"You're going to get what you deserve." "Who are you, ghost?" "Come out." "So we can all see you!" "Her name is Clarissa." "How long has she been lurking in shadows listening to God knows what?" "I will stake my claim on England... and I will marry your son, but not Francis..." "Bash." "To the future king and queen of France," "Scotland and England." "I envied you for so long... and look at us now." "You have what's mine and I have your freedom." "I plan to take full advantage of it." " You're holding me prisoner?" " Guarded, day and night." "Or at least until I'm back from Rome." "Imprison her." "Here we are... the queen's private chambers." "It's all ours." "There you are." "You missed our ride this morning." "I'm sorry." "I overslept." "I hope you weren't up all night worrying again." "Just the fact that we've had no news from the Vatican." "And will you worrying make the Pope choose to legitimize me any sooner?" "The Vatican will come around and when they do, you and I can finally be married." "I promise." "That's not all I'm worried about." "Your half brothers, Charles and Henry..." "I see their sad faces around the castle and I realize how hard this must be for them." "It's awful;" "I know." "There's a Frost Fair in the village this morning." "I want to take them, just us three." "As something special to take their minds off their troubles." "You are so good." "So truly good." "Will there be ice skating?" "Yes, and sleigh rides and spice candy and puppet plays." "And all the boys and girls from the village will be there." "Mother and Father don't like us playing with regular children." "I wish Mother could be there." "I know." "Will we see her... before she dies?" "Don't worry about that now." "Your mother wants you to be happy." "And she'll be happier knowing that you've had a lovely day." "Coming through." "Look out!" "Look out!" " Get back!" "All of you!" " What's going on?" "Look!" "It's the Medici Princes!" "Death to Queen Catherine and her line!" " Your days are numbered, spawn of that Medici whore." " Get down." "Hey." "Who's there?" "Show yourself." "I won't take the blame if you've stolen from the queen." "Where are my boys now?" "Bash is with them." "I warned you of the unrest that would result from changing the line of succession." "Once the Vatican legitimizes Bash," "Henry will take off my head, those boys will be orphans." "They'll still have their father." "How much attention do you think they'll get from him as he cavorts with his new bride Diane?" "And as for Bash, as soon as he takes power, he will face unrelenting pressure to do away with them." "I will not allow it." "I will take care of them." " You?" " And Bash, as well." "We will raise them as if they were our own." "Despite what you may think," "I never intended to harm your family." "I just wanted to save Francis." "I wish I could believe that." "And I want to help Clarissa, too." "Clarissa?" "Yes, she is your daughter." "We both know that." "And she saved my life." "How do you intend on coaxing her out of the passages?" "I've ordered a mask made, to cover her deformity." "It's being delivered today." "And then when the time is right," "I will arrange for her to have chambers of her own." "You seriously intend to integrate her into society, after a life in the shadows, living like vermin?" "That girl is broken, she is more animal than human." "The greatest mercy would be to have her put down." "You don't mean that." "You would never want that for your own child." "I suppose I'll have to get used to other people deciding what I want for my children." "They'll be out of my care, very shortly, when I'm dead." "Which one's your marble?" "It's that one." "Where'd it go?" "What can I do to protect my younger brothers?" "There must be a way to make them safe." "I marvel that you could have been brought up at court and still understand it so poorly." "For a royal, there's no such thing as safety." "I realize the notion of my being king disappoints you, Lord Hugo." "It did once." "But not anymore." "You've switched sides?" "I'm head of the king's Privy Council for two reasons:" "I know how to manage men and I know how to pick the winning side." "In light of recent events, the queen's pending execution and Francis's continuing absence from court... that side is yours." "How lucky I am to have such steadfast support." "If steadfast is what you require, there's only one way to achieve it." "Factions need a flag to rally behind, and every young prince with a claim to the throne is another flag." "But, if those flags were taken away... perhaps permanently..." "Are you suggesting... killing the boys?" "!" "I would never presume to make such a suggestion." "Those boys are the king's own blood." "You asked about safety." "This morning's attack was mild." "We are aware of that and share your concern." "There are plots being set on both sides, no doubt... and with deadlier consequences." "Sooner or later, blood will be spilled." "It's just a matter of whose." "Yours and Mary's... or another's." "Lord Hugo's right... my brothers need to be dealt with." ""Dealt with"?" "What are you saying?" "Send them away from France." "I was sent to a nunnery at six." "It didn't stop the English from making attempts on my life." "You've had far more attempts against your life here." "You weren't there this morning." "Those boys need our protection and I promised Catherine I would keep them safe." "We should keep them here with us." "And teach them to be constantly afraid?" "Always on the lookout for the next attack?" "I won't have them grow up to fear their own shadows." "At least they'll have a chance of a normal childhood." ""Normal?"" "At court?" "This is absurd." "You feel guilty for taking away what they had, so you want to keep them around, never mind what their lives might be like..." "And you feel guilty because they remind you of Francis, so you want to get them out of sight." "Is that really what you think?" "It doesn't matter." "I forbid you from sending them away." "You forbid it?" "How is this your decision?" "I am the queen who's going to give your father the legacy of conquering England." "Who do you think he's going to side with?" "Very well." "I'll go double the guard around the boys." "Unless that means I don't love them enough." "Lola?" "Fredrick!" "Are you all right?" " Have they mistreated you?" " I'm fine..." "As long as you brought the..." "I brought the money." "Thank God." "Sorry you had to come all the way." "You wouldn't believe the string of bad luck I've had at the tables." "Let's just get you out of here." "To whom do you owe the money?" "Maurice Bisset." "Please excuse the trouble my brother has caused." "Here's the sum he owes, plus interest." "How lucky you are to have such a lovely sister willing to go to such lengths to secure your release." "Shall we?" "Unfortunately, this debt is more complicated." "What do you mean?" "In addition to lying about his means, your brother attempted to cheat at my tables, a very serious breach of house rules." "Perhaps an additional sum would help smooth things over." "Such a grave crime requires more than money to repay it, don't you think?" "What are you suggesting?" "I admire the passion you have for your brother." "Perhaps you would consider sharing some of that passion... with me." "I need to see the prisoner." "And what is this that you're bringing?" "A Bible." "So she can make peace with her maker before her execution." "If you're looking for a weapon, some say there's none greater than the Scriptures themselves." "Oh, good." "More sanctimonious talk from my self-appointed redeemer." "King Henry's actions may not have been fair, but it doesn't change the results." "You must seek absolution for your sins." "You think that is gonna save me?" "If you really cared about my well-being, you'd have brought some poison like I asked!" "Then, at least, I could die with dignity, alone, at my own hand." "You mustn't say such things." "Suicide is a mortal sin!" "You'd be condemned to the fires of Hell." "Henry intends to make a spectacle of my death, as a final insult to me, and to bring some semblance of validity to his actions." "I won't grant him the satisfaction, if I have to tear my throat out with my own hands!" "And unless you're prepared to help me in that goal, get out." "And don't return." "What's going on?" "Bash, what have you done?" "This is all for us?" "Yes." "Now go make friends." "You said they should have a normal childhood, but also be safe." "They missed out on the Frost Fair in the village, so..." "You brought it to them." "That is the sweetest thing I've ever seen." "Their entire lives are filled with danger and isolation." "I just wanted them to have this day." "Mary, come help us with our masks!" "I've made some arrangements." "I can pay you double the debt, but it'll take a week to assemble the money." "I don't think so." "Well done." "What incredible luck you must have." "He's a cheat, just like your brother." "Was that really necessary?" "He's lucky I didn't crush both his hands." "That's the penalty at most establishments, but I prefer to be merciful." "Your brother begged me to spare him that fate." "He said that your family was wealthy, and that he'd make it worth my while." "I had no idea how worthwhile until I laid my eyes on you." "Why me?" "You can't make this offer to many." "It's not good business." "You're a lady of title." "I've taken money from many a noble, but none ever treated me as an equal." "I'd like to know what it feels like to touch what only they can touch." "Do we have a deal?" "Pardon me." "I couldn't help but overhear that this lady is to be played for this evening." "My benefactor, the Viscount de Brilhac, would like the chance to win her for himself." "She's not available." "She's with me." "The Viscount is prepared to wager double her debt on one cut of the cards." "I've already been offered that." "Four times, then." "Surely the owner of the celebrated" "Burgundy House is not afraid of a simple wager?" "One cut of the cards." "Four times the debt, plus the girl if I win." "And if I win, the debt is forgiven, and the girl is mine." "Too bad, Monsieur Viscount." "Double it again." "Eight times the debt, you mean?" "And the girl." "Though I don't know why you'd risk it." "It's much safer to just take the money." "If your gallantry is as easy as your lovely inherited money, why not make it 16 times the debt?" " No." " Very well." "After you." "Well-played." "Luck of the draw." "Shall we retire to my room, my lady?" "Wait." "You look familiar." "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" "I'm told I look like the Dauphin of France... only taller." "Well, I agree with Mary." "They should stay here, at the home they've always known." "Look at them, having the time of their lives." "Who's that?" "I don't know." "Some servant, perhaps?" " He looks ill at ease, don't you think?" " Ow!" "Charles!" "Oh, Charles." "Come here." "Are you all right?" "Charles?" "Henry?" "Charles?" "Henry?" "What is it?" "We can't find the princes." "Everyone!" "Masks off at once!" "Bash." "They're gone." "Search the castle and the grounds, they can't have gone far." "And check the boys' chambers." "And find Lord Hugo!" "Mary, wait." "What are you doing?" "You're wasting precious time!" "The boys are fine." "How do you know?" "Because I arranged their disappearance." "What?" "!" "They're being transported to the abbey at Troyes as we speak." "From there, they'll continue to the Spanish border." "There are riders stationed at checkpoints along the way to keep us up to date on their progress." "You had this plan in mind all along." "That's why you wanted your brothers outside." "You were planning their kidnapping!" "They weren't safe here." "Something had to be done." "Sebastian." "There you are." "We found this man hiding in the woods." "He had a rope and two burlap sacks." "I believe he intended to capture and drown the princes." "Is this true?" "You are the next great king, Sebastian." "The Medicis must die." "We'll question him thoroughly, my lord." "If he knows anything about the princes' disappearance, we'll get it out of him." "Out you get." "We'll go inside where no one can see us." "There." "Right." "Get some food in you." "We've got a long night ahead of us if we're going to make it to Troyes before daylight." "I'm cold." "Go on then." "I'll fetch a blanket." "Hey." "Who's there?" "Clarissa, what are you doing here?" "I was worried about you." "Clarissa is my friend." "We played together at the castle." "How did you find us?" "Does anyone know you're here?" "Your mother will know soon enough." "I left her a message." "Why are you wearing the driver's cloak and that mask?" "Mary had it made for me." "Do you like it?" "I don't know." "Are you going to stay with us?" "I'm going to take care of you." "From now on, we're going to be a family." "Pack up." "Let's go." "Thank you again, so much, for what you did." "To make such an enormous wager based on nothing but chance." "Well, it's safer than fighting our way out." "My brother..." "Seems a little adrift." "I've traipsed all over Europe, pulling him out of this scrape or that, each time worse than the last." "But we're all my parents have left." "I can understand both sides, if you want the truth." "I am familiar with feeling adrift." "And with being let down by a brother I loved." "I'm sorry." "Truly, I am." "I know they thought they were saving my life, or at least Mary did." "Bash has his own reasons." "I envy you." "In what possible way?" "Well, you've escaped that hideous court." "You're not bound by duty or politics." "You don't have to lie or pretend." "You can do what you want." "You can set your own course." "Well, it's not all it's cracked up to be, but there are things I don't miss." "Like my mother's meddling, for one." "When I left, Henry had her locked in the tower, just until the annulment came through, but that didn't stop her from stirring up trouble." "She tried to get Mary and Bash..." "What?" "You don't want to hear it." "I do." "Hearing it makes it real." "It still doesn't feel that way." "Don't be ashamed of your pain." "It does you credit." "You have a true heart." "It will mend." "I'd like that very much." "Shall we... shall we find something to keep us occupied until we can sleep?" "Yes, please." " What is it?" " I heard coughing, and now she won't answer." " Did you check on her?" " She's blocked the door with something." "I heard what she said before about taking her life." "Open the door at once!" "Help me push it in!" "Quickly!" "Dear God." "Untie the rope." "I must get her to the infirmary immediately." "What for?" "Would it not be a kindness to let her pass on?" "The king wants her death to be a spectacle." "Will you be the one to deny him that?" "I'll be back with her as soon as I can." "Tell no one." "And pray, for both our sakes, that I'm successful in reviving her." "You're safe now." "Oh, thank God." "Ooh." "Help me with this." "It's digging into my back like a butcher's hook." "You're lucky it held your weight or you'd have hung yourself for real." "You're lucky they didn't find it hidden in the spine of that Bible you brought." "Lying isn't exactly your strong suit." "Now, where am I meeting the wagon?" "At the east end of the grounds." "Past the stables." "It won't be comfortable, but..." "It's my only chance of making it to Italy undetected." "What is it?" "Something you need to know." "Charles and Young Henry went missing today at the Frost Fair." "Missing?" "Do you mean kidnapped?" "It's too early to say." " Bash has sent guards to search for them." " Bash?" "So the fox has offered to help find the missing chickens?" "We don't know that he was responsible for their disappearance." "Of course it's Bash or one of his backers." "Who else would profit from my son's removal?" "My sweet boys..." "Oh, they'll be terrified if they're even..." "You must go to your rendezvous." "The guards will be searching for you." "And abandon my children?" "You can't help them from here." "You're a condemned woman." "Go to Italy, gather your strength." "Others will see to the safety of your children here." "Others?" "I'm their mother." "I will not leave this place until I know that my boys are safe or until I am actually dead." "What do you mean the boys didn't make it to the checkpoint?" "They're probably fine." "The carriage could've lost a wheel or a horse come up lame." "I've ordered guards to ride out and look." "And what if they don't find them?" "Are you still so pleased with your choice to defy me and act so rashly?" "There's no guarantee they'd have been any safer here." "A servant of Catherine's was just found dead in a passage behind her chambers." "Along with this box." "The queen's enemies are growing bolder... even in this castle which you deem so safe." "They're keepsakes." "Mementos of her children." "So few people know of the passageways." "Who would hide a body there?" "I'm going to talk to the guards who found her." "I'll tell you if I learn anything." "Please don't scream." "I mean you no harm." " How did you...?" " I escaped, my dear." "I hid waiting." "It's all very thrilling, but let's save that tale for later." "My sons are missing, and you promised to protect them." "Bash has sent men after them, and he knows where to look, since he's the one who spirited them away for their safety." ""For their safety"?" "Is that what he told you?" "I know this might be hard for you to understand, but Bash cares for his brothers more than any crown." "Besides, I think it might be another sibling who's interested." "You keep locks of your children's hair, but I don't believe you added this one to the collection." "Is that skin?" "I think it's Clarissa's." "She killed the servant that Bash was talking about." "Who else uses the passages?" "Who else would rather kill than risk exposure in the light?" "Look at how it's knotted around your sons'," "Charles and Little Henry's." "Who else do you know who might feel like this, all knotted up inside over a family she just learned she had?" "She threatened me once." "She said that I would get what I deserved, but what does that mean?" "I think she wants you to know she has your sons." "To torment you in your final days before your execution." "You said Bash knows the direction they went in." "Can he track them?" "Francis always went on and on about his brother's hunting skills." "He can, and I'll be with him." "I'm coming with you." "I know." "I'll probably be caught, returned to my chains, but these are my children." "And if it's me that Clarissa wants to punish," "I need to be there to let her have her say." "I'm so sorry." "I..." "I must have nodded off." "Me, too." "We were talking very late." "And the wine." "Yes, and the wine." "I should go." "Thank you for what you did yesterday for me and my brother." "It was brave and incredibly gallant." "And I'm so sorry to have imposed on you." "It was no imposition." "Truly, it was nice to spend time with someone who I... didn't have to hide from." "I'm sorry; you don't want to hear this." "Yes, I do." "Please, finish." "To anyone else, I'm a young man who has everything... money, freedom, a world to explore at my leisure." "But when I think of all that," "I only feel... emptiness." "Pathetic, isn't it?" "Well, I hope not." "Because I feel exactly the same." "We're a pathetic pair, aren't we?" "We can't." "Mary..." "Is no longer a part of my life." "Like it or not, she's made her decision." "And I'll never see her again." "Or me, after today." "I can't ask you to..." "Give up my virtue?" "Don't worry, I've known a man before." "Just one, but..." "Francis, I want to." "It's the driver I hired to take the boys to Troyes." "There's no blood other than his." "No reason to fear the worst just yet." "Yes, except my boys are still missing and perhaps in the hands of a monster." "I swear, if she harms a hair on their heads, I..." "Charles and Clarissa have played together many times." "She's been friendly towards him." "We should split up to cover more ground." "Even with several hours head start, a girl and two small boys couldn't have made it far." "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "We're going to find them." "You have my word." "And believe me, if they're anything but the picture of health," "I'm the one you'll have to restrain." "Bash, look..." "It's little Henry's." "This way!" "She's no mother." "She deserves this." "Clarissa, what's happening?" "Why have we stopped?" "We're going to play a game." "Gather all the rocks you can and fill your pockets." "The heavier the better." "Then what?" "Then we're going to go swimming." "But it's too cold." "And I don't know how to swim." "Just do it!" "What did we do?" "Are... are you angry with us?" "Clarissa!" "Bash!" "Stay back!" "Don't come any closer!" "Clarissa, please, you don't want to hurt Charles." "He's your friend." "He's my brother." "But I never knew." "'Cause she never told me." "She didn't want me." "She hated me!" "No." "She didn't." "She just didn't know you." "She hated my face." "And they tried to fix it." "That's why I look like this." "That's why I..." "I had to hide my whole life." "It was a misunderstanding." "A terrible misunderstanding." "But it can end now." "She tried to end it by getting rid of me." "She took my family away." "Well... now I'm going to do the same thing." "Give me back little Henry or... or I'll cut Charles!" "Clarissa, dear, listen to me." "I'm your mother." "Stay back." "You're not my mother." "You told me you wished I was... dead." "No, my dear." "I am your mother." "And do you know how I know?" "I see you now." "Holding that knife." "Willing to pay any price for your convictions." "It's the same thing I've done." "More than once." "To fight for my children." "For what I knew was mine." "But look at your mother now... condemned to die." "If you want the pain to stop, learn from your mother's mistakes." "Choose a better way." "Let yourself be loved." "No." "No, no..." "Put down the knife, child." "We can all be together, all of us." "Finally... your true family." "Mother!" "You monster!" "Let him go!" "You liar!" "You don't care about me!" "You never will." "You... you want us to be together?" "We'll be together when we're all dead." "No!" "Come!" "Oh!" "Oh!" "Clarissa's dead?" "Yes." "And you were both so very brave." "And I'm so very proud of you." "You'll have to let go of them, Majesty." "It's time for you to get back to the castle and your cell." "Don't worry, my darlings." "Mary will take good care of you." "Make sure they have a hot bath when they get home." "They're both blue with cold." "Do you hear me?" "You were out of the tower before you knew about them, weren't you?" "You were free and clear." "And yet you stayed for them." "I may never see them again." "Once the Vatican sends word that Bash is legitimized, you two will be married." "And I'll be dead." "Probably that very day." "I'm sorry." "I wish I could've found some other way to save Francis's life." "I believe you mean that." "I owe all my sons' lives to you." "If you hadn't finished Clarissa..." "You sent her to a better place." "This world never suited her." "And besides, she'll have her mother with her soon enough." "How are the boys?" "Fast asleep." "Little Henry was snoring before the Lord's Prayer was done." "And Charles wasn't far behind." "We're going to have to give them a bit of extra attention for a while, especially when..." "Their mother is gone." "I know." "And extra security, too." " Oh, you mean..." " Yes." "My brothers are staying." "You were right." "Out there, we have to rely on others to look out for them." "But here, we can both keep an eye on them." "But I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did." "Giving you edicts, questioning your actions." "You did what had to." "Without hesitation." "So you're not angry with me for acting impulsively?" "Safe choices don't always make us safe." "I see that now." "Which is why I want you to marry me." "Now." "Today." "I don't understand." "We've been patiently waiting for Rome to give us permission to do what we want." "We've been playing it safe." "And what has that gotten us?" "Factions and plots and uncertainty." "Everything but safety." "And what do we get if we do get married now?" "We get what we want." "We force their hand." "If the Pope wants a Catholic queen, one with the strength of France behind her claim to England, he'll have to legitimize you." "He'll have no choice." "The Pope always has a choice." "You could be stuck with a landless bastard for a husband." "I'm willing to take that risk." "Bash... marry me." "No." "Bash..." "That's not how it's done." "This is how it's done." "Marry me, Mary Queen of Scots." "And make me the luckiest bastard on Earth." "Yes." "Well, I suppose this is good-bye then." "Good luck on your travels." "And you, back at court." "Don't remind me." "Headed back to French court then?" "I mean you no trouble." "Just wanted to ask the lady a small favor." "When the queen is led out to the executioner's block, throw that at her for me." "Tell her to try to buy her way out of this one." "What are you talking about?" "Oh, haven't you heard?" "There was a trial." "She was found guilty of adultery." "It's treason." "The king plans to behead her within the week." "And I, for one, will welcome the end of her Medici money rotting France." "Oh... bring that coin back with her blood on it, and I'll give you a fortune in house credit." "Did you know of this?" "I had no idea." "It can't be true." "I had no intention of ever returning to my father's court again." "But if I don't..." "I'll be letting him murder my mother." "It's freezing." "And it'll take us hours to dig her a grave." "So don't." "There's no one around to check us." "Grab her feet." "That's more than this wretch deserves." "Let's go."