His Secret Slave to Scandalous Queen

"Problems?" Madeleine repeated. "Problems like what?"

"Madeleine—"

"Problems like you not marrying me?"

"That’s not what I’m saying." Henry snapped.

For all her training, for all her cunning, the surprise was very obvious.

He exhaled. "I didn’t mean it like that."

Madeleine stepped back, folding her arms. "You are not sure, are you?"

"No one is ever sure about getting married!"

Madeleine’s eyes widened. "Your Highness, I crossed oceans to get here!" Madeleine said.

"Calm down, Princess. Calm down." Henry lifted both hands. "We will be married. I am sure we will both do our countries proud."

"Good," she said at last. "I’d hate for this to be a waste of time and effort."

Henry sighed. "I still think we need to wait until we are married, Princess."

There that wall was again. That careful, maddening distance he placed between them whenever she came too close. He would smile with her, walk with her. But then, just when she reached for something real, he stepped back.

"Is there someone else?" Madeleine asked.

"What?"

"Do not make me repeat myself. It is already humiliating enough the first time."

"I am the king. There is always someone else. Have you walked through Whitehall Palace?"

Madeleine folded her hands. "What I mean is..." She swallowed the edge in her voice. "Is there someone that holds a special place in your heart? I remember the first conversation we had," Madeleine continued, "when you spoke about love." She had not come to England expecting poetry. She had come for a crown, an alliance.

"Madeleine," he said quietly. "Like I said, the treaty between England and France will hold. That’s the only worry you should have."

"Alright," Madeleine said after a moment. "I’ll take your word for it. The king’s word is law, isn’t it?"

"Yes," he said. "It is."

"Wonderful." Her smile returned, but not all the way. "Then I shall sleep peacefully knowing our countries are held together by your certainty. I also came to ask a favour," Madeleine added.

"Of course you did."

She lifted her chin. "I would like a new maid."

Henry’s amusement faded a little. "I was informed that had already been arranged."

"It is nice to know you stay on top of things while you are here."

"The issue of maids being assigned isn’t my business," Henry said. "I just wanted to make sure you are well taken care of."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Madeleine said. "But," she continued and clasped her hands before her. "I was given an English maid."

"A competent one, I hope."

"Competence is not the issue." Madeleine stepped a little closer, her tone softening. "I would like one from my homeland. Someone who knows me and my preferences."

"My mother handles such matters," Henry said.

"Do you really think I haven’t been to the queen mother?" she asked. "It is one of the things I begged for."

Henry’s brow lifted. "She said no?"

Madeleine gave him a bright smile. "Got it in one."

Of course she had said no. Henry could almost hear his mother’s voice in his head.

"There isn’t anything I can do," Henry said.

"Your Majesty...I do not want to be at odds with her. So," Madeleine continued, pretending innocence, "I was thinking that you request for a maid from my father yourself."

"You want me to send a message to France for a maid."

"Yes."

"A royal messenger. Across the Channel. To the French court. For a maid."

"When you say it like that, you make it sound excessive."

"It is excessive."

"Please. They don’t know me here and besides, I would feel less lonely. No one to speak my language with, no one to share conversations about home with." Madeleine said.

"Of course," Henry said after a moment. "I will have the Lord Chancellor send a message on behalf of the Crown."

Madeleine’s face softened at once. "Thank you very much, Your Highness." She folded her hands in front of her. "Since you do not want me here...."

"I didn’t say I don’t want you here," Henry corrected. "But what you expect of me will have to wait until we are married by the Church."

"Of course," she said. "I understand. I better head to Whitehall then."

"It was nice to see you, Princess."

"It was nice to see you too." Madeleine smiled.

He stepped closer, bent and kissed her forehead gently. "I’ll see you soon," he said.

"I’ll be waiting, My Lord." She curtsied and then swept out of the room.

Henry sighed and lowered himself into the chair. Then Lionel entered.

"Your Highness...Do you need anything?"

Henry gave a faint, exhausted laugh. "Peace." He rubbed a hand over his jaw, then glanced toward the door again. "The princess... she is a cunning one."

"She is French, Your Highness."

Henry chuckled. "My mother is going to have her hands full."

"If I may speak honestly," Lionel said, stepping closer, "I think it is good for Her Grace. Someone to distract her from interfering in matters of state."

"Any progress with Livia?"

"I spoke to the man we sent in place of you," Lionel said. "He did well enough. Beaumont did not suspect anything, or if he did, he chose coin over curiosity."

"Typical."

"Beaumont claims that Livia has obligations for the month," Lionel continued, "and when the month is over, our man can come again to conclude the preparations. I’m assuming it is because you had the month paid for," Lionel explained.

"Yes," Henry said quietly. "I paid for the month so no other man could touch her." Henry stood again, restless now, the chair no longer tolerable. He crossed to the narrow window, looking out over the dusky city. "You have the house ready?"

"Yes," Lionel answered.

Henry turned. "Is it a place I can visit?"

"In disguise, yes, Your Highness."

"Right. Thank you, Lionel. I appreciate all you do."

Lionel bowed. "It is nothing, my lord."

*****

Jane didn’t like the idea. She didn’t like it at all. She stood near the cold hearth in the back room where the other girls had been banished to since Livia got the room, arms folded tightly, listening as the other girls whispered.