Author's Note: Who-hoo chapter ten! I can't believe I've gotten this far! So that's it and on with the story.
Disclaimer: not in this lifetime.
As soon as Catherine got into the door all of the servants quickly took their coats off of them.
"Why is she here, mama? Where's Elizabeth?" Henry asked his mother scornfully and the rest of the children looked up angrily as well. They don't know why they hate Diane so much; all they know is that their mother does so they should as well.
"Elisabeth will be here soon so we'll just stay in the foyer until she comes," Catherine grinned ignoring the first question that was asked. All of the children could see the pain that Catherine was trying desperately to hide. Claude acted first on seeing the emotion and circled her arms around her waist. Margaret was still in her arms so she hugged her mother around her neck. The rest of the children including Francis went in to comfort their mother as well.
"Catherine," said a breathless voice from the door. They all looked up from the big family group hug and saw Henry standing at the door. He went to walk toward Catherine but Francis and Claude stepped in front of her. "We need to talk in private," he said taking a step back.
Claude turned to her mother and pleaded, "Mother, don't." Catherine gave her a small smile and handed Margaret into the hands of Claude. She kissed Claude's cheek and then felt a strong hand on her shoulder to keep her from moving; she knew it was Francis.
Catherine turned to him and whispered, "Catch me when I fall."
"Always," he said back. Catherine turned and walked toward Henry ready to fall. He gently took her hand and dragged her into a small empty room so they could talk. Henry shut the door behind him so they could have privacy.
"Catherine, I swear to you I did not ask her here," Henry said and took her hands but she pulled away and turned from him.
"I can't help but think that you're lying to me," she said.
"Catherine I still want you; nothing has changed from what I said to you last night. I love you, I want you, I need you."
"I want her gone; I want her gone now Henry," Catherine said angrily.
"Yes of course," he said back.
"Go, now, tell her!" when she said this the horns went off again, surely this time for Elisabeth.
"Catherine," Henry whispered seeing her standing there brooding in anger.
"If that's another one of your mistresses I'm going to throw you off the highest tower," Catherine said and walked by him. Henry stood silently because he decided it was the best option with Catherine being so testy, "and I don't want Elisabeth to catch sight of her." Henry nodded and followed her out the door. She immediately went back to her children smiling and ignoring Diane and Bash talking in the corner.
Henry also saw Diane with Sebastian and decided that adhering to Catherine's request that Elisabeth wouldn't see Diane was a great idea for keeping Catherine and Elisabeth happy. Out of all the children Henry and Catherine had Elisabeth shown the most contempt toward Diane; Henry walked over to them.
"Henry!" Diane said with a smile on her face, "Bash why don't you leave your father and me to talk." Sebastian nodded and walked away.
"What are you doing here?" Henry asked angrily. He glanced over to where Catherine was and saw Claude and Francis glaring at him and Catherine putting coats back onto the little ones.
"Are you not happy to see me?" she said innocently and took a step closer and rested a hand on his chest not so innocently and said, "I'm very happy to see you."
At the touch Henry jumped back and shot her a look, "Stop it Diane. Don't play stupid and answer my question."
Diane perked up her lips a said, "Lady Kenna wrote me distressed that you've gone back to your wife and completely replaced her and apparently me as well. I came to see what spell that witch casted upon you."
"Do not insult my wife," Henry said, "You need to leave now." Henry walked back to Catherine and a servant put on his fur. They walked outside together with their children and Mary behind them leaving Diane in the dust.
The royal couple was walking side by side like every king and queen of France should for such an occasion and Henry leaned over just a bit and whispered, "Catherine I told her to leave."
Catherine was pulling a small fake smile for the people, "I will believe it when I see her carriage driving away." Her smile grew to a real one when she saw guards on horse surrounding a lovely carriage fit for a queen of Spain. Catherine waved her hand to tell her children to step in front of them, she knew how much they all missed their big sister so again she was the caring mother who but the wants of her children in front of her own. A man went up to the carriage and opened the door to the small carriage in front and several ladies in waiting stepped out in single file, they curtseyed to the royal family and stood silently in an orderly line. Then the horns blew and a man yelled out, "Elisabeth Valois, Queen of Spain!"
The door opened and Elisabeth stepped out in a beautiful gold Spanish dress. She looked down and you could see her dark auburn hair a mixture of her mother and father's and when she took the final step she looked up with her dark Valois and Medici eyes at her family and gave them a smile before nodding and curtseying to them formally. At the interaction they respectfully bowed and curtseyed back to her. At that Elisabeth took off running and leapt into Francis's arms for a hug, they were always so close. They kissed each other on the cheek and Elisabeth moved onto the next family member. She gave Mary, who was her childhood friend, a quick hug. She then went to Claude squealing at her and Claude jumped into her arms and they bounced up and down for being reunited. When they finally separated from their whispers Charles and little Henry hugged her at her waist; Elisabeth leaned down and kissed them both on the top of their heads. The boys let go of their big sister and she dropped to her knees to hug and kiss her littlest brother and sister. She then rose respectfully and walked to her father.
"Father," she said with a grin and a nod of the head.
"Oh my little girl," Henry said and wrapped his arms around her. She returned the hug but didn't let it last long for she wanted to see her mother more than anything and Henry knew it. She had saved the best for the last, her darling mother, her best friend.
Elisabeth walked over to her mother with a full grin. They quickly meet each other in a tight hug. "I've missed you Lizzy," Catherine whispered into her ear.
"I love you mom," Elisabeth whispered back. Catherine felt her shiver so she pulled away.
"Let's go inside. We can hug later," Catherine said and Elisabeth nodded.
The big family walked inside together all happy to get out of the cold. Catherine and Elisabeth locked arms and entered the castle together. Servants began to take off their furs again before making their way to the throne room for the ball that was put together for the return of their French princess.
"Henry!" they heard a shout from ahead and saw Diane angrily stomping toward them. Catherine took a deep breath and felt Elisabeth tighten beside her. Francis hand went to take his little sisters shoulder to try and guide her to the ball, where the rest of their siblings had thankfully ran into, so they wouldn't have to see the scene that was about to commence. Elisabeth walked forward instead of to the side where the ball was. She had a tight smile plastered onto her lips as she approached.
"That is not how you should be present yourself to your rulers," Elisabeth spoke and Diane swallowed her pride to curtsey to her. She began to rise but Elisabeth put her palm up toward Diane and said, "I did not permit you to stand." Elisabeth stuck out her hand which held her wedding ring; Diane grinded her teeth and brought her hand to her lips and muttered, "Princess Elisabeth."
"Queen Elisabeth now," she said smiling and turned to go to the ball. She saw her mother and brother hiding their smiles and her father pale and embarrassed. Elisabeth stopped in front of him and whispered, "Always a delight to see your whores." She walked into the ball with mother and brother by her side.
Henry was now fuming with anger toward Diane; he stomped toward her and grabbed her upper arm dragging her toward his room. He got in and pushed him away from her.
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!" he screamed at her. Henry was seeing red, he was supposed to be proving to Diane and his children that he was faithful and she was ruining everything.
"I can't just leave! Where am to go? I love you Henry and I know you; you don't love Catherine you're just under her spell for now and you'll grow tired of her as you have of all the others and come back to me."
"Not this time, Diane. She's not just another girl I want to bed, she is my wife. I will not grow tired of her."
"You've done it before who's to say you won't do it again," Diane challenged him.
"That was different, a different situation, a different time," Henry said testily, "You will be leaving tonight for your château in Paris. I will send servants with you as well and a monthly amount of money so you can continue your life with luxury. All the other properties that I gave you that you and I both know belonged to my wife will be taken away."
"Henry, please consider your doing," Diane said tearfully.
"I am sorry to have hurt you but I cannot continue this affair any longer."
"What of my son! Our son!?"
"He may go with you if you both wish, you may write letters, and he can visit; but you will not return to court."
"You're throwing everything we had away, our happiness, for her. That witch you call your wife!"
"You speaking treasonous words, and I will not hear it. Goodbye Diane, this is our last farewell."
"Henry, please!" Diane cried. Henry only nodded and told his guards to escort Diane to her carriage and carry out the rest of the tasks for her departure.
Henry walked back to the party and instantly found Catherine and walked her toward the window. He pointed out the window to see Diane walking to her carriage; she hugged Diane and looked back before stepping in and riding away. Catherine put on a smile grin and nodded.
"Can I come to your rooms tonight?" Henry whispered.
Catherine hesitated for a moment before exhaling and muttering, "Yes."
TBC