February 10, 1559
England
Ever since Queen Catherine De Medici had come back with her son Charles, Lady Mary tried to avoid him. The general opinion of court was that Lady Mary had taken Elizabeth's side in the fight. She knew she had to keep this charade up, for it helped her position to spy on Elizabeth. However, Queen Mary was Charles's sister-in-law, and he probably hated Lady Mary now.
Everyday Lady Mary wore the bracelet Charles had made for her, as a reminder of the time they had spent together. As Mary walked in the guardian, she even used the umbrella he had given her to shade her on this unusually sunny day. As she walked she got lost in her thoughts. She feared not just for England but for her life as well.
She was snapped out of this spell when she heard a voice," You still have my umbrella?" She turned and saw Charles standing there. It seemed that even in the short times he's been away, he had grown a bit and was even more handsome than she remembered.
"I couldn't get rid of a gift from a prince. How many times will I receive an umbrella from the prince of France?" Lady Mary smiled a bit at him. He always made her so flustered.
"I will give you an umbrella any time you need one," He said and offered his arm to her and she took it. They walked slowly through the gardens," I was surprised to hear you had joined your cousin, the Lady Elizabeth."
She frowned a bit at his statement," Do not think me cowardly, but I chose the side that kept me alive. When she stormed the castle, I was taken into her custody."
Charles nodded," That witch! How dare she do such a thing! I knew you could never betray my sister-in-law. I should have been here with you, to protect your from Elizabeth."
Lady Mary blushed a bit," You would've protected me? Well do not take this the wrong way, but it would have been useless. There were to many soldiers, they could've killed you."
"Like they did my brother?" Charles asked and the mood suddenly turned even darker than it already was," Like they did your sister? Like they did Queen Mary?"
Lady Mary looked down, of course she knew all of these people were alive and well." They never found the bodies Charles. Do not give up hope yet."
"Well either way, Elizabeth has turned this world into a hell on earth and we are all suffering because of her," Charles said, not fully believing that his brother was alive.
Mary looked at him with great sympathy. She knew that look well. The look of a kid who looked up to and admired their older sibling who was now dead." You know what they say," she said to him and stopped to look him straight in the eye," If you are going through hell, keep going."
He smiled as he looked at her," I am glad I found you. Your presence is soothing. Lady Mary if I may be so bold, do you have plans for marriage?"
She shook her head slightly," No I do not, Elizabeth has agreed to let me pick my own husband, but marriage is something neither of us should worry about now."
"I am a prince," he said to her," I am already fourteen, my parents want me married right away. Lady Mary, I wish to marry you!"
Lady Mary's eyes grew wide in shock. Was he really proposing to her?" M-me? But I am not a princess, I don't even have a dowry!"
"You are the cousin to the Queen, whether it be Mary or Elizabeth. You are heir to Elizabeth," he said to her," And, if god forbid, Queen Mary and Lady Catherine are dead, in the eyes of the Catholics you are rightful queen."
"But what of your parents? Would that be enough to convince them to allow this marriage?" Lady Mary asked him. Of course she wanted this, but she wanted to make sure it was definite.
"I told my mother that I cared for you, that is why she brought me. They want me to marry you. Lady Mary, when you are fourteen, will you marry me?" He asked her and smiled.
Lady Mary smile and her eyes filled with tears. She threw her arms around him happily and said," Yes! I will marry you!"
Scotland
Queen Mary, Francis, Lady Catherine, Edward Seymour, were all waiting for important news from Marie de Guise. She had called them all together, but non of them knew why. Marie burst through the door smiling," We will be invading England to depose Elizabeth!"
"Do not be hasty mother, our Scottish forces could not defeat the English," Mary said to her mother, fearing what Marie may have done.
"We have readied our armies, and many English lords have sent their troops here to be led by Lord Edward Seymour!" Marie said happily," A few ships of Irish rebels will join us right at the English border."
"Irish rebels?" Queen Mary asked her mother confused. She knew Ireland was in control of the English, but why were they helping?
"Ireland is catholic, so they favor a catholic queen!" Marie said and smiled," French troops will sail across the channel and invade from the south. We will meet up at Elizabeth's palace, and storm it, overthrowing her!"
"When is this happening?" Catherine asked, sensing urgency in the dowager queen's voice.
"Right now!" Marie said," Edward, you must leave now to take command of the troops, lead them to the castle and win this for your queen. The rest of us will ride in a carriage and join them later."
Edward rushed out, knowing this was his chance to prove himself to his queen. The other three looked at eachother a bit confused. Marie rolled her eyes," Do I need to carry you all the way to England? Come on we must be quick!"
England
Elizabeth waited in her study happily. King Philip, her husband, had arrived and she was so excited to see him. They had been corresponding while he was away, and she thought she might even be falling for him. She also could not wait to tell him her exciting news. She shot up when the door opened," Phillip!" She said smiling.
He smile and they embraced each other tightly." Elizabeth it seems like an eternity since we have seen each other!"
"Philip! I am pregnant!" She said happily," We only tried once, but it worked, I am with child, your child!"
Phillip's face wasn't happy, but it was grave," That makes things much more difficult."
"What do you mean? This child is an heir! It's what we want!" Elizabeth said very confused.
"I received word from Protestants," he said enunciating the word "Protestants" much more," Mary is raising a massive army against you! Can you believe it? The most catholic king of France, working with Protestants!"
"Philip with your support we can defeat them!" Elizabeth said, confused by his weird behavior.
"Elizabeth, I will not send troops," he said," This has gone to far. I am asking for an annulment of our marriage. With the Pope's approval our child could still be legitimate."
"Philip don't do this! I-I love you Philip!" Elizabeth said and began to cry.
" Elizabeth I have made my decision, I need to ally myself with good, Catholics! Not with Protestants!" He said and frowned a bit," I have to do this for my country."