In Plain Sight
By: Morgian8
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Duh.
Prologue
They rode in silence, fast and hard for their destination, lest their disappearances be detected from Whitehall. Unlikely, since no one knew who they were or what they were doing, but nevertheless, protocol demanded such precautions be taken... Just in case.
He pursed his lips as he tried to stop himself from clenching his teeth once more. If he was not careful, he would be seeing the apothecary again far sooner than he wished.
For a split second, he glanced over to his right at the second rider who was keeping her steed in a matched pace with his. He saw the shallowness of her breath exhale in a puff of cold mist. For a moment, doubt assailed him. He was hard on her before they left the palace, and had said things that no one had ever said to her, least of all him. Perhaps he was adding unnecessarily to it by making her ride so hard and so fast with little warning on a cold winter's night. He supposed they should just be happy that it was not snowing.
Sensing his gaze upon her, she shook her head and seemed to read his mind. "Stop worrying. I'm fine."
He frowned as he thought he detected a faint trembling beneath her cloak. His eyebrow raised as he looked more closely to see if she was shivering. "It would not be prudent to stop, but if you wish, we can rein in for a moment to catch our breaths..."
"No," came the clipped reply. "We can rest when this is done and behind us."
He turned his head back to the road, unused to her measured countenance considering how explosive a row they had both participated in not an hour before. He winced as he recalled the unusually truthful rant he had flung at her.
"If there is one thing that you know has been my weakness, Mary, it is my fear that my children would end up in a tug of war between two parties who claimed to love them, but were really using them for ulterior purposes. Christ, why do you think I never married? I never wanted to put a child of mine in the position that Guigone and Pierre placed me when I was 14. Now, you have taken that choice away from me... you are your father's daughter more than I have ever cared to admit, Mary, and that is something that scares me. And moreover, you have set in motion things that will have history repeating itself no matter what I do!"
His exasperation lasted only for a moment, before calm, cool, intellect took hold and he allowed logic to work the problem through. Mary had sat quietly, watching him pace in front of the fire. as he went over the only solution he could come up with, analyzing it again and again to see its strengths and flaws. She had said nothing when he had told her what the pair would be doing. Unusually, she merely inclined her head and did as he asked and followed him once the arrangements had been made.
More time passed as they continued deeper into the countryside, until at last Chapuys turned his mount off the main road towards a little used path. Mary followed, and soon a single light shown in the distance. A short time later, Chapuys was removing his hood as he extended his hand and clasped the warm handshake of an older, balding man. He smiled as he nodded and said, "Father Thomas, we are here."
The older priest raised an eyebrow as he nodded and said, "Indeed you are." Pausing for a moment, the priest inclined his head and said, "Madam."
Removing the hood of her cloak, Mary stepped forward and extended a hand. The priest bowed his head as he kissed it. Mary look surprised and said, "Father, do you know who I am?"
The priest smiled as he said, "My lady, you may not know this, but many years ago, I came to England from a small village near Zaragoza."
"Zaragoza, as in Aragon?" Mary asked curiously.
Thomas nodded. "Although my friends for many years have always referred to me as Father Thomas, I was born Pedro Tomasino, and I journeyed to England in the retinue of the Infanta."
"My mother," Mary said.
Thomas nodded. "Yes, whom you look like very much."
"And knowing who I am, you still will do as the Ambassador has asked?" Mary prompted.
Thomas nodded again, "Of course, for I agree with Eustace... In this particular case, it is best to hide things in plain sight..."
-TBC-
