AN : And here's a new chapter for you ! Enjoy it !
Disclaimer : I don't own « Reign », no plagiarism is intended and I don't make profit of this story.
Chapter 23
In the castle grounds…
« Mama look ! They even brought my favourite cheese ! »
« Yes Charles I see » She answered lovingly.
The King helped his wife to sit on the covers as everyone else sat.
The Queen smiled at him…
The children were already rolling in the green spring grass…
« Charles, Henry, Margot » Called Catherine.
They all looked up at her with innocent eyes.
« Time to eat. » She added.
« Oh yes ! I'm so hungry » Said little Henry.
And the three came running to sit with the rest of them.
Lunch went on without difficulties. Each of them telling a story. There was a happy mood.
After the meal, the King and Francis decided to play with the younger one's leaving Mary and Catherine alone.
« You seem happy Catherine. » said the young Queen with a little smile.
« I am happy... the happiest I have ever been I think... » She answered while stroking her belly.
/-/-/-/-/
The King and Dauphin were playing a sword fight with the little ones. Henry still being careful of his leg.
They were all having fun. Francis and his father against Charles, little Henry and Margot.
They were all exchanging blows when little Henry hit his father on the side with his wooden sword.
Henry made like he was gravely injured and feigned that he was dead.
« HENRY ! What have you done ?! » Said Charles.
« He killed Papa ! » cried the princess.
It took all of the King's self-control not to laugh but he managed to remain silent.
« I... I... » and the little prince run to his mother followed by his siblings.
Henry opened an eye and looked at Francis.
« We are giving them quite a scare. » he whispered and Francis smiled.
/-/-/-/-/
« MAMA ! MAMA ! MAMA ! » the three of them came running towards their mother.
« What is it darlings ? »
« It's papa ! I think we killed him » said little Henry.
« No ! It was you ! » answered Charles.
« Easy boys. Where is you father ? » asked the Queen while getting up with Mary's help.
« There ! » pointed Charles. The Queen followed his finger and saw her husband on the grass.
She supressed a laugh and said : « I think we should go and see him. »
When they arrived near the King, Catherine said : « Maybe if you tickle him he will come back. »
« You think mama ? » asked little Henry, worried.
« Try » she said with a smile.
Henry concentred for not giving him away but when three pairs of hand came tickling his sides and neck he couldn't resist and burst out laughing.
« PAPA ! » Cried together the three youngest Valois.
« We thought Henry killed you ! » Said Margot.
« It would take a lot more to kill your father. » Said the King playfully.
/-/-/-/-/
The royal couple spent the afternoon in the throne room discussing matters of state.
It was going on since at least three hours when the King saw his wife with a hand to her
belly and a face with light traces of pain.
He leaned forward and spoke quietly : « Are you alright, darling ? »
Smiling she said : « Hum… Yes… it's just that as I am sitting since a long time, the baby went
underneath my ribs… I think a little rest would do me great good. »
« Of course » then Henry addressed the court : « Gentlemen, this meeting will have to be
postponed. My wife needs her rest."
With that they took their leave from the court. Hand in hand, they walked toward
Catherine's chambers while talking.
« Are you feeling better ? » He asked.
« Much better, thank you. » She answered.
« How did you do when I was away ? »
« I endured the pain… » Catherine said.
« Catherine… » He turned her to make her face him and continued : « Promise me that if
you are ever in pain in the future you'll tell me »
The Queen smiled and nodded : « I love that… »
« What do you love ? » he asked with a light tone.
« You taking care of me… » She blushed.
The moment he heard her words he kissed her… he couldn't resist her and her rosy cheeks.
After that they walked silently towards Henry's chambers…
Once they reached their destination Catherine began to talk :
« Henry… we need to talk… » said the Queen.
« Of course, what do you want to talk about darling ? » He answered.
« Us… As much as I love this development of our relationship… I need to know why ? »
« Why what ? » Henry asked confused.
« Why now ? What changed you mind and for how long will I have your attention ? » She
answered him.
« Catherine, you have always been in my heart, always, I… I'm sorry it took me this long to
realise what has always been obvious… » He responded taking her hand in his.
« As to what changed my mind… I beg you to believe me, even before learning that you were
pregnant I wouldn't have gone through with the execution… I cannot blame you for
something I myself have done countless times… even if as you know, before the law men can
enjoy certain « privileges » that are forbidden to women… and Catherine… how can I kill my
own heart… it may be hard for you to believe me but even before our new beginning, I held
respect and love for you. You are my Queen and the mother of my children… and I could
never thank you enough for staying by the side of your outrageous husband after all I did to
you. You know I thank the lord everyday because thank's to this marvellous event that is this
pregnancy, I re-dicovered what is and as always been in my heart : you and you alone. As for
« how long ? », Catherine… when we first have fallen in love more than two decades ago, I
loved you like a boy loves a girl now, I love you like a man loves a woman… We, I was too
young to understand your fears and worries, I'm sorry… Catherine, if you can trust me again I
think I can love you forever. » He said while whipping her tears away with gentle fingers.
« I want to trust you… » Catherine whispered.
« Then do » He smiled while she put her head against his chest.
/-/-/-/-/
A little while later the royal couple of France went to dine with their children a last time before their departure to the « Thermal baths » in the Alps. Once finished, their returned to their now shared chambers, changed into their nightclothes and went to bed.
« So ? How is this little one ? » Said the King while rubbing his wife's belly with oil from Cairo.
« Oh, he is very well and moving a lot as usual… » She answered with a smile.
Talking to her belly, Henry said : « Already causing your mama troubles, my child ? » and he received a kick against his hand.
At this the King and Queen shared a laugh and Catherine said mockingly : « Well, at least we know he is your child, Henry… »
Giving his wife an indignant look, he took her into his arms and began to tickle her….
« Henry… stop that…. I… can't…. breathe…. » She laughed but he didn't stop.
« Alright… alright… I love you Henry. » At this he immediately stopped and his mouth inches apart from hers he said with a smile : « Ah… I prefer that. » before kissing her.
Then, the King and Queen of France went to sleep in each other's arms…
/-/-/-/-/
It was the day of the big departure !
After kissing goodbye to the children and promising a thousand time to write letters to them, Henry and Catherine got in the carriage… The carriage was a lot simpler than the ones they were used to but it was part of the plan… They were not to be recognized so they, of course, couldn't travel in a royal carriage.
"After you my Queen" Said the King gallantly. She answered with a smile and took hold of his hand and went in the carriage. Henry followed shortly and once they were sited he tapped the roof three times to signal the driver to go.
They sat on the same side and Catherine laid her head against his shoulder and Henry wrapped his arm around her after laying a kiss on the top of her head as Catherine wasn't wearing a crown.
They were less than a day away from their destination and after a few hours of rest and peaceful silence Catherine spoke :
"Henry ?" She asked
"Humm ?"
"What will be our names ? I suppose we will be changing names to avoid suspicion." She said
"We will be called "Lord and Lady Rocheford", new members of the nobility. He said dramatically causing his wife to laugh.
"But in private we are still Catherine and Henry, in fact we won't have to change our first names… Catherine and Henry are quite frequent names in France. So many people named after their rulers…" He continued.
The Queen chuckled in amusement.
"What ?" Henry asked teasingly. "I'm just saying that we wear marvellous names. Don't you agree ?"
She laughed at this and said "I do" before kissing his cheek tenderly. Her husband couldn't help but to close his eyes at the feeling. How he had missed that…
The rest of the trip to the duke's castle went very well with the King and Queen chatting happily during most of the time it lasted.
Once they arrived they were welcomed by the duke himself who was instructed not to bow to his rulers but to act as if they were the new nobles they pretended to be.
Then he immediately led Catherine and Henry into a private room. After a deep bow he spoke : "Majesties, what an honour for me and my family to welcome you in my humble castle."
"We are most pleased to be here Lord Virbeaux" answered the Queen.
"As you already know our true identity must remain secret" Added the King.
"Of course, Majesty" answered the Lord of Savoie.
"Very well, so outside of this room we are simply Lord and Lady Rocheford." Clarified Henry.
"Yes, your Grace"
"We also agreed that to stay here while avoiding suspicions, we would have to work as teachers." Added Henry.
"That's what we agreed upon, yes Majesty"
"What subjects are we to teach ?" Asked a curious Henry while taking Catherine's hand in his.
"Well we are in desperate need of an Italian teacher…"
Henry looked his wife with a smile. This subject was definitely for her.
"As well as a Geography, Latin and History teacher." Added the duke.
Well it was easy for them… Thought Henry.
He looked his wife and they understood each other.
Catherine would take Latin and Italian of course, and Henry would take History and Geography of France and Europe as he spent all his youth learning it…
"When will we start ?" Asked a smiling Catherine. She wouldn't say it aloud but she looked forward to teaching things to the children…
"This morning would be good, Majesties" Answered the duke.
"I'm sorry it might seem a bit early since you've only just arrived but it's my mother… She's very strict, she attaches great importance to the children's education… and she'll want to know if the new teachers are educated enough and if they know their subject… She would have done the same with anyone, there is nothing personal in it…" Added the man with a sickly smile.
"Hum…. You'll probably have to pass some kind of competence test she has concocted… I'm so sorry… of course my mother doesn't who you really are… Otherwise I'm sure she wouldn't put you through this "test"…" The duke continued shyly.
"It's alright, we asked you not to reveal our true identity and I suppose it must come with some kind of "price". And I'm sure all will be well … won't it Henry ?" Said the Queen.
"Hum…" Said the King who was by now glancing coldly at the duke… but when he looked into his Queen's eyes he understood and added sarcastically : "Of course, we'll happily show your mother that we know what we are talking about." The King made sure the duke understood that while he accepted the situation, he was not pleased about it.
The duke who was not more than a little afraid of his King said quickly : " If you please accept that Sylvia, the children governess, shows you to the classes where they study with other children from the town."
And with that Henry and Catherine followed the woman through the castle.
Once they were nearly arrived Henry whispered in his wife's ear : "I'm sorry Catherine, I didn't know about this. I wish you could have rested… especially in your condition."
"It's alright darling, your concern touches me but rest assured that I am well." She answered with a smile.
He smiled back but added nonetheless : " Rest assured that Lord Birgam will remember what my name is… He was the one who has been contacting the duke and he thought no good of informing me of this condition of the deal."
The Queen laughed, he was always so stubborn…
"It looks like we arrived at our destination" Said Catherine while the doors of the classrooms were opened.
Once they stepped inside they saw many children and an old woman wearing a black dress with a very serious expression on her face. She was thin and quite tall.
"Ah ! So you are the new teachers I suppose…." Said the woman.
Catherine and Henry looked at each other sceptically… this was going to be interesting…
"I'm Margueritte De Virbeaux, dowager duchess of Savoie and mother of the duke." She added with proudness while lifting her chin. If only she knew who she was talking to…
AN : This is it ! Next chapter the conversation between our Royal couple and this duchess…
Don't forget to leave a review ! Take care
Laura D.