After what happened, the decision was made. Queen Mary invited Lord Darnley back to court. While waiting for Lord Darnley's arrival, a letter from my grandmother, Catherine de Medici, was given to my mother.

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Mary

Lord Darnley had an arrangement with Elizabeth. Elizabeth summoned him to the English Court. She offered a deal to Darnley; the deal was that she would pay Lord Darnley's lover's dowry to her family so that she could marry Lord Darnley in exchange of a promise not to marry the Queen of Scotland, which is that's you, Mary, but do not worry my dear, I bet Lady Lennox handled it already.

You have my word.

Catherine

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The Guard announced that Lady Lennox is here. My mother got curious because only Lady Lennox was announced. Lady Lennox talked to her mother.

"Your Majesty"

"Lady Lennox"

"Welcome to the Scottish Court."

"Where's Lord Darnley?"

"I thought he went here."

"He told me that he'd be here."

"Nevertheless, Lady Lennox, I want to talk to you"

"About your son"

"Ah yes, of course."

"I would rather pick you as my daughter-in-law than Elizabeth."

Then suddenly, Lord Darnley came to the court. He then excused his mother, so I quietly followed them to the courtyard where they went.

"Mother"

"She left me."

"Did you do something to her?"

"No, of course not, my son."

"Maybe because her family found out that she was seeing another man when she was already engaged."

"You know, son, propose to Mary."

"You're born to be a king and a powerful man."

"Be the one to propose a marriage."

"It's the whole Scotland we are talking about here, and soon, you will probably have England as your own too. Think properly."

She said

I headed back inside so that they wouldn't notice me. Minutes later, Lord Darnley went back to the throne room to see Queen Mary.

"Queen Mary"

"Lord Darnley"

"I apologize for my unannounced arrival.

"It's fine, Lord Darnley."

"Queen Mary, I'm proposing you a marriage."

She was surprised by what he just said, knowing that Lord Darnley was in love with someone else, so she got curious. I knew he would follow his mother.

Uncle James reacted and whispered to me, "I thought he was in love, so why propose now? This seems suspicious."

I nodded at Uncle James to follow me and told him what I heard.

"I followed them when Lord Darnley excused Lady Lennox."

"I heard that Lady Keira, the lover of Lord Darnley, didn't show up to him. That appears to be the reason why he came late. Maybe they were supposed to see each other. "

I said

"Lady Lennox may be the reason for it. I think she lied to him. "

He answered

"Darnley suspected her and she denied it."

"She pushed him to propose to the Queen—to my mother."

"They want power. She wants him to be king. "

My uncle seemed so displeased and worried for my mother because he now thought that Lord Darnley wanted my mother for the Crown. We went back, and at the exact moment, my mother dismissed her talk with Lord Darnley.

"So what happened, Mary?"

"I told him that I would think about it and I'm glad that he wants to marry me instead of Elizabeth"

"He only wants you because of your crown."

"Alexandra heard them talking."

He told her

"I followed them. Lady Lennox pushed him to propose to you."

"Lord Darnley and Lady Keira are no longer lovers."

I butted in

"How come?"

She asked

"They were supposed to be meeting up and maybe that's why he was late."

"But Lady Keira didn't show up."

"He's heartbroken."

"He followed what Lady Lennox told him—to marry the Queen."

I said

"And that's because you're powerful, Mary."

"They want to have power."

"More than what they have now"

He said

"But you know, I will still accept him, right?"

"He's my key to the throne of England."

"With our blood claim to the throne, our union will let us have not only one nation but two."

She said

"We know, mother"

I said

"But that's so political, Mary."

"I know you want to have a husband who will love you too."

"What if he just wants your crown, which I believe is true?

"The Crown Matrimonial."

Uncle James mentioned

"No"

"I will marry him, but I won't give the title of the crown matrimonial."

"The last man—Don Carlos, who wanted the crown matrimonial to be part of our marriage agreement, planned to murder me on the way to Scotland."

She said

"Oh, how funny for Don Carlos."

"But although he's ambitious and confident, you have a point, mother"

"Your union with him is the key to claiming England."

"To also strengthen your reign and power"

I said

"Mary, do what you need to do, but be careful of yourself"

"Do as you told us."

"Don't give the title"

He said

"Tomorrow I will talk to him about it, about my decision."

"Both of you should be there with me as witnesses to what will happen."

"In case I need help, Alex"

She ordered

"Yes, mother. I will be present. "

Before the night ended, I talked to Lady Lennox in private in her chamber.

"Lady Lennox"

"Princess Alexandra"

"Why did you do it?"

"What do you mean, your highness?"

"Lady Keira"

"They were supposed to meet, right?"

"Why didn't she come?"

"Ah, I don't know, your highness."

"Maybe her family stopped her"

"She's already engaged you know"

She added

"Don't act like you didn't do anything, Lady Lennox.

"Fine"

"I sent a letter to Lady Keira saying that it was from my son."

"I wrote there that he would not return and that it was his faith to marry a queen."

"Why did you want him to marry my mother?"

"Because he was born to be a king."

"A powerful man"

She grinned

"Such an ambitious family"

"If you will just use my mother to get what you want and try to get rid of her, I will tell Lord Darnley this."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Threatening is such a bold word, but if that's what you want to hear, then yes."

"You don't know me. Yet."

"But I want you to know that I will do anything for my country and for the Queen's reign."

"Try to steal the crown from her, then I'll come for your head first. Just so you know, I can do anything with the help of France. "

"My mother may no longer be the Queen of France, but in case you have forgotten, I am the daughter of King Francis II of France. I may not use the French honorific, but I am a Princess of France by blood. "

"Never forget that I have the blood of a Valois"

She seemed frightened and angry because of my threats, so I left her chambers afterwards to ease the tension in the conversation. That serves her right.