**I don't own BATB, Catherine, Vincent or any other characters mentioned. I also don't own any places mentioned or any scenes that may be similar to another work.**

Catherine stopped to take a break and as she stopped she fell into thought. She didn't realize it until Vincent's voice broke her out of it.

"Catherine, a penny for your thoughts."

"Maybe a halfpenny. They're only worth that much."

"They are worth so much more. Again I pray a penny for your thoughts?"

"You are persistent Vincent." Catherine said before pausing to think things over. "I was wondering what will become of this. You are from York and I, Nigera. You leave in a fortnight and I am to remain here. How can there be something between us when we won't most likely see each other again."

"Catherine, please believe that this will not end in a fortnight. I care not how much it shall cost, I will return so that I am able to properly court you."

"W-what?" Catherine asked shocked.

"Catherine, I wish to court you and hopefully in the future, ask your hand once we better know each other."

"You wish to court me?" Catherine asked still not being able to grasp what he was saying.

"Yes." He said placing a hand to her cheek. "From the moment you tripped into me during the masque I have been enthralled with you. That is what I was speaking with your father about. He wished to know of my intentions with you and I didn't want to tell you before the time was proper."

"Vincent, how could you possibly afford to travel that often? I know my father doesn't even make enough to travel between York and Nigera twice every four moons and he is a lord."

"There is something of me that I have kept hidden from you because I was not sure of how the news would be received."

"What is it?"

"It is my title and surname. I thought I had kept it better, but your father is a clever man, clever enough to see what I had hidden from everyone." This only lead to Catherine's confusion.

"Vincent, you are making more riddles than sense. Why should your title be such an important factor?"

"Catherine, I am just praying that once you know you will try not to be cross with me."

"Please Vincent, you can tell me anything. I shall try not to be cross, but unless you tell me I shall not know how it shall be received."

"When I told you that my name was just Vincent I was beguiling you. My name is Vincent Andrew Joseph Keller and my title is as the third son of Michael and Maria Keller. Catherine, I am the youngest son of the royal family of York. Please believe that I never meant to mislead you and I wanted to tell you the night of the masque, but then you started saying how you could not stand royalty and I was afraid that you would push me away because of my title as prince." He said dropping his hand before watching as she stood, leaving the book overturned where it lay after falling from her lap.

"I cannot believe you." She said with a tear in her eyes. "If you are royalty then why did you allow me to speak so disrespectfully of your family and that of Nigera? Or were you just waiting to expose me as a traitor? I cannot believe that I actually let myself have feelings for you. Just keep your distance from me." She snapped before turning and going into the library. He watched as she walked into the library and then he hung his head in defeat. Knowing it would be unwise to pursue her, he just picked up the discarded book and started to read where she had left off. Once again he was pulled out of the book by the monastery's bell chiming four. He decided that it was wisest to search her out and to take her back to her father's manor. When he walked in he found her curled into one of the chaises, asleep . He carefully kneeled next to her before waking her. She started awake and when she saw it was him she went to say something, but he stopped her.

"Catherine, it is past the hour of four. I think it wise for I to return you back to your father's manor." All she did was nod before sitting up and wiping a tear that had been left on her cheek. The ride back was in silence and when they arrived back at the Chandler manor Catherine stopped him from exiting the carriage. She turned to look at him with a expression he had not seen before.

"Vincent, I think it best if you do not call upon me until two days before the masquerade. I need time to sort out all of the things going through my head." Catherine said trying to remain calm.

"You are cross with me." Vincent said in observation.

"To be forthright, yes. You purposely lied to me Vincent, after I had placed my trust into your hands."

"Catherine, please believe that I am terribly sorry. I had planned to inform you during the masquerade, but then you started to speak of how you disliked royalty and I felt that if I told you, you would not speak with me."

"No matter your assumptions, you should have had the decency to tell me. I do not wish to see you for a good amount of time. Please refrain from calling upon me." Catherine said before exiting the carriage and going into the manor to be met by her father.

Sorry for such a long break, just so much going on.

Read and Review, and let me know what you think. Please don't bash the story through the reviews. If you have an issue, PM me instead. Thanks.