Over fifty years have passed since the Queen married the Dauphin. After her wedding, we knew that she would become Queen of France one day, but we did not anticipate that it would happen so soon. But one hot summer day, barely a year after she and Francois had said their vows in Notre Dame, King Henri was dead and Francois was king. 

Some said it was the prediction of Nostradamus that came true; that it was fate and was written in the stars. Others say it was merely ill-luck, that he chanced to have a lance pierce his eye while jousting. Who can really say what the truth of the matter is? 

At first there was confusion among the royal party. 

"What has happened?" murmured Queen Catherine, as she rose from her seat at the side of the tiltyard, where the royal la...

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