So, we're going to have a lot of family-centric chapters coming up following events in this chapter :).


With one sibling having left for home, one fled theirs and ended up arriving in French Court in the late hours of the day, making the King and Queen leave their chambers less than royally dressed. The moon out and their steps hurried to the throne hall, they saw a woman hunched over on the ground, her arms wrapped tightly around two teenage girls.

Francis got on his knees and brought them into his arms, his eyes meeting Leith's. "Secure the castle and fetch me some handmaidens."

The woman raised her eyes to meet his blue ones. "Francis," she croaked out before sobs escaped her lips.

"Leeza," Francis whispered.

A while later, Leeza's daughters, Isabella and Catherine, had been taken away to rest from their stressful travels as their mother sat and accepted food and drink from her brother and sister-in-law in gratitude.

"I've fallen out of favour with Philip," she admitted sadly. "Ten years without another child, a son..." She almost spat the word out. "His mistress threatened to have my girls and me slaughtered."

"You are protected here," Mary said, rubbing her shoulder. "So are the girls-"

"No, not them," Leeza mumbled. "If there is one person you trust with your children's lives, it's..."

"Bash," Francis finished for her. "He has left, Leeza. He and Kenna returned-"

"My daughters will be illegitimate soon," Leeza cut her brother off. "He sets to remarry, try again for a male heir. Bella is fourteen, Kitty only thirteen. They'll be cast aside when Philip returns from the Vatican. If you'd kindly have the Duchess take my daughters on as wards, I'll be most grateful."

Francis sighed. "I'll send a letter as soon as possible," he told her. "Avon is heavily protected." Following past events. "They'll be safe, able to live normal lives without fear of their father's wrath. As for you, Philip risks war if he tries anything to fall out of favour with me through you."

Leeza nodded warily. "Cousin Cosimo is in your pocket now?"

"Italy will support me should needs be," Francis affirmed. "Elizabeth in England will help me command my armies there and in Scotland, our sister-in-law's family act as my regents under Mary's guidance."

"Thank you, Francis," Leeza told him gratefully. "And you Mary. I knew we'd be safe the minute you became king."

Francis hugged her tightly. "Welcome, home Leeza. You'll always have a home with us."

...

Word reached Avon a week later and a week after that, Bash returned to Court to personally escort his nieces to his estate. Leeza greeted him cordially and he gave her a warm smile to which she was barely able to return before bursting into sobs. Unsure of what to do, he nervously patted her back and promised her that he'd take care of Bella and Kitty, making her laugh by saying her pet names for her precious daughters were awful.

It was their first time, his and Francis's, meeting Bella and Kitty. Francis had briefly held them as they sobbed after arriving in tattered clothing and dirtied before they disappeared during the week to be primmed and proper up by Mary, Anne and Rose.

They got on swimmingly with John and Robin as well, the younger boys taking a liking to them too.

"You will like Avon," Robin promised them. "My father will protect you. There are a school, a chapel and a lake we frequent. We also have multiple horses. If you ask kindly, my father will buy one for you each."

"Thank you," Kitty had mumbled.

Bella nodded firmly. "Yes, thank you, Cousin Robert."

Robin chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Robin, please."

That had set down part of the girl's stone-cold wall around her heart. He'd been dragged off by John, wanting to spar before lessons and Rose and Anne had gifted the girls some of their jewellery.

"It brings out your eyes," Rose told Bella, brushing a finger near the girl's eye gently. "So beautiful."

Leeza leant into Francis's side so her voice was low, "Your girls are so sweet."

"They get that from their mother," he replied proudly.

She turned to Bash as well, "Your son has such a cheeky sense around him. Will he bed girls soon?"

"Leeza!"

"What?" She asked innocently. "His father was such a rebel back in the day."

Bash blushed, deciding that he really must instil in his son the importance of sex after marriage. "Well, God's punishment is taken heavily."

Leeza chuckled, sniffling before hugging him. "Protect them with your life."

"I always will," he swore to her before gesturing for the girls to follow him into their carriage.

Before he got onto his horse, he found Robin running up to him and he pressed a long kiss on the boy's head, brushing his brown hair away from his eyes.

"Your mother, sister and brother miss you," he whispered.

Robin smiled sadly. "I miss them too. Let them know."

"I will," Bash promised, going over to his horse. "Behave, Robert Francis. I love you, my boy."

Robin scowled at the use of his full name. "I always do, and I might love you too, Father," he replied cheekily before waving his father with a salute and going back to John, lifting up his sword.

Bash chuckled to himself and got onto his horse, turning to see Leeza's face tight and heartbroken. He understood her reasonings perfectly. Although it would be impossible for her to visit her daughters so soon, there was always a place at Avon for her if she grew restless in her new position as Mary's new head lady-in-waiting. She was a Valois princess, sister to the King of France after all.

He tutted, turning back around. He ought to invite Claude and Lawrence to France. Perhaps a relationship with Leith will be fruitful for the woman now the man had risen high. That meant she could house her son in her home or Avon should she wish to strengthen her friendship with Kenna after everything that transpired between them.

For now, they had to make sure relations were settled and tensions cooled.

...

Francis showed the letter to his sister. "It's official. You are a Valois once again, your daughters claim our name after my persistence. Philip has promised to keep the girls in his line of succession until otherwise, he stressed that you remained so you could talk it out."

"After his mistress almost slit my throat?" She snapped. "Dear brother, over my dead body!"

Mary sighed, resting a hand on her small bump. "Anna of Austria is his new intended."

"Good," Leeza spat. "She's been batting her damned eyelids at him for years! That will show his whore."

Mary was grateful that Leeza was keeping civil about this and not demanding Francis to pull all their forces together to destroy Portugal and Spain. The man had outlived Mary's cousin, Mary Tudor! His need for wives every so often was no surprise for Leeza, Francis or Mary.

"Very well, everything is settled, no one will speak on the matter," Francis said. "He is most likely going to get his son from Anna so whatever happens, Bella and Kitty are safe."

"That is all that is important," Leeza whispered. "When news of a son has been declared, I will visit them or they can come here."

Francis nodded. "I've sent for Mother."

"Francis-"

"She knew already from the grapevine," he said. "Quite literally as well. She wishes to meet her granddaughters."

Leeza frowned and sighed. "Very well. Are you in favour?"

That was directed at Mary who smiled softly.

"We will see," she said lightly. "We have our days, Catherine and I."

"Well, I'd like to hear what she thinks of the daughter who abandoned her," Leeza said teasingly but there was fear laced in her words. Did she truly believe her mother would hate her? "Fetch for Claude. Scotland she's in, right?"

"Hmm," Mary hummed. "Perhaps a family gathering. Away from Court and walls that listen."

Francis nodded. "I'll have a letter sent to Kenna." He smiled coyly at his wife. "I see your game."

"Keep your enemies closer, but don't lose sight of your friends," Mary replied. "You need all the ones you can trust."

Francis gave her an even wider smile. "During all of this with Leeza's situation, I managed to have Castleroy's name cleared. Mary, Greer is coming-"

"Home."