Mary sat alone in her bed chamber. She played with her necklace absent mindedly. Why was Francis so angry at her? It was almost as if he had seen the reckless kiss with Bash. She knew it was not possible. He was probably snaking his arm around Olivia's waist. How had things gotten so complicated? And she had foolishly said she was his just hours before. She touched her lips. Had she felt anything with Bash? She had been too drunk to remember if her heart beat fast as it had with Francis. She tucked herself under the silken sheets and thought of the convent. How easy things had been then. She almost wished she was marrying a man she didn't love. At least then it would not matter if he had a mistress, or if he did not love her back. With Francis, it would tear her in two if she found out he was with another. Olivia. This had to be a plot of the Queen. She knew it in her bones. She rolled to her side and closed her eyes. Tomorrow would be another day.
Francis undressed himself and sat alone in his bed. The moonlight was shining through his window. All he could see in his mind was Bash and Mary, together. The highest betrayal. What had his father once told him about a kings trust? Dangerous to give, and easy for others to feign. He cursed himself for still loving Mary despite this. Had he drove her to his brother's arms? He stared into the flame of the candle. His bedroom door creaked open as Olivia gracefully walked in.
"Olivia, why are you here?" Francis said politely.
"You know why. I missed you" she replied, with that familiar smile. He did not feel any uncertainty with her. She made her feelings clear. She would never hurt him the way Mary had. She climbed into his bed and nestled herself against his chest. Her pale blue eyes found his and she smirked.
"I will be your mistress, beginning now if you would like" she said, toying with the strings on his blouse.
"Olivia, I am sorry. I cannot do this anymore. I am with Mary now." he said, looking into Olivia's shocked eyes. She bit her lip.
"Don't you remember how I made you feel?" she said in a low voice, moving her hand lower. He stopped her and gave her arm a shake.
"Olivia, please. The past is the past. If I am to judge Mary for any indiscretions she may bring to our relationships, I must not make the same mistakes." he said firmly, lifting the sheets so that she would remove herself from his bed.
"So thats it? You're going to send me off to some terrible family in the freezing snows of Prussia? Isolated from everyone I know? Away from you? I thought you loved me." Olivia cried. Francis tried to console her but she had already left. Francis knew in that moment that nothing would ever make him so whole as when he was with Mary. He had to fight for her. If Bash wanted a competition, a competition he would get.
The next morning, Mary sat with her ladies during breakfast. Francis approached her.
"Could I have a word?" he asked, extending his arm. He saw the fleeting look of surprise across Mary's beautiful brown eyes. She nodded and joined him in the corridor.
"I am sorry for how I treated you at the harvest. You just…irritate me like no other". he said grimly, with his signature smirk. No other woman had ever affected him quite like Mary.
"Francis, I have something I must confess also" she said sadly.
Francis placed his arm on her. He shook his head.
"Anything you think I might not have seen, I already know of. I just ask you that you do not do that again." He said firmly. Her eyes widened.
"I'm not excusing myself, but it meant nothing. That I promise you." she said with all her heart, and Francis felt as if a grey cloud was removed from the top of his head.
"I believe you" he said kissing her hand. "And about Olivia, she will be leaving us shortly." he assured his future Queen.
Mary beamed and looked over to her ladies. Perhaps everything would return to normal now.
