Mary tried to calm her nerves, she was so nervous, she was angry as well, how dare that monster use her family's home like that, to him it was one of his conquests but to her, it was still a place she grew up in, a place she stayed with her father, was loved by her parents, she wanted it back!
When she got to Edinburgh castle, she was surprised, the house looked so grand, and stank of wealth, she wondered why he became a tyrant, plundering and taking people's lives and properties, she heard his father was a very wealthy man, and since his death, the king took him in, as almost a son, and she knew his mother was not a poor woman as well, she had enough wealth she brought to her husband's house, she wasn't obsessed with him or anything, but these gossips were heard wether you want to it not, especially in the school,
She masked her emotions, having a blank face, and walked in she approached the footman, and she was surprised after hearing the noise and ruckus coming from her home, she expected his to be exactly the same, or worse, a dirty and disorganized place, but it was the opposite actually, she saw a clean, very organized place, the men were working, the door sparkled, it looked like she walked into the palace itself!, she narrowed her eyes at that, and went to the foot man,
"I will like to see the Lord of this castle, she said politely, and he looked at the pretty lady before him, and smiled
"And who might you be? he asked her in a polite tone as well, if she wasn't a trained classy lady she would have gasped in shock, she expected brutes like the ones she saw at her castle...
"I am lady Mary lithurm, and I demand to see him, she said failing to suppress her anger..
"One moment please he said, and Mary watched him go inside...
"Your grace, a lady is here to see you, she is the former lady of lithurm, the footman said to Francis, who was feigning to be busy, as he wanted to avoid speaking to anyone, and that was because the illness was starting up again, he was feeling his heart wrench in pain, he opened his clothes and saw no injury, he gasped in pain, holding his chest, this felt like when his sister death was announced to him, why was he feeling this way, he heard footsteps and sat up quickly, arranging his clothes, and trying not to show the pain...
"Send her away, and make sure she leaves, do not disturb me anymore!, he said to the footman, and faced the book in front of him, but seeing nothing,
The man went outside, and told Mary to leave, that his grace was busy, and would attend to no one, Mary tried not to show her anger, she clenched her fist,
"I can't leave without seeing him, Mary insisted, and the man sighed
"I didn't want it to come to this, but I am left with no choice, Brutus!!, his grace asked for her to be sent away, he said to a man, and Mary decided that she wasn't going to take no for an answer the second time!
"No matter who is sent to send me away, I will go no where!, I demand to see the Duke!, Mary retorted, and immediately regretted the fact that she lost her cool..
Brutus shrugged and tried to drag her away, but she moved away quickly,
"Do not dare to touch me!, you filthy animal, she shouted at him, all her sense of classiness went out the window, "I have been the sweet young lady, but it's obviously not working, now call that Ass hat!, she screamed, looking like a classless lady, but she didn't mind, she was past that now, she won't be homeless, or go back to James...
Brutus laughed at that and hard, "I like her, she is a fiesty one!, he said to the footman, then his face went hard, "But his grace is more terrific, so.., he dragged her hands and she struggled and ended up falling from the front porshe, the pain Lanced through her right arm, it was too bad, she cried out in pain, but refused for the tears to drop,
Francis gave a yelp of pain, his hand was on fire, like it had been broken, he looked at his right hand and saw nothing, but the pain was so great he couldn't move,
"What Is this sorcery!, Francis shouted, standing up, and Theo rushed into the room, when he saw Francis in pain, he went to him immediately worried about him..
"Francis what is the matter?, he asked and Francis shook his head, unable to speak file to the pain in his arm,
"I.. I.., I think I am in trouble, he said in pain and then suddenly it intensified, he doubled in pain, and went to the window for air, he was panting, then he saw her, the auburn hair beauty, she wore a black dress that made her perfect figure stand out, he wanted to see her up close if she was really that beautiful..., then he saw her holding her right hand as well, she bent like she was in pain, then she was shouting at the man who grabbed her hand again, and he nearly fainted from the pain, that came again, but she was still struggling..., that can't be!, that witch cursed him, did it work?, oh no, he can't...
"Theo, go and bring that woman inside, Francis managed to say, then he saw Theo leaving after bowing to him, then he went down, Francis took the pain herb his physician recommended, and went downstairs as well...
When he got them he saw the lady walking in, he was right, she was a beautiful woman, but he had seen beauties before, she won't be the first, and for her to be the offspring of Frederick it meant she was a bad person, she must be like him!...
"Who are you?, Francis asked her like he didn't know the answer
"I am lady Mary Anne lithurm, the daughter of...
"That's okay, Francis cut her rudely, what can I do for you?, he asked her again,
"I want my house, it is mine, she said again. barely suppressing her anger
"Not according to the king, it is mine, your father broke our agreement, Francis replied
"Yet you were the one who attacked us first, she retorted
"And he was the one who raised the army first, and bought mercenaries, Francis said his eyes narrowing, she had a sharp tongue and wit, he would have to thread carefully with her, and he should be sure before taking any other step...
"Allow me test something, before any other small talks are being made, he said to her, and looked at Theo...
Theo came closer to him, and he whispered for only him to hear..
"Slap her, I need to confirm something, Francis said in a small voice, and Theo whispered back, "I can't do that, she is a woman, he whispered as well, "Do it!, Francis said again, they were whispering and arguing, till...
"Theo it's an order, Francis said and Theo eyed him, and bowed,
"Yes your grace, Francis smiled at that, that was what he used to win, every single time, ..
Theo walked to Mary, and when he got to where she was, he apologized,
"I am sorry, but I have to do this, he said then before Mary could grasp what was going on he slapped her, and she gasped holding her face, and glared at him, then at his master Francis felt the hard sting of the slap on his face and swallowed, it was true!, this nightmare was real, she was bound to him, he wished he could die immediately, now he had to take her in, leaving her alone meant, if she died, he does as well, no, he wished he waited to hear the rest before he killed her,
"Are you okay now?, Theo asked him angrily as he stood by his side..
"You didn't have to slap that hard, Francis whispered to him, and Theo stared at him and saw his cheeks red, then he looked away quickly, he hoped it wasn't what he was thinking..
"Take her to the dungeon, with no food, and lock her there, Francis said, and Mary screamed
"What!, you Babarian, you uncultured swine, how dare you treat me like a slave, you slapped me, disgraced me!, Mary spat at him, and tried to walk away, but his men stopped her..
"You will stay here!, Francis ordered and she scoffed and that annoyed Francis more then he came up with an idea..
"That is if you still want your house, Francis said, and she looked at him eagerly..
"You will give me back my home?, she asked him in doubt, and she shook his head.
"Nay, I will at least lend a willing ear to you, so you can convince me, he said smiling, and Mary stared at his God like features, he was too handsome for his good, but also a monster, she thought and shook herself..
"Now, take her to the dungeon and...., he paused, if she is bitten by Rats or snakes and died, he would be dead too, or if he starved her to death, oh no!,, "Take her to a guest room, and give her food, he corrected quickly, then cleared his throat and walked away quickly, now he needed to find the herb queen!