AN: Thank you for the absolutely lovely reviews! I hope that Catherine hiding her pregnancy is going to work out okay for you all! I am similarly conflicted with writing this story – my Cathry heart keeps longing for them to reconcile despite the fact that I'm supposed to be writing about Richard and Catherine, lol! I love writing little parts where Henry is tender towards Catherine. *swoon*

Chapter 16

Henry paused outside the doors to his chambers, allowing the guards to close them behind him. Richard approached his chambers at the perfect time, and Henry looked pleased to see him. He knew that Henry would not have eaten yet, and he planned to deliver Catherine's message in a way that would hopefully soften the blow – over breakfast. Food was often a helpful addition to difficult situations when it came to Henry – and Catherine, for that matter. They did have that in common at least.

Setting off down the corridor together, Henry wasted no time in asking Richard about the outcome of his visit to Catherine the previous evening.

"Did you go?"

"Yes."

"Well? What did you discover about her demeanour since I returned? Would she even see you?"

Richard hesitated. They were only twenty feet from Henry's chambers and he hadn't even asked him to have breakfast yet. He did not want to divulge anything too quickly, but if Henry persisted, he did not see how he could make him wait. Perhaps he would not get as far as breakfast?

"I actually came to see if you wanted to discuss it over breakfast – I'm ravenous this morning and I just haven't had time to eat yet. Have you eaten?"

"No, not yet. I suppose we could take breakfast in the dining room… But I would rather just hear what you have to say now."

Inwardly sighing, Richard tried to stall for time. "You were right about the flowers – they were a good approach. I don't think she would have seen me if I hadn't taken them."

"Well, yes, good – but what did she say?"

Richard glanced at his friend as they walked along. His brow was furrowed and he waited with concern for Richard's reply. Could he still have feelings for Catherine? Why else this apprehension and interest?

"She said," he began reluctantly, "She said that she is tired."

Henry slapped his palm against the side of his trousers as he strode, frustration etching his features.

"That was the excuse she gave to me!" he complained, "I told you that. Could you not discern anything else?! Why would she refuse me, when she has so much to gain from our union?! And after these two months at least without me! More, when you consider that I hadn't visited her chambers in the weeks before I went away."

"You seem almost to feel threatened by her lack of interest, Henry. Come now, are you not satisfied enough with Diane? This wouldn't have bothered you before, would it?"

"Perhaps that's it, my friend – perhaps she is trying to draw my attention with her disinterestedness."

"Well, I, uh – Henry, where are we going? This isn't the way to the dining hall." Richard quickened his pace to keep up with Henry, who was taking long purposeful strides, a determined look on his face.

"Just a little detour, Richard. We'll stop by Catherine's chambers and bring her along to breakfast. Perhaps she'll feel more talkative over a meal."

"Oh, Henry, I don't know… Shouldn't we let her rest? She did say she was tired, and I'm sure she would seek you out if - "

"Nonsense." Henry was definitely in a tenacious frame of mind. "There's no time like the present. I will not have this hanging over me all day, waiting for Catherine to come out of her tedious melancholy and acknowledge me."

Rounding the corner on Henry's heels, Richard realised there was no point in trying to divert him from his mission. He hoped that Catherine would just play along. Perhaps since he would be present, he might be able to help the conversation along in her favour.

Striding briskly up to Catherine's door, Henry entered without knocking, as was his habit (Richard hated this for Catherine), and Richard followed uneasily. He almost bumped into Henry's solid form as his friend stopped short inside the doorway. Closing the door behind him, Richard saw what had given Henry pause.

"Catherine?" Henry's voice was suddenly soft and concerned, "Are you ill?"

Catherine was still in bed, although the drapes were open, and daylight flooded the room. She was semi-reclining against her pillows, and Richard's heart sank as he spotted a chamber pot on the bedspread by her side. She looked pale and exhausted, and he didn't know how he could possibly help her, at this moment, to hide her state from Henry.

Catherine sat up, wide-eyed, startled by their arrival in her chambers.

"I – no, I'm not ill, Henry. Just tired. I – I didn't sleep well, and you know it can turn your stomach sometimes to have so little sleep. Really, I am well." She smiled wanly, her assurances unfortunately very unconvincing, considering how her features betrayed her.

Richard shot Catherine an apologetic look, and then glanced at Henry. Curiously, he seemed to be really quite troubled about Catherine. His features were softened, and his brow wrinkled with concern. He spoke, seeming as though he was searching for something useful to suggest to help his wife.

"Can I send for something to bring you relief?" he suggested.

"A little more sleep is all I need."

"Are you sure? What works for me after a poor night's sleep is a good breakfast."

She closed her eyes, lifting her lovely chin and inhaling somewhat carefully, a pained expression clouding her features. Richard's heart went out to her – his poor Catherine! There was nothing he could think of to say or do, other than perhaps to hurry Henry away from her chambers so that she could get some peace and quiet. Talk of breakfast surely couldn't be helping her.

"Henry," he ventured quietly, "why don't we call on Catherine later, and see how she's feeling after she's had a chance to rest?"

But Henry would not be deterred. "Well, as far as not having enough sleep, sometimes it's better to eat a little even if you do feel uneasy. At least let me have someone bring you something light – fruit perhaps? Those shortcakes you've always enjoyed?"

Poor Catherine. Richard admired her valour in trying to bear Henry's persistence, but she was overcome. Turning away from them, she hunched over the chamber pot and began to empty what little there was in her stomach. Henry was quite alarmed!

"Catherine!" He ran to her side, helplessly standing by her bed. "Richard! Go and bring the physician immediately!"

Richard didn't move, or say anything in response. He was caught between needing to obey his friend – and it was the obvious thing to do, if he was playing along and having no idea what was wrong with Catherine – and protecting Catherine from having her pregnancy discovered, which it surely would be if the court physician was called upon. Henry noticed his lack of movement, and glanced back at him.

"Richard! GO!" His concern for Catherine made him impatient and angry with his friend. Richard decided to feign illness himself as a last resort. He made a pained expression and put his hand to his mouth, averting his eyes from Catherine as though her vomiting was affecting him adversely. Trying to make his voice sound as feeble as possible, he made a few struggling sounds.

"I'm sorry Henry – I – ughh…"

Henry, seeing that his friend was in no condition to run an errand for him, rolled his eyes and called for a servant, a guard, anyone, but nobody seemed to be about. Irritably shouting for Richard to stay with Catherine no matter the hardship, he left the room in a hurry to fetch the court physician himself. As soon as the door was closed, Richard rushed to Catherine, sitting beside her on the bed, rubbing soothing circles on her back as she continued to retch and heave.

"It's alright, it's alright, love. Oh, my poor Catherine! Well done… You're doing so well…" and he soothed and consoled her to the best of his ability, until she had finished. He felt so responsible for her suffering, and he loved her so fiercely that there was nothing he would not do for her. He removed her chamber pot himself, placing it behind the door to alert the servants to shortly, and poured a glass of water from the jug. Pouring a little more onto his own handkerchief, he took it with the glass to Catherine and sat down on the bed, encouraging her to sit back against her pillows again. Using his handkerchief, he gently wiped her face, and then bade her sip some water, before leaning forward to place a chaste kiss on her forehead. She smiled at him fondly.

"Thank you, Richard. You are so kind to me."

"How are you feeling, my darling?"

"Not as bad as just before, but – Richard, I really do feel dreadful this morning! And now Henry has gone to fetch the physician!" She glanced at the door anxiously.

"I know, and he'll be back any moment, so there isn't much time to talk about it. What do you want me to do, or say?"

"I don't know," Catherine furrowed her brow. "I will have to think of something, I suppose. Perhaps refuse to let him examine me."

"I'm so sorry!" Richard blurted out, suddenly, looking down at the bedspread. Catherine clasped his hand in hers.

"No, don't be! It's not your fault, we are both equally to blame, and in any case, it serves no purpose to go blaming ourselves for something we can't change."

"I hate to see you suffering like this, and even worse that I can't be with you all the time to comfort you and help you. And," he added shamefacedly, "I should have worked harder to keep Henry from coming here this morning. I did try, but he was so determined, and I had no idea how unwell you were feeling. I'm sorry."

Catherine raised his hand to her face, laying it to her cheek lovingly.

"It's alright. Don't make yourself uneasy, my dear."

Footsteps were heard down the corridor, distantly at first, approaching Catherine's chambers. Richard stood and stepped away from her bed, keeping a respectable distance. He picked up a sealed letter that happened to be lying on the side table, and fanned his face with it, to keep up appearances for Henry's sake. The door opened, and Henry burst in, accompanied by the court physician and two nervous looking servant girls. Henry made straight for Catherine.

"Are you any better? You do look pale, Catherine."

"Better, yes, thank you Henry." She smiled gratitude at him for his concern. "Richard has taken good care of me and I have had some water, and I'm sure I shall improve with a little more rest."

Henry glanced at Richard, who paused in his fanning long enough to whisper to his friend, "The chamber pot is over there," before pressing his fingers to his mouth once more and taking a deep breath. Henry clicked his fingers almost imperceptibly as he caught one of the servants' eye, and pointed sharply in the direction that Richard had indicated. The servant instantly scurried off to empty the chamber pot, and Henry turned his attention back to Catherine. She was settling herself into her pillows more comfortably.

"If you don't mind? I think I will try to sleep for a little while," she tried, but Henry was having none of it.

"Catherine, I insist that you see the physician, and he is here to see you now. It surely won't take long, and then you can rest, but I would prefer to have you examined. Please?"

She looked uneasily at the physician, and then at Richard, and Henry, and finally nodded. Henry turned and moved towards the door, grasping Richard by the arm as he did so. Catching his eye, Henry rolled his eyes, and scoffed slightly, reprehending him for his weak stomach. Richard feigned an embarrassed smile.

"Are you going to wait here?" Richard asked him once they were outside the room. He hoped Henry wouldn't invade the examination and put Catherine in more difficulty. To his relief, Henry nodded.

"I think so. I want to hear what he has to say straight away. Would you stay, Richard? I wouldn't mind some company while I wait." He rubbed the back of his neck, shifting his weight as he stood there. "I don't know why it has affected me so," he wondered aloud. "I suppose I never considered someone as strong as Catherine being unwell, or weakened in any way. I feel… I love her more than I realised."

This revelation both relieved and dismayed Richard. For Catherine's sake, he was glad to hear that Henry still had feelings for her, as he knew she loved him deeply, and was very hurt by his absence and apparent lack of love. But he would be closed out, and she would not need him any more, if they were to reconcile their differences. Shaking himself mentally, he chastised himself for such thoughts. Of course the best thing for Catherine would be their reconciliation! It would make her happy, and happiness in marriage far outweighed the happiness she could have with him. The thought made him sad, but he must not allow it to affect his actions. He loved Catherine – he must want what was best for her.

There was little conversation as they waited. Henry seemed distracted, and Richard was too, for his own reasons. At length, the door opened and the physician stepped out with his bag. Henry moved to his side quickly, eager to know what he had to say.

"Well? What can you tell me?"

"My lord, your wife declined a full examination, so I cannot be thorough in my review of her case."

"She what?! Why would she decline?!"

Richard tried to help, "I expect she was not feeling up to it – you saw how she tried to get out of any sort of discussion in the first place. Perhaps a full examination would be too much at this time?"

The physician spoke again, "She appears to be exhausted, my lord. Sickness can accompany exhaustion in severe cases, and can run for some time, especially if care is not taken to rest adequately during recovery."

"But… Catherine hasn't been exerting herself particularly – has she Richard?" Henry turned to Richard.

"That you should be asking ME, about your own wife's activity these past two months!" Richard seethed to himself inwardly at Henry's question, "Where were you at the time?! Not so preoccupied with Catherine then, were you?! I'm sure you could tell me all about DIANE'S exertions!" He said nothing for the moment, but looked up, trying to look thoughtful.

"Well…" Richard furrowed his brows, "She has been especially anxious these last couple of months," he addressed the physician. "She did tell me that she hasn't been sleeping well for some time." He resisted the urge to throw an accusative glance at Henry, adding, "And I did try to interest her in some archery practise recently, but she seemed too tired to focus on the game, and went to rest instead." At least this part was true.

The physician nodded. "Yes, I asked about her sleep patterns and she informed me of her difficulties these last few months." Looking at Henry, he said, "I believe she is suffering from exhaustion, caused by lack of proper rest, and disturbance of sleep. She needs to rest, and I shall have some herbs brought in to be used for a drink before she retires to bed each evening. That should help. It may take some time before she is fully recovered, my lord. We shall need to exercise patience, especially in regards to any duties she would normally undertake."

Henry nodded, concerned. "Of course. Thank you."

The physician bowed respectfully and left. Richard was relieved with his diagnosis – it was perfect for Catherine! It cast away any suspicion of pregnancy, and gave a valid reason for prolonged tiredness and even sickness, though he felt that the intensity of her sickness might become a problem if it persisted alongside the prescribed increase in rest. He hoped she would be able to stomach the herbal drinks.

"I'm going in to see Catherine." Henry put his hand on Richard's shoulder. "Thank you for being here, Richard. I appreciate it."

Seeing that he was being dismissed, Richard determined to find a way to see Catherine later, when Henry would not be likely to find out. He didn't know how he would pass the time until he was able to see her. She meant so much to him.