Hi everyone, thanks so much for your reviews. I didn't expect so many after neglecting this fic for so long.

I'm glad you liked it and the father/daughter moment Mary and Mr. Benett had.

Now without further ado. Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

-One week later-

I stood in the salon at the window and watched the gardens, fighting my excitement. There was only one week left until I would marry Henry and I couldn't wait. Not only because I wanted to be his wife, but also because my family would leave the morning after. My mother had made it her personal goal to drive me mad, so it seemed, while Kitty spent her day chasing Henry. I wasn't sure what to think of that. It was obvious, that she was quite smitten with him, and I couldn't even be angry at her for that. After all Henry was the most handsome man I had ever seen and he was also rich.

At first I had been a little jealous, to be honest, but after half a day I changed my mind. Because Henry had paid her no attention whatsoever, when I was near and from what Kitty told my mother, it wasn't much better when I wasn't there.

It was funny. After all those things Henry said to me in the rose garden, I felt more secure. Sure of myself. He had said it, only an idiot didn't want me and Henry wasn't one, of that I was sure.

So I watched with slight amusement Kitty following Henry and trying to engage him in conversations, which he quickly and politely ended. He didn't want to raise her hopes.

I broke out of my thoughts, when the door burst open. Someone had pushed it so hard, that it hit the walls. I instantly became worried when I saw Henry and Joana walking into the room. Henry looked like he wanted to murder someone, while Joana looked like she had seen a ghost.

"Is everything alright?" I asked worried, making a step towards my fiancé.

"No… unfortunately it isn't. This just came." He barked and I didn't feel offended as it was obvious that his tone had nothing to do with me, just that he was very upset.

I looked at the letter in his hand and felt a bad feeling creeping up on me.

"What is it?" I asked timid.

"A letter from the king. He is forbidding us to marry because he thinks your family isn't good enough. Because he doesn't want to be associated with your family."

I felt like fainting. That couldn't be! I felt my perfect life crumbling, falling away from beneath my feet. So I wouldn't be his wife?

Henry saw the tears in my eyes an only moments later stood in front of me, his hands on my shoulders.

"Don't worry. I will take care of everything. I will not allow him to decide about my life. I will immediately travel to London and talk to the King myself." He reassured me. But to me it felt like it wouldn't do any good. If the king didn't want us to be married, there was no way we could do it. So I would end up as an old spinster, as Mr. Henceforth had told me.

"Henry, please be reasonable. Your anger is understandable but it won't change George's mind. I know him very well."

"Then tell me what I am supposed to do. You won't tell me to just accept his decision." Henry almost shouted. I had never heard him talk like that to his mother, or anyone else for that matter, before. But I was interested in Joana's answer. Would she fight for me? Did she like me enough to go against the King's wish?

"Of course not. And you should go to London, but take Mary with you. I think he will change his mind, when he gets to know her. And don't forget Charlotte, she is a wonderful woman and has quite an influence on him. If you get her to speak for you, I am sure George will approve of your marriage."

I felt relieved, because Joana sounded so confident, like this was just a small obstacle. Even though I still doubted that. I just wasn't allowed to be happy.

Henry nodded and turned back to look at me.

"How fast can you pack?"

"It won't take long!" I answered, breathless. I was so scared that my life would return to the way it had been before I had met Henry.

"Good. Then hurry. I will take care of everything else in the meantime." Henry said and without another word hurried from the room.

"Go packing Mary. But before you leave. Please come back here. I will write a letter to George and one for Charlotte. You can give those to them. I hope it will help." I nodded, feeling overwhelmed.

But I did as she had told me. I left the salon, walked to my room and packed a few things into a bag. I was sure, that we didn't need much, as we weren't intending on staying longer, than absolutely necessary.

I closed the bag with my finest dresses in it, turned back around and left my room. In the Salon Joana was waiting with two letters. On each of those letters I could see a name. I took the letters from her and put them into my bag, very carefully.

"Don't worry, my dear. I promise everything will work out. I won't accept anyone else as my daughter in law. Besides, I am sure Henry would never even consider marrying someone else." Joana smiled at me and then for the first time, she hugged me. I felt tears in my eyes, but fought them down.

"Thank you." I whispered and let go of her.

"Now hurry. So we can still celebrate your wedding in a week." She smiled at me and I nodded, before quickly leaving the room.

Henry was waiting impatiently in front of the house. His horse already saddled. Which surprised me. We would ride on his horse to London? That was a two day ride. Besides, we couldn't just go all alone. After that my reputation would be ruined and what kind of impression would that make on the king and the queen? My doubts vanished, when I saw the four guards on their horses.

"Are you ready?" Henry asked and steered his stallion closer to me.

I nodded slowly, still unsure about a two day ride on a horseback.

"Yes." I smiled and laid my hand in his. Henry hoisted me up on the back of his horse in front of him.

He wrapped one arm around my middle, while his other held the reins. My heart pounded in my chest, not only because of our closeness, but also because I was afraid of losing him.

"Don't worry. We will get married, one way or another." he reassured me. Confused I turned to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

That's it. Hope you liked it, please review, if you got the time and tell me what you think.