AN: I'm kind of bummed not to have any reviews the last two chapters, especially the last one, just because it makes me nervous that the M chapter I wrote wasn't well-received. :/ Writing M stuff takes me out of my comfort zone and I constantly double-check worrying that I've over-stepped or made something read awkwardly, so no feedback is kind of a discouragement. :( I hope it's not my writing, and that it's just the ship I've chosen to write about that's the reason why my story is not being that much liked. I worked really hard on it, and I'm going to post all of it anyway, because I'm proud of it. I have changed the name of the story slightly, from 'For The Love Of A Prince's Bride' to 'In Love With A Prince's Bride'. I like it less than before, but I needed to change it because it was too close to Lina_Oso's 'For The Love Of A Prince' that I had forgotten about until after I titled mine. Here's the next chapter…

Chapter 14

Over the weeks that Henry was away from court, Catherine spent many nights with Richard in his chambers. They tried not to do so too frequently, in case it became obvious to anyone at the castle. Catherine's trusted lady-in-waiting knew on the nights she would not be in her chambers, although not where or with whom she would be spending the night, only so that she would not become alarmed at finding her mistress missing overnight and let the guards know.

The two spent their time together making love and sleeping, and Catherine seemed almost to return to the way she had been in those early years with Henry, when she was so full of life and radiated joy. She became more playful and her laughter was heard often, which delighted Richard. He could see that he was making her happy, and for now, making her forget Henry and his lack of love for her, and that was all that mattered.

Early one morning, draped haphazardly with the sheets as they lay naked together in Richard's bed after a night of amorous exertion, Catherine positioned her head against Richard's chest, tucked under his chin, to face the windows. Dawn was breaking, and the sky was flooded with heavenly colours as the sun made ready to appear. The room was cast aglow with soft colourful light, and she sighed with pleasure. Their arms were wrapped around each other's bodies, and their legs comfortably entangled. Catherine rubbed her foot absently up and down Richard's calf, and he dropped his chin to kiss the top of her head. He was vastly contented, and it seemed Catherine was too.

"Don't you think it's beautiful!" breathed Catherine as the first sliver of the morning sun came into view.

"Breath-taking!" agreed Richard, kissing the tip of her ear.

"The colours! It's as though God himself painted them just for our enjoyment!"

"I know," Richard added with a hint of mischief. "I have never seen hair in this exact lovely colour, nor eyes like honey and gold before."

She twisted round, lifting incredulous eyes to meet his. "I meant the sunrise, Richard, as you well know!"

He smiled with a look of slight self-satisfaction, and kissed her sweetly, before replying, "It pales in comparison, my love." She leaned back against him, smiling happily and pulling his arm tighter across her front.

"I wish our time together could never end."

"Why should it have to?"

"Because Henry will return, of course." Her tone seemed flat, and Richard wondered if she still desired Henry the way she used to, given how things had been between he and Catherine this past month during Henry's absence.

"Don't you want him to?"

"Yes, of course I do… It's just - " Catherine pushed herself up on her elbow to look at him. "You have made me so happy, Richard. I had begun to forget the hurt that Henry caused me. I hadn't realised the unhappiness I was carrying all these years until you lifted it away from me, and I'm so grateful."

She leaned forwards on her elbows, her breasts pressing softly against his chest as she kissed him slowly, lovingly, full of feeling. Laying back in his embrace once more, she ventured, "I fear the hurt will return with Henry… As long as he's here, I'm reminded. Especially with his whore shoved in my face all the time."

Richard squeezed her shoulders lovingly. "But now that we have each other… perhaps I can still make you happy, despite the hardships?"

She turned in his arms again, kissing his chest. "You do make me happy, and I know you will continue to. I just can't be sure that the strength of my feelings for Henry… I hate to mention them - "

"I know," he reassured her softly, "I know." Stroking her hair, he asked, "When does he return?"

"He has not specified a date. Another week or two, I expect, from the communications he has sent to the King."

"He sent you nothing yourself? No letters?"

She snorted incredulously. "Henry, send me letters?!"

"If I were away," smiled Richard, looking out at the sunrise, "I would write to you hourly, pouring out my heart to you." He made his voice more dramatic to add to the fun, although not quite to the point of sarcasm. "I'd pine away for the lack of your company, my eyes would dry up for lack of the sight of your delicious form - " his beloved gave a deep, throaty laugh, enjoying his daydream. "I would fail miserably at whatever task had called me away from you, being able to focus on nothing but getting home again. I would return to find you buried under a mountain of letters and wax seals, and lament in utter heartbreak that I had written to you so very often, and not simply daily." They laughed together at his ridiculous story, and settled back in each other's embrace to watch the sunrise.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/

Richard waited for Catherine, who was taking her time to get ready for her shot. After a week of rain, the sun was finally shining over the castle. With only two days until Henry and Diane would be returning to court, Catherine seemed restless and not quite herself, Richard thought. She couldn't settle to any occupation, and he had arranged that afternoon for archery boards to be set up in a clearing under the willows, along with the equipment they would need. Fresh air and a good distraction, he told her, would help her feel better about things. He knew that she had always enjoyed archery.

He noted her precision as she drew back the arrow in the bow, aiming carefully. Catherine was an excellent shot, and he enjoyed watching her. After a short pause, she released the arrow, which hit the edge of the board and rebounded into the grass.

"Damn it!" she flung her bow to the ground. Richard startled at her impatient reaction and moved to her side.

"Catherine - "

"I can't seem to get anything right at the moment! Perhaps this isn't the diversion for me this afternoon." She yanked the quiver from her shoulder and tossed it down angrily on top of the bow. Rubbing her face with tired impatience, she added, "This morning I dropped my favourite vase, and I was so angry with myself that I threw another on top of it for added effect!" She sighed. "I can't think what is wrong with me."

"The stress of Henry's return is probably just getting to you, that is all. Tiredness doesn't help." He rubbed the back of her neck tenderly. "It'll be alright."

She jerked away from his touch irritably, much to Richard's discomfort and surprise, then laid her hand against his arm in apology.

"You're probably right." She let out a long tense sigh. "I think I will go and take a rest in my chambers before dinner. I'm sorry to spoil the rest of the afternoon."

"Not at all, Catherine. You should rest. Please let me know if – if I can help in any way. You know I love you."

She smiled, and now that he took a good look at her, she really did look tired, and rather pale too. He wanted to reach out and stroke her face, but she seemed not to enjoy his touch a moment ago and he didn't want to further irritate her. To his relief, she took his hand and squeezed it gently.

"Thank you, Richard. You know I love you too." And she kissed the back of his hand.

"Can I escort you to your chambers?"

"If you don't mind, I think I'll just make my way there now. A bit of space on my own to think, perhaps."

"Of course." Richard tried not to show his disappointment. In any case, he would need to take the archery equipment back to the castle, so it made sense, he told himself, that Catherine shouldn't have to wait for him if she was in need of a rest.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/

At a quarter past four that afternoon, Richard was in his chambers, dutifully writing to an old aunt of his, when a knock came to his door. Opening the door, he was surprised to find Catherine's lady-in-waiting standing there.

"Beatrice?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but my lady has sent for you."

"Catherine has?"

"Yes, she - " Beatrice looked about her uncomfortably, and Richard bade her come in to his chambers to deliver her message. She began again, "She is in some distress, and would not let me comfort her. She told me she needed the company of a good friend, and sent me to fetch you. I – I didn't want to draw too much attention…"

"Thank you, Beatrice." Richard touched the lady's shoulder gratefully, pushing past her and making his way anxiously to Catherine's chambers. Beatrice kept pace with him fairly well, and when they reached Catherine's rooms, she opened the door, curtseying politely and leaving them to themselves. Richard thanked her as she left, and then turned to Catherine.

She was sitting in her bed, knees to her chest, hugging her legs. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and the light from the window shone on her cheeks, wet with tears. Strands of her lovely hair stuck to her tearstained face. She looked across the room at him standing in front of the closed door, and began to sob. He flew to her side, sitting in close against her and leaning her into his embrace.

"Catherine…" his heart broke to see her so overcome with emotion, "My love… what is it?"

At his words, she seemed to cry all the harder, and didn't answer him. She pushed her face into his chest and clutched at his breast pocket with her fingers. Stroking her hair tenderly and dropping kisses onto the top of her head, he tried again.

"Catherine, please talk to me. Did you have a dream that troubled you, when you slept?" She shook her head against him, no. "Then what? What could possibly be distressing you so? Please love, I'm worried about you."

Catherine took a deep shuddery breath, but stayed hidden in his embrace. Her voice came thick with emotion, wavery and unstable. "I don't know. I woke up… I didn't have a bad dream, or any dream at all that I can recall… I just felt so strange – I can't explain it, Richard! I feel so very strange in my own skin. Emotion just overcame me, and I needed so badly to be held. I'm sorry to have sent for you like this, and for worrying you so," she gave a sob, "but I – I needed you."

Richard's heart soared! She needed him! "Shhh, I'm here now, it's alright. Everything is alright," he consoled her, stroking her hair and rubbing circles on her back.

He held her while she cried, until her sobs subsided, and his shirt was quite wet through. After a few moments, he lay back against the pillows, pulling her gently to recline against him, his arms still wrapped around her protectively.

"Do you think it has to do with Henry?" he asked her softly.

"Perhaps. I don't know." Catherine's sigh sounded tired.

Richard leaned up suddenly to look at her. "Are you unwell?" His brow furrowed with concern for her. "Should I send for the court physician? You did look pale earlier…"

She smiled at his concern, stroking his beard gently. "No, I'm quite alright. I'm just being silly, I suppose."

"No. Don't say that. Something is bothering you, and there's nothing silly about that. I will love you and be there for you, whatever it is. It will be fine." He kissed her softly. "You will tell me, won't you? If anything is wrong?"

"I will." Catherine traced his lips with her fingertips. "Thank you for loving me so well."

"It's my privilege." He kissed her smiling lips, and held her close.