Misery
I don't own Reign!
Ella felt sick. She lay in bed awake and frightened. Back at French court she could hear the ghosts of her past circling around her. When she was on the move she could keep them at bay, but staying in one place, no she couldn't do it. She sat up in bed and looked at Lady Rachel who slept in a bed near her. As Ella opened her mouth, she thought about how much she had missed Francis and Cathrine and how sad they would be if she left again. So, she lay back down and tried to sleep.
The next morning Ella gave her ladies their assignments for the day. "Lady Violet, please find out if Lord Narcisse is still here, if so why and how. I regret that I was unable to deal with him before."
Violet curtsied.
"Lady Tiffany, kindly discover the state of affairs in Scotland and if Queen Mary has at all changed the way she rules. Is she still reliant on Francis?"
Tiffany nodded.
"Lady Cassidy, please find out about the King's advisors and how they behave."
Cassidy smiled at the assignment.
Ella pinched the bridge of her nose, thinking hard "The rest of you will listen to gossip, find out whatever you can. But please, nothing to ridiculous. Check your sources girls!" She teased. "Kenna, would you be so kind to wait a moment and help me finish getting ready?"
"Of course." Kenna said happily.
So Kenna helped Ella dress in a shimmering lavender gown and clasp a diamond necklace around her throat.
She braided her hair so it hung down her back like a waterfall. Then she walked with the Empress to breakfast.
When they arrived they saw Francis and Cathrine already sitting at the table, Ella had barely sat down before Queen Mary entered the room and quickly looked at her then down to her shoes.
Ella sighed, it was going to be a long visit if Mary couldn't even look her in the eyes.
"Mary," She said "Look up please. I'd like to speak to you." Mary slowly raised her eyes. "I know everything you said about me. Yes all of it, Cathrine and Violet told me all of it."
At this Mary glared at Cathrine who sent a withering look right back at her daughter-in-law. "That was private!" she spat.
"Yes and I already reprimanded Cathrine for that, so you needn't worry. What I am trying to say, Mary, is that I forgive you. You did not like me and I can understand why. But I want you to know that I hold no grudge against you for the cruel words you said. I truly hope that we can be friends now." Ella smiled.
Mary looked up and met her eyes "Really?" She asked cautiously.
"Yes!" Ella gave a tinkling laugh "In fact I have a gift for you both. You can come in now!" She called.
A beautiful girl walked into the room, she wore a dress of black and had her long, brown hair tied back.
She curtsied, first to Ella, then to Francis, Cathrine, and Mary.
"This," Ella announced proudly "is Lady Adrianna! I met her in Rome and I knew she would do well at court. She is a trained doctor and scholar. I believe," she lowered her voice "that she can help you have children Francis."
Mary gasped. Would Ella really do such a thing for her? Mary had been longing for children for years and, really, was quite jealous of Lola and Kenna for their children.
The girl raised her almond shaped, brown eyes and spoke in heavily accented French "Yes, Your majesties. I believe I can help you with the issue of your fertility and I believe, you will be blessed with many, many children."
"She has been a blessing to me as one of my ladies and I hope, Mary, that you will accept her as one of yours." Ella said hopefully.
"Yes!" Mary was so excited she could have burst, "Oh Ella, thank you!" She jumped up and embraced the Empress. But she was startled by how thin the woman seemed to be.
Ella smiled and was about to say something else when Francis interrupted "We have a boating excursion planned for this afternoon if you would like to join us Ella." He was so happy to see his wife and his friend getting along.
"Certainly!" Ella cried "I would be only to happy to join you! But I shall have to change my gown first. Mary I have brought another gown for you if you would like it." She offered.
"Of course!" Mary grinned and they walked out together, arm in arm. Cathrine was staring after them with a little smirk on her face.
In Ella's chambers her ladies flittered about pulling out gowns and jewels for the two great women. Finally they had found the perfect dresses. Ella said that they were all the range in Greece.
Mary wore a pink, floaty, sleeveless dress of gossamer and lace with a golden belt of rings around her waist. Her hair was tied up in a bun, save for a single curl that hung down her shoulder.
Ella looked stunning in a simple dress, similar to Mary's, of palest blue, tied by a belt of silver loops around her hips. Her hair too was up in a high bun with two ringlets framing her face. Around her head she wore a silver crownlet with a small moon shaped jewel hanging from it.
They giggled together as they headed to the lake to meet Francis. When they arrived his mouth fell open and he stared, blinded by their combined beauty.
"You know," he said "dressed so alike, one might think you two were sisters!"
"I always wanted a sister!" Mary laughed and they climbed aboard the small boat to enjoy a happy afternoon on the water. Or so they thought...
Word count: 995
Not quite as long as the last few chapters but still! At least I am trying! I know this chapter is sort of a filler and I'm sorry. But I promise something big is going to happen in the next chapter! I can also promise that some of you might hate me for it. Please vote, comment, and add to your reading lists! Please! I want to hear from you guys!
Love always,
The author❤️