War of Hearts || Reign || REWRITE

35- Queen Catherine's Words Of Knowledge.

September 6th, 1563.

The weeks flew by and more people found out that there was more between us than a friendship. We were gossiped, Some called me the true Queen, mostly from the words of the people who had been against his and Mary's marriage. Others called me a whore, this came from the mouths of the Guises, the family of Mary's mother, and their followers. But nothing could break the relationship between me and Francis.

We spent almost all day together. When the ambassadors came to visit Francis I was by his side, when nobles came to pay him their respects in the throne room I stood on the right side of the throne, my hand in his.

Francis gave me a new room next to his so that we could be together in the evening. They had been the old apartments of Diane Poitiers, his father's Maîtresse en-Titre. The rooms were slightly smaller than his mother's and the same size as Mary's and were just as lavishly furnished.

~

I was embroidering with Cecily in my new rooms when a lady-in-waiting of the queen entered the room. "Excuse me, Lady Bianca, but the Queen Mother asks you to come to her now," she said with her head bowed. I stood up smiling and placed my embroidery on the chair "I'll be right back" I said to Cecily before following the lady-in-waiting to Catherine's room.

I made my entrance into the room and made a deep curtsy "welcome back your majesty" I said as I jumped up.

Catherine looked at me with a small smile. "Thank you, Bianca, take a seat I need to talk to you," she said seriously.

I sat across from her and looked at her concerned. "I hope nothing serious is going on, Your Majesty"

She sighed "I know you and Francis have loved each other for a long time and I know what Henry did to drive you apart but do you really think that being his mistress will fix everything?"

I was startled by her sudden words and it took a while before I could pick myself up and come up with an answer. Catherine spoke again before I could answer. "When Mary returns she will take back her place as queen and you will be known as the whore. Is that what you want? Mary loves Francis dearly she would be heartbroken to see you together" she said sternly.

"May I speak honestly?" I asked her, she nodded interested.

"You never liked Mary. When she first got here you ordered me to spy on her, you hated her and now you stand up for her as if you have always loved her."

Catherine laughed briefly. "I've never really liked her and I still don't like her, I don't think about her feelings but about yours. What if you become known as the king's whore, no one would want to marry you."

I looked at her hurt. "I'm not his whore, I'm the person he loves. Ottavio's death makes me rich enough to live on my own expense and my father will always support me, I don't need anyone. And Francis is doing everything he can to find a reason to cancel his marriage to Mary and when he has done that I will marry him."

"And you would be queen, wouldn't you?" She smiled. "I don't care about being queen, I just want to live my whole life by my true love's side, that's all and if that means being known as either a whore, his mistress or his wife, I don't care. Your Majesty I love your son more than any woman in France can love him and he loves me just as much and you know it. He planned to find a way out before the wedding, it's that your husband, the king, ruined everything."

I got up and made a curtsy. I felt betrayed by Catherine.

"Bianca wait" Catherine said, I looked at her "I'm not doing this to tease you. I love you as I love my own children and want you to be careful. You're treading dangerous ground and I won't always be there to protect you. I want you to make my son happy and you have my blessing, but also take care of yourself" she said, holding her arms open for me and I hugged her.

"I know your majesty, I know. I'll be careful, I promise" I said softly.

~

When I had left the rooms and walked towards my own rooms, I saw two young maids walking down the halls with baskets full of laundry. they were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice I was walking behind them and I smiled at the sight.

The maids were expected to be quiet in the hallways, but these two girls didn't care about the rules and just kept on chatting.

"I heard Jane hasn't had her period," one maid whispered to another.

I felt myself go pale. I don't remember the last time I got mine.

"Yes, I heard something like that too, apparently she's pregnant with the groomsman, what a shame" they walked to the corner.

I felt myself getting lightheaded and when I got to the door of my room I stumbled inside.

Cecily jumped up from her chair "finally you're back. My god what do you see pale, what's going on?" She came over to me and supported me to a chair.

"Cecily" I said softly. "Yes Bianca?"

"I think I'm pregnant"

woop, what do you think of this?