Thank you for my reviews they make me happy. Chapter 2

….

Bash entered his chambers after the ball to find Kenna already in bed and seemingly sleeping. He wondered why she had not told him she was leaving, and was it his imagination or she closer to the edge of the bed, creating a bigger gap between them than usual.

He got into bed besides her trying not to overthink the large amount of space he had. When they first got married he was sure he would never get used to sharing a bed. He loved to sleep in the middle, but along the way he had grown to quite like the warmth that came from sharing a bed and though he would not admit it he found comfort in knowing someone was next to him at night. Bash closed his letting his mind carry him off to another world…

He was woken abruptly by the sounds of shouting and had reached for his sword before really noticing what was happening, daylight streamed through the windows illuminating Kenna sitting on the floor cradling someone yelling at a servant.

"What is going on" Bash asked in a sleepy tone, rubbing his eyes.

"Oh" Kenna had not realised how loud her voice had grown she had not meant to wake him in truth she was not ready to talk to him. "Erm its nothing, leave please," she directed the last words at the servant standing over her who looked panic stricken, the women curtsied and left in a great hurry.

Bash swung himself out of bed begrudgingly and walked over to Kenna, she was holding pieces of something in her hand and more were on the floor.

"What is it?" Bash asked as he bent down to help her gather the pieces, "An ornament of some kind?"

Kenna nodded slowly not looking at Bash instead her eyes stayed fixed on the small pieces of glass in her hand, in a shaky voice she whispered "Yes, it was a figure of a girl dancing, my mother brought it for me just before I left Scotland, she said it reminded her of me when she saw it." Kenna's fingers caressed the pieces.

"Kenna I am sorry" Bash said soothingly place an arm around Kenna's waist "But I am sure your mother won't mind, maybe she can get you another"

Bash knew instantly he had said the wrong thing, as Kenna's eyes filled his tears and they slowly fell down, she looked out of the window, before saying in a barely audible voice, "No she can't my mother died 6 months ago."

"Kenna, I…" Bash tired to pull she closer to him. He wanted to comfort her stop the tears that he felt responsible for, but she recoiled from his touch.

Biting her lip as if not sure whether to continue Kenna said "She was ill, my father wrote begging me to come home, it would have been the last time I would get to see her, hold her."

"Would have?" Bash asked with trepidation.

Kenna laughed bitterly "Would have, Mary told me I could not leave the Castle, that it was not safe for me to travel. It was at a time, you see, when Scotland was being attacked by the English, she said I might never have made it home, there was no persuading her."

Bash looked a Kenna unsure what to say unsure how to feel, "Mary stopped you going." Mary, Bash could not believe it, the Mary he knew would never stop a friend from seeing a dying parent no matter how dangerous. Mary would find a way to make it happen.

"Yes" Kenna said meekly and as if Bash mentioning Mary's name was a trigger she gathered herself, standing up she placed the pieces of glass on the table. "It is not good to dwell on the past, I should go I am late to meet Greer." And with that she left, leaving Bash alone holding the rest of Kenna's shattered glass his mind tormented by a million different thoughts.

…

Kenna loved the Castle library, it was a large room filled with comfortable sofa's and more books than she could count. But more importantly than that it was her secret room. So few people used the library that she could sit for hours, escaping in the pages of a book without being disturbed once. Sitting in the corner by a large window, she opened her current book to the place she left it and began to read letting the tale of adventure take her far away to a land of dragons and witches. She had been reading for about an hour when she noticed a man enter taking a seat at the long oak table and retrieving a book of his own. Kenna would normally have paid the man no attention, but she couldn't help but let her eyes linger on the gentlemen. He was very handsome with dark eyes and olive skin. He was wearing a simple cotton shirt. Not a noble then, Kenna thought to herself . As Kenna continued to look with interest at her new library company he suddenly raised his head meeting her gaze. Kenna quickly looked down at her book feeling her checks grow red she starred determinedly at the words printed in front of her but she read none. She heard a chair move back, oh God, she thought, bet he think I am an idiot.

"May I ask what you read so intently" he spoke with a deep French accent that made Kenna's blush grow even stronger. Taking a deep breath she looked up from her book, he was even more stunning up close.

"Erm, the Golden Tree" she said offering him the book. The stranger took it from her delicately making sure he brushed his fingers lightly against her hand.

He starred at the book for a moment then back at Kenna "A tale of adventure, of escapism" without being asked he sat beside her on the sofa, turning towards her, "And what does a beautiful lady like you need to escape from."

Kenna blushed once more. Taking the book back hurriedly "Who says I am escaping"

The stranger smiled "My lady, a beautiful woman does not hide herself away in a library with old books instead of young men unless she is escaping from something"

Kenna looked away from him, unsure what to say, absentmindedly playing with the ring on her finger, after a moments silence the man spoke again in a different lighter tone "But forgive me, I am teasing you before even introducing myself, I am Pierre Bonard and what may I call you." He took her hand in his while speaking and Kenna felt a spark tingle her hand.

"My name is Lady Kenna, I am a lady in waiting to Mary Queen of Scotland. So what brings a Pierre Bonard to the French court? From your clothes and the feel of your hands my guess is you are no noble, but you speak with a confidence that requires station."

Pierre rubbed his own hands, feeling that skin and laughed at her words, "My, quite the detective.. shall I show you," he said holding out his own book.

Kenna took it, puzzled "But.." then she opened it, she had been wrong before to assume it was a printed book, words did not fill the pages, instead the most exquisite draws occupied each. Kenna could not help but touch them letting her fingers run with rivers and dance with balls scenes.

"You are a very talent artist Pierre" Kenna said, "Are you painting something here?"

"Not something, someone" Pierre replied taking the book from Kenna flipping to the back and showing her many different sketches of a very familiar face. "Prince Francis has commissioned a painting of his new bride,, these are just rough drawings" he said gesturing to the pictures of Mary.

Kenna studied each drawing in turn looking at the different ways Pierre had caught Mary's expressions. "She is so very beautiful" Kenna sighed turning away slightly.

"Yes" Pierre agreed, "But not as beautiful as some" Kenna looked at him in shock no one spoke of Mary in that way, seeing her disbelief Pierre continued, "there is no denying she is a beautiful woman, but there is a coldness to her. Look see there" he said pointing at one image "see the way her lips purse, she has been hardened by this life in a way that I find taints her beauty."

Kenna smiled meekly "Haven't we all, been tainted by this life I mean."

"Perhaps" mused Pierre "But there are some whose innocent still shines through, you for instance Lady Kenna have a smile that is far more beautiful than your queens."

"Me" Kenna said in utter disbelief

Pierre laughed gently "Yes you. And your incredulity just shows it more so" he said at the sight of Kenna shaking her head, and then slowly . "This is a bold request my Lady, but would you sit for me."

Kenna could not help smiling at the question feeling flattered; it had been a long time since she had been so singled out. Before she could answer the Pierre had moved slightly closer to her brushing a strand of hair from her face, he spoke softly "There is something so intriguing about you, it would a crime not to capture it." For second Kenna felt herself lean towards him so caught up by his accent, his eyes, his beautiful words, and then she remembered that this was reality not an adventure book. Standing abruptly she spoke in a hurry "Sorry Sir you must excuse me" her words were full of guilt as she thought of Bash. Curtsying quickly she rushed from the room leaving Pierre watching her go.

"How does she make running away from me beautiful" he muttered to himself.

….

Bash had been searching for Kenna for what seemed like hours, where on earth had she gone. He shouldn't have let her run off earlier he was just in shock; he hadn't known what to say about her mother. Yes he could probably have handled the situation better rather than just gawping at her like fish, he cursed silently under his breath. Where had she got to, he had found Lola and Greer in the garden, neither had seen Kenna. Was she hiding from him?

"Bash" a voice called from behind him, finally he thought to himself,

But it was not Kenna gentle face he turned to see but.. "Mary." He replied, confused by her furtive look he strode towards her. "Mary, what is wrong?", Something was certainly wrong Mary looked scared and was fidgeting with her hands as if not ready to ask something.

"Bash can we speak privately," she gestured to a small room for the hall way they now stood in.

"Mary why do you want us to talk in a store room, I am can we not talk somewhere more appropriate if someone was to see, they maybe rumours, think of Francis of Kenna." Bash asked.

Instead of answering Mary simply looked at Bash imploring him to do as should needed, and Bash knew he could not refuse her, those eyes still held such power over him. They stepped into the store room and Mary closed the door after them. The moment she was sure no one could hear them she turned to Bash, "I have a something to ask of you" she said in hushed tones.

Bash was still confused "What, Mary what's happened?"

"Oh Bash" Mary's voice broke over his name, and Bash could not help but place a comforting around her. "I need you to do something terrible," not letting Bash interrupt Mary continued at speed wanting to explain everything "You know of my involvement in the kidnap of the Queen," Bash nodded "Well you are not the only one, there was a witness, a man who must of overheard our conversation. I don't know who he is, but he has written demanding payment."

"So pay the man" Bash said fearing where this was leading.

"Bash, I need you to silence him, go to the place he wants the money dropped off and silence him forever, please Bash" Mary almost wept.

Bash recoiled from her "You want me to kill someone for you, Mary what's wrong with you, I could not.."
"Please," Mary's wail interrupted him, "Bash I am desperate, if anyone knew what I did I would be executed." Mary grabbed Bash's hands holding them close to her heart, she knew she was manipulating him but she was too desperate to care.

"Mary I," Bash looked at Mary's tear stricken face, "Fine," he consented "I will do what I can"

"Oh thank you" Mary collapsed against Bash chest wrapping her arms around him, but for once Bash's heart bit not beat faster he merely felt confused, had Mary always been this way.

…

So what do you think of the second instalment

For Bash to fall for Kenna he has to fall out of love with Mary (no I am not her biggest fan), anyway next week Bash and Perrie clash over Kenna. I hope you liked it.