A/N: I am thrilled to see such interest in this story. I realize this is a growing fandom and am honored to be a part of it from the beginning. As always, reviews are much appreciated!
I do not own Reign.
"Your page and guards are absent from their posts." Bash hesitated, standing just inside the queen's quarters, nearby the now closed door. "Mary, one begins to worry about your welfare when they see carelessness such as this. A young Queen should not go unprotected."
She wouldn't have even known he was there had he not said anything. She was too distracted looking out her window at the spot where she and Bash danced the night before. She wondered if the guard that witnessed and interrupted their dance on the castle grounds would say anything. She wondered what that dance may have meant and if he had finally given up all lingering pretense of sometimes addressing her as 'your grace' instead of her Christian name. She always preferred their familiarity.
His voice made her smile, her heart thudding and the answer as to why far too present to examine at the moment. "Their absence is not necessarily an invitation into a virgin queen's quarters."
He could hear both the mirth in her tone as well as the worry. "It appears my cheekiness is contagious." He returned her amused smile. "I was quite careful, you needn't fear for your reputation, Mary." How her name sounded so sweet on his lips.
"I would be more concerned about your welfare than my own. After all, now that I am so well placed your father is actually determined to have my hand for Francis." She turned back to the view out the window in time to hide her wince. All morning she'd been faced with comments on the truth of that last statement. She decided levity was in order. "He might very well give you your first scolding for any possible tampering with the event."
With eyebrows raised at the friendly challenge in her voice and hands clasped behind his back Bash approached her side, looking out the window just as she. Choosing to ignore her obvious discomfort on speaking about her pending marriage he reverted to his original excuse to see her, a handy one at that as he had been struggling to find one the entire walk to her chambers. "And yet he posts no guards outside your door." Though, secretly he suspected his step-mother of once again calling the guards away. "I will have to speak with him."
It was Mary's turn to raise a brow. She knew quite well he didn't expect his father of any such neglect. "I dismissed them myself." She informed him.
"Why would you do that?" While slight amusement colored his otherwise neutral tone, concern traced his features. As happy as he was to steal these few moments alone with her he always did feel it was part of his duty to see her safe and warn her of danger. "Even without the same need to worry on the English you are still under constant threat from others."
"You needn't remind me of that." She sighed and glanced from the corner of her eye at him, conspiratorially. "If no guards are outside my door no one has any reason to suspect that I am in my chamber, alone."
He turned an examining glance her way. "I hadn't realized you were so capable of scheming, or so desirous of spending your time alone these days."
"Yes, well." She paused, aware her cheeks were flushed as she remembered wondering last night the meaning behind their dance. Was there a meaning? Was it her imagination or had he seemed about to kiss her before the guard broke their embrace? "Your company does not go unappreciated."
Before Sebastian could reply, a bit emboldened by her admission that she enjoys his presence, and while they are alone in her quarters at that, the all too familiar voice of his brother wafted from the opening door of the chamber.
"Mary! Come meet my cousin." Francis paused upon seeing his half-brother and Mary, alone. "Bash, what are you doing in here?" He tried to keep accusation from his tone but was unsure if he was successful.
Sebastian was quick to recover, aware of Mary's near panic that came only through her eyes. "I saw no guards outside of Mary's room. I came to check and see that all was well and was just as surprised as you to find her unprotected." He offered the last sentiment as an excuse for the discomfort for all three of them as well as a pointed reminder of his mindfulness of her welfare exceeding that of his brother at the moment. "I'm happy to report there is nothing of concern in here."
Francis nodded, the rising bile of suspicion momentarily abated. "Come then Mary." He walked between his brother and the queen, separating their conspiratorial gaze and offering her his arm. "I do believe you will enjoy my cousin's company. She has spent many years in the Italian court."
"Yes, alright." She agreed, taking his offered hand. She was well aware of the tension in the room and the level of attention Francis was showing her. While she might be convinced that he even loves her, and that he has always had his eye on her, she was also keenly aware that he no longer showed any of the reluctance he once held on their engagement. She was sure that by the end of Christmastime he would be asking to set a date. Part of her was thrilled, another was reluctant.
As she walked into the gathering of family and nobles and spoke with his cousin, a relation of his mother's from Italy who she found she quite rather liked, she was keenly aware of the eyes on her from a certain friend that always seemed to keep a silent vigil over her welfare. Had it not been for one guessing game with Clarissa, she might not have been aware that she had not one, but two careful eyes always set upon her. Sebastian's were likely for a different reason than Clarissa's, a reason to which she would love to be privy. But alas, if her suspicions were indeed confirmed on the matter she couldn't be sure what she would do with the information. For now, she was a queen with a duty and it took a great deal of her energy to stay focused on the conversations around her.
"Ah, your grace." An Englishman by the name of Thomas Williams to who she had been introduced earlier in her time in the French court greeted her with a bow. "I am once again honored to meet my future queen."
She observed him carefully but found no threat, no hostility towards her as she was accustomed when speaking to the English. Cautiously she addressed him. "Mr. Williams," she began but was instructed to call him Thomas. "Thomas, I must admit to being surprised to hear an Englishman so honored to greet me as his future queen."
Thomas nodded gently in full understanding. "Unlike the previous envoy to this court I am not only a Catholic but have been sent by my queen to replace him with your interests at heart."
"You mean the English queen wishes to keep an account of me." If her tone held disbelief and accusation it was a perfect portrayal of her feelings at the moment. But at least she can now account for the mysterious lack of presence of the former English envoy. That had certainly worried her.
With a slight bow of his head Thomas agreed, becoming quite aware of the intelligence and strength the young Queen exhibited. "Yes, but only in service to you. You are to be our queen, to continue the Catholic faith in our land. It would be irresponsible to not ensure that you are in the highest standard of company and care." Here his eyes darted towards Sebastian who was watching their exchange with interest from a few feet away, most likely within ear shot and it put Mary on edge. She wondered if there was an accusation in his glace towards her friend. "I do understand however that due to the past between our native countries I must endeavor to gain not only your favor but your trust."
Mary tried to remain as calm as possible in her response. While encouraged by his happy manners she was sure there would always be some level of distrust on her part towards the English court, perhaps even after she takes the throne. "As I am sure anyone can tell you, I am most open to the end of hostilities against my person and my country."
"Yes, I have news on that front." He stood closer to her, aware that their conversation was being overheard by the king's bastard son. "I feel I must point out however that I am not here only to serve the French court, but as an advisor to you on English affairs. After all," he paused but under quick examination felt no need to hide his next statement from French ears "Your own country's interests must come before those of a country to which you yet to fully belong or even to your own heart."
"Yes, that is true." Mary looked to her left noticing Francis engaged in an animated conversation with a young noble girl. She recognized her as one of the affairs pointed out to her by Kenna and quickly looked away. He may be more tentative and may have genuine affection for her but Mary knew in her heart the words he once stated so plainly to her were as true as ever. If you want to be the queen of France you need to learn that Kings do not answer to their wives. He would likely always stray, of this she was sure. Turning back to her conversation she knew all too well how true her next statement held. "As you will soon learn I keep that same knowledge and advice close to my heart, constantly."
The envoy had followed her gaze and he too was aware of how true that statement must be. In his preparing for this position he spoke with the nuns at the convent where Mary was raised. He knew the importance of love for the queen. "If I may, your grace," he approached the topic delicately. "I would like to express my sincere wish that as your counsel you may always approach me with matters of any concern. What happens here at French court is not for me to report to my own queen. I do hope this allows you to take me into your confidence."
Mary eyed him, aware he too saw Francis and aware he was speaking both in general terms and in terms of the possibility that she need not necessarily honor her engagement to the dauphin. "I assure you, when such matters arise I will endeavor to seek your counsel."
"Then even more the cause for celebration." Thomas replied immediately raising his glass towards her. He had several concerns when sent to serve as the new envoy to this queen. The first of which was that she would, understandably, be weary of him. Truly, he wanted to serve her and her interests. He was fairly young, she would be his queen far longer than his current. Second, he had his concerns on the prospective marriage between Mary and Francis. While most queens learn to cope with the other women their husbands … entertain, regnant queens have a significantly larger burden on their reputation if their husbands stray. In the French court it may mean nothing, but for the English, this has proved to be a true hurdle. His current queen once told him she would rather see a faithful bastard as king consort than a price with a wandering heart. At the very least no one would call into question her ability to lead in that case. If she cannot command the loyalty of a husband how is she to do so with an entire court? Army? Country? This of course was not something appropriate to share at the moment.
Their conversation fell into an uncomfortable silence until Bash took it upon himself to rescue her. "Your grace," he bowed, aware he should refrain from familiarity until he could be sure the new envoy was worthy of Mary's trust. "Might I have this dance?"
Mary smiled gently, grateful for his intercession and glad that he finally asked her to dance in the presence of the rest of court. "I would very much enjoy a dance." She took his hand and turned to Thomas. "Excuse me."
"Of course your grace." He bowed once again. "We will speak of your plans to visit the English court at the end of Christmastime, tomorrow."
She managed to keep the trepidation from her voice though she was sure Sebastian could feel her hand tense and clench his own. "Yes, we will."
Both Mary and Sebastian took a deep but silent breath as they lined themselves up for the dance. There was much to examine in that last statement of the Englishman. On one hand it was encouraging to see that she was being recognized without hesitation by the English court. On the other, there was much to be wary of in terms of the political games beginning to arise between her place in the English line and her current loyalties to the French.
"I feel as though I can't breathe in here much longer." She spoke to Bash in muted tones as the dance began.
"You must have assumed a visit to court would be expected of you." Sebastian hedged. The thought that she needed to meet her future court and subjects had briefly entered his mind earlier in the day while contemplating what all of this would mean for Mary. He had hoped to think of these issues before they arose so that he could do his best as counsel and friend. "I gather that along with Elizabeth, several other Anglican's of the English court were beheaded for their involvement in the plot against the queen. It should be considerably safer for you to travel there now."
"Yes," Mary sighed but somewhat reassured. If nothing else, Bash has always proved to hold her safety of utmost concern. "I did consider that. But just how am I to put an entire lifetime of suspicion and fear behind me in the matter of mere days? I will have no protection of anyone I know to be truly loyal to me there."
Bash turned her in line with the music, waiting until she was facing him yet again to speak "Mary," he begged her attention with his eyes. "I have always had my father's ear. If you wish it, I will persuade him to send French support to accompany you. I don't believe it will take much to convince him that it would be in our best interest to have a French influence present with you in your new country."
It always did strike her that while roguish, no one fully acknowledge how politically capable Bash consistently proved. Mary nodded, taking comfort in the weight of his hands gently resting upon her shoulders as he led their steps. "I suppose you are correct. I simply wonder in whom he would be willing to trust for the task that I could equally have such faith."
He leaned in as called for by the dance. "I do have an idea on that. I would ask your trust to solve the matter on your behalf."
Mary was brief in her thought on that. Bash had truly become her confidant in her time here, if she were to entrust this task to anyone it would be him. Besides, she knew that mischievous twinkle in his eye all too well. She was sure he had some ambitious scheming in mind and if she was honest with herself she was curious to see where it would lead.
"Very well. I thank you for speaking with your father on the matter."
"I am always glad to be of your service, Mary." Sebastian dropped his hands as the music died down, offering her his arm he suggested that they rejoin the festivities and accompanied her towards her friends. Looking to them all he smiled gently. "I will leave your queen to your capable hands." With a bow he took her hand to his lips, eyes locked on Mary's in a tense gaze.
"Enjoy your night Sebastian." She felt her heart thump, aware of Lola and Kenna playing close attention to the scene.
"I wish you just the same, you grace." When he turned from them a smile crept onto his face at the sound of feminine giggles, a sure product of her friends' teasing.
Returning to his father's side, from across the room he could see Francis's stare bore into him and he knew that he had many challenges ahead when it came to his half-brother's inevitable objections to the proposal he planned on issuing to his father in the morning. He was of course the best candidate for accompanying Mary on her journey and stay at English court.