Nicola Ambruzzi is a 13-year-old orphan living and performing with her uncle's troupe when they are summoned off the street to entertain at the court of Francis II, the young king of France. The troupe's performace didn’t turn out as entertaining to the court, but Nicola’s clever words attracts the attention of the queen, Mary, also known as Mary, Queen of Scots. The queen engages Nicola as a jester, or fool, that will always speaking truth to her. She is called "La Jardiniere" because the queen discovered her in the palace gardens.
At first, Nicola feels as if she has walked into a fairy tale, so relieved is she to be warm, dry, well-fed, and far away from the blows of her uncle's cane. But her illusion soon ends as she was weary of traveling from palace to palace, frightened when there was sudden outburst from those who were rebellious. Later then Francis II dies, and Mary, no longer Queen of France, leaves for Scotland's throne. Nicola, now devoted to her queen, plucks up her courage to go along instead of coming back to Italy.
In Scotland, Nicola finds that Mary is less listened to by her counsel and later on accepts Lord Henry Darnley's proposal of his marriage. Nicola mistrusts and despises the Lord Henry, but does not want to sacrifice her queen’s happiness. Around this time she befriends the ill-fated David Riccio, Mary's new music master and, eventually, her secretary and adviser. He listens to Nicola’s complaints and insults against Lord Henry, now king of Scotland. He doesn’t show it, but he admits to Nicola that he also does not want to serve to a king like Henry, who started to grew apart from Queen Mary as he barely comes home, goes out and play, hunt, and sometimes being in other women into the palace. Everyone knew of his true nature and doesn’t want their queen to discover his recent actions.
To Be Continued….
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