There was barely a knock at a door a few days later when the Prince himself walked through the doors of Lord Henry's home. It was a surprise visit and the prince couldn't wait to tell his best friend of the news he brought! He was to be married to a noble woman of fine stature and good breeding. Boy, was he in for a surprise. Henry was in the drawing room talking with Hennes with future deals he would need to check on when Prince Philip opened the doors to the room and Hennes and Lord Henry looked over in shock.

"You are to be married my dear friend!" Prince Philip announced with a chuckle.

Hennes cleared his throat and cringe before making a bolt for the door, he closed the door behind him so the two men could talk. Prince Philip looked at the action rather confused. Never had he seen Hennes actually make a run from him.

"Forgive him, he's had quite a surprise that past few days. What do you speak of now?" Henry asked as he stood from his desk.

"You have been found a bride, a woman of good breeding and title to bring you even more money and land." Philip boasted, probably happy it was Henry to be married and not him.

"I'm afraid I cannot marry her, you see I am already married." Henry tested the waters to see how angry his best friend would be learning about the marriage last.

"Married? To who? Usually you ask my advice on everything, including women. Where is she? I have to meet her." Philip said as he began to look out the windows of the room.

''She is with Mama, they are out doing something in the garden. I don't think we should interrupt them, you know how Mama is after all." Henry tried to convince his friend.

"She won't mind, beside I need to see who has won your heart." Philip said excited and left the room.

Henry watched in shock as Philip practically charged out the back door that led to the garden. Quickly following after him, he couldn't help but wonder what Philip would make of Denise. It was as though she was re learning the etiquette of the time and it showed more than Denise wanted it to.

Philip ran to the garden and saw Mama talking with a woman who was knelt down cutting a few flowers from the garden. She was wearing a white dress with pink trim, it was flowing in the wind. Her hair was up and she wore no hat. One white ribbon across the top of her hair. Hearing a sound she turned his way and Philip got a good look at her face. She hair fair skin and even from the distance there was between them he could see the freckles upon her face.

"My Prince, what are y doin over there?" Mama called out to him.

Blinking quickly, Prince Philip walked up to Mama and smiled to her. She was the kindest woman he knew but he knew she had a temper as well, one he was not willing to mess with at all.

"I came to talk to Henry however it seems he had beaten me to the task I had for him. Who is this beautiful creature?" he asked Mama as he looked at Denise.

"This is Lady Denise, she and Lord Henry married a few days ago. Lady Denise, this is Prince Philip, Lord Henry's best friend." Mama answered with a chuckle.

Denise curtseyed the best way she could but she was a bit wobbly. Mama and Prince Philip helped steady her. She looked up and Philip and he saw her bright blue eyes and his heart began to beat faster. She was beautiful, but she was also already married to Henry.

"Are you well?" Philip asked concerned with her being wobbly.

"Yes, thank you." she replied and then saw someone to the side and her attention went to them. "Husband, I have met your best friend."

Hearing her call out to Henry and even address him as husband, made Philip just a td bit jealous. Henry came to Denise's side and she put her arm through his. He smiled as he looked to his best friend.

"You have made a wonderful choice my friend, you must come introduce her to my brother. He will surely give you his blessing." Philip said and then turned to take his leave.

"Philip? Is something the matter?" Henry asked wondering why he was leaving so soon, he had just arrived after all.

"I have other duties to attend to, please bring her as soon as you can." Philip called out never turning back to look at them.

"He's jealous." Mama stated as she picked another flower.

"Of what?" Denise asked oblivious of the situation.

"You marrying Henry, still I believe you and Henry are a much better match." Mama smiled as she began to make her way back to the house.

Henry just shrugged, he didn't want to bring too much attention to Philip's reaction but it did leave him rather shocked and confused as well. He decided to try and talk to his friend.

"Wait right here, maybe he is stressed over something." Henry said and then he too took off.

Denise looked around from her left to her right and when no one was there sighed a breath of relief. She felt so out of place where she was, the people were kind she was not complaining on that part, she just felt like she couldn't ever recall herself being held to such high degree of manners. Had she just forgotten that part of her life? Taking the rose to her nose, she inhaled it's scent and it gave her a small sense of comfort.

Henry finally managed to catch up to Philip at the front door. Gently pulling his friend aside, he watched as Philip paled beside him. Had something gone wrong? Was there something his dear friend of so many years was not going to tell him?

"What is it? You look at her and then decide to leave as quick as possible? My poor wife with think you hate her or that she is ugly." Henry said in a whisper.

"No, nothing of the sort. Your wife if beyond beautiful. Nor do I hate her at all. I just met her after all I could not hate someone so quickly." Philip answered as they walked together into the study where Henry closed the doors behind them.

"Then what is it? Are you truly that disappointed I won't marry the girl you picked?" Henry asked, almost as though it were a joke.

Philip was silent, he walked about the room he had been in many times before. The painting he had all seen before and really never paid any attention to now he tried to distract himself and Henry with them, however Henry was not so easily fooled.

"When will her portrait join yours?" Philip asked trying to make distraction.

"Philip, tell me what is going on. Please, we have been friends for so long, I thought-" Henry barely finished before Philip sighed.

"You would not believe me even if I told you dear friend." Philip replied then went over to the bar and poured him a drink, he took it all in one gulp. "For I do not believe it myself."

Now Henry was really confused, what could have happened that made Philip even be in disbelief. Philip put down the glass and turned back to his friend who stood there still waiting to hear what else Philip had to say.

"I have painted her, I have painted her because for the past few months now, she has been in my dreams. I have seen her on a beach, walking into the depths of the cold dark ocean and never surfacing. I know you must not believe me, for it is hard for me to believe myself." Philip spoke honestly.

Henry listened in wonder. How had Philip dreamed of Denise? He had just found her a few days ago and rescued her. He told no one of how they found one another nor the fact that they were not truly married.

"Please do not be angry with me, I never dreamed of her on purpose nor know of who she was to you." Philip spoke in a more urgent tone.

"I think nothing of the sort, we can not help who we dream of." Henry replied with a friendly smile.

"I will destroy the painting as soon as I return to the palace." Philip spoke trying to show Henry he wanted to forget the dreams.

"No, perhaps Denise would like to see them? Me too of course, that way I may not need to have her portrait done, you have already done so." Henry said just as the door opened after a small knock.

"Forgive me, I just wanted to let you know, three very firm yet distraught women are out here and they want to see the both of you." Denise said as she walked into the room.

Philip's eyes widened in shock, he had forgotten about them in the carriage. Gulping he nodded and opened the door. Two of the woman barged in as though they owned the place while as the last woman was meeker than the first two. She kept her dark brown haired head down and went right to the fireplace staring into the flames.

"How dare you keep us waiting Lord Henry! We come bringing wonderful news of your future wife and yet we are forgotten." the first woman with blonde hair and a hat twice the size of her head spoke up.

"Do forgive me Madam, however I am already married so whatever news you have brought would not interest me in either way. My wife was the one to let you in and seeing as you just brushed past her, I highly doubt you even notice her." Lord Henry said and all eyes turned to Denise.

She felt as though she were being starred down by pride of lions. Her legs were begging her to make a run for her life yet her brain told her to remain where she was. She had no need to run or make haste, she was married to Henry so this was her home too.

"Who is she?" the other blonde spoke up as though she were offended by the news.

"Before she was my wife, she was Lady Denise Devereaux. Now she is my wife." Henry answered in simple terms.

"No I mean where did she come from! I have never heard of her." the other blonde spoke again.

Philip stepped in with a sigh.

"She is noble family and blood, the wedding was a surprise to all of us. But a happy occasion none the less. I vouched for her, she is of true noble blood and position. Now, perhaps you two could lower your volumes before the whole countryside hears you make fools of yourselves." Philip said with a slight eye roll.

"Come ow Lord Henry, she is not very pretty. You deserve a woman who walks with an air of grace and elegance not one who won't speak a word to her guests." the first spoke with a grin.

"You have not addressed me nor had cause to speak to me, why must I be the first to speak to someone who barges into my home and doesn't even introduce themselves?" Denise spoke up for herself.

Henry and Philip held back a laugh because they knew Denise was right. The women then turned to her and the eldest went first, she was the one who had just finished speaking to Henry.

"Lady Denise, I am Lady Harriet, a prospect of your husbands before you came along." Harriet spoke honestly.

"I would say it is a pleasure to meet you, though I fear I would be lying straight to your face." Denise smiled as Harriet glared as her then walked out of the room.

The second blonde then came and stood before Denise.

"I am Lady Maria, same as Lady Harriet. I would wish you a happy marriage but I too would fear that I would be lying to your face." Maria said with a grand smile thinking she would make Denise feel unwelcome.

Nodding Denise took a few steps closer to Maria.

"My marriage is quite well, though I doubt yours will ever be. You are just a pawn in a game you will never win. Remember that when you walk down the aisle." Denise smiled as she then walked to Henry and took his arm.

Maria stormed out of the room as Denise looked up to Henry innocently.

"I do not think I made a good impression on them husband, please forgive me." Denise said acting meek.

"Have no fear." Philip chuckled. "It was good to see them get a bit of their own treatment. Anne, come and introduce yourself as well please. Denise this is my youngest sister Anne. She is the more silent of us."

Anne came forward, her hair in braids behind her. She kept her eyes to the ground as she curtseyed before Denise. Though Denise thought that was odd, she left Henry's side and helped Anne to stand up, gently placing her three fingers on Anne's chin, she lifted the princess's face to meet her own.

"Your majesty, you are a princess. You look down to no one, I curtsey to you." Denise said and then curtseyed to the young princess.

Anne's eyes lit up at Denise's word, she looked to her brother with a large smile on her face. Lady Denise acknowledged her! She even curtseyed to her! This was something not many did, Anne hardly ever left her room and when she did most people ignored her. No not this Lady before her, she gave Anne confidence with just 10 words. Philip smiled at his sisters reaction.

"Please stand, you are quite different from other ladies I have met. Please come with us to the palace, brother must meet you!" Anne said excitedly.