Plot

Young, reckless and provocative Princess Claude makes a surprise visit home, torturing her already haunted mother, Catherine. Francis is pressured by Narcisse to act against his conscience or risk his throne and his wife. Mary finds a new ally in Condé. Francis confides in Bash and hatches a plot that involves an uncertain Lola. Kenna mistakes Claude for a newfound friend, while Greer returns earlier than expected from her wedding tour.

King Francis II hates Stéphane Narcisse's league of nobles' 'patriotic instructions' to demand all subjects swear an oath of allegiance to the crown incompatible with the Protestant faith, so the heretics can be persecuted by the Inquisition, but fears exposure of his fratricidal regicide. He confides in Bash, seeking a way out, not into Lola, who must however plant ciphered fake evidence to eliminate the blackmailer, whose mistress she now is, but is told that Francis is the dishonest party. Catherine is absorbed by the return of her maverick daughter Claude, who even seduced the priest charged with accompanying her form the monastery, and tormented by the twin ghosts of her young-died sisters Henriette and Emone. Louis Condé, a prince of the royal blood, is the first noble who dares reveal himself a protestant and break Narcisse's front, but not the last, so Francis gathers the courage to delay the decree, but is warned his whole dynasty would be tortured to death if he is accused of regicide. Bride Greer returns early, confiding her husband may soon be exposed as Protestant.—KGF Vissers