A/N Suzy87: thanks again for the review... twisting road ahead... fighting, love, murder, mayhem- the usual at French court.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Reign characters.
Chapter 10They watched Mary walk away and wondered what schemes Narcisse and Catherine would come up with.
Lola felt a tightening of her bodice. "I just need to get John from the nursery. I haven't fed him in hours."
"Why don't we just plan in there," said Greer.
"I will meet up with you two later in Mary's chambers. I have to go digging," said Kenna, grinning and mockingly skipping off.
Lola and Greer laughed. "She loves digging up dirt."
Lola entered the nursery and found a wooden rattle in John's cradle with a horse painted on it. "That wasn't here before."
"The nanny's must have given it to him," said Greer grabbing an apple.
Lola smiled softly. "I'm sure. Leith, can you give us a few minutes. I need to feed him." Leith blushed and quickly exited murmuring something.
"Well, you got quick rid of him quick enough," laughed Greer.
Lola grinned, and she picked John up. "So, where shall we begin?"
"Viscount Bagnac," said Catherine. "He is not well liked. He beats his servants."
"What man doesn't?" countered Narcisse, sipping his wine. "No, not the Viscount…"
"Then, who would you suggest?"
"A man who has been cruel to both Protestant and Catholic who has built an armada in trade. A man who has alienated the Catholic church… Marquis de Terme."
Bash sighed. "He's feared for having pagan ties. He is rumored to have sacrificed his servants when the plague hit."
"He sounds perfect," said Mary, eyeing Bash. "So, what is the problem?"
"Getting him to court," said Francis. "He hasn't been to court in years."
"He's a recluse," said Catherine.
"But, he has a son who is almost as vile as he is and then they do everything together," said Narcisse. "His son as I remember loves horse racing."
"I do have the finest Arabians," said Catherine.
"You do have one other temptation for his son," said Narcisse swirling his wine. "He's had a taste of your daughter."
"Claude?" asked Mary.
Catherine rolled her eyes, "Who hasn't?"
"Mother," admonished Francis.
She dismissed him with her hand. "Shall we have a horse race to tempt him?"
"And announce that we are looking for possible suitors for the Princess Claude?" added Mary.
"No, no. That's too easy," said Catherine her eyes beginning to gleam with excitement.
"We must announce her engagement to another."
"Well, we announced her engagement to Conde, but that was a disaster!" Francis exclaimed.
"This time it is to a rival," said Narcisse.
Catherine laughed. "To you?"
"Philippe hates me."
"Oh, he does," agreed Catherine, putting the wine goblet to her lips. "He detests you."
"Detests it such a strong word," countered Narcisse, "But, yes, and for him to think that I get to own his elusive plaything. It'll incite him to come to the race."
Catherine was smiling, "And, then we plant the evidence while he's here at court. We can send Claude back to the convent after."
"Wait, Claude is not some sort of pawn that you can use."
"Please be serious, Mary. We're all pawns in life," said Catherine. "Some of us just get to decide what moves to make."
"What kind of evidence? How can we be sure that this will work?"
Francis was watching his mother and Narcisse. Mary was still questioning them, while he and Bash watched.
"Leave this to us," said Catherine with a wave of her hand. "We will have this all sorted out."
"Give in to the madness," said Bash to Mary and Francis.
"Alright. We will meet you tomorrow at breakfast?"
"Yes, and have them send up more wine," said Narcisse.
Francis suppressed the temptation to roll his eyes, walking out with Mary and Bash.
"Do you think this'll work?" he asked Bash.
"Catherine has been scheming for years and so has Narcisse. If there are two people in this country who can make this work, it is them."
"Surprisingly, I have faith in your mother. If you'll excuse me, I need to check in with my ladies." She left, and Francis watched her walk down the hall.
"She'll come around," said Bash.
Francis look at him. "You and I both know that is unlikely to happen. Things have been complicated with us since almost the beginning. I am tired of fighting and wondering if she's scheming, and I'm tired of hating myself for never being able to satisfy her. We will never be the vision that we thought of before."
Bash nodded. "Visions change."
"This I know," he said, thinking back to when Bash had been engaged to Mary due to Nostradamus' vision. "But, history doesn't change. Mary and I have a history of hurt and distrust."
"And, love. She chose you."
Francis sighed. "That feels like a century ago. We were so young, Bash. So, naïve. You and Kenna found love on a different path. She was in love with our father, and you were in love with Mary. Maybe Mary and I can find love again. I just want her to be happy, and I want to be happy." He moved out to the balcony exasperated.
"You want to let her go?"
"Bash, she's already gone. I'm already gone. And, I don't know if I want to go back."
"Talk to her."
"I will, just not today. Let's go see what the lords are up to. Plotting our demise." He put his arm around Bash.
"At least one of us." The two laughed together, walking toward court.
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