"Previously on Reign..." "You have a wife, Robert." "We can never be together." "Leith!" "Claude!" "Her fear of me actually helped you land her?" "Admit it, Stephan." " I did no such thing." " You and I are so alike." "You'll miss me, she'll judge you, and in so doing miss the best parts of you." "Francis." "Promise me that you'll stay in France until the future king is safe and my mother is secured as regent." "I will, I promise." "I promise." "Francis' death leaves Mary alone and vulnerable." "Francis' horse is magnificent." "Yes, he is." "It's been three weeks, but I still have to remind myself each morning that he's gone, that I am king." "I envied the bond you two shared." "I came to Francis as a brother, free from politics or agenda." "A king needs that kind of support." "I'd like to be a brother to you, too." "Sebastian." "Lord Grenier." "How's the harvest season treating your grapes?" "We've enjoyed a cool autumn." "The castle's collective thirst should be quenched for another year." "How was the ride?" "We took the shortcut just west of the river as you suggested." "Wonderful." "Tomorrow I shall take you out myself." "I'm not sure that's appropriate." "I don't see why not." "I am a member of the king's privy council." "But it's customary to suspend government business until after the coronation." "I would hardly call this business." "He has an impressive pedigree." "There's not a fox in France that can match the speed of this dog." " What's his name?" " That's entirely up to you." "A gift from the council." "In hopes of expressing our eagerness to work together." "I'm heading out for a hunt." "Shall we see what he can do?" "Another time." "Your loss, brother." "Has the council begun discussing candidates for the regency?" "My late brother had hoped Catherine de Medici would be installed in the position." "That's of no concern to a king's deputy." "But thank you for looking out for Charles." "We're all in this together." "Mary?" "Francis' things." "Where would you like them?" "Consult with the steward and find a place to store the king's clothes." "Nothing should be disposed of without my knowledge." "Wait." "Not that one." "Francis wore it at our wedding." "Off with you." "All of you, now." "Greer, I'm fine." "Mary, you're not fine." "You just lost the man you love, and now they're moving you to a lesser room." "Treating the queen of Scotland like she's..." "An outsider?" "That's because I am." "Greer, it's been three weeks since Francis died." "I may still be a queen, but I am no longer the queen of France." "Mary." "I think we have a problem." "Catherine's still not herself, when she most needs to be." "Catherine." "It's well past noon." "Helene says you haven't left your chambers." "I wake with the sun." "I do every day." "I wash and I dress." "Perhaps you would find some comfort in the music room, practicing virginals, or the chapel." "How can I pray to a god when I'm certain he does not hear me?" "We are all lost right now." "But we must try to remember that Francis saw a future for all of us." "And yours was bright and powerful as regent." "While you've been distracted by your grief, the privy council has been meeting without you." "Three times in the last week." "Charles is too young to rule or fend for himself... and you are the queen mother." "Until the privy council elects a new regent, you must be present for all transitional government assemblies." "They have another candidate?" "And the vote is only weeks away." "Lord Grenier has been cozying up to Charles, wooing him with gifts." "Whoever wins will need Charles' support." "Lord Grenier knows that a king and his regent can't work together without an established trust." "We think Grenier is angling himself for the position." "Why do you want to help me?" "The first thing I would do as regent is pull the French troops from Scotland, end the reckless war that Francis sustained purely out of his love for you." "My election could mean the end of your nation." "You know that." "I have no power in France," "I am widowed and alone." "But I am staying to fight for your future because I made my husband a promise." "Francis forgave you because he knew you were the only choice for regent, one who could secure his brother's reign." "There's not a single noble on the council that'd be willing to vote for me." "Not yet." "But you cannot lose this battle." "Catherine, please, no one is more focused than you are on keeping Charles on that throne." "You must claim what is yours, for your sons." "She destroyed it?" "That accord was a mutual agreement between nations for peace." "And in exchange, Mary agreed to give up her claim to my throne." "But now her husband is dead, her power diminished." "She'll never relinquish her right to my crown." "A widowed Mary is less of a threat than ever." "For now." "But a widowed Mary is also a wild card." "She could return home, bolstering Scotland or seek a new marriage alliance." "Had you succeeded, my rule would be protected." "Instead, my cousin remains a threat to me forever." "Mary's ability to bewitch men is well known." "I've never given you reason to doubt my loyalty." "No." "Not until now." "I'm calling an emergency session of the council." "My troops will march on Linlithgow immediately." "Linlithgow." "Mary's birthplace?" "I hope you don't feel too sorry for her." "So, has Lord Dudley returned to court?" "No, Your Majesty." "He remains at his family home in Norfolk and ignores our every summons." "And you made it clear I must see him?" "As his queen?" "Our last visit found his wife unattended." "Sir Robert is away on business at the coast." "Hmm." "Perhaps I extended my invitation to the wrong Dudley." "I've asked you here because I'm in need of your services in a new position at court." "Keeper of the Swans." "It will require you return to your rooms at the castle permanently." "I've heard swans are vicious, awful creatures." "What is it that makes me qualified for such a distinguished title?" "How did you make him come back to you?" "I am his wife." "We're bound by God." "He loves it here at court." "His life is here at court, not on some family farm he cares little about." "What did you say to him, Amy, to convince him to leave?" "I'm sure he'll tell you himself." "That's why I'm here, isn't it?" "Because I can't turn down a position given by my queen." "And as my husband, at some point" "Robert will have to return." "To me." "To you." "Welcome home, Amy." " My Grace." " Majesty." "Catherine." "My condolences." "I don't need your condolences, I need your cooperation." "My son is a child, but he is still your king, and he should be represented here." "Well, this meeting is merely informal." "The council can't make any political decisions until a new regent is elected." "Then why gather at all?" "Uh..." "Either I am a fragile, wilting female meant only to mourn, or a power-grabbing harpy." "Lord Grenier seemed very confident, as if he'd already won, even though the vote is still weeks away." " Why?" " He recently sold off one of his most profitable vineyards." "Perhaps he's using the money to bribe the council." "Grenier wants to see to it that I have no power at court." "And right now, he and the nobles have the upper hand." "Mary, Francis was wrong to burden you with my future." "Can't you see that I've lost?" "Failing Francis is not an option." "If you can't fight, then I will fight them for you." "I missed you." "I wish I could have been at your side at the funeral." "Catherine deserved the time to mourn her son without my throwing our happy marriage in her face." "That doesn't mean I'm not still anxious about her coming after us." "Well, the land deals I've made to secure a seat on the council are almost finalized, so... soon." "Stephan, we've already wasted half the day." "Well, I would not call time spent in pursuit of mutual carnal satisfaction a waste." "Mm-hmm." "Tell me, do you have any fantasies?" "None that come to mind." " Do you?" " Of course." ""Of course"?" "What do you mean, "of course?"" "Don't worry." "They all involve you, my beautiful wife." "Perhaps it's time we broadened our erotic horizons." "We had a somewhat non-traditional courtship, and I think part of that is what intrigued you." "And now we're married, which is excitement enough." "I see." " Show me." " Show you?" "You want something from me, take it." "Be the aggressor." "I think you'll quite like it." "I think it would make me feel a bit..." " Yes?" " Masculine." "A bit like a working girl even." "After a long day of cajoling other nobles, taking what I can, building our fortune..." "I come home to you exhausted, Lola, and it would be nice to know, on occasion, that you want me as much as I want you." "I do." "I simply don't feel comfortable with what you're asking." "Of course... my darling." "Elizabeth has taken Linlithgow." "How?" "Well, the French forces were already outnumbered in the Northeast." "They didn't have time to summon reinforcements." "The generals are in a holding pattern until a new regent is elected." " What will you do?" " There's nothing I can do." " I have no command over the French forces." " Then go home." "Mary, take back our country." "I am bound to France for a reason." "Catherine needs me." "There is... another way." "There are suitors eager to court you..." "Charles of Austria, the earl of Arran, even Prince Don Carlos of Spain." "You need funds to protect Scotland." "Men are defined by their money, and we both know that Spain has the most of it." "Don't you think I know that an alliance is the best choice?" "I'm just not ready to marry another man." " I may never be." " You have to be." "Helping Catherine is noble, but it's also an excuse to put off the inevitable." "Greer, what did you say about Don Carlos?" "That Spain is the wealthiest nation in Europe." "And men are defined by their money." "You called for me, Princess?" "I'd like to ride into the village tomorrow." "I'm told there's a peasant's shrine to my brother's memory at the chapel." "I'll see that the carriage is ready." "Good morning, Alexandra." "Is it?" "What happened there?" "The last time I saw you two together, she was quite" " naked and keen on you." " Alexandra and I are finished." "She said I was distracted, sensed I had feelings for another... for you." "These feelings might have been reciprocated, had I not walked in on you with another girl." "It's just as well." "I have learned it is best to know my place." "I am a kitchen servant who a benevolent king took a liking to, nothing more." "Leith, things are changing." "France is changing." "Even Francis wouldn't have thought me worthy of a princess." "You're right... and I'm sorry." "But what if I could help?" " There's a girl coming to court." " Claude." "No." "The daughter of the alderman of Lyon." "Her family is just high enough." "You are trying to arrange a union for me." "Isn't that a bit odd?" "It could raise your station." "Why do you want to help me?" "Because you're going to end up with someone." "Why not someone a step above, but within reach?" "There's a reception next week to welcome the alderman to court." "Come." "We have work to do." "Mary, what are you doing?" "I was looking for something." "Something that belonged to Francis." "I'm sorry." "I know this is your study now." "I've been looking for you everywhere." "There's something you need to know about Lord Grenier." " Charles, I know you were fond of him." " Fond of him?" "Grenier thinks I'm a child whose allegiance can be bought with gifts." "So you're not going to support him for the regency?" "Charles, why didn't you come to me?" "I wanted to handle Grenier myself." "But I was wrong, Mary." "They're moving up the vote" " for the regency." " What?" " They can't do that!" " Yes, they can." "Queen Elizabeth has taken Linlithgow." "But I can't do anything, we can't do anything, without a regent." "Hundreds of our men are dying." "The vote is an emergency effort to get them home." "And Lord Grenier has positioned himself as the front-runner." "He's running on a platform of peace." "Grenier will pull every last French soldier from Scotland." "I know that's not what you want to hear." "Charles, what I want is for Catherine to win that vote." "What do you want?" "Francis was right." "My mother is the only person who wants to be regent in order to protect me, my reign." "She's the one I need at my side." " Then we have to stop Grenier." " How?" "!" "I'm a king with no real power." "But this is your study." "And you do have access to all of the nobles' bank records." "That's why I'm here." "Lord Grenier recently sold his biggest vineyard." "Why would he need that much money?" "Help me find out." ""Keeper of the Swans." Really?" "I summoned Amy back because I knew you'd have to follow." "Don't you think I know that?" "Did you think I'd let you run away from me?" "Recommit to your wife without explanation?" "Just let us go, Elizabeth." "Release Amy." "I was ready to tell you Don Carlos is gone, that I will never marry." "I thought that's what you wanted, too." "What did Amy do to change your mind?" " She knows about us." " Of course she does." "I told you that." "No, I told her that I love you." "And she lashed out, accused you of taking other lovers." "She shamed me." " All lies." " I couldn't bare it." "And Elizabeth, I..." "I almost killed her." "I had my hands around her neck, and she forgave me for all of it." "I can't keep living in shame, Elizabeth." "I can't keep wanting something that I will never really have." "We are over." "I won't release you." " You don't have a choice." " Nor do you." " You love me, Robert." " Stop it." "You nearly choked Amy because you hate her." "Her very existence means you can't have me." " That's not true." " And you will hate her even more if you turn your back on us." "You will die miserable." "Miserable and alone." "And so will I." " We can't do this." " Then tell me how to stop." "You're back." "Yes." "And I've sent for the rest of our things." "We are back because she commands it, because she is our queen." "I know you're not happy about it, Amy, but I think it's for best that we don't discuss Elizabeth any further." "Kindly untangle yourselves." "This room is off-limits to all servants, never mind those engaging in that particular activity." "You're dismissed." "Your name?" "Christophe." "I'm a valet de chambre." "I tend the castle's fires." "I advise you to exercise discretion." "I prefer to practice my scales free from the accompanying lecherous moans." "Are you sure about that?" "As you wish." "The bank records offered no evidence that Lord Grenier has been bribing the privy council." "But he has sold not one but five of his vineyards." " Then he's in financial trouble?" " No." "He throws his money around more than any noble at court." "Your network of... employees at the castle has grown." "Can one of your more highborn girls perhaps seduce her way to the information I need?" "It may prove difficult." "Grenier is in a sexless marriage." "Many whisper that he is immune to the charms of women." "Perhaps if I had a stable full of strapping male whores." "And Lady Grenier?" "Has she taken someone on the side?" "No." "She spent every waking moment with the duchess of Anjou until very recently." "The duchess was forced to leave court by command of her husband." "Lady Grenier has been inconsolable ever since." "Find someone to comfort Lady Grenier, and I have my suspicions she will spill her husband's every secret." "But I don't have a stable full of strapping male whores." "I think a woman might do the trick quite nicely." "Melancholia." "A common affliction." "There are too many women whose, um... pardon me... sexual appetites go unsatisfied." "Does your husband neglect you?" "Mmm." "And yet what would I be without him?" "I can recommend a course of treatment." "I had something else in mind." "Something to help me regain Lord Dudley's affections." "If you were to offer a different diagnosis," "I know that I could save my marriage." "Madam, I am a man of science." "And a lonely one, from what I've heard." "I'm sorry about the loss of your wife." "I'm lonely, too." "And my... sexual appetites are healthy and raging." "Perhaps we can arrange a mutually beneficial exchange of services?" " A hidden mass?" " We've found that stress and bad humors can exacerbate the condition, lead the tumor to consume the patient from the inside." "Has she suffered from anxiety of late, excessive worry?" "Amy, I'm so sorry." "I did this to you, didn't I?" "This isn't your doing." "I know you love me." "You always have." "You said yourself you want us to remain healthy, strong." "Doctor, is there a cure?" "No cure, per se." "But there is hope." "First, you must do what you can to remove the cause of any tension from her daily life." "As for treatment," "I have a colleague in Cornwall who has made great strides." " Cornwall?" " But I would advise that you leave as soon as possible." "Doctor, I am a member of the queen's privy council." "I have many responsibilities here." "Our Elizabeth is a benevolent ruler." "She would never begrudge a man the chance to save the life of his beloved." "I'll leave you to discuss the options." "My lady." "Pretend I'm Juliet." "Wrong." "Hiding one's hands is considered suspicious." "You could be holding a dagger or waiting for just the right moment to poison a tablemate's goblet of wine." "I'm going to poison someone?" "These are royals." "Perhaps this isn't the best idea." "How is your allemande?" "Your canary?" "They don't teach us those dances in the village." "At the very least, you must learn lavolta." "It opens with a galliard." "Never mind then." "Skip it." "Next you circle each other, like this." "One, two, three, four, five, six." "One, two, three, four, five, six." "Until you come together in the center." "Then there's a lift." "Lift me up, Leith." "In the air." "You're hopeless." "Then forget lavolta." "Let me show you what they do teach us in the village." "May I have this dance?" "Cornwall." "How will we ever see each other?" "We won't." "Cornwall is Amy's best chance of survival." "She knows even now I would rather be here, with you." "She even offered to have the treatment alone." " Then let her." " No." "If she died alone, it would be the same as me killing her." "So you're saying it's over then." "Us." "This time for good." "You've decided this is your fault." "Amy's illness is a tragedy." "But perhaps it's fate sending us a message." "We can finally be together." "We just have to wait long enough for her..." "To die?" "Do you hear yourself, Elizabeth?" "I'm only saying what we're both thinking." "If Amy dies, God rest her soul, but you can return to me." "I fear my soul would... be marked beyond repair." "Good-bye, my love." "As I had hoped, Lady Grenier was rather chatty post-coital." " Oh?" " I know how to bring him down." "And I guarantee you it will make you feel more alive than ever." "You're looking well, Queen Mother." "Leave us." "Your plot against the Crown is an affront to France," "Lord Grenier." "I found it all too easy to rally my spirits." "We know about the emergency vote." "If I win," "I win by popular vote of my peers." "I can't think of anything more fair than that." "But your peers don't know the truth, what you would do as regent of France." " You've been selling off vineyards." " My business is ever evolving." "The Crown has been struggling to provide Scotland with more troops." "Mercenary armies are a valuable commodity." "And you have quietly become the largest, most secretive owner of mercenary armies in the country." "And if that were true, it's not a crime." "No, but you've turned a legal, profitable business practice into an illegal, more profitable crime." "You've been taking pay from dead soldiers," "Under-reporting their numbers." "Profiting from each life lost." "How soon were you going to turn on the council, doubling down on the military presence in Scotland purely for personal gain?" "Your nation stands to gain something, too." "That's right." "But even I wouldn't condone deceiving the council into taking an action" " that would harm France." " Then you're being shortsighted." "Scotland needs those troops." "How dare you!" "Posing as a loyal patriot, while taking advantage of the king, my husband's death!" " You have no proof." " Let me stop you before you waste your breath insulting me." "We have proof." "The paper trail showing your misdeeds was difficult to uncover, but Mary has managed to do it." "You will resign, or we will expose you for who you are." "A war profiteer and a traitor to France." "So you get rid of me." "What comes next?" "You have an endless line of enemies who will do everything they can to prevent you from gaining power." "The council despises you, Catherine." "And a weakened, grieving woman should never be permitted to hold the reins of a nation." "Guards!" "Thank you for your service to the king." "He's right." "We will get you those votes." "No, Mary." "A regent must honor the will of the people... and bring the troops home from Scotland." "Leaving my country nearly defenseless." "Catherine, I know this." "But it was Francis's dying wish that I stand by you, and I will." "But I can't ask you to do that, and I won't." "I must honor my son." "What do you mean?" "If I am regent, the troops will remain... that's what Francis would want;" "that's what my heart would force me to do, protect the alliance, keep your country safe." "And unlike Grenier, the council will know of my intentions." "But if you don't withdraw the troops, you could lose the regency." "These past few days, I have watched you rally for Francis's cause, honoring your promise to help me, even at a great cost to your own country." "I always thought that Francis was wrong to take on Scotland's burden, but it was his promise to his wife, his declaration of love." "I owe it to my son to take care of you the same way that he begged you to take care of me." "That's not a sacrifice I can ask you to make." "No." "But it is a sacrifice that Francis would ask me to make." "And it will be my last act of mourning." "Then there is only person who can make this right... even if it costs me my country." "Your sovereign king has left us." "But until a new regent is elected," "Francis's word remains law." "I will admit... that does bring me comfort... as France's troops have protected my people." "But Catherine has convinced me that I must allow France to move to the future, in order to save thousands of lives and the Crown's perilous finances." "Therefore... as the other half of the alliance," "I hereby... relieve France and her armies of their duty to Scotland." "The council meets tomorrow" " to discuss our options." " Mm." "We owe you an audience." "But there will still be many who will oppose your regency even after this impactful victory." "I will do my best to remind them..." "Your support would go a long way toward legitimizing your mother." "How would you feel about her ruling at your side?" "It would be a great comfort." "You're learning." "Word is Grenier fled, and quickly." "Thank you." "Mary, what will you do next?" "I came here when I was six years old." "I barely remember Scotland." "It's romanticized, a picture in my mind." "The truth is..." "France has always been my home." "I threw myself into helping you because it meant that I could stay." "Now there is nothing but Scotland." "And the hope of a new alliance." "Don Carlos." "You were right to suggest I consider him." "I can't stay here and sustain my rule." " But how can I wed another?" " You will because you must." "I don't even know who I am without Francis." "You are a queen." "Still a queen." "I loved him, Catherine." "And now it's done." "And I loved him." "Mary has released the troops." "They're going back to France." "Linlithgow has fallen." "Perhaps I should take all of Scotland as my own." "Scotland harbors many Protestants." "But they are still Scotsman;" "they will turn against you." "Mary is widowed and heartbroken, yet has brought herself to do the right thing." "You should follow her example." "I have no interest in continuing this unsustainable war." "You don't trust me." "Not anymore." "I'm afraid not." "You've taken a liking to my cousin." "Then perhaps I'm not the man to represent you in France." "And who would you suggest to replace you?" "Never mind." "I have just the man for the job... the antithesis of your theoretical undying loyalty," "Gideon Blackburn." "No." "Blackburn is spending his life in the Tower" " for a reason." " And yet everything that makes him reprehensible is exactly what I need to take down the queen of Scots." "Catherine." "Leave us." "I'd like to put on my trousers." "Nothing I haven't seen before." "I've come because I was recently reminded of something important." "Even at my lowest of lows..." "I'm stronger than my enemies." "An admirable quality, given that you have so many." "I hope you've enjoyed your brief union with Lola's supple skin and absent wit." "Because I plan to wreak havoc on all you hold dear the moment I become regent of France." "Congratulations on your recent victory." "I never counted you out." "But do you really think that I would make home here at court without putting some basic protections in place?" " What are you getting at?" " Your grandson John was gifted several parcels of land by Francis." "I wisely spent my honeymoon adding to those holdings." "In fact, the last of the deeds arrived just this afternoon." "And as John's guardian and proxy..." "You have a seat on the privy council." "Yes." "I'm warning you, Stephan." "You're in no position to warn me." "You don't have the votes." "I'll get them, all of them." "Meanwhile, I am friendly with nobles on both sides." "Back with your old cronies." "Happily." "And if I've done my maths correctly," "I hold the casting vote." "So... perhaps you want to stop your threats and release your grip... or finish the job." "If I'm to impress the visiting Juliet," "I'll have to talk to her, connect with her." "I can't teach you the art of conversation in less than a week." "You haven't even told me what this girl looks like." "Is she blonde?" "Brunette?" "You know I like a ripe backside." "Claude." "There is no Juliet." "I'm a member of the royal guard... how long did you think it would take me to find out that there's no reception?" "Why did you lie?" "I wanted to spend time with you." "Ever since I caught you with Alexandra you've acted like I'm nothing more than a work detail." "I told you why I can't be your friend, not anymore." "Because we can't be together." "But I say we can." "But Charles could marry you off at a moment's notice." "Who said anything about marriage?" "Must you marry every girl you kiss?" "Well, then I'm back to exactly where I was with Greer." "I am not Greer." "You told me that when you first met Greer, she was on the hunt for a husband." "A rich one, with a title." "But I'm different, Leith." "I'm a princess." "I need only to follow my heart." "So who's to say that you won't be the one to break mine?" "Can't you just admit that you want me, too?" "What's this?" "The queen herself paying a visit to a common prisoner?" "You must need something." "A task that should come all too easily, given your talents." "You lied to me." "You made me care for you." "You nearly made me..." "But I didn't." "I couldn't make you fall in love with me." "Because you were in love with Robert Dudley." "Which you happily reported back to my half-sister." "I was a girl, Gideon." "And Bloody Mary was my queen." "I was her eyes and ears, sent to inform on you, the greatest threat to her crown." "And when she ripped Robert from his cell and my arms, it nearly killed me." "Weakening you was a necessary precaution." "A queen must always be looking over her shoulder to those with the power to undo her." "I understand that now." "That's why I'm here." "Mary, Queen of Scots will soon seek a marriage alliance." "Spain's Prince Don Carlos is among the interested candidates." "Well, that union would be quite the feather" " in your cousin's cap." " Yes." "And one I'm eager to thwart." "I hear Robert left court." "The Lady Dudley is quite ill." "Is that why you're so eager to bring down the queen of Scots?" "Robert has abandoned you, you're bored without your little plaything?" "Mary has released the French troops from Scotland." "And a new alliance would raise her international standing." "That is something I can't afford." " And why would I agree to help you?" " To gain your freedom." "Perhaps there's a part of your blackened heart that longs to meet your daughter." "I've taken Agatha in as my ward." "Such a pity, a child growing up with two absent parents." "Do this for me and I'll see you're reunited." "And how do you suggest I gain Mary's trust?" "By doing what you do best." "By doing what you tried to do to me." "Make Mary fall in love with you." "You were spotted leaving Lord Narcisse's chambers." "I put a stop to the servants' chatter, of course, but..." "Our encounter ended with Lord Narcisse experiencing the kind of pleasure I very much doubt he's enjoyed since marrying Lady Lola." "Queen Mother." "What he doesn't understand is that I've found his weakness." "A crack in his marriage." "I'll use him to become regent and then I will lay waste to his happiness." "You are devious and brilliant." "And yet he gets to share his bed with a pretty young thing while I'm expected to retire alone." " But we can fix that, can't we?" " Mm." "Mmm." "That's lovely." "The heat." "Is there anything else I can do?" "Yes." "I have another fire that needs lighting." "Bring me back to life." "I thought about what you said." "About compromise." "Lola." "Let me finish." "I have an idea of what a proper wife should be, and, clearly, it's very different from yours." "But there's nothing wrong with that." "I will compromise." "Please you when I can, but..." "It's all right, Lola." "I probably shouldn't have asked." "But tonight." "I thought that we..." "We should get some rest." "I've had quite a day." "It's fine, truly." "How was your day?" "Filled with unexpected surprises." "Uh... all work related," "I assure you." "I won't bore you with the politics." "Mary, are you all right?" "No, I'm not." "But my happiness is not your responsibility, Charles." "I disagree." "Soon you'll be forced to seek an alliance." "You must bring everything you have to the table in order to ensure the most advantageous match." "I was considering Don Carlos' request for an audience." "But the problem is I am the queen of a besieged nation." "I have no idea how I'll be received in Scotland." "My people support me, but they don't know me as anything other than a symbol." "Spain would have the upper hand in any negotiations." "Not if you accept my help." "Don't go back to Scotland." "Charles." "Court Don Carlos or any other prospects here." "We'll show Spain that you will always have power as long as you are aligned with France." "That you will have the House of Valois... the new king... behind you." "Forge a new marriage." "In the home of my husband?" "In the country that will always protect you." "I know it may seem odd, but it's what Francis would have wanted." "Bernard." "Find my favorite portrait." "The one in the red gown." "Send it to Don Carlos with a message." "I'm staying in France." "And I'm ready."