I don't have may Tudor books about Elizabeth's cousin Mary Queen of Scots. Still, while looking through the bookstore, I became interested in Jane Yolen & Robert J. Harris novel of Mary Queen of Scots.
Mary's story is told by her French fool La Jardiniere (who is a real person in Mary's entourage). Her real name was Nicola and she was part of Troupe Brufort (basically a circus family). Her uncle Armand was very abusive but more so towards Nicola, whose mouth sometimes gets her into trouble.
On a faithful rainy day, Troupe Brufort performs for anyone that passes. Then a noble notices them and decides that they will do. It turns out that Mary, Queen of France wanted some lively entertainment to put a smile on King Francis II even though his father has recently passed. The troupe couldn't believe their good fortune and they vowed to wow their royal audience.
You can imagine things went well except when Nicola accidentally rolled under the table. In order to save the performance, she made some witty comments to the delight of the nobles but not to the delight of her uncle. She gets into trouble and runs away into the garden of the palace. Here is where Mary, Queen of France finds her and enjoys talking to Nicola. She will buy Nicola's freedom from her uncle (who doesn't think twice) and Nicola becomes La Jardiniere, the queen's fool. Mary would reference Nicola has her flower in the garden, hence her name.
Nicola meets Mary's friends who are all named Mary. Nicola thinks of nicknames to distinguish them: Regal Mary, Pious Mary, Jolly Mary and Pretty Mary.
Nicola describes Mary's time as Queen of France, with all the good and the bad. As part of Mary's entourage, Nicola learns to read and write. The saddest part of Mary's life is when her beloved husband, Francis II dies. When the talk of remarriage is introduced by her uncles, Mary is not sure of what to do. Mary's mother-in-law Catherine de Medici becomes regent until her son becomes of age, which leaves Mary deciding to return to Scotland (thanks to Nicola's little story). Not everyone is happy to return to Scotland.
The rest of the novel focuses on Mary's time in Scotland. Nicola is amazed at the difference between France and Scotland. The nobles that she meets, she doesn't instantly like even though Mary fully trusts them. It seems that Mary's time in Scotland for the most part was good. Her people loved her and were happy to see her, except for a Protestant reformer John Knox (who didn't like Mary and as her story continues, the more he dislikes her). It starts getting worse when she meets Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. She becomes in love with him (despite Nicola wanting to warn her mistress) and eventually marries him. By this time, Nicola has a first real friend, David Riccio, who they share a kinship.
Nicola witnesses Mary's marriage even though she sorely dislikes Darnley, who is not that faithful to Mary. Despite it all, Mary stays in the marriage even when things do not work out between husband and wife. Still, Mary becomes pregnant thus carry the heir who will inherit Scotland and God willing, also England (due to both parent's pedigree).
At one point, things were so bad for Mary that she was locked away in her chamber because Darnley wanted the crown matrimonial (basically he would rule if something happened to Mary). Quick thinking Nicola decides to play with Darnley's emotion thus freeing Mary. The people involved ran into exile to England to escape punishment when they realized that Mary escaped and they didn't have Darnley anymore. Things between husband and wife were on the edge until Darnley becomes sick. As a faithful wife, Mary tries to nurse him at Kirk o'Field so it seemed that things were on the mend. Around this point, Nicola expresses her dislike for the Earl of Bothwell. Something about him made Nicola dislike him. On one faithful night, Mary thought to send Nicola on an errand to bring a cross that would hope to keep Darnley safe. As Nicola makes her way to Kirk o'Field, she realizes that the king was in danger and tries to save him. Despite her efforts, she witnesses his murder.
As a key witness, Nicola goes into hiding at first with friends of the Queen then to Mary Seton's house. Nicola hopes that Bothwell will be convicted of Darnley's murder but to her disappointment, he was not. Still rumors rise that Bothwell murdered the king and/or Mary was a part of the murder plot.
The last several chapters of Mary's story is during her imprisonment in Loch Leven Castle. With the the four Marys, Nicola becomes involved in trying to help the queen escape. However since the castle is surrounded by a loch, it would be difficult. Mary Seton and Nicola are able to enter the services of the queen during her imprisonment. During this time, Mary had already abdicated her throne for her son, James and until he was off age, Lord Moray would become regent. It would seem that Mary has resigned of any hope of leaving this unhappy castle.
The story ends when Mary releases Nicola from her services right before she goes to England to get sanctuary from her cousin Elizabeth I.
The novel I think gives a different side of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was close to those that were loyal to her and she tried to rule a country that was thought to be unruly. Still, as Elizabeth I would not do, Mary, Queen of Scots ruled with her heart. As she told Nicola to remind her, Mary, Queen of Scots was only a mortal.
