Episode 11:
The hanged men are cut down.
Bash and Kenna in bed. She keeps dwelling on Claude. He says please, not now. She knows it's pathetic, she's your sister. Half sister. Let's not talk about our families.
Bash gets summoned to the dead bodies. All of them have the mark of the Dark Riders. Bash tells the Cardinal that this is a matter for the King's justice. The Cardinal says this is a church matter. Your brother has no wish to challenge the Pope.
Mary in her room. Francis brings firewood for her fire. She asks how long he'll keep up this game. He says she's wrong about him trying to pressure her to talk. She wants to go to Chambord. He wants to go with her. She wants to go alone. He says he'll give her extra guards.
Bash thinks the bodies were marked after death. A noble lady comes to the Cardinal and says she saw the mark on a man. She was sinning at the time and will only talk during confession.
The baby is crying. Lola dismissed the nannies. She doesn't feel comfortable leaving him with someone else. Sounds like he has croup.
Cardinal tells Francis and Bash that Conde has been accused of having the brand. He will be brought in and if he has the mark, he'll hang.
Mary has heard the news. Leith is supposed to go with Mary as Chief of the King's Guard, but she says forget about Chambord. She's protecting Conde and devising a way to get him to his brother. Cardinal's men have come for him. He goes out the window to her carriage in the alley.
Catherine working on a potion. Henry is with her. She's putting poison in Claude's soup. Slowly poisoning her prevents Catherine from getting caught. Claude was only five. She didn't know right from wrong. God must take these things in consideration. He says the twins won't doing it quick when they take Claude. They're in the hall. Kenna's ahead of her. Catherine tells her move out of the way. She goes to Claude and starts feeding her the soup.
Kenna tells Bash that Catherine is poisoning Claude. He finds it hard to believe. But if you think Claude is in danger, gather evidence and test your theory.
Mary and Conde and Greer get to Conde's brother Antoine. He says stay. She was planning to continue. But he says how often do we get to talk as Nevar and France.
Bash and Francis. Bash says Conde escaped with Mary. Francis is impressed. Bash knows. Kenna told him. He asks if Mary is alright. Francis doesn't know. But it's time I work with her. I want her to see the man and king she thought she married. You can't openly oppose the Vatican. But.... Bash gets an idea.
A show put on at King Antoine's. Conde tells her she shouldn't stay just to be polite. Beautiful fed embroidered dress on Mary. Leith and Greer say this is awkward. Antoine toasts Mary. His game is to pair those that share secret desire for each other. Sends them to make out and more on a bed in front of everyone. Greer leaves the party. Mary decides to leave as well. Conde tries to follow. Antoine stops him. Tells Conde he should get close to Mary. Conde says no. Come on...take her to your bed, and the rest will follow. He says Mary has no feelings for him. I'm not interested in her. She's a bit prudish for my tastes.
Kenna visits Claude.
Cardinal in bed with another man! They discuss the cardinal's potential rise in power if he can bring down Conde. There's only one rung above cardinal, you know. His lover says he'll make sure he's not seen. In the hall, he is, by a hooded man that brands him. The man runs away. Bash did it. But got a cut on his arm for the trouble.
The king's party. He pairs Conde with a lady. They take a walk outside. She kisses Conde.
Mary and Greer. Mary says everything feels so distant. I can't stand any man touching me. Greer says it'll pass. Mary doesn't know. Only opinion she has to go on is Catherine's. What if this is my life from now on? Greer says you will recover. You're strong. I don't feel strong. Greer says if your heart wants to sleep, let it. You can't force the heart.
Conde says he can't do this. Another holds my heart. I can't get her out of my mind. She says it's a pity. A man like you should not go unclaimed. She blindfolds him and says now I'm her. Roleplay time. He gets into the fantasy.
Kenna visits Claude again, who is sitting up in bed and looking better. Claude says my mother is taking perfectly good care of me! Kenna says you're blind! Catherine is poisoning you. Claude tells her to get out. Kenna says she's sorry, truly am. Sorry for Claude. She leaves. Claude says you don't know everything, because if you did, you'd know Bash and I were lovers!
Cardinal is shown the cleric. Bash says the man claims he was attacked. Francis says take him to the dungeon. The man says I wounded the attacker on the right arm! Francis and Bash press the cardinal. He says he'll pray for the man's soul and leaves. Francis says there's time.....he'll back down. Bash hopes he's right. Or we'll have to execute an innocent man.
Conde visits Mary. Came to say goodbye. Thank you for helping me. She was glad to do it. He says she might be safer in Scotland than France. She says it's for me to deal with. There are things about my marriage you don't know. I don't trust your motives in this advice. I read your letter. He says it was not an attempt at seduction. She knows. She's not accusing him. He says goodbye, then. She says goodbye, and may you have better fortune than France has offered you thus far.
Kenna tells Bash that Claude said you were lovers. He says it was years ago. We were very young and very drunk. It happened once. There's nothing between Claude and me. Kenna spots his cut. He says he's fine. Stop questioning me. She says I've shared so many things with you! He says fine, you want honesty, I kill when it's expedient, I lie when it's expedient. That's who I am.
Cardinal pleads with Bash. Ask Francis for mercy. Bash says try convincing Francis this was not the mark of religious radicals. Cardinal grabs Bash's arm and Bash winces. There's blood staining his sleeve now. Will the Cardinal put two and two together?
Mary's ready to leave, when guards come to arrest Conde. Oh dear.
Conde with Mary and Leith. He says he'll surrender. She says no. We'll get rid of the brand. She puts his sword in the fire. Conde says she has a higher opinion of the king than he does. She says Francis will help. Very well. He takes his shirt off and tells Leith to do it now. Mary holds his hand through the pain.
Mary says Conde was wounded in a drunken sparring incident with Leith. Leith says yes. We'll all go back to court together.
Mary tells Greer they're going back. She's not hiding alone anymore. She knows Francis is in pain, too. She misses how easy it used to be between them. Greer asks her if she's ready to try.
Cardinal tells Francis that Bash is behind the attack. Francis says yes, with my knowledge, and this blood between factions must end. Cardinal says he's a fool. Francis says you will leave France or your cleric will die. Crush me and Randall will die. And you love him. Cardinal says he's not worth the price. Oh no? Francis knows love. It's cold here in Northern France. You give your warming tray to Randall. Caring about someone's suffering more than your own is love. The Cardinal agrees to Francis's terms.
Francis visits Lola and the baby. He takes the boy and he stops crying. She's relieved. And asleep.
Conde back at court. Bash welcomes him. Mary asks what's happening. Bash says you'll be proud of Francis. They leave Leith and Greer alone. She asks if he enjoyed himself at the party. He says her jealousy only gives him hope, so don't ask.
Claude looking around in Catherine's room. Poison? Why? You murdered your sisters. What? You resented their very existence. You'd pinch them. Claude says she'd never-- You would and you did. Catherine says you shoved flowers from your dress down their throats. Claude says no, I didn't. Maybe I was weeping because I was sad! Because I didn't do it! Catherine says she wishes it were true. I lied for you, protected you. So now you try to kill me after all these years? Catherine sees Henry and the twins. Claude says if you want me to die, then say it! She prevents Claude from taking more poison and holds her. Henry and the twins fade away.
Mary finds Francis asleep with the baby and Lola.
Next week - Francis and Conde fight over Mary.
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