When my twin sister and I were born, no one thought we were going to live. We were twins, after all, and we were born prematurely. The midwife helping my mother, Mary de Guise, lost track of which baby was which. To this day, it is undetermined of who was born first. Mary and I looked identical as newborn infants, that is why our father gave us identical , each with our own name etched onto the back.
My father named Mary after our mother and Mother Mary, of course, but he named me after Joseph. So the only legitimate children of King James the V of Scotland, are Mary and Josephine Stuart.
Before we reached age six, Mary and I were identical, and inseparable. Then, the Queen of France sent us away to separate convents on opposite sides of the country three years later. We sent letters back and forth, and haven't seen each other since.
Since our father's death, six days after our birth, Mary and I were named the Queens of Scots. No one knows for sure who was born first. Mary and I are both queens. It is believed that I was born first, known for the tiny scar over my heart, for where I was scratched by the knife cutting my umbilical cord.
I have several scars. Francis and Sebastian, King Henry's legitimate and illegitimate son, were Mary and I's best friends when we lived at French Court. They would chase me, and not Mary. Mary was the pretty child, and I was the girl who loved to fight and run about. I would climb trees and fall off, and then climb up again.
Living at the convent without my sister has been awful. I miss her terribly. I have made new friends, and have learned to be a proper lady. I have been caught running around and climbing trees, and I received punishment. But it is not the worst. Living in the convent is punishment enough.
I cannot wait to get out and leave this place. I wish to see my sister.
It was a beautiful day. Instead of running around playing football, or climbing trees, I was to stay inside, helping the younger girls work on their sewing. I excelled at it, but I hated it.
After sewing, I finally got to play a game of football with some of the sisters and younger girls. I got to throw the ball in, and we all ran about, laughing and having fun. A layer of fog hung on the ground, making it hard to see, but the sun was out, and we let it warm our faces.
At our noon meal, as one of the sisters took our plates to be dished up, I noticed one of the nuns who got their food first watching me with a careful eye. No one paid attention, and they continued on with their chatter. Our plates were returned to us as Sister Elena began to cough up white foam and blood, and everyone became aware. A little girl screamed next to me as the sister fell against the table.
Some of the nuns ran to get Sister Elena, and others ran to me. "Save Josephine! Take that plate away!"
The plate was taken away from me and Sister Margery helped me up. She took me to my room to help me gather my things. "You must leave immediately. This was an assassination attempt."
"By who?" I asked, trying to keep up with her.
"Someone with ties to the Protestant throne of England, no doubt. They'll be found and dealt with." Sister Margery tells me.
"Poor Sister Elena. I didn't know-"
Sister Margery cuts me off. "-that she was your taster? Every meal you've eaten has been tasted for poison since you left your mother's breast." She turned to me. "Josephine, you are the official Queen of Scotland. Your sister has had almost the exact same encounter. You and Mary will be sent to French Court, where one of you will wed the future King of France."
But did I really want to?