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BlerBlerBler [chapter 17]: :) Hope you enjoy this one!

elder 441 [chapter 17]: You're very welcome! This was inspired by the previous chapter :)

Guest (1) [chapter 17]: I won't say anything ;)

Guest (2) [chapter 17]: More scenes like those will come very soon! The book will be a highlight in an upcoming chapter where there will be a childfree break. You're very welcome and enjoy the next chapter!

Mary's eyes widened when she opened the trunk. She quickly dismissed the servant and requested him to call Kenna for her.

"What did you have imported?" Francis asked her curiously as he hovered over her shoulder.

She quickly shut the trunk closed. "Not me. Kenna. The servant must have believed it was mine and brought it here instead."

"That is an easy fix, we can call him to-"

"I've called her here. Do you mind excusing us, my love?" Mary asked sweetly, standing to kiss him.

Francis raised his eyebrows. "What is inside that?"

"I plan to ask Kenna," she replied, kissing his cheek.

"Your Majesties - the Duchess of Avon, Kenna," the doorman announced, letting Kenna inside.

Francis gave Kenna a suspicious look before leaving her baffled at why she was summoned and why she received that look.

"Why was Francis looking at me as if I'd done something horrific?" She asked, chuckling a little.

Mary opened the trunk and pointed at its contents. "Kenna, look!"

Kenna looked down and gasped happily, pulling a garment out of the trunk. "The lingerie sets I ordered from Italy!"

"Italy? You know how I feel about Italy," Mary said lightly. "And lingerie?"

"It's common, Mary," Kenna replied, pressing one against her chest as she walked over to the mirror. "Since Bash and I have all of this time to spend with each other, might as well make it exciting and make him work for it."

Mary blushed. "Work for it?" She squeaked out. "Kenna!"

"The book says that women can be powerful when it comes to sex, Mary," Kenna explained. "Women may not be men's equals, but in the bedchamber... Well, let's just say it is not Henry admiring what I have to offer."

"Dear God," Mary muttered. "Now, I can't get the images of you and Bash nor you and Henry out of my mind!"

"Oh, do get Henry and me out of your mind. I'd like to forget we ever happened," Kenna said dismissively. "By the way, lingerie is a really popular item now once again. It's very modern."

Mary cleared her throat. "I know that. I wore one on our wedding night."

"And after?"

"We never felt the need to prepare to make love," Mary said. "This book is beyond me!"

Kenna giggled, going over to collect a blood-red set. "I plan to enjoy every single page of it. Well, not every page. I do not believe I am that bendable-"

"Kenna!"

"Mary!" Kenna mockingly cried out. "Do you know what? The four of us need time away from the children. I love Ana and Robin, but Bash and I have a marriage to maintain."

Mary smiled a little, eyeing the navy set. "Go on, then."

Kenna handed her the lingerie and she disappeared behind the screen to get dressed into it. When she was done, she returned and twirled for Kenna to judge the set.

"Blue is really your colour," Kenna said approvingly.

Mary had noticed that she was in the red one. "All of these look wonderful on you. I look bloated in this!" She whined sadly.

"Don't be silly," Kenna told her. "And I did order them for myself. You can keep that if you want. I am sure Francis will like to-"

"Mary, Kenna's father asked if-"

Both women froze, turning around to face Francis whose eyes widened.

"I-I... Excuse-"

"Francis, wait!" Mary called out, pulling him back into the bedchamber where he quickly covered his eyes.

"I am so sorry, Kenna. I did not know-"

"It's fine, Francis!" Kenna laughed, heading behind the screen.

Mary began to laugh, wrapping her arms around Francis's waist. "Kenna had them ordered from Italy. They were meant to bring excitement into her and Bash's sex life-"

"Dear, God," Francis muttered, his eyes still shut. "Please, do not talk about their sex life. I know I was eager to learn when we were younger, but we are both married men now."

"It was meant to be a surprise," Mary said, giggling. "Well, me having one for you."

"I've ruined the surprise. I am so sorry," he said. "I should-"

"Why don't Kenna and I take you and Bash to Linlithgow Palace where I was born?" She asked him. "A couples' retreat - many people of high status do it."

Francis pondered the idea as Kenna returned, fully dressed in what she was wearing before.

"Francis, you can look now," Kenna said, giggling.

He opened his eyes, a faint blush on his cheeks. "I will see what Bash thinks," he said.

"He'll agree," Kenna replied coyly. "He always agrees when it comes to me."

Francis swallowed deeply, his eyes trailing lower down his wife's body. "I believe there are c-children and h-horses that need my... attention."

"It seems as if your attention is on another thing," Mary whispered, much to her and his surprise.

"Mary!" Kenna gasped. "Are you enticing your husband?"

"Oh, do shut up, Kenna. It is your lingerie that caused all of this!" Mary replied, laughing as Francis backed away. "I will see you after dinner. Kenna and I have some things to do."

Francis quickly left and Kenna pulled out a nude set from the trunk. "Trust me, that book will change your life."

...

Be assertive, Mary thought to herself as she and Kenna went to attend a private dinner with Kenna's father. Bash and Francis were already there, deciding to let the children be catered separated from them.

"Yes, I have been meaning to get into the land mine trade..." They could hear Robert say as they entered. His eyes met them. "Oh, we should put this conversation to bed. This is supper, business is for dessert."

"Or for afters," Kenna said warningly, taking a seat between her father at the head of the table and Bash.

Mary sat opposite her, beside Francis on the other head seat and Robert. She looked down and smiled happily.

"Haggis?" She said, surprised.

"It tastes wonderful," Bash told her. "I am surprised you never brought this cuisine to France." He looked between his wife and Mary who shared knowing looks.

"Trust me, if you knew what we knew, you might retract your statement," Kenna told her husband.

He halted in his actions to take a bite. "W-What?"

"Darling, you've eaten worse in the woods," Kenna said, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing.

"Scottish whisky, my dears?" Robert asked, lifting the decanter.

Mary gave him her cup as Kenna did the same, Robert pouring the whisky into both cups.

"I do not remember the last time I have hosted an intimate event for a royal," Robert said. "I had the Russian prince come to stay for business a few years ago. It was a terrible experience."

"I bet it was," Mary said, sipping from her cup. "Uncle Robert, why don't you remarry? If not for heirs - you have three - for company."

Kenna sent Mary a look. "I am sure my father enjoys the life of a bach-"

"I have been thinking about that. One day, my namesake will inherit everything. Douglas has taken lands with his wife and Paisley has taken up residence in France with her husband. Perhaps, it is an idea now that Lachlan is to wed soon," Robert said, thoughtfully. "Alas, that is an issue to talk about for another day."

As they settled into a comfortable conversation over recent diplomatic matters in France and Scotland, Mary's foot found Francis's leg.

He stopped eating, looking up to raise an eyebrow at her as she gave him a small, flirtatious smile. Her foot went higher.

Make him work for it, Kenna's voice sounded in her mind. Our bodies are weapons to the fragility of the man's mind.

Mary cursed the book under her breath, stealing a nervous look with an amused Kenna. It seemed that her friend was trying her own husband on and it made Mary bite her lip in amusement when she knew that Bash had caught on quickly.

"Oh, Kenna," Bash said. "Perhaps we should go for a midnight stroll."

"Oh?" Kenna asked, her eyes lighting up. "Yes, of-"

"With your father. I would like to explore that cave he was talking about during his stories," Bash finished, smirking to himself. "You do not mind, Duke Beaton?"

"It is Robert to you, dear son," Robert said, beaming. "Of course I do not!"

Kenna pressed a finger to her lips, resting her chin on her palm. "How wonderful, Sebastian and Father. Just... great."

"We might like to join you," Francis said making Mary's eyes widen.

She kicked him and he jolted, turning to her.

"Do not forget, it is James's midnight feed and we told the governess to take the night off," Mary told him, glaring at him.

"I do not recall," Francis replied casually, taking a sip from his cup. "I am sure the governess can be reinstated-"

"Francis Valois, you will be joining your queen and son," Mary said firmly. "If not, there will be repercussions."

Kenna gave her a grin, quickly looking down when Bash turned to her.

Be assertive and make him work for it.

"Now, let's enjoy this wonderful meal courtesy of a sheep's womb-"

Francis spat his mouthful out.

...

"What was that?" Francis asked when they got to their bedchamber and closed the doors behind them.

"What was what?" Mary asked, slipping out of her dress and corset. She turned to him, standing in the lingerie set from earlier.

A woman's body can break one man with the slightest of skin shown.

"M-Mary..."

"God, I am exhausted," Mary said, yawning loudly. "Thank God, we are not exploring that cave at midnight."

Francis took a few steps towards her. "Mary, you look-"

"Great, I have an idea!" Mary cut him off, heading over to the fireplace and stoking the wood. "I will not bother writing in my diary tonight, I think we should just sleep. We have a long day ahead of us, tomorrow!"

When she was done, she got under the covers and made herself comfortable. She closed her eyes and smiled to herself when she could feel the bed dip soon after.

"Mary..."

She rolled onto her back, opening her eyes tiredly. Well, she thought she looked tired enough.

"You can't just get into bed looking like that," Francis said, pulling the covers off her body to reveal the lingerie. "Without the means to use it."

Mary shrugged. "I thought I would enjoy waking up looking better than I usually do in the mornings," she told him. "Kenna does this for herself."

"And not for Bash's sake?" Francis asked, taking his shirt off.

Mary smiled a little. "Who says women need to look beautiful for their husbands' sake? We can do it for ourselves."

"Where is all of this confidence coming from?" Francis asked, amused. "Is Kenna rubbing off on you too much? Do I need to check in with Bash? Should I be concerned about my brother?"

"Do you need to ask too many questions?" Mary asked, rolling her eyes.

He began to slip the straps from her shoulders and she quickly stopped him.

"Francis! Who said you could take it off? I intend to-"

"You and I both know what this is," Francis said, grinning. "Mary, Kenna always does the same plays with Bash. We may be men, but we are not stupid."

"Work. For. It," Mary leant up to whisper into his ear. "I will decide if you are worthy enough or not."

Francis laughed, pressing a kiss onto her lips. "Challenge accepted."

...

"...and here is the wall my great-great-grandfather marked when he nearly drowned on that fateful night..."

Kenna kicked Bash's foot, almost making him stumble. If not for his strong stature, he would have fallen.

He turned to give her a cheeky wink. "Are you getting tired, darling?"

"Sebastian, I swear-"

She was cut off by Bash pulling her into an alcove, her father continuing on with his tour of the cave.

Her chest raised and fell quickly, her heart beating loudly in her ears as her body pressed against Bash's frame.

"Who would have known that my wife was a minx?" He breathed out, kissing her. "By the way, I love the literature you've found yourself reading during our travels. It's very enthralling."

Kenna gasped. "H-How?"

"Do you honestly believe that the book hasn't fallen in the hands of men looking to put some excitement into their bedchamber antics?" Bash asked his wife. "We both know that we have had previous lovers before our marriage. I won't lie, I've used the book to please many high borns before you."

"Dear God," Kenna muttered, giggling softly. "Why, oh, why did you offer to attend this stupid tour? My father never shuts up about this cave that our family has been through for centuries!"

Bash shrugged. "I wanted to teach you a lesson, dear wife. You cannot always get what you want."

"Oh, Bash!" She whined, hitting his chest. "Must you annoy me so?"

"Just so you are aware, I had to approve your order of Italian lingerie. I'm flattered, my love, I really am," he replied. "I apologise that I've been preoccupied lately, but I swear, whatever you want, I will give you."

Kenna smirked. "A holiday estate in Switzerland."

"Done."

"And emerald earrings to match the bracelet my father gifted me," she added.

He sighed. "Of course, it is done. But you already have emerald earrings-"

"They do not match. It has to be the exact shade of green as my bracelet. My father only sources the best!"

"Of course," he mumbled. "We better return to our tour before your father believes himself to be losing his mind."

She waved him off. "He is used to it. I think the tours are more for him than his guests."

"I feel as if we are disrespecting-"

"If I show you that he doesn't mind, you will add sapphire heels to that list. If I am wrong, I promise to not be on top for a week."

"On top...?" Bash asked before his eyes grew wide. "Deal."

Kenna smirked. Never bet on something you know you will not win.

...

As Mary headed towards the chamber pot, she found a handmaiden hurrying over to her.

"Ma'am, a moment of your time if I may?" She asked, curtseying.

"Yes, go ahead," Mary replied.

The handmaiden smiled widely. "If I may be the first to congratulate you and His Majesty-"

"Are you proclaiming that I am...?"

"Yes, Ma'am," the handmaiden confirmed. "Two weeks, Your Majesty."

"T-Two...?" Mary breathed out, surprised.

And I didn't even get to use the book yet. Although just to confirm..., she thought happily.

"Have the night off. Thank you very much," Mary said.

"My pleasure!"

Downstairs, Kenna basked in her victory as they entered the front doors.

"It was an unfair bet," her husband said, rolling his eyes. "Get me the books, I will see to it that you have the holiday estate, emerald earrings and sapphire heels bought."

"Don't worry about it," Kenna told him, kissing him. "I know my father and well, I knew exactly what to bet on because I knew I was going to win. You are right, it is unfair and I will accept my punishment, not that I mind because-"

"That damned book," Bash breathed out, laughing slightly. "It would have been a win-win situation for you, wouldn't it?"

Kenna nodded happily. "I am tired, Bash. Shall we?"

"We-"

"My Lord," a guard said, heading towards them. "Your son is having night terrors and requested that I call you."

Kenna frowned deeply. "Is he alright?"

"He is, he wants his father," the guard replied.

Bash sighed. "Very well." He turned to his wife. "Use the book for light reading, I will come to our bedchamber very soon." He gave her a wink and kissed her cheek.

Kenna replied with a nod, walking up the stairs. She wondered why Robin didn't call for her, but it was probably because he needed his father's comfort. Boys did look up to men.

In Robin's bedchamber, the boy snuggled into his father's side.

"It was terrible, Papa!"

"I'm sure it was," Bash replied. "Why did you not want your mother here?"

Robin shrugged. "She's a girl. She wouldn't understand, she never does."

"I'm sure that is not true."

"Mama only spends time with Ana. She doesn't spend time with me," Robin told him sadly.

Bash closed his eyes. It seemed that the couples' retreat would have to wait or Mary and Francis would have to go without them.

"What if Ana stayed with the governess and you, Mama and I go horseriding?" Bash asked his son.

"Yes, please!"

"Robin, you do know that Mama loves you very much. She's finding things difficult after childbirth," Bash said. "Sometimes, it is difficult and women become distant from their other children. You will see, everything will go back to normal."

...

"Francis-"

"Bash and Kenna won't be able to make it," Francis cut his wife off. "If that is what you were going to say?"

Mary gasped. "No, but is everything alright? They were excited about the trip."

"Robin had night terrors. They are hoping to spend more time with him," Francis explained. "But they told us to not cancel on our trip."

"I guess it's lovely to have time together without worrying about what the four of us should do together," Mary replied. "I had ideas of you men teaching us how to play cards."

Francis laughed. "I know you know how to play cards, Mary. You always kept records on the money I lost or won."

"It is not that hard to work out," Mary said, grinning. "Anyway, I have some news."

"Uh oh," Francis teased. "Go ahead."

"I think the girls are not going to be happy with us for a while," she told him cryptically.

It took a few minutes, but the second it dawned on Francis, Mary was being lifted into the air.

"H-How far-"

"Two weeks," she breathed out, tears springing to her eyes. "I knew I was craving more things than usual. And I felt bloated already! Maybe, it's my imagination or I just know when my body changes."

Francis laughed. "Mary, we will have four children. Dear, God, we will have four children!"

"I know!"

"I think we should even it out. Two girls and two boys."

"We can only pray," she said. "I am so happy!"

"So am I! I think our prayers are being answered," he replied. "We must attend the chapel with the children."

Mary nodded. "I'd like to keep it within this castle."

His face fell. "So, no telling my mother just yet?"

"Not yet," Mary said. "I do not want her 'told you so's' in my ears."

"Alright, that is fair. Now, we have something to truly celebrate when we leave for Linlithgow Palace," Francis said. "I will start making the arrangements. Who needs sleep?"

Mary laughed. "Who needs sleep?"