Chapter 4:
Now that Mary knew where she stood with France, she experienced clarity for the first time in her life. She understood the type of manipulation she had been the victim of and how the King and Queen had used her innocence to their advantage. It was a game to them. She was here for their amusement. Well, no more. Mary would prove to them that she could be a capable queen and that they would regret delaying their alliance.
It took all morning for Mary and Elizabeth to go through the proper procedure for making a contractual alliance. Although they were entering it on good faith, they knew the cost if that should go wrong. The agreement was written as followed:
"I, Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, and I, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, have come to a mutual decision to end the war between England and Scotland permanently and enter into an alliance.
The official border runs one hundred and fifty four kilometers between the River Tweed on the East Coast and the Solway Firth on the West Coast. We will resolve future disputes by sending ambassadors to represent the respective queens in England and Scotland. If meeting with the ambassadors does not resolve the dispute, the Queen of England and the Queen of Scotland will meet at the border to discuss the issues they are facing.
Scotland will trade textiles, iron, coal, and trees in exchange for salt, ore, petroleum, spices, and fur with England and its colonies. The existing debts will be settled through trade. Fourteen companies from Queen Elizabeth's subjects will be sent to Scotland. Scotland will provide England with 50 ships for their naval army.
England and Scotland will retain their separate religions. The new law that will be passed will enable the citizens of England and Scotland to have freedom of religion. There will be no penalty for belonging to a particular religion if it does not harm the individual and the individuals around him. The consequences of harming oneself or others will be up to the discretion of the respective ruler. The alliance entails mutual defense in response to an attack by an outside party, trading goods, and promoting economic growth in order to contribute to the development of England and Scotland.
Signed by: Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland."
It had been a long meeting, but Mary had left feeling satisfied. Scotland was no longer at risk. Her people were safe and would greatly benefit from the resources they would receive from England. After much debate, Mary had decided to meet with King Henry in a couple of hours to discuss withdrawing herself from the contract her mother had written with the King. It would be a difficult meeting and she had to be more than adequately prepared for it.
When she entered her bedchambers, Francis was sitting on one of her armchairs. At her entrance, he stood up and waited for her to join him. His appearance surprised her. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair messy, and his clothing rumpled as if they had been recently slept in. Because appearance was important to him, this was unusual.
"How did you get in here?" Mary asked as she put the contract she had signed this morning in her desk, "Right now isn't a good time."
"I have access everywhere in the castle. I need to talk to you. I will only be a minute," Francis said, walking up to her so that they stood face to face.
"I told you everything I needed to say yesterday and you made it quite clear how you felt. Please leave," Mary said looking anywhere but at him.
"No. I need you to hear me out. After our conversation yesterday, I started thinking about some of the things you said. You were right. You're in the same position that I am and I've been selfish. I'm sorry that I hurt you. That was never my intention," he said.
"Thank you for the apology, but that doesn't fix anything," Mary said.
"Just give me time to fix it. We can be together for us and for our countries," Francis said before noticing the suitcases in her room, "You're leaving?"
"Yes, I'm leaving. I was serious yesterday when I said I wasn't going to stand for this anymore," Mary said.
Francis started pacing, "Things are getting difficult, so you plan to leave before they get resolved? I made a mistake. People make mistakes. Just give me a chance to make it up to you."
"How does it feel to have a taste of your own medicine? We are royals. We cannot make mistakes, because our subjects will suffer for it. We have to make sound, rational decisions. I appreciate that you want to try to fix things, but they are broken beyond repair. You have broken my heart, my trust, and will not deliver on the agreement that our countries are allies," Mary said before walking to the door, "I need to go attend a meeting. Goodbye Francis."
Without looking back, Mary walked out of the room and strode towards the throne room. That was the most difficult decision she had faced, because her heart and mind were at war. Her heart told her that Francis was being honest. He wanted to work things out and he wanted to give them a try again. But her mind told her that the only reason Francis wanted to repair things between them was because France could stand to lose a lot if Scotland walked away now. Her mind told her that only yesterday, Mary had caught them in the act. How much could have changed overnight?
"Mary! Wait for me," a voice called out.
"Kenna? What is going on?" Mary asked when she turned around.
"I heard the most terrible rumour. Are you breaking your engagement to Francis and returning to Scotland?" she said slightly out of breath.
Mary was surprised that word had already spread, but at least there was no mention of England. Yet. It must have been Olivia's doing. It was the first time that she had seen Kenna since Mary discovered her affair with King Henry and she didn't know what to do. Mary had wanted to confront her about it, but Francis had made her promise to let it go.
"Yes, I will be breaking the betrothal contract," Mary said.
Kenna looked shocked, "But… What about Scotland? I know that you and Francis aren't in the best place, but you will make up. You shouldn't be so hasty in trying to terminate an alliance with France."
"I have made my decision and it is in Scotland's best interests, I would appreciate it if you changed your tone. I know what I am doing," she said looking down the hallway to see if the King was ready to receive her.
"No, you don't know what you are doing. You haven't been to Scotland since you were a little girl. You haven't seen the hardships that we have had to face. Things have improved since your return to French court and I will not have you jeopardize our country's peace," Kenna said.
Mary started to laugh, "Who are you to tell me what to do? The King's whore? Don't look so shocked. Word travels fast. Contrary to what you believe, I am doing what is right for my country, for my people. Are you scared that the King is going to toss you to the side when he realizes that Scotland is worthless to him?"
"He wouldn't toss me to the side. He told me he loves me and I return the feeling. Never mind, Mary. I don't care what you do or how you destroy your country. King Henry has offered to take me under his protection," she said as she glared at Mary.
"Do you think he will still love you when Diane returns? He has been with Diane for as long as I can remember. You're just a stupid little girl that he can use while he's bored," Mary said, "Don't take his protection, because once you do, I can't help you anymore. You will no longer be a Scot."
"It sounds perfect to me. That way I won't have to deal with you and your condescending attitude. Have fun ruining your life," Kenna said as stormed away.
"Reconsider. If you take his protection, it's permanent. I won't be able to help you anymore," Mary said, her voice echoing down the corridor as she watched Kenna disappear from sight.
Mary wanted to follow her, to make her realize that she was making a mistake. But she couldn't. Kenna would have to learn the gravity of the situation she had just placed herself in. Mary wanted to mother her friends, to shield them from danger, but it seemed to drive them further and further away. Even if she wanted to chase Kenna, Mary had to meet with King Henry.
As she entered the throne room, she heard a hush fall across the audience. King Henry looked like he was in a good mood, but Mary knew how quickly that could change. Francis was sitting dutifully beside his father looking more presentable than he had been when they had last talked. Queen Catherine was nowhere in sight thankfully. The King's subjects moved out of the way, allowing her for a clear passage towards the King.
"Thank you for seeing me, your Grace," Mary said as she bowed.
"What is your business here today?" King Henry asked as his brown eyes met hers, making her want to look away at the King's intensity.
Mary took a deep breath, "I would like to request that the dauphin of France not be present during this audience."
"No," Francis' voice rang out creating a chill in the air, "I will remain present as my duty dictates it."
"I agree with my son. Continue," the King said.
"I would like to break the betrothal contract between your son and I," Mary said as she watched the surprised look on his face.
"On what grounds?" King Henry asked as he sat up straighter on his throne.
"Not only have I waited over ten years for this alliance to be formalized, but you have also not provided my country with support when Scotland has been under duress. There is also the matter of your son's conduct," Mary said firmly, refusing to let the King intimidate her.
The flurry of whispers that broke out behind her gave her satisfaction. Let them talk of the dauphin who couldn't control himself. Let Francis feel the embarrassment that she had felt the past months at his behavior. She had given him the opportunity to leave, but the fool refused to listen to her.
"I will not have the accusations-" Francis said standing up.
Mary interrupted him knowing that she had to silence him if she wanted to have to confidence to do what was necessary for her country, "You have no power here. This is a conversation between a king and a queen. I will not be addressed so disrespectfully by someone of lesser standing than I."
The King had to grab his son's arm to prevent another outburst. After warning him to stand down, the King looked back at the woman in front of him. There was something different about Mary. The childlike innocence was still present, but diminished. She had the dramatic flair needed from a ruler when addressing her people.
"No. I will not break the agreement your mother and I made. You will continue to be a guest at our court until I decide otherwise. My son can act in whichever fashion pleases him. This is our court and you are merely a guest here on my invitation," he said, causing the court to break out into whispers once more.
The doors flew open with a bang as Queen Elizabeth and her court members followed her into the throne room. The whispering grew louder at her arrival. What was the Queen of England doing here? Mary felt her confidence rise at her cousin's arrival. Elizabeth walked up so that she was standing beside Mary.
"I told you that you were forbidden from making contact with the Queen of Scotland. Being in the same room as her violates that condition," the King said as he stood up, "Mary, Queen of Scots, is under our protection."
Mary was surprised at the rush of affection that she felt for the man who raised her. She hadn't known that he had placed those limitations on Elizabeth and wondered if it had been his or Francis' idea. It still did not change anything.
"That is where you are wrong, Henry. She is under my protection. You will break the betrothal contract without penalty or you will risk angering two countries this afternoon," Elizabeth said.
She had never seen King Henry look so furious, yet helpless. Francis looked at her with betrayal and she wanted to tell him that was how she felt the night before. That he brought her to this point, this desperate place where she had to choose between two powerful countries. Mary knew that King Henry would have no choice but to break the engagement and she suspected that he was beginning to regret not marrying Mary off to Francis while he still had the chance.
"I, King Henry the Second from the house of Valois-Angoulême, hereby releases the Queen of Scotland Mary Stuart from her betrothal contract to my son," King Henry said before signing a document that the court scribe had quickly written.
Mary walked up to the document and after reading it over, signed her name on the required area. Being so close to King Henry made her nervous, but she knew he was powerless here. They talked about what would happen to the Scots residing at French court and after they reached an agreement, Mary turned to leave.
"You are making a mistake," the King whispered as Mary passed him to return to her spot beside Elizabeth.
After they left the throne room, Mary accompanied Elizabeth back to Elizabeth's bedchambers. The people they passed in the corridor were shocked at seeing the two queens together. Mary was certain that the whole castle would know within the hour about her newfound alliance. It was all coming together, finally.
"We will leave within the hour," Elizabeth said as they stepped into the room.
"Could you send for my Scottish subjects?" Mary said to the closest servant.
The servant nodded before disappearing behind the door. After waiting for everyone to show up, including her friends, Mary was ready to address them. Taking a deep breath and her head held high, Mary began her speech.
"In case you are not aware, the alliance between Scotland and France has been dissolved due to conflicting differences. I know many of you are worried about the security of our country, but do not fear. England has stepped forward as an ally and as of this morning, we are at peace," Mary said as her subjects broke out in shocked and angry whispers.
"I realize that this will take some getting used to, but England is no longer our enemy. Some of you will be wondering about your living situations. After talking to King Henry, we have come to an agreement. Because of pressing court matters, I will be moving to London tonight. You have to option of coming with me to London or returning to Scotland. Those of you that wish to remain in France can do so. The only downside is that you will no longer be under my protection for the duration of your stay. I appreciate your support during this time of change and I look forward to our future with England by our side. Thank you," Mary said as she moved towards Elizabeth hoping that her subjects would understand her decision.
"We are ready to leave. If you want to say goodbye to anyone, now is the time," Elizabeth said, "We will meet you at the main entrance."
Thanking her, Mary spotted Lola in the crowd and signaled for her to walk with her. It wasn't until they were out of earshot and view that Mary turned to her friend. She knew that her friend was planning to join her in London and she wanted to put an end to that thought before Bash was hurt.
"Lola, I know that you want to go with me, but I want you to stay. I know about you and Bash. I think it's wonderful. I couldn't imagine a better man for you. It doesn't matter what others think. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you come with me, so please. Stay. Stay for yourself, for your happiness," Mary said.
Lola looked upset, "You are my dearest friend. I can't leave you when you need me most. It doesn't matter that I have found Bash. You are my friend and I will choose you every time."
"Lola, please. Don't make this more difficult than it is. Stay, for me. I will find comfort in knowing that you are happy with Bash," Mary said trying to smile in reassurance.
"What happened with Francis?" she asked, "I will only stay if you tell me what's been going on, if you release your pent-up emotions. There will be no opportunity for you if you leave without your friends. Tell me why you chose to ally yourself with England."
Mary looked everywhere but at Lola, "He broke my heart. I didn't just hear about the affair, I walked in on it. I can't forget that image, it is burned behind my eyelids. I see it whenever I close my eyes.
"When I was a little girl, I always knew that I would marry Francis. He would be my best friend, my partner. I would never have to be alone. We would make great rulers together. When did it all go so terribly wrong? Where was it written that he would break my heart, shattering it beyond repair?
"I had no one else. We both know what kind of ruler my mother was and I don't want to be anything like her. I found a family member who is willing to take me under her wing and I am so lucky for that. We might not have the same views on religion, but we have made a compromise. For the first time in my life, I will have to be an independent ruler and that scares me senseless. And I hate Francis for this. I hate that he made me choose, that his actions forced me into this independence. I have to grow up now. It scares me more than you could possibly imagine. But it doesn't matter what I think, now does it? I made my decision and now I have to live with it."
"I am so sorry that he put you through this. It isn't fair, but I think you made the right choice. I think it will do you good to get away from France," Lola said as she hugged her friend, "I will miss you."
"I'll miss you too," Mary said before pulling away, "I need to go. The others will be waiting for me to leave."
Lola grabbed Mary's hand and led her to the main entrance. Lola's hand was her lifeline. She was leaving everything that she knew behind. Mary was stepping away from certainty into the unknown and it scared her. But for now, Lola was there grounding her into this moment. Taking one last look at the castle, Mary released Lola's hand when they joined the party at the main entrance. Mary was surprised to see that others had come to say goodbye.
"I'm happy that you have found lives here at French court," Mary said as she approached Greer and Aylee.
"We would love to come with you, but I can't leave Leith," Greer said as the girls hugged Mary.
"I'm going to miss you," Aylee said, "Kenna should be here soon."
"I already said goodbye to her earlier. I'm going to miss you girls too. It won't be the same without you," Mary said as she released them, "Send me a letter if you need anything, anything at all."
"We will," Greer smiled.
Mary turned to the next person in line.
"Bash, I'm going to miss you," Mary said as she threw her arms around her best friend, "What am I going to do without you?"
"I am only a letter away. If you want me to come with you…" Bash said before Mary interrupted.
"Don't you dare. Your life is here. If things get too difficult here, you are always welcome in Scotland," she said, "Please don't forget to write to me. I will miss you and Lola."
"We will miss you too," Bash said, "I think you should release me soon if you want to leave tonight."
Mary smiled before stepping away and turning to the next person, Francis.
"Francis, thank you for seeing me off," Mary said extending her hand out for him to shake.
Francis stepped forward and enveloped her into a bone-crushing hug.
"I made a mistake and I promise you that I will make it up to you. You reminded me today at court that we are more than our duties and that we need to stand up for what we feel is right. I will miss you, Mary, more than you will ever know," he said.
Because it was most likely the last time she was going to see him, Mary relaxed into the hug. Her head rested against his chest and she could hear the rhythmic beating of his heart. The sadness she had felt with Lola returned. Mary wished that this moment would last forever, because she wasn't ready to leave. She wasn't ready to leave France. But Francis had forced her hand. He had forced her hand and they were going to be separated. Willing herself to let go, Mary finally made the effort and stepped back.
"I will miss you too, Francis. You are all that I have ever known. I hate you for forcing me to do this, but it is what's best for my country and me. I wish you the very best and I hope that you find happiness with Olivia," Mary said despite the heaviness in her heart.
Mary turned to leave and just as she was about to enter the carriage, Francis spoke up.
"I asked her to leave. Olivia. I made a mistake with her and I should have done that a long time ago. You will do great things in England, Mary. I can feel it."
After he finished speaking, Mary stepped into the carriage and sat herself across from Elizabeth. The carriage started to leave and Mary waved goodbye to her friends, to Francis. It wasn't until the castle disappeared from sight that she sat back in her seat. Elizabeth had been watching her closely since their journey had begun.
"Why didn't you tell Francis that Olivia was sent here as a spy to infiltrate the castle?" Elizabeth asked.
Mary sighed, "It would hurt him to know that he had been played a fool by her. We all were. I can't believe that we didn't see it until now."
"We dealt with it as best as we could and Francis did send her away. Does knowing this about Olivia change things between you and Francis?" Elizabeth asked.
"No. If she was able to get between us, anyone would have been able to. We needed to be a united front and we weren't. A King and Queen need to be a team or the country will fall into chaos. France is in the past. Tell me more about England," she said.
The rest of the ride was spent sharing stories and laughing at each other's misfortunes over the years. Mary was sad that she was leaving her home and everything she knew behind, but the prospect of her future was starting to excite her. Mary was finally going to act like a queen and although she was terrified, it felt right. Her cousin was going to be by her side and it was nice to have family support in a time like this.
End of Part 1.
Thank you for reading!
Kate xx