| A Chill in the Air | |
| Season 1, Episode 5 | |
 | |
| Air date | November 14, 2013 |
| Written by | Jennie Snyder Urman |
| Directed by | Bruce McDonald |
| <font-family:Trajan Pro;font color="white">Episode Guide | |
| previous Hearts and Minds |
next Chosen |
- "I always knew Francis had a past. Men are allowed to have them, whereas we have our
reputations ruined.
Hardly seems fair." - —Queen Mary
Synopsis[]
Francis Reunites with an Ex, Causing Mary to Turn to Bash
When Olivia (Yael Grobglas), who is an ex-lover of Francis', arrives at the castle, she brings the dangers of the woods with her. Mary seeks comfort in Bash. Bash is threatened by heretics for interfering with a sacred blood rite. Meanwhile, Aylee is forced to spy on Mary when Queen Catherine blackmails her.
Plot[]
The episode opens with a carriage on its way to the castle, when suddenly, a young man runs up in front of it and infoms the driver that the King's road is flooded, suggesting that they cut through the woods instead. The driver heeds his warning and heads for the woods. But there, one of the wheels gets stuck in the dirt and the driver gets killed. Among the two ladies inside, one of them has her throat slit, while the other manages to escape.
At French Court, Mary and Francis are on the best terms they've been on since Mary arrived at court, thanks to Scotland's borders being secured. They share their feelings for each other in a playful, roundabout way and seal it with a kiss.
Hanging out at the festival.
At The Harvest Festival, Mary and her ladies encounter Sebastian. He notes that Mary seems to be enjoying her time at court, and she confirms his statement, adding that it's mainly because of his brother. After Bash walks away, Lola warns Mary to be careful about Bash, because he has feelings for her. Aylee and Kenna point out that Lord Castleroy has been staring at Greer all morning. They encourage her to talk to him, so she does. While conversing, Greer steals a glance at Leith, who is staring at her. She accidentally spills wine on herself and leaves to clean it up. Leith follows her, and when he catches up to her, shows her a trick on how to get the stain out.
Mary pressing Bash about Olivia.
Francis shows Mary a boat he made for her, which he named after her. Their moment is interrupted by a guard, who informs Francis that a woman was attacked in the woods, came to court and is asking for him. The woman is brought before him and he immediately embraces her and takes her away. Bash takes Francis' place at Mary's side and explains he and the woman, Olivia used to share a mathematics tutor, until Olivia left a few months before Mary arrived, leaving Francis brokenhearted.
Francis visits Olivia in the infirmary and questions why she returned to court. Olivia answers that she returned because her engagement was over when her intimacy with Francis had become public knowledge. He also inquires about her attack in the woods and realizes that the people who tried to slaughter her used the same language that Bash had used in the woods.
Bash and a few guards are in the woods on the spot where the driver of the carriage was hung to be used as a pagan sacrifice. Despite the protests of his guards, Bash interrupts the sacrifice.
In her chambers, Francis explains the nature of his relationship with Olivia to Mary. He tells her that although they had a dalliance a few months ago, all he feels for her now is a sense of responsibility.
Later, the girls are resting in the commonroom as Aylee tries to read a Virgil, but Greer keeps interrupting her by lamenting about her pepper-obsessed suitor. Olivia comes in, drawing everyone's attention. Queen Catherine walks away from her table and over to Mary, telling her that they find themselves alligned for once, implying that she dislikes Olivia more than Mary. Mary invites Olivia to hang out with them and offers to lend her a dress for the Harvest Festival.
The two brothers walking and talking.
Francis finds Sebastian on horseback and asks what he told Mary about Olivia. Sebastian says that he only informed Mary of Olivia being Francis' first, and didn't mention of how many. Seeing Francis upset, he apologizes for overstepping his bounds. Francis then tells him that he believes Olivia's carriage was overrun by pagans and that they were told the king's road was flooded, which was a lie because it isn't.
Aylee is walking down the hall, when she trips and a ring falls out of her hand, landing directly in front of Queen Catherine, who happens to be passing by. The Queen picks the ring up and recognizes it as one of Mary's Rings. At first, Aylee claims that she was returning it to Mary, but she soon admits that she took it from her. She begs Catherine not to tell anyone, because she would be sent home in disgrace. The Queen decides to think on it and walks away.
While picking out dresses for Olivia to wear at the Harvest Festival, Mary shows compassion for Olivia's situation, but Olivia throws it back by essentially staking a claim on Francis. Olivia even goes as far as to reveal that Francis spoke of marrying her.
- "I always knew Francis had a past. Men are allowed to have them, whereas we have our reputations ruined. Hardly seems fair."
- —Queen Mary
Nostradamus is tending to the driver and deems Bash a fool for interrupting yet another one of the pagans' sacrifices. He claims that Bash has defiled their faith and advises him to stay in the castle in the coming days for his own safety.
Mary confronts Francis about his talk of marriage with Olivia. Francis passes it off as a moment of weakness, which Mary understands, but she also doesn't feel comfortable having Olivia around anymore. She suggests that they send Olivia away to live at a Viscount's house in Paris, and Francis agrees.
Catherine scheming.
Queen Catherine seeks to make a deal with Aylee. Catherine tells her that for her to keep her secret, Aylee must pass her letters from Mary to her mother. Aylee is reluctant to agree to her proposal at first, but Catherine proceeds to threaten her into it.
Olivia pays a visit to Francis, sneaking a bottle of liquor into his chamber. She pours them both a glass and starts reminiscing about last year. He instead brings up how he's planning on sending her to a very well-reputable family in Paris to host her for however long she'd like. Olivia is shocked.
Meanwhile, Greer asks for Leith to quit pursuing her for the sake of protecting her reputation.
Francis and Olivia making out.
Back to Olivia and Francis, Francis admits that he's sending her away because Mary is uncomfortable with her presence at court, given Olivia's past with him. Olivia proceeds to confess her lingering feelings for Francis and offers herself to him as a mistress. Francis tries to discourage her, but Olivia continues. She eventually leans in for a kiss, and for a very brief moment, Francis kisses her back. However, he soon stops it.
At the festival, Mary finds out from Kenna that Olivia's belongings are being unpacked in the east wing, likely because she's staying at court. After Kenna leaves to inquire again, Catherine comes up to Mary and divulges Kenna's affair with King Henry to her.
Stay safe out there.
Greer is talking with Lord Castleroy, her suitor, who brings up pepper yet again. A few feet away from him is Bash, who is engaged in a conversation with two ladies, before Nostradamus comes along and pulls him aside to talk to him. Nostradamus notifies him that the driver has succumbed to his injuries. He tells Sebastian of the conversation he had with the man before he passed, mentioning the pagans' need for sacrifices. Apparently, they need fresh human blood as a sacrifice for a beast that lives in a cave in the woods, the location of which only a few people know.
Kenna approaches Mary and Mary confronts her about her affair with the King. She advises her to end it, but Kenna does not care about Mary's opinion and tells Mary that she no longer answers to her but the King. Right after she walks away, Francis walks up to Mary to let her know that Olivia is staying, which Mary already knows. Mary then finds out that something happened between Francis and Olivia, but Francis 'stopped it'. Mary demands that Olivia be sent away immediately, but Francis insists on her staying. He then poses taking Olivia as his mistress as an option, prompting Mary to compare him to his father.
Mary and Bash kissing.
Mary joins Sebastian on the lakeside and they share a cask of wine. A clearly drunk Mary then laments to Sebastian about Francis. She is angry that Francis can do whatever he wants with whomever he wants while she has to wait for him. She stops ranting, asking Sebastian if she is overreacting and boring him. He admits that he doesn't understand why Francis would look elsewhere when he has Mary. Mary kisses Bash and pulls back in regret, but he pulls her back into a kiss.
- "- That kiss, I shouldn't have done that.
- You're right. I should have." - —Queen Mary to Sebastian
Unbeknown to both of them that Francis saw them kiss from a distance. Mary pulls back and expresses regret at the kiss before leaving to the ship launching.
While writing their regrets on a ribbon, Mary tries to talk to Francis, but he doesn't wish to do so. Francis is noticeably distant from her and quickly leaves once the ships launch, finding Olivia and walking off with her as Mary watches.
Starting an illicit affair.
Greer runs up to Leith to tell him that she wishes to pursue a relationship with him in secrecy. She knows she has the responsibility of finding a wealthy suitor to preserve her family's fortune, but for now, she just wants to enjoy her youth. That's enough for Leith to sweep her off her feet and kiss her passionately.
Queen Catherine talks with Olivia. It is revealed that Catherine was responsible for Olivia's return to court, and that her intention is to have Olivia seduce Francis and turn his attention away from Mary.
Aylee confesses to Mary and Mary expresses that she thinks that Catherine is behind Olivia's reappearance at the castle.
"Choose someone to sacrifice, or we will choose for you.
At the end of the episode, Sebastian is knocking the dirt out of his boots when the pagan who was involved in the slaughter of Olivia's driver and servant, tells him that he has taken something that doesn't belong to him. The man adds that it wasn't the first time he has stolen from them, and Sebastian remembers cutting down Colin's body. He tells him to pick another sacrifice from the castle, and if he doesn't, they will chose one for him. He then throws himself off the balcony, falling to his death.
Quotes[]
Queen Mary: I always knew Francis had a past. Men are allowed to have them, whereas we have our reputations ruined. Hardly seems fair.
Prince Francis: We've been old enough to drink for a while now.
Olivia D'Amencourt: Yes, I know, but smuggling it in was always half the fun.
Olivia D'Amencourt: Do you know how many nights I would lay in bed and remember how you used to touch me.
Olivia D'Amencourt: I would rather have some small part of you than none of you at all.
Queen Mary: That kiss, I shouldn't have done that.
Sebastian: You're right. I should have. (kisses Mary back)
Notes[]
- This episode marks the first appearance of Olivia D'Amencourt.
- This episode introduces the Pagans.
- Lady Aylee was reading about the ancient city of Troy.
- The House of Habsburg is once again brought up with the introduction of Lord Castleroy, who is 16th removed from the Crown of Spain, and a member of the Habsburg dynasty. That possibly makes him a relative of King Philip of Spain, who is King Henry's son-in-law.
Trivia[]
- Adelaide Kane is wearing a custom designed dress for the majority of the episode.
Historical Notes[]
- Unlike in the show, Paganism was a rather loose term applied to anything that wasn't Christian or Judaic in the 1500s. There was no cabal of pagans gathered near the French court and if there had been, the entire forest would have been burned to drive them out and anyone suspected of participating or aiding them would have been executed.
Characters[]
| Character debut | |
| Speaking debut | |
| Episode debut |
