So in this chapter, we have sweet Frary moments and a little surprise at the end of the chapter. Also, one person is trying to get another in deep trouble. Frary will be coming home in the next chapter.
Bash narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he stepped through the front doors of his home of over twenty-three years. As his mother and older siblings left the nest, he'd made it more masculine, blacks and whites and expensive abstract arts on the walls but now, there were feminine touches of maroons and gold and Bash knew exactly what was going on.
"Where's the Archduchess?" He asked his usual female security guard.
"Who says this was her work?"
"I don't understand?"
"Your little future wife came inside like she owned the place, your mother not too far behind her. They had some interior designer follow them everywhere and made changes within the second."
Bash frowned. "What?"
"Good luck, Baron," she said lightly before leaving his side.
Bash sighed heavily, rubbed his face and headed upstairs to his bedroom. Or what he hoped was still his bedroom. He braced himself before the door, opening it to see his clothes and shoes in boxes and people going in and out of the bathroom.
Kenna turned and grinned when she saw him, his mother also turning as his fiancée walked up to him and said, "I helped you organise your clothes and split them into frequent wear and clothes for events. We'll move the event wear into the spare bedroom to make space for my own frequent wear and we're redoing the bathroom."
"You do realise that we won't be living here," Bash told her. "We'll be living in Paris."
Kenna scowled. "I know and that isn't until next year. Also, the bathroom was a mess."
"I love the bathroom!"
"The bathtub was in the middle of the bloody room! Where's the space to sing and dance in the morning, mon amour?" Kenna asked him, going back to Diane. "Better yet, we will have most of our clothes moved to the new house."
Bash was baffled. "Excuse me?"
"What?" His mother asked, fingering the pearls around her neck.
"This is our home, Maman. My future wife cannot just come-"
"I've hated the bathroom," Diane cut him off, turning away from him. "It is nice to have another woman of taste in the family. You men make things so difficult for us."
Bash was about to say something but thought better of it. "I will go back to the FEGA then. Perhaps my female horses have more sanity than my wife and mother."
Kenna grinned, her eyes going to her ring and inspecting it. "I'm your wife now? Don't remember tying the knot so soon!"
"Neither do I!" Diane added, chuckling with Kenna. "Is it Décembre already?
Bash groaned. "Shut up!" He cried out, leaving. He headed downstairs and saw his security guard laughing. "And you shut up too."
...
Bash slowed Luna down and got off, grabbing onto her reins and leading her back inside. When he saw the familiar blonde hair of his former lover, he quickly backtracked but it was too late, she'd seen him and was making her way over.
"So, you do still come!" Olivia said, hitting his arm gently. "I had to ask five people but they never gave you up."
"My privacy is respected here," Bash said, sighing heavily. "Marquise Olivia."
"Duke de Orléans," Olivia said, smirking as she drew a finger down his chest. "What a rise from society. A baron to a duke. What's next? You'll be added to the line of succession?"
Bash rolled his eyes. Hard. "If you'd excuse-"
"I missed you, Bash," Olivia told him with a soft sigh. "What you and I had was way special than what I had with Francis."
"It was only one night. One drunken night," Bash replied indifferently, leading his horse into its stall before dusting his hands off and locking the gate securely.
"But you made me feel more than he could ever make me feel," Olivia said, fake tears starting to build in her blue eyes. "I mean, he didn't even take a second glance my way yesterday."
Bash chuckled bitterly. "No one did," he said. "And wearing white to a wedding. The wedding of a prince and future king, no less, is tacky. Tacky, spiteful and disgusting. You should be ashamed-"
He was pushed against the wooden beam, surprised at Olivia's strength. He eyed her tilt her head to the side, a small smile on her face as she eyed him up and down.
"I've taken Taekwondo classes," she told him. "Helps me get what I want."
Bash shoved her off him and she almost lost her footing if not for him catching her in time. She breathed heavily in his arms, staring up into his eyes as he studied her, trying to work out what her game was exactly.
She never cared for him before, what changed?
Before he could react, she forced his head down and kissed him hungrily. Bash froze with his arm still around her waist and the other one on her upper thigh. It took him a while but he blinked and let go, letting her fall into the manure pit on the ground.
She screamed, looking up at him in horror at what he'd done before her face turned murderous then sweet.
"Oh, care to help me up?"
Bash wiped his lips. "I'm good," he said. "It's where a person like you belongs. In horse shit."
He walked off, wiping his lips hard as he mentally cursed himself.
"Fuck," he hissed.
...
Mary sighed happily, inhaling the sweet warm air of Hawaii. It was just past eight in the evening, and the cool breeze was more than welcome to put out the heat she felt on her body when her husband wrapped his body around her. Her back to his chest, his lips on her neck.
"Do you want to risk a scandal?" Mary asked lightly, turning her head to the side to look at him. "We may be secluded but you know how desperate the media get. Drones and all."
"We could be like Kenna and Bash and shoot them on sight," Francis replied, making them laugh. "Fore! And then bang!"
Mary shook her head in amusement, placing her hands over his as she rocked them side to side gently. "Shame it's only for a week."
"Don't worry," Francis told her. "After Canada, we're going to Alaska for a lovely little cabin getaway. We'll be able to see the Aurora Borealis."
"Oh, Francis..." Mary breathed out, shocked. "That sounds gorgeous. I've only ever seen them on a screen."
Francis grinned. "Prepare to see them in real life, mon trésor."
"Ma moitié," Mary whispered, closing her eyes when he dug his face into the crook of her neck as they continued to rock. "This will be perfect for the news reports."
He smiled against her skin, his own eyes closed. "Two amoureux going about their honeymoon in peace."
"My mother used to say that after we met. We were five, but she'd say 'look at those lovebirds' every time she stared at our photo as kids," Mary told him. "'Those beautiful amoureux, God protect them'." She fingered his locket over her shoulder. "And he protected us. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here."
"We owe this to God and our fathers."
"If they didn't know each other, we wouldn't be here," Mary whispered softly. "I love you."
"I love you too," he replied. "Want to join me for a relaxed session of lovemaking?"
Mary giggled. "We're hellbent on this baby thing, aren't we?"
"Are you complaining?"
"No," she said, grinning. "But we shouldn't force things. You hear stories."
"I know," Francis replied. "Can't I just want to savage my wife's sexy body?"
"So I am just meat to you?"
Francis gaped. "What? No!"
Mary laughed loudly. "I am."
"No," he quickly said. "I love you, I adore you!"
Mary turned in his arms. "Then... I lead."
"What?" Francis asked dumbly.
"In bed," she said softly, trailing a finger down his cheek before cupping it. "I lead. And you're. Not. Allowed. To. Touch."
"What?!"
"Without permission, of course," Mary added.
"Are you s-saying what I'm thinking-"
"I want to show you how much I love you," she said. "You're always satisfying my needs. Even our wedding night was all about me. Let me do you."
Francis grinned, taking her hand and leading her back inside before closing the doors and pulling the curtains closed as well as the blinds shut. He then pulled his shirt off and kicked his trousers off, much to his wife's amusement.
He jumped onto the bed and faced her. "I'm ready."
"I can see that!" Mary laughed, crossing her arms and shaking her head. "God, you men think with your other head a lot."
"Can you blame us when we have beautiful partners?"
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Francis," she replied, blushing a dark red.
"Good. Now hurry up and let's have some fun!"
Mary snorted, shaking her head as she took her clothes off. "I'm coming. Jesus, can't give a woman a minute to prepare? Had the lingerie and everything..."
...
"...I wouldn't want to overstep on Bash's toes. I think the bathroom is enough so I don't keep stubbing my toe on that damned bath."
"It's my house, it belonged to my parents and my grandparents," Diane began. "I can renovate it if I want to. I'm just glad someone sees the vision for it as I do."
"But Bash-"
"But 'I' what?" Bash asked, entering the room with his arms crossed as he looked around his bedroom.
"Are you done with your little tantrum?" Diane asked him, smiling coyly.
Bash swallowed deeply. "I'm fine," he said. "And I shouldn't have been impatient earlier. I apologise, I will work on that."
Kenna blushed. "Uh, it's my fault. We've barely known each other for two weeks and I'm changing your childhood home... I'm so sorry," she apologised, walking up to him shyly. "I get ahead of myself sometimes and it's not a healthy habit."
"No, change is good," Bash said, slipping an arm around her waist to admire the new decor. "Like that photo of us from the wedding as best man and maid of honour. I like that." His eyes landed on another framed photograph and he frowned. "A-And that one of me in my uniform."
"You're so handsome," his betrothed said happily. "I had to put it on full display! It was all dusty in one of the drawers I cleared out to make space for my underwear. Speaking of underwear, I went to Victoria's Secret yesterday and got you some things you'd like to see on me..."
Bash looked down at her and saw her eyes darken with lust. "Not in front of company, darling."
"I know," she sang, leaving his side to grab a sketchbook. "I've also drawn some pictures of paintings I'd like to paint when I have the chance to. We'll have them on the walls of our new home."
"Wonderful," Bash said, strained. "I-I got you a gift."
"A gift?" Kenna asked, eyes wide and excited. "What is it?"
Bash chuckled, leaving the room to retrieve a black box with a gold ribbon. He handed it to her and she turned to Diane, both women wondering what could be under the lid.
Kenna took the lid off and gasped when a puppy leapt into her arms, causing her to drop the box and lid as she laughed. She turned to Bash as the puppy licked her face.
"Oh, Bash!" She cried out, giving the dog a good rub on its back.
"I thought you'd like more company," he told her. "Considering I'll be out most of the time and my mother will return to South Africa soon. It's a girl, she's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel."
Kenna's eyes watered. "She's beautiful!"
"She really is!" Diane said, stroking the dog's fur.
Bash smiled. "I believe that Mary had one before Stirling?"
Kenna nodded. "Sadly, her one died of cancer when we were thirteen. It was so heartbreaking burying Alice. It took her two years until she got Stirling." She looked down at the dog. "Hello, baby!"
"I have everything she requires downstairs. She will have her own room and I will add a kennel to the list of things we want to be added to our home in Paris," Bash said, collecting the empty box and its lid. "My father adores Cavalier King Charles Spaniels so he will be lenient should we visit Fontainebleau with her."
Kenna blushed. "I'll take that to mind."
"Any names?" Diane asked the couple.
Bash looked at his wife. "You choose. She's yours."
Kenna bit her lip in thought for a few minutes before deciding on, "Olenna."
"Olenna?" Diane asked, confused.
Bash chuckled. "Of course," he mumbled. "Olenna Tyrell was Kenna's favourite Game of Thrones character, Maman. Olenna is fit for a queen. A dog queen at least."
Kenna giggled, cuddling her new child. "Thank you, mon amour. You're a Godsend... No one has ever got me a dog before or gifts overall. My parents didn't allow us to get a family dog after two died of unnatural causes."
"Now how does that happen?" Diane asked her.
"One was hit by a car and the other... Mysteriously suffered the same fate," Kenna said ominously. "But the thing is, we lived in the countryside. The quiet countryside."
"Well, you now have questions for your parents," Bash said, chuckling. "I will see you two later. I need to check in on Francis and head to Fontainebleau for a meeting with Henry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
Kenna frowned. "How long will you be?"
"I will be back by dinner," he told them. "Enjoy making this house a home and getting acquainted with Olenna. I bid you, adieu."
He bowed dramatically, making the women giggle or chuckle in Diane's case, and left, his smile leaving his face quickly. He couldn't handle the guilt. It wasn't his fault but he didn't pull away all the same.
Every time this happened, will he just buy gifts for Kenna to keep her from knowing the truth?
He cursed himself, handing the gift box to Dr Winter as he left without a second thought to his fiancée and Olivia.
...
Mary emerged from the water, wiping her hair back as she began to walk out of the ocean. She wore a one-piece just in case, deciding on a similar two-piece swimsuit for the private hot tub later with Francis. Rubbing her face free of water, she smiled when she found her husband snoring on the beach towel.
"Francis!" She sang, kneeling down and hovering above him. "Babe..."
Francis jolted awake, a lazy smile on his face. "Hi."
"Hi," she replied, kissing him. "Why are you so tired?"
Francis shrugged. "I think I'm coming down with a cold, love," he mumbled, shielding his eyes from the sun. Their second day here was hot, way hotter than France.
"Oh, please don't!"
"I will try," he said, chuckling before he yawned. He looked up and smirked, brushing his fingers over a bruise on her collarbone. "Shit. Sorry about this."
Mary frowned. "What are you on about?"
"Earlier, I may have left my mark on you."
She retrieved her makeup mirror from their beach bag and inspected her skin, gasping. "Francis! I said no hickeys!"
"I'm sorry! It should go before our Canada trip," was his reply, leaning up to place a sweet kiss on the red bruise.
Mary blushed. "If any camera sneaks past, they'll see it."
"We're young!" Francis chuckled loudly. "They should be relieved to know that our sex life is going swimmingly well."
She pushed him back down. "I don't want people knowing about our sex life!"
"The French are really excited when it comes to that. Every time they heard wind of my parents expecting again, they would drink and party all week long," Francis said. "It is a sign that our country is strong and fruitful. Soon, they'll place bets on what we'll have. Either way, our child will be the future monarch."
"I can't believe your dad sprung that news on us. That he didn't mind a future queen," she mumbled, smiling a little. "Puts less pressure on us to have sons."
Francis placed a hand on her stomach. "We might have the first Queen Regnant of France, Mary. Finally, we can move on from ruling kings."
"You're so for this, aren't you?"
"Of course," he said happily. "We are in the 21st century. Women are just as powerful as men. You can vote, you can work and bear the children and be all-around bosses."
"I knew you love Beyoncé!"
"And many other women of power," Francis said proudly. "Inspirations for us all!" He caressed her hips. "But you inspire me the most."
Mary moaned when he ground against her and she leant down to kiss him, her fingers raking his chest as his lips moved to her collarbone and sucked at it. She didn't care if she got another red bruise, the effect he had on her was mind-blowing.
"Oh, God," she whispered, her eyes closing.
"You're mine," Francis said into her ear.
"Uh-uh," she breathed out.
"And I'm yours..." He trailed off, moving a hand between them.
Mary swallowed deeply. "You are." She reached down to direct his hand but he kept it firmly in place. "Please."
"'Please' what?" Francis asked coyly.
Mary looked at him, her eyes opening. "I want you to..."
"Go on..."
"Touch me," she whispered shyly.
Francis grinned. "As my wife wishes."
...
Bash froze in his steps and turned around, heading back into his father's office to see the King pick up his folder of things to bring up with the Ministry of Foreign Relations. He frowned at his son curiously.
"Why are the D'Amencourts here?"
"Catherine invited them," Henry replied, rounding the desk to meet him by the doors. "The Duke missed her and they are catching up over tea. Olivia came to see what marriage prospects she could have."
"The Duke can stay but she has to go," Bash told his father.
Henry smirked. "One of your former conquests, son?"
"No..."
"I can read you like a book, my boy," Henry said, grinning. "I heard you got the Comtessa a pet. You hate dogs so you must have done something bad."
Bash turned to his father in surprise. "How do you know I got her a dog?"
"You do realise that our security teams are entwined," Henry stated, baffled. "Anyway, what did you do?"
"Olivia... She cornered me at the FEGA and kissed me."
Henry frowned deeply. "I see," he said, gesturing for his son to take a seat as he placed his files onto the coffee table.
Bash also sat down with his father, shrugging. "I don't know what to do. She's relentless."
"She is Catherine's goddaughter; they are really close," Henry said, sighing. "It might be another plan of hers."
"Can she not try and ruin my marriage before it starts?" Bash snapped. "Whatever you can do, do it. Catherine can't go around screwing our lives up, we have an image. You have an image. Everything has been damaging if not for Narcisse and I coming up with ideas to protect the family, we can't afford a civil war."
Henry nodded. "I understand," he replied. "I will speak to her, see what I can do."
"Thank you," Bash said gratefully.
"Before you go..."
"Yes?"
"I've been talking to my courtiers and Narcisse," Henry said to his son. "The line of succession."
Bash furrowed his brows. "What about it?"
"I told Francis and Mary not to worry about their firstborn being a son or not because either way, I am abolishing the 'only male' line," Henry announced. "That is why we will be seeing the Ambassador today. You will be attending meetings by his side and get to ease yourself into your new role as a royal advocate."
"Are you... are you serious?"
"I am. If I'm honest, I hope they have a daughter first. France needs her first Queen Regnant and not Consort," Henry said with a grin. "It sounds silly, doesn't it? But other countries are or have taken that leap. And I had a dream, God spoke to me. He told me that my first grandchild will set an example for everyone in France. I believe that meant it will be a girl."
Bash started to laugh. "Dad, you and your prophecies-"
"I know I sound mad but when God speaks to you, you must listen. I have already got a team of aides working on French names for strong queens. We could go with Marie like Mary and her mother or-"
"Should I be who you're talking to about this?" Bash teased his father. "I'm sure Mary and Francis will be very grateful for your help."
Henry scoffed lightly. "You know how you young people are. Old traditions are not the way for you. Anyway, I also wanted to talk about you."
"Me?" Bash asked, surprised. "Don't tell me you had a dream."
Henry chuckled wryly, leaning back in his seat as he put one leg over the other, getting comfortable. "I know things have been tense ever since you were born," he said. "So I hope to rectify that."
"Dad, I'm a grown man," Bash told him. "I've accepted things as they are. I'm grateful for my life. I'm grateful for everything I have, and that I am."
"I'm glad," Henry replied happily. "But I'd be glad if you were behind Francis and his children, before the others."
"What?" Bash breathed out. "I-I-"
"Charles... He hasn't got a diplomatic nor fair bone in his body. He's spoilt unfortunately because of his mother and he always vies for my attention," Henry said. "Henri Jr, he's got dreams to be a teacher or something. I do not mind, he's my son and I will help him get to his dreams but he isn't a good potential successor, God forbid anything happens to Francis and his family and even you and yours. And Louis, well he's eight. We can't really tell what he will become yet. Then the girls... Don't get me started."
Bash began to laugh. "Charles can be changed, he's only fifteen. Henri Jr can tutor children as a job, under supervision. And Louis. Well, he's just Louis."
"Bash-"
"It's not a good idea-"
"It is," Henry argued gently. "If not for my second marriage, you would have been first in line. It was unfair of me to cut you out. You're my eldest and I want to make amends for the past."
Bash nodded slowly. "I get that and-"
"Then we will speak no more on the matter," Henry said happily, getting up. "You've agreed to becoming a prince, I will talk to Parliament and have it confirmed." He collected his files. "The Ministry of Foreign Relations is waiting."
The King left and Bash remained seated, in shock of what had just happened. It wasn't until Narcisse found him that he finally had the ability to get up from his seat and follow him to the conference room.
"He told you?" Narcisse asked knowingly.
"Have you ever told a king 'no'?"
"I do not aim to use that word in my vocabulary around your father. We may be old friends but I have yet to see a day I've said that to him," Narcisse told him. "But there are other ways to say 'no'."
He gave the prince a smile and Bash scowled lightly before entering the room and sitting down opposite his father at the other end of the table. Narcisse placed some files in front of him and Bash scanned through them, turning to the Ambassador who spoke.
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs is on his way," he said. "I apologise for the delay."
"Not at all," Henry said. "Did you enjoy the wedding?"
The Ambassador nodded, smiling. "It was beautiful from beginning to end."
"Good," Henry said, returning the smile with a sigh.
Bash smiled to himself, wondering if this was how his duties were going to be like. Awkward small talk, embarrassed politicians, silence and throats cleared every now and then.
"You remember my eldest, the Duke de Orléans," Henry told him.
"Yes," the Ambassador replied, turning to Bash. "Pleasure to meet you again, Sir."
"Likewise," Bash said. "Do anybody like horses?"
Henry bit back a smile.
...
"I'm glad we decided to take things to the bed before we got ahead of ourselves," Mary said softly as she laid her head on Francis's bare chest. "The bed is much more comfortable and less sand-filled."
Francis chuckled, kissing the top of her head languidly. "I'm in Heaven."
Mary pinched him and he gasped out in pain. "Nope, still alive."
"Funny. Ha, ha," Francis replied before breaking out in a bright smile. "Do you think we should test the waters?"
Mary leant up and rested her chin on his breastbone to look at him. "How do you mean?"
"A pregnancy test," he stated quietly.
"Francis... There are protocols-"
"Screw protocols," Francis replied. "I don't want to wait three months to find out if we're parents or not. It's been a good three weeks since we became intimate again before the wedding, there could be something."
Mary rolled her eyes playfully. "I've not had symptoms yet."
"Every pregnancy is different," was her husband's reply. "Go on. Please?"
Mary sighed. "I'll ask Angelica."
"Thank you, Mary," Francis said, grinning widely.
"What would happen if we had a baby so soon?"
"We'll deal with it. We have a lot of support and we can raise them to the best of our abilities," Francis replied easily.
Mary bit her lip nervously. "What if I can't be a good mum?"
"What are you talking about?" Francis asked gently. "My love, you are the most maternal person I know. Look at how you play with my younger siblings and how you are with your friends. You're a natural, you are so happy and proud of everyone else, you have love in your heart. Even if your parental relationships suffered, along with mine, you still have a chance to do better for our child."
"If we have a child," Mary told him.
He smiled. "If we have a child." His heart leapt. "I'm scared to find out now."
"You'll be the best dad in the world..."
"Would I?"
"Yes," she said. "You've just comforted and assured me. You'll be great at helping our kids with their problems."
Francis blushed. "Okay, I really want to know now."
Mary grinned. "Same."
"We should probably be less naked and sweaty though."
Mary burst into giggles, pressing kisses on Francis's chest. "Want to join me for a shower?"
"I have a feeling that we'll have less of the showering and more of lovemaking," he said, leaving a chaste kiss on her lips.
"You'll just have to find out, husband," Mary replied breathily before slinking out of the bed and walking to the bathroom. She turned her head back and eyed him. "Are you... coming?"
Francis chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "So my wife thinks she's funny now?"
"Oh, darling, I've always been funny," she replied, blowing him a kiss and disappearing into the bathroom.
...
Francis and Mary had decided to take the pregnancy tests after visiting a restaurant, protected by Hawaiian security as well as theirs. They had a private table, shielded away from the rest of the diners and Mary reached a hand over the table to link with her husband's.
He grinned, eyeing the rings on her hand. "Every time I see your hand, I fall in love with you all over again. Because these," he began, lifting her left hand up. "Remind me that we're married."
Mary blushed. "Stop, you're going to make me cry."
"I just love you so much," Francis told her, kissing the palm of her hand softly.
"You're making it so hard."
"To do what?"
"Not pull you onto the table and have my way with you," Mary replied, blushing even more.
He gave her a wink and turned his head to look at their view of the ocean. "Hawaii is really beautiful."
"It is," she whispered. "When we have kids, we'll bring them here."
Francis squeezed her hand. "We will."
When they returned to the villa, Angelica handed them the pregnancy tests and gave them a thumbs-up before disappearing into her room. The couple headed upstairs as their two security guards turned in for the night, the Hawaiian guards remaining in position.
As she went up every step, Mary felt her heart beating hard. She felt terrified, unsure but a little happy and excited. She and Francis would deal with the situation together and tell everyone at the chateau in private when they returned before announcing the news publicly after she was thirteen weeks gone.
Getting to their bedroom, Mary grabbed the tests and entered the bathroom. She had drunk a lot for this moment and she used a plastic cup that was inside the drugstore bag and peed in it. As she did so, her husband waited patiently with a stupid grin on his face.
"I don't know what's so satisfying about staring at me pee in a cup," Mary said. "Come to confirm you did a good job well done?"
Francis laughed, taking a seat on the ground and crossing his legs as she finished up, sticking the three ClearBlue tests into the cup.
"Be useful and set up the timer," she told him, going over to the sink to wash her hands.
"Relax, love," Francis replied cheekily, taking his phone out and going to the alarm app to turn on a timer. "How long?"
"Three minutes."
"Seems like lightyears away," he mumbled, setting it up. "And by the way, seeing you take pregnancy tests turns me on."
Mary scowled but smiled a little. "Would I still turn you on if I'm fat and ugly?"
"What? Babe, you can never be ugly but yes, you will gain a little weight as the months go on. Leading to me being turned on because I love you and everything that comes with you."
Mary let out a soft laugh. "Why do I turn you on?"
Francis blushed. "Because you're wonderful. You're kind, sweet, loving, caring, beautiful, sexy, gorgeous, smart, like crazy smart, funny even though you need to work on that, sweet-"
"You already said that," Mary said, giggling.
"Sweet," Francis said for the third time. "Amazing, marvellous, a goddess-"
"I get it," Mary said, laughing happily. "I love you."
"Love you too, love."
They sat in comfortable silence on the ground, sharing bright smiles and warm gazes. Their hands met on the cold floor and Francis squeezed it lovingly, rubbing the back of her hand.
When the timer went off, he silenced it and Mary retrieved the tests.
She looked at them.
"Well?"
...
Kenna giggled as Bash led her through their bedroom at their new home with his hands over her eyes. She bumped into a few things and reached behind her to smack his thigh. "I swear, if I bump into something else, I will kill you."
Bash chuckled. "I'm sorry," he said. "I should have warned you."
"Just like the first four times," she muttered, placing her hands on his over her eyes.
"I had some unexpected news today," he told her, continuing to lead her through their bedroom and into the bathroom. "I don't know how I feel about it but I wanted to talk through it with you. For now, though, I'd like you to enjoy what I've done for our new home. Or our bathroom in particular."
Kenna laughed and he finally took his hands away. She gasped, looking around. "You didn't...!"
"I did," he confirmed. "White marble and glass, as you wanted. With the bath by the wall and not in the middle."
"My toes thank you," Kenna replied, turning to kiss him.
Bash chuckled against her lips. "Check the bathtub properly."
She narrowed her eyes and walked away from him, heading to the tub. She gasped when she looked inside and saw clear cut diamonds inside, filling up three-quarters of the tub.
"What is this?"
"I didn't propose properly," Bash said on one knee as she turned to face him, gasping. He retrieved an amethyst engagement ring and held it up, the ring sparkling in the moonlight.
Kenna blushed. "Oh, Bash..."
"Your father told us some stories over Golf. You've always wanted a fairytale wedding, the proposal included," he said. "So here is me asking you, Mckenna Marie Beaton to be my lawfully wedded wife."
Kenna bit her lip, walking over to him. "I didn't need a new ring-"
"You did," he said. "You can wear my grandmother's ring on your right hand."
Kenna put the ring on her right finger and reached her left out to him so he could slip the new ring on her left finger. "It's beautiful."
"I have good taste," he replied. "And my mother."
She chuckled, her phone beeping with a new text. She took it and saw that it was from Mary, asking if the women were free. "It's Mary," she said. "She probably has something to tell us..."
"I'll go check on Olenna," Bash said, getting up and planting a quick kiss on her lips before leaving.
Kenna smiled and looked down to see that Mary had changed her mind. tutting, she chuckled at her friend's behaviour before heading out of the bathroom to find Bash in the bed with Olenna in his arms.
"Smart thing came to us," he said, burying his face into her fur. "I'll take her to the groomers tomorrow."
"Mary changed her mind," she explained. "And that's kind of you. I could do that."
"No, I've booked an appointment and I have to visit Bayard who lives near the groomers about something."
Kenna jumped onto the bed, making Olenna jump. "Sorry, sweetie," she said, stroking her fur. "About what, mon amour?"
"Halloween."
"Halloween?"
"Yes," Bash said. "He can get the only drink I allow people to drink at my Halloween-themed parties."
Kenna shook her head in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Yes," Bash told her. "It's like this Ghost Liquour or something. We found out about its presence in Russia on duty."
"About being on duty, your picture has disappeared from our bedroom in Avon," Kenna told him. "Tell me about that time."
Bash smiled. "No."
"Come on!"
"No," he said softly. "You don't need to know about that."
"Was it a bad experience?"
"No comment."
"Did you use a gun?"
"No comment."
"Are you licensed to use a gun? Do we have guns that are not security owned at our properties?"
"No comment and no comment," Bash replied, chuckling. "You ask a lot of questions."
Kenna glared at him. "We'll be married in two months, I need to ask questions."
"Fine," Bash said. "I was in the Army for about four years from aged 16 to 20. It's sort of mandatory, a law coming from many centuries ago, I don't know. My father is in talks about shutting down that law in favour of men remaining in education and hoping to go into further education."
"I see," she replied. "And...?"
"I was going to continue to remain in duty but my mother fell ill briefly and I left to see her in South Africa where she was working into getting citizenship there," Bash continued. "I just... I hate talking about it because I loved it."
Kenna gasped. "Seriously?"
"Yes," Bash said gently. "I had a purpose. I only ever had my mother and my horses but when I was sent on tours, I could have a taste of something different than the King of France's illegitimate son. I could see suffering, I could help those people, those children... I don't regret not going back but at the same time, I missed the discipline and control I had over things. I had a family in the Army."
Kenna smiled softly, cupping his cheek. "Now you have me and Olenna."
"I do," he said, kissing her palm. "I'm sorry I don't talk about it. It's not like I ever pulled a gun on another human being like Bayard and the Vargas. I was on humanitarian duties mostly. No one could risk having me killed because of who I was. But I felt free despite the jail I was in. The jail being my father and his role in France and my lack thereof."
"Finding purpose is hard," Kenna replied quietly. "I've wandered through the years pretty aimlessly. I drank, partied, slept with other people behind my 'perfect heiress' background. I don't know, it's not the same as your story-"
"But it still is a reason you are who you are today," Bash cut her off. "Anyway, this is too much getting to know each other. I want to get to know you in other ways or reaffirm things."
Kenna rolled her eyes playfully and got off the bed. "And in which way may that be?"
"Have you ever made love in a bathtub full of diamonds?"
Kenna gasped. "Don't think I have..."
...
"I'm sorry I almost told the girls," Mary mumbled, wiping her cheeks dry of tears. "I don't even know why I'm crying. I'm sorry."
Francis smiled a little. "Don't be. It's fine. Whenever you feel like you can't talk to me, you talk to them. I can't compete with that."
Mary shook her head. "Don't be stupid. They may be like sisters to me but you're my husband and this is our situation. It doesn't have anything to do with them until we make it their business."
He ran his fingers through her hair, his hands cupping her cheeks and his lips pressing against hers before he pulled away. "How are you feeling?"
"How are you feeling?" Mary whispered.
Francis shrugged. "I don't know. This affects you more than me."
"It affects both of us," Mary told him, frowning. "Just because women bear the children, doesn't mean men don't have opinions over the matter. I just... I don't know. I'm sorry-"
"Stop apologising, my love," Francis said softly. "You have nothing to apologise for."
Tears sprung to her eyes and she wrung her hands with a soft sigh. "I don't know how I feel," she said honestly. "I'd admit, I expected the opposite result."
"Why?"
"I don't know?" She said, phrasing it more as a question than an answer. "I'm just being silly..." She wiped her falling tears and swallowed deeply. "I love you, Francis."
"I love you too," Francis replied easily, placing his hand on her stomach as a smile grew on his face. "Mary... We're having a baby."
She started to laugh through the tears that were building up again, the initial shock wearing off. "Oh, God," she muttered. "I honestly thought it was too soon but here we are..."
"Here we are," Francis said happily. "We made a wedding night baby, baby."
Mary squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck which made him fall back on the seat from their position on the sofa. "I can't believe it."
"You better believe it, Mama Bear."
"Oh my God," Mary breathed out, hovering over him. "They will take over."
"Who?"
"Our mothers!"
"Oh..."
"The whole duration, the nursery, the christening..." Mary sighed heavily. "For fuck's sake..."
Francis snorted. "Don't swear in front of our unborn child!"
She hit his chest. "It doesn't even have ears yet," she argued lightly. "I'll be honest... I wasn't so sure about having a baby so soon but now it's confirmed and you're happy, I'm happy."
Francis sighed in relief. "Good," he whispered. "I can't wait to raise this baby with you, Mary."
"Neither can I," Mary whispered back, kissing him hard. "Well, that's one thing off our shoulders."
"What's the next thing?"
"Making the most out of this honeymoon time that we have left."
