Disclaimer: I do not own Reign

AN: Directly after the last chapter, and as promised - Henry dancing. Also, just a reminder that Catherine is the Duchess of Urbino even though she doesn't have the lands for it, only the title. She's still a commoner, but whenever someone refers to her as Duchess or Your Grace, it's out of respect for her honorary title. There's a whole thing about how she has the title and not the lands for it, but it's long so maybe next time lol.

WARNING! This is the second update for this story today, so hop back one if you didn't see chapter 3 already!

As always, enjoy the read!

Ever the charming Prince he was expected to be, Henry signaled the musicians to put on a dance before leading her out onto the floor. His smile in place, he did his best to nod along and laugh at the right moment, but all he could think about was where to place his feet and what to do with his hands. One, two, hop, turn. One, two, hop, turn. Hortensa was talking at him, spinning around him in her pretty skirts and if he were only a spectator, he surely would have enjoyed watching her, but at the moment, he was trying to avoid looking like a fool. At his height with his limbs as long as they were, he had to work to look graceful and unbothered. These last few years he was thankful that he was beginning to gain muscle seemingly by the day, but the gangly remnants of his younger years still lingered on him - not to mention he wasn't as adept at these fast paced dances as he wished to be. He had erringly spent too much time learning the slower dances thinking that he could fix it so that he'd only dance with the Florentines at slower tempos, but it seemed the Court musicians had misread his signal. All this hopping and turning had him cursing himself for not having figured out a clearer hand signal system. Perhaps he could just - oh. From the other side of the dance floor he could see the Duchess had taken his sisters out to dance. Henry's heart stopped for a moment not at all certain Madeleine could keep up with the fast beat, that she'd be overtaken by another of her attacks. He was about to excuse himself from Hortensa to go take his sister back to their table, but it seemed Catherine and Marguerite had improvised a dance that didn't have Madeleine exerting herself too much. The healthier two dancing around her, it seemed she was doing fine by the way Madeleine was smiling. She was nearly never able to be included in festivities and - yelping as Hortensa's foot came down onto him, Henry waved away her apologies.

"Your Highness! I am so very truly sorry!" Her hands on his chest, Hortensa did her best to rack her brain for the right words to say.

"No, no - it's not your fault. I wasn't paying attention, forgive me." Henry took her hands away from his chest and gently kissed her knuckles even as his toes throbbed.

"There are nothing to forgive, but you poor thing. Come, let's - "

"If I may?" His older brother's deep rumble interrupting the two of them, Henry fought off a sigh. This was only getting better. At least it wasn't Charles. "I'd be glad to take you around while Henry recovers from his shattered pride."

"Thank you, Francis." Clapping his brother on the back, Henry gave his dark Florentine beauty a smile. "I'll only be a moment."

Leaning down so only his little brother could hear, the Dauphin whispered, "At least it wasn't the other one to step on you - she's wearing heels."

Henry gave his brother a playful shove as he and Hortensa continued on to the dance floor and he removed himself to the table. Francis was a much more able dancer even with the five of them only having had lessons for the past few months and he did his best to soothe his own jealousy. Lost in his thoughts, he wondered if his mother were here now what she would think of his two choices. Of course, he'd only known the two of them for a handful of hours, but surely she could have helped him? What he remembered of his mother was her constantly getting him back up when he'd fallen down, how she'd dry his tears on her own skirts with a smile and a song. It felt like a lifetime had passed since she'd left them and now with only his father infamous for his loves, Henry didn't have anyone he could go to for advice on what would make a good wife. He knew his father's advisors had said a good wife would be an advantageous wife, but Hortensa and Catherine were certainly that. Although Hortensa wasn't the heir, he'd heard whispers her father would match whatever Catherine's dowry would have been - without the promise of Milan of course. So truly, both were similar when it came down to what they had to offer France. Now, it was only up to what they could offer him. He didn't want what his father had in his loveless political marriages, he wanted a wife that would be his friend. Someone he could talk to. Hortensa was certainly talkative. Perhaps she -

"Is your foot feeling better, brother?" Brought once more into the moment by Madeleine's voice, he was surprised when it wasn't Marguerite with her, but the fairer Medici, Catherine.

"Much, thank you." Standing with a slight wince to pull out his sister's chair seeing her be supported by Catherine and knowing that she must be feeling a little weak now after their stint on the dance floor, he took hold of her other arm as they settled her into her seat. "Please make sure your cousin doesn't feel too badly for it, won't you, Your Grace?"

Henry watched as the Duchess of Urbino took a moment to ensure Madeleine was comfortable before answering him. "I will do, Your Highness."

"It's a shame Hortensa stamped on your foot or you could have had a dance with Catherine, Henry. I think you saw how lovely a dancer she is?"

"I'm nothing of the sort, Your Highness - " Unless his eyes deceived him, the Duchess was beginning to develop a blush.

"Oh, but I must agree with my sister. You move splendidly - um, that is, your dance moves are splendid." Mentally sighing at how unpolished he'd sounded, Henry hoped she wouldn't notice - even though he had enjoyed watching her move.

"And she's dancing in the highest shoes I've ever seen - do go on and show him, won't you?" Madeleine laid a hand on the Florentine's arm in excitement and he wondered if it wasn't good for her. "They're simply magnificent!"

"Madeleine - " He warned, not wanting her to become too worked up lest she suffer another attack. The physician looked to be in his cups and he didn't want to chance her having to be seen to while he was intoxicated.

His sister just shrugged in all her innocence. Or supposed innocence. "You two might be married someday. You'll be seeing more than her shoe then."

"Madeleine!" Henry cried, thoroughly embarrassed by what his little sister was saying. "Your Grace, please excuse my sister. I think she's had a little too much wine tonight. You really should be going to bed now. Where did your ladies go?"

"You know Papa doesn't allow me to drink, Henry, stop being so silly." Waving at her ladies to come take her sister to her rooms, he used his most authoritative voice on her.

"Bed, Madeleine. Now."

The princess rolled her eyes as she accepted help from her ladies to stand as she whispered loudly to Catherine, "He's worse than Papa sometimes, worse than a nanny."

Grumbling at her comparisons, he still allowed her to give him a goodnight kiss to his brow and was surprised when she gave Catherine the same. Bidding her goodnight, he was left in silence with the Duchess as the sounds of the festivities swirled around them. She, too, seemed to be in recovery if her receding blush was anything to go by. He watched out of the corner of his eye as the pink began to fade from her cheeks, neck, and what parts of her chest was exposed. A few of her red locks had come to settle over her shoulder and onto her breast and he watched how the candlelight reflected off of it, admired it. She had the prettiest hair he'd ever seen and he wondered if they had a child would that child get her red, red hair. Shocked that he was thinking such a thing when he'd only uttered a few words to her so far, Henry cleared his throat and was startled when her honey gold eyes looked up at him.

"So, you're short. I mean - your shoes. They're high… because… you're short?"

This wasn't going well.

AN: Idk why, but it just feels fitting for him to be suave af with Hortensa and then an awkward lump with Catherine. We'll see how fast he gets it together.

So historically Madeleine seemed to have been the sweeter of the two of Henry's sisters, but I feel like sass runs in the family so here. Also: if you're wondering why I kept alluding to Madeleine being frail/sickly, it's because she was. According to my sources (aka CallmeCordelia1, thankee sweets!) we don't know exactly what she was ill with, but Stacey is thinking she died of TB and so I'm gonna say she had weak lungs and immune system. FUN FACT! Irl Madeleine married James Stuart, Mary's dad, before he married Marie de Guise. Weird, isn't it?

Yall cool with Henry's siblings coming out to play? I hope so bc they're gonna feature in this. Birth order goes: Francis, Henry, Charles, Madeleine, and then Marguerite.

I think this is going to be the last update of the day since I'm working later, BUT! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm incredibly thankful to you all for coming back and reading my stories and sending me all your love and affection. Be safe and have a wonderful day! Lina loves you xx