The next day Kenna was walking through the halls when she noticed Bash carrying his sack and talking with Leith. Kenna paused and approached. Leith smiled.
"Lady Kenna. I hear that you are staying a little longer?"
She smiled. "Yes. I decided that I would rather assist my queen then listen to my father complain about the harvest."
He laughed. Bash nodded to Leith.
"We will continue this conversation when I return."
He walked away. Kenna looked after him and spoke to Leith. "Where is he going?"
"He is going in search of an English spy on the King's orders. I just learned that the king is going with him."
She nods. "Well I best be off. The Queen wanted to have lunch."
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Mary walked into Kenna's chambers a week later excited. Kenna laughed as she smoothed Evangeline's hair into a braid.
"Well aren't we happy this morning?"
Mary sat down and smiled. "I have some news that I wanted to share with you first." Her smile widened. "I'm with child."
Kenna squealed with delight and hugged her. "Oh Francis is going to be so excited."
Mary nodded and looked at Evangeline playing on the floor. "I owe it all to your mother. Her little elixir truly works."
Kenna rolled her eyes. "Please do not tell her that. She will never let me live it down."
Mary laughed and then smiled. "I am glad that you decided to stay. I missed you so much. I have Greer but she is busy with work and Lola...well we have a strained relationship."
Kenna nodded. "Well I am here as long as you want me here." She sighed. "Besides Bash is planning as many trips away from court as he can to stay away from me so I get to avoid him."
Mary smiled and grabbed her hand. "He will come around. I promise. Speaking of Bash...there is something that you can do."
Kenna cocked her brow. Her answer came a few minutes later when Mary let herself in. Kenna looked at her.
"What are we doing here?"
"Francis and I wish to give Bash larger chambers but as you well know he won't. So I would like you to set up his new chambers in my old chambers. Make them look completely different."
Kenna nods. "Alright."
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Bash and Francis returned a few days later. Francis followed Bash to his chambers. Bash opened the door and found them to be empty.
"What in the world?"
Francis turned and saw Mary walking towards them. She grinned.
"I heard that you had returned."
She kissed him softly. Bash cleared his throat and motioned to his empty room.
"Where might I ask are my things?"
She smiled. "I had them moved into my old chambers which I have had redecorated to better suit you."
He sighed. "I told you that I did not want nor do I need new chambers."
"Well I did not listen. Your things have already been moved for you."
He nodded and went off towards his new chambers. He opened the door and smiled slightly. Not only were the new chambers triple the size of his old ones but they were much more comfortable. He had a private bath, small sitting area and the bedroom. Bash set his sack down and ran his hand over the smooth mahogany wood that his new canopy bed was made of. He had bed linens of deep emerald. The fancy lamps had been removed and replaced with simple ones. He stepped into the sitting area and found his things on the carved desk. He grinned. The room was warm and comfortable without being too fancy. Mary knocked and walked in. She looked around smiling along with Francis. She commented.
"I must admit I like this better then my own chambers."
He grinned. "It's nice. Thank you."
She sat down on the chaise and smiled. "Actually thank Kenna."
He cocked his brow confused and she continued.
"I wanted to refurnish the chambers for you so I asked Kenna if she would mind designing it. She has spent the past few days working on it. She even made sure that all of your things were placed just so."
Bash smiled a little but then stopped himself. Mary excused herself and left the brothers alone. Francis looked at Bash.
"I asked Kenna to stay."
Bash looked at him. "Why?"
"Because with the problems throughout France and the trouble with The English I have been absent more so then usual. Greer has her own business and Lola is busy with Jean so I knew Mary would be lonely. I figured that Kenna could keep her company. I see that I was right. She seems happier then the last time I left."
Bash nodded and then spoke quietly. "I hate her. I hate her for what she had done. And...God help me...I hate that child. To me she represents the downfall of us. After I found out...well there was no hope for our marriage after that."
"Perhaps you can still save it."
"There is nothing to save Francis."
Francis bit his tongue and stood. "Talk to her brother. She may surprise you."
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Kenna walked up to Mary in the hall. "So have you told him?"
Mary shook her head. "Not yet." She sighed and dropped her voice. "After last time I...I just want to be sure. Besides I have been guarding my chamber pot so Catherine does not find out first."
Kenna laughed and lifted Evangeline into her arms as they walked. "Well when you tell him I am sure that he will be thrilled."
"I hope so." She then looked at her carefully. "Have you told Bash?"
"No. I haven't seen him since his return."
"Well you need to tell him. If not for her sake then for his."
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Bash was walking towards the stables when he saw Kenna playing catch with her daughter and Jean. The little girl had missed the ball and was giggling as she chased it. Jean grabbed it and ran over to him.
"Pway?"
Bash smiled and tossed the ball for him to go get. Evangeline grabbed it and brought it back over to him. Bash knelt down and took it from her. That's when he saw it. He had never been up close to her before. He saw that her eyes were not brown like Kenna's, they were bright blue. Her hair also was a darker shade then Kenna's. In fact she reminded him very much of himself. She smiled and it was the same smile. Later on Bash went into Francis's study and poured himself a drink. Francis looked up from the letter he was writing.
"Everything alright?"
Bash shook his head. "No...I think...I believe that Kenna's daughter...she possibly is mine."
Francis didn't seem surprised. Bash turned to him stunned.
"You knew?"
Francis nodded. Bash then moved closer.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I asked Kenna to tell you. She should have been the one to tell you."
Bash sat down and sighed. "How did you find out?"
"I overheard her talking to Mary. Then I simply asked."
He nodded. "What do I say to her?"
"I suppose that you need to start with hello."
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"Kenna what do you think?"
Lola twirled in front of Kenna in sage colored gown. Kenna frowned a little.
"It's more of a spring gown I would say. Much to cold for the winter."
Mary nodded in agreement. "We wouldn't want you to freeze to death."
Lola pouted. "Then I have nothing to wear to the party tonight."
Mary rolled her eyes. "It's Catherine's birthday. That hardly accounts as a party."
"Yes but I stand a chance of meeting a new husband. Also there is a family coming from Sweden that Francis would like me to meet. He wants to arrange a marriage between their daughter and Jean."
Kenna smiled and rooted around in her wardrobe. She held out a sage green silk gown.
"How about this one?"
Lola took it and smiled. "Oh Kenna this is beautiful. Where did you buy it?"
"I didn't buy it I made it."
Mary and Lola looked at her stunned. Lola spoke.
"You made it?"
Kenna nodded. "Poppy has been teaching over the past couple years. How else do you think I made Evangeline all of her dresses. It took me a while but eventually I got the hang of it."
Lola nodded. "It's beautiful. Are you positive that you are alright with me wearing it?"
"Of course."
They all turned when they heard a knock on the door. Bash stepped in.
"Pardon my interruption."
Lola smiled. "You're not interrupting at all." She held the gown up to herself and twirled causing him to laugh. "I need a man's opinion."
Bash smiled. "That will look nice on you."
Lola nodded and turned to Kenna. "Thank you again for letting me borrow it. I better start getting ready."
Mary stood and grabbed her own gown off the bed. She looked at Bash.
"Have you seen Francis?"
He nodded. "He just left to get ready. Catherine is in fine form."
Mary rolled her eyes. "Oh fun. I will see you both at the party."
Kenna smiled as she left. She then turned to grab her own gown and looked back at Bash.
"Is there something you needed?"
He stepped forward. "I want to talk to you privately."
Kenna looked around. "Well we are alone."
Before he could speak Evangeline came running into the room followed by one of the servants. The servant spoke.
"You asked to have her back just before dusk."
Kenna nodded. "Thank you."
The servant walked out and Evangeline started playing with her wooden blocks on the floor. Bash stared at her. Kenna spoke again.
"Sebastian."
He looked up. "Yes?"
"Did you need something?"
He walked closer and dropped his voice. "I would like to talk privately. Meet me tomorrow by the fountain after breakfast."
She nodded and he walked out.
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