No one has to know

Chapter 20

Catherine, at the mere mention of Diane, was already seething.

"What the hell is she doing here?" She asked.

"I don't know, but you should go inside before she sees us together. I'll try to get her to leave." He told her.

"I pray for your sake you're successful." She said just before hurrying off. Bash moved to the gate and waited for the carriage to stop. Diane emerged as the wheels creaked to a halt.

"Bash. Oh, my son. I'm so happy to see you." She said stepping toward him. Bash stepped backwards to avoid her embrace.

"What on earth are you doing here? Do you have some sort of a death wish? Catherine will..." Bash began.

"Catherine, is no longer Queen. I'm not afraid of her. I've only come to pay my respects to your father. I'm sure Francis would grant me that. I would have come sooner but, well, the plague." She said.

"Not afraid of Catherine? That, my dear mother is a mistake. Queen or not, she is a force to be reckoned with. Besides, after the stunt you pulled before leaving. I'm not sure I want you here either." He said.

"I was only trying..." she began.

"You were only trying to secure your place at court. You pretend you were doing it for me, but I never wanted it. You almost ruined everything for me by trying to get me on the throne." He then adjusted to a hushed tone. "Never mind your attempt to have my brothers killed. You may not give a damn, but they are my family and I care about them. They are father's children too, you have no right to even be here." Diane turned up her nose.

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I truly was only looking out for you, but if you don't believe me, I'm sure there's no way I can change your mind. Regardless, I will speak to Francis and ask his permission to see your father's grave. Unless you're prepared to manhandle your own mother."She said. Bash eyed her a moment and then begrudgingly stepped aside to let her pass.

As Diane stormed toward the throne room, flanked by guards, Catherine stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"Diane. You have some nerve showing your face around here. I thought I warned you never to come back." Catherine said as Bash appeared behind Diane's guards. Catherine wordlessly scolded Bash with her eyes for letting her in.

"As I have already explained to my very worried son, I am only here merely to pay my respects to our dearly departed Henry." She said.

"I don't care why you're here. Leave. Now. Otherwise, well, I'm not sure I'll be able to control my impulses much longer." Catherine threatened. Bash eyed her, as if pleading with to back down.

"I think we should let the king decide if I should leave or not, don't you?" Diane said pushing past her and continuing to the throne room.

"What do you think your doing? Do you think you can just waltz in here as if you own the place? Diane!" She said following after and grabbing her arm. "How dare you. You do realize Henry isn't here anymore to protect you from me." She finished as they reached the throne room.

"What's the meaning of this?" Francis said as they bursted into the room and he rose from the throne. "Lady Diane. Why do you return here?"

"Your Majesty, my apologies. I didn't mean to be so rude. I am here in hopes of paying my respects to your father. By your grace of course." She said curtseying.

"In light of the circumstances, I don't see why I should." He said.

"I realize how you must feel about me, but for your father's sake I hope you could overlook it for a short while." She said. Francis thought for a moment.