The Unsuspected Spy

Chapter 6 October 3rd, 1583

Frances gets up and goes to her door tentatively. Not knowing who would be knocking at her door at such a late hour. She opens the door a crack and peers out and sees Philip in a highly drunken state. Philip pushes the door more opened with the weight of his body leaning against it. Frances lets go of the door letting Philip stumble but remain on his feet. "Philip, what are you doing?" Frances asks nervously, walking over to her desk quickly to grab the bell for Jane or James knowing that if Jane is asleep, which she probably is, that James will hear, at least thats what shes praying for.

"Frances I came to say hello, and that I missed your company today." He says his speech slurred and drunken.

"I missed your company as well, but it is late, you should head back to your room." She holds the bell ready in her hands in case she does need to ring it. Philip moving closer and closer to her, beginning to slightly corner her.

"Then why do you always seem to avoid me?" He asks, his voice starting to turn stern but still with the slurred twist, moving closer to Frances.

"I don't try to avoid you Philip I swear, I just wished to have some time alone that is all." Frances says and rings the bell, getting frightened as Philip corners her.

"You are too free-willed. If you are to be my wife that will not be acceptable." Philip says getting close to Frances's face. She can smell the alcohol on his breath.

Frances pushes him back hard. "You cannot control me like a dog when you yourself are like unto a dog!" Shouts at him angrily.

"How dare you speak to me like that?" Philip shouts and moves toward her raising his hand to strike when James runs in and knocks him down, not letting him lay a hand on Frances. James stands in front of Frances defensively.

"You leave her alone or you'll have to go through me to get to her." James says sternly through gritted teeth.

Philip is on the ground from James knocking him over but manages to get himself up. "Get out of my way you idiot servant." He growls as he goes to hit James. James easily deflects it and pulls Philip's arm behind his back, holding it tightly about to break it.

"No! James, don't break his arm. Please." She shouted to James before he could break his arm.

James lets go of Philip roughly. "Now get out before I tell Sir Francis what you were trying to do to his daughter." He coldly states, standing in front of Frances protectively. Philip quickly leaves heading back to the room he was staying in. Frances looks at James, surprised that he stood up for her like that. His lip was bleeding a bit from fighting Philip but he obviously didn't care. "Are you okay?" He asked and went beside her.

Frances nods looking at him. "Yeah, I'm alright, just a little shaken up is all..." She admits.

James hugs her, knowing she just needed to feel safe. "It's alright. I won't tell anyone, we'll keep this between us I promise." Frances nods and hugs him back, starting to have tears form in her eyes as she buries her face in his chest. James holds her close and comforts her. Frances is glad that he is there for her and she is able to depend on him. James gently lifts her chin up to look at him. "It's alright Frances, I will protect you, I promise." Frances smiles at him and then, she stands on her toes and places a kiss on his lips without thinking, starting to realize that she was falling for him. James blushes brightly after Frances goes back on her feet.

"Is that um.. everything you uh.. needed Miss?" He asks flustered.

Frances chuckles and nods, "Yes James, thank you." She smiles blushing as well. James nods and reverances and leaves, heading back to his room, shocked at what had just happened. Frances goes back to her desk and works on cyphers for a few hours before she climbs into bed falling asleep, her mind stuck on James.