state. In fact, she didn't even notice Gabby was practically glaring at her.

"Her Majesty has failed to satisfy the King and now he is on the hunt for a new wife. The Marchioness seems to have played her game just right. Hm."

"Oh no," Gabby drew the line at terrible accusations. "Renata is not one of those women. Whatever you may think of her is not the truth. She only came as a visitor and she has no interest in the King."

"Gabby, what's wrong?" the Doctor asked as he and Donna approached the two women. He spotted Gabby's upset face as soon as he entered the room.

"She's spreading rumors about Renata trying to become the next wife of King Henry!" Gabby folded her arms with a huff, throwing Margaret another glare.

"What? As if!" Donna laughed beside the Doctor. "Ren could never do something like that!"

"I don't quite like the joke," the Doctor settled a hard look on Lady Margaret, but the woman seemed so certain about thoughts. "The Marchioness is a proper Lady and she would never do anything like that."

"Yeah? Well, she's accepted the King's advances and is even wearing one of the very gowns he sent her." Lady Margaret nodded towards the dancers, making the Doctor and Donna turn in their direction. "And she's dancing with the King right now. Not even her Majesty has danced with him and she's his wife."

The Doctor's hearts sunk when he saw Renata dancing with Henry. She looked absolutely stunning in her red gown, like a true Marchioness...or Queen. She had kept her tight, elegant bun and merely put a red pin on the side. Her ball gown was a deep red with flare cuff sleeves. There were a few gold and white stones accentuating her waist and the squared neckline. Her orange necklace had been replaced with a matching ruby-stone necklace.

But there was something that raised the Doctor's spirits, his hope, after studying Renata more. She had a very disgruntled face. She was upset. And if she was upset, then it meant that whatever Henry was doing was the reason she was so unhappy.

"Doctor?" Donna whispered to him, nudging him on his side. She presumed he'd once again fallen into doubts regarding Renata and she wasn't going to let it happen. "Hey, don't listen to her-"

"Lady Margaret, you should stop spreading such vile lies about the Marchioness," the Doctor looked back at the woman with a new glare, a harsher one that startled the woman. "The next time I hear one I will personally make sure you live to regret it."

Gabby actually burst into laughter when Lady Margaret rushed off in terror. The Doctor took pleasure seeing it too, but he didn't focus too much on it as he had something else to do. "Take care you two," he told his companions. "And stay away from that group over there," he made a nod towards the group on the couches like Renata had earlier then headed for the dancers.

"Seriously, what is so bad about that?" Gabby was left to ask Donna because she truly had no idea. Donna burst into laughter next.

~ 0 ~

"You know, my Lady, if you would like I can arrange for your clothes to be brought back to the palace," Henry was saying to Renata while they danced. She gave him a puzzled look for his words, but he just chuckled. "Or perhaps I can simply have an entire new wardrobe for you installed here."

"Why would I want that?" she asked.

"So you can stay of course. I have thoroughly enjoyed your company; your presence is a delight that I never want to end." He leaned just a bit too close for her liking.

She tried leaning away and when it failed, she resorted to turning her head away. "I thank you but I have my own plans. The Doctor and I have arranged to be in London by tomorrow evening, perhaps earlier." Perhaps tonight, she thought.

Henry scoffed. "Oh please, London will not have what I am offering you. You would be a fool to choose it over me."

"Then call me a fool," Renata met his irritated eyes. Her lips curved into a small smirk that only further irritated him.

"My Lady should truly think about what she is saying."

"I have always thought about what I had to say," Renata said quietly. "My error was to allow people to tell me what to do, to manipulate me. I have feelings and I think that there has only ever been two people in my life who have asked me what they were."

Her husband and the Doctor.

Her sister never bothered to - her feelings were an inconvenience that Renata needed to work on - and their parents simply accustomed themselves to ignoring them. The only things Renata needed to worry about were to always make a good impression and always act like a proper Time Lady.

Henry completely misunderstood Renata's words and so he did the only thing a confused man would do: disregard it. "Stay my Lady, and I will fill your life with everything you could possibly desire."

"A tempting offer..." Renata sourly remarked, her eyes darting to the side.

Somebody cleared their throat and to Renata's delight, it was the Doctor who had come to cut their dancing short. "Your Majesty, I have come to ask Lady Renata if she would like to dance with me." He specifically fixated his eyes on Renata, begging her to accept him at least for a bit.

Renata met his gaze and softened with relief. He still wanted to talk to her after their fight.

Henry barked a condescending laugh as if he knew Renata's answer would be 'no'. "I am very sorry Doctor, but she-"

"Yes," Renata said without a moment's hesitation and drew her hands off the King, not even noticing Henry's stunned face. "I would love to, please." She held her hands out for the Doctor, almost pleading him not to change his mind.

The Doctor took one of her hands and shot Henry a smile. He led Renata to a new spot where they could dance and hopefully talk in peace. He set one hand on her waist and held her hand tightly as if she'd be the one to leave. They began to dance just like the others but in awkward silence in the beginning. Each took their hold on each other as their first win. If they were still dancing together, then it meant they wanted to talk.

"You look very beautiful, Renée," the Doctor decided to be brave and be the one to break their silence. Plus, she really did look amazing.

Renata smiled at him. "Thank you, but I didn't accept the gown for any other reason than...it was really pretty." Her admission left her with flushed cheeks. It wasn't like her to do something like that after all.

"I wouldn't think anything else," the Doctor said and was disheartened to see her looking at him with doubt, doubt that he had created with their fight.

"You mean that?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, of course I do," he sighed. "I'm really sorry for what I said earlier. I shouldn't have - I should've never implied anything like that."

"It hurt my feelings," Renata said but averted his gaze when she felt a prickly sting in her eyes from tears.

"I know," the Doctor said, knowing she was purposely avoiding looking at him. He caused that too. "I was too upset but it's not excuse. You would never do anything like that."

When Renata finally gathered courage to raise her gaze, she showed her reddened eyes but with a graceful smile on her face. "I'm very sorry too. I don't like arguing with you, especially you."

"Yeah, I feel the same."

"You should know that I knew you were right about Henry. I was just playing dumb."

"Nooo..." the Doctor's feign of surprise elicited a light laugh from her and it was enough to make his hearts pick up.

"I know," she shook her head. "Not one of my finest moments."

"So...so are we okay?" the Doctor was cautious when he asked. He watched her intently for any clue of what her answer would be.

"Yes, of course we are," she smiled. "And if we weren't around such gossipy people I would hug you so tightly right now."

"Hm, gossipy wouldn't begin to describe them," the Doctor muttered. He thought about Lady Margaret and her foul thoughts.

"They believe I am after the King and perhaps they have a right to because I've been very careless," Renata sighed and looked down at her gown as one of the prime examples of her words. "But I couldn't care less about him."

"Oh he seems to care about you a lot," the Doctor said, making her scoff.

"He wishes he could have a Time Lady," she rolled her eyes.

The Doctor couldn't help the smirk that was quick to come to his face. He twirled Renata around then pulled her up to him, perhaps on purpose or simply fate, and smiled down at her. "You deserve only the best, Marchioness of Gallifrey."

Renata would've laughed if she wasn't so nervous under his charming gaze. If we were alone...' she started to think thoughts that left her face red, "If we were alone I might just kiss you...'

~ 0 ~

"So why on Earth did you even agree to go off with the King anyways?" Donna asked Renata once the group had left the Great Hall. The party was more or less done except for the lingering drunken people. Now the group were walking down the hallways.

"I did not go 'off' with anyone, Donna," Renata huffed. "Henry just wanted to show me the astronomical clock he had built on one of the buildings here."

Donna scoffed and mumbled under her breath, "Think he wanted to do a bit more than that."

"Look, regardless of his intentions, I actually had fun." No sooner had the words left Renata's mouth when all of sudden, she had the collective scoffs from the group. "Oh shush! I did have fun!"

"Of all the people to have fun with, you chose him?" the Doctor couldn't help the frown that marked his face. He was fun too!

"I don't know, I just...I was different. I wasn't the uptight Renata you all love to say I am," Renata shrugged, her lips curving into a wide smile the more she thought about it. "I was sort of careless, you know? He asked me-" she laughed suddenly, only deepening the frown on the Doctor's face, "-he challenged me to guess what some of the clock's functions were. He wanted to know if I knew about time! I'm a Time Lady, I basically cheated!" She giggled. It was a novel sight for the trio. Renata always held herself to a different, more serious, place so there was hardly every any childish giggles.

"Alright, I get it," Donna was beyond amused with the sight. "I mean, it wasn't really careless but I guess in your eyes it was since you're usually always, uh..." She was going to finish that with 'uptight' but she didn't want to ruin Renata's mood.

"Yeah," Gabby crossed her arms. "It's just carefree fun from your perspective but fun nonetheless...I guess." Renata sure seemed to think so judging by the grin on her face. "So can we see the clock tomorrow? Or...are we leaving tonight?

"No, you still have to see the art room Henry promised," Renata pointed. She would make sure that Henry lived up to his promise. "And you're going to see it. For right now, I think it's best if we all go to our rooms for some rest."

So, they dropped Donna off in her room first then Gabby - with the same warning for them not to leave their rooms until morning - and finally Renata.

"Now I'm going to seriously ask that you make sure your door is closed," the Doctor said, even showing Renata how to check the door.

Renata laughed softly. "Yes, alright. But don't think just because you happened to be right this time that I'll always listen to you."

"Wouldn't dream of it," the Doctor said, playfully rolling his eyes. He bid her goodnight and headed for his own room.

He wasn't planning on sleeping anyways but once his thoughts kept drifting to Renata and Henry, it was impossible to stay still. Hours passed by and he couldn't keep his thoughts from running away.

The idea of Henry trying to charm Renata was infuriating enough, but now he was thinking about what Renata said on their way back from the party. She had fun with Henry? With him?

"I've taken you to see galaxies but you have fun with him?" the Doctor stopped pacing just to scoff.

Well, she wasn't endangered or anything. She probably didn't have to run for her life. The voice in his head started making some good points. She definitely hadn't nearly fallen off a building or was carried off by a space butterfly net.

"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" he frowned and looked up as if the voice was right above him. He exhaled. He was losing his mind.

You lost your mind centuries ago.

The Doctor's face fell flat for a few seconds until an idea struck him. He started grinning in the next moment. "No point trying to get it back. Might as well do something good without a mind." It's what he did best.

~0~

Renata was nowhere near asleep when someone knocked on her door. At first she thought it was Henry himself coming for her, an idea that enraged her and had her storming towards the doors to give him a piece of her mind, but then she heard the Doctor's soft call.

She opened the door to find him on the other side. "Doctor, what are you doing?"

"Same as you, not tired," he said and looked over her party gown.

Renata self consciously wrapped an arm around herself. "...I like the gown."

"It suits you, Marchioness," the Doctor smiled at her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was just thinking...how's about we have a little adventure on our own?" he quirked an eyebrow at her, reminding her too much of the way his first incarnation would often pull the same stunt.

"I...I...what do you mean? Where to?" And there she went doing the same thing her first incarnation would do: be curious about the shenanigan the Doctor had in mind.

"I know that the King has a royal library all to himself. It's chock-full of books and other little trinkets he has around. You want to check it out?" The Doctor watched the curiosity fill Renata's eyes and, he dared to think, temptation. There was a small thrill that came with his idea and he loved it. He hadn't felt that kind of thrill in...in a very long time.

Unknowingly to the Doctor, Renata was thinking the same thing. It was the same old story no matter how much time passed. She would be doing whatever was expected of her, he would show up with a crazy idea, she'd pretend like it didn't interest her, he would persuade her...and then they would go off to do that crazy idea.

"We might get caught..." she weakly argued, but she knew it was a lost cause when the Doctor smirked.

"We might...or might not be..." he held his hand out for her and despite everything screaming that it was a bad idea, Renata took his hand. The Doctor pulled her out and smiled at her little yelp. He reached past her to close her door and then the two were off.

Renata felt like a child the way she kept giggling. It was why they almost got caught in one of the hallways. The Doctor had to pull them against the wall and motion her to keep quiet. They kept themselves pressed against the wall until the guard passed.

And then the run began again.

The Doctor kept a tight hold on Renata's hand all the way to the library's hallway. He poked his head into the new hallway and saw two guards posted in front of the library doors.

Renata poked her head beside the Doctor's and made a face at the two guards. "He needs two guards to watch his library? Who would want to steal his books?" The Doctor said nothing but slowly turned his head at her to make her re-evaluate her words. What were they trying to do again? She flushed when she got it. "Oh...right."

"It's no problem," the Doctor pulled out his sonic from his coat and pointed it at the end of the hallway.

One whir of the sonic caused a decorative table to lose its structure and break down. Renata flinched when the table legs hit the ground and the glassy smashed. The guards quickly rushed towards it thinking an intruder was afoot...and they were.

"And now!" the Doctor grabbed Renata's hand and scurried down the hallway together. The guards were too focused on the broken table to see either Time Lord sneak into the library.

Renata was in full blown laughter once they were safely inside. "I can't believe we just did that!"

"Me neither," the Doctor admitted after sonicking the doors shut. He turned around to face the giggling Time Lady and fondly smiled at her. "I'm impressed. Didn't think you had it in you."

"Oh I am full of surprises!" she wagged a finger at him then turned around to get a better look of where they were.

The library was a grand room with marbleized flooring. There were shelves and shelves of books. There were several arm chairs around the room, indicating that there was only one person allowed inside.

"Ah, those are...interesting..." Renata stopped exploring when she found a few animal heads mounted on the wall.

The Doctor came up behind her and gazed at the big ole bear head. "Henry's really big on hunting."

"And jousting," Renata's comment made the Doctor give her a glance. "He mentioned you and him used to joust. I can certainly picture that."

The Doctor smirked proudly. "We'd get a little competitive."

"You two were good friends before I came along. I would hate for your friendship to end because of me." With a sigh, Renata moved away from the Doctor.

"Oh...no, Renée," he went after her to clarify where he stood with Henry, "Look, Henry and I are friends but we both know what happens to his behavior in his later years. That's not really the Henry I met. The Henry I knew was far different than this old greedy, grubby version. He was fun. We used to have exquisite conversations about music and art. You should've seen us, Renée."

"Sorry," Renata still felt compelled to say, not for her or their situation but because it sounded like the Doctor was still upset over the loss of the Henry he knew years ago.

"Ah, don't worry. I've got new friends," he smiled at her and turned her for the bookshelves. "And one of my friends happens to enjoy sneaking about with me, so..." He grinned when Renata huffed in outrage.

"I do not!"

"You're here, aren't you?"

Renata's eyes followed him as he went down an aisle of bookshelves. He dragged his hands along either shelf, picking out books at random.

"Want a peek?" he tauntingly waved a book at her.

Renata thought he looked incredibly handsome right now. She needed to push those thoughts away. With a deep breath, she walked up to him and snatched the book from his hands. "Wipe that smug smile off your face," she said calmly and walked around him.

"Me? Smug? I would never!" He turned after her.

Renata took advantage of the entire room. She peeked at every book she could get her hands on, finding the humans' early concept of writing simply fascinating. Many things were wrong, which she pointed out to the Doctor, but the mere fact that the humans wrote with such confidence and research was heartwarming.

"Even in such primitive times they work so hard," she remarked after going through one of the astrological notes Henry had collected. "I mean it's wrong but, all the same...it's admiring."

"I told you humans are fascinating," the Doctor came up behind her with a handheld mirror.

"Too bad Henry, as educated as he actually is, he's also a bit conceded," Renata held the tip of the handheld mirror and gave it a light wave. "Not to mention a coldhearted murderer."

"Mm," the Doctor could only hum in agreement.

Renata returned the notes to its proper place. Meanwhile, the Doctor drifted towards one of the shelves on the right.

"Oh, have we gone to Paris for an opera show?" he suddenly asked after pulling out a opera somebody had written for Henry.

"What?" Renata laughed shortly.

"I'm thinking we should go one of these days."

Renata continued to laugh. "You at an opera? Forgive me for laughing but I don't think you could handle staying quiet."

"I could too!" the Doctor frowned, but she kept on laughing.

She backtracked with a hand on her stomach. "I don't...I don't think-"

The Doctor's eyes widened when he saw she was approaching one of the tables. "Renée!"

But it was too late, Renata's back pushed the table and tipped it over. She stopped laughing the moment she heard the crash of the ground. "Oh no!" she gasped with a hand over her mouth.

"Quick, hide!" she heard the Doctor exclaim and without thinking, the pair ran behind the first aisle of shelves. They took position at each end of the shelves.

The same guards from before came running into the room.

"Who's there!?" one of them demanded while the second guard studied the broken table.

"Just like before," he murmured.

"I think it's one of the drinkers from the feast," the first guard said. "Probably out of his mind. Come on out!"

Renata tried her best not to make any noises, especially because she felt like her hearts were about to implode under her chest. She threw a look at the Doctor at the end of the bookshelf, asking him what were they going to do. But of course he had a plan. He always made up plans to get them out just before they would get caught. If they evaded the Time Lords, they could surely evade 16th century human guards.

'On my signal,' he mouthed to her. She nodded fervently. He aimed his sonic at the window and with one flick, the entire window shattered.

"Over there!" the second guard ran straight for it, prompting the first guard to leave the table forgotten.

The Doctor made a nod at Renata to go now. The two ran straight for the open doors as fast as they could. They joined hands as soon as they got into the hallway and continued to run.

Suddenly, Renata saw them running down the hallway of the academy after nearly getting caught wandering through the classes and prohibited rooms for students. And it made her hearts sore. She felt as carefree as she used to be with the Doctor as Zuriah. They were young, they were full of adrenaline and...they were in love.

Even the Doctor got the faint sense that this was all familiar, a bit too familiar, but the running made him push the thought to the side for now. He yanked Renata down the hallway of her bedroom and finally slowed down.

"That was incredible!" Renata was laughing melodically beside him. She brought a hand up to her hair bun that was on the verge of falling apart from all their running. She yelped in surprise when the Doctor gently brought her from her side to his front. Her free hand had come to rest over his chest and her other hand seemed locked under the Doctor's free hand.

"You had fun?" the Doctor asked quietly though with his ragged breathing it came out a little louder than intended. They were both still trying to catch their breaths, they could feel it. Renata felt the Doctor's chest heaving up and down under her hand and since Renata's chest was pressed to his, the Doctor could feel her own heavy breathing.

"Of course..." Renata swallowed down and laughed, hoping the air would fill her lungs soon. "I always have fun with you!" She had no idea what her words meant to the Doctor, especially right now. All she saw was his grin making its mark on his face. "Maybe tomorrow we can, uh, I can show you the, uh...the..." She was beginning to lose her train of thought the more she stared at the Doctor.

Yet another thing he used to do during their adventures back then.

He really did have gorgeous eyes, didn't he? They were the same from his first incarnation, honestly, with the only difference being the years that'd gone by. His eyes was how he charmed his way into her life and got her to break the rules. He never had to force her; he claimed there was a little part of her that wanted to have fun and be carefree, he only helped her come out. She wasn't all 'uptight' as each of her incarnations had been, she did like to have to fun and forget about the rules sometimes.

Like right now.

Right now the proper thing to do was to step away from the Doctor and bid him goodnight, but she wasn't doing either thing. In fact, it seemed like they were even closer now than they were a few seconds ago. The Doctor had lowered his head to meet her gaze and if he moved just a bit forwards, their lips would meet too.

Right now, the right thing to do was to leave.

'If we were alone, I might just kiss you...' The thought of when they were dancing came rushing back, but Renata was too far-gone to blush about it.

And the thoughts running in the Doctor's head weren't making him want to pull away anytime soon. He just kept thinking about her running with him, sneaking into a forbidden room, their talks while they got around the room. It was irrelevant conversations but it was the fact that she was playing along with his ridiculous plan that made his hearts swell. Donna probably would've been bored out of her mind and Gabby would've opted for a much calmer plan. Renata just understood him, even if it was hard for her sometimes. She went along with his conversations, even comforting him with something as indifferent as his old friendship with King Henry.

Something about it was familiar but it wasn't what was bringing him closer to Renata. He was just drawn to her whether he could see it or not, and up until now he hadn't seen it. Now that he had...her lips looked far too taunting to let them go.

Renata's breath hitched the moment the Doctor let his lips brush over hers and whether she would've gasped or not she didn't know because she just let him kiss her right there. She let his hand go and brought it to his chest while he lowered his hand to her waist. He kissed her gently, keeping it slow and sweet, unknowingly the same as the very first time they had kissed centuries ago. Later on, Renata would find it ironic that even that was the same. As seconds ticked by, they found their (old) sync and moved their lips with one another like it was a slow dance. Renata felt her body tingle when the Doctor's hand reached up to the nape of her neck where her loose bun was about to be undone. He pulled lightly on the strands to then run his fingers through them, eventually making the whole bun come down. It didn't matter; it just gave the Doctor an easier access to her curls.

But a few seconds later, the two heard the running footsteps down the next hall.

Renata pushed herself away from the Doctor, eyes wide in alarm and not just because of what happened. "You gotta go! They'll catch us!"

As much as he would love to stay with her, he had to agree. Getting caught would completely ruin the night (and it had been such a good night). "Go into your room quick."

Renata nodded and ushered him to run. "Go! Run, Doctor!"

He smiled as if asking her 'When, don't I?' then took off. Renata hurried into her own room, closing the door just as she heard guards came by. They were still searching for the 'drunk' who'd snuck into the King's private room.

Renata quietly laughed to herself and came up to the side of her bed. She wasn't sleepy before but now there was no way she could ever shut her eyes. She pushed herself back against the bed's headboard and deeply exhaled.

You're an idiot, she concluded but there wasn't a part of her that was sad about it. Being an idiot led to such a fun moment, a fun night...and a pretty good ending. Her fingers brushed over her lips and soon found herself smiling.

~ 0 ~

The next morning, Renata walked into the Great Hall for breakfast and was amazed at how clean it was after such a night. It didn't even look like there'd been a party last night. She was about to choose her seat when Queen Anne called for her.

"Marchioness Renata, join me," she patted the empty spot next to her.

Renata read the room and instantly knew that this wasn't something the Queen would do often, but she still gave a nod and headed for the chair Anne motioned to. "Good morning, your Majesty," she did the customary bow and took a seat.

"Morning," Anne studied the nervous shift Renata did every few seconds. "I must say, your hair is looks far better when it's not in that strict, tight bun."

"What?" Renata's hand instinctively flung to her wavy curls left down today. "Oh, uh...thank you." A blush ran across her face at the reason why she'd left her hair completely alone. She could still feel the Doctor's fingers going through it at times. "Left it on a whim."

Anne smiled and reached for a piece of bread to place on her tray. "I'm sure."

It was then that Renata realized that Anne must still be thinking that she was after the King, her husband. She swallowed hard and shifted in her chair. "Your Majesty, I know there must be some terrible rumors out there about me and, uh, the King, but I assure you that I am not looking for a husband. I have no interest in becoming a...a mistress." Even the word disgusted her and Anne must have seen it too because she laughed.

"Well of I course I know!"

Renata froze in her seat, her eyes blinking rapidly for a few seconds. "...you...you know?"

Anne sobered from her laugh to smile. "Of course I do. I mean, I did suspect in the beginning but after seeing you at the celebration I knew my suspicions were misplaced."

"Wh-wh-what made you think that?"

Anne gave Renata a specific look that, while it took Renata few minutes to read, made it seem like the answer was obvious. "Lady Renata, I know what the rumors say about me, but I assure you that I am smart. I may not be smart about English culture but I know my German culture very well. You are not interested in my husband because your heart belongs to the Doctor. I saw the way you looked at him last night while you were dancing, and no woman looks at a man like that without loving him."

Renata's mouth opened but instead of saying words, all that came out was a heavy exhale. "Oh, you are...you are very perceptive."

Anne smiled knowingly. "I am. I also know when my husband is trying to find a woman. I am no fool. I know that he does not want me for a wife any longer. I shall expect the annulment very soon but I will not end up like his previous wives. The mistake they all did was to say no. I will not do the same."

"You're going to let him annul your marriage," Renata said quietly, almost feeling bad for her if Henry wasn't as bad as he actually was. It would be freedom when Anne got her settlement.

"Of course," Anne nodded. "So you see, even if you had been interested in becoming the next Queen of England, I would not have been that upset."

"But I'm not!" Renata quickly said, as if Anne would go back to thinking that. "I'm really, really not!"

Anne chuckled. "Yes, I noted that. Can I ask you something, though?"

"Of course."

Anne leaned closer to speak in a hushed whisper, "You and the Doctor are not from around here, are you? And those 'sisters' you say...are not your sisters, right?"

Renata's eyes once again widened. "How...why would you say that?"

"Because I have seen some of the portraits that Henry commissioned years ago and while Henry has aged...the Doctor has not. And the last time I remembered, there is no Marchioness of Gallifrey."

"Ah, well," Renata pressed the skirt of her gown, unsure of how to move on from here.

"Do not worry, I have no interest in outing you. Why would I? You seem so like your are so much fun!"

"Me?" Renata's eyes snapped up to meet Anne's. "You think I'm fun?"

"Yes! You seem to know what you want, you know what you're doing-"

Renata had to laugh this time. "Oh, your Majesty, you've got it all wrong!"

~ 0 ~

When the Doctor, Donna and Gabby came into the room, the first thing they spotted was Renata conversing with the Queen. She was smiling, looking as if she'd just been laughing. The Doctor thought she looked exceptionally beautiful today. Even the sun seemed to shine bright over her like she was a goddess.

"Well, you two seem better," Donna's remark pulled the Doctor out of his thoughts. He blinked away from Renata and noticed that Gabby was already on her way to sit next to her. Donna had stuck around to study her best friend. "She's not scowling and you've got your idiot face back on."

"Idiot fa - what!?" the Doctor frowned at her.

Donna smirked. "It's true, moving on. I take you talked at some point in the night?"

The Doctor immediately coughed as if he actually had something stuck in his throat. It was loud enough to pull Renata's attention and see him and Donna lingering by the entrance.

"I wonder what Donna said this time," Gabby remarked beside Renata.

Renata smiled lightly. "Oh, I bet she said something alright. That's Donna...and that's the Doctor."

"I'm just glad you guys are okay now...you are better now, right?"

Renata felt her face warm up so she did her best to keep it hidden from Gabby. She couldn't do the same with the Queen. "We, uh, we are." And she would leave it at that because even she was having trouble putting her thoughts in order. She would have to at some point.

"Your Majesty," the Doctor came by with Donna at his side.

"Doctor," the Queen gave him the nod to take a seat.

He was quick to do so and once he was comfortable, he flashed Renata and Gabby a smile. "Ladies." He met Renata's gaze and let his smile linger with hers.

~ 0 ~

"Oh, so this is the famous clock," Donna cocked her head to the side as she followed the movements of the clock hanging on the wall.

"I think it's pretty!" Gabby exclaimed and glanced at Renata and the Doctor, the two of them standing next to each other. "I can see why you wanted to show us."

"I thought it was beautiful and the fact it's handmade is another reason to admire it," Renata smiled contently. The astronomical clock would certainly be her favorite thing she saw in this trip.

"Certainly," the Doctor agreed. He would give Henry his credit where it was due. The clock was built beautifully and correctly. But that was all that he would give the King. And speaking of...

"Ah, Lady Renata," King Henry approached the group, choosing to ignore everyone else but the blonde Marchioness. "You disappeared last night from the celebration."

"Did I?" Renata scratched her cheek, feigning confusion. She remembered that she specifically tried to avoid him last night, and today as well.

"And then you spent all morning with my wife," Henry said so as if Renata should be ashamed for wasting her time. "Surely that could not have been pleasurable."

"Actually, her Majesty is quite interesting," Renata smiled and glanced at the others. They agreed with simultaneous nods. Renata and Anne seemed to get along now that their intentions were clear. "And contrary to what you told me, her Majesty is very educated. I think you failed to mention that she knows plenty German."

Henry rolled his eyes. "My Lady, let us not waste breaths on the Queen. I have appointed you a new bedchamber far more appropriate for you."

"Oh, uh, we are actually..."

"We're leaving today, Henry," the Doctor said seriously. "We were actually going to leave right after lunch."

"What? But the Marchioness has agreed to stay here," Henry met Renata's surprised expression quite well as he did not look the least bit guilty for making up the lie on the spot. His eyes practically ordered her to agree.

With a huff, she responded, "I most certainly did not. I specifically said I would not because we had to go to London."

"Surely you cannot be choosing to go to London over-"

"I said this before!" Renata exclaimed with another huff. "Did you not listen to any of my words!?"

"Probably not," the Doctor muttered. "My good friend Henry has selective hearing."

Henry scoffed. "Listen Doctor, stay out of my royal business. This is between the Marchioness and myself."

"It's really not," the Doctor scowled at the King. "I am here to assist the Marchioness and her sisters-"

"Oh please! We all know that's not true! You're after the Marchioness too!"

"Hey!" Renata cut in and placed herself between the two. "The Marchioness can speak for herself, you know!?"

"Shouldn't we help Ren?" Gabby whispered to Donna but the ginger was keenly watching the trio.

"No...I'm interested..."

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, I do not care for the fact you're making up lies. I thanked you for your offer but I didn't accept. I am leaving with the Doctor and my sisters today."

Henry shot a glare at Renata and the Doctor. "The King decrees you shall not."

"Excuse me?" Renata almost laughed but when she looked at Henry's face that wasn't lightening up. "You're...you're actually serious?"

"He is, Renée," the Doctor took her hand and tightly held it. "Because that's basically how he gets what he wants."

"That did not seem to bother you in our old times," Henry was quick to say, smirking as if he'd just proven a good point.

"Because you weren't talking about people!" snapped the Doctor. "You were talking about food! Books! Not people! Renata is not somebody you can snap your fingers to get!"

"When you are the King of England you can."

"I will not stand here and be insulted," Renata scowled. She felt her body warm up but it wasn't the good type of warm she'd felt with the Doctor, it was the sicky warm type she experienced when the visited Agatha Christie. She checked her fingers and was mortified to once again see the golden wisps of energy rising. She balled them up quickly. "Doctor, I...I don't feel so well..."

The Doctor side-glanced to see her face incredibly pale, not to mention her hand in his had become excessively warm. "Hey," he turned to her and cupped her face. Her eyes were blinking rapidly and he swore he saw something gold flicker past them.

"Hands off, Doctor," Henry ordered. "Or I shall call my guards and have them escort you and the sisters out of my castle!"

"Oh screw off!" the Doctor snapped, shocking the King.

"Doctor, we should get her back to the TARDIS," Gabby quickly said, her mind already going to dangerous scenarios with Renata's health.

"She is not going anywhere!" the King insisted but the Doctor threw him a glare that stopped him for a moment.

"We are leaving and you have no say in that!"

"Do not forget who I am, Doctor," Henry said just before he started calling for the guards.

"Doctor, we should run! Like now!" Donna exclaimed.

"Yeah, let's...run!" he told them. He grabbed Renata's hand and pulled them into a run. Renata was eternally grateful that the golden energy was gone by then.

"Gabby, I am so sorry I couldn't show you the art room!" Renata found time to apologize during their run.

"That's okay!" Gabby quickly said, yelping when one of the guards started shooting. "All forgotten! Let's just go!"

"Do you think we can make it!?" Renata cried after nearly tripping on one of her feet. These dresses were not made for running away! "You couldn't have let Henry believe for a minute that he'd won so we could have a head start!?"

"Oh, so this is my fault now!?" the Doctor threw her an indignant glance.

"No, well...maybe!? I don't know - I don't feel well!"

"Oh God, get a room later but for now just RUN!" Donna's shout echoed through the forest as they all ran their very best from the guards chasing them.

---

Author's Note:

I loved writing this chapter like you wouldn't believe it. It's possibly my favorite chapter of this story! I've been watching the Netflix show 'Elite' and my favorite character is the daughter of a marchioness and I just couldn't stop thinking that Renata was the perfect OC to fit the title on! Whaddya think?

I've also posted a one-shot/au companion story for this story! "The Home Collection" is on my profile in case anyone wanted to go read the first one-shot!

Aaaaaand they kissed! Stupid idiots, but they kissed! It'll continue to pop up in the next chapters! And speaking of...ladies and gents, from here on out we are reaching the end of this story. I'm just going to tell you right now that I am not doing Midnight. I tried fitting it in with what this story is going to have but...I couldn't do it. After what happens in the next chapters, I just could NOT see either Time Lord going on the Midnight train. But I do make it up by adding a few original chapters towards the end (warning it's a lot of angst!).

So...just be ready for the next chapter :))

For the reviews:

HannahHPandDWfanJones: Yup! She got her own sonic screwdriver! So sweet of the Doctor. Thank you! Hope you liked this chapter as well!

lexicaruso: Seriously, thank YOU for all these nice words! I am SO happy that you like the story and its arcs! It really does make me want to keep writing more and more. And p.s I would so love to see Ren and especially Gabby to be on the show xD. Oh, the secret is coming out VERY soon now. Because of what happened in this chapter, it HAS to come out now. And Ren with 11? I won't say anything because spoilers but if I were to write them, I think they would be hilarious just because of how more childish the 11th Doctor could be than 10. Just...just imagine them xD

savethemadscientist: No, no, I want to bang their heads too for being so stupid. You're so not alone! They're perfect opposites and yet they're still the same sometimes which just makes them equally stubborn. Yeah, he was super nervous giving her the sonic and he had no idea why. I could literally see him stumbling even before I wrote the scene. And hope you liked this chapter! Stay safe as well!

DarkSideofParis: The Unicorn and the Wasp is my favorite episode from 10's era! I always love writing this episode out because of it. I thought it would be nice if Ren showed a little more of what she is like when she's excited. It's the same thing that I tried to show in this chapter because even if she doesn't know it, she really is like the Doctor sometimes. She's uptight but she can have her own fun, even though she's totally awkward doing it (my poor baby girl xD). Yikes the golden energy is definitely coming to create some problems...we'll just have to wait and see. Again, thank youuu!