Mary and Bash were still trapped in the company of Francis's killer for almost two days when they finally formulated a plan to take him down. Mary seduced him to get him alone, while Bash created a distraction by starting a fire. While everyone scrambled, Mary took her shot, stabbing him with the first available thing she could get her hands on. She ran out with the rest of the group and they stole two horses, making their way to the castle.
When Mary arrived at what was now to be her home for the rest of her life, she discovered that she'd made it just in time, as if she'd been any later, she wouldn't have been Queen at all. She'd barged in on them just about to vote to dissolve the monarchy. Once she got things settled the group dispersed, leaving only Mary and Bash and her brother James in the room. James took a long look at her.
"What on earth happened to you? You've been missing for over a week. We combed the whole area for you and didn't see a trace." James asked.
"A band of criminals found us and took us in. We pretended to be someone else until we could escape." Mary said.
"Escape? You're covered in blood." he pointed out.
"As it turned out, the man that lead the group was the same rebel who was responsible for Francis's murder." she said. James understood and nodded.
"Well, let's get your room ready and get you some clean clothes." he said as he walked them into the hall and to one of the servants.
"You there, our Queen has returned to us. Get her settled in at once please, she's had a long journey. And take care of her friend as well." he told her. The servant nodded and took Mary and Bash to their chambers.
After Mary got a hot bath and some fresh clothes, James came to her room to speak with her.
"your people will want to see their Queen as soon as possible, so I've arranged for a gathering tomorrow morning for the castle residents and we will have a more formal gathering in a few days when you've rested and had a chance to get used to your new surroundings. Dinner will be ready in about an hour, I'll send someone up to show you and Bash around the castle." James said. Mary nodded.
"All this is going to take some getting used to." she said and noticed a paper in his hand. "What's that?"
"Oh, I almost forgot. This letter came for you only the day after you were supposed to arrive. I was going to throw it out, luckily for you I forgot." he said handing it to her. She took it and looked down at it.
"It's from Catherine." she said. He nodded.
"I told the guards to stay outside your room at all times until your used to things around here, in case you need anything. I'll leave you to get some rest. Fell free to bother me at anytime of course." he told her as he left her room.
Mary sat and read the letter that Catherine had sent out just after she had left. She smiled when she read it, that smile quickly reverting to a frown when she once again realized she may never see her again. She already felt unsafe not having her there. Like she was in the middle of the ocean with nothing under her but a piece of driftwood. She knew she should write her at once, knowing she likely believed her dead as well.
Dear Catherine,
I'm writing to let you know that I am safe. My boat did crash, but Sebastian and I survived. I also want you to know that the man responsible for Francis's murder is dead. He is the one that found us after the crash. I killed him with my own two hands. I hope it brings you some closure to know that your son's death has been avenged. I received your letter and I miss you and France dearly already. It's terribly cold and lonely here. I hope things are well for you. I will write again soon, when I'm settled in.
With Love,
MarieR
A week later, in France, Catherine sat sadly looking out her window awaiting Greer. She had called for her a few hours earlier. She barely turned at all when she entered the room.
"Well, I'm here. I must admit I was a little shocked when you called for me." she said. Catherine looked up.
"Yes, well, I have a proposal for you, please, sit." she said.
"A proposal? For me?" Greer asked as she pulled up as chair.
"While I was...away...earlier this year, many of my flying squad left under the assumption that I would not return. So now, you see, I'm left a little short handed, and being regent, I need more help than ever. So I'm offering you a job. You can bring your ladies here and they can learn to become part of my flying squad, and you can be there to help me manage them, since my time will be well taken up by more official duties. I pay better than any of your customers I assure you, and they will get to stay here instead of that run down old shack you call a tavern. What do you say?" Catherine explained.
"What's the catch?" Greer asked.
"No catch. I simply need help, and since your ladies have already proved useful in the past, and I'm sure you could use the extra money now, in your condition." she said. Greer subconsciously tried to cover her belly.
"How did you..."
"Please, my dear, it's painfully obvious. I don't know how you've managed to keep it from the rest of the world...Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Do we have a deal?" Catherine said, eyebrows raised. Greer looked down at her belly and nodded.
"We have a deal. I'm sure my ladies will be quite pleased with this arrangement." she said.
"Majesty." said a messenger as the door opened. "A letter from Scotland." he handed Catherine the letter and Catherine's breath caught in her throat.
'Dear God, they've found her body haven't they? This is it, this is the confirmation of her death.' she thought as she reached up to take it. She looked down and the letter held Mary's seal. Her hand went to her chest in relief. Could it be? Was it really her? She opened it quickly, every word filled her with ease. She was okay. Bash was okay. And Francis's killer was gone. An added satisfaction she hadn't expected.
"Is everything alright?" Greer asked. Catherine laughed.
"Everything is better than alright. Mary is alive. She's alive." she said. Not caring about her demeanor. She dropped the letter on the desk in front of Greer and she picked it up.
"Thank God. It's a miracle." Greer said.
"You should go and retrieve your ladies. We have a lot of work to do with them." Catherine said after she had let the happy news sink in. Greer looked up, confused at her quick change of subject, but she nodded.
"Of course." She said. "I'll...be back with them as soon as I can gather them all together."
As soon as Greer left Catherine pulled out some paper and started a new letter to Mary.
Dearest Mary,
I'm overjoyed to hear that you are safe. Believing you were lost to the sea, knowing I could not bring you home to be buried with Francis was almost too much to bare. But you are alive, and instead Francis's killer is gone from this earth. I only wish I could have been there to see it. I can't imagine how you were able to do it, but I'm proud of your bravery. I await your next letter.
Love,
Catherine