A/N: I am catching up to where I have tapered off writing. I have written through chapter 6, I am halfway through 7. I'm going to work on 7 now! Chapter 8 is when Mary will show up I think. Then things will be similar to the show but not exactly the same. Thank you to my faithful reviewers, you have my love and adoration. Greer is my favorite too so it all works out for those of you who commented. As for this chapter, there is some kissing near the end for those of you who are romantics. Hope you enjoy the read!

Chapter 5

Adelia fretted the day away, wondering what she was going to do. Francis wanted her to meet him for some undisclosed rendezvous. She should be thrilled but instead she felt panic. Her skin felt too tight, like she might burst out of it any second and fly into a thousand pieces. She paced her rooms, wondering why she was acting like such a fool. Francis wanted her attentions. An alliance with Spain would be beneficial to the King of France. She knew already that if Francis chose her King Henry would back her. It had already been negotiated.

Mary was still coming, however. King Henry wanted to wait and see what his son would choose; Spain or Scotland. Spain was a more powerful alliance but through Mary he might also gain England, a far better prize. He was leaving the decision up to Francis.

Francis's fickle heart was of renown in Spain. Her uncle, the King, had devised this plan of putting Adelia in Francis's path. If she could win his willing heart and secure a marriage with Francis, Spain would be granted a powerful ally. If Francis chose Mary and obtained not only Scotland but England as well, Spain might well find itself invaded after a short period of time. Her uncle was trying to avoid that situation.

She knew the power she now wielded in her hands. Adelia never wanted to be part of the intrigues. Court life, scandal, and secrets were never her cup of tea. But she knew what her uncle wanted was important. She knew her country depended on it. So she was going to have to undergo the biggest lie of her life. Pretend to love someone she didn't.

Noble girls did it all the time. Noble men for that matter. Love wasn't required or even expected in a noble marriage. It sometimes became the byproduct of time spent together or a happy coincidence but those times were rare and far between. Adelia should just be happy that Francis was liking her without much effort on her part. He was making this easy for her.

Damn that Sebastian. His pleasant smile and alluring eyes kept popping into her head. She remembered his touch on the day they went riding. He was as much a stranger as Francis was but she felt comfortable around him. There was a chemistry between them that was indefinable but there. She lacked that with Francis.

But there was nothing wrong with Francis. She had to keep telling herself that. She was being an idiot for not being in love with him. He might long to be more carefree but he was young and that was to be expected. She could see he would grow into a responsible man. He cared for his country, his people. He was respectable. He was cute. What more could she ask for?

Today's dress was burgundy with a fitted bodice to her hips. The silk skirt flared out with the crinoline underskirt giving it shape. There was no embroidery; it was simple, plain, and elegant. She adorned her hair with a simple silver headband. She wasn't sure what Francis had in mind so she didn't want to have too much extravagance on.

On her way to the courtyard she ran into Bash. Of all the times she wanted to see him now in a deserted hallway was the last one. She wondered if he knew where she was going.

"You're in a hurry," he smiled at her.

She kept her eyes down. "I'm meeting someone."

"Someone I know?"

"I'm sure you know everyone in the castle." she replied.

"Most everyone," he agreed. He set his finger gently under her chin to tilt her head up toward his. He was forcing her to meet his eyes. She desperately didn't want to. She felt like he could see right through her, see her for the liar she was, see into her soul. "What are you hiding?" he murmured. He didn't look angry, just curious.

She felt tendrils of heat glide across her skin from where his finger met her chin. She wanted his hands to touch more of her. If only he would slide his hands to her cheeks, her neck, her throat. What would his lips feel like tracing after his hands?

"Adelia?" he asked. She realized she had been staring at him blankly while her mind had wandered. She felt her cheeks flush and she hastily took his wrist to bring his hand away from her face. She held his wrist a moment longer than she needed to, craving the contact of his skin.

She forced a smile and looked away from his eyes. "I'm not hiding anything. I'll see you later, Bash." She pushed past him, trying to avoid touching him as much as possible.

"Tonight, then." He called after her.

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. "Excuse me?"

"You said you'll see me later. Tonight. At sundown. By the lake."

She looked at him curiously. "I'm not allowed alone out of the castle after dark."

"Well, if you're too scared..." he challenged her.

"I'm not scared." She raised her chin. It was a stupid idea. She should not meet this boy after dark, alone, anywhere much less away from the castle. She should be focused on Francis. Her traitorous voice contradicted her however. "I'll be there."

"Sundown it is." He grinned and turned, walking away.

Adelia hurried toward her meeting place with Francis. She was so confused by what had just happened she didn't know what to think. What did she think she was going to do at sundown with Bash? Stand around and talk about the weather? Discuss the fundamentals of life at court? Why on Earth did she agree to meet up with him?

And as quickly as that she couldn't worry about it anymore because there was Francis. He was looking at her with a gleeful blue gaze that she had no choice but to return. He had the reins of two horses, neither which she recognized.

"Good afternoon, my Lady Adelia." Francis bent in a small bow at her arrival.

"My Prince," she returned a small curtsey to him. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Not far," he told her, patting the nose of the black horse closest to him. "My father has stationed me with the task of choosing a new hunting hawk and two new hunting hounds for him. The breeders are here with their wares but at the edge of castle grounds. I figured we would ride there."

"Just the two of us?" Adelia looked around. There were two men already mounted that were eyeing her and Francis with disinterest.

"And my guard, of course." Francis motioned toward them.

He helped her onto the chestnut colored horse while he climbed onto the black. "Afterward I sent out for food in a basket and a blanket."

"A picnic!" Adelia said.

"Yes, with food from the fair at Tinsdale. That," he said, looking at his two guards warily. "Will be just you and me."

She let him lead the way out of the courtyard. The chestnut horse she road preferred to walk directly next to the black Francis was on so it made for easy conversation. He commented on her riding skills and she mentioned Calisto stabled at the barn.

"Oh! I didn't realize you had your own horse or I would have gotten her for you," he seemed alarmed at that revelation.

"It's ok, you didn't know. I'm sure Calisto will forgive you." Adelia smiled at him, reaching out a reassuring hand to rest on his arm. He looked down at her touch with a smile before she withdrew her hand. "Why bring me on this task your father has asked of you?" She wanted to change the subject.

"I need another's opinion. From the short time we've spent together I can tell you are a person who weighs her words carefully. You think about things before making rash decisions. I tend to be the opposite. So together we should be able to find a splendid pair of dogs and a hawk for my father." he told her.

"I see," she replied, flattered at his words. "Well I will do my best to help you find what you are looking for."

"And," he added. "It helps me to get you away from the castle so we can have our private picnic."

"You know, your Majesty, it is not wise for a young woman to be with the Prince unescorted. Rumors could fly about my virtue." She warned him.

Francis smiled at that. "My men will be around, just not staring at us. They will attest to the solidness of your virtue. I do not plan on tarnishing that. Today."

Adelia felt herself blush all the way to the tips of her ears. She didn't know what he had planned but virtue stealing or not it involved intimacy. She could tell by his looks and his words. She was mad at herself for not being more thrilled. Her father's plan was working. She tried to focus on how happy he would be to see her as the Princess of France.

She listened as Francis told her all he knew about the hawks. She had no idea how to pick one that would suit his needs and in the end she agreed with choice of one that was lighter and quicker than the rest. With the hounds she had a little more knowledge.

"My father always said that most hounds have a keen nose but not all will heed a human's command readily. He told me the best dogs are the ones that you can assert control over the fastest." Adelia told Francis. She reached out her hand to each dog as they passed, not paying any attention to what the breeder was telling her. All the dogs sniffed her fingers but she paid close attention to the ones that didn't back away immediately. After a few more minutes with the dogs she had narrowed down she told Francis her choices.

"Fine decisions, my Lady." He agreed and paid the breeder the sum. He sent the hawk and dogs back with one of his guards. The other guard accompanied them as they walked toward the trees by the lake, leading their horses.

"If I have to call you Francis, you must call me Adelia." She told him with a smile. She saw their guard stop by the edge of the trees. There was a blanket laid out with a basket on top of it. Francis must have had it waiting for their arrival. The guard was within hearing distance but he faced away from them.

Her heart was lifted by the sweet gesture of a picnic. Francis tethered their horses and sat next to her on the blanket. He poured them wine and set out the food in array so they could pick and choose what they wanted to snack on. The view of the lake was lovely. The mid-summer day was warm but there was a gentle breeze from water. The sun sparkled like diamonds splashed along the water's surface. It was a very romantic setting.

She realized Francis was taking opportunities to move to sit closer to her. He even took a bit of bread and had her eat it from his fingers. She found herself laughing at his jokes and relaxing in his presence. Despite being a prince he seemed normal, for a noble.

"I have a question for you," Francis asked after a lull in the conversation. Adelia hesitated before nodding at him. "My father has discussed various alliances with me and the benefits of one versus the other," he told her.

Adelia felt her smile freeze on her face. Was he saying that King Henry had told him about he and her uncle's plans for Spain? Was Francis sitting here with her because he knew that his father wanted him to choose the best political alliance? And most of all, did she really care one way or the other?

Francis didn't seem to notice any change in her. He continued on. "I have told him that we should honor our agreement with Scotland. It wouldn't be prudent to be seen as a country that breaks promises." He was looking out over the lake now, on arm rested on his bent knee.

"This is true," Adelia said, heart sinking and racing at the same time. If Francis felt obligated to Mary no matter what the cost than maybe she wouldn't have to worry about failing. Maybe she could just tell her father it wouldn't work as planned; Francis was determined to stay with Mary.

"My father says that I know nothing of politics and engagements were made to be broken." He shook his head. "Promises of future alliances are weak at best. No one would blame us for turning Scotland away now that they are not as threatening a power."

"But the possibility of England is enticing," Adelia countered.

Francis looked at her. He seemed surprised she would know that little bit of information. "It is," he agreed. "But my father offered me some alternatives that could be as equally enticing." Adelia bit her bottom lip, afraid of what he was trying to say. "What do you think about...Zoe?" He asked.

She exhaled loudly, just thankful that he hadn't proposed and alliance with her. Then she realized what he asked. "Zoe?" she squeaked.

Francis laughed. "Yes! Father says Austria is close and could be a strong ally. She's not a front runner but a contender nonetheless. And she's in you classes, so what do you think about her?"

Adelia sat back, crossing her legs and twisting her hands in her lap. What could she say about Zoe? Nothing nice. But it wasn't polite for a Lady to gossip about another Lady to anyone, much less the Prince. She tried to think about what Zoe would say about her. Probably nothing pleasant.

"She's...pretty." Adelia finally mumbled.

Francis laughed again, a clear sound that carried across the water. "Indeed. Bash and I were talking about her looks just last night."

"You and Bash talked about Zoe?" Adelia asked quickly before thinking it through.

"Yes. Bash and I make a point to discuss all the girls at court." Francis told her with a grin. "Especially the pretty ones."

"Oh," was all she could think of to say. She didn't like the idea of Bash thinking Zoe was pretty. Zoe was a monster, a vile, evil girl that wore the guise of an angel. She wasn't sure it was her place to tell that to the Prince, however.

"You don't like her?" Francis guessed.

Adelia looked at him with surprise. "No! I mean, yes! I mean," She dropped her head into her hands. "I don't have feelings about her one way or another," she muttered, shaking her head.

"That means no." Francis chuckled, sitting up from his semi-reclined position on the blanket. He sat cross legged across from her, his knees touching hers. With both his hands he lifted her face from her palm. "It's okay. You don't have to like her."

"I shouldn't say anything if I don't have anything nice to say," she whispered, looking into his blue eyes. They matched the sky above and the water behind him. He did have very lovely eyes.

"Your mother raised you well," he said, dropping only one hand. His other palm still rested on her cheek. "You know, we've talked about you as well,"

"What?" Adelia had been busy falling into his eyes. She blinked twice at his words.

"My brother and I," he reminded her. "We've discussed you."

"Oh," there was that brilliant word again. The mention of Bash brought her out of the momentary trance brought on by Francis's eyes. She began to draw away from him.

"Because you're very," He didn't let her pull away. "Very," He pulled her face toward his. She let him. "Beautiful," he whispered right before his lips met hers.

His mouth was warm and he tasted like the sweet rolls they had just ate for dessert. She breathed in his scent, longing to get absorbed into the moment and feel something for him. She relaxed into him, returning the kiss with what she hoped was passion and feeling.

But her heart wasn't racing. It thumped along at a steady beat. He didn't overwhelm her senses. She was very aware of his lips moving with hers and the desire he was emanating toward her. All she knew was that Bash had elicited more feeling with a simple touch of his finger than Francis was with his lips on hers. In that moment she wished she had never met that bastard Sebastian.

Francis never noticed her lack of equal enthusiasm. She must have been a good actress because he went on kissing her mouth, her cheek, her neck for quite a long time. Adelia smiled at him when he finally pulled away.

"My father discussed an alliance with Spain as well," his voice was husky and low. He traced her jaw line with his finger. "It is a much stronger contender than Austria." He smiled at her.

"I will keep that in mind," Adelia murmured. "But your fiancé will be here in less than two days. There is a lot riding on any alliance you make."

"It should be one of my choosing," Francis replied, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "If I choose you wouldn't that make you happy? We could have love and strategy combined in our union." He began putting away the plates into the basket but kept his eyes on her.

"You need to choose what is best for France." Adelia heard herself say the words but couldn't believe she dared them. Her father would beat her for not jumping on this opportunity. Yet she somehow didn't think it was fair. Francis had known her a day and was professing his love and devotion to her. With a Prince so easily won how could she ever trust him or his heart? "If I am best for your country then it would make me happy to be your wife," she tried not to choke on the words. She could probably be happy as his wife. "But remember kings and queens don't marry for love. They marry for country."

He took her hand in his. "I think we can have both."

Adelia forced a smile. "Let us hope so," she lied.

A/N: Aw Francis. So sweet in this story. If only she hadn't met Bash the charming first...next chapter, secret rendezvous with Sebastian! More kissing! Ahh!