Falling Out Of Favour
Chapter 8
Mary lay in the bath behind the translucent screen, half absent to the important detail of her ladies sitting on the far side of the room. She moved her toes beneath the warm water and tried to remedy her thoughts by flippantly rubbing her temples. Her mind kept fluttering back at forth between Sebastian and Nostradamus. His prediction bothered her, but when her mind went back to Sebastian she found herself smiling. She swirled her finger tips on the surface of the water and as she did so, ripples flowed outwards and disappeared as they touched the edges of the tub. Her frustration simmered down to a shallow level. She placed her hands back down beneath the surface of the water and lowered her eyes down towards her body. Sebastian had a solid reputation for being with women and she pondered as to whether her body was average for a girl of her age. Her thoughts ruptured into the distance when she heard her ladies giggling on the other side of the screen. Her mind suddenly snapped back to reality and she recollected the morning's events, the scent of lavender completely overwhelmed her and she grumbled slightly.
"What are you fussing about?" She called to them.
"Greer mentioned about Nostradamus's… wardrobe choices," Lola replied choosing her words carefully. Mary smiled from behind the screen and sat up in the tub. The sound of rushing water echoed throughout the room.
"What does it mean?"
"You're not still going on about that prediction are you?" Greer scorned.
"I want clarification," she mumbled.
"Maybe you should go and enquire," Aylee said.
"I can't rely on him," Mary replied staring at the screen intensely, as if it was them.
"Then why are you trusting him," Lola enquired.
"I am uncertain as to why. His face just appeared to be believable, it was so surreal," she said recounting the events. "I am frightened of what it means or of what it could mean."
"Go ask Nostradamus," Lola pressed convincing Mary that it was the right thing to do.
After a few prolonged moments in the bath, Mary ran her hands over her slim body that was crouched in the small tub. She quickly washed and then held out her hand over the side of the bath, awaiting her towel. Her servant promptly handed it to her and she noticed that was dyed red. She looked at it for a few seconds before programming that it was in her hand. Her finger tips had thick wrinkles on them and she sighed knowing she had bathed for too long. The cloudy bath water rushed down her body as she raised from the tub and wrapped the towel around her. The scent of lavender from her skin eroded back over her nasal passages. She looked at the red towel that was wrapped around her body and then at the bath water. She knew how expensive lavender essence and red dye could be. She knew that they were luxuries that she did not need. Her mind then turned to Sebastian and how he never desired for anything richer than what he already had.
Once dried and clothed her ladies walked with her down to Nostradamus's healing room and left her unaccompanied. As she stood outside waiting for the courage to enter his room she heard him pottering around. Mary placed her hand upon the thick wooden door and pushed it open without knocking. It flew back on its hinges like it was weightless. Nostradamus was sitting at a large wooden table, in the centre of the room, crushing herbs with his mortar and pestle. He had a plain shoulder hood on, concealing his face. Her eyes dithered around the room searching for company, but they were alone. She tightened her grip on her woollen cloak and approached him, back straight and head held high. Her cream dress blended in with the swift movement of her white woollen cloak. The cloak was lined with black embroidered design. She loosened the black tie at the top and stood proudly opposite him.
"What did you mean?" She demanded deafeningly.
"I know no more than you," his deep voice insisted, already knowing her topic of discussion.
"Well apparently you do otherwise why would you have told me?" She asked her limps plump. "Was it a warning?"
"My visions made me anxious," he began, "You had a right to know what your future entailed."
"A still heart?" Her tone became grave as she remained unconvinced. "A bit morbid don't you think?" Her eyebrows arched.
"You can change your own fate." It was the first time that Nostradamus had looked at her since she had entered. The same grave expression was imprinted onto his face and as his eyes pierced hers she felt slightly uncomfortable and moved away from him.
"How can I change it, if you won't tell me what it is that I need to change?"
"As I said, I know nothing more," he pressed, "Your fate is not yet fixed. A decision you made recently has tampered with your future, to save yourself you must figure out what that is."
"A still heart. It means that I will die…" A lump formed in her throat, chocking the air from her lungs.
"One can only assume," he lifted from his seat and visited his in store cupboards.
"Is it your duty to scare people? Has Catherine put you up to this?" She shouted loud enough for him to hear.
"Queen Catherine does not know I have betrayed her in this," he replied reproaching the table.
"Betrayed? Your telling me of my future is your betrayal to Catherine? How so?" He frowned at her response. He realised that he had said too much.
"There are things even you cannot know," he said walking towards the door. She trailed after him, lazy and destitute. "It is time for you to leave, your majesty. I must get this to the Queen's serving maid."
"So you will not share anymore with me?"
"As I have said, what I have shared already is all I know," he waved his hand to gesture for her to leave. Mary followed his gesture and exited into the hallway, "However," he began and she turned to look at him once more. "I will say this… something you have done this past week has brought this vision to light. Figure out what it is because only you know the answer and only you can seal your fate."
Reluctantly Mary left Nostradamus's company without a second glance. Frustrated, she paced down the corridor and entered into the foyer. She glanced around looking at all her possible openings and instead turned out into the grounds. She glided down the deserted path in front of the castle. Her rich patent shoes made the stone gravel crunch beneath her feet. She paused on the walls edge and glazed her eyes over the rushing ocean. It was livid. The sounds of the sea were far, but the winds were high. They bitterly burned her skin. Her hair was violently whipping in the wind behind her. She glanced around at her surrounding's and they were more or less desolate. The clouds began to spit fine water droplets into the afternoon air and it kissed her skin succulently. Her thoughts began to correspond with the rushing ocean. She racked all her memories for one which might have made her pay with her own life, but nothing came to her attention.
"Can we play a game?" Charles sweetly bequeathed as he playfully jogged towards Mary from behind the trees.
"And what game would you like to play?" She replied as she faced him.
"Tag?"
"Oh I don't know about that," she teased.
"Please? I have no one to play with and you're fun," he complimented.
"That I do, but be careful who you whisper these sweet nothings to Charles. You may win yourself the hearts of girls at court." She jested and he smiled amused.
"Can we play tag then?" He pressed.
"Only if you be it!" She called beginning to run with her dress grasped firmly in her hands.
Charles's mood suddenly uplifted and Mary was closely followed by his hysterical laughter. He was chasing after her, putting all his energy into forcing his body forwards as quickly as his he could. He ran down the grassy slope and followed Mary across the flower garden. She glanced behind and noticed he was gaining on her and at an incredible pace. She analysed her surroundings and ran full force into the canopy trees and down the gravel path. They did this for a long time. Charles even hid behind the thick trunk of the trees for cover when she was chasing him. After a few rounds of the repetitive game Mary's dress began to sense her exhaustion, as it became heavy upon her shoulders. Her chest felt like it was collapsing on her. A small hand touched her back and Mary gasped, losing her balance.
"Tag you're it!" He cried and ran in front of her, nearly escaping into the bushes.
"That's not fair-" She began childishly but tripped over the hem of her skirt. Gravity worked against her as she fell forwards onto the hard floor. She slid into the soft mud, her hands digging at least an inch beneath the earth's surface. Charles gasped and began approaching her. Mary glanced at her hands and they had both disappeared and became black. As she looked down at her body she found that so was the front of her dress.
"I must say, mud becomes you," Sebastian's voice echoed from behind her. Mary being flustered could only manage a light scream of frustration. He held out his hand and once she had freed hers from the blanket that was her dress, she placed it in his. Sebastian flinched slightly as her cold hand touched his. Embarrassed, she was lifted from the floor almost instantly. He cusped her hand with his other and smiled. Mary, aware that Charles was looking, took her hand back and repositioned her cloak and brushed the broken twigs from her palms. "Are you alright, your majesty?" He asked as her eyebrows furrowed.
"I'm quite alright," she murmured now staring into his eyes. She was once again washed away by his appearance. She wanted to slip into his arms, but had to resist. She took a few steps back and pretended to take in what was now her mud ridden clothes.
"It seems you are the garden now, your majesty." The sight of his broad smile made one sneak up onto her face. Charles awkwardly stared back and forth between the two. Mary glanced down at her hands and sighed. The mud was beginning to dry and it was mixed with a thick liquid of a scarlet colour. She sighed imminently and Sebastian took her hands back into his. He analysed her palms. "And I had just bathed too," she scorned and he smiled.
"I bid you to be careful of what images you paint into people's minds," he chuckled and Mary gasped hitting him playfully. Charles frowned.
"Can you play too Bash?" He asked.
"Oh I don't know about that! What would your mother say?" He answered sarcastically and Mary smiled.
"Mother's not here, please?" He begged his voice high pitched. Mary pursed her lips.
"Are you going to refuse such a face?" Mary laughed.
"We should really get your hands cleaned," he said.
"Can't a queen be reckless for five minutes? I will let you take me inside once you have played at least one game!" She forced starting to move back and Charles laughed.
"Oh alright, if I must!" He insisted sarcastically.
"Good thing, because you're it." Mary chuckled tapping his chest and running away almost instantly after laying her hand upon him. Charles followed shortly after, leaving Sebastian standing there with a look upon his face that resembled a lost puppy.
"Oh you little-" he began but then started chasing after the two. Charles laughed hysterically and disappeared into the bushes ahead. Haphazardly, Mary followed him, her cloak blowing in the wind behind her.
"Where have you gone?" Mary whispered.
"Quick hide!" Charles yelled and Mary took cover behind the tree that was closest to her. Sebastian burst through the bushes virtually after she had taken cover. It was awfully silent. He was right beside her, yet he did not sense her. Mary could hear his heavy breathing and her heart thundered in her chest. She was exhausted, but the proximity of which he stood gave her liveliness.
"I know where you are," he said, "Charles I can see your foot!" Mary turned to where Charles was hiding and found his little brown shoe poking from behind the tree. She held back her laugh and smiled instead.
"No you can't!" Charles yelled back.
"Oh really?" Sebastian replied, Mary watched as he walked past her hiding place and shuffled towards Charles. He grabbed him from behind the tree and Charles screamed. Mary laughed and the two turned to face her. She covered her mouth with her hand and Sebastian pointed towards her. "You know what to do." He said and Charles ran towards Mary.
"Okay game over for me! You win Charles! I'm tired and famished after all that running!"
"Oh that's right and your hands need attending to," Sebastian said walking to her side.
"Thank you for your kindness," she nodded, "Are you coming Charles?"
"I think I'll stay out a little while longer," he charmed turning to find something else to do.
"Well don't you stay out too late, night is drawing in!" Sebastian called.
"I know!" He yelled back and disappeared through the bushes and further into the castle grounds. Sebastian noticed that they were alone and enclosed behind the bushes leading to the Kings road.
"We're alone."
"So it would seem." Her smile encouraged him so he placed his hands on either side of her body and pulled her in. She released a sigh of relief and looked up at his face. She had longed all day for his touch. He knelt his head down to her level and engaged his lips against hers. Their kiss was tender. She hummed content within his grasp and then pulled away, biting her lip out of frustration.
"We shouldn't… not here," She said and he nodded understanding her motive. They both began walking side by side back into the castle and Mary couldn't think of anything to say that wasn't related to Nostradamus.
"You're deep in thought," he guessed.
"No," she replied instantaneously, "I mean not at all."
"Mary…" he sighed as they began walking up the stairs. His voice was deep and concerned.
"How well do you know Nostradamus?"
"Not very…" he said his head leaning back slightly, he was surprised by her question.
"He told me of a vision, of which he foresaw."
"And…" he continued for her.
"And he predicted my death," she finished abruptly. Sebastian took a few steps back and almost buckled back down the stairs.
"What?" His face was scrunched and the skin around his nose and eyes was wrinkled.
"Mary!" Francis's voice called from the top of the staircase.
"Of course," Sebastian sighed and turned to his brother as he paused in front of them. "Brother," he nodded and Francis smiled weakly in return, "I will take my leave now." He finished and walked back down the stairs, leaving Mary once again in Francis's presence.
"Why is it every time I am not present Sebastian finds himself at your side?" He said in a light-hearted manor and Mary smiled.
"I took a sturdy fall whilst playing with Charles," she showed him the palms of her hands. "He was accompanying me back inside as Charles wanted to carry on playing," she bended the truth slightly.
"Charles needs to acquire some etiquette… are you alright?" He asked in a sudden flurry of panic.
"I assure you I am fine, just disappointed. I've bathed twice today and now I'll have to bathe again." She sighed and he smiled down at her. "Did you have news?"
"Yes," he said walking with her up the staircase, "father has sent word forward to the lodgings in the south. We had word back just moments ago and the abbey and surrounding housings are free, so we leave at first light. You and your ladies will have your own quarters."
"Oh… thank you… an overnight stay?"
"Indeed, but I fairly warn you… it's bitterly cold down South at this time of year. The winds from the beach seem to travel towards the housings," he then added, "Also father has given you 20 men at your disposal, should you need them whilst staying there."
"I will tell my serving maids to pack warmly and also warn my ladies," she paused now outside her rooms. "Thank your father for the men in which he has generously provided me."
"Do you want me to call for the healer? Those wounds look sore."
"No, they are not flesh wounds… just grazes. I will soak them." She nodded, now looking at her hands.
"Then I will take my leave," he smiled once more, "I will see you at eight." He finished and walked away.
With a long dramatic sigh Mary entered into her rooms and closed the door behind her. She found herself tediously repeating her previous actions. She threw her weight around as her servants unlaced her dress. Mary insisted that she would wash her body down with a wet cloth and a basin. Her servants provided her with a white ceramic basin full of warm water and after laying her dinner gown on her bed, left Mary to ready herself. She shrugged out of her dirty clothes and once naked approached the water basin. She winced as her hands dipped into the water to collect the cloth. It wasn't painful, but it stung.
"Why is it that the smallest of wounds hurts the most?" She asked herself aloud whilst ringing the cloth in her hands.
Once she was clean and ready she met her ladies outside her quarters. Together they walked down to the dining hall and eventually accompanied the remaining guests at court. Mary did not pay much attention to their conversation. Instead she involuntarily took her place at the royal table next to Francis. He acknowledged her by standing and smiling weakly.
"Mary," King Henry began as she took her seat and began eating. "Francis tells me you injured yourself this afternoon. Will you allow me to call for the healer?"
"Thank you your majesty," she smiled, "but it was naught but a tumble. I was careless and tripped over my skirt. They're just scratches."
"Then all is well. It would seem you have grown tougher over the years and Francis wearier," he smiled, "and what of tomorrow? Are you satisfied with the arrangement?"
"Yes and it was generous of you to offer me men," she nodded towards him whilst eating a slice of meat.
"Not at all! I would have offered you more, but as we will all be in such close proximity I thought there would be no need." He said proudly drinking from his goblet.
"Of course, your offer was generous," she repeated now starting to feel awkward. She longed for a night when the guests would be gone and she could once again dine alone in her rooms.
"We have fifteen guests joining us tomorrow," Francis beamed, "the men among us are hoping to go hunting and roast a boar."
"Oh, lovely." Mary distinctly heard Greer mumble from beside her and Lola kicked her gently beneath the table with her paten shoes. Mary took a sip from her goblet to hide her suspicious smile. Greer had a tendency for amusing her at all the wrong moments. As she lifted her goblet to her lips she saw Sebastian standing in the far corner of the rooms talking to the kings men. He was conversing with them deeply and Mary thought he looked frustrated. Mary watched as he threw his hands around gesturing strangely around the hall. As she watched she continuously took sips from her goblet. The men he was talking too were nodding in acknowledgement. She placed her goblet back on the table and averted her eyes back to her plate. It was empty. All that remained was the peas that had strayed from her fork. Guests began to move around the hall and Mary along with her ladies excused themselves. Shortly after they had left they royal table, Mary found herself retiring along with her ladies to their rooms. She dreaded the early morning start.
When back in her quarters Mary stripped herself of her clothing and washed her face. Afterwards she shuffled across her room and towards her canopy bed. She echoed the appearance of a child as she dragged her bare feet across the floor's varnished surface. Her soles glided over it like a warm knife in a stack of butter. Her cold feet made a sticking impact as she pulled her foot from the floor and pressed it back down. She had left the fireplace alight to keep her warm throughout the night. When she reached her bed she gently blew out the last candle and climbed under her woollen covers. She sat upright for a few moments before lying down, staring into the fire on the far side of the room. As she readied her mind for sleep she heard a slight creak. At first she assumed it was the floor boards settling, until she heard a slight click. She shuffled beneath the blankets and climbed out of her bed. She circled her room and then paused by the fire.
"Hello?" She called.
"Mary, it's me." Came Sebastian's return as he tripped into view. He took a few steps towards her and paused by her side. He looked at her, taking every part of her in. Her lips were plump and they lured him in.
"You scared me!" She replied stunned and he reached out for her and she slipped gently into his arms. She now noticed how harsh Sebastian's stubble had gotten and she wondered if he would trim it before the next day.
"I imagined you'd be asleep," he laughed.
"Well I am happy that I am not," She hushed.
"And-" Sebastian began but Mary glided up onto her tiptoes. As she did so she curved her hand around his neck and lay her lips firmly upon his. His hair was long and tangled between her fingers. She leaned in slightly and then tilted her head back. Sebastian supported her by mirroring her movements. As they moved together Mary moved her hand from the back of his neck and slithered it onto his cheek. He held her weight within his hands, his mind consecutively running wild. It was the first time she had willingly kissed him first. He wanted to tell her that he'd wanted to hold her all day, but he knew some things were better left unsaid. Their lips parted and Mary leaned her forehead on his. He moved his hands from her hip and wrapped them around her waist.
"I'm scared," she said and he leaned back to get a better glimpse of her visage in the fire's light.
"Is this about Nostradamus?"
"What if he's right?"
"What did he say exactly?"
"A beating heart in the night, pace unknown to man, will still your heart come morning light."
"What a pleasant man!" He said attempting to uplift the mood. When he realised she wasn't amused he slipped his hands from her waist up to her back and hugged her tight. When he felt her head on his chest he cusped her head with his right hand. Her hair felt silky and smooth. She took in his scent and found comfort in it. "I promise that no harm will come to you."
"I know I said this the night just past, but please don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere," as he sighed through his nose Mary felt her hair move slightly. She left his embrace and walked across the room towards her bed. "Don't let it get to you, think of tomorrow," he encouraged following her.
"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not." She said flopping childishly into her bed and cowering under her blankets. She heard his laugh come closer. He sat on the edge of the bed and peeled them back carefully. He loved her dramatic side.
"You are displeased?"
"Francis asked to join me in my carriage this morning and I rebuffed him," she sighed.
"And this is so dramatically tragic why?" He asked sarcastically and Mary scowled sitting up and crossing her legs. She sighed pulling a pillow onto her lap, as to not expose any part of herself on accident.
"After I rebuffed him, he told me he needed me," she said now looking at him. Sebastian sighed and looked away. "There's more…"
"Oh please… enlighten me," he antagonised.
"He almost kissed me."
"That's only to be expected, he thinks you're still his."
"You say that as if I am property to be owned," she scorned annoyed.
"What I mean is, he doesn't know your feelings are elsewhere… and he can't know."
"It feels wrong… I feel like I'm betraying you. Doesn't it bother you?"
"Of course it does, but I signed up for this the moment I laid my eyes on you," he placed his hand on her cheek and she took it into hers, but moved it to the cushion on her lap.
"I don't want to hurt you," she said and he joined her on the bed properly by crossing his legs too.
"Would it please you if I told you that I was going to?"
"Queen Catherine has allowed it?" She asked her tone shocked.
"Henry persuaded her I'd be a perfect stable boy." Even though it was dark Mary could tell that he was pulling a smug face. In return, she let go of his hand and hit him around the head with her pillow. The force of her blow knocked him down onto her bed. "What was that for?"
"You are too Snarky for your own good Sebastian!" She relished and he laughed.