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'Lord Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, it is time.'
Beatrice looks at Henry, his eyes lined with red circles. The tears have been never ending the past few days. Henry shakes his head.
'I can't do this Bea, it's not fair to Lady Galitzine, it's not fair to...' he can barely bring himself to say his name. Beatrice holds his hands tightly. There's another knock at the door.
'Henry, are you okay? It's Percy.'
Beatrice looks to the door and back to Henry. He nods. She lets Percy in, in all his regalia, a regular suit wouldn't look right. But despite his purple ensemble, he is anything but bright. Henry dissolves into his arms.
'Oh my poor pudding. I know, I know.'
Percy strokes Henry's hair.
There's another knock at the door. Beatrice guffaughs.
'Is everyone in the bloody palace coming to see us? You've got five minutes yet.'
'I believe that might be for me,' Percy answers and goes to the door. There are hushed whispers, Henry and Beatrice look back and forth to each other and shrug. Percy closes the door and there's the hint of a smile on his face.
'Let's get you to the chapel, shall we?'
***
Henry wants to slap the smirk off Percy's face. He can't concentrate on what's going on around him properly. Lady Galitzine makes a gorgeous bride, her face perfectly poised. She's been trained for this as much as Henry has. A lovely girl, who truly deserves better than the strained smiles and half truths that Henry can offer her. The frankly ancient officiant is in the middle of a sentence when there's murmurs at the back of the hall. A wave of great wigs turn as the doors open.
Henry's heart stops
Alex.
‘I OBJECT!’
There's a chorus of gasps, as Alex charges down the aisle. Henry looks to Percy who gives him a wink. Lady Galitzine’s face finally drops, giving the first real expression Henry's possibly seen her have.
‘Young man, what do you think you're doing?’ Lady Mary glares at Alex. Alex doesn't take his eyes off Henry though. His skin is moist with sweat, his white shirt half open and there's mud on his boots. He's an image out of Henry's dreams. But he's completely real.
Lady Galitzine squeezes Henry’s hand. He blinks and finally breaks his eye contact with Alex.
‘You look happier in the last three seconds than the two months we've known each other. I think that tells you I'm not your happily ever after.’
Henry smiles and nods. There's so much noise around them, Mary shouting at guards, his mother telling the guards the opposite, murmurs from the crowd. And then he looks at Alex.
He can see them rolling around in the grass, stealing kisses. He can taste the saltiness of Alex’s skin. He can hear Alex’s ridiculously loud laugh that makes his heart fly.
Beatrice is at his shoulder, squeezing tight.
‘It’s now and never, Hen. Get your happiness.’
Alex holds his hand out. Henry kisses Beatrice on the cheek, blows a kiss to Percy and strides to Alex.
‘Ready to begin the rest of your life?’
‘I thought you'd never ask.’
Alex is ready to walk but he pauses. Looks around to make sure all eyes are on them. He pulls Henry close, plants his lips on his. Henry closes his eyes and lets the kiss set him alight. They part to a jumble of cheers and yet more gasps.
‘Okay, now I'm ready,’ Henry murmurs, eyes half lidded. Alex grins, and takes his hand. They run down the aisle, into their real happily ever after.