Francis stood at the side of the dance floor. All of a sudden, Mary and her waiting girls pulled off their shoes and rushed onto the dance floor. The spun in circles and danced together, taking no heed in the startled glances from around them.
Across the room, Francis could see his mother scowling. He read her lips as she muttered, "We're overrun. By Scots."
Francis couldn't help but smile, both at his mothers comment and the joy that Mary seemed to be having.
As they were dancing, Mary started to sing. Her waiting girls joined in to the happy tune.
By yon bonnie banks, And by yon bonnie braes, Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond, Where me and my true love Were ever want to gae, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
Oh! ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road, And I'll be in Scotland afore ye; But me and my true love Will never meet again On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
And as she sang, Francis fell in love the way you fall asleep, slowly and then all at once.
Francis stood in front of Mary's door. Finally, he got up the courage to knock. There was no response from within. And yet he knew she was in there.
He pushed open the door regardless of the lack of response. Mary was by her window staring down at the garden. She looked so forlorn.
She was signing quietly.
By yon bonnie banks, And by yon bonnie braes, Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond, Where me and my true love Were ever want to gae, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
Oh! ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road, And I'll be in Scotland afore ye; But me and my true love Will never meet again On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
It was the same song she had sung at the wedding. Except now it wasn't quite so happy. It was solemn and heart wrenching.
"The song is about two lovers who take different roads home but they never see each other again."
Francis understood the underlying message of her words.
"You accepted Tomas's offer?"
Mary nodded, still not looking at him.
He made his way across the room to her. He held her shoulders and turned her closer to him.
"I'm so far away from my home, Francis. So far away from the rolling green hills of the Scottish countryside. I'm never going to go home am I?"
Francis didn't answer that part of her question.
"Are you sure you want to marry him?" he asked, searching her face.
"I am doing what is best for my country," was her evasive response.
"But do you love him?"
Mary looked into his eyes and Francis realized he didn't need an answer. "No," she replied.
"Then we will find a way to be together," he said, determinedly.