Readers step back in time to 16th-century France in this year-long diary of adolescent Mary Queen of Scots who, for the safety of her crown, has fled from her homeland to the Court of her betrothed in France.

		February 20, 1554 Skating today. Lovely ice. Of course twenty footmen and another dozen or so servants had been scraping it and making it perfect for us children. Even with perfect ice Francis had a terrible time. He is so awkward on anything but a horse. The blacksmith from the stables made some tiny blades for the shoes of little Henry and Charles. Mary Seton and I skate around with the babes between our legs. The little boys are quite wobbly. I think it will be awhile before they are sturdy enough to skate on their own. Puff enjoys the ice very much. She skitters about and then has this trick of skidding on her belly. Thimble is simply too little to bring out in this cold.