A/N: Okay all you Bash lovers out there. His turn!

Chapter 6

By the time Adelia got back to her room she had to prepare for her meeting with Bash. She threw on a plain, cotton, black dress with a black leather belt that cinched it in place. Her maid put all her hair up with little adornment. The look was completed with a black, rough spun, woolen cloak. She pulled the hood up over her head and made sure her serving girl knew what to tell people while she was out. Adelia was not feeling well, her stomach ailed her and she was not to be disturbed. The maid agreed and busied herself tidying the room while Adelia snuck out toward the doors. Being that her cloak was so plain everyone she passed assumed she was a servant and no one gave her a second look. She made it out of the castle without incident.

She had to hide in order to time her exit from the gates. She waited until the guards there were preoccupied before shuffling into a group of leaving merchants. Once she was outside the outer walls she veered toward the lake, watching the sun kiss the treetops in the distance. She walked the perimeter of the lake, trying to keep her steps steady and slow though inside she felt like running. It would do no good for Bash to witness her eagerness to see him.

She found him near a copse of trees that had dared make its way down from the forest toward the lake. They were on the opposite side of the water from where she and Francis had had their picnic. Bash was kneeling by the water when she walked up. He looked at her smiled as he stood.

"You made it," he said genially.

"You dared me," she reminded him. "And I rose to the challenge."

"Indeed you did." He was still smiling. He motioned for her to walk with him. He followed the shoreline away from the castle. "I wasn't sure you would come."

"You asked me to." She could feel her heart beating wildly out of control at his closeness. He wasn't even touching her and she felt as though she were on fire.

"I did. I wanted to talk to you. About Francis."

She snapped her head toward him when he mentioned his brother's name. "Francis?" she echoed.

"Yes, he and I have had some...discussions about ladies in the current French court." Bash replied.

Adelia thought back to the conversation she had with Francis earlier in the day. "Zoe," she mumbled.

"Among others," Bash agreed. "Francis wouldn't openly say it but I think he likes you."

Adelia looked away from him, glad that in the dying light he couldn't see her blush. She knew all too well how much Francis liked her. "And there is a problem with that?" She asked quietly.

He didn't answer immediately. In his hesitation she could sense disappointment. But then he spoke. "There may be. Mary will be here the day after tomorrow. She will not be happy if her fiancé is already smitten with another. And my father still backs Scotland."

She blinked twice at his words. That was not what she was led to believe by her uncle and father. "So you're afraid your brother will be heartbroken if he is forced to choose Mary over me?" She ventured to muse out loud.

He stopped walking and looked at her. She stopped next to him. "I'm not worried about Francis's heart. I'm worried that you'll be broken hearted when Francis doesn't choose you."

Adelia shook her head and spoke before thinking. "I'm not in love with Francis." She went cold as the words left her lips. She wasn't supposed to let anyone know that.

Bash tilted his head. "No? Rumors are already flying that you have found the Prince's affections. You do not seem the type to play with a man's emotions. Have you not been spending time with Francis?"

"I...I have," she stuttered, wondering how she was going to fix what her treacherous mouth had just betrayed. "I do like the Prince and he has been kind to me..."

"But his choice of Mary would not break your heart?" Bash finished for her. He had a mischievous look in his eye that she wasn't sure if she cared for.

"I told him he needed to choose what was best for France," Adelia let her chin raise in defiance. She would not let him twist her words around. "Scotland or Spain. He's a Prince. He can't marry for love alone." She paused before insisting, "I told him that."

"I believe you," Bash held up his hands defensively. "It's not like you asked for his attentions. He decided after the day you were introduced to court that he would like to get to know you better. I warned him against it. I tried to keep him focused on Mary's arrival. But the boy is pig headed."

Adelia frowned. "You told him to stay away from me?"

Bash shifted his weight, uncomfortable with her question. "For the betterment of France," he used her own words against her. She looked at him closely. Maybe Bash warned Francis away because he was having similar feelings toward her that she was having toward him. Maybe he was sabotaging her plan to woo Francis as much as she was.

Not that she and Bash could ever be together.

"You back Scotland than?" She tried to give him a way out, an excuse that wouldn't involve his feelings toward her.

"No," Bash took a step forward and brushed the back of his hand across her cheek gently. She tried to ignore the flames his touch ignited in her, his cool skin still leaving traces of fire in its wake. "I care little for politics," he reminded her.

She yearned for him to kiss her. She ached to feel his lips on hers, for that fire of his slight touch to consume her soul when their mouths met. She wasn't brave enough to initiate the intimacy on her own but she thought she saw the same desire reflected in his eyes.

He took a deep breath and stepped back from her. He began unfastening his leather tunic.

She felt her eyes grow wide. "What are you doing?" Despite her thoughts only seconds earlier she wasn't sure she was ready for him to disrobe in front of her.

"I'm hot. I'm going for a swim." He tossed his tunic to the ground and began to pull his linen shirt over his head. She whirled around but not before she saw he had a muscled, well toned torso. Her face was flushed and she covered her eyes, even though she was facing away from him. She heard him toss his boots aside and then a splash as he jumped into the water.

"It's ok," he told her. "You can look now."

She hesitated but she ended up turning around to look at him. She could see his head, his brown hair plastered against his head as he came up from being under the water. "You're being childish," she told him.

"Maybe," he conceded her point. "But I think you should come in and cool off. The water is nice."

Adelia blanched at the thought. "I don't think that is appropriate-"

"No one knows you're here. There's no one around. I'm not trying to seduce you. I just want you to try and have a little fun." He sent a splash of water her way. "Or are you scared?"

She had a tendency to rise to challenges. He had already learned that by getting her to come out here to meet him tonight. Now he was trying to get her to go in the water. She was appalled at her own desire to do what he said. The water looked inviting on the warm night and she did need to cool down after his touch.

"Can you not swim?" He asked.

"I can swim," she replied. Adelia sighed heavily and waved her arms at him. "Turn around, I don't want to get my dress wet."

He obliged, facing away from her. She dropped the cloak from her shoulders and placed her belt on top of it. She took off the black dress and her boots but left her light undergarments on. She wasn't a fool, she wasn't about to go into the lake naked. She took a few hesitant steps into the water. It was cooler than the air but still warm enough to be comfortable. After a few more steps she dived in and surfaced near Bash. She splashed water at him. "Happy?" She asked, brushing water from her eyes.

Bash turned and splashed her back. "Nearly," he replied.

The next few minutes were spent with laughter and whirls of water being flung at each other. Adelia tried to dunk Bash and he let her a few times. They stayed near the shore but the water covered most of them. With her feet on the sandy ground the water only came to her shoulders.

After their moments of revelry they paused, catching their breath. Adelia considered him in the moonlight. He was handsome and relaxed, full of confidence and hope. She had no doubt he would protect her from any harm. At the same time she knew he was loyal to his family above all. What was this relationship she was having with the bastard son of the King of France?

"What are you thinking?" He asked her, coming closer.

She looked away, hoping he couldn't see her blush."Nothing," she lied.

"Nothing you can tell me," he guessed. He reached up to smooth her hair away from her face. "I understand."

She took a deep breath before looking back at him. He was close now, less than a foot away from her. She hadn't been self conscious before but now she was, realizing that there was only very flimsy, very wet clothing as the only barrier between him and her. The moonlight threw his features into shadow and she couldn't read the expression on his face. She wasn't sure she wanted to.

"Sebastian," she breathed, putting her hands on his bare shoulders. She knew she shouldn't. It was wrong on so many levels. But his skin was like a drug to her; she craved contact more and more. Without him close she felt incomplete. The only time she felt whole, alive, was when he was touching her. "We...can't,"

He took a step closer to her in the water. She felt the heat of him through her wet clothes. They weren't skin to skin but it was close enough. She might as well have been naked. "I know," he replied, one hand snaking around her waist while the other rested on the side of her neck. He pulled her in toward him and without hesitation she pushed up on her toes, meeting his lips with hers with a force she hadn't expected from herself.

His lips were more than she had imagined. Every nerve of her being lit up when his mouth covered hers. She felt as though she were flying and falling in the same moment. He smelled clean but there was the lingering scent of leather and horses, overwhelming her senses. He tasted of apples and sweetness, indescribable beyond that. She felt his lips trace her chin, her jaw, her earlobe and she never wanted him to stop. She never wanted to part from him.

And then he was gone. There was a coldness, a stillness that entered her heart when he stepped away. His expression was shocked and ashamed and he held his hands up as if to ward her off. "I'm sorry, my Lady. I overstepped my bounds."

Adelia wanted to protest. She wanted to tell him to come back and keep kissing her. She needed his touch as much as a thirsty man needed water. The look on his face was the only thing that silenced her. He was right, of course. They were not acting as proper nobles should.

She hadn't realized she had been staring at him open mouthed until her jaw closed with a snap. She took a shaky breath and tested herself. She was pretty sure she could move without falling over. "It's fine," she finally said, her voice unsteady. She began walking toward shore, not caring if he was watching her this time. "It's all fine." She didn't look back at him as she stripped down from her wet undergarments. She was naked and she didn't care if Bash was looking at her or not. She pulled on her black dress and turned to face him.

He was facing away. He hadn't watched her dress. That was fine. "I'm clothed now," she told him.

He turned and headed for shore. It was her turn to look away as he redressed in his non-wet clothing. Their hair still clung to their heads, their clothing fit uncomfortably against their wet bodies but they managed to start back toward the castle despite the discomfort. The walk was long and silent.

At the edge of the copse of trees where they had met earlier, Bash put a hand on her arm to stop her. She turned to face him, trying to steel her face against any words he might say. "This was meant to be a nice night out as friends. I didn't mean to offend you," he told her, looking at her shoes.

Adelia thought about the night. It had been a fun night out. She even liked the kissing. She really liked the kissing. The only part she didn't like was Bash breaking it up. Which, as a gentleman, he was duty bound to do. Would she prefer her stole her virtue? That he had had his way with her right there in the lake? As much as her flesh might have desired that, her mind told her he had been the wiser of the two of them.

"You didn't offend, Bash." Adelia finally replied. She managed a smile for him when he looked up into her eyes. "You were a gentleman. More than most would be in the situation. It was still a fun night." She nodded at her own words. "I did have fun this evening. Thank you."

"Good. I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship. I have enjoyed our few conversations the past few days." Bash told her as they began toward the gates.

"As have I," Adelia agreed. "I'm sure there will be more as time goes on. I am here at court for at least a year."

"Many things can change in a year," he said, looking up toward the moon. He didn't sound happy about his words. She didn't have a reply so she stayed silent. After a minute he looked at her again. "Are you going hunting with us tomorrow?"

Adelia remembered Francis inviting her the day before. "I believe so. If for no other reason than to take Calisto out. She does enjoy a good run." The guards made no comment as the two of them walked back through the gate. Bash nodded briefly at them before leading her to the castle door.

"Good," Bash smiled at her. "I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow, then." He opened the door and held it for her. "Good night, Lady Adelia."

A/N: It's all fun and games until someone gets their face made out with. Poor Adelia...although not really because apparently Bash is a good kisser. Will she ever be able to be with him? And with Mary showing up in two chapters, how will that affect her relationship with Francis? Ahh! The possibilities!