Although she is living in France, Mary, Queen of Scots, is extremely patriotic towards Scotland and longs to return to the country of her birth. Her four best friends and ladies-in-waiting, all named Mary, are all as passionately Scottish as she is.This book is the story of Mary's life at the French court. She reflects on her impending marriage to the French Dauphin (crown prince) Francis, who is one of her best friends. However, Mary despises his mother, Queen Catherine de Medici, and Catherine's henchmen. She admires the French king, Henry II, and his mistress, Diane de Poitiers (somewhat excessively). The book is entertaining, and the characters are lively and realistic (but sometimes one-dimensional, like Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici).