Tampered Beauty

Message

"Did you know?" Greer stormed into the tower. From inside the cold, small chamber, Dame Lola stood up sharply. The fair haired Lady heard her bones crack loudly with the sudden movement, but the curly haired traitoress said nothing. "Did you know about what happened?!" she demanded.

"Greer?" Lola questioned. Her lips parted, taking in the small bump upon the Lady's abdomen. Blue eyes had flown to it the moment she came into her cell. "You're with child." Lola stated. The loyal Lady huffed in impatience.

"Yes, I am. But do not avert the question. Did you know?" she asked. "Did you know what happened to Mary?! Was it your doing?!" she cried.

"Did I know what?"

"You've been in contact with the Hapsburg's." she hissed. "And one of them, King Phillip, has just tried to assassinate our Empress and her newborn baby." she finished. Greer noticed the former Lady in waiting's eyes grow considerably. She seemed to stumble back an inch or two, holding out a hand to grasp a damp beam to keep her up steady, lips parting. Greer paused for a few moments. "It's ironic, is it not? That your calling card was left at the scene? Your seal was stamped onto the crate the candles came in." she chuckled. "Did you know? Did you try and kill Mary?" Greer demanded.

"Greer, I swear on the blood of my son that I did not." Lola begged. "I have been imprisoned for weeks. How could I have tried to kill my Queen?"

"If you're telling the truth, then you've been frames. Regardless of your guilt or innocence, you've been placed at the scene of the crime. Francis is furious with you. He wants your blood."

"I would never harm Mary! How could this have happened?"

"A poisoned candle, much like when she was a child in France." the Lady informed. "The vapours poisoned her slowly from the inside, she started showing signs not long ago. We thought she was suffering from an infection from childbirth, perhaps the afterbirth remaining inside, but we were wrong. Your fellow conspirator found it."

"How?"

"She drained a little of Mary's blood, mixed it with something, before adding a third essence. It fizzled. She was poisoned. Catherine saved her."

"I had no idea." Lola proclaimed. "Is she alright?"

"Recovering well." Greer looked down at Lola. "Francis and her sons have not left her side since the King returned in the early hours." she informed.

"I am glad." Lola answered. "Why would you think I have had anything to do with this? I've been imprisoned here for weeks."

"Are you really that stupid?" the Lady scoffed. "You have been in contact with the Hapsburg's, trying to marry your son off to Mary's enemy for months now. And now a Hapsburg King tries to assassinate his enemy, your seal attached to the crate after Mary and Francis stopped the engagement, and you want us to believe you had nothing to do with this?"

"I know how it looks, believe me, I do. But you have to believe me. I had nothing to do with this. I am no agent. I am no spy. I just wanted my child to have a safe and secure future should anything happen to his father. That's why I tried to have the engagement. Not to betray my Queen further, but to secure his future. I was -am- desperate."

"Through your further betrayals towards Mary." Greer informed. "She has given you every chance, and time and again, you betray her. Is it that hard to follow Kenna and I's lead? To be loyal? Is it?" the Lady asked. "In France, you blamed her for her almost rape, your little boyfriend's 'assassination'." she made air quotes. "Then you try to have a relationship with Sebastian under the Queen's nose, knowing her feelings for him. And then you sleep with Francis, conceive his bastard child, try to justify it and force her to keep your secret, then you lure him out to Italy for over two years, making everybody think he was dead! Because of you, James didn't know his father for years! And now, and now," she spat. "Your calling card is left at the scene of the crime and you want us to believe you had nothing to do with this?! Paint it however you want, but that is what happened! Every single time, you betray her! Each time, that blade comes closer to your neck. We're not sure how much longer she can keep the axe from you."