VIII. A Woman Who Fights Is As Likely to Lose As She Is to Win

WHEN DID MY LIFE BEGIN to spiral dangerously out of control? Was it when I married Henry? Or later, after he was murdered? I wonder now what accommodations I might have made had he lived to bring us some peace and concord. I had already begun to lose the love and loyalty of my people. Perhaps, given the proper guidance, Henry would have grown into his role as king of Scotland. If he had not, would I have been strong enough, wise enough, to rule effectively in spite of him? And what of my brother? What role would he play? As it is, I made a disastrous decision that has brought me to ruin.