I walked over taking a deep breath, Francis and Bash would want to know everything and want to help. But I knew my parents were likely in the mist of a plan concerning Federic. Me watching Diane would be more important as they were King and Queen, they didn't need help to ruin him, instead they need someone to watch Bash's slimy mother. Even if they didn't know it.
Ignorance is bliss. A statment that Catherine never understood. Not having even a inkling of what was going on around you sounded dangerous to Catherine. Which considering the amount of enemies she had as a Medici, Queen of France and her own personal foes, made sense. Ignorance could lead to destruction, this included ignoring your surroundings, which is why as Henry now had her leaned against a wall, in a secret part of the maze garden she couldn't help but push him away. "I think you've had to much wine, my King", Henry scoffed in reply, leaning even further into her. Henry didn't see the pleading look in her eye nor hear the footsteps of other lurking about, though to be fair Catherine didn't know of the latter either.
"And you haven't had enough Caterina, maybe then you'll at least let me grope you", before Henry could utter a apology Catherine exploded. "Henry do I look like one of your whores, I am not a doll for you to play with and we are only just now working on our relationship. You plan to ruin it like this, because of your insatibility and drunkeness then go right ahead you fool. You told me you were okay with taking it slow, if you wanted a sex kitten and not a wife with dignity and standards you could have stayed with your mistresses", Catherine seethed before stomping away.
Catherine POV
I'm a fool, once again Henry is only think of himself. No matter, I have the Duponts to attend to, Henry will come to his senses soon and apologize no doubt."Mother where did you and father go off to", Claude piped up from close behind with me Francis and Bash at her sides. "I went to look at more flowers, your father is... somewhere", I couldn't hide my displeasure at the man or the question, so much so that Francis noticed. "Mother", "Not now Francis, please", I could hear Francis' rant a mile away, his rage against his father is concerning, I wished he had no reason for it though thats far from the case. Just because he ignored the mistresses and whores his father has paraded around over the years, doesn't mean he is fine with it or that catching his father with Diane when he was six doesn't still anger him.
I feel like I've failed them - me and Henry both. Our marriage, more specifically its inefficiency, has affected my eldest children greatly. What about the younger ones? How will the winds of our marriage affect them? Maybe I should stop this now and focus on making sure their well adjusted inspite of the situation, Francis harbors such rage and resentment against his father which made him quite a angry young man before Mary came along, Elizabeth has always needed to be perfect almost as if she was gluing up the cracks, Claude was the opposite of Elizabeth, running wild and numbing her pain. I should have been better at shielding them from the dysfunction, hopefully I'll do better with the younger ones.
As i stand here absentmindedly while the children conversate I hope that maybe just maybe Henry will appear and make everything better, even though I know he is too attached to his ego and pride, and that no magic wand could fix it. Why can any and everything he says and does hurt me enough to make my heart bleed and heal me to where I can laugh and smile at him as if we were young again? Does he not know that even when I'm far from him, my heart is still chained to his side? That it needs delicate care, he claimed he understood, maybe he just does not care. I really am a fool it seems, and Henry, he only thinks of himself.
I should go find him, who knows what trouble he will find himself involved in.
Henry POV
How could I be so stupid, all Catherine wants is time, that and a husband that loves and cherishes her, not just uses her for sex. I want to be that for her and I'm failing because I can't control my urges. Wine or no wine, I shouldn't have done that to her, she deserves more than that from me. What is that, a rustling noise was coming from nearby, "Catherine is that you", I got no reply only to hear the sound of something moving away. Catherine wasn't the type to run from me, although she wasn't exactly keen on seeing me now.
I followed the sound of footsteps, my curiousity compelling me. Only to happen upon Kenna, Mary's lady and my former mistress. She bowed her head before stepping closer to me with a smirk on her face. I needed to get out of here, to resist the temptation, the trap she had set for me to fall into. She probaly heard me and Catherine fighting, saw I turned on my heel not even noticing the smirk drop from Kenna face instead I found Catherine glaring arms cross.
"My love", I called with a fear laced voice, I had never been so scared of her, more worried that she might poison me in my sleep. As she walked, her hands still crossed and glare still intact, I said silent prayers to the heavens. Relief washed over me when she walked pass me straight to Kenna. She glared Kenna down, which eventually caused the former mistress to jump back as if she was cut by Catherine's sharp gaze. Kenna then smartly took her leave.
Catherine then turned to me , looking every bit the powerful queen. "Husband, do you intend to make a fool of me again", Catherine's somber tone was a mismatch to her face and posture. Her tone was soft, her voiced cracked and broken, her eyes flooded with a wretched sadness that she wouldn't let spill, it made my heart clench, i had once again caused her unimaginable pain. Her face, however gave nothing a way, it was still firm, regal. Her face didn't give her away like her voice did, it still had its fierceness, I couldn't help but be in awe of her yet nervous as well.
Catherine turned away from me.
Henry was beside himself with worry, his nerves turned to fear, his fear to panic. He moved in front of her, blocking her exit, stopping her excape. Before she could glare at him, push him, scream at him, he lower himself, her eyes following his movements, till he knelt. "Please, my Queen allow me to explain, then decide how you feel". She stared down in shock, not only was he kneeling but to her, 'his Queen'. Hell had surely frozen over.
