Kenna was pacing through the gardens anxiously watching the sun set. Bash and some of his friends had been out on a hunting trip and they were supposed to have been back yesterday. She knew a million different harmless things could have delayed the men, but she was still worried.

"Lady Kenna?"

She whipped her head around at the sound of her name.

"Lady Kenna, would you like me to draw you a bath?" her servant asked.

"Yes Emilie, thank you," Kenna replied, knowing that there was no point in not going about her routine normally.

The men would or wouldn't return tonight whether or not she took a bath. She followed Emilie into the house and up to her bedroom. Kenna never thought she would consider a servant a friend, but Emilie had become a confidant in the time that she had worked for her. She couldn't replace Mary, Greer, and Lola, but she was sweet and offered good advice.

"Lady Kenna, is something bothering you?" Emilie asked while she prepared the bath, "You haven't eaten much all day and Camille said-"

"I'm fine Emilie," Kenna snapped.

Watching Emilie's face fall she instantly regretted it. Why was it so hard for her to accept the care and concern of others?

"I'm sorry Emilie, I shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm just worried about Bash," Kenna apologized.

"All wives worry about their husbands coming home. I worry about mine everyday, but that doesn't mean we should go about sulking like we're already widows," Emilie said, "I'm sure the men were just having such good luck on their hunting that they decided to stay out a bit longer, they'll be home."

Kenna had never heard Emilie mention her husband before, she didn't even know she was married.

"Emilie, you've never told me about your husband before," Kenna replied.

Emilie proceeded to tell her that she had been married for two years but that a few months into their marriage her husband had been drafted to fight in the French army. She knew that as of last month he was still alive, but correspondence was limited.

"I just want him to come home so badly because even though we've been married for two years, we didn't really know each other very well before and now he's been away for so long I wonder if he'll even love me when he gets back," Emilie said tearfully.

Kenna was amazed at her friend's strength. If she had been in her situation she wouldn't want to leave her bed let alone work and take care of other people all day. And here she had been moping because her husband was a day late in coming home from a hunting trip.

"I'm sure he'll love you when he gets back, Emilie," Kenna reassured her.

Emilie came around to help her undress and said, "I hope so Lady Kenna, I hope so."

When she was ready for her bath she dismissed Emilie so she could be alone for a while. Sinking into the hot water she felt her worries start to dissolve. Bash was a good hunter, smart, resourceful. He had been up against much more dangerous circumstances and still come home. He wasn't fighting for his life like Emilie's husband, he would return to her.

She heard the door open behind her, "Emilie, it's okay, truly. I can bathe myself, I'll send for you when I'm finished."

But the footsteps that approached her were certainly not Emilie's delicate ones but rather her-

"Missed me?"

Bash.

Kenna was relieved at the sound of her husband's voice. He walked around the front of her bathtub so she could see him. He looked a little rougher than he probably should have been after a hunting trip, but he was here and alive.

"What took you so long?" Kenna asked.

Bash explained to her that one of the men had fallen from a tree and broken his leg. The accident had happened on their way home and had greatly delayed their progress. Kenna inquired as to whether or not the man would be okay and Bash told her that the doctor they had left him at had given a hopeful diagnosis.

"What about you, are you okay?" Kenna asked, noticing several scratches on his arms and back now that he had started to undress.

"Nothing but a few scratches, I'll be fine," Bash told her.

Kenna was still concerned but decided not to press the issue.

"Hunting was good though, the cooks were quite pleased with what I was able to bring back," Bash continued.

"I'm just glad you brought yourself back in one piece," Kenna responded.

Bash grinned and joined her in the bath.

"Bash! You're making the water filthy," Kenna complained.

But truthfully she couldn't care less as she washed his hair, oh how she loved to run her fingers through his hair, and gently sponged off his chest and back, being careful around his scratches. When she was finished washing him and they had both dressed for bed, Emilie came and removed the bath water. Kenna watched her eyebrows raise at how dirty the water was but she just welcomed Bash back with a smile and left them alone.

The next morning as she laid in bed cuddled into Bash she thought about what Emilie had told her last night. She was fortunate to be waking up wrapped in her husband's arms and hoped that her friend would be able to one day do so as well. She knew Bash must be tired from his trip if he was sleeping later than her, but she hoped he might have energy to take her down to the lake today. She supposed she could have ridden down on her own while he was gone or had a servant accompany her, but the lakeside was their special place and she didn't want to go without Bash. After what felt like forever, she felt him stir underneath her.

"Finally! You've been sleeping forever," Kenna said.

"You're one to talk, I think this is the only time you've ever woken up before me," Bash replied.

Kenna laughed and asked if he was up for a ride down to the lake. Bash groaned and complained that he was sore from several days of riding but Kenna managed to convince him with some batting of her eyelashes and kisses. She spring up and sent Emilie down to the kitchens to retrieve their breakfast and request a picnic lunch while she got dressed in her riding clothes.

After lunch Bash laid next to Kenna on a blanket and watched the breeze ripple across the lake. He looked over and saw a content smile on her face and was glad he agreed to bring her here. He had been gone only a few days but he had missed that smile and the feel of her delicate hand resting in his.

"Bash? Do you think we could have Lola and Julien for a visit? We haven't seen Oliver in months and he has probably grown so much," Kenna asked.

"Do you think they're ready to travel?"

"It's not that far and Oliver is 6 months old now. We can at least invite them and they can decline if they're not up for the trip," Kenna replied, "besides, I'm eager to show Lola the house."

"Alright, send a letter when we get back and we'll see what they say."

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it :) I wanted to give Kenna a girl friend at the estate that way she would have someone to talk to when she isn't with the other ladies, so that's why I introduced Emilie in this chapter. Next chapter is already written and will be up tomorrow morning. It includes lots of baby talk :)