Catherine continued to give Kenna the most demeaning chores she could find. For days she was scrubbing things she had only seen in her nightmares. She had been in corners of castle she didn't even know existed. It was hell, and she couldn't take it anymore, she went to talk to Bash. She thought maybe he could talk some sense into her.
Bash was putting his sword around his waist when Kenna entered the room.
"Catherine isn't here, but I think she left you a list." He said pointing to the desk.
"Actually I was hoping to speak with you." She said.
"With me?" He asked.
"I know I deserve punishment for what I did, but Catherine is relentless. She's got me doing things she wouldn't even ask her servants to do. I was hoping you could talk to her. Get her to ease up on me a little." She said.
"Ease up on you? After what you did. She won't. She'd be furious with me just for asking. She'd probably kill you if she caught you talking with me. No. I'm not going there. Besides, I don't think it's all that harsh. She would have been well within her rights to push Mary to execute you for treason." Bash explained.
"But Bash she..." Kenna started.
"No. You lost your right to ask me for anything. First you cheat on me, and then you try to destroy the happiness I found with someone else. The worst part is you don't even truly understand what you did." Bash said.
"I do. I just think..." she said.
"Stop. You don't. I love Catherine, and I almost lost her forever because of what you did...the hurt in her eyes when I didn't believe her...that nearly killed me. You need to learn to stop playing with people's lives, and if you're asking me this, you haven't learned a damn thing." He took the list off the desk and handed it to her. "Make sure you don't forget anything this time." He said handing it to her. Then he left the room. Kenna read the list and sighed. Just as she'd expected.
Later that night, when Bash came back to the room, Catherine was sitting at her desk again.
"Writing out another list for Kenna I see." He said as he looked over her shoulder and kissed her cheek.
"Hmm, having to think up new tasks for her brings out the artist in me." She said as-a-matter-of-fact.
"Cleaning out the stables? Haven't you already given her enough 'shitty' jobs? Not very creative there." He said as he inspected the list further.
"Yes, well what that one lacks in creativity it makes up for in shit." She pointed out. He thought for a moment.
"Could you possibly be overdoing these lists just a little?" He asked tentatively.
"Overdoing? Feeling protective over your former wife are you?" She said a bit irritated.
"Not protective...I just...she just seems so...pathetic." he said.
"Good." She said.
"Alright I won't push. You can do as you will. It's just something to think about." He said as he started to take off his jacket and his sword. He went back to her and took the list out of her hands. "You know there are other reasons not to spend so much time on those lists."
"Oh?" She prodded.
"Mmm. Let me show you some of them." He said wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her neck.
"So far, I'm liking your reasons." She said running her fingers through his hair.
"Should we adjourn to the bed so I can show you the rest?" He asked. She turned her head and kissed him.
"Perhaps not all the rest." She said.
"Are you not feeling well?" He asked.
"You don't have to get so worried every time I'm not in the mood for something. Like yesterday when you panicked just because I wasn't hungry. I'm pregnant and I'm tired. That is perfectly normal." She said as she stood, walking to the bed. Bash followed. They laid down, Catherine on her back, Bash on his side, propped up a bit with one arm, facing her.
"Well, how am I supposed to know when I need to worry?" He asked.
"I'll tell you if you need to worry." She said.
"And by the time you tell me I should worry, chances are that it will be far past the time for just worrying." He said.
"Are you saying you don't trust me?" She asked.
"No I'm saying you are too ornery to admit defeat and will lie to yourself as long as humanly possible before getting seriously ill." He explained while playing with her hair. She held his face and kissed him.
"I'm fine." She said smiling.
"You'd better be." He said kissing her again.
The next morning, Bash cuddled up next to Catherine as they woke.
"Mmm. I wish we could stay here all day." Catherine said. "I'm so tired of all those other people." Bash laughed sleepily into her neck.
"You know we don't have to get up just yet. It's still early." He said.
"I do recall you offering to show me some things last night. I might just be up to accepting that offer." She said.
"Who says the offer is still on the table." He said teasingly.
"It seems like a solid deal to me." She said, emphasizing the innuendo by taking hold of his 'offer' He returned the favor and then started kissing her. Her one free hand started running through his hair and down his neck taking hold of his shoulder. Just as things started getting heated, Kenna walked through the door. She abruptly covered her eyes.
"Oh god. I didn't know you were...I mean...the guard let me in." She said embarrassed as they covered themselves.
"Remind me to fire that guard." Catherine said. "The list is on the desk. Take it and go."
"Right. Of course. Going." She said turning with her hand still over her eyes. She quickly picked up the piece of paper and started to take off out the door.
"Damn it." Catherine said "Wait." Bash gave her an irritated look. "Oh the mood is killed anyway." She explained. Kenna turned back around cautiously.
"Yes." She said.
"There's something else not on that list. Count Allard will be joining us tomorrow at the feast. I'll need you to escort him." She said. Kenna recalled the name.
"Count Allard? But he smells like a pig trough, and sweats enough to fill one." She complained.
"Yes. So you understand why I'm having a problem finding someone to escort him." Catherine said. Kenna sighed and turned back around. Catherine was almost sure the girl looked as though she were turning green with the thought. After she left, Catherine got up and went to her desk.
"What are you doing?" Bash asked.
"Writing out an invitation to Count Allard." Catherine said.
"You just made that up?" He asked.
"That's what she gets for interrupting us." She said with an amused eyebrow raised. Bash wasn't sure if he should be worried, but it didn't matter because he couldn't think straight. Catherine could see his predicament and tried not to laugh. "I sometimes forget men have more of an issue in being 'interrupted' than women...do you need a hand dear?" She said sarcastically.
"No. I'm fine." He said unconvincingly.
