Chapter Five: Hope Dawning

The night passed by in a blur of fiery pain and ringing in his ear. At first Francis couldn't recall what had happened. Then he heard Mary's gentle whispers of love in his ear and remembered everything—fighting off his wife's captor, the wonderful kiss with Mary on the dock—and then blood.

He opened his eyes, recognizing the outline of Mary's face in the dim candlelight. "You're here…" Francis managed to whisper.

She dabbed his forehead with a cool cloth and kissed him. "I am. The bleeding from your ear has slowed and you're going to be all right."

He shivered like the temperature in the room had dropped below freezing, yet he felt sweat dripping down his face. "Are…are we still at the chateau?"

She nodded and smoothed back his hair. "I sent the fastest rider to fetch Nostradamus. He should arrive mid-morning."

The quiver in her voice broke his heart. He reached for her in the darkness. "Mary, come here. Let me hold you." She crumpled against him and rested her head against his left shoulder, dissolving into quiet sobs. "Shh…I'm still here with you," he whispered and wrapped his arm around her. "I'm just so thankful to have you back…even if it's only for a short while."

"Don't say that," she cried, soaking his shirt with her tears. "I love you with all my heart, Mary…but I don't want to leave anything unsaid. I know the blood coming from my ear and the fever was part of Nostradamus' vision."

"He told you?"

"I made him tell me shortly after our wedding," he admitted.

"But…but I thought you didn't believe in prophecies."

Francis exhaled, suddenly exhausted just from talking. "I didn't…but I still wanted to know exactly what he saw…just in case."

"This can't be…I mean it's different from what I saw in my dream. Your death wasn't here at the chateau. And the fever…it came out of nowhere."

He gently stroked her long hair. "That's not entirely true. I didn't mention it before, but my physician treated a minor ear infection and slight fever before you agreed to come with me to the chateau. I thought I had completely recovered, but I guess I was wrong."

"Francis, why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged and then winced with the movement. "I…I didn't think anything of it until now. Ever since I fell through that hole in the ice last year and Bash pulled me out, I've had ear pain off and on."

Mary held him a little tighter. "Yes, I remember you saying that now. But it doesn't matter. You're going to recover just like you always do. I know it."

Francis nodded and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry for worrying you, my love. Of course, I will," he promised, but as he drifted out of consciousness, he hoped he hadn't just lied to his wife.

….

Mary stayed by Francis' side throughout the night but didn't sleep a wink, fearing if she closed her eyes, he would slip away without her knowing. To her relief, he was still breathing as the morning light shone over his pale face and his fever had broken. A maid came in to clean his ear and change the cloth on his pillow but he barely stirred.

The morning passed by slowly and when Francis woke for brief periods, Mary spoon fed him some broth which he managed to keep down. A few hours later she heard a knock on the door. Mary called for them to enter and breathed a sigh of relief as Nostradamus and Catherine came through the door.

Francis' mother rushed to his beside and kissed his forehead. "Oh, my golden child," she cried.

"Mother…I'm all right," he murmured softly and closed his eyes again.

Soon after, both women were shooed out into the hallway by Nostradamus so he could care for Francis. Catherine paced by the door for a moment and then looked over at Mary, eyes flaming. "I always knew you would be the death of him. Four days alone with him, Mary. Just four days! Now my son is fighting for his life."

Mary choked back a sob. "I'm sorry, Catherine. We were having a lovely time. We were growing closer by the day. Then it all went wrong so fast and then that man grabbed me by the lake. Francis…I don't even know how he sensed I was in danger. He was just there all of a sudden…trying to save me and…"

Her mother-in-law crossed the hallway looking so fierce, Mary half expected a slap across the face. Instead, the older woman enveloped her in a tight hug. "It's not your fault," Catherine whispered. "I overreacted. Francis makes his own decisions and for some absurd reason he chose to love you."

They both laughed at her sarcastic remark and then wept in each other's arms. Minutes turned into an hour and they sat on the tile floor in the hall until Nostradamus finally came out.

Mary jumped to her feet with Catherine right behind her. "How is he?" Nostradamus fidgeted with his hands and his stoic expression didn't give away a single clue. "Well, what are you waiting for? Answer your queen!" Catherine demanded.

He sighed and straightened his cloak. "He has severe bruising and some swelling behind his right ear but the bleeding has slowed. With plenty of rest and the medication I'm giving him, I believe he will make a full recovery."

Mary breathed a sigh of relief but still felt that Nostradamus was hiding something from them. "So that's it? His fever was so high…I feared he wouldn't last through the night. What changed?"

He shrugged. "It's miraculous really. A large abscess was building up behind his right ear. I've seen advanced abscesses like his spread to the brain in some patients. It can cause brain fever and even death, but Francis is very lucky. When he fell, he hit his head in such a way that it relieved the pressure building up. That is what caused the hemorrhaging from his ear."

Mary's eyes widened. "So, what does that mean?"

Nostradamus smiled for the first time. "It means, I'll keep a close eye on his condition for a few days…but I believe the king will live a long and happy life."

Unbridled joy filled Mary's heart as she thanked Nostradamus and rushed past him into Francis' chambers. His eyes were open and he gave her a drowsy smile. She sat next to him on the bed and kissed his hand. "Oh, you're awake! Nostradamus said you're going to be just fine."

"He told me." Francis lifted his hand slowly and touched her cheek. "I love you so much, Mary."

She held his hand against her face as a happy tear rolled down her cheek. "I love you too."

"No matter what happens in the future, let's promise to never let anything come between us again. I don't want to waste a single moment with you."

"I promise," she whispered and suddenly all her strength drained away. Mary curled up next to him and rested her head against his chest. He held her tight and kissed the top of her head. Then, for the first time in several long months, Mary fell asleep wrapped in her husband's arms.