Diane was in thought all morning deciding seduction the best way to keep Henry. She had waited in his rooms for him to return from the morning ride, naked under his sheets, 'This is it, Henry can't resist me and he never will' , Diane thought as she watched for the door. The doors started to open and in came Henry looking rugged and wild after his ride yet still Kingly, strong. "Henrrrrrrrry, I have something for you ", Diane purred.
"Diane what are you doing here"? Henry said annoyed. After what happened with Catherine days ago Henry has, 'adopted a foul mood' as the nobles say. He has been locked away in his chambers 'attending to Royal documents' , according to what he told the council, servants are nervous as he is aggressive and angry all the time now. " The gossip around the castle is that you've been crossed for days, use me as you wish to lighten your mood, my King", Diane said seductively, to reel Henry in. "I don't need your help Diane, now, put your gown back on, the last thing I need is news of your visit to flood the castle", Henry uttered sternly, "Yes cause then your precious Catherine would know", Diane muttered back. "Leave Diane"! Henry shouted sick of her and her mouth, once she was gone Henry when out to his guards and said, "Diane is no longer allowed into my chambers, make note of that".
Diane was now on the way to the lounge with her friends, after Henry's rejection she found herself in need of relaxation and thought the lounge was the perfect place. "Carla, Emilia I can't believe it, I showed up naked and he rejected me instantly, no hesitation", Diane babbled on and on to her friends who themselves were shocked to hear the King be opposed to his greatest activity. Henry was know as a womanizer so the information was hard to digest. On the way to the lounge Diane found herself on the other side of the hallway from Catherine and Claude. 'It's her fault, all her fault, Henry wants her but he can't have her so now we all suffer', Diane thought. "Well if it isn't Caterina the Italian witch, Henry has fallen to your witchcraft", Diane sneered at Catherine, she would embarrass Catherine in public as revenge for her catching Henry interest. "If I were you Diane I would mind my mouth, yours is good for kissing ass and not much else".
Diane looked and saw Claude looking at her while Catherine stood still faced forward, "You will show my mother the respect she deserves, Diane", Claude voice come again, "Nothing to say Caterina", Diane ignored Claude's comments and stepped closer to them, "Don't call me Caterina, your just Henry's plaything", Catherine said quietly and calmly. "Well you would know about being a plaything, you were to those soldiers in Florence", Diane whispered. 'Smack' , Claude slapped Diane and suddenly all eyes were transfixed to the scene.
Now here we are moments later, Henry has entered the equation, "Diane, Catherine did nothing to you and even if she did, she's Queen of France" Henry stared down Diane, "And as for my children, like I said, be careful what you utter". If Diane was scared before she was wetting her garments now, she reached for her neck maybe to make sure all was still attached. Diane knew how Henry's anger could explode and so she acted quickly and fell to her knees , "My King, early when you threw me out of your chambers, I got angry but I know that's no excuse please accept my deepest apology". "It is the Queen you owe an apology to not me, Diane", Henry replied. Diane turned while kneeling to Catherine and apologized, "My Queen, I apologies and beg for your mercy". "You are excused, this time", Catherine warned, "Well now that that's settled", Henry turned to the crowd, "I suggest everyone disperse, now" and everyone scattered. Henry, Catherine and Claude took off together.
"Father, thank you for what you did back there", Claude remarked in the silence, "Of course Claude and I want you to know that no matter what you and your siblings mean the world to me, I won't allow anyone to threaten you", Henry replied a smile on his face, happy to see Claude pleased with him. He and Claude have always been close, since she was a child they shared a special connection while Elizabeth her elder sister was closer with Catherine as was Francis. The little ones were close with both parents but Catherine saw them more so Henry was glad to have Claude. "Father what Diane said, did you really throw her out of your chambers", Claude asked what Catherine had been thinking this whole time. Henry looked and noticed Catherine looked uncomfortable and found himself conflicted, should he say it now when Catherine seems moody or maybe it will help them, either way Claude was here and this discussion wasn't to be had in front of her, he and Catherine could agree on that much. " The lounge is right here, now I have to go", Henry said quickly, "Thank you", Catherine replied, her voice quite and low.
"But father you still haven't answered", Claude started but was stop by Catherine's raised hand, " Your father is King and busy so it'll have to wait for another time". Henry waved them off and left. The lounge was empty perfect for the coming conversation. Everything was normal at first , they sat and had tea in perfect peace, then sudden Claude smile fell and she looked worriedly at Catherine. "Mother the time you spent in the convent", Claude was scared to ask, to know. "Claude, I was eight years old when my parents were kill and I was taken to the convent", Catherine began, her eyes glued to her lap, " Six years later... my uncle Pope Clement came and saved me... a three months later I was in France engaged to your father, a prince". "There have always been rumors of what happened at the convent... between me and the soldiers", Catherine looked up, tears in her eyes ready to burst free, " Those soldiers are all dead, if there are no witnesses or evidence then how could it be true".
'She's crying she never cries, not over a simple rumor...it's...true', Claude thought before she leapt onto Catherine's lap hugging her neck, her head against Catherine's chest. "I'm sorry, mama, I shouldn't have", " No Claude, Diane brought it up, though she whispered it was loud enough for you to hear". "Mama, when I was at Lord Frederic's estate... I caught him with a servant in his bed", Catherine dried her tears and listened as Claude continued, "I made a fuss and avoided him for days, till one night he came into my room, I told him to leave but he slapped me and held me down". "Claude did he"? "No I called for the guards you and father sent with me and they knocked him out before he had the chance, the next day he begged for forgiveness and said he would have the engagement called off if I promised not to tell you or father". "That night when I was crying I was remembering what happened, his hand over my mouth as the other caressed me, how helpless I was, a princess of France in that position".
Catherine was astonished at Claude's confession but a fire was lit in her, "I never got to personally exact vengeance on those soldiers but you, Claude, you will witness the axe take his head, I promise, your father and I will make sure of it", Catherine would have his head, one who dared to touch a heir to France. "For all of the things for us to have in common, this was not what I would have chosen", Claude replied, "and yours was much longer and worst than mine, Mama, do you... ever have nightmares". Catherine was not one to show weakness and who knows if someone could be creeping, listening but after what Claude share of her own experience she felt she needed to. " I used to, especially with in the first month but by the time I was in France three months later they weren't as bad, maybe because of my desperation to never have anyone find out, I held it in as much as I could but yes I did, I... I still do some...times", Catherine said carefully, "Claude it will get better, someday". They stayed like that in each others arm till noon.
Claude and Catherine went off to dinner, Francis, Mary, Bash and the little ones were already there, as was Henry and the council, Catherine and Claude entered and the council stood in reverence to their queen. The King was always at the head of the table, the Queen was to the right with Claude, Francis, Mary, Bash and the little ones, though Bash was usually sat next to Diane. Speaking of Diane, at dinner she usually sat to the left of Henry but she was absent tonight, the council filled in the spaces left. The little ones were the first to speak to the new arrivals, "Mama"! Margot, Charles and little Henry exclaimed, running over to her, "Yes, little ones, how are you"? Catherine stooped down to address her babies. "Very well, now come sit so we can have supper"! Charles chimed, "then at bedtime you can read to us like always do", Henry continued while Margot simply nodded vigorously. "Oh, so your only happy I'm here because you can eat and then be read to, that doesn't hurt my feelings at all", Catherine smirked as she sat down nodding slightly to recognize Henry, as he pulled out her seat. 'Surprising', she thought at Henry politeness to her. "Greet your sister, little ones", she turned her attention back to the children ignoring Henry's odd behavior.
"Mama, Mama, you were suppose to see us at noon before lunch, where were you", Margot asked after a while, Margot was not very talkative she was more reserved than the other little ones but when she did speak or asked a question you had to answer as she wouldn't let it go, she was a curious child. "Well, I was with your sister, Claude", Catherine replied, "What were you and sis doing", Margot never missed a beat, how unfortunate for Catherine as Henry could see her slight irritation at the subject.