Mary is feeling really excited for the coming of his husband, she's very sure that her letter has managed to convince him to come to Scotland, at any day now he'll get on a ship and soon they will be united, as a husband and wife should be.
Mary's thoughts were disturbed when she heard someone knocking at her door.
"Your grace, I'm sorry to disturb you, but a letter has arrived from the Dauphin of France"
" a letter?" Mary said confusingly, she's clearly disappointed, she thinks that Francis should be here, not just a letter of his, whatever it is he has to say, he can say it in person.
The servant gave her the letter, "Thank you, you can leave now" Mary mumbled dryly.
She gathered all the strength she have and began reading the letter. By the time she finished reading it, she realized she haven't moved a single muscle, she's still letting the words sink in.
"I will be going to Calais next morning, at the time that you receive this letter, I'm already on my way there."
She still has to wait several months before she sees her husband again, and that is if he even survives the battle. Mary felt herself crumble, she certainly didn't expect this news, and to say that she is disappointed is a huge understatement. The letter also implied that Francis has yet to read the latest letter she sent for there weren't any response to the things that she said. A pile of emotions surge into her heart, she's now filled with regret, if only she sent her letter to Francis a lot sooner, he would not be traveling to Calais but to Scotland.
She slowly sits near the fireplace, attempting to warm the coldness she feels inside, her feelings of excitement were now replaced with indifference, indifference towards the affairs of the state, indifference towards the festivities outside, indifference towards everything. She walks to the door and talked to her guard.
"Don't let anyone in, I don't want to be disturbed"
She closed the door and let herself drown with loneliness, there's no one here to comfort her, her ladies are all in France, Lola is married to Lord Julien, Kenna is married to Bash, Greer is engaged to Lord Castleroy and Aylee is dead and her husband might soon follow her fate. Mary always felt that she is alone since she arrived in Scotland, but she never felt that she is lonely, until now.
~^oOo^~
There isn't any time left to write Mary back, and he felt guilty for it, it would be weeks before he can write her again, writing a letter while in the battlefield, isn't entirely practical, but he still thinks that it is the least he could do to comfort her wife that is so far away and beyond his reach. He can't help to also wonder about Mary's reaction about him going to Calais, was she angry? Disappointed? Concerned? He just hope that she will be able to forgive him because he won't be able to forgive himself if he died without taking a last glance to his beloved wife.
"Wait for me Mary, wait for me" he silently mumbled
~^oOo^~
It's been two months since her husband has left for Calais and a lot has changed since then, Mary became used to the way of life in Scotland, surely she still feels lonely sometimes but the pain of not being with her husband has become bearable, she have made some friends here and the people seems to love her as well, she actively joins the festivities and goes to every ceremony she needs to attend. She now feels that Scotland is becoming her true home, even though she didn't grew up here; she certainly feels that this is a place where she belongs.
Mary is watching her people dance to the lively Scottish music through her window, when she heard someone enter her chambers. She turned around and found out that it was her mother.
"Mary, why don't you go downstairs and enjoy the festivities? Our guests are looking for their queen."
"I'll rest here for a while and go back there when I'm ready." Mary said wearily.
"Why, is there something wrong? Are you ill, darling?" her mother said with concern.
"No mother, I guess I'm just tired, and the smell of different foods made me dizzy"
"Do you want me to get the doctor for you?"
"You don't need to mother, I'll be fine" Mary said convincingly though she noticed that her mother remained unconvinced.
"What else are you feeling, dear?"
"I feel nauseous since this morning, I think it's because of something I ate, it will go away soon, I already took some medicine for it."
"Anything else?" her mother said curiously
"nothing out of the ordinary, I just noticed I've been urinating frequently."
"How long has it been since you had your period'?
"wha-, why? I don't think it's relevant."
"how long?" her mother asked again, impatiently this time.
"I haven't had my period since I arrived here in Scotland" Mary said, she only realized what she said when she saw her mother's shock yet jovial expression.
"oh mother, you don't think that I'm-, that I'm" Mary said, she can't even say the word, uttering it out loud would seem surreal.
"Pregnant?" her mother interrupted, "oh yes dear, I think you are!" she said with delight.