War of Hearts || Reign || REWRITE

33- An Act Of Love II

June 7th, 1563

I stayed that day at Cecily's bedside where she was sleeping restlessly. When she woke up from a nightmare I soothed her and she fell asleep again. This went on all day and night but I didn't mind.

When she awoke the next morning, I was back at her bedside, still exhausted from the short sleep I'd had, helping her wash. I gave her a few dresses from my own wardrobe that she could wear until I got them new dresses. I brushed her red hair and braided it.

The maids brought breakfast to her room for both of us and we ate it at the small table in the room.

"When should I leave here?" Cecily asked over breakfast. "You don't have to leave here if you don't want to." I said.

"But I can hardly live here for free, in the king's house. At least I should work here to show my gratitude. I insist."

I smiled at her determination. "Well if you really want to work in the palace maybe you could be my lady-in-waiting. I've been looking for one for a long time, one I can trust. Do you think I can trust you?". She nodded "Of course you saved me and I will be by your side forever. You can trust me, My lady".

I smiled again "call me Bianca, we're friends now, aren't we? I'll make sure you get rooms next to mine" I said "Come with me, I'm going to greet the king and queen".

She got up and followed me to Mary's rooms. I knew that she and Francis almost always had breakfast together in her quarters. Something I should have been jealous of but I wasn't because I knew Francis didn't love her.

When we arrived at the door of the room, it was immediately opened by the two footmen standing in front of the door and I made my entrance into the room.

Surprisingly, I saw only Mary sitting at the table. She had a sad expression on her face and nibbled at the bread on her plate.

"Your majesty" I said as I made a curtsy "Good morning".

Mary looked up and smiled briefly "Good morning, Bianca. Please take a seat". I took a seat in the chair opposite her.

"Why do you look so sad?" I asked, nodding gratefully to one of Mary's ladies-in-waiting who put a bowl of fruit in front of me. Mary sighed briefly. "Trouble in Scotland," she said.

"Is there anything I can help you with. I may not be a queen but I know a lot about politics through my father."

"The Scots are rioting. They find it unacceptable for Scotland to be ruled by regents while their queen is abroad. My brother wrote me that they want to see their queen." she explained to me. "So you want to travel to Scotland?".

"I'd love to, but it's chaos here in France too and Francis can't just leave the country." I looked at her uncomprehendingly. "But you don't necessarily have to travel to Scotland with Francis. You are the Queen of Scotland Mary. your people need you now. You should not put France's problems before Scotland's problems, no matter how much you love Francis and France."

Mary thought "so you think I should go to Scotland?". I nodded, "Even if it's just for a week. Your people want to see that you have not abandoned them, that you still support them. They want their queen, they want her now."

Mary smiled "Thank you Bianca. I think I will discuss it with Francis before I make the choice."

"What do you want to discuss with me?" Francis's voice suddenly sounded. He walked over to the table and took a seat. I wanted to get up to make a curtsy but he motioned for me to stay seated.

I saw him glance briefly at Cecily standing by the wall and then turned to Mary who told the same story she had just told me.

"I agree with Bianca. I know how much you want to support me, but you do forget that your people need you too. If you want I can make sure that a ship is ready for you as soon as possible and that you have enough guards. if you make sure that all your stuff is ready, everything is arranged in no time." Francis said, I saw his eyes sparkle.

"Thank you Francis, thank you very much" Mary said with a smile. Francis insisted "I will arrange everything, my Lady" he kissed Mary's hand briefly and started to leave the room before changing his mind "Bianca by the way, my mother wanted to see you right now".

I nodded and got up and made a curtsy before following Francis out of the room.

"Your mother doesn't really want to talk to me, does she?" I looked at him. He smiled. "No, that was an excuse to get you out of the room." We walked towards his rooms and I turned to Cecily and quickly whispered that she could go, she nodded, looked at us both briefly and walked to her own room.

Arriving in his rooms, Francis pushed me gently on the bed, locked the door behind him and lay down next to me. "Do you know what this means, if Mary goes to Scotland?" He whispered as he ran his hand through my hair.

I shook my head, unable to speak through his touches. "You and I can be alone then, without her standing between us. Finally because I long for you Bianca, so much" he whispered hoarsely, his hand now went through my neck to my breasts and then started to loosen my upper body.

"No Francis" I whispered "however much I long for you Francis. You should not forget to think about the risks. I can get pregnant".

Francis paused for a moment. "And would you mind so much, to carry my child?" he asked hurt. "No of course not" I said quickly "but then the child will be a bastard and I know what it's like to be one Francis".

"Max is also illegitimate but has been legitimized by my father, look at him now, a duke." He said as he continued "I would never leave you and our child behind and the child would be legitimized".

He had gotten the body loose and threw it on the floor next to him. He gently stroked my upper body with his hand, giving me goosebumps.

"Do you promise, Francis? Promise you will love me forever and, if I ever have a child from you, will take care of the child and treat it as your legal child" asked as I held his face, "I promise my love" he said while looking into my eyes.

I smiled and kissed him on the mouth after which we made love for the first time. in broad daylight, with his wife a few rooms away .

Shame on you Bianca. Shame, shame, shame