Chapter One: You Wouldn't
"You cannot be serious. Do you actually think that Mary will have you? You?" Catherine screamed, flinging a silver goblet across the room. Henry watched as the wine seeped into one of his favorite rugs, given to him by Diane De Poitiers. He sighed in exasperation and rubbed his temple. After so many years together, he knew that his wife wasn't actually expecting an answer to her question, which was meant to be more of an insult.
"Of course I do. Honestly, I don't see how she will have much of a choice when the time comes." Henry walked briskly, closing the distance between them in three great strides. "Caterina," he breathed, using her Italian name that had long since vanished from court. The king traced a finger along her jawline and to his relief, he saw her face soften, leading him to believe that he'd just pulled on a heartstring. He knew that this was a shocking blow to the proud Medici woman, and for a moment, he honestly felt guilty for making such a request. "Can you not see that this will happen with or without your consent? Can you not see that I am trying to make this as painless as possible?"
"Painless? How on Earth is this painless, Henry?" She slapped his hand away and took a step back. "You are talking about annulling our marriage, robbing me of my crown...declaring our children bastards! My...My entire life and the lives of your sons will be written away on a whim. And for what? So you can steal England? So you can bed your son's wife? Haven't you had your fill of women? You will stoop so low as to steal Francis' wife, knowing how he loves her so?" The softness that had come so quickly left even sooner, replaced with an iron scowl. Henry couldn't help but notice the fine lines etched into his wife's face, which were made more evident when she was displeased.
"Francis is a boy, not a man. Mary Tudor is dead, Catherine. This is the one and only chance France has to claim England, and Francis isn't ready. I am. And I'm going to seize this opportunity!"
"Can you hear yourself? I have known for many years that you do not love me, Henry, and I have accepted it with as much grace as God permits me. But your own son? How could you do this to Francis? You have paraded Bash around the castle for years and doted upon him tirelessly. But what of our son? Do you have no love for him at all?" Catherine's eyes welled up with hot, angry tears, betraying her. She hated crying in front of Henry, exposing her vulnerability to a man known for manipulation.
"I love all of my children. I love Francis and Bash as they are both my sons. Francis, however is a boy who was born to take my throne away from me at his earliest convenience," Henry chuckled, much to Catherine's dismay. "Catherine, I know that it's difficult to do when you're so upset," he gestured to her tear-stricken face, "But try to see the reasoning behind my request. I am going to marry Mary Stuart, one way or another. If our marriage is annulled quickly and quietly, as well as Francis and Mary's, then you and all of our children will be free to live out the rest of your lives comfortably. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Of course I don't understand what you're saying! This is the most outrageou-"
"Then I will repeat it for you, dear wife. When our marriage is annulled, you and our children will be free to live out the rest of your lives comfortably." His eyes flashed as he emphasized the word 'live,' conveying his threat with precision.
"Henry...you wouldn't." Catherine's hand clutched at her heart, completely horrified by what the King of France had just implied. She knew that her words were falling upon deaf ears. She knew all too well that Henry was entirely capable of ridding himself of those who proved to be problematic, family or not. The sick irony in Francis' namesake pierced through her veins as she realized that the only way to save herself and her children was to give in to the King.
"I will always do everything in my power to advance France," he said before reaching down to retrieve the silver goblet. "Now, are you going to tell Francis or shall I?"