The next morning, my first port of call was to ensure my squire was comfortable. Annabelle was already there, and told me that Paul's younger brother, Luke, was carrying out Sebastian's chores. I was pleased that the young men had found a solution and told her I would gladly pay the boy for the hours he worked. She agreed to pass the message on to them and curtseyed as she departed.

Much to my relief, Sebastian was able to sit upright, and drink water on his own. His head was still clouded, and he needed help with washing and dressing, but together we managed it. I did not speak to him about the events that had transpired, as it was obvious that he needed more time to recover. Annabelle offered to spend the later part of the morning with him and bring us food when it was available from the kitchen. I ensured the rest of the staff knew she was helping me so that she would not be reprimanded for her absence.

I also took Katherine some breakfast personally, telling the guards to stay away from her. I did not want her spiteful words to fall on any ears except Tristan's or my own.

It was mid-morning when Tristan and I managed to meet in my quarters to discuss my strategy.

"So, you have an idea that will somehow stop Katherine revealing the truth at her trial?" Tristan started once the door was closed.

"No," I countered. "My plan is to assume she will divulge what she knows, but for it not to impact either me or Sebastian."

Tristan looked confused.

"I will not bow to her demands and free her. If I do that, she will have a hold on me that she can use indefinitely," I explained. "I mean to take her power away from her by making her threats worthless. The truth is going to be revealed, whether I like it or not. So, I am going to make it on my terms and not hers."

"You are going to disclose your relationship with Sebastian before she does?" Tristan asked.

"Exactly," I confirmed. "I intend to establish an agreement with my father that will protect us from a death sentence."

"Will he do that?" Tristan did not sound convinced.

"I believe he will, if we can choose our words carefully," I said. "I cannot lie to him, but neither do I wish to disclose the whole truth until I know we are safe. I have something he wants; primarily to see me married, but he also wishes to know the identity of my beloved. He has something I want; the ability to override the law by contractual agreement, which must be signed of his own free will in the presence of two witnesses."

"You intend for us to work out a contractual agreement?" he asked.

"I do, Tristan. It needs to be watertight. We both have knowledge of the legal system and I believe that together we can make this work."

"We will make it work," he smiled.

The rest of Sunday was spent attending to Sebastian, bringing Katherine additional food, or working out a contract that I could present to my father. Much as I wanted to be there for Sebastian, with Katherine's trial just over a week away, I had limited time to secure our future. Besides, Annabelle was doing an amazing job at looking after his needs and I knew I could trust her.

On Sunday evening I thanked Tristan for his help as we went to find my father, apprehensive about how this would play out. We found him in his study, with my mother, which was ideal because I needed a second witness. I stood in the doorway with Tristan.

"Father, could I possibly have the attention of you and mother for the next hour or so?"

"Actually, it is well timed, Richard," replied the King. "Come in."

"Thank you," I said, and Tristan followed as I entered.

"Tristan," my father greeted him. "I heard you were visiting after Sebastian's unfortunate circumstances. It is good to see you again, although I wish the reason for your visit was more auspicious."

"Perhaps next time it will be," smiled Tristan politely and sat down.

"Actually, father, the reason I wanted to speak to you both is with regard to the situation involving Sebastian," I started, hoping this would go the way I wanted it to. "In the early hours of Sunday morning, Annabelle caught Lady Madeleine's handmaiden in Sebastian's room with a dagger. I also believe that the poison he took was administered by her."

"To what end?" my father asked. "Why would Lady Madeleine's handmaiden attack your squire?"

"I believe the attack on Sebastian happened because he was protecting the identity of my lover," I replied. "He is very loyal," I added pointedly.

"Sebastian knows her identity?" my father said, looking puzzled.

"It was necessary."

My father pondered my words.

"You required a trusted messenger to deliver and receive messages," he reasoned. "That would make sense. And so, you think Madeleine discovered that he knew her identity and he took the poison rather than part with the information?"

"Father, I will not know anything for sure until Sebastian is more coherent and can tell us exactly what happened. But since he knew about my affair, and Madeleine's handmaiden was involved, I do suspect this foul play is related to it."

"So, Lady Madeleine is not as charming as she appeared to be," my father mused.

"Indeed, but I partly blame myself," I admitted. "This may not have happened if I had felt I could make my relationship public knowledge. In fact, I am here for that very reason."

My father smiled.

"You will finally tell us about your maiden?" he asked hopefully.

"I would like to tell you everything," I replied. "I would like you to meet my beloved. More than that, I would like to marry for love, as you have done, and would like your permission to do so."

"I could not be happier," he replied. "I know you must have surely chosen someone who is admirable. I am convinced that she will win us over the way she has won you, and that you will have your wedding."

"Father, you must understand that I will not take any chances with someone I am so deeply in love with," I said, putting the contract on the table in front of us. "So, I am hopeful that you will agree to a marriage before you meet my intended spouse, not after."

"Richard," he laughed, a little nervously, looking at the paper I had put on the table. "Surely there is no need for this?"

"I hope not," I replied. "I want to marry the one I love. You want me to marry for love. I am ready to make this public knowledge, but I would like to cover all eventualities before I do. This contract with you will allow me to marry whomever I choose. We need two witnesses, and I assumed you would not object to mother and Tristan being chosen for the task."

"Do you expect us to disapprove of your bride?" my father exclaimed, looking at the contract. My mother leaned forward to read it as well. I did not respond to his comment, but instead waited patiently for him to read what he needed to.

"It says here that you would bear full responsibility for any future crimes relating to, or resulting from, those in the past, and that punishment for those crimes, should it become required, would fall to you?" my father looked up at me from the paperwork.

"Correct," I confirmed.

"She is a criminal?" he probed.

I stayed silent, thinking about how to respond.

"Have I found the reason for your trepidation?" he prompted. "You are in love with a criminal?"

"Only in the eyes of the law," I replied.

"But not in your eyes?"

I shook my head.

"No," I stated. "Not when someone is a victim of who they are, and not the choices they have made. I could easily argue that my beloved is no more a criminal than I am."

That part was truer than he could possibly comprehend.

"So, she has integrity?" he asked.

"In abundance, and more than anyone else I know," I nodded.

"Yet it seems you're expecting whatever this crime is to happen again?" he clarified, as he continued to read the paper in front of him.

"Indeed, I am, since the crime is inherent to the person and not something they are choosing. I need to ensure the safety of my beloved from a law that seeks to destroy them, and if it means I take any punishment on their behalf, I am prepared to do so."

"I can think of no such law," he said incredulously, looking up at me. "Why would such a law exist?"

I did not know why such a law existed, and therefore was unable to answer him.

"Father, my priority is to seek the safety of the one I love, and to ensure nobody else gets hurt who might be trying to protect us," I said. "As for the ridiculous law which causes our distress, I do intend to address it, challenge it, and change it if I can, but that will have to wait until this immediate crisis is over."

"Most intriguing," mumbled my father, bewildered. "What is the alternative if I do not sign this?"

"I will not have anyone else getting hurt because I feel obliged to protect the one I love," I replied. "If protecting people means I am forced to take my beloved and run, then I will. We will go somewhere nobody can find us. "

The King pondered for a few moments.

"So, an ultimatum. I agree to this marriage, or lose my son?"

"Trust me, father, my hand is being forced as much as yours," I implored, hoping he would understand. "I was content with conducting my business privately, but Sebastian nearly died, and Annabelle has been hurt protecting our secret. That is not all right with me. Making my relationship official and public is the only acceptable way I can see to end this."

My father looked at me dubiously in silence. As the silence dragged on, I found myself growing slightly impatient.

"Father, do you trust me?"

"You have never given me cause not to," he replied. "But you must understand, this behaviour is most peculiar, Richard. You know your mother and I would prefer you to marry for love, and I am delighted that you have found a maiden that you clearly care for so deeply. We may have approved a wedding without all this palaver. What is so objectionable about your intended bride that you must go to such lengths to ensure this union before we meet her?"

"In my opinion, there is nothing objectionable to me about my beloved," I answered. "I have explained as much as I can. And so, I must ask you for a decision. Trust my judgement, or I will leave for the safety of everyone."

He paused again. My mother was looking from one of us to the other, with her eyes finally resting on the King.

"This is most unusual," he said. "But you are clearly in love and I want you to be happy. You have always been good with people, and an excellent judge of character. You seem to believe in her and think she is worth fighting for."

"Worth dying for, father."

The King picked up his pen.

"Then, whatever her crimes in the eyes of the law, let us work them out as a family," he declared, as he signed my contract.

Tristan and my mother both signed it as witnesses, and a spark of excitement grew inside my chest as I realised that I now had a legal document that would stand in favour of our marriage. Whether or not my father would then uphold it when the truth was revealed remained to be seen, but for now, the first obstacle had been overcome.

I thanked my parents, letting them know that I hoped to introduce them to my future spouse later that week. Tristan and I left them and walked towards Sebastian's room, where we would help him with any basic needs he had.

"Well played," Tristan smiled at me.

"It is not over yet," I acknowledged. "We may have legalities in our favour, but I still have no idea how my father will react when he finds out the truth. At any rate, thank you again for your help, Tristan. I cannot tell you what your friendship means to me."

"Just make sure you treat the boy well," he replied.

"I have no intention of doing anything to the contrary," I assured him.