Back inside the castle, in the Great Hall noblemen, noblewomen, ladies maids and the like were talking, dancing and drinking having a splendid time. On the dais, the center of attention sat Simon the English envoy accused of ordering the killing of the men in the pub. He was chained to the only chair on the dais, the throne chairs being removed for the time being. Mary walked through the Hall towards him, lords and ladies bowing as she passed. She acknowledged them with a nod of her head, but kept her face neutral. She was on a mission. Not only had Shaina found an English medallion in Tomas' chambers, but while she was preparing for the dance her mysterious ghost friend in the castle tunnels had left her an English seal. She carried it in her hand now. "Simon, I was told I could find you here." she said. "So you've moved. I'm the entertainment." He replied sarcastically. "Or my head is when it comes off at midnight." Mary fiddled with her mask. "Try not to look so upset." Mary glanced back at him. "Why would I be upset? Simon raised an eyebrow. "I understand you signed the statement naming me as the spy behind that ambush. I don't suppose you care that I'm innocent." Mary glanced down at her mask again as she twirled it in her hands. She glanced to her side and noticed Sophia entering the room followed by Kenna and the others. "I might if I believed it." Simon sighed then glanced at the object in Mary's hand. "Is that my seal stamp? Wondered where that thing went." Mary kept silent. "Tell me, why is your seal so similar to the royal English seal?" Simon seemed to be growing bored of the conversation. "The Queen is a cousin by marriage. She styles the rose white, we style it red. Why do you ask?" Mary seemed to change demeanor and closed her hand around the seal. "A friend of mine was interested. Thought I might be interested too." Simon glanced to her left and she saw Sophia and Shaina talking with Lola. "Would either of your new ladies maids be the friend?" Mary shot him a warning look at which Simon fell silent.
Tomas entered the Great Hall and scanned the crowd for Mary. He saw her talking to the English spy Simon and grew slightly concerned. "Mary? Come here, please." he said standing a few feet from the stairs to the dais. Mary turned and holding up her masquerade mask walked down the dais steps and to him. "Good evening, My Lord." she said her small smile not reaching her shielded eyes. "Hmm. You look like a huntress." he stated glancing at Simon and then back to her costume. "I chose my costume for you. I know that the bow is your favorite weapon." He couldn't help but give a small smile. She was acting her part well. Very well. "My second favorite, but thank you." He quickly grabbed her around the waist pulling her tight against him. "Your grip is a little tight, My Lord." He leaned close to her ear. "No tighter than your former fiancé's, I'm sure." He moved his head to look at her face. A look of innocence was all he got. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean." Tomas was really getting tired of her games. "Really? Must I send for your whipping boy?" Mary started to look genuinely concerned. Tomas cheered inwardly. He would conquer the Scottish Queen given time.
Shaina and Lola had entered the Great Hall ahead of Bash and Francis so as not to draw attention to anything. Shaina noticed the English envoy chained to a chair and Mary discussing something with him. Her attention was drawn away when Kenna and Ailee called for them in the corner of the room. Sophia was joining them having just finished a conversation with a very handsome nobleman. One who looked vaguely familiar? Shaina raised an eyebrow and smiled. She definitely needed to ask her friend about that. "Where's Greer?" Lola asked. Kenna shrugged her shoulders. "How should I know? Probably off with some Lord no doubt. Trying to find herself the perfect match." Ailee shook her head. "She's already been at the wine." Lola smirked. "I can tell." Shaina couldn't help but chuckle. This would beat a day at an animal hospital anytime in her opinion. "So who was that handsome boy you were talking to Sophia?" Ailee asked. Sophia's cheeks tinged with red as she smiled sheepishly. "His name's Julien. Isn't he handsome? Oh and he's so polite." she gushed. Shaina knew Sophia had men who treated her unkindly in the past. Acting like they were interested and then leaving her heartbroken. This may be good for her. Lola smiled looking between her friends. "Well let's hope he's not just putting on a show for a pretty girl." she teased. Sophia bit her lip her smile fading. "You think I'm pretty?" Again Shaina sighed inwardly. Girls back home weren't the kindest to her either. "Of course you are." Kenna replied squeezing Sophia's hand. "Let go over her." All five girls turned their heads to see Bash and Francis entering the Great Hall. They saw both men stop a few feet from where Tomas was holding Mary close to him. Shaina knew Mary was not enjoying herself.
Francis had to restrain himself from going for Tomas's throat when he saw how he was handling Mary and speaking to her. "Let go of her." he said grabbing the Prince's arm and pulling. Tomas turned shaking off Francis' hand and moving to stand beside Mary. "You've forgotten our talk. Mary is my fiancée now." Francis could feel all eyes in the room on them. He hoped they were right about all this. "You came here almost a crown prince, but not quite." he glanced at Mary and then back at Tomas. "You needed a queen to seal your deal with the Pope. And when Mary needed troops sent to her country, you were suddenly there to help, because my men were ambushed." Francis could tell he was hitting the mark. "On a tip from a spy in court." Mary said almost to herself. "A spy we assumed was Simon." she said much louder looking at Tomas. "When Tomas had a far better motive." Tomas gripped Mary's hand tighter. "If you are accusing the future king of Portugal I hope you have proof." he replied. Francis tightened his jaw as Mary swallowed visibly, her face showing Tomas was hurting her hand. "We'll have proof soon enough." was Francis' reply. "In the meantime, let go of Mary." Tomas looked at them both before scoffing and then releasing Mary's hand rather harsh causing her to gasp. She quickly recovered herself as Tomas walked away.
Bash watched the exchange between his brother and the Prince with caution. He knew Francis would do his best to refrain from coming to blows, but he didn't trust the Prince. He noticed Shaina and the other Ladies watching from the corner of the room concern on their faces. He knew only a few were aware of the suspicions they had of Tomas so he expected a few to be confused. Shaina looked the most worried so he gave her a small reassuring smile which she returned with a slightly less worried one of her own. As Tomas walked away Francis moved closer to Mary. "Are you alright?" he asked. She nodded. "Yes. You said you'd have proof?" Francis nodded. "Did you mean his valet Miguel?" Francis looked over his shoulder and back to Mary. "Tomas could not have acted alone." "He hates his master. I think he'll help if we can protect him." Francis looked Mary in the eyes intently. "We will. I've sent guards to find him." Bash left Mary and Francis to their conversation and made his way to Shaina and the others. "Everything is fine." he said. All of them released a breath simultaneously, but still looked concerned. "I really don't like that prince." Ailee commented. Kenna took a glass from a passing servant. "And to think Greer was interested in him. I hope Mary knows what she's doing." Lola sighed and rolled her eyes. Kenna just sipped her wine. "She does." Shaina said. Bash glanced back at Mary and Francis who were still talking. "Go and help your brother. Thank you for telling us what is going on." Shaina's friend whose name had slipped his mind waved him away as she finished her suggestion. Bash bowed to the ladies giving Shaina a look before walking back to Mary and Francis. Shaina nodded and excused herself from her friends.
"Otherwise if Simon dies wrongly, we will both have war with England. And we can't let that happen." Mary said before walking towards the doors of the Great Hall motioning for her ladies to follow her. Bash had joined Francis again and they followed Mary out of the Great Hall then went onto the grounds towards the guest houses. They were met by Shaina who seemed to be hurrying to meet them. "Miguel wasn't in his chambers. The footman said he saw Miguel leaving with Tomas, headed for the game trails." she finished breathless looking between both men. "Hunting...now?" Bash asked aloud. "Tomas must want to kill Miguel before anyone talks to him." Francis said alarm filling his voice. He left Bash and Shaina standing there and headed straight for the stables.
Bash started to follow Francis when Shaina's hand on his arm stopped him. "Tell me you're not following him with your wound still fresh." Bash looked at the pretty woman staring at him with genuine worry in her eyes. He wasn't sure what drew him to this girl, but she seemed equally drawn to him. And she was definitely his equal. "I've got to help him. He can't go alone and there is no time to convince a guard to follow us. I'll be alright." He placed his hand on hers and after squeezing it reassuringly he lifted it from his arm. "Then I'm coming too. I'll keep my distance, but..." Bash shook his head stopping her from finishing her thought. She was determined to help people she barely knew. She really must be serious in her allegiance to France. Her concern moved him so without thinking about it Bash pulled her to him and kissed her. Gently at first testing the territory he was entering into. He met with no resistance and was pleasantly surprised when his kiss was returned so readily. He lifted his head and saw Shaina's eyes closed softly and her lips slightly parted and slightly redder than before. He touched a thumb to her chin and she opened her eyes looking slightly dazed but happy. "That was quite the first kiss." She whispered mainly to herself but Bash couldn't help but hear. "You mean no one has ever shown the slightest interest in you back in England?" She shook her head looking at the ground.
Shaina couldn't help but feel tingly all over after the kiss. Bash was looking at her like none of the guys she'd been around had done. She could tell the kiss wasn't going to be a onetime thing. And to be honest she was hoping it wasn't. She was falling for the bastard son of a king in 1500s France. Before she could reply to his question Francis approached riding his horse and leading Bash's. "We must hurry and find Tomas before he silences Miguel." Bash nodded and letting go of Shaina's hand swinging up on his destrier wincing slightly. "Please be careful." Shaina said looking worried again. Bash nodded and he and Francis spurred their mounts riding hastily after the plotting Portuguese Prince. Shaina knew she needed to stop looking worried or her face would be frozen in a constant frown. But somehow she knew this road she was heading down wasn't going to be full of roses.