Mary, Queen of Scots | Ongoing | Book ONE | French Court

Chapter 7

Hi! The picture above is from Mary and her ladies spying on Elizabeth and her new husband from the chapter 5.

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"How could this happen?" Hayleigh asked, frustrated.

All Mary's ladies now sat in Greer's chambers, trying to figure out what exactly had happened.

"Where were the guards? Why didn't they stop him?" she asked, her hands waving about frustratedly.

"Well I hope Mary did if they didn't," Greer cut in, walking around the others who were all sitting.

"They'll question her virtue." Greer's face was distressed.

"If she's not a virgin then she'll never be the queen of France and our chances at court will be all over!"

Kenna, Lola and Hayleigh all looked down into their laps, thinking. Depressing thoughts flooded their minds.

Lola sighed and shook her head. "Oh, you don't know what happened, any of you."

They all looked up to the footsteps that suddenly clashed by the door.

"Tell me."

There Mary stood, tall and beautiful.

She looked annoyed, vexed.

"I've spoken to him," Lola said, not missing a beat.

"He's being held. I... I bribed a guard," her eyes flashed to her lap, guiltily.

Mary stood in the doorway, disbelieving.

"Collin's a good man!" Lola suddenly burst out.

"A boy still-"

"And what did he say?" Mary interrupted, her voice hard as steel.

The others watched as the subtle argument took place.

"What possible defence could he have given you?" Mary asked angrily.

"He said he was forced!" Lola said, hopelessly.

She stuttered.

"He wouldn't say by whom, he couldn't, he was so afraid."

Mary looked down. She was beginning to come to terms but she still wasn't ready to accept what he had done.

Lola carried on unaware as Mary shook her head slowly.

"But he said there were people! Powerful people behind this and he had no choice!" Lola spoke angrily.

The others all looked down. They all thought Collin was guilty but they didn't want to hurt Lola's feelings.

"People?" Kenna asked, turning to face Lola.

"Here in the castle," she nodded.

"He wouldn't risk saying more."

Mary stood in the corner, thinking.

"Do you believe him, Mary?" Hayleigh asked.

Mary looked up. She didn't know what to think. Did she believe him? Who would possibly do this?

Mary thought for a moment and stepped forward slowly. "He... He looked so surprised that I would fight back," she remembered the shock upon his face the night before.

"That I would even wake," she said, confusedly trying to work it out.

"That you'd wake?" Kenna asked, like the motion was ridiculous.

"He attacked you!"

Mary looked to the corner of the room where Greer's clothing screen was.

Suddenly, she remembered.

"The wine," she said.

"I was told not to drink the wine! I was warned!" she turned to the others.

"Warned by whom?" asked Lola, confused.

Mary didn't know whether to tell them or not.

She sighed. "It doesn't matter now."

Mary nodded.

"I believe you. I believe Collin," Mary spoke firmly.

Lola nodded, tears in her eyes.
"Please help him."

***

Mary stood before the king and queen of France in the throne room.

"I thank you for your protection last night," she spoke every syllable looking into Catherine's and Henry's eyes.

"But I need to speak with Collin."

"Speak? To your assailant?" Catherine asked, her voice laced with astonishment.

"Why?"

Henry sat beside her, his chin rested on his hand as he listened.

Mary arched her head.

"Because he is the love of my dear friend and if there is any misunderstanding... if I," Mary paused before biting out, "sent the wrong message in my joy at the wedding-"

"Take care, child," Catherine butt in before her voice turned to stone.

"If anyone knew you were even asking this-"

"Catherine," Henry scolded.

"She needs to know."

Mary's eyes squinted suspiciously at Henry as Catherine carried on, ignoring her husbands reproach.

"Gossip poisons too. It can poison the young queen's reputation," she said slyly, sitting upon her thrown.

"Her heir's right to the throne. An entire Kingdom!"

Mary wished she could fly over and stab Catherine right there but she held in her anger instead.

Henry began to speak.

"You may have not have heard me but you are not responsible for your countryman's actions."

"Collin McFaile is my subject. I am his queen and I demand to speak with him," her voice grew louder as she looked between the two.

"Witnesses have come forward. The boy played a role in an English plot set forward to ruin your marriage with Francis and Scotland's alliance with France," Henry said.

"An English plot. You're sure?" Mary asked, carefully looking at them both.

"You must know," Catherine said slowly.

"If he'd been successful in his assault you'd be unfit to marry our son, to marry any royal," she said.

"My dear, this was not an act of passion, it was treason," Catherine bit out.

"But it's all settled," Henry put in, as he watched Mary maliciously.

"Collin's been executed."

"What?" Mary asked shakily.

Henry squinted his eyes.
"He was beheaded this morning."

Mary stood there in shock. All she could think about was, how could she possibly tell Lola.

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