Rebirth

Chapter 13

"Mary!" two voices said, as Mary and Greer were in the nursery putting John, James and Rose to bed. Their old friend, Kenna, was near them, putting her own twin girls in individual baseness, her station as a lady in waiting and as a proper lady, after a quick match with a Scottish nobleman and he claimed the two girls as his own, her engagement with a young King long fallen through after it was revealed she was having a baby as an unwed woman.

James jumped and started to wine loudly, before Mary shushed him and looked up as her half brother and bodyguard came closer to them, both panting hard.

"What's wrong? Is it the search?" Mary asked.

"Nothing like that, better." Bothwell grinned. Mary cocked her head.

"Sister, you've used the unrest of the Protestants to your favour. They've been so irritated that their Queen didn't serve justice to Knox whilst he was on English soil, that a coup was planned against Elizabeth."

"What? What happened?" Mary asked.

"Just after we'd captured the last three council members and the King, word reached us of Elizabeth."

"And what happened to her? Is she alright? Captured?"

"People have seen your strength as a ruler, your fairness and just, religious tolerance and the promise of an heir, stability, empire." James grinned. "People found Elizabeth in her chambers with her viscount fiancee, sharing intimacy, that was all they needed! Mary, they took her head! You are the Queen of England!"

"What?!"

"It's true, Mary. The coup to overthrow her and remove her was a success! You are the Queen of Scotland and England!"

"I-I don't know what to say!" Mary beamed, as Kenna and Greer hugged her tightly. "It's horrid that Elizabeth was killed, but, I'm the Queen! This is all I've wanted!"

A grand ball was held in celebration, after the obligatory mourning period, before members of the English contingent were due to travel up to Scotland to meet their new Queen and start the preparations for the King and Queen's coronation. With the pregnancy coming to an end, it was too dangerous for Mary to travel, so they'd wait until the baby was born to travel to London for the coronation.

"How were your travels?" Mary asked Greer as she sat uncomfortably on the chair near her dear friend as they soaked up the warm June heat.

"They were rather refreshing. Little Rose seemed to enjoy the sunlight and all the flowers we saw, it was fun. I hope Kenna's been helping you with things, with the birth and coronation coming up."

"She has," Mary agreed, placing a hand on her growing stomach. "We've been quite busy, sorting out things in France and England. I've handed a little more power to Catherine, it's getting harder to rule as the days pass by. And James is getting more to rule over Scotland and England when I'm out of action with the baby. Hopefully, after the baby is born and everything goes okay with the birth, I can take over and rule in my son's stead, but, we just have to wait and see. Kenna's been wonderful."

"I'm sure everything will be fine with the birth, but, if it's not, who will you hand power to? For a few days after the birth process and the entire process, you'll need to completely hand over power, at least for a while."

"Catherine will take over France until James is of age, if I die in childbirth. She'll do so for a shorter time if i'm simply out of commission after having the baby. And, for Scotland, England and Ireland, James will co-rule with Lord Ottox."

"Ireland?"

"Ireland is under English rule."

"Ottox and James?"

"Religious tolerance. Ottox is a royal Catholic and James is a loyal Protestant."

"Why are you doing this all by yourself?"

"I have no idea where Darnley is in the castle."

"I heard the servants talking,"

"About Darnley?"

"What has he done now?"

"They say he was walking around the halls in the dead of night, as drunk as possible."

Mary groaned a little. "I'll see to it." she got up and walked away to the chambers she'd put Darnley inside after taking him back into the castle to give the impression of a unit ruling.

"Mary! Please! Sit down! Look what I had made for the babe! Isn't it nice?!" Darnley babbled as she came into the room.

"Darnley, I thought we agreed no more lies and no more excessive drink when I took you back into the castle to see your child."

"Drink? I-I don't remember?"

"You're so drunk you don't remember?"

"No, I don't remember drinking."

He turned around and Mary's eyes widened, seeing the sores on his back.

"Darnley! Your back!"

"Hmm?!"

"Look." she moved a mirror to his back. "I saw those when I was little, in the convent. We visited the sick after looking after orphans. Have you slept with anybody with Syphilis?"

"What? No! No! You don't care! Why would you care!"

"You're the father of my child! I don't want to see you suffer. I know of a place, with the best care. If you want to see our child, you will go there." Mary said, keeping her distance a little. "Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now you're taking my son away from me! What kind of devil are you?!" Lady Lennox yelled as Mary struggled to stand up and walk towards her, after she'd retired to her chambers, claiming tiredness.

"Devil? I'm helping him! Just like I always have done! After all I've done for him, you should be thanking me right no-oh!" Mary leaned on the bed frame, a hand on her stomach.

"What is it?" Lady Lennox looked shocked.

"The baby. It's coming!"

"Fetch the midwife! The child is coming!"