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IV.

When she first awoke, just for a moment, she panicked, her mind still foggy and drowsy from sleep, her eyes still too heavy to be opened. But the warmth of his body snuggled up against her had quickly dissipated her fear. She released the breath she had been holding and smiled, glad that it hadn't just been a dream. Her mind had played similar tricks on her before, confusing dreams with reality in the early hours of the morning. But not that time. Not only had he stayed the night, but also his arms had drawn their bodies closer during their sleep. She was able to feel his warm breath on her neck, sending thrills down her spine, building up a tension on the pit of her stomach she had been yearing for for way longer than she even dared to admit to herself. Certainly, waking up with Henry's arms wrapped around her almost possessively was the sweetest way to wake up.

She closed her eyes tighter, trying to savour the moment. Although it was still early, she had a long day ahead of her. She'd soon have to leave the bed, but she could enjoy it just a little while longer. She took a deep breath and allowed her body to relax under Henry's weight and touch. It truly felt wonderful, lying awake in her bed with both her Henrys, still sleeping soundly and peacefully. That calmness and easiness made up for the mess that had been the last few days. The last few weeks, actually. It was way too easy to forget it all and bask in her current happiness.

She wouldn't mind spending an entire day at bed with her husband, his body close to hers, doing nothing at all, just resting and dozing in and out of sleep. The idea sounded wonderful, but she wasn't in a dream; she had duties to attend to. Despite the fact that the mere thought of having to get out of bed and start the preparations for the day pained her, she had to do it. If she indulged now, she'd see her time with all of her children cut, and she wouldn't allow that to happen. She'd be able to enjoy her husband's company in her bed other times.

Maybe. She sighed; she wasn't so sure about that. She felt the doubt creeping in, making her uneasy, the anguish settling on her stomach. Henry could easily change his mind, decide to ditch her and not even give her an explanation; that was what the years had taught her. But... he had been nice and gentle. He had kissed her. He had handled her vulnerability with care. He had asked her to let him stay the night and actually stayed, even after their son had joined them. Something had changed. She had seen it in the way he looked at her, like she was a precious thing, with worry and affection. With... love. He had agreed on no more empty promises, he had said he didn't want to hurt her, and then he'd told their son that he loved her. Was it true? Did he? She could never be completely sure with Henry, but her heart longed to believe him.

Even if that was the last thing she wanted to do, she needed to get out of the bed and start her day. She carefully removed her arms from her embrace on Little Henry, trying not to wake him. It was still too early for him. He stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake. Then, she embarked in the more difficult task of freeing herself from Henry's arms. She tried to, but his grip became stronger.

"Where are you going?" he mumbled, still half asleep. He yawned, so close to her that the sound barely reached Catherine's ears. "It's still early." He loosened his grip on her and moved her hair out of the way to place a sweet kiss on the hollow of her neck. "Stay."

Catherine turned to face him, slowly, trying not to disturb Little Henry. "I can't," she whispered, staring into his half-opened eyes, unable to erase the small smile from her lips. "I need to take a bath and dress for the day. I won't be far."

He closed his eyes for a moment and looked at her slightly confused. "I should... my rooms. Clothes."

She smiled and brought one of her hands to caress his cheek. "There's no need. It's still early. I can get someone to bring you clean clothes from your rooms, and you can get some more sleep." She bit her lip nervously, unsure if her proposal would be welcome. Maybe he just wanted a good excuse to leave. "Well... that's if that's what you want, of course..."

Henry slightly shook his head and closed his eyes again. "That sounds perfect."

His grip on her dropped completely. Carefully, she sat up and drew the sheets from them. She managed to get out of bed, almost having to climb on top of him. Then, already on her feet, she drew the sheets over him again and smiled wholeheartedly at the sight in front of her. Her husband and son sleeping soundly in her bed. A sight both unusual and pleasant.

Her eyes travelled to the big window near her bed. She had done well in getting up; they would have soon been disturbed by any of her ladies if she hadn't. She looked around the room. The fire had extinguished during the night; no wonder she was feeling somewhat chilly. She reached for her dressing gown and slippers, tossed away on the other side of the bed the previous night. She put them on and moved towards the door, sparing a look to her reflection on her mirror. She smiled. It was a good thing that she had arranged for a morning bath the previous day. Good Lord, her hair was a mess.

She opened and closed the door behind her carefully, as quietly as possible, trying not to disturb the two men sleeping in her bed. She leaned her back on the door once it was closed, shutting her eyes and smiling widely. A sigh of happiness and relief escaped her lips.

"Majesty," said a voice near her. Catherine's body tensed, irritated that someone had dared to interrupt that peaceful moment. "Your Grace."

She sighed again, not so happily, and opened her eyes. "Oh, it's you Charlotte."

The young woman smiled slyly. "I'm sorry Your Grace, I didn't want to disturb, but your bath's ready. The water's perfect now. I was about to come into your rooms." There was a small silence. "Also, I bring news." Catherine just nodded her head and led the way to the small room that held her bathtub, her lady following her a couple of steps behind.

Once there, Catherine sent one of the girls who'd prepared her bath to get some clothes for her husband and make sure someone would come for Little Henry. Then, she waved her hand, dismissing the remaining servant girl. Charlotte was more than able to help her bathe and dress on her own, and they didn't need unwelcome ears to hear any of the news Charlotte had for her.

The younger woman waited by her side as Catherine undressed herself, taking her nightgown and dressing gown when she handed them to her, folding them nicely and leaving them in a nearby chair. Then, she held out her arm to help Catherine balance herself to get into the bathtub.

Catherine sunk her body into the hot water, careful not to dip her injured arm; the cut wasn't completely healed yet and it may open again if she was careless. She took a deep breath and buried her head in the water for as long as she was able to hold her breath. She emerged and wiped the water from her face with the cloth Charlotte handed her. She then took the cloth and dampened it with water, added some soap, and started to patiently scrub all the dirt off her body with it, as she allowed Charlotte to take care of her hair. She had always loved a long warm bath, and it was the first chance she had to take one thoroughly since her time in the tower. She loved how the warm water always managed to relax her body completely; no matter how big her worries, a bath always guaranteed taking a brak from them.

"So," she mumbled, half-way through the bath, "what are the big news you bring me today?"

The young woman chuckled. "Well, Your Grace, I think you know the news. There are some rumours going on already. Silencing them would be difficult and would require quite a lot of money and quick work..."

Catherine smiled to herself. Of course there was no need to ask which rumours she was referring to; their protagonist was lying on her bed as a testimony. "There's no need in trying to stop them."

These were the kind of rumours that she could live with. Why would she want to stop the Court from knowing her husband had spent the night in her bed? The Court would surely enjoy the novelty. They would begin to speculate whether it was true or not, whether it was a one time thing or if it would become a more permanent arrangement. Catherine herself wasn't sure, but her heart refused to believe that Henry would simply forget about her and go back to his mistresses after the previous night and having woken up tangled with him. Something had changed between them.

She was sure that there would be malicious gossip about her having bewitched him, accusing her of having used some poison. Even after all those years, there were still some people at Court that saw her as nothing more than 'that Florentine woman' and spoke ill of her behind her back while they put on a good face whenever she was around. She would let them speak ill of her, just like they always did. The ordeal of the last few weeks had showed her those whose loyalties really lied with her. Not her remaining family in Italy, who in the end has abandoned her to her own luck, nor most of those who once claimed to be her friends in Court, who wouldn't have moved a finger to stop her beheading. They all would've been in the front row and drank all the wine happily, raising their glasses for the dead evil queen. And then, there were those that had not only not been on her side, but that had also helped in her downfall and humiliation. They would not be forgiven nor forgotten. She'd have her retribution.

While Catherine was busy with her own thoughts, Charlotte had rinsed her hair and moved to get her a linen towel. "So... Is there someone in particular that should learn about the King's visit?" she asked, offering her arm to Catherine, to help her out of the water.

Catherine smirked as she took her arm, drew the towel around her body, and got out of the bathtub. The younger woman knew her well. Apparently, the first chance to have her vengeance was about to start unfolding before her eyes. "The Lady Kenna." Oh, she would love to be able to see her husband's young mistress reaction when she learnt about it. She was sure the expression on her face would be priceless; the King going to his old wife's bed instead of inviting her to his own bed. The harlot had enjoyed way too much having the upper hand on her, and had dared to put on a show for Henry during the wedding. Maybe it was the perfect opportunity to finally teach Kenna which was her true place. "And make sure that I can be informed of her reaction later."

Charlotte nodded. "Consider it done." She started helping Catherine dry up. Once they had taken care of that, Catherine sat in a chair and started rubbing oils and lotions on her skin while Charlotte combed her hair. "There are other news circulating." Catherine hummed but didn't look up to the other woman. She didn't really care for more Court gossip. "Concerning the King's bastard."

Catherine sighed; she surely had got her interest this time. "What is it this time? Wasn't he supposed to leave for Spain?" Contrary to what some might think of her, Court gossip wasn't really one of her interests. To her, it was nothing more than a tool. She didn't enjoy the gossiping, but sometimes it brought valuable information.

"Yes, he is. He left last night. That's not it." She noticed the Queen's patience running out. She was tired of the drama that always surrounded her husband's bastard. "The King forced him to witness the consummation last night."

Catherine frowned. "Did he?" The first thought that crossed her mind was for her son. Poor Francis, having Sebastian witness such an intimate moment... But he was strong enough to get over it. Henry probably didn't think about how awkward it would be for their Francis, he probably just wanted to prove a point to his bastard son. "Well, somehow it doesn't surprise me."

"And, Your Grace, I've heard something else..." the younger woman said, almost shyly. Catherine just nodded, urging her to speak. "One of the King's pages was talking about... the King's absence last night... and he mentioned that the Lady Kenna was in the King's rooms the night before the wedding, wearing just a robe." She paused and cleared her throat, noticing the Queen growing stiff, the good mood she'd been in vanishing. "He said that she was dismissed almost immediately. Of course, the other men thought he was just bluffing."

A smirk graced Catherine's slips. "Oh, did she?" She turned her head to look at her companion.

Charlotte nodded. "The page said that she left rather angry, with just enough time to have crossed a few words with the King, and that he didn't seem much pleased either when she was announced or after she left." She smiled wickedly. "And one of the servants who attends her confirmed the story."

"Good," she muttered. So that was the reason of the show the young harlot had put on during the wedding. So Henry wasn't that smitten with the young Scot anymore and Diane was away from Court and had not been invited back yet. Suddenly, Catherine felt in much better spirits. Suddenly, it all made much more sense.


Catherine entered her bedchamber again, already fully dressed, her hair still down, waiting for it to be fully dry before styling it for the day, her face still free from any makeup. Almost an hour had gone by since she had left the bed, but both men still slept, despite the light coming from the window.

She moved towards her husband's side of the bed and sat in its edge. It was time for him to wake up. She rested her hand on his shoulder and shook him slightly, causing him to stir in his sleep. She shook him stronger, but he remained still, as if he didn't notice anything. Then, his hand suddenly captured her wrist, taking her by surprise. He had turned around in bed and looked up to her from the cushion. Her heart raced. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do more; the impulse to slap away the smug grin on his lips was hard to resist, but so was the impulse to wipe it with a kiss. She decided for the later, leaning over him and leaving a peck on his lips, only to part their lips as quickly as they'd been joined.

He stared at her, surprise on his eyes, as Catherine's lips curved up in mischief. He cleared his throat and tried to tug her towards him again, unsuccessfully. "How's it that you look so beautiful in the morning?"

Catherine chuckled heartily, trying to ignore the fact that her cheeks were burning. "You're such a charmer." She was mortified; she was blushing like a child... "Does this ever work, Henry?" Well, she did, but she hoped that teasing him she'd be able to hide it.

He shrugged with a grimace on his face, a small smile hidden behind it. Of course he had noticed. "I'd never dare to lie to you." He brought his free hand to stroke the hand he'd already captured. "No more lies." His voice was soft, little more than a whisper. Catherine wasn't sure if she wasn't just imagining it all. "We agreed on that last night, didn't we?"

She felt her legs go weak. The power he had over her was starting to simply get ridiculous. That's why she had built up a wall against him and kept it up for years. She'd had to protect her heart from him, or else she'd have gone crazy years ago. Now, the wall was down, and she didn't know how to deal with it all. It was too much. She was afraid that it all would crash down and she'd end up more hurt than ever. But his eyes... they assured her everything would be alright; they told her she was in good hands, safe.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and took a deep breath. "So... you meant that? What you told our boy..."

Henry smiled and squeezed her hand. "Yes, I did." He sat up in bed and caressed her cheek with the back of his free hand. "But don't tell anyone I said it. Let's keep this a secret between us two..."

His hand moved from her cheek to under her chin. He lifted it with two of his fingers and stared into her eyes for a moment. "Henry, our son already knows, and..." He shushed her and kissed her lips, sweetly, with a tenderness that dissolved any remaining doubts Catherine still had. She ran a hand down the side of his face as their lips parted. Her eyes met his again and she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "It won't be long until the Court learns about your visit... They'll be onto us then. We'll be watched. Are you sure..."

"I am, if you are." He smirked. "And well... It isn't that bad. The news will certainly keep them entertained for a while. Maybe we should just... give them something real to gossip about, don't you think?" He looked at her innocently, but he didn't fool her. He was just teasing her.

Catherine quirked one of her eyebrows and leaned in to kiss him again. After a short moment, she broke it. "That's all you'll be getting for now," she muttered under her breath, resting her forehead against his, a small smile playing in her lips. "Don't tempt me, Henry."

He moved back, worry written all over his face, his eyes scrutinizing her. "Why?" Something told her that he feared she was refusing him.

She shook her head and smiled. "Because... I might not be able to resist you if you do." She tried to get up, Henry releasing her hand immediately. "Come on, you need to refresh and get dressed. You've already got a bath and fresh clothes ready for you. My servants will help you if you need any help."

Henry shook his head and moved to leave the bed; he knew he had no chance to convince his wife to leave that for later. Once he was on his feet, he looked at her and smiled. "Will you at least still be here when I finish?"

Catherine smiled back. "Yes. I'm not going anywhere."


Without Henry distracting her and the help of one of her ladies – not Charlotte, she had work to do –, she had soon been ready. Then, she sat on her bed, beside her son, waiting for him to wake up. Her eyes travelled to the window. She was still on schedule; getting up early had been worth it. She could still wait a little bit before waking Little Henry.

She stared into the sky and allowed her thoughts to run freely for a while. She was still confused. She still wasn't sure if trusting Henry with her heart had been the most stupid decision she had made in her life; only time would tell her. She closed her eyes and smiled absentmindedly. There was no use in worrying anymore. She had already let him in; but still, she couldn't allow herself to think that things would change for good, that they would last forever. That was something she had to keep burned into her mind. She just couldn't, because if she allowed herself to believe it, she'd be done; if things changed back, the hurt would be too much to bear. All she could do now was to take all she could from it, for as long as it lasted, and then when he walked away from her – if he did – she would have good memories that would keep her going on. It wasn't perfect, but it was far a better prospect than the one she'd had in the last few years.

Catherine smiled again, feeling her son moving under the covers. She put all of her worries aside and looked at him, yawning and rubbing his eyes. The boy froze for an instant, surely confused about not being in his own bed, until he noticed his mother by his side. Then, a big smile appeared on his lips. "Good morning, darling." He drew his hands around her waist and snuggled closer to her. Catherine ran a hand through his hair and allowed him to rest his head on her lap. "Have you slept well tonight, hmm?"

Henry nodded his golden head. "Yes, mama." His arms released her as he turned to look at her, his body in the bed and his head still on her lap. "Can I stay with you today?"

The look on his eyes killed her. He had truly missed her. She felt bad for having to turn him down. "I'm sorry, darling, but right now mama has lots of things to do." His little face fell, unable to hide his disappointment. "But... later I'll come to see you, your brothers and sisters. What do you think about that?"

His eyes beamed with happiness. He got up from his lying position and got on his knees over the bed. "Oh, yes! Please, mama. Please, come!"

"Of course I'll come, but you don't tell them about it. We keep it a surprise." The boy nodded eagerly, almost jumping on the bed. "Oh, come and give mama a big kiss."

Little Henry did as his mother had asked him, and kissed her cheek, hugging her with all the strength he had in his tiny body. Suddenly, he broke it and looked at her, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Mama, will father come?"

She caressed his cheek with affection and kissed his forehead. "He is busy, my beautiful eyes. You know he is the King, don't you? He has all of France to worry about."

He nodded his head. "I know. But... does he love us like he loves you, mama?"

Catherine shushed him and ran a hand through his beautiful hair. She looked into his eyes, so full of worry and confusion that made her heart ache. "Of course he loves you, don't ever doubt that. He is your father. A father always loves his children. He just... doesn't know how to show it."

She hugged her son closer to her body. "Your Majesty," said a voice from the doors. She sighed and opened her eyes. Perfect, they had just come for him now.

Catherine placed a kiss on the top of his head and handed him his robe and slippers. "You have to go now, Henry." The boy nodded his head as his mother helped him with the robe. "Be a good boy."

He smiled. "I'll be, mama."

Then, Catherine watched him leave the room, guided by one of the nurses. Once they were gone, still seating on the bed, she closed her eyes for an instant, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. Poor thing. He was so young and already frightened and confused; utterly confused. Just like she had once been.