The Saturday Sanctuary has been missing for a while but it returns this week I have been inspired.
This week on Saturday Sanctuary:
It had been two weeks since Francis had given her permission to be with Conde as long as it was kept discreet and although Mary thought that was what she wanted, she was finding that it wasn’t. Was it possible to love one more than one man at a time she wondered. Since the incident, it was nearly impossible not to picture Francis as part of what had happened to her and yet Mary still loved him. Not only did she love him, but she knew how much it had cost him to allow her to go to Conde. He loved her so much he was willing to let her go, to find happiness and to heal. Yet now Mary was asking herself constantly, what if it was truly Francis that she needed to find that healing? With so many questions constantly running through her mind it was getting harder to focus on matters of state and she could tell when they met that Francis was distracted as well. Mary knew she would have to make a solid choice and she would have to do it soon. As a woman, perhaps she could have had both men, but as a Queen, she had to make a choice her Husband or the man who might be her lover. It seemed like an impossible choice.
As time continued to spin on and she met with Conde for their sessions of speaking of leaving for Scotland and kissing Mary was finding that she may never be able to make a choice. Yet, it was not what had happened to her before that was keeping her from taking that next step with Conde, as patient and understanding as he was Mary knew it was Francis on her mind and in her heart that kept her from consummating things with Conde. It was as she waited now again for a meeting that she made her choice. When Conde came in to see her he looked paler than usual,
“What is it Louis?” Mary said softly.
“The man we sent ahead about Scotland has been found and your letters..”
Mary froze, looking terrified and she couldn’t really fully focus on what he was saying next. Something about him meeting with his man and knowing that it was not the French who had it but it could be the English. It was only when he got to something about secret meetings with a man about a possible wedding to Elizabeth that she snapped her eyes back to him.
“What did you say?”
“I am sorry Mary I just….”
Mary stared hard at him this man she loved and had almost given everything to and yet, before this she had made a choice. Still the betrayal stung and she couldn’t keep some tears from streaking down her face. Conde neared her to offer comfort and Mary backed away looking at him hard again before she turned and fled out into the cold of the winter. Her feet carried her fast over the frozen ground, she didn’t care who saw her as she ran. Let them say what they would the Queen running as she was across the grounds. It didn’t take her long to reach the palace, but she didn’t stop running once she went inside. Her lungs burned and she could feel a stitch in her side starting but she didn’t stop. Only slowing on a room that he might be in, but a brief glance told her that he wasn’t within and so she kept running her hair flying out behind her. The guards let her pace even at the rate of speed she was traveling into the rooms they once shared. The rooms that he now slept in alone.
That is where she found him, standing near a window and looking out, but at her footfalls he turned from the window and looked at her his face suddenly creasing with worry.
“Mary? Are you alright? Has something happened?”
The warm baritone, he spoke with genuine concern was a balm to her hurting pride and heart. She had made the right choice, Francis. The man who had been willing to sacrifice everything for her. Even if there had been mistakes and lies before, when it came to what truly mattered Francis had gone above and beyond. He continued to look worried as she didn’t reply to his question. Instead, she crossed the carpet between them and wrapped her arms around him. Flush from running, cold and a sudden feeling she had not felt in some time Mary pressed her lips to his.
Francis was understandably taken aback at suddenly having her pressed to him and tasting her lips, but his hesitation only lasted the briefest of moments before he pressed back to her, wrapping his strong arms around her and kissing her back with everything he had. It was too much for the young king to hope for that she had come back to him for good, but he would not turn this moment away. This moment would sustain him for as long as it had to and so he kissed her but didn’t push further.
It was Mary who gently pushed Francis into the wall near the window. Fitting her whole body against him and pulling her fingers through his hair. Finally, she had to break the kiss so they could both breath and now they were both gasping. Stripping off the leather gloves she had on outside against the cold Mary began to take away his jacket. It was then that Francis put his hand to hers gently and stilled hers.
“Mary, do not feel obligated in this….I told you before you don’t have to do this just for an heir.”
Oh, she loved him for that, but turning her face up gently she smiled, “I want you Francis. Not for an heir, but because I love you.”
That was all the encouragement he needed in that moment, but he didn’t go for her clothing not yet. He still wanted her to have a choice to be able to move away. Instead he stripped himself free of his jacket and then his shirt. Shoes followed and he began to work his pants. Pausing a moment, waiting to see if his Mary would pull away but she didn’t. No she was looking at him with the hunger she used to before that terrible night and so he took off the pants as well before moving in to hold her head and kiss her again.
Mary melted into that kiss and let her hands seek out his flesh. How could she ever have turned from him? His touch, his warmth, his smell and his kiss he was home. They were lucky for Royals they had love a deep and true love. It may have suffered damage with things that happened, but it did not break. How could she ever have thought her home and heart would break so easily.
***
More to come later today 😉
Tags: Saturday Sanctuary
Yes! because Mary is supposed to be with Francis.. I understand her indecision about Conde.. look at him… but Francis is the one who has proved his love again and again