Previously on Reign...
Every time I turn around, he's beside you.
I want a good life and a husband to share it with.
I wonder if you might entertain a chance to be a queen.
- I can't keep living like this. - Be my wife.
- Too much has passed between us. - And now you want to go to Condé.
I forbid it.
Come to Scotland with me. I want you.
I've had a message from England.
Queen Elizabeth wants you.
That'll be the Count and Countess du Grace.
Your Majesty, I present you my daughter, Lady Anna.
Two places, fifth table from the king's.
Kenna, I'm impressed.
You've really got this all in hand, don't you?
I'm surprised Catherine trusted you to plan the banquet.
The dauphin vintage tasting is not exactly a coronation,
but the chance to taste wine bottled on the day of the king's birth
is bringing nobles from all over France.
Well, actually, it was Mary's decision.
Although I'm sure Catherine would have happily given me
the opportunity just to see me fail.
Oh, dear.
I recognize Count du Grace, but that's not the countess.
Do you think he brought his mistress?
No, he's hoping he brought the king's mistress.
- I don't understand. - I should have warned you.
I suppose I expected you'd instinctively grasp every nuance
of the sordid tradition of a king's mistress.
But the king doesn't have a mistress.
Not yet.
That's why these lords are bringing their ready young daughters.
They're hoping that Francis will choose one of them
to take to his bed.
And what makes them think that Francis wants a mistress?
Our estrangement has become obvious.
Separate chambers.
Well, plenty of kings and queens keep separate chambers.
You did.
Just when I was starting to like you.
I'll have to completely rearrange the seating.
I won't have any of these pert little opportunists
sitting anywhere near Mary.
Don't worry about it, Kenna.
Your outrage is touching, but I can hardly take offense
when I'm the one who suggested we live separate lives.
You don't want that...
I suppose in their minds, it's a simple trade.
One daughter will be bedded by a man she'll never marry,
but if that man is the king
and the family now has his favor, it's worth it.
Oh, yes. It worked for the Boleyn girls.
Well, for their father, anyway.
Well, they won't get anywhere. Not with Francis.
- He loves Mary. - Things change, Lola.
If Francis and Mary are finished,
there's an opportunity at the king's side
for some lucky girl here.
I need to speak with you.
There are plans to settle. Scotland.
- This is not the place. - Hardly.
Shouldn't there be an empty room in the wine cellar now,
devoid of a certain vintage?
I'll meet you there in an hour.
I have some good news for you, little brother.
The English queen's envoy is in the village,
and I've arranged a meeting.
If you can charm him as well as you've charmed the Scots queen,
you may end up with an English crown on your head.
If I have a head left to put it on.
You take too many risks, Antoine.
What if Francis finds out you have me courting Elizabeth?
Have they found out what we've been up to so far?
He knows his mother and father were poisoned,
and barely missed learning you were behind it.
And yet here we are,
only two or three chess moves away
from becoming a pair of Bourbon kings.
Exactly as we were destined by blood.
Your Majesty.
Majesty.
Please allow me to present my niece, Lady Amelie.
- Majesty. - Welcome to court, Lady Amelie.
She's my sister's child,
but my pride swells for her as if she were my own.
Brilliant mind and a lover of all the sensual arts.
Enjoys poetry, plays the lute like an angel
and has a gift for embroidery.
As a matter of fact, Amelie, why don't you take a look
at the annunciation tapestry in the map room?
Stunning work.
There is no scrap of courtly advantage
you won't stoop to grasp, is there?
Even offering your own niece as a mistress.
Don't we all have a duty to grasp what life offers?
But as a king may not stoop to grasp,
his subjects must offer.
As long as you're offering things,
kindly do me the favor of making it known I am not seeking a mistress.
Multiple lords have brought both wives and daughters,
so we'll need two extra tables.
We'll also need extra cake, extra everything.
This is the new seating chart.
King Antoine, you're still here. I'd heard...
That I was scheduled to return to Navarre?
So you're keeping tabs on me.
- Well, I take hope from that. - Don't.
I couldn't leave, not without your answer.
My answer is no.
Well, that's not the answer I was hoping to leave with.
So here I'll stay.
I don't trust you, and I don't believe you.
- Why? - Because...
Your suggestion that we should wed as soon as your ailing wife dies
is so rash.
It is rash, and yet here I am.
I can't seem to take back my words, and I can't seem to leave you.
Antoine, I'm married.
If that's your only objection, then you've given me even more hope.
Please, come to me.
So we can talk, just talk.
I'm so sorry, Mary.
If I'd known the kind of guests the event would draw,
I would have canceled the tasting.
It's not your fault.
Rumors of our distance is spreading.
Timing of the event is terrible.
I don't think time would change much for us, Francis.
Yes, well, that is where you and I disagree.
- Not the only place. - Condé.
Does it not strike you as unfair
that I am forbidden to live my life the way I desire?
Don't speak to me of your desire for another.
My desire to put the horrors of my past behind me.
- I feel as though I'm drowning. - Mary.
I need to breathe again. To be happy.
An affair with Condé endangers your life
and our countries' alliance.
Is that all there is to it?
No jealousy or regret?
Because you think that if you simply bide your time,
- I will come back to you? - I do think that.
I love you, and I would do anything to undo the choices I made
now that I know their outcome, but I can't.
Nor can I alter the fact that we live in a world
where a queen's infidelity is considered an act of treason
because any child you had must be presumed illegitimate.
The nobles would want your head and demand Condé's,
and I can't promise I could protect either of you.
And in Condé's case, I'm not sure I'd want to.
- I can't do this anymore. - Do what?
Hear the truth of our lives?
I'm sorry, but I am determined to stop you
from making a decision that could cost you your head.
And there is no more to say on the subject.
Ripped By mstoll
Are those the things Antoine gave you?
No, as a matter of fact, I sent those back.
If you want to castigate me...
Don't worry, I'm not seeking an argument.
- I thought we might talk. - Must we?
You had plenty to say the other night.
- What's changed? - I just don't really see the point.
If things have got that bad, how can there not be a point in talking?
Bash, I'm sorry, but I have a banquet to manage.
I'm sorry I took so long.
I kept having to change directions.
I ran into servants at every step of the way.
Have you thought about how you'll achieve this?
I have hired an agent to gather intelligence for me.
I need to know which harbors are safe to land,
which nobles I can trust,
which areas haven't been infiltrated by Elizabeth's troops.
I think I can help with that.
I've arranged a trade delegation from my principality.
It'll book safe passage to Scotland for enough men
to protect a sizable portion of gold
or a queen traveling under a false name.
Louis, that's very generous,
but you'd be opening yourself up to retribution from your king.
My king can't hurt me if he is in France
and I'm in Scotland.
Then you've made up your mind? You want to come with me?
There is no place I'd rather be.
I don't know what to say.
I'm sorry. I can't. It's not yet safe for that.
But for the first time in so long,
I think the time is close.
Fetch me something.
I don't care what it is, but fetch it from far away.
I have to ask you something.
You're a king. You could have anyone.
So honestly, Antoine, why me?
It is not easy for most men to love you.
You lack shame, Kenna, which makes you bold.
It makes you seem open
to the pleasures that men want to give to you,
but later it makes you open to rivals.
This makes men jealous. But not me.
I have no use for shame, and I do not fear rivals.
These are all lovely words, Antoine,
but they don't change the fact you have a wife and I a husband.
You have a husband who no longer trusts you.
I think if you ask him for an annulment, he will grant you one.
I have a dying wife
who wants me to find a mother for our children.
Are you sure you want a mother for your children who has no shame?
I believe shame is the worst thing a parent can teach their children.
I want my children to be joyful and frank and adventurous.
Like you.
But if parenthood is something that doesn't interest you...
No. It does, actually.
More so than it does my husband.
Kenna, my last marriage was for duty and politics.
I want my next marriage to be about something more.
I can't.
I'm so sorry, I have to go.
It's lovely and grand and all, but it won't do.
I need to show my meat and potatoes.
First of all,
try not to refer to your body as "meat and potatoes."
The men you are trying to attract are looking for something more...
- Refined. - Pay attention, Gigi.
Greer knows what she's talking about.
Fine. I'm wearing your nun's habit. What's next?
Excuse me. I'm looking for...
Greer.
- Is this a bad time? - No! Yes! I, uh...
My attending ladies and I were just trying on dresses.
- Attending ladies? - Shh!
I'll meet you downstairs, shall I?
All right.
Later. I'll tell you everything later.
I, uh... I was deployed at Languedoc.
That's when I heard the news.
I checked for you at the castle
and that's when I learned that you'd moved here, to town.
Bugger off!
- I'm not going anywhere until... - Pay no attention.
The customers like to complain the beer's been watered down.
But as soon as they drink enough of it, they settle.
What?
I'm not used to hearing you speak like that.
No, I meant what news?
Lord Castleroy. I'm afraid he's in prison.
Convicted of treason for funding the castle attack.
Wealthy friends commuted his death sentence, so he'll live.
But he'll never be free again.
- My God. - Not ever.
Poor Aloysius.
I worried when I hadn't heard from him, but...
That's it then.
Any chance we had of a future...
I'm so sorry.
Greer, how are you faring?
I'm all right.
Without your husband or your position with Mary?
It's been an adjustment, of course, but I'm finding my way.
How?
Thank you for taking the time to bring me news of my husband.
I'm sure it can't have been easy. Good day to you, Leith.
And good luck, now that you're back.
Brother!
You don't look to be dressed for the tasting.
I was about to take a ride.
It will have to be a short ride if you don't want to miss a meeting
with the English queen's envoy.
He's anxious to meet her new Bourbon suitor.
You'll have to reset the meeting. I can't do it tonight.
I went to considerable lengths to get us this meeting.
You'll have to do better than "not tonight."
I have my own principality, Antoine,
with needs that concern me and not you.
It concerns me if your principality might get in the way
of our family obtaining a kingdom.
You can't have a new kingdom without me as king.
I'd bear that in mind.
I'm looking forward to tasting your vintage, Majesty.
Greatly.
Lady Amelie, I'm sorry to say I will miss tonight's festivities.
But I do hope you enjoy them.
Are you sure? Will you reconsider?
Mary, I was just explaining to Lord Stephan's niece
that I can't make it to the tasting tonight.
Because you and I are set to review the plans for that new reliquary.
Those plans aren't ready for us to review just yet.
And in any case,
I will be spending the night at the abbey of Saint Seraphina.
So your night is free.
Completely free, as I'm sure you are aware.
Are you certain, Mary?
I am.
It's a long ride to the warming lodge where we're meeting my agent.
Are you ready? Is there an explanation for your absence?
- Yes. - There's nothing holding us back.
I need to choose a safe harbor to land
in a region firmly under Catholic control,
so that as I move my small fighting force
across the countryside, it only grows.
By the time I reach my enemies, I will have an army at my back.
Can you find this information for me?
I can, Majesty, given time.
- How much time? - I'll need at least a week.
Probably two, to be safe.
Then hurry, Ridley. And thank you.
Louis, it's happening. It's finally happening.
Do you know what this means? I can move forward.
We can move forward.
I can unify my country
and we can have a place to be together.
I want to celebrate too when it's safe.
We should get you back to the castle.
But why?
No one knows we're here.
And we are alone.
Mary, we needn't rush anything.
You have never rushed me, and you have always been by my side.
I feel safe with you.
Lords and ladies,
we are gathered tonight to commemorate a most special vintage,
bottled to commemorate the birth of a most special Dauphin.
Please, join me in toasting King Francis.
- Cheers! - Cheers!
Sample the vintage and you'll note the many ways
it is like our fine, young king.
It is elegant, understated, yet bold.
All these young ladies hoping to catch the king's eye.
Why not you?
Is that what you were hinting at earlier?
To answer your question, because I am Mary's lady.
- Mm-hm. - And friend.
Also you despise me.
Why are you looking at me that way?
Because you're the mother of my son's child.
You have given Francis something that Mary hasn't
and probably never will.
And he likes you.
You could make him very happy.
What more could a mother want for her son?
- Kenna. - Bash.
I wasn't expecting to see you here.
I've decided it's far past time that I danced with my wife.
I'm sorry.
- Bash, you don't need to... - Yes, I do.
If you think our marriage is so far gone
it's not even worth discussing,
I must have done something wrong.
I know I work too hard.
When I am around,
I'm either distracted or in a bad mood.
But I don't want that to be our relationship.
So I had a thought.
Let's go to Paris.
- Paris? Why? - You love Paris.
- But you hate it. - I will love it for you.
I used to know how to make you happy.
I want to be that husband again.
- What do you think? - I don't know what to say.
Francis, have you seen Mary?
She told me that she planned on spending the evening
at the abbey of Saint Seraphina.
How we used to dance at these parties,
and now she can barely stand to be near me.
Or in the same castle, apparently.
I'm sorry to interrupt,
but my uncle sent me to give you a private message.
Something he's learned of one of the lords.
Of course.
Excuse me.
What's this message that's so important?
I'm sorry, Majesty.
There is no message.
All that wine and the look of you, I just...
Is this your choosing or has someone pressured you?
Your uncle, Lord Narcisse, for example?
He encouraged it.
But when I saw you, the choice is mine.
Is that what he told you to say?
Lady Amelie, I offer you nothing.
If I were you, I would leave.
But you're not me, are you?
You're not a girl who's spent all her life
watching a handsome young prince become a king.
You may not offer me anything,
but you wouldn't be taking anything from me either.
I've lain with other boys, but never a man like you.
And as to your marriage...
I've learned to live with wanting things I can't have.
That's a lesson I'd like to learn.
I'm all right.
- Louis, I think... - It's enough for now.
For now.
Did I fall asleep?
That was...
You are talented.
You were so lost in it.
Was that what you wanted? To lose yourself?
You are quite lovely, Lady Amelie. Thank you.
I have to go.
Will you be all right?
- What was that for? - Fun. What of it?
That's enough of that.
We've been seen.
Who was that woman? She saw us together.
She could tell anyone. It would mean our heads.
She won't.
Go back to the castle. Wait for me there.
Yah! Yah! Yah!
Who are you? What is your business in these parts?
Antoine.
You can't honestly be surprised that I protected my own interests.
After you balked at your meeting with Elizabeth's envoy,
I had you followed.
You may go.
And don't worry. She's loyal to me.
Your secret's safe. For now.
- Is that a threat? - You're jeopardizing your future.
Our family's future.
- You must end your affair with Mary. - I will not.
You will do what your family needs.
Or I will tell Francis all that I know of you and his wife.
He will cut off my head, Antoine. Who will get you Elizabeth then?
Well, you won't help me now.
Why should I think you'll help me if I let you live?
And remember, if the nobles learn of the affair,
the law demands Mary's head, too.
Will you risk Mary's life for a few nights of passion?
You have two hours.
End it with Mary or I will end both of you.
Well, you couldn't be with him
when he was a kitchen servant and you were a queen's lady.
That I understand. But now it's different.
He's an officer of the King's Guard, and...
I'm married. Now and forever.
- It's wrong and scandalous. - And you would be ruined.
Aren't you already?
It's not the worst thing in the world, is it?
Is that your man now?
Yes, but he's not my man.
You judge apples by color. Also firmness.
Like this one.
Leith, what...? What are you doing here?
I wanted to offer my friendship.
If you should ever need help with anything,
companionship, rent money,
produce selection, anything.
You're cut off from the castle, but you're never cut off from me.
That's truly kind.
I'm sorry I dismissed you so abruptly before.
I guess I was overcome by pride, foolish pride.
Hands off, pig!
- I don't owe you no poke or no tug. - Shut up!
You heard the girl. Take your hands off her.
Don't make me waste another perfectly good apple.
- They're very expensive. - Leave us alone!
Be a gentleman, sir, and let go of her.
I said it's none of your business.
Actually, it is my business.
Gigi is my neighbor, my friend and...
You mean she's one of your whores?
I've seen you pocket your take from them.
You tell your whore she ain't done her job
and I want what's mine, one way or another.
You'll step away from Gigi now or everyone here will understand
why the working girls call you Old Shrivel.
Would you like that, sir?
Who needs you? Out of my way.
- You all right? - Thank you.
You showed him, Greer.
Did you find the woman?
She led me straight to the man she works for.
- The man who sent her to follow me. - Follow you?
- Who was it? Francis? - My brother.
Antoine knows about us? About Scotland?
Nothing of Scotland, not yet.
Why would he have you followed?
Does he suspect you of something?
Is there some issue between the two of you?
My brother seeks advantage whenever he can.
And now he has it.
Mary, we need to reconsider our plans.
- Scotland, all of it. - Why?
Antoine said that if we don't break it off,
he'll tell Francis what he knows.
It would cost you your head.
Why would he risk your life to keep us apart?
I... I don't know.
Then we must face reality.
We cannot be together, not now.
As much as I want you, I will not risk your life to be with you.
I'm so sorry.
I would have given anything to go on the way we were.
To join you in Scotland.
I know.
Forgive me, but you look ghastly.
Yes, well, I've felt better. When I've had more sleep.
I saw you leave the tasting last night with Narcisse's niece.
She came back hours later, all smiles.
- And you never came back at all. - Lola, don't.
Don't give up on her, Francis.
I know Mary's pushing you away,
but given what she's been through, it's what she needs to do.
All she needs is time.
You, you sound exactly like me and like me, you're wrong.
Mary doesn't want time.
- What she wants is Condé. - No.
No, she admitted it, Lola. She wants to be with him.
I forbade it, of course. Can you imagine what that was like?
Telling my wife after all she's been through that no,
she cannot have the one thing she believes will make her happy.
An affair that would get her killed.
Look, I know this must hurt.
But if you can't dissuade Mary from this course,
then you owe it to her to do what you can to protect her.
As a king, you can squash rumors.
If that fails, you can shield them from the severest punishment.
It is a betrayal.
Do you think Mary turns to Condé to hurt you?
She loves you.
She does what she does because she sees no other option.
She's desperate to get past her pain, to heal.
So I should stand by, a king,
and grant my wife free rein to be with another man?
I don't know, Francis.
It depends on how much you love her.
And how much you want her to heal.
And to heal yourself.
Majesty, your queen has arrived and she bids that you join her.
- Jeanne? She's here? Since when? - She arrived a few minutes ago.
Hurry. My wife needs a chair.
- Your Grace. - My lady.
- Some water! Water! - Are you all right, my darling?
Give me one moment.
Kenna, please stop.
Listen, whatever you think you may know,
my wife is pregnant, yes, but she's still very ill.
That's why I sent for her. I thought she might want to meet...
Enough! You didn't invite her. I did.
I had to see this illness of hers for myself.
- So you were testing my story. - Bash was right.
Your intention was vengeance on him for killing your brother.
You never intended to marry me, not for one moment.
Just to bed me, to punish my husband.
You're right. It began that way, but...
- I do want you. - As what?
I thought I'd convince you to be my mistress.
Because I'd be ruined.
And my husband humiliated.
Well, I can't deny hoping for that last bit.
You judge me, but you don't know who these people are.
They've committed atrocities.
Murder by the thousands.
They are rulers. This is the price they pay.
You can still leave with me.
I will love you and make you happy.
I am happy and I love my husband.
If my wife had arrived gravely ill, you'd have left your husband.
Your marriage is already over.
You just don't know it yet.
- Francis, we need to talk. - I know.
I was going to come and find you once I could bring myself to do it.
- I assume you're here about Condé. - In a way, yes.
He is yours.
You're free to do as you please.
I don't understand. What's changed?
I cannot bear to see you in pain.
And I will not be the cause of any more suffering.
Even if your pain results
from being kept from another man whom you desire.
- Francis... - It's best that you don't interrupt.
This is not easy or pleasant, and I'm not even sure if it's wise.
But if you sincerely believe
that your best path to healing is at his side,
I will not stand in your way.
You may remain at court with Condé with my protection.
Don't make me regret this, Mary. For God's sake, be careful.
Just don't be seen with him.
I will protect you as best I can, silence any rumors I'm able to.
- But if there is ever proof... - If we are caught together.
If there is a child.
I'm sorry we've come to this.
Well, it's as you suggested months ago.
Let us hope that this allows one of us to be happy at least.
Ask for Baron Eduard at the ball
and tell him you're seeking his training
in how to become more skillful courtesans.
That should flatter his ego.
Teach us to be better whores? I like it.
Wish us luck.
My, how the tables have turned.
Now it's you who fears being seen with me.
Greer, you all but announced at that market that you are...
A madam? I am, Leith.
You must separate yourself from this trade, from these women.
I'm trapped in a marriage to a man in prison for treason.
Disgraced in the eyes of the Crown and most of this village.
I have nothing to offer any man.
And little enough to offer a friend. Except for the women I'm helping.
I can't give that up. Not even for your approval.
It's a hard enough life without seeing your disappointment.
So I'll make it easier on both of us and go elsewhere.
I don't care what you do. I don't care what they say.
I want you. I want you.
Don't. Don't stop.
I got word that you were leaving.
I'm finding this French court extremely trying.
I'd like to leave with at least one prospect intact.
Please tell me you've ended things with Mary,
so I don't have to go back inside
and tell Francis what you've been doing with his wife.
You told me that blood, family is everything
and I am your brother.
- I don't think you'd risk my death. - It is you who is taking the risk.
- And for what? - Love.
Mary will never leave Francis.
She has a duty not only to France, but to Scotland.
I don't need a lecture on politics, Antoine.
Then on love.
For theirs was rumored to be great.
If Mary can turn away from her husband
after being married for less than a year,
then she is a fickle and foolish woman.
That may have been your one chance to harm a king and live.
When this is over, you will be running for your life.
Having turned down the queen of England
who will despise you,
and been cast aside by the Queen of Scots,
who will want you gone.
Your parting will happen slowly, by the way,
as Mary knows you've risked your life.
Oh, my guess is that she'll inch back to her husband,
feeling guilty for costing you your head.
Because even Mary knows
that Francis will find a way to kill you for this.
A knife in the back, perhaps.
The Valois way.
Please, be sensible, Louis.
Meet with Elizabeth's envoy.
Build a future controlled by you,
not the changeable heart of a woman.
I have to go.
I've left a parting gift for Kenna and Bash
and soon I'll be even less welcome than I am now.
Bash, if you meant what you said
and you'll take me to Paris, then I would like to go soon.
Now, even.
Someone left this letter on my desk.
It's addressed to the queen of Navarre, Antoine's wife.
It's an invitation to the tasting. Written by you.
Um... It must have been dropped off here after the queen presented it.
Why did you invite her in the first place?
You write, "We do hope your recent illness
will not prevent your attendance."
What recent illness? Who told you the queen was sick?
Why was this left on my desk? Is it some kind of coded message?
Is this Antoine's work? Kenna, say something.
Please stop! Just stop!
I'm so tired of all the lies.
Of making you believe I'm someone I'm not.
He asked me to marry him, Bash.
He said he'd make me a queen.
He was lying, of course.
But I was ready to say yes.
I wanted it. I wanted a different life.
I wanted things you could never give me.
And never can.
Then there is no reason for me to be here.
Look at that forehead. So smooth.
Free of worry.
- I envy him of that. - I do too.
I thought you'd want to know that I took your advice.
I let Mary go.
- You did? - I did.
I hated it, every moment of it.
But now, somehow I feel better.
Awful, but better.
You are a kind and selfless man.
And you were right. As you so often are.
Now that Mary is free to move on without me...
I find that I'm free to do the same.
Lately I've found that
the only times I feel truly safe in this castle,
untaxed, unworried and peaceful
as this lucky child here is when I'm with you.
Francis, no.
We both still love Mary.
And who knows?
When she finds the strength to truly love again,
you may find you're not as free from her as you think.
- Louis, come in quickly. - I got your summons. I was worried.
Francis has had a change of heart. He's not going to stand in our way.
- We have to be discreet, but... - As soon as we go to Scotland...
Well, there's no need to rush our departure now.
- We can be cautious. - How cautious?
Why?
What if Francis changes his mind again?
What if this promise of safety here is fleeting?
Francis has given this much painful thought.
- He didn't decide this easily. - Exactly!
What man, what king, would give another man his wife?
Mary, we need to get out of here.
You do realize even in Scotland, we would have to be discreet.
Of course I understand that.
But you would be queen of your own nation.
You would have some additional freedom.
Unless you're having second thoughts of leaving at all.
We are going to Scotland.
I am needed there and I want you at my side.
I love you.
How do you feel about Francis?
You don't think this act of unprecedented generosity
is a trick somehow?
Francis has only ever wanted to protect me.
Because he loves you. Because he wants you back.
He's doing this to win you back. I can hear you soften toward him.
You and I have made plans together.
And that hasn't changed.
But we need to trust each other.
Do we trust each other?
All right. Of course, I trust you.
She'll be pleased to hear what you've told me today.
A marriage alliance like this
would be a boon to her people, and yours.
Please send her my warmest personal regards.
From what I've been told there's no queen more beautiful,
gracious or wise than Elizabeth.
Ripped By mstoll