Mary opened the door to her room and saw Conde standing at the window. Surprised, Mary quickly closed to door to make sure no one saw him. "Louis, what are you doing here?"
"I know this was inappropriate but-"
"What if someone saw you?" Mary asked. "What if-"
"I took the secret passageway, Mary." Conde said. "No one saw me. No one but you. I needed to talk to you."
"What is it?" Mary looked at her former lover.
"I love you. Before you interrupt me, I want to tell you that." He paused. "I've always loved you. I didn't leave court because I didn't want to be with you. I left court because I know you loved Francis more, even when you didn't know it yourself. I thought that you and Francis would live a long and happy life together. I thought I would never return to court or ever see you again. I knew Francis was what made you happy, so I didn't want to interfere with your happiness because as long as you were happy, I would be happy. So Mary, before you accept Don Carlos' courtship, I have to ask," Conde got on his knees and pulled out a beautiful diamond ring, "Mary, Queen of Scots, would you be willing to make me the happiest man in all of Europe by marrying me?" His heart raced, his breath shortened, he felt his palms begin to collect sweat, he was nervous, but he did not lose eye contact with Mary.
Mary stared at the man in front of her, completely speechless. Somehow his confession warmed her heart, she felt the love he had for her, and she remembered how it felt to be in love with him. Her empty heart felt a little less empty after hearing what he had to say. Mary's brown eyes filled with tears, but before she could speak someone barged into the room.
"Oh my, am I interrupting?" Catherine sarcastically asked the pair.
Conde stood up. "Hello, Catherine."
"I see that I am no longer needed-"
"No, Catherine, I need to speak to you." Mary said to Catherine. "Louis, I will think about what you have said and I will let you know soon."
"Very well. I will talk to you soon, Mary."
Once Conde exited the room, Catherine asked, "did he propose to you, Mary?"
"Yes…"
"You said?" Catherine grinned.
"I did not say anything." Mary said.
Catherine frowned at her former daughter in law's response. "You did not respond?"
"You barged in before I could." Mary said annoyed.
"I apologize, what were you going to say?" Catherine pried.
"Honestly, I'm not sure because I know my love for Louis lingers, but Don Carlos has also asked to court me." Mary said. "I was going to confide in you."
"You wanted me to choose who you should wed?" Catherine asked.
"I need your help in deciding." Mary said slowly. "They both have qualities, and assets that can help me and my country."
"Let's start with Don Carlos." Catherine responded.
"Don Carlos is the Prince of Spain, he is also a Catholic Prince. If I marry him, I would have Spain's support as well as more support from the Vatican. Unfortunately, I would still have to rule my country from afar if I were to marry Don Carlos." Mary said.
"And Conde?"
"Louis may bring some peace to Scotland, if I marry Louis and he becomes the King of Scotland, I may no longer be at war with my cousin Elizabeth because there would be a Protestant King on the throne. It may settle the unrest that is in my country because of the differences in our religion. It may help my country practice tolerance. Louis also has an army of his own that can protect us, and he is well endowed. But I would lose the support of the Vatican." Mary said. "How can this be so difficult?"
"Because you're a Queen, Mary." Catherine sat down next to her daughter in law. "You cannot just marry for love, you have to marry for your country. The choice would've been clear if you were just a normal girl."
"What do you mean, Catherine?" Mary asked.
"If you were a normal girl, and all you had to do was marry for love; would you not choose Conde over Don Carlos?" Catherine asked. "Most queens would have chosen Don Carlos, but you're still considering Louis, the Prince of Conde as a suitor. Just think about that, Mary. Don Carlos has much to offer, not that Conde doesn't, but Conde is not an heir to a throne. He may have the royal blood but he is not an heir." Catherine stood up and turned to her daughter in law. "I will leave you to your thoughts, you will have France's support no matter what you do. I must attend to some business."
"Wait, Catherine - I meant to ask, how did you meeting with the council go?" Mary asked. She noticed Catherine's facial expression instantly changed.
"Narcisse duped me." Catherine hissed. "I was accused of poisoning Francis in order to regain power."
Mary gasped. "And you are just telling me now?"
"You have your own issues to worry about-"
"Catherine, I promised Francis that I help secure you as regent. I intend to keep my promise." Mary said. "I need to know what happened in that meeting."
"They were planning on voting for regent, then Cardinal Morel walked in and made the allegations. Narcisse stepped up and took the regency right from beneath my nose. That bastard." Catherine spat. "Now I must go on trial, but there is no way that I can prove I didn't do it."
"Why not?" Mary asked.
"I imagine that Narcisse will have his wife testify against me." Catherine said.
"Why would Lola have anything against you, Catherine?" Mary eyed the elder woman.
"Lola has mentioned that she believed that I put a dead rat in her bath, that dead rat carried a threat. It's a long story." Catherine rambled. "I also poisoned Claude, if you didn't remember. I just can't find a way out."
"Catherine, don't worry. I will do whatever it takes to make sure you are not convicted of regicide." Mary said. "I made Francis a promise, and I will make sure the promise comes to life. I will talk to Lola and try to convince her that it was not your doing."
"Don't worry yourself too much about me. I appreciate the help, but you also have your own battle to fight, Mary." Catherine smiled. "I need to return to my chambers, I have some things that I need to figure out but I believe you have something you need to do as well."