A knock at the door stirred Emilia from a restless slumber. A maid slipped into the room and curtsied.
"Everyone's attendance has been requested in the throne room." She informed her.
"Thank you Abigail." Emilia said, rising from her bed. "I'll be down shortly." The maid nodded and retreated from the room.
Emilia quickly dressed and met the other ladies in the hall. Each as confused as her.
"Do you know what's going on?" Greer asked.
"Seems I haven't been told any more than you." Emilia replied, smoothing her skirt.
"The Cardinal has arrived from the Vatican." Francis informed the ladies joining them alongside Mary.
"We should hurry." Emilia said. "We'll be late."
When the six Scots and the Dauphin entered the throne room, King Henry was talking happily with the Cardinal from the Vatican.
"What would the Cardinal be doing here?" Kenna asked.
"You'll see soon enough." Ellyana said, appearing from the shadows.
"Nuance. Can you please just enter with the rest of us for once?" Francis asked.
"Unfortunately. No." They watched as the king climbed the steps to his throne excitedly.
"God bless us this day." He held out his hand, signaling for Catherine to join him. "There is news. Sent to us by Cardinal Marson. The pipal emissary." Henry raised his cup of wine to the cardinal.
"In England. The Tudor queen is dying." He announced and the whole room erupted in whispers and murmurs.
"While she has not named her successor..." The Cardinal began. The king cutting him off.
"Many suspect and believe, the rightful heir to the English throne, is you." He nodded to Mary. "Mary Stuart." The hall clapped as Henry decended the steps and took Mary's hand.
"The second England's Queen dies you will make your claim." He told her. "Your marriage to my son will strengthen your claim as it will show the world you have the might of France at your side. France fulfills its promise to Scotland. And to you. It's time you two are wed."
Emilia shared a look with Ellyana. They knew what laying claim to England could do.
"We must celebrate!" Henry proclaimed from his throne, raising his cup. "It is God's will."
"Am I understanding this right?" Mary asked Francis. "That a new condition of our alliance. Of our marriage is that I deliver England to you?"
"If my father wants it." Francis said. "The Vatican's support makes him think he can get it."
"Elizabeth has support as well." Mary said uneasily. "Armies she's been gathering for years. You realize what laying claim to England could cost me?"
"Yes I do." He nodded. "It could cost you your head."
The king dismissed everyone and led Mary and Francis away. Ellyana had disappeared. Probably to follow the three.
Marque joined the ladies and linked his arm with Emilia's.
"Is Mary's claim even strong enough to take the title from Elizabeth?" He asked. "She is Henry VIII daughter."
"His daughter by Anne Berlyn." Emilia replied. "Their marriage was never officially recognized by the Catholic Church."
"Under all circumstances," Greer said. "Elizabeth is a bastard. It would be like trying to put Bash on the throne. Mary is Henry VIII only legitimate relation."
"I have to take care of a few things." Kenna said, breaking from the group. "I'll find you four later." She nodded at the four ladies.
"Where is she off to." Lola asked. "The king is occupied with settling the alliance. I doubt he called for her."
"I have a bad feeling about this." Emilia sighed. "I'm going to see what she is up to." She removed her arm from Marque's.
"I'll see you at dinner." He took her hand and kissed her fingers.
"Of course." She smiled at her fiancé. "I'll be seeing you later." She nodded to the other three.
She found Kenna on her way to Diane's room when a priest from the Vatican stopped her.
"You said you are the kings Mistress." He prodded. "How do you do Madam De Portier? You're much younger than I imagined. I am the priest who has been answering your letters. To the Vatican. About your son Sebastian."
"Sebastian?" Kenna asked.
"Of course you would want him recognized. But, you must realize, with the Pope's blessing of Francis and Mary's wedding, his desire to service the faithful of England. But your efforts must stop."
"Mine." Kenna spoke slowly. "And the Kings?"
"The king is completely unaware. As you'd requested." He seemed afraid speaking to her. "I hope you understand."
"I'm beginning to." She paused. "I mean. Of course. Thank you." She retreated from the hall and Emilia grabbed her arm as she passed.
"What were you doing at Diane's chambers?" She asked.
"It doesn't matter now." She replied, shaking Emilia's hand off. "What matters is that Diane is committing treason. I have to tell Catherine."
"To what ends?" Emilia questioned. "What satisfaction will you get from this."
"Diane out of the way." The tone of her voice left no room for further conversation as she continued down the hall.
Emilia sighed. How on Earth was she the only one to use her brain?
She rubbed her temples as she returned to her chambers. Running into Marque on the way there.
"Is everything alright Darling?" He asked. Taking her hands into his own. "You seem to be stressed."
"Diane has been attempting to legitimize Bash." She said. "I'm not sure whether Bash knows or not, but Kenna has gone to tell Catherine."
"If the king were to find out..."
"They could both lose their head." Emilia finished for him. "I tried to stop her. She refuses to listen to reason." She rubbed her temples again, sitting on a nearby bench.
"Are you feeling well?" He asked, sitting next to her. "Do you need to see Nostradamus?"
"I'm fine." She assured. "No need to fret over me. I just need to lie down. I hardly slept last night."
"The attack." He said, recalling the events from the day before.
"I felt helpless." She admitted. "I didn't know what to do. I was," she hated to admit it. "Frightened."
"It's alright to be frightened Love." He gathered her in his arms. "You don't have to be brave all the time."
"My duty is to my Queen." She stressed. "If I need someone to help me protect her, how can I say I've fulfilled my duty."
"Everyone needs help." He assured her. "There is no reason to feel ashamed." He rubbed her arms lovingly and placed a kiss on her head.
"I have to go lay down." She said. "Would you walk me back?"
"I'd be honored." He stood up and offered his arm to her. Which she happily accepted.
They reached her chambers and Marque kissed her forehead.
"Get some rest." He insisted. "I'll see you at dinner." She gave him a tired smile as he left her.
She entered her chambers to find Mary waiting for her.
"There you are." She smiled. "Patrolling again are you?"
"The people are restless about the news." Emilia replied. "Just making sure everyone remains safe."
"You know you are allowed to relax sometimes."
"I know." She promised. "But with the new conditions, and after what happened last night. I just want to make sure you're safe."
"You're not just here to protect me." She reminded. "You're my family. One of my closest friends. I want you to be able to relax and gossip with me and the others."
"I took a vow." Emilia said firmly. "Under God. I would protect you no matter what."
"That does not mean you can't relax sometimes." The Queen took a seat on her ladies bed. "Remember. We both have weddings to think about."
"You know of my engagement?" Emilia asked, sitting next to her.
"Do you honestly think Marque would have asked you before getting your Queens blessing?" Her tone was playful. "The fact that you agreed without that knowledge did catch me by surprise."
"Well, we won't be doing anything about our wedding until yours and Francis'."
"Well you won't have to wait long." Mary smiled. "Francis and I are to be wed by tomorrow."
"Please be careful Mary." Emilia begged. "England is a dangerous claim."
"I promise." Mary said. "Now, would you like to join the rest of us for tea?"
"If it's all the same to you," Emilia declined. "I need to lie down a while. The events of last night left me with little sleep."
"Of course." The Queen nodded. "I'll have someone wake you for dinner." Mary gave her Emilia one last smile before leaving the room.
Without changing or removing her shoes, Emilia soon fell asleep on top of her sheets.