<sub>I've made my major into the study of Mary's life, so hopefully I can help you withn your question.
Mary did not think that marrying Bothwell would help her keep her lords under control. In fact, marrying of him was political suicide. The rest of the lords hated him and blamed him for Darnley's murder outside Kirk-O'-Field. The reason, or apparent reason, that Mary married Bothwell was because she was "forced" into it. According to what we can read from letters, Mary was kidnapped by Bothwell one day while riding and taken hostage in his castle. There, it is said, that he raped her, and said that he would marry her whether she wanted him to or not. This would serve in raping her, for if he did, Mary would be forced to marry him to protect her honour. Mary then married Bothwell.
The debate comes in to whether or not Bothwell and Mary were in love far before their marriage. There is evidence to suggest that they were having an affair while Mary was still wed to Darnley, and that Darnley suspected, and that is why he was bent on killing Mary, from obsession and jealous. There are letters and documents that SUPPORT this, but do not prove it. There is also the fact that, even after Mary was captured, she and Bothwell continued to exchange letters. This is used as support for the Mary/Bothwell in love theory because, according to logic, why would Mary exchange letters with a man that raped her, forced her into marriage, that she hated? One would think that, had she hated Bothwell so, she would've ceased sending him letters. Again, this is derived by logic and supported by documents, but not proven. The way the kidnap and rape is explained by supporters of the "in love" theory is that Mary and Bothwell hatched the plans themselves to give them an excuse to marry in a situation that would have been forbidden otherwise. Supporters ask, why, if the Queen had been kidnapped, did not her supporter lords call out their forces and storm Bothwell's stronghold in an attempt to get her back? Even the rebel lords would have been in support of finding fault with Bothwell (since they hated him so), and in getting Mary back, because without her, they could not pass any of their measures.
I personally, from the documents and letters I have studied, lean more towards the opinion that Mary and Bothwell were in fact, in some sort of "love." It matched with Mary's character, and the face is well supported in the letters. Again, not proven, but supported. There is much more specific support I could offer, but I doubt you want to read a post that is a novel's length. I hope this answers your question!
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
SCOTLAND THE BRAVE
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