There was an unseasonable chill in the air when she woke that morning, a deep cold that settled into bones and radiated throughout the body, unceasing in its fervour. Mary rolled onto her side and begged for sleep to take her again but she knew that it was futile. Guilt was still tugging at her after her kiss with Bash, consuming her thoughts of her betrayal of Francis. She knew that if she expected Francis to treat her with respect and dignity in their marriage, then it was required of her to do the same. And kissing his brother definitely did not count under that. Mary wanted to tell Francis, to hopefully ease herself of the burden of what she had done but she was terrified that he would resent her for it. With few allies and many enemies, keeping Francis on her side was of the utmost importance.
When she realized that sleep was no longer an option, Mary summoned her servants and dressing maids, bathed, put on a dress, paired it with what she hoped was a convincing smile, and was ready to face the day. A knock sounded on the door shortly after she secured her jewelled headpiece to her hair and the servants were quick to answer.
The page entered, his eyes scanning the room for Mary, and said, "The Dauphin of France seeks an audience with Your Grace."
Mary nodded and motioned to the servants that they were dismissed as Francis entered the room. He made her heart skip a beat as he walked in, his expression unreadable as he took a seat in the chair next to her.
"Good morning," she said with a smile.
Francis tried to muster a smile back but all he could think about when he looked at her lips was his brothers pressed against them. "Will you take a walk with me?"
Confusion knit itself between her eyes. The weather was cool and the last thing Mary wanted to do was be outside. But if it meant getting to spend some time with Francis then she was willing to sacrifice some warmth for his company.
"Sure."
He stood from his seat and held his hand out for her, his gaze falling down onto the face that haunted his dreams, and let out a sigh of relief when she placed her delicate hand in his own.
"Is there any reason for this walk?" Mary asked as they reached the castle grounds. She wrapped her arms around herself in hopes of being a little warmer.
Francis hesitated and kept his eyes straight. He knew that if he looked at her his resolve would soften and he wouldn't be able to concentrate. "I just…" he searched for the right words. "I just wanted a little privacy with you."
He chanced a glance in her direction in time to see the blush creep across the bones of her cheeks and fought the smile that wanted to break across his face. He loved that he had that effect on her with just his words. He wished he could show her all the other affects he could have on her.
"Francis there's something I need to tell you," Mary said. She needed to tell him now before she lost her nerve. He deserved to know the truth.
"I know you kissed Bash."
Mary stopped dead in her tracks, the blush disappearing from her cheeks. Francis stopped and faced her, trying to read the expression on her face.
"He told you?"
Francis shook his head. "I saw the two of you by the lake. I had come to apologise for losing my temper with you earlier."
Mary hung her head in shame. "I am so sorry," she whispered. "I had too much to drink and not enough to eat and I was so angry and upset that you were choosing Olivia over me."
"Is that what you think?" Francis asked.
Her eyes darted up to meet his in a look that dared him to say otherwise.
"Mary I was not choosing Olivia over you. This is all new to me, having someone to answer to, having someone that I have to be mindful of hurting in my actions. Believe me, hurting you is the last thing that I want to do. But you have this way of getting under my skin like no one ever has before. You infuriate me in a way that makes me want you all the more."
Mary didn't know what to say.
"So you're not mad that I kissed Bash?"
Francis ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. "Mad? No. But seeing you kiss Bash made me realize just what it is that I would be losing if I continued to treat you the way that I have been."
Mary smiled and reached a hand across the gap separating them, placing her palm on the elaborate designs etching across Francis' chest. "I don't want to lose you either."
Francis stepped closer and cupped his hand against her cold cheek, rubbing his thumb lightly across the soft skin beneath it. "I would really like to kiss you right now. So I can show you what a real kiss is like," he said with a sheepish smile.
"I think I might allow that."
He leaned closer and pressed his lips against hers, soft at first, then more urgent, filled with the passion of learning that he could lose her, desperate in his desire for her. She could feel the burning desire for him growing with every second that he was pressed against her. When they broke apart his eyes found hers, radiant with longing, cheeky smile pulling up the corners of her lips.
"Let's get you inside, you look freezing," Francis said, wrapping his arm across her shoulders and guiding her back towards the castle.
"Fetch Queen Mary something warm to drink, could you?" Francis asked the first servant they saw at the entrance to the castle.
The servant nodded and ran off. Francis turned to Mary and wrapped her small frame in his arms, rubbing his hands against the fabric of her back to abate the shivering her body had produced from the cold. She laid her head on his shoulder, breathing in his proximity, revelling in their closeness.
"Sorry to interrupt," the servant said as he came back. "I have a drink for the Queen." He handed the drink to Francis, bowed and exited.
Francis handed the cup to Mary. The metal was warm in her hands from the hot liquid inside. Her shaking hands raised the cup to her lips and took a grateful sip, the warmth sliding down her throat and warming her from within.
"Thank you," she said.
Francis placed a kiss on her cheek. "You are most welcome."
He took her free hand in his as she took another sip, then placed the cup down on the sill of the window beside her. This time she noticed a funny aftertaste. Something metallic and peculiar. Suddenly the warmth was too hot. So hot it felt as though it was burning her from the inside. Mary placed her free hand to the spot on her chest that was constricting.
"Francis," she gasped.
He looked at her in horror, face pale, eyes bright with terror. "Mary are you okay?"
Her breaths were coming in short, sharp gasps.
"Mary! Mary talk to me!"
Two guards came rushing down the hall at the sound of Francis' terrified voice.
"Get a physician!" He yelled to them. "Mary, it's okay. You're okay."
But her breathing was more laboured now. Francis wrapped one arm around her waist just in time as she succumbed to the pain and fainted in his arms.