A/N: And the story takes another interesting turn...

Chapter Seven

London, 1666

House and Althea stopped at a nearby lagoon for lunch. "Nice spread," he said as he watched her lay everything out on a large blanket. There was wine, cheese, chicken and cupcakes.

"I know about you and your very healthy appetite, Sir Gregory," she said as she sat back and watched him pour them some wine.

"You know, you don't have to be so formal," he told her. "You don't have to call me Sir, or even Dr. House. You can just call me Greg. You call Emmett by his first name, after all," he pointed out. "Speaking of which. Did you hurt yourself climbing out of his window last night?"

She blushed as red as her dress and glared at him. "How do you know about that?"

"Just the way he looked like the cat that ate the canary and the fact that he locked the door to his workshop when he never did before. Something was up. So how was it?"

"How was what?" she groaned, clearly flustered with this line of questioning.

"Well something went down last night. You're very quiet this morning."

"I will not discuss my personal life with you, good sir."

"Oh, so now I'm a 'good sir,' well it's better than being a bad one. So you two played some tonsil hockey, who cares? Just don't let daddy find out."

Her eyes widened. "Tonsil hockey?"

"Yeah. Either you kissed him or he kissed you. Either way, what do you see in an old guy like him, anyway?"

Althea fidgeted a little and then took a long sip of her wine. "I don't. What happened last night was a mistake. A result of my drinking too much wine at the festivities. I'm afraid it gave me courage to do and say things I would not entertain otherwise. So when Emmett kissed me again this morning..." her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes and seemed to curse silently to herself. "I do not even know why I am telling you any of this. But I feel like I can talk to you. Tell you anything. And I do not even know you."

"You can tell me anything. I am a doctor after all. I also don't judge people. So what's the deal?" he asked as he poured her another glass of wine.

"Deal?"

"What happened?"

"Well, I think Emmett likes me more than I like him, and I feel horrible for leading him on, which is why I went to see him this morning. We agreed that it wasn't a good idea for us to be anything other than just good friends."

House nodded. "Good for you. Was that before or after you two sucked face?"

Althea frowned again. "Why do you have to use those ridiculous metaphors all the time?"

"To amuse myself," he grinned. "Really. I have to know. What is it about that guy? You two have forty years between you. What could you possibly have in common?"

Althea began putting items back into the picnic basket quickly. "I will not discuss this with the man who's had half the women in the kingdom in his bed, let alone my own sister."

"What's the matter, Princess? Is it the fact that I slept with her? Or that she beat you to the punch?"

Althea gasped and House knew he went too far with that statement but he didn't apologize. "How dare you!"

"How dare I what?" he challenged as he stared into the depths of her green eyes.

"How dare you infer that I would have anything to do with a—wastrel like you!"

"Oh, so now I'm a wastrel. I wonder what I'll be tomorrow."

"Oh I don't know. Maybe a cretin!"

"I'm too tall to be a cretin. Cretin's have stunted growth. Usually from a thyroid deficiency..."

"Alright enough!"

There was rustling in the woods and House stood up but placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her down. "Shhh! Stay down," he hissed.

"Why?"

"I don't think we're alone."

"That's absurd! I travel these woods all the time. I've never seen anybody else on the trails."

"Never say never. Grab your stuff and let's get out of here."

They rode through the woods at breakneck speed, and arrived at the stable where Emmett was just finishing up for the day. Althea had barely gotten off her horse when she was in Emmett's arms, clinging for dear life.

"It was all so frightening. I think we were followed."

House watched the display with great interest and amusement and was about to say something about it when everyone else jumped at attention. "Make way for his majesty!" Someone shouted, causing Althea and Emmett to step away from one another just in time for the King to make his entrance.

He surveyed everyone around him and turned to his daughter. "You're back early, daughter."

"Yes, father. Sir Gregory and I went for a ride, but we heard someone in the woods so we rushed back immediately."

He looked at House with concern. "You were followed?"

"I don't think so, your Majesty. I didn't see anyone but I definitely heard something following behind us on the way back."

"Good man," the king nodded. "Thank you for bringing her back safe and sound. Now, as for why I'm here, there's someone I want you to meet, Althea. I'll expect you in the throne room once you've gotten out of your riding clothes."

She curtsied quickly. "Yes, father."

Everyone bowed as the king turned and left the stable and Althea quickly followed her father back to the castle.

"So were you followed?" Emmett inquired.

"I don't know. But there was definitely someone or something on our tail."

"You're still back pretty early. What's the matter? Didn't it go well?"

"What's the matter, Doc? Did you miss her?"

"Butt out, House. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh I think I do. Althea and I did a lot of talking this afternoon."

Emmett blinked. "And? What did she say?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't breach doctor-patient confidentiality. HIPAA regulations and all that."

"Cut the crap, House, there's no HIPAA where the Princess is concerned. When she got checked to ensure her virginity before marrying the Duke, it was all over the kingdom in a matter of hours that she isn't a virgin. It's as bad as the National Enquirer around here. This place is a hotbed of gossip."

"Wait, you're saying she's not a virgin?" House laughed. "I call bullshit on that. Ten bucks says she paid the doctor to say that so the Duke wouldn't want to marry her. Obviously that backfired. I'll bet her father was furious."

Emmett actually laughed as he recalled it. "Damn right he was. He demanded she tell him who deflowered her."

"What did she say?"

"She said, and I quote, 'a lady never tells.'"

House laughed out loud. "Well I'll say this for her. She's got spunk."

"Yes she does," Emmett said, looking off into space as he thought about her for the two hundredth time that day.

XXX

"My beautiful daughter, come!" King Richard called to Althea when she entered the throne room where her father and two strange men stood.

"You wanted to see me?"

"I want to introduce you to King Jonathan Suffolk, and his son Jonathan Suffolk II, the Prince of Canterbury."

Althea looked in the prince's direction and was immediately unimpressed as he stood there looking bored. He was short, thin, with red hair and beady eyes. His skin was very fair and he wasn't the least bit attractive. He was also young, perhaps only a few years older than she was.

She curtsied and gave one of her best smiles. "Your Majesty, your Highness." King Jon gave his son a shove and he nearly fell over before stumbling his way towards her.

"It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Princess Althea," he said, in a very nasally voice. "You're as pretty as they say."

"Why, thank you. Welcome to our humble kingdom."

"With any luck, we will be able to join kingdoms," the prince said, giving her a very overly enthusiastic wink which only she could see. "Oh, the fun we will have, the love we will make, the babies you will give me..."

"Babies...I will give you?" Althea repeated, suddenly feeling faint.

"Princess?" Jonathan inquired as she fanned herself and then failed to catch her when she did faint, her head hitting the hard stone floor.

When she opened her eyes sometime later, she was greeted by the most amazing pair of blue eyes she'd ever seen in her life. She didn't know how she never noticed them before. They were so blue and so amazing. It then suddenly dawned on her that she was looking into the eyes of Dr. Gregory House.

Oh Christ, am I'm in trouble, she thought to herself and then closed her eyes again. How did I not notice his eyes before? Was I blind?

If I keep my eyes closed, maybe everyone will disappear and all that nonsense about the prince and babies will just be a dream.

"C'mon, beautiful. Open those green eyes for us," House coaxed as he stood over her while everyone watched. Prince Jonathan bristled but didn't say anything.

"She is beautiful," he agreed. "And she's going to be my wife."

House glanced up at him and managed to resist laughing. "Is that so?"

"Yes, that is so. Are you the doctor?"

"Yeah."

"Then why are you not dressed like the other peons?"

"Dr. House is a brilliant doctor, and he saved my daughter's life when she was attacked by ruffians some months ago. He's also been elevated to Knight, therefore, he is free to dress as he likes," King Richard spoke up. "And you will treat him with the respect he deserves. This man might save your life one of these days."

"Then again, I might not," House mumbled as he placed a cool compress on Althea's head where a nasty bump had formed.

She felt him squeeze her hand and the underlying current of electricity that passed between them was unmistakeable.

Where was this coming from? He was infuriating earlier. So much so that she couldn't get away from him fast enough. Now all she wanted to do was look into those blue depths.

"Ya know, you're really not making me look good," he whispered in her ear. "At least open your eyes and sit up for me. You might have concussion. I need you to stay awake."

She opened one eye, and then the other and he helped her sit up. "There you go. How's your head? You bumped it pretty good back there, thanks to his royal anus."

"I beg your pardon?" Prince Jon gasped.

"Can't you tell when a woman is about to pass out?"

"Well I..."

"Yeah that's what I thought. Go away now, I need to treat my patient. She needs to be in bed and monitored for the next twenty-four hours."

"Is that your professional opinion, doctor?" the prince snapped.

"No, it's common procedure for when someone has a concussion. So step back and let me do my job." He turned to her. "Are you okay to walk to your chambers, Princess?"

"Yes, Dr. House, I can manage just fine," she smiled sweetly at him and took the arm he offered her.

"I can help too," the prince offered as he attempted to take her other arm, but Althea gave him a glare.

"That isn't necessary. The good doctor is quite capable of taking care of my needs."

"I'm sure he is," the prince muttered as he watched House and Althea walk out of the room with her on his arm.

"Please tell me you're not marrying that little wimp," House said once they were out of earshot.

"Alright, I won't tell you."

"Seriously? What is with your father trying to marry you off so young?"

"He wants more heirs. A male one, preferably."

"If it's heirs he wants, I'm sure I can accommodate you," House leered.

Althea sighed as her ladies in waiting helped her undress. "I'm sure you can, but it will not be necessary. Honestly, doctor House," she hissed as she came out from behind the privacy wall and climbed into her bed. "Ohh, my head," she moaned as she rubbed at it.

"How's the pain on a scale of one to ten?"

She thought about it for a few seconds. "A seven, maybe eight."

"Hmm," House said as he went to the medical kit that Emmett gave him and found a couple of extra strength Tylenol. "Here, take these. I'm sorry I don't have anything stronger."

"What is this?"

"Medicine for your headache. You'll probably have one for the next few days."

She took the pills and the juice he offered her and swallowed them. "Are you really going to stay here all night and watch me?"

"Yep," he said as he found a big chair and dragged it next to her bed. "I wasn't lying about the first twenty-hour hours being critical. You need to rest and I need to make sure you don't die in your sleep."

"I hit my head that hard?"

"Hard enough. Of course, without a CAT scan it's difficult to say how bad it was. But that's a pretty big bump on your head."

Althea scrunched her face in confusion. "What's a CAT scan?"

"It's a tool I use to locate damage to the brain."

He then reached for her wrist to take her pulse and she tried to pull away. "I can take my own pulse."

"Really?" he chuckled. "Okay. Count for fifteen seconds. Go." Fifteen seconds passed by. "What did you get?"

"Two hundred."

"Okay. Either you suck at math or you'll be dead in two seconds." He studied her for two seconds and then nodded. "You suck at math. Leave the medical stuff to me."

She sighed. "I wonder if Emmett knows I'm here..."

"I'm sure he does. Hell, the whole castle's probably heard about you taking a dive by now. Are you still worried about him?"

"I feel bad that I led him on. And I do not love him but when he kissed me last night the way he did, and then again this morning. I don't know. I can't help but feel something for the man."

"Lust. That's all it is. Seriously, Princess. Nothing can come of it, you know that."

"Yes I know. You've told me already. And as to the answer to your question about what he and I have in common, that's between Emmett and myself. I will not discuss it with you."

"Oh come on," he chuckled. "You gotta tell me. It's not enough just to find him attractive. Chemistry only goes so far. You also need a meeting of the minds."

"We both love science. We've had some very interesting conversations about it."

"Let me guess, time travel?"

"Sometimes. He knows something about everything. I could sit and listen to him talk all night long, and I have. He's a very good story teller."

"Yeah, he is. Has he told you anything about where he's from?"

"Only that he's from America. It sounds so amazing and beautiful."

"Here is beautiful."

"Yes it is, but I think it's a different kind of beauty."

"I suppose." He watches her eyes droop closed. "Sleep now," he said as he reached for her wrist again. Her pulse was back to normal and he felt better knowing that. It would be safe to let her rest.

When Althea woke up a few hours later, she looked over and saw House dozing off in the chair he was sitting in. She was glad he was asleep. It gave her a chance to study him.

He really was attractive, in a rugged sort of way. He never shaved, and his stubble made him look younger than he was. She wasn't sure how old that was, but she assumed he was in his mid to late thirties at most. Her eyes drifted down to his chest where his muscles could be seen through the fabric of his shirt. He was very nicely built as well. Not too big, just big enough to look strong and steady. She liked a man who took care of himself. She knew Emmett wasn't built that way. He was slightly muscular as well, but not the way House was. From there she looked at his long legs that were stretched out in front of him and then at his hands.

He had long, thin fingers and very attractive hands. She blushed when she thought about how those hands felt when he was taking her pulse. They were soft. Nothing like other men she knew, whose hands were rough from years of working in the fields.

"Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer," he muttered, eyes still closed, and she looked away immediately.

"I..."

"It's fine. How's your pain on the scale of one to ten?"

"I think I could say that it's at about a four. My head is throbbing a little but it is not bothersome. How long have I been asleep?"

"A few hours. Are you hungry?"

"Yes, a little."

"I'll have something brought up. I don't suppose you'd want to have dinner with me in here, would you?"

She smiled. "That would be lovely, yes."

House smirked, the corner of his lips curving up into a smile. "What do you suppose his Highness would say about that?"

"Until there has been an actual betrothal, I care not what he says or thinks. The boy, and he is a boy, is a typical spoiled prince and I do not care to get to know him."

"But would you say he's better than the Duke you were supposed to marry?"

"I do not know. But he hasn't done one thing to try to impress me, other than to tell me that I'm pretty."

"You are," House nodded. "Very much so."

Althea blushed and then rang the bell next to her bed to summon her ladies in waiting. She ordered two meals to be brought up for her and House and some wine.

"You probably shouldn't be drinking wine with the medication I gave you," he said. "But the wine here is pretty weak so I'll make an exception in this case. Just one glass for you."

She smiled. "Whatever you say, Dr. House. I am your patient."

Twenty minutes later, their dinner was brought up and she ate from a tray on her bed. "I hope the prince isn't going to ask me to marry him. I just met him last night after all."

"You move very fast here. If he does ask you, will there be any kind of courtship?"

"Some. For how long is determined by his father and mine."

"He's a wimp, and a ginger. Gingers are freaks."

"Gingers?"

"Yeah, you know, red hair, light skin and blue eyes."

"They're no match for yours," she blurted out, and then covered her mouth with a giggle when he looked at her. "They are quite amazing, ."

"So the ladies tell me. But then I could say the same about yours. I've never seen eyes that green before. They're like emeralds."

Althea blushed and looked down at the food tray in front of her. "Thank you. My mother also had green eyes."

"You definitely favor her in looks." He leaned closer in his chair. "You are a very beautiful woman, Althea," House said softly, not sure what possessed him to say such a thing but it was out there now and he didn't really care. She had to know she was pretty, didn't she?

"Thank you."

"You can do so much better than that little ginger creep downstairs."

"I know it. But alas, it's not up to me," she said and took another bite of her dinner, followed by a long drink of her wine.

"You can't refuse the proposal?"

"Of course I can, but giving the excuse that he's a ginger freak would only serve to anger my father."

"You're an adult. You should have the choice of who you want to marry."

"I know but it is not that simple. It's my duty to produce an heir."

"What about your sister? How she hasn't managed to produce one by now is beyond me. The way she hops from bed to bed with the frequency of a cheap ham radio."

Althea giggled. "She never used to be like that. She loved her husband, but she didn't have a chance to have children. They were not married that long."

"But she could remarry," he pointed out.

"Yes, she could, but I think my father has considered her a lost cause, due to her age and all."

"Oh yeah, because she's just so old."

"She's twenty-five."

"Exactly my point. She has her whole life ahead of her yet. As do you. You should get the choice of who you want to marry. You should marry for love."

She snickered. "I do not have time for such nonsense. I need to have a son or two, to continue the family lineage."

"That's total crap. What happens if you don't have any sons?"

"I do not know what would happen to me then."

"You deserve better than this," he said as he moved a little closer. "You deserve to be able to choose someone who will love you and treat you the way you deserve. You think that wimp down there will do that? You'll be used to make babies until you give him the son he so desperately wants and then you'll be brushed aside and looked upon as the pretty wife who's stuck in the castle. A trophy wife. That's all anyone will see you as. Not to mention the meal ticket as well from the dowry you'll no doubt give him as well. So yes, I'm sure he will ask you to marry him. He'd be an idiot not to."

"He's an idiot anyway," she retorted.

"That's the spirit!" House chuckled as he pumped his fist in the air. "So what are you going to say when he asks you to marry him?"

"No."

"Louder!"

"No!"

"Good girl."

Althea smiled. She felt good. But she knew it wasn't to last.