"It is fresh to me as if it all had happened yesterday." The queen drew my arm closely to her side and nestled her cheek for an instant upon my shoulder.
"I remember also," I continued, "your marriage with Darnley when I had your promise that you would marry me; and, shame upon shame, I remember your marriage with Darnley's murderer, Bothwell." "Cruel, cruel, Malcolm," she said.

"You well know the overpowering reasons of state which impelled me to sacrifice my own happiness by marrying Darnley.

I told you at the time that I hated the marriage more than I dreaded death.

But I longed to quiet the factions in Scotland, and I hoped to save my poor bleeding people from the evils of war.

You know I hated Darnley.