As usual, I lunched with Annabelle in the kitchens and continued with my chores throughout the afternoon without incident. Seven o'clock was slow to arrive, but when it eventually came, I was knocking on the prince's heavy oak door.

"Come in, Sebastian," he called from within.

On entering, I looked over to the gaming table and saw that Richard had already set a game up for us to play.

"We are playing Backgammon then?" I commented jovially, knowing that we usually agreed together what we were to play.

"I was in the mood for it," Richard smiled at me. "You can choose the next one. Wine?"

I sat down in my usual spot at the gaming table.

"No, thank you, Richard," I replied, as he must know by now that I would.

"I wonder whether I will ever give you cause to accept a drink with me," he teased.

"Perhaps on some special occasion," I placated him, although I could not imagine any reason why I would be willing to deliberately impair my senses.

Richard poured himself some wine, and some water for me, and we played.

"Thank you for this morning's ride," I said, rolling the dice and making the first move. "It was most enjoyable."

"Which part was your favourite?" the prince asked.

"Meeting your doe," I replied. "You must have had patience in abundance to form such a friendship with a wild animal."

"I was resolved and committed to the goal," he replied.

"And obtained a marvellous outcome from it," I commended him.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he replied, and his smile suggested he meant it. We played without speaking for a few minutes, before Richard broke the silence. "There is something I would like to discuss with you this evening, if you'll permit it. It is approaching three months since you arrived here, and we agreed to review your situation after that time," Richard continued playing as he spoke. "I know it is a little premature on what we agreed, but I would like to find out how you are faring?  Do you have everything you need?"

"My needs are relatively few. I feel well treated and settled here, in no small part as a result of your kind hospitality," I replied. "Might I ask how it appears from the other side? Am I as you expected?"

"And more," the prince nodded, and I tried to hold the oncoming blush at bay. "You work hard, and, by all accounts, are friendly and polite as you do so. I hear good reports from everyone, and I enjoy your company during these evening visits. I have already intended to ask you to stay on. Before I do, I would like to ensure that you are comfortable, and whether we can change anything that might suit you better."

"There is nothing I can think of, Richard, but thank you. I am quite comfortable in my quarters and I am certainly well catered for by the kitchen. Nutmeg is a fine horse and I am grateful to have use of him."

"Your practical needs sound like they are well met," replied Richard. "What about your other needs? Do you have friends in the castle?"

"So far, people have been nothing but kind," I said. "I have some people I would consider friends, and I hope to see those friendships continue to grow. I usually eat with Annabelle from the kitchen."

"I know her," he mused. "A sweet young girl. Perhaps you are sweet on each other?" Richard raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Not in the manner you suggest," I replied. "She is certainly sweet, but we are content with friendship."

I rolled the dice and considered my next move as I examined the board and the current state of play. I decided to take the risker path, leaving two of my pieces exposed but inconveniencing Richard's next move.

"Do you not seek the hand of a maiden?" he asked.

My stomach turned over. I was ill prepared for that question. I silently persuaded myself there was no need to feel anxious. It was a perfectly reasonable point of discussion. I could answer honestly and give away nothing.

"There is yet no such maiden that has captured my interest. It seems marriage may not be on the cards for me."

"It is the same for me," Richard replied, and I could breathe more easily again. Still, preferring this conversation to steer away from myself, I decided to turn it back to him.

"Are you not betrothed?"

"Not for want of my father trying. But no maiden yet presented to me has captured my interest." Richard rolled the dice, took a sip of wine and made his counter move. "In truth, I find them strange creatures that I cannot understand. Do you find the same?"

I decided there was no harm in agreeing with him, since the proposal was his.

"I confess, I too find them confounding."

"Men are easier to interpret, I think," he continued. "Do you find that you prefer the company of men?"

My stomach turned over again and my heart rate increased slightly. This conversation was not going in a direction I liked, and I needed to tread carefully.

"Men tend to be more logical, and therefore I find they are disposed to make easier companions than women. I find that not many women like games of strategy, for example."

I smiled innocently at him across the table and then slipped into my next move. I had answered honestly, and hoped it was a full enough answer that we could move on to the next topic of conversation.

"I wholeheartedly agree," replied the prince, and I was relieved. Richard made his next move and I went back to trying to breathe normally and concentrate on the game.

"I'm curious. Do you only prefer the company of men, and nothing else?" Richard asked.

I tensed, and immediately wanted the ground to swallow me up. Should I make some excuse and leave? Richard was intelligent – if I did that, he would work it out for sure. Maybe I was being paranoid and interpreting the question incorrectly. My palms felt clammy. This was the closest he had come to asking what I did not want him to ask, but I could still be worrying about nothing. Maybe he was trying to direct the conversation down some other route.

"I'm not sure I understand what you are asking?" I decided on another innocent look.

"I should like to find out to what extent your preference for our gender stretches."

This time there was nothing ambiguous in the prince's question, and it felt like I had been punched in the gut. I had vowed to be honest with this man, and I considered myself a man of honour. But admitting the truth could mean a death sentence. On the other hand, this was Richard. Would he really instigate my demise for feeling the way I did? I had no control over it and had not acted improperly.

Then again, I could lie, and nobody would know it except me. There was no proof, no evidence for one's thoughts.

I looked at Richard. There was something ... expectant about his expression. Like he already knew the answer. But how could he possibly already know the answer? I had told nobody of my secret.

I was aware the silence had continued for longer than it should while my thoughts continued to circle themselves, and still I had concluded nothing. He was waiting for a response and still I could not decide which way my answer would fall. To tell the truth as I had sworn I would, or to lie for the first time to the man that I had fallen in love with?

Since I could not decide, I went with neither.

"Richard, I'm afraid you have led me to an awkward conversation."

To my surprise, his expression relaxed into a smile.

"There is only one answer you can give which makes the conversation awkward. But rather than infer something from your awkwardness, instead I will tell you my intended response. For if you should admit that your preference extends beyond the boundaries of the law, then I will admit to you the same."

I had to remind myself to breathe as he calmly rolled the dice and made his move. I was not sure whether I had heard him correctly. Was this another game? I tried to find a clue in his expression, but it appeared to be genuine. If he acted a part, then he acted it well. But princes surely did not suffer from these misdemeanours?

My heart pounded in my throat. The silence that followed felt like an eternity as I wrestled with myself. Eventually, I made my decision and spoke.

"My preference for men extends beyond the law."

"Then, Sebastian, as promised, I do admit the same."