Legal stuff...
A/N: I lvoe this chapter...it gets into the more juicey part of the story...this is where the promised curves come in...enjoy
5 Months Later
Henry quietly let himself in the door. He had been out late taking care of a few things with his father, and had told Danielle not to wait up for him, but when he turned around after closing the door he found her sitting in the bay window staring down to the dying bustle in the stable yard. Danielle obviously didn't hear him come in because she didn't turn to greet him. Henry stood at the door pondering for a moment. What is the matter? She's been so out of character lately.
Indeed she had. His normally happy and bubbly wife had seemed very downtrodden, preoccupied, and almost worried. Instead of galloping all over the grounds, like she usually did, she'd politely turned down all of Henry's invitations and stayed in doing needle work or reading. And now, above all things, she'd waited up for him, something she never did if he was going to be out late. Something was not the way it should have been.
Henry walked over and joined her in the window. "Hello." she said in a heavy voice, not taking her eyes away from the stable. Henry stared at her questioningly for a few moments, an act the usually bothered her but tonight she ignored it. Ok, something's not the way it should be.
"What's wrong?"
Danielle turned to face Henry with tears in her eyes. She moved closer to her husband and let herself sink into his chest. Henry unconsciously wrapped his arms around her and repeated the question. "What's the matter?"
After a few minutes Danielle pushed herself back about a foot in front of Henry. She wanted him to come to her instead of pushing her away when she told him the news. She looked directly into his eyes with a small smile. "Nothing's wrong Henry, but there is something you need to know." Henry gave her a confused and worried look. Danielle let out a long sigh. "I'm pregnant. I wasn't sure if I was and I didn't want to tell you until I was absolutely sure." Henry's expression went from the confused/worried look to a shocked/slapped across the cheek face. "Please say something." she begged as her eyes began to tear again.
"I--I--wh--" he stammered. Oh God, did she just say what I thought she did? Am I really going to be a father? Are we ready for this? He stared blankly at Danielle. "I--I--"
It was clear to Danielle that Henry wasn't going to say anything. She let the tears stream down her face as she slowly rose from the sitting bench, made her way to the closet and pushed the door closed. Henry rested his head against the stone that supported the bench. What have I done? he thought to himself as he listened to the muffled sobs coming from the closed door. Then he remembered what he'd said to Danielle just after their wedding "Sometimes actions speak louder than words."
Suddenly Henry knew exactly what he had to do. He quickly rose from the sitting bench and covered the ground from there to the sobbing door in a grand total of six strides. He took a deep breath and gently knocked. "Danielle?" he asked trying to sound as comforting as possible. Slowly the door creaked open revealing a red, puffy face. Usually she only let her fear show in her eyes but now she wore it out where anyone could see. Henry's protective instincts took over and enveloped Danielle into a deep, passionate, French kiss.
"I love you." Henry whispered once they'd separated. "Everything's going to be ok. I'll always be right here, always." He pulled her into a strong, loving hug and let her rest her head on his chest, tears still streaming down her face.
"Henry, are we ready for this?" Danielle asked lifting her head so she could see his eyes.
Henry sighed and slowly backed to the bed and sat so that Danielle could lie down and lay her head in his lap. "If we're not, we have nine months to prepare. I'm sure my parents will be more than willing to help too." he said absent-mindedly stroking her hair.
Danielle unconsciously ran her fingers up and down Henry's calf. "I wish that would make me feel more confident." she whispered sleepily.
"Danielle," Henry said pulling her up to eye level, "we'll be fine. I'll be right by you the whole time." He pulling Danielle into his chest and after some time she fell asleep. After he was confident that she was ok he leaned his head against the pillow and drifted off.
Danielle absent-mindedly pushed her breakfast around on her plate as she listened to her husband and in-laws make polite conversation. The subject of the couple's future hadn't come up yet and She wasn't sure if she wanted it to or not. But today luck was not on her side.
"Danielle, darling are you all right?" the queen asked, abruptly putting down her fork.
Henry glanced over at Danielle and reached down for her hand. She gave him a desperate look and squeezed his hand looking for support. Sensing that she was too nervous to get the words out, Henry chimed in for her. "Mother, Father, we're going to have a baby."
The king dropped his fork and began to choke on the grape he just ate. The queen's face turned a ghostly white and stared at her son as if she didn't believe her ears.
Danielle was so ashamed she could hardly breathe. First her stepmother rejects her and now her mother-in -law. She suddenly felt an overpowering need to be out of the presence of the royal family that she was supposedly part of. Letting go of Henry's hand, she began to rise from her chair.
Once Danielle had gotten to her feet the reality of what her son had just told her snapped into full comprehension in the queen's mind. I'm going to be a grandmother! That fact alone seemed to make her majesty completely forget about royal etiquette causing her to let out a loud squeal as she got up from her chair, ran around the table and practically knocked Danielle over in a hug. "Congratulations!" The king finally got the grape out of his throat but still couldn't seem to find his voice so he just reached across the table and gave his son a fatherly slap on the shoulder. "What are you going to name it?" the queen asked as she and Danielle both sat down.
"We're not sure." Danielle said looking over at her husband. "Henry didn't even know until last night so we haven't had much time to think about it."
"Well, you'll have to tell me as soon as you decide." Marie was hardly able to control her excitement.
"Mother, you still have nine months to wait." Henry said getting up and reaching across the slender table to give his mother an appreciative squeeze on the shoulder. He then turned to Danielle who was a bit confused as to why he was leaving so early. "I have to go take care of a few things, just meet me back in our chamber." he whispered in her ear. She nodded understandingly and turned back to face her in-laws.
Danielle stepped into an empty study after breakfast. He said he was going to be here. Perhaps he's in the bedchamber. Danielle pushed open the door and glanced around the room, no Henry. Something caught her eye on the bed, a scarlet velvet bag with a little note attached to it.
Danielle's curiosity took over as she walked over and picked up the object. It was fairly heavy and bendable, like a book. She carefully unfolded the paper and smiled to herself at the sight of Henry's sloppy handwriting.
"Congratulations! I thought perhaps you would like something to do while you stay in. I love you!" -Henry
Slightly perplexed at the note, she untied the string and pulled the book out of its hiding. Suddenly her eyes began to tear. She knew exactly what this book was. Millions of memories came flooding back to her as she finally began to cry. Her father, her friends, the Baroness, Margarite, the apple, they all came crashing down on her. Danielle whipped her eyes and turned the book over in her hands to read the title. Utopia.
See, I told you! And trust me, there'll be more surprises later! I promise!