Chapter 21: Leaders are Not Born They are Made
Almost four years had passed and Court was no different from the day James was born. The castle looked the same, the same songs were sung, the same dances danced. Everything was the same, except for the people in it.
Servants rushed around just as dawn broke, running through the freezing halls tending fires and making breakfast. Everyone else was asleep. Francis and Mary slept peacefully in each others arms, Mary just as beautiful and Francis just as handsome as the day they were wed. Bash and Kenna, now with two five year old daughters and a four year old son and new born baby boy called Phillip to worry about, also slept peacefully. They had moved back to Court due to Bash being pardoned by his brother and the fact Bash now had higher status at Court.
Although the biggest change was in James and Anne.
Anne's sixth birthday was only a few days away and Prince Hugo would be arriving today. Anne now had long hair down her back that he often kept in tiny plaits that met at the back, Mary always did them for her. Anne had grown to be just like her mother. She looked identical to Mary as a child and was just as head strong. James on the other hand was very different. James looked just like Francis did at the age of four. He has sandy blonde hair and a tiny button nose. He is also very skinny and weak, but Catherine assures everyone he will grow out of it just as Francis did. James has become timid and shy and the prospect of being king did frighten him a bit but he only spoke of such tings to Francis whenever they went on their monthly hunting trip with his godfather, Bash.
Anne and James slept peacefully in their nursery until 7:00 when Francis and Mary came in to wake them. It was common for them to wake them every morning but today they made extra fuss of Anne. As soon as they reminded her what day it was she started shaking with fear. Mary walked over to get James up and Francis climbed into bed beside Anne. He put an arm around her and she snuggled into his arms.
"You will be fine my shining star." Francis said stroking her hair. He called her shining star because every night when he reads her and James to sleep him and Anne always look out a watch for the stars to come out. One day Francis had surprised her by having some dark blue cloth embroidered with golden stars and he attached it to cover her four poster bed so when she would look up it looked like the night sky.
"I don't really want to see Hugo..." Anne confessed.
"He'll love you. Don't you remember the stories me and mother had from our childhood here at Court. You and Hugo will become fast friends." Francis said hugging her. Now Mary had James ready in a simple, baggy white shirt and trousers, the two walked over to Anne's bed.
"Come now darling. We'll get you into you special gown and I'll do your hair for you. You can use some of my perfume as well and I might even have something pretty for you hair." Mary said holding out her hand to Anne. Anne took her hand and hopped out of bed.
"Francis will you and James please go down to breakfast. We won't be a minute." Francis and James left the room, and Mary started to help Anne get dressed. She slipped on a hand made gown from Italy and as Mary did up the buttons for her Anne asked her some questions.
"Were you scared of coming to France mother?"
"Yes, very much. Although it was nice when I arrived." Mary opened a jewellery box from her room and started pinning Anne's hair up with pins.
"Will Hugo be friendly?"
"I suppose he will, he was raised by very lovely governess'."
"Why is he coming to France? I thought the lady always went to live with the man?" Anne asked, this was something she had been wondering for a while.
"Well Hugo comes from a very large family, and I don't think they wanted him around much. They asked us if he could come here."
Once Mary had finished with Anne's hair the two walked down to breakfast together. James was sitting the end of the large table, a section reserved for the children of Court, with Mary, Aylee and Francis. Anne rushed over at once, immediately showing off her dress to Aylee and Mary.
Mary sat down next to Francis and Catherine who seemed to be arguing. Francis had a small bottle in his hand and was trying to give it back to Catherine who seemed to be insisting he take it.
"What is going on?" Mary asked helping herself to some bread and jam.
"Mother is insisting I take this horrible ointment again. I told you mother, I do not need it!" Francis said turning from Mary back to Catherine.
"It has been four years since you have even gotten Mary pregnant!" Mary almost choked on her food. "You do need this!"
"What is it." Mary said swallowing her food and looking over to read it. Francis handed it to her and she immediately started laughing.
"It is not funny. That stuff burns!" Francis whispered so no one else could hear it.
"I remember this. You complained so when you last had to use it. Well it is not my fault..." Mary said handing him back the bottle, laughing at him as he glared at her.
"You cannot really side with my mother!"
"Of course I do. I want more babies and I am only twenty five! And if Catherine has ointments to help, then I say you should be accepting the help!" Mary said, dying with laughter on the inside.
"Mary you know this means you must start taking your herbs again." Catherine commented and Francis burst out laughing as Mary's face went from amusement to horror.
"Actually I side with my husband." Mary said quickly taking Francis' hand. "We do not need you help with such a private matter."
Mary did find Francis' need for ointments funny but she also hated those herbs and horrible drinks. Francis had only one form of medicine, Mary had about six, and it made the actual conceiving much less fun when she had to wait a hour before trying.
"I insist you take them." Catherine said giving them a look that said 'endofconversation'.
Mary and Francis stood and walked out of the room, hiding the ointments in Francis' jacket pocket. The two made their way to their chambers. When they arrived Mary sat on the bed and fell back with a sigh of relief at getting out of that room. Francis walked over to the mantle and hid the bottles behind a mirror.
"I do hate those ointments so." Francis complained, sitting next to Mary.
"Those herbs taste like rabbit droppings."
"Servants search through our rooms all the time for anything to gossip about. Imagine if they thought we had problems conceiving!"
"But we do have trouble conceiving!" Mary said sitting up.
"Maybe we could have one last go before we have to start using the herbs and ointments?" Francis said pushing Mary back down onto the bed. She giggled and soon the two were kissing.