Chapter 22
April 1560
Marie 8 Years
Francis 10 Years
Marie was so excited today, it was the day of the ball where here and Francis were chosen to do the first royal dance! It was custom that before anyone danced, that a royal couple open it up and she was thrilled and a little bit nervous that all eyes would be on them.
"Marie would you please calm down," Francis ran up to her.
"I can't help it!' she said with huge smile on her face. "I am nervous though," she told him, "What if I mess up? What if I embarrass us? What if…"
"What if you do it perfectly just like you've done the last 100 times?" he asked smiling.
"You always know how to say the right thing," she said laughing.
"We," he told her, putting her hands in his, "are the only important ones during the dance. Just keep your eyes on me and you won't even see the rest of them," he assured her."
"What color will you be wearing so I can match you?" she asked as they strolled outside. Francis was glad Marie seemed to be calming down. She'd been over excited since this morning and it kept getting worse the closer it came to the time to get ready.
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about that," he told her. "Mother had matching outfits commissioned. I saw mine yesterday. It is a deep blue velvet with gold trim. I'm sure yours will match and look even more dazzling," he confided.
She sighed.
"Don't be nervous!" he encouraged. "This is supposed to be fun! And besides, we are to be King and Queen someday, nobody will dare to say anything against us."
"I know but you know I like the parties much more than you do."
"That's because you've not had to attend as many as I," he laughed. "They are stuffy and boring and full of political backstabbing. The only joy in them is when you are beside me."
"Well they would not be much fun if you were not there," she agreed.
"Marie!" Lola ran up to her, "We've been looking for you everywhere! It's time to get ready!" she said stealing her away from Francis.
"Lola it's over three hours before it starts, we have plenty of time," she said pulling back laughing.
"Not enough time you mean! The Queen has given us specific instructions for the Ball. We will need more time to get you ready," she insisted.
Marie sighed, "Alright I'll be along in a moment," she told her waving her hand.
Lola looked at her pointedly.
"I promise," she laughed.
Francis laughed as well, "I promise Lola, I shall deliver her within 10 minutes to you."
She nodded as she headed back.
He pulled her around the backside of the tree and pulled her into a hug, knowing this is what she needed for the moment.
"Marie I know you are still nervous, but do you trust me?" he asked.
'You know I do," she said, looking up at him with her big chocolate eyes.
"Then trust that I can get us through this," he said putting his hand on her head pulling her head into his chest, his arms still wrapped around her.
"Alright, I will try, I promise!" she said smiling into chest.
"Good, now we better get you back to your chambers so the girls can make you even more gorgeous," he chuckled.
She looked at him suspiciously, "just what are you hinting at Francis? That I'm ugly on regular days?" she teased.
"Well…" he hedged.
"Francis!" she said shocked but she was still laughing as they went up the stairs.
"There is no other who could compare to your beauty," he assured her. "Beauty is only skin deep but yours runs straight to your heart and soul."
She smiled sweetly, giving him another hug not sure she could speak without tears. She pulled away and he watched her walk into her room.
Hours later, Francis arrived back at Marie's door and was about to know when he stopped and almost laughed out loud.
"Kenna! If you pull my hair one more time, so help you!" he heard Marie threaten.
"Marie, please sit still so I can finish,' her Lady asked.
"My scalp feels raw, finish already, please!" she told her.
Kenna finished the plaiting of her hair and wasted no time in adding the white baby roses in a lovely formation all throughout her hair. Lastly she fastened in the crown Marie wanted to wear tonight. It was silver with beautiful sapphires that matched her dress perfectly. Marie finished putting in her sapphire studded hoop earrings and she was ready as she adjusted her extravagant sapphire necklace.
Francis smiled and waited a couple of moments before knocking.
"Out! All of you!" he heard Marie order. Greer opened the door and they all curtsied as they left the room as he entered.
She stood in the middle of the room in a beautiful ball gown that perfectly matched his, sapphires twinkling on her arm, neck, ears and head.
"Marie! You are stunning!" he complimented. "As I knew you would be, but nothing could prepare me for this vision," he told her kissing her cheek.
She dazzled him with a smile. "I've brought you a gift," he whispered as he handed her a small box.
She smiled, "more gifts" she teased.
He laughed, "I promise you will love this one," he told her.
"I love all your gifts!" she told him seriously as she opened it up.
"Oh Francis! It's beautiful!" she told him. She pulled out a beautiful ring made of gold with a tiny pearl and ruby on it.
He smiled, watching the joy and delight in her face. "It's an engagement ring," he told her. "I made it for you," he told her, "and I've engraved it," she turned it over, showing her.
"My Queen, My Light, My Love," she read. "Oh Francis, I love it!" she said with tears in her eyes.
"It is French tradition with an engagement like ours for a ring to be given on the 12th birthday, but I wanted you to have something special that means something to us. This ring will grow as we do and a new stone will be added for each year of our engagement until the time we are wed."
"It's the most precious gift I've ever received," she said with tears of happiness.
"Here," he said as he slid it onto her finger admiring it. "Not nearly as beautiful as the one wearing it," he assured her.
She hugged him, "thank you! It fits perfectly!"
"Did you make it yourself?" she asked.
"Of course, I've been practicing making knives and swords but a ring was more of a challenge but one that I wanted to make for you, so you would always have a piece of me with you, as you are always with me in my heart," he told her, bringing her hand to lie on his heart so she could feel its beat."
"As you are always in mine," she said looking at the ring again and then smiling at him.
"Come, it is time," he told her.
"I am ready," she said confidently, as she placed her hand in his elegantly and he escorted her from the room.
They waited beside the door for a moment to be announced and Francis could feel her being antsy. He placed his hand over hers, "trust me," he whispered.
"Always," she said.
"Prince Francis, Dauphin of France and Queen Mary of Scotland, Dauphine of France!" the Page announced as they moved forward into the ballroom, smiling into each other's eyes.
Queen Katherine came over to greet them. "Oh my son,' she said cupping his cheek, "you are so handsome, my son" she said kissing him on the cheek. She looked at Marie, 'My dear you are stunning! That dress and color was perfect for both of you," she praised. She kissed both of Marie's cheeks and then went on to greet others.
Marie looked around excitedly and noticed that the only girls here were older than her, they were more Francis' age and all were glaring daggers at her.
"Well, if looks could kill, I do believe I would be dead,' she murmured laughing.
He chuckled, "they are just envious of your beauty, come let's keep Bash company for a few minutes,' he told her and she nodded as they walked over to where Bash was looking around at all the beautiful women.
"Bash," she said. "Should I be offended that you didn't even look my way," Marie teased.
Francis laughed, as his brother blushed.
"It's better for me if I keep my all of my teeth and not admire you," he assured her looking pointedly at Francis. "However, I must say you look gorgeous your majesty," he told her bowing.
She giggled, "thank you."
"If my brother allows, I would be honored to have a dance with you later this evening," he said.
She looked at Francis who smiled, "the honor would be all mine," she said. "Perhaps you will help me save Francis when all of these girls spitting daggers at me, descend on him," she laughed.
"Marie I fear we are going to need France's entire army to prevent that," he laughed, "but I will do what I can," he promised.
"Prince Francis and Queen Marie will now have the first dance," the Page announced as the middle of the room was cleared.
Francis held out his hand to her and she smiled, talking it with perfect manners as he led her to the dance floor as the music began. All eyes were on them and she heard some remarks about how adorable they looked together.
Francis brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles reverently as she did the same for him. They placed their palms together, dancing in perfect harmony switching hands twice before they reached one of their arms up above their head, switching position.
Marie was lost again; Francis' eyes were sparkling, pulling her gaze to his with no distractions.
She did a hop and then he twirled her twice, each time their eyes meeting in between. It was beautiful and graceful and she could hear people talking but she didn't care what they were saying at the moment. She only cared about this moment.
Francis lifted Marie into the air turning her and gently dipped her, bringing his forehead to hers in that special gesture he had for her. As he raised her up he let go of her to turn and meet her hand sliding into his as they danced next to each other, moving around the room. She did a little hop and he spun her into three twirls, each time their eyes meeting each others with a smile bigger than the last.
They placed a hand above their heads and one behind her back, smoothly moving together in perfect synchronicity. Gliding across the floor, both of them lost in the gaze of the other they brought their palms up to meet and then their hands interlocking between their palms as her eyes twinkled at his grin.
He brought his hands to her waist again and lifted her sideways, gently setting her back on the floor a few seconds later.
They each brought their hand to the other's cheek as they danced in a circle. Marie suddenly realized why she loved this dance so much, because it conveyed the depth of feeling they had for each other, even at their young ages. It was beauty and grace, it was love and trust, and it was reverence, respect and honor.
She smiled drowning into his eyes as he was in hers as she slid each of her hands into one of his, he stacked her hands on top of his as they left the dance floor moving to stand near the King and Queen.
Other couples now began pulling their partners onto the dance floor, and they both could hear the compliments swirling around them. What a beautiful dance! They make an adorable couple! Did you see how much they care for each other? They will make a fine King and Queen someday.
"See, you did it perfectly, as I knew you would," he told her and she giggled.
"All that worry for nothing," she affirmed laughing with him.
Queen Katherine motioned them over to her chair and they bowed and curtsied as society demanded. She took both of their hands in hers, "that was beautiful!" she told them. "Francis, whatever you are doing, keep doing it! Marie is radiant tonight," she told him.
He laughed, "she is always radiant," he admonished his mother as they went over to get a drink and a snack laughing at Bash trying to flirt with a woman old enough to be his mother.
Marie shook her head, "will she give him the time of day?" she asked him.
"Usually," Francis smirked.
Marie laughed, as Francis pulled her back to the dance floor for one of the faster dances she knew. He made her laugh putting extra spins into it than were not called for but she always made it seem effortless and graceful and followed his lead.
They spent the rest of the evening dancing and laughing with each other except for a few moments where Bash asked her to dance and Francis granted his sister, Elizabeth a dance.
The evening ended with then talking out by the fountain in the cool spring air where Marie fell asleep on his shoulder.
Francis smiled as he let her sleep for a few minutes, his arms wrapped around her before he picked her up and carried her back to her chambers, taking the servants hallways so nobody would see them.
He laid her on her bed and covered her up before he left to seek his own slumber in his chambers next to hers.
Sometimes he thought, 'dreams do come true'. He wished for more wonderful days like this one with her.