They had front row seats to the king's heartbreak all over again, only this time it was worse than when he thought she was missing.
Then, he had still possessed hope. Now she was just in the next wing of the palace. She was here. A few corridors away.
Close enough that if Henry opened his door and forgot every decent thought in his head, he could reach her before the minute was out. Close enough that the knowledge of her presence scraped at his skin, pulled at his ribs, mocked every restraint he tried to gather around himself.
And still, he could not go to her. Henry sucked in a breath and turned to Stephen. "Make sure she is properly taken care of."
Stephen bowed at once, though his own eyes were suspiciously bright. "Certainly, Your Highness."
"My lord," Lionel said slowly, "what do you plan to do?"
"I love her enough to let her go."
Lionel's eyes widened. "You love her?"
Stephen gasped. Henry looked back at them, amused by their shock.
