Queen of hearts

set in 1562, during the rule of queen Elizabeth I. her cousin Mary queen of scots is threatening her throne, and the possibility of Catholics returning to power terrifies Elizabeth. Mary has spies everywhere and Elizabeth can't trust anyone. the pox is running rampent in England and thought Elizabeth managed to stay free of it for the first 10 years of her reign, in the 12th year a doctor sees that she is ill and diagnoses her ailment as smallpox, sending Elizabeth into a rage. she only has 4 days until the rash takes hold, and Mary is waiting for Elizabeth to fall.