Falling out of Favour

Chapter 3

The night of the ball that marked the end of autumn had finally arrived. It was December 1st and there was a striking chill in the air. The servants busied themselves with last minute preparations. Mary found herself distancing herself from Sebastian. She hadn't seen him since they last spoke and regrettably kissed. Mary wondered if she had hurt Sebastian, but the both of them had their duties. She had spent her time at Francis's side, whereas Sebastian had spent his time hunting with his men for the feast. She had barely slept, but her ladies in waiting kept her occupied. They shared information with Mary on the happenings of the French court and their personal lives. Greer had admitted to romancing with a kitchen boy for some weeks and Kenna was more than delighted to be the official mistress of the king. However, Mary was still in denial of Kenna's current situation. Lola was still gentle at heart, she was passive in every situation. The four promised to help find her a match. On the other hand, Aylee had kept herself to herself. She hadn't made much of an impact to their discussions. They all sat around Mary's bed debating on their robes for the evening. Mary was present haphazardly as her mind was elsewhere. Lola spoke of desiring purple attire that was manufactured from embroidered silk. However, Mary found herself thirsty for richer colours.

"I'd like to wear gold and bronze, to mark the end of the harvest season." Mary said as the others nodded in agreement. Aylee smoothed her hair behind her ears.

"That's quite thoughtful." Aylee replied. Her soft blonde hair now curled down her back.

"I can't believe we're on the day of the ball and you haven't decided on your wardrobe." Kenna gasped in inflexible disbelief.

"I take it you have yours then." Aylee pointed out not sounding awe-struck.

"Yes, Henry helped me pick mine. Its light blue and laden with fur." She boasted and Greer rolled her eyes.

"Very extravagant." Mary mentioned lowly.

"Do you have your mask?" Aylee asked Kenna, almost immediately after Mary's utterance.

"Yes, it ties flawlessly." Kenna replied, a smile upon her lips. Lola began to despise her arrogant behaviour. Mary began to feel the tension within the room and opted out.

"My dress was sent off for customization a week ago. I am uncertain as to whether my mask has been crafted." Mary replied uncertain.

"I'm sure they had the common sense to produce you a mask, Mary. Henry wouldn't let such foolish conduct into his court." Kenna replied with a sour tone. Mary smiled lightly in response, though she found herself getting annoyed. Kenna tended to relate everything back to the king of late. She wasn't one of Mary's ladies in waiting anymore, but a friend. Kenna didn't answer to Mary and anything they mentioned in her company could make its way back to the king. She also noticed that Kenna had gotten braver with her choice of words.

A knock at the door sounded around the room. Mary called back in reply to the knock and her guard entered ineptly. He released a parcel on to the table beside her bed and bowed before departing. At first Mary took a fleeting glance at the parcel, but in the second moment the five of them ran over to it. Mary opened it, lost in her spoils and congested with delight. Inside was an extravagant bronze gown, with gold embroidery laden from head to toe. The bronze gown was made out of silk, whereas the embroidery was weaved in with gold stitching. On top of the dress there lay a headband made of bronze copper. It looked like a ring of rusty autumn leaves. As she lifted it out of the box her mask fell onto the floor and made a light sound as it impacted with the floor. It matched her dress perfectly. The mask was also embroidered around the edges with the same gold stitching as her dress. Her ladies all gasped at its beauty. Mary bent down to pick it up and put it back in the box.

"There's no shawl! You'll be positively freezing!" Greer commented, her eyes wide.

"Oh to be a queen." Mary dreaded as the others giggled in unison. She already felt the chill of the hall on her back.

Shortly after Mary's maids entered the room to fit her into her dress. The girls left reluctantly, but it was getting late. However, they were all equally excited to get into their own chosen gowns and display them to the merry men of that night's ball. Mary was forced to bathe before entering her gown. She found that her bath tub was filled with a flowery essence. The water didn't have chance to relax her muscles because her maids began emptying it as soon as she was deemed clean. As she patted herself down and got dressed into her gown, she found that the scent of her bath water leaked powerfully from her pours. Her hair took a while to dry, so her maids styled it immediately whilst she sat in her chair. Afterwards the curls flowed elegantly over her shoulders, held back by the bronze headband in the form of leaves. She pressed red Gum Arabic, with a dab of rosemary essence into a thick egg white substance and spread it across her lips evenly. The mixture smoothly ran across her lips and she rubbed her lips together to blend it in more. Before leaving her room, Sterling, ran to her side. She dabbed the rest of the substance on her fingers onto her wash cloth and turned to pet him.

"What do I do Sterling?" She smiled and then sighed. She played with Stirling swiftly before departing down to the hall for the festivities. She was told the feast would be first and the festivities afterwards. Once again her mind sprinted over to Sebastian as if running into wild fire.

Mary spent majority of her night, after the feast, hidden by her festival mask, subsequently keeping herself solitary and drinking red wine. Francis called her over at periods and her ladies dragged her away at others. Mary found that the people at the French court danced merrily and they treated drinking alcoholic beverages as if it were a sport. Their lips were forever tainted with liquor. She found herself daring to glance at Sebastian from behind her mask. She spotted him through the crowed of joyous dancers. He was never looking in her direction. She had spotted him the moment she had entered the room, but he hadn't spotted her at all, or so she believed. In fact, he was watching her intensely. His heart raced at her graceful appearance. Mary took it within her stride to glance upon him once more as she put down her goblet and picked up a fresh one. The sound of metal on metal rang through the muffled air. He was now watching her from afar, his mask removed. They locked gazes momentarily before Lola caught her attention. She watched as Lola's stricken face approached towards her.

"What is it, Lola? Are you alright?" Mary asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"There are rumours." She said solemnly. Mary frowned in response.

"What is it, Lola?" Mary repeated and Lola took a few seconds to pull herself together. Her next choice of words were daring.

"Francis has bedded Olivia." She stated and Mary took a steady step back. The frown disappeared off her face. She didn't take it in correctly at first. She assumed that Lola had just found out about Francis past dalliances.

"I know, but it is all in the past." Mary said sipping from her goblet, praying for Lola not to correct her.

"No, recently. Quite recently actually." Lola said and Mary's heart sank to the depths of the ocean. Her ears stung as they received news she did not desire. Her gaze shot from Lola to Francis in an instant. Her eyes playing the sport of ping pong with their physiques. Olivia was proudly placed upon his arm and they were both sniggering. Mary didn't know what to say or do. Her eyes still played ping pong between them. She realized how superficial she was being and hauled her eyes to the floor.

"Thank you… Lola." Mary replied, her lips pursed. Her eyes lifted from the floor and back to Sebastian. He was talking to one of the king's men, drinking from his goblet and smiling widely.

"Go live Mary," Lola finished acknowledging Mary's gaze. Afterwards, Lola disappeared into the crowed and in the same moment Mary felt like she was suffocating. Without someone by her side, keeping her sane, she felt like her walls were slowly but surely breaking down.

More than anything, Mary desired space. The liquor was beginning to target her mind and she felt her body slowly shutting down, physically and emotionally. She strongly disliked the influence of the wine, but she also strongly disliked the information that Lola had just shared. She glanced around the room and found Francis whispering sweet nothings into his mother's ear. He was always busy and she was always standing alone. Her grip tightened on her goblet as she turned and quickly fled for the entrance of the castle. She entered a room at the far end of the foyer and stayed there for some time.

It felt like she had entered the dark abyss. The room was not lit, not even by candle light. The light that flooded in from the foyer through the open doorway allowed her to see the condensation on the windows. She wondered if the darkness was a metaphor for her soul. She partook a seat on the couch by the fireplace. It was not aflame. The skin beneath her mask felt clammy. She shivered slightly and tore the mask from her visage, letting the air replenish her skin. She stared down at the goblet in her hand and decided against drinking anymore until her mind was steady. She placed the mask next to her on the seat and placed the same hand over her stomach. She felt weak and sick to her stomach. She was scared of losing everything. Her eyes began to sting as she held back her sobbing tears.

"Festivities too much for you?" Sebastian asked. The warmth of his voice was distracting. Mary shot up out of her seat and looked behind her. He had entered through an entirely different door and was walking towards her. She placed one hand over her weary heart and with the other, placed her goblet on the low table beside her.

"You scared me, Bash." She gasped as he slowly approached her. "I am surprised you recognised me." She smiled as the burning sensation left her eyes.

"I recognised you the moment you entered the room." He said captivating her sweet extravagant scent. He turned his head to the side to break his gaze with hers. Her fragrance was pulling him to her like a magnet. "Why are you in here alone?"

"It would seem that I am slightly intoxicated. Forgive me." She nodded shocked by his interaction. He was usually a man of few words. He looked at her in disbelief. "Francis has bedded Olivia." She snuffed sipping from her goblet and placing it back down. "She knows him better than I ever could." She sighed realising that she sounded selfish. A king could do as he like. "I know I'm being foolish."

"Do not feel indisposed." He said comforting her.

"I feel slightly faint. I think I've consumed more than my fill of wine tonight." She said about to sit down, but Sebastian's hand stopped her. Mary looked down at his hand. It sent electric traces through her body.

"It's best not to sit down then. It helps to stand." His grasp loosened on her arm as she followed his suggestion. She picked up her mask from where she had previously sat.

"I think I should go back." She began.

"Don't." He said regaining his grip on her arm.

"Bash..." She started, suddenly feeling timid. He glanced to the open doorway and pulled her out of its glaring light that had evidently flooded into the room. Mary found herself pressed up against him, sheltered by the wall. "I thought you were angry with me." She said regarding her past few days of lonely torture.

"You broke me, there's a difference." He insinuated and her throat swelled.

"Then why?" She looked at him through her eyelashes.

"Because I know I'm not alone in what I feel." He started. "You said you liked me."

"I did." She shocked herself with her own admittance. Her lips opened ajar as she sucked the air in disbelief.

"What?" Sebastian wasn't sure he had clarified what she had said correctly.

"I should wed Francis, for my country's sake. It's not selfish of me to find comfort in another when he certainly has." With her words, Sebastian suddenly perked up.

"I can't promise you any positive outcome. However, I can promise that I will make you happy. If you don't want to marry Francis, I will fight for the end of this dreaded alliance." He urged and Mary felt like a statue. Her body froze as she felt her legs seize up and her mind flat line.

"I don't want you to promise me anything. I'm happy being able to be with you." That was it for Sebastian. Since Mary had arrived at court, he had desired nothing more than those words to leave her sacred lips. She placed a hand timidly on his chest and he placed his over hers. Mary noticed that his hand was warm, but also shaking. She pondered whether he was scared or whether the adrenaline was taking over. She felt a slight beat under her hand and when she glanced, she realised her hand was over his heart. She swallowed but choked. Her throat was dry at the unintentional gesture.

"If I can have you, I won't give you up as easily as my brother." Sebastian touched her lovingly on her hip. "If you let me, I will love you, Mary."

Mary felt swept away. Her body was no longer like stone. Medusa had set her free and she rapidly felt fragile once more. She leaned her forehead in and rested it against his. She was surprised at the concrete flatness of the impact. Francis had never promised her anything, because he couldn't. Not with the king ruling his every decision. Sebastian could and she felt safer knowing it. She misplaced Scotland for one moment of passion. She placed a hand on either side of his cheeks, feeling his prickling stubble. Sebastian felt the coldness of her silver rings on his cheek. They were matched by the warmth of her palms. He wrapped his hands around her waist, she felt delicate beneath his fingers. The gold stitching on her dress was rough beneath his fingers. His heart fluttered in adamant joy. Everyone had warned him against Mary, but his heart had won. Mary enjoyed the past few moments of them just holding each other innocently thoroughly. Sebastian tilted his head to the right and kissed her first. Her hands moved from his cheeks to the nape of his neck. His skin soft, yet clammy. Their lips pressed together, each one longing for more. Mary found herself feeling erotic. It overwhelmed her how she found that her body wanted more. Previously, her body had laid untouched. She'd had a moment with Francis, but nothing more than a few lustful kisses at the lake side. His lips felt small beneath hers and she kissed him lighter. She abruptly felt aware of the current situation she was in. Their kisses got longer and more powerful. Her mind tried to persuade her to do the opposite. Everything suddenly seemed brighter. He held her out of passion, not out of lust for gaining more. He respected her, loved her and cherished her.

They broke as they heard noises in the parlour next door to them. Mary left her forehead on his and consequently no longer stood on formalities. She let her hands rest together on his chest. His jacket was rough beneath her skin. His skin was much softer than his garments. He kissed her on her forehead. There was another clattering sound in the ambiance and Mary panicked, looking in the direction of the sound.

"Go... through there." He pointed to the door to their right." The clattering sound got closer. "Go." He ushered her, not wanting to touch her again because he knew he'd have no restraint. Hand in hand, his eyes sparkled.

"I have no regrets." She said and he was happy to hear it. She kissed him lightly on the lips and he didn't have the chance to kiss her back.

"Meet me tomorrow by the pond?" She asked and he nodded in reply as she disappeared through the door. He was left momentarily to himself. He felt ecstatic, but sad at the same time. He'd have to wait to hold her again. He couldn't just be with her when he wanted to. He couldn't kiss her when he liked or lie beside her as he wished, but it was better than nothing. His mind was cut short by another door opening opposite him. Servants came flooding in and he tried to compose his flustered self. He cleared his throat in a cliché gesture and walked out of the room and back into the foyer. As he crossed the foyer he wiped his lips with the sleeve of his robe, as if to destroy the evidence of his immoral actions.

Mary made her way back to the hall. Francis hadn't noticed she was gone. She glanced around and found the king and queen sitting side by side in their throne seats. With ease she picked up a goblet from a waiters plate and smiled simplemindedly at Francis's effort for small talk with the crowed he'd gotten himself involved with. She thought of her innocent kisses that she had shared with Sebastian. She smiled to herself pretending she was smiling with Francis, keeping up appearances. She knew her acts with Sebastian were far from innocent, but they felt it. She had not used tongues, for she was too timid and neither had she gone further. She wondered if they could ever be more, or whether they would become lovers. The thoughts thrilled her and worried her. She needed to keep her wits about her to survive in this court. It was then that she saw Francis approaching her. Every step crushing her heart. His friendly smile made her feel worse. She glanced behind him and saw Olivia's beady eyes watching her.

"Mary, would you honour me with a dance?" He gestured his arm and she watched it with caution. She noticed the song had changed, but she felt disinclined to acquiesce his request.

"I am feeling quite faint, Francis. Maybe another time." Any other time Francis would have believed her, but he heard the coldness in her tenor.

"Are you refusing me?" He questioned.

"It would seem so," She muttered, but not as carefully as she hoped. He had heard her perfectly and his voice raised in reply.

"When I am king I will-"

"My reign will not be ruled by yours!" She instantly countered before he could swiftly finish his sentence.

"I will have as much right-" Mary cut him off again.

"Cease being a child and rise above! You are not a king yet!"

"I will have your respect Mary!" He shouted at her in angst. He was uncertain as to her behaviour.

"You are not entitled to it! The respect you desire from me disappeared the moment you bedded Olivia." Francis paused, he was astonished that she knew. "Time has made you bold, Francis." She pronounced subsequently feeling hurt. Her tone went from reflecting anger to hurt. "At court I built my life around you." She whimpered and Francis's face reflected the exact emotion she felt inside, emptiness.

"And have I not willingly sacrificed my duties as future king to build mine with you?" He sounded back. Mary felt as though he was edging for a way out of his mistake. He may have made an effort to keep the alliance, but he hadn't in loving her.

"The only thing you sacrificed was your right to my crown." She shot back and Francis was pained deeply.

"Mary..." He whimpered, his deep voice prevailed no longer.

"Enough is enough. You cannot have me as well as Olivia." She didn't give him the option and Francis felt that there was more. "This is my final offering. Speak aloud if you wish, but I will no longer listen. You've lost me Francis and no right can replace your wrong!" He stepped back at her painful words. "I am young but I am queen. I will not be subject to your irrationalities." Francis was on the verge of replying when she made her finishing statement. "My reign will not be ruled by yours." Mary's hands started to shake as she, leaving Francis to feel stranded. She felt an overwhelming sense of power and it washed over her effortlessly.