Replies to reviews:

Guest (1) [chapter 55]: He really is! Same! I had to do research and was shocked to see that children their age had sex but then again, they didn't have today's healthcare services to make it beyond age 30 at times so it made sense to marry off children as soon as they hit puberty and made kids. Ooh, Francis may walk in on one of his kids soon as he did with Rose at the party!

Guest (2) [chapter 55]: Anne and Robin truly are cheeky! Rose is on the fence, should she, should she not? Haha! She's a good girl so probably not.

Guest (3) [chapter 55]: They really are! Sex was forbidden subject when I was their age, haha!

Italy was hot. The weather was wonderful but Francis wasn't there to enjoy it. He had been taken into the country secretly, no one finding out why he and Bash were there via Catherine's aid.

For the few days that they were here, they'd be staying at the Medici compounds. The Medicis were known for their business acumen, owning the large majority of banks in Florence and across Italy. They were also known for their discretion.

"You should be thanking me," Catherine began, pouring them all some wine. "I found Lola a suitable match. People were still talking about the harlot, I saved your marriage.

Francis rolled his eyes. "Lola isn't a threat to my marriage, Mother," he said disparagingly. "Mary and I have got through that."

"So it was Mary's decision to have John Philip stay at Court?"

"It was," Francis said firmly. "My wife decided on her own merit and she loves him like her own."

Catherine let out a scoff, eyeing Bash briefly. "We all know how that will turn out. And the other children approve of their bastard brother claiming a place at Court?"

"Bash claimed a place at Court," Francis stated. "The boys adored him and still do."

"And Claude took him to her bed and couldn't get over that little thing she thought they had," Catherine replied.

"I am here, you know?" Bash cut in.

Catherine smiled wryly. "Unfortunately. Our relationship borderlines on love and hate, Sebastian."

"Don't I know it?" Bash muttered, taking a long gulp from his cup. "Let's forget about the past and figure out a way to get close to this duke."

"And what would you do?" Catherine asked, taking a seat. "Kill him in his home? Slaughter him in front of his betrothed and sons? Cut his hands off? Why are you so set in punishing this man? A little discipline never hurt anybody."

Francis glared at his mother. "John is still your grandson, Mother. Legitimate or not."

"I feel for Mary," the matriarch muttered.

"And there's a thin line between discipline and abuse," Francis added. "Either way, no man touches my son like that and gets away with it."

"Would you be the same for your legitimate children? You always seemed to love John more than the rest," Catherine stated. "Perhaps that is why you kept him away, so Mary couldn't suspect that."

Francis sighed. "I will kill, for my children. I killed the man who kidnapped my daughter and nephew and I made him pay. I love all my children equally, something you should learn how to do too."

"Touched a soft spot, did I?" His mother asked. "If you truly believe that your wife is as strong as I was when I accommodated Sebastian, then good on you. But deep down, you both know that she wasn't the first woman to bear your children, to bear your son. Her children will always come after John Philip and they will see how things change when you start being more lenient on him, stay to pet him to bed longer than you do them, take him out on hunting trips, make him your best friend because your other sons are too young to fight or understand the world around them, take him to the whorehouse for his first sexual encounter... Then easily become bored when the next child comes and asks you do to the same things you did with him but with them."

Francis sighed. "I'm not Father," he said. "I hate how our lives parallel with each other's but I am better than him. At least I gave my wife the courtesy of a decision that regarded her in the first place."

Bash poured himself more wine. "Henry may have done all of that with me and got bored doing it with the others, but he never gave me a title, he never stopped anyone from slandering my name, he had men released like hounds on the prowl to kill me. Smoke and mirrors, Catherine. That was all Henry was. He was a good father, but deep down the truth was, he wasn't. Who manipulates a fourteen-year-old to commit patruelicide? Then to award me with nothing afterwards, no matter how horrible what he made me do to the Bourbons was?"

Catherine clicked her tongue. "Fair enough." She got up and retrieved a letter. "Vincenzo invited me over for supper. As a 'thank you' for his lovely, young bride. There will be a feast and wine and he told me to bring along anyone who wishes to dine with us."

"It's too... exposed," Bash said. "Our wives believe we're in Austria. If we have Italian nobility knowing we're here, word would spread quickly and we could start a war we do not want."

"He is on the Council of Florentine," Catherine mumbled. "I will invite him here."

"And how would we do it?" Francis asked, his voice strained.

Catherine gave him a look. "I have poison. Slow-acting, quick-acting. Ones that have your face explode by the second. Pick your poison."

"Mother-"

"As you said, John Philip is my grandson and I want Vincenzo to pay for taking my goodwill for granted."

Bash nodded, heading to the door. "Send the page, and get me when he comes."

...

Mary almost jumped when she entered the twin's bedchamber and found John reading the younger children a book. She smiled and headed over to them, getting onto the chaise and laying down. She winked at him when he looked up quickly to see her and blush, looking back down.

"Mama, John can do the voices!" James said, wrapping his arms around his brother's neck and laying his cheek down on John's back. "He's really good at them, better than Papa."

Peter nodded. "And he doesn't waste time!" He said. "Papa's slow. John's quick!"

Mary giggled. "You better not say that to Papa," she said, playfully rolling her eyes. Her children and their obsession for stories coming to life.

"But he is better," Joseph said defiantly, making his mother laugh.

"The last page," John announced much to the children's disdain.

"More, please!" Anastasia cried out.

"Yes, more!" Alexander demanded.

John laughed. "It's the third book I've read to you!"

"And you should all be getting ready to sleep," Mary added, standing up and heading to the bed to lift her niece into her arms and put her down on the ground before retrieving Xander. "Your mother was looking for both of you."

"John reads us stories," Ana said, grabbing her teddy and walking towards the door, humming to herself.

They've forgotten that there was one last page, Mary thought, amused. "Right, come on, let John head off to his bedchamber." She offered a hand to James to help him off the bed. "James, to your bedchamber and Peter, to your bed!"

Peter scrambled down the bed and went over to the other one, opposite from Joseph's. "Tuck me in, Mama?"

"Yes! Tuck us in!" James said, clutching at her skirts.

Mary almost stumbled from the weight but she laughed, nodding. "Very well," she said. "Let me tuck Joseph and Peter in first."

By the time she had all younger children tucked in, she headed out of Xander's bedchamber and found John waiting for her. Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, they walked away from the bedchamber.

"How are you settling in?" She asked him carefully.

"Well," he said. "Anne said she's taking us to the fairground tomorrow."

"It's the best," Mary said with a smile. "You're in for a treat."

John returned the smile. "Aunt Mary?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think bastards can find love?"

Mary frowned. "What do you mean, John?"

"Can b-"

"I heard you but what foolery are you thinking of?" She cut him off softly. "What's brought this on?"

John blushed when they came to a stop and turned to face each other fully. "I want to become a cardinal because..."

Mary cupped his cheeks. "Speak freely."

"No one loves bastards," John whispered. "Not even royal ones."

"Follow me," she said, taking his hand and leading him downstairs to the throne room.

"Why are we here?"

Mary swallowed deeply. "Fourteen years ago, a king's bastard son married one of my ladies-in-waiting here under swordpoint."

John turned to her. "I know. Uncle Bash and Auntie Kenna."

"Yes."

"Father said that Grandfather was very ill and forced them to marry each other," John said. "But I heard that Auntie Kenna was Grandfather's mistress and that in order for Uncle Bash to stop pursuing your heart, he was married off to her."

Mary turned to him. "Robin?"

"Yes, he said his mother told him."

Mary knew otherwise. The visions came and went. "That is true, John. Regardless, Bash fell in love with Kenna."

"And?"

"Bash was a royal bastard, like you. He still is and you will always be so but that shouldn't define who you are," Mary said. "Being a bastard didn't define Bash any longer. He was a hero to the Scottish and French thrones, he returned Robin and Rose back home. He fought for France during the revolution. Your uncle fights battles for other people and he got married, fell in love and had three beautiful children. All being a bastard."

John shrugged. "So?"

Mary chuckled softly. "If you knew your aunt back then, you'd be so confused as to why she's how she is today. I can't speak ill of my dear friend, but she was a little vain. She cared about money, titles, land and life's luxuries. Your uncle, he had none. The money he had was funded by his father and he had a reasonably larger bedchamber as the King's favourite child but that was about it. Oh, how mortified she was to be married to Bash but she saw him. She fell in love with him despite all of that because they protected each other. Marriage was final, it couldn't be undone so they had to get used to each other and when they did..."

"He was happy?"

Mary nodded, tears springing to her eyes. "Six years ago, I witness their second wedding day. Nobody else mattered, nothing mattered. They only saw each other."

"So people can see beyond the tainted title?"

"They can," Mary whispered. "Oh, John, they can! Love is... love is blind. Yes, Kenna saw that he was Henry's bastard but she acknowledged that she was Henry's mistress. So, she put her judgments aside and got to know Bash and became inspired by him. Whenever he went off on duty matters, she'd wait by every window we walked passed to see if he returned. She'd have dinner ready, a warm bath and she'd be there to listen and care for her husband... Their love was unconventional but it worked and to this day, it still works."

John blushed. "I don't want to be a cardinal."

"Then what do you want to be?"

"A soldier," John said. "Like Robin."

Mary laughed. "You can be whatever you want to be! John, this is your life and no matter what, your father, mother and I will always have your back. We'll have your best interests at heart and we will protect you from anyone who harms you or wishes you ill."

"Will Father let me join the military?"

"If he says 'no', I'll convince him myself," Mary promised John. "You're so brave."

"I don't feel like it," John mumbled, staring at the thrones before them. "I'm scared all the time."

Mary looked down at him. "Why's that?"

"Mother might force me to come back to Italy after the wedding," John told her, his voice breaking. "I don't want to go back."

"I know," Mary said. "And if anyone tells you to go back, I will personally tell them that you are staying. This is your home."

...

"She's not your mother, John," Kenna said to her nephew gently.

John nodded. "I know but what if... what if I asked her to be?"

"What has Lola done that you are even asking this?" The Duchess of Avon asked, heading down the hall with John trailing behind her.

"N-Nothing, it's just... She doesn't pay me much mind anymore," John said. "I spend my days with the governesses, trapped indoors all the time. Here, Aunt Mary lets me go to the woods! And I have a horse and a new dog!"

Kenna chuckled. "Gifts? I see..."

"I need a neutral party to help me with my decision."

Kenna sighed, stopping and crossing her arms. "I'm not the best person to speak to about this."

"You are! You are their friend. You grew up with them," John said.

"One gave birth to you, another birthed your half-siblings," Kenna said. "Make the choice yourself or better yet, don't put yourself through that!"

"Aunt Mary cares more about me than Father or Mother does."

Kenna rolled her eyes. "I doubt that."

"No, it's true! All Mother cares about is Duke Vincenzo and his stupid vineyards and sons," John snapped. "She even let his youngest son call her his mother!"

Kenna frowned a little. "Don't be spiteful or jealous, John-"

"Auntie Kenna, do you know when Uncle Bash is coming?" John cut her off, upset.

Kenna shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "I'm sorry that I am not much help."

"Tell me what to do," John begged her.

"Talk to Mary," Kenna suggested. "She always knows best. Most of the time. As for my adventurous husband, when he arrives, I will send him your way."

John nodded. "Fine."

"Now, head off to bed. It is very late and past your bedtime," Kenna instructed him.

Just as he was about to go, John asked her, "Before you married Uncle Bash, what did you think about him as a bastard?"

Kenna smiled softly. "Well, we weren't the closest of friends before but he was very helpful and we did share some champagne once... He was kind and I didn't really care that he was a bastard because I found him quite sex-..." She blushed, keeping the lesson clean. "I-I mean, I found him quite a charmer and lovely man. I'd admit, I wanted someone above his station but coming to think about it, I wanted someone who loved me for me. Bastards tend to be humbler than most so we fit perfectly. He saved my life and I saved his."

"Do you think someone would love me one day?"

"You're going around asking this question as if your life depends on it," Kenna said lightly.

"It does," John said firmly.

Kenna cupped his cheeks. "Someone will love you just as I fell for your uncle. You will be their whole world and they would want to spend their every waking breath with you. Patience, John. Kiss a few frogs before you find the one or better yet, the one may come and you just don't realise it until a few years down the line. I certainly didn't when I first met Bash, that's for sure."

John chuckled and closed his eyes when he felt her lips press against his forehead. "Goodnight, Auntie Kenna."

"Goodnight, John Philip."

...

Catherine chuckled at Morelli's joke, turning her gaze over to Francis and Bash when he brought them up.

"What brings the King of France to Italy?" Vincenzo asked, sipping his beloved wine.

"My mother wrote to say that she was unwell," Francis said, pointedly taking Catherine's hand. "She could be leaving us any day now."

Catherine masked her horror with a tight smile. "You know me, I won't give up and die easily. It was a silly cold, I got over it by the time he arrived."

Francis turned to his mother. "I still wanted to see for myself how you were doing. It has been a while."

"Well, I guess I can't complain," Catherine said, chuckling as she turned back to Morelli. "He's the only child that visits me."

"The Queen of Spain can't find time for her mother?" Vincenzo asked in surprise. "I was told she was your favourite."

"Even queens can get busy and forget a visit now and then," Catherine replied tersely.

"And your other sons? Even your other daughters?"

Catherine smiled. "They are healthy and that is all I am concerned with regarding them. Their happiness is all I ask for."

Vincenzo cleared his throat and pulled at his collar, sweat starting to build on his forehead. "The spices used are very hot."

"We're used to it," Francis said. "I have good friends in the spice trade, food tastes better thanks to them."

"I-I-I'm sure of that, Y-Your Majesty," Morelli struggled to get out. "If you'd ex-"

He began to froth at his mouth and he clutched at his neck, his eyes watching Francis stand up and bend down to reach his eyesight.

"John Philip," Francis said softly. "You hurt him."

Vincenzo tried to shake his head but gave up, trying to spit out the froth.

Catherine cleared her throat, sipping her wine casually. "It's a poison that attacks every organ in your body, one by one. The last one being your heart. You will feel the heat inside you, feel as your body gives up and your eyes pool with blood."

"I'm sorr-"

"It's too late for that," Francis cut him off, accepting a napkin from Bash to wipe Vincenzo's spit off his face. "He is just a boy. How could a boy threaten your marriage?"

Vincenzo shook his head.

"Is it because of me? The fact that I'm his father? You saw him as an easy target, a chance to abuse the son of a king," Francis continued. "You should have been more thoughtful about who you marked with red bruises and harsh words."

"I don't know if it's true," Catherine began. "But he once locked John Philip with the horses for two nights."

Francis raised his eyebrows, turning back to Morelli. "I'm going to give you a choice," he told the man. "Either way, your body is carted off to your sons and the Lady Lola is free of her engagement to an abusive monster."

Vincenzo swallowed hard, nodding shakily.

"My brother ends your life with his sword or we leave you to the poison's vices," Francis whispered into his ear.

The old man eyed Bash and Francis nodded, standing back up.

"Very well," the King said. "Bash, he's all yours. Mother, shall we leave them to it?"

Catherine got up, collecting the decanter and her cup. "Shame, I was excited to see death here. Haven't had one since the driver got ran over by the horses last month."

As Catherine headed out, Francis paused by the doors and turned, going over to the table and collecting his wine cup. He sat back down at the head of the table and took a long sip from his cup before nodding at Bash.

He decided to watch.