Mary walked through the shops with her other ladies, perusing the trinkets vendors had on display. She spoke happily with Emilia while they looked through a stand displaying various fabrics.

"How are you and Marque?" She asked her lady. "I haven't seen him today."

"He'll be here shortly." Emilia replied. "He had business to attend to elsewhere."

"You've grown quite close in the past few weeks." Emilia's cheeks reddened, causing Mary to giggle at her friend's discomfort.

"Hello Mary." Sebastian greeted upon entering the shops. Ellyana next to him, looking extremely uncomfortable in the dress she was made to wear. "Kenna, Aylee, Greer, Lola, Emilia."

"Hello Bash." Mary replied. "Ellyana."

"You seem to be in a good mood." He smiled.

"Don't make an attempt on my life and you'll find me quite game."

"Well to see you smile is to feel the sun, your grace."

"Do you flirt with everyone?"

"Absolutely everyone." He smiled once more before he and Elly went elsewhere in the shops.

"You're ridiculous." Elly commented.

"As far as you know." He smirked. She smacked his arm in annoyance.

"Meanwhile I'm trapped here because of you." She reminded him. "And you're such a flirt."

His smirk widened. "Jealous, El?"

"Of course not." She huffed. Then she sobered. "You must be careful, Bash. No good can come of that."

"You sound like my mother."

Feigning a gag, she scowled. "I am nothing like Diane."

"Why do you hate her?"

"That's a story for another day." She stiffened abruptly. "Something's wrong."

He was about to ask why when Ellyana silenced him. Her eyes darkened as a familiar blonde came running in, catching Francis' attention.

"Mary needs an explanation. You might as well be the one to give it." When she looked at him, her golden eyes were emotionless. "I have somewhere to be."

Bash watched her curiously as she stalked away. He rejoined Mary and her ladies. "Do you know what is going on?" He asked Emilia.

She shook her head. "Marque is here. Tell Elly I wish she used her brain more." She walked away.

Realization dawned in Bash as he explained the Olivia situation to Mary. Ellyana could tell one forest from another by the smell of the leaves. She had left before Olivia announced she was attacked in the Blood Wood, but Elly would have known immediately.

She wouldn't be so foolish as to pay them a visit, would she?

"Excuse me, Your Grace." He headed for the stable. Praying that her mount was still at home.

"You don't need to worry about me."

"I do when there are bandits targeting the King's Road." He flashed back. Relief flooded through him, though.

Ellyana smirked. "Please, Bash. I did take down Tomas, if you don't remember."

"And probably others that I never want to hear about." He admitted. "I think I'm allowed to worry about you, though. Some people might know who you are."

"Don't bring this up again." She groaned. "I shouldn't have told you. At least Emilia knows to keep her mouth shut."

"She wants you to use your brain more. At least she had common sense, unlike you, it seems."

"I can take care of myself." She mounted her mare. "Don't worry about me." She glared down at him. "I would worry about Diane if I were you. She seemed... off to me today."

"What is it you have against my mother?" He questioned.

"I told you before. That is a story for another day." She began to leave the stables. "Just be wary of her." She pressed her heels to the mare's side. Her mount took off.

Bash stared after her, worried. He headed into the courtyard. Wanting to be away from the prying eyes of the castle.

Emilia walked through the grounds next the Marque. Her arm linked through his. They wanted to escape the crowded shops for a while.

"So," she began. "What have you been speaking so adamantly with your parents about?"

"My father has grown ill." He replied solemnly. "He wishes for me to carry on the family name. My mother says I cannot claim my inheritance until I'm wed."

"Are you suggesting we get married?"

"I would. But, my mother does not approve of our relationship. She wishes for me to wed a woman of 'higher standing.' As she put it."

"Higher standing?" Emilia stopped in her tracks. "My family is related to the queen of Scotland. Mary and I are practically cousins. We own a large part of Scotland."

"That's what I've been trying to explain to her." He took her hands into his own and looked into her eyes. "I love you Emilia. More than anything. I will do whatever it takes to make you my wife. We just need to wait."

"I love you too." She said. "And I'm willing to wait however long it takes." He kissed her softly and led her back to the shops.