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elder 441 [chapter 15]: Yeah, he is managing to convince her. Catherine is still the woman who gave birth to him after all.

Guest (1) [chapter 15]: You're welcome, here's the next chapter!

Guest (2) [chapter 15]: Here it is!

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Mary sipped her wine, watching as Anne opened her presents. It was the third month that they had been in Scotland and Mary couldn't remember the last time she celebrated her birthday in Scotland.

"Mama!" Anne called out, gasping at the contents of one large box. "Aunt Lola got me a dollhouse!"

Mary gave her daughter a wide smile, getting up from her seat to hover over her shoulder and nod in approval. She looked up and saw Lola blushing furiously as she held John by her side.

"John, why don't you come and see?" Mary asked him, beckoning him over. "I am sure Anne will need help to play with these."

John looked up at Lola who gave him an encouraging nod. He then sat beside Rose and gave Anne a bright smile.

Mary would never stop her children from knowing their half-brother. He was still Francis's son and they now had an heir. They will also have more sons along the way.

"Aunt Mary?" Robin asked, looking up at her. "When will my mama and papa come?"

"Very soon," Mary assured him, ruffling his hair. "If you and John want to do so, you can join Francis at the stables."

"Yes," Francis said, entering the room. "You wouldn't want to play with dolls with the girls, would you?"

"No," the boys said, both eagerly giving Anne other presents.

A while later, the boys had gone with Francis and Lola had excused herself. Mary started to play with the girls, pretending she was the mother doll as both girls took on the daughters and other family members.

"Mama, we've been here for a long time," Rose stated. "Are we ever going to go home?"

Mary smiled softly. "Rosie, Papa and I explained-"

She was cut off by the governess entering with James in her arms. She gave the queen an apologetic look, gesturing to James.

"He wants his mother, Ma'am," she said, offering the child.

Mary beamed, accepting her son and kissing his head as he began to suck his thumb. She would have to wean him off, his sisters never sucked their thumbs when they were babies.

"As I was saying," Mary continued as the governess went to sit down and watch them vigilantly. "Papa and I explained that we will be living at Castle Barton for six months each year and in France. You have two homes, my sweetlings so Mama can overlook Scotland personally."

"Does that mean that I will have another bedchamber like I have in Avon?" Anne asked excitedly.

Mary chuckled, nodding. "Yes. And the Duke has kindly organised a few horses for you and your sister to own as well as Robin."

Anne gasped. "Really? I want another pony!"

"We will see what we can do for your birthday," Mary replied. "Now, who wants to try some cake?"

Without even needing to reply, the girls got up and hurried to the grand hall with Mary following behind at a slower pace with the governess.

The cake was five tiers tall and very pink.

"Take some from the back. We have guests coming to wish you well," Mary said, gesturing for the governess to help them.

"Do they have to come?" Anne whined. "I just want you, Papa, Rosie and James."

Mary sighed wistfully. "I want that too. Papa told the Duke of my plans for a more private affair, but well..."

"The Duke wants a big one?" Anne asked. "But it's my birthday!"

"I know, sweetheart," Mary said softly. "I think the Duke is excited to host a princess's birthday. I promise you that this night, it will just be us."

Anne accepted her answer before taking a bite from her cake. She looked up at her mother happily, seemingly approving of her birthday cake.

"Thank you, Mama," she said sweetly.

"You're very welcome, Anne," Mary replied, almost breathlessly.

Many years ago, she was not a mother. Anne had given her a beautiful gift and now, tears sprung to her eyes at the realisation that she was growing up quicker than she wanted.

Her little Annie.

She placed James on the ground and he immediately started to crawl for his sisters.

"I will be right back," she promised her children before heading outside to meet Francis who had just ridden into the stables, the boys already getting off their horses.

"Mary," he greeted. "Is Anne enjoying her gifts?"

Mary smiled. "She's moved onto the cake already. Although the present from that Russian oligarch seemed to peak her taste in priceless jewels."

"Is that right?" Francis asked, grinning. "My mother sent her something. It's in our bedchamber."

"She will accept it," Mary said tersely. "She is still her grandmother after all."

"Thank you," Francis said, sighing in relief. "Mary, I do hope for us to make things right with her. We have not had any word of her conspiring with the English. Perhaps it was just to gain some intelligence-"

"It's Anne's birthday," Mary cut him off gently. "No talking of conspiracies or any of the sort. Anyway, I was thinking about something..."

Francis nodded, handing the reins to a stableboy. "Go ahead."

They left the stables, smiling at the boys who were being shooed into the house by a governess.

"Nobody can hear us here," Mary said once they were a fair distance away from prying ears.

"You're scaring me, M-"

"I want another child."

Francis laughed. "I know. Why are-"

"Now," she firmly stated. "Anne's is growing up so quickly and before we know it, we will be waving her off 'goodbye'. I know we've already had talks about it, but maybe we are ready now."

"Dear Lord," Francis muttered. "And James will turn one soon... Mary, are you-"

"I am," she assured him. "We are."

A smile grew on his face and he kissed her. "What will Anne think if we give her another sibling in exactly nine months since her birthday?" He asked cheekily.

"She won't like it, but Rose will be fine with the idea," Mary replied teasingly. "I love you, Francis."

"I love you, Mary," he replied, kissing her forehead.

When they arrived at the house, they saw a carriage pull up and Mary immediately knew who it was.

Already feeling broody, she didn't wait until the door opened to do it herself, reaching inside to collect the baby inside.

"Welcome home, Kenna," she quickly said much to everyone's amusement as she stared at the baby. "She's grown so much!"

"She has," Kenna said, accepting Bash's hand to step down from the carriage. "She's awfully loud as well. I am surprised she has not started to wail in your presence."

Mary giggled. "She's fine. Aren't you Anastasia?" She asked the baby. "Oh, I can't wait to have another one."

"Didn't you just have James?" Bash teased, heading inside with Francis beside him.

The women followed after.

"He will turn one soon," Francis defended him and his wife. "It wouldn't hurt to have another baby in the castle."

"It wouldn't, no," Kenna said softly, a thin smile on her face. The smile then relaxed when she set eyes on her father for the first time in years.

"My darling daughter," Robert breathed out.

Before he could even get an inch towards her, Robin and the girls ran towards their parents.

"Papa, Mama!" Robin cried out.

"Mama, can you come and play with us again?" Anne asked her mother, grabbing Francis's hand. "And you too, Papa. Grandpapa Robert said that everyone will be coming soon."

Mary shared a sympathetic glance towards Kenna's way before giving Anne a nod. Time for familial reconciliations was for later.

Now, it was Anne's special day and Mary couldn't be any less proud of the strong, resilient girl her daughter was.

"Come along," she said, starting to lead the children away. "We might have some room for tarts!"

She felt like a mother hen. Like she was born to be a mother. She was a natural leader, being a queen and a natural mother.

Maybe she and Francis could handle four children this soon.