JAMES. Good. No. I’m finished.

An awkward pause.

So now we’re married.

JOAN. Yes.

JAMES. We’ll have the wedding blessed again in Scotland.

Then we can have our wedding night.

JOAN. Yes.

JAMES. I think we can get up now.

JOAN. Sorry?

JAMES. I’m sure even the bishop will think we’ve prayed enough.

JOAN. Oh! Of course.

She’s getting up, he does too.

JAMES. You look… Are you unhappy?

JOAN. No! No, of course not, I… It’s exciting.

JAMES. What is?

JOAN. Being married.

I like your face.

JAMES. Do you?

JOAN. Yes. It’s a nice face. Much nicer than your portrait.

JAMES. I couldn’t believe it when I saw you. Couldn’t believe it.

JOAN. No?

JAMES. It’s you.

JOAN. It is me.

JAMES. No, I mean you’re the woman I saw. In my dream. Out my window. In my poem.

JOAN. It’s a lovely poem.

JAMES. You’ve read it?

JOAN. Oh! No I don’t…

I mean I read, of course but…

Reading makes your eyes sore, doesn’t it?

My ladies say it’s a wonderful poem.

I will read it soon.

The box you sent it in is beautiful. Really beautiful.

JAMES. You should read the poem.

JOAN. Of course. I’m sorry.

JAMES. Some feelings… some things can’t be conversational. Do you understand?

JOAN. I’m really sorry.

JAMES. No!

JOAN. I’ve disappointed you.

JAMES. No! You haven’t! That’s just it you see if you… just read the poem. You’ll understand.

JOAN. I don’t think I will disappoint you. I can keep a household, my lord. I am sure I can keep a court. I can plan. I can buy in. I can supervise the farms and the ponds, the linens and the cellars. You’ll have a clean court with good food on the table every season of the year. I promise you. I can seat a bishop next to an ambassador and juggle the conversation between them. I’ll remember the names of everyone you meet and how much charity they should receive. I can remember the total of your treasury without a scribe and add and subtract it so that your wealth will never escape you. Everything expected of a wife and the keeper of a castle I can do well. I will do well for you. I will give you children if I can. I’m sure I can.

We will do well together if it’s in my power, we will do very well. I know how to be an excellent queen. You’ll see.

Do you have a mistress at the moment?

JAMES. No!

JOAN. Because I’ll make sure I never embarrass you.

JAMES. There’s only you.

Jesus…

JOAN. You’re very kind.

JAMES. There can’t be anyone but you.

JOAN. That’s so kind. What a lovely thing to say. I’m sure we will get on.

JAMES. Is there anything you want to know? Anything you wanted to ask me?

JOAN. Why were you England’s prisoner? I’ve never really understood…

JAMES. Ah… it was… my brother… my elder brother was… he was… sick… he died… and I was only ten. They sent me away to France, to keep me safe… but I was captured by English pirates.