Against All Odds

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Henry looks down at me as I watch him, my cheek against his chest. We're in the bedroom on the jet and it's past midnight but still reeling from my night, I can't sleep.

"What are your views... on eloping?" he asks, quietly.

"You want to elope?" I ask, smirking. He does the same, looking up at the ceiling, one hand behind his head.

"I've thought about it... it would save us having to have a formal ceremony, with the King there. With the nobles there... We'd have to be married in England if they knew, at Westminster."

Well, that sounds terrifying.

"Do you think Richard will actually let you elope?" I chuckle nervously.

"No, but he doesn't have to know until after."

I blink. "You're serious?"

He nods. "Unless you want to be married in England."

I scoff, shaking my head. "I could do without it, really."

Henry is quiet for a few moments before he sighs. "However, the news of our elopement won't stay secret for long. He may force us to have a formal wedding anyways."

"But we'll have already shared our vows privately, that's all that matters to me," I whisper, kissing his chest.

"So, you want to? Elope?"

I nod, biting my lip happily. "I just want us to be married."

He smiles, squeezing me tighter. "... It's settled then."

"When... should we do it?" I ask, hesitantly. "I'm just asking because I'm starting to show."

"Well, I'd like to have time to ask for Ida's blessing," he says, looking down at me. I smile, shocked. "And see if we could have her fly up. I know you'd like to have her with us." His brows rise. "But, I want to make sure this is what you want. We can have any type of wedding you'd like, Mia. It doesn't have to be a quick elopement."

"I just want you, Henry. You and I," I whisper, running a hand through his soft hair. "All the rest doesn't matter to me."

...

"You will be phenomenal," Henry says, clasping my face tightly. I try to focus on his face amongst the bright lights backstage. All I hear is French around me, whether it's singing or just chatter. Since I can only speak a small amount of broken French, I'm more nervous than I'd usually be. "You will be perfect."

My eyes wander to the crowded dressing room, where most eyes are on me and Henry. I hold onto his wrists, nodding. "And the crowd?"

"They are calm. The people outside were kicked off the premise's."

"They were horrible," I whisper, remembering their outbursts and distaste for Henry and I. We were practically carried inside.

"Don't think about them. You are here to sing. The President of France asked you to do this, Mia and he is out there, excited to hear you perform. As am I."

I nod, breathing in, trying to garner all the courage I have. Unfortunately, I'm so nervous, I feel no joy in this.

"You can't see the bump?" I whisper and he shakes his head, smiling. The gown I'm wearing strays from extenuating any curves I have, in hope that the material will conceal my baby bump.

"You look beautiful, Mia. As always." Henry looks at the clock. "The show is about to start. I have to get to my seat."

I nod when he kisses me, deeply, completely showing no restraint even with all the eyes on us. I smile when he pulls back, tracing my bottom lip with his thumb.