Disclaimer: *insert sassy remark about how I don't own Reign*
AN: I'm half insane with tired exam-type brain right now and as I'm basically the laziest author this side of grade school, I'm going to forego edits because I can. Heh. Hopefully, it'll be alright. Enjoy the read.
Now do you see?
Her voice was a mere whisper as she said his name, her lips brushing against his as she did.
"Henry…."
"Henry?"
There was a rustle behind them as Diane parted the leaves and branches, breaking apart their hideaway and the moment that had fallen upon them. Withdrawing her hands from her husband, the Queen stood tall as the other woman approached them. Smiles and a gliding gait, Diane embodied grace and elegance as she reached her hand out to Henry. Those eyes of his still trained on his wife, it was as if he didn't even notice when the brunette wrapped herself around his arm. All he could see was his Catherine, his strong, brave, wonderful, sensitive Catherine closing in on herself. His eyes were pleading with her not to leave. Him, this garden, this openness they'd achieved these past few weeks…
Don't, please, Catherine -
Henry -
"Henry, we've been missing you out there. Let's go back and have a dance. My feet have yet to touch the floor."
Diane's voice grated on his nerves as she pushed herself up against him, her words tracing over his neck like a spider crawling over him in the night. Even with his mistress wrapped around him so, the King of France reached for his Queen.
Stay, I want to be with you.
It seems as though someone else is fighting for your attention as well.
All I want is your attention.
"Henry!"
Diane's shout in his ear had him extracting his arm from her and stepping back. Had she really just yelled at him of all people? Grating out his words as politely as he could for Catherine's sake so as not to make her flee his company, he manage to growl the words with as much gentleness as a caged lion could muster.
"What is it?"
She had the audacity to glare at him as if he'd been the one in the wrong.
"This is the fifth time I've had to call your name to get you to even look at me. Now, I won't just stand here while you moon over your little Florentine - "
Raising his hand to her to halt whatever she had planned to say, Henry cut her off in defense of the woman he loved.
"Don't finish that thought, just go."
Taken aback, Diane stared at him with those brown doe eyes of hers.
"Excuse me?"
His jaw set in irritation, Henry stepped up to the woman who should have been a part of his past a long time ago.
"As you can see, I'm not interested in you. Run off to wherever you came from."
He saw her glance behind him and for some odd reason, she had a smile once more grace her features.
"Whatever you wish, love. I'll see you when you get bored of her again."
Her tone of nonchalance had his hackles rising.
"Do not talk that way about my wife, Diane."
Putting on the airs of one close to the King and in no fear of his wrath, Lady Diane de Poitiers feigned her apology with a submissive hand to her chest and bow of her head.
"Apologies, Your Grace. I'd thought since you speak that way that I was at liberty to as well."
He hated that she'd been privy to all his nasty thoughts about his Catherine over the years.
"Diane - "
Cutting him off with a curtsey, Diane rose and blew him a kiss before turning. Speaking to him over her shoulder, she left the privacy of the willow's bent branches as one who'd one the battle.
"It won't happen again. Besides, it seems she's left you this time."
Turning at her words, Henry found that Catherine was nowhere in sight.
Catherine, why do you always have to turn from me?
AN: Caterina, why you go do that? WHYYYYYYYYYYY?! No worries, boo is gonna go on a mission to find his woman. Until the next time! Xo, Lina loves you :)
To PopRockShawty: I think so too! I always got top marks in school for my similes and metaphors, so I might as well apply them to our two favorite royals, am I right?
To Jayleigh81: I feel it's my duty as a writer to catch all of my fainting readers, I'll grow some more arms just to make sure I can catch all of you though.
To pickleshibby: lol, YA YOU DO! Lol jk. Glad you like it :)
To CallmeCordelia1: If it were possible to time travel, I think we all know who'd be leading the, HENRY VALOIS, YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS IN LINE, RIGHT THIS MINUTE! Mob squad. Just saying. Less on the passion, but it'll lead into some more stuff.
To Guest Reviewer Bree: OH NO! SWEETIE NO SOBBING! I think I might have made it worse this chapter because no one likes Diane, but I'll have some nice things next chapter, I promise.
To rlokareddy: LOOOOOOOOOL I should probably do that too, but nope. This chapter doesn't add a whole lot to the story as a whole, but it's definitely something I felt Henry needed to deal with.
To Guest Reviewer Katie: As per always, your follow up review always gets me going. As the Twitter squad can tell you, this was mostly finished by the time you hit me up, but I definitely needed your little push.
Teaser for next time? As we know, Catherine is out of sorts and needs to get herself back together - including her hair. Honestly, Henry just can't keep himself away from those curly locks.
On another note: If yall are looking for tablets, I totally recommend the Surface series from Microsoft. I'm a student and part time digital artist and I can say that I've been doing both on my new Surface 3 (the regular, not the Pro version) and it's been working just fine.
Music for this chapter was mostly by Secondhand Serenade radio on Pandora.