"I look ridiculous." Catherine said as she emerged wearing the footman's uniform Mary gave her.
"Well, it's not meant to be a fashion statement." Mary pointed out. Catherine grumbled. She knew Mary meant well, but she was grating on her last nerve.
"No one is going to think I am a man." She said, looking in the mirror.
"It's dark and you'll only be seen for a moment. They won't be paying that much attention to a servant." Mary explained.
"If I am ever able to secure the regency again, remind me to get new guards." Catherine's words were dripping with sarcasm.
"You don't even have the hat on yet." she said placing it on her head. Mary paused to look at her a moment and tried to hold in a laugh.
"I knew it. I look ridiculous." she spat, attempting to take the hat off. Mary stopped her.
"It doesn't matter, we don't have time to think up a different plan just because you don't like the wardrobe." Mary told her, fixing the hat. Catherine rolled her eyes.
"Fine, give me that bag will you." She said gesturing to the sack she'd quickly filled with some of her belongings. Make sure you take the rest of my jewelry to your room. I don't want anyone stealing it when they find out I'm gone...besides, if I don't return..." Catherine began.
"You will." she assured. Catherine held up a hand.
"If I don't return, I want you to keep it. I'd rather you have it than let Narcisse get his hands on it." she said.
"Everything is going to be alright." Mary put a hand on her shoulder.
When they got to the gate, Mary started talking to distract the guards attention away from her new footman.
"Take these to the carriage Gustaf." she said shoving the bags in Catherine's arms, blocking her face. Catherine glared at her angrily, but made her way to the carriage and started loading them in, while Mary continued to speak to the guard.
"I'll only be gone a few hours. I need to bring some things to my friend in the village." she told him. He nodded and went back to his post. She then joined Catherine at the carriage.
"Did you have to shove them at me so hard?" she said as soon as she was sure the guard was far enough away not to hear.
"I needed to make it look believable." she said.
"Do you beat up all your servants?" Catherine spat.
"Do you sleep with all of yours?" Mary countered. Catherine was about to say something back when Leith came over and hopped into the drivers seat of the carriage.
"I thought we were meeting Bash. How do we know we can trust him?" she asked.
"Francis was my friend. I would do anything to protect his family. I promise you can trust me." Leith said. Catherine glared at him.
"I trust him Catherine." Mary said. She nodded and got into the carriage, Mary followed after. It started moving and once it was outside the castle gates, the door swung open and Bash, who had been hiding in the bushes, jumped inside. Catherine hand went to her chest in surprise.
"What on earth are you doing? Why didn't you just meet us at the gate?" she asked.
"The guards saw three people leave, they need to see three people return, or they will get suspicious." he said.
"I highly doubt that you and I can pass for the same person." she said.
"We won't have to. I have someone waiting in the village who will be returning with Mary once I take you somewhere safe." he clarified.
"Once...you...take me somewhere safe? You're coming with me?" she asked.
"Well, only for the horse ride. I'll be leaving you once we get there." he said.
"You're just going to leave me unattended? No guards, no one." she said angrily.
"Of course not. You won't be alone. You'll be fine. Trust me." he said.
"Not unless you tell me where you're taking me." she said.
"You'll see." he answered simply. She turned back to Mary.
"This was an awful idea. Should I even be leaving? To run is an admission of guilt." Catherine said.
"To stay is acceptance of death. Unless we can prove you innocent, they WILL hang you." Mary answered.
"Look I know you're not used to trusting others to take care of you, but I promise you, we will do everything in our power to save you from the executioner." Bash assured. Mary nodded in agreement. Catherine was shocked at his forwardness. The only other time he'd ever spoken to her like that was when they'd been searching the woods for Charles and Henry, and then he'd been trying to protect his family.
They arrived in the village and Leith stopped the carriage.
"This is were we let you out." Mary said as she opened the door. Bash got out. Catherine turned to follow, but stopped and looked back.
"Mary I know you keep saying everything will be okay, but in case it's not...Don Carlos isn't the only problem you have, I spent enough time with her to know that Elizabeth will strike again...Charles was right, don't go back to Scotland until you have an alliance. It won't be safe. She will find you...promise me." She said taking her hand.
"I promise." Mary squeezed her hand and Catherine kissed her cheek, then she exited the carriage. Bash was getting on a horse when she emerged and he held out his hand to help her up. Once she was on the horse in front of him, he trotted over to Leith.
"The servant I paid should be waiting just around the corner. Circle twice before going back to the castle." He told him. Leith nodded.
"Good luck." He said and took off with Mary. He looked at Catherine and awkwardly put his arms around her to grab onto the reigns. All he could think of as she leaned back into his chest was the sight of her naked underneath that servant. She was with a servant? A really young servant at that. He never pictured her with a younger man. He'd never pictured her at all...until now. It's not like he saw much, as the blanket covered most of her, but his imagination kept trying to make up the missing parts. He shook his head.
"Alright, hang on, we have a bit of a way to go from here." He said as he urged the horse forward. Her skin was tingling underneath her tattered disguise in every spot he made contact with her. Her mind flashed back to his room, where she'd seen far more of him than she had ever seen before. It was actually quite a nice view. Wait...why did she even notice the view? She already had a damn good view of her own. And he was just as young and handsome. Although, he didn't have those icy blue eyes...Dear lord, this would be a long ride.
The ride was almost completely silent. Neither really knowing what to say to the other. After some time, they trotted up on a small home, almost in the middle of nowhere. Bash got down off the horse and then helped Catherine down. They walked up to the door and knocked. When the door creaked open, there was a familiar face on the other side.
Catherine eyes widened.
"Nostradamus?"