Bash looked over at Kenna and saw fear brimming in her eyes. He moved closer to her and she leaned on him for support. What reason could her father have for showing up here?

"I went to court to see you but I was told I could find you here," Kenna's father addressed her.

Bash didn't like the way her father looked at her.

"Yes, I live here now with my husband Sebastian," Kenna answered him feebly.

"I see," he replied, shooting a disapproving look in Bash's direction.

It was taking every bit of self control he had to not lash out at this man. Remembering the nights that Kenna had spent crying into his shoulder because of the memories of her father's abuse, sent a course of anger ripping through his body.

"I don't exactly know how you came to be married to this... bastard," Kenna's father spat out, "But I'm here to tell you that I've begun to work on the annulment of your marriage so you can wed the man I've arranged for you back in Scotland. When I allowed you to go to France with the Queen it was under the assumption that you would find a noble husband, one that would increase my wealth. Instead you have failed me in achieving this one thing a daughter is even good for. I simply had to take things into my own hands. Lord Davenport is a very wealthy man and has agreed to a very lucrative business agreement with me. You were the bartering chip that finalized the deal."

Bash was horrified. How dare this man come into his home and attempt to take his wife from him. Kenna must have noticed his agitation because she began to rub circles on the back of his hand with her thumb to calm him down.

"Father, I have no intention of annulling my marriage to wed some disgusting old man I don't even know so that you can have more money to drink away," Kenna replied firmly.

Bash was proud of her for standing up to her father, but he didn't think the stubborn man would be so easily talked down. Kenna's father jumped up from where he was sitting and strode towards her.

His voice rose with every word, "You will do exactly what I say because I. Am. Your. Father."

He raised his hand and Bash quickly moved in front of her, "Sir, don't place a hand on my wife."

Kenna peeked out from behind him and spoke again, "Besides, I'm with child and I don't think Lord Davenport would like a wife who so clearly is without her virtue."

"Pregnant?! That's why you married this man so suddenly. You're just the whore I always thought you would be."

Bash knew that Kenna's father was losing control fast and he needed to get her out of the room.

"Actually father, I became pregnant after I was married. I married Sebastian willingly, not out of necessity for protecting my reputation. I love my husband. I'm not leaving him."

What? The lie about their wedding came out of Kenna so easily, Bash almost believed it himself. He could hear her voice starting to falter though, the boldness she had had earlier was starting to dissipate.

"My Kenna, marry a man with nothing. Willingly?" Kenna's father laugh incredulously.

Kenna opened her mouth to reply but her father continued. "I don't believe you. You'll be much happier with a wealthy man in a large chateau. A man who can give you everything you ever wanted."

Bash heard Kenna mutter softly, "except love" but if her father heard her he didn't acknowledge it, "I assure you that I will find some way to fix this little complication," he glanced at her stomach in disgust, "And we will be off for Scotland in a week's time."

With that, Kenna's father strode out of the room and yelled for a servant to fetch his carriage.

Kenna felt her last bit of strength dissolve and she collapsed into Bash's arms. How could this be happening? Bash held her close for a while and she breathed in his comforting and familiar smell before she spoke up, "He can't do this, right?"

She searched Bash's face for some kind of reassurance that her father's words carried no weight. That nothing could rip her from him. Her father was a powerful man... in Scotland. Her marriage had occurred in France which would hopefully cause some difficulties. Not to mention the difficulties that he would have with Lord Davenport when he learned she was pregnant. Her marriage to Bash was complication enough but a man as important as Lord Davenport wouldn't want to marry a woman pregnant with another man's child. Especially since it seemed her father was getting the better end of the deal, Lord Davenport wouldn't except anything less than the young virgin he was promised. Still, her father would be taking her away in a week if something wasn't done.

Bash cupped her cheeks, "He can't. He was just trying to frighten you. I won't allow my wife and child to be taken away from me."

She felt his grip on her tighten and she buried her head into his chest finally releasing the tears she had refused to shed in her father's presence.

The sound of the door opening startled Bash and he looked up to see Mary and Francis walk in.

"We heard yelling, is everything alright?" Mary asked.

Kenna lifted up her head and Bash saw that her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She explained the situation to Mary and Francis who listened with stunned looks on their faces.

"Kenna, I promise he won't be able to do this. Annulments are a complicated business and if neither of the married persons are wanting of it, it won't happen," Francis reassured her.

Bash was grateful for his brother's knowledge of legal matters. Francis shot him a look though and Bash knew he had more to say to him in private.

"Mary, would you escort Kenna up to our room. I need to discuss something with Francis and I'll be right up," Bash said as he freed Kenna from his embrace.

Mary nodded and offered her hand to Kenna.

When they had gotten upstairs Francis spoke again, "Just because her father legally can't take her from you doesn't mean he won't try to do so."

Bash nodded, "We need to be careful. I doubt this Lord Davenport will still be willing to marry her since she's with child, but that doesn't mean her father won't try to find some other option... or punishment for costing him his business deal."

"What if you came back to court until this blows over? There's guards and I doubt her father would be so bold as to have her kidnapped out of the castle."

"It would be removing her from one threat and taking her back to another. She's upset, taking her back to where she would be at risk from father would- I can't do that to her."

"Okay, but at least let me send for some guards until the week is up and this whole thing hopefully blows over."

Bash walked in on Kenna crying again. He thanked Mary for sitting with her and bid her goodnight.

He went over to sit next to Kenna and wiped the tears from her cheeks, "There's no need to cry anymore, love. He's gone and you're safe," he paused before continuing, "that was smart of you to not tell him how our marriage truly came about."

"I didn't want to give him any more leverage he could use. Besides, how it began means nothing now. You are my husband. I'm bearing our child. I wouldn't leave you for anyone let alone a man who will see me as nothing but a plaything. My father doesn't know me at all."

Bash pressed his lips to her forehead, "No, he doesn't. And that's a shame, because you're a woman worth knowing."

Kenna looked up at him and smiled softly, "What did Francis have to say?"

Bash frowned, he didn't want to make her fearful but at the same time she should know what measures were going to be taken to ensure her safety. "Francis is sending for guards to keep watch here until the week is up and your father hopefully returns to Scotland, alone. While Francis is confident an annulment would never actually go through, we both fear your father might still try to take you."

Kenna nodded solemnly, "He's not used to being refused what he desires."

He watched her fiddle with her wedding ring. She had told him before that when she looked at it, it reminded her that he would always be looking out for her. He wouldn't let her down.

Kenna woke up curled up against Bash's side. He had his arm wrapped around her protectively and she felt safe. There was no way her father could take her away from him, from this. She was worried though. Her father had powerful friends, some whose power came more from what they were able to accomplish out from under the law, than their title. She felt Bash stir beside her and she peppered kisses along his jawline. He looked tired. Had he slept much at all last night? His eyes opened and he pulled her in for a kiss. She wished they could just stay here, tangled up together, all morning, and they might have if it hadn't been for a knock at the door.

"Lady Kenna? I'm sorry to disturb you, but there's a man here who's asking for you," Emilie's words made Kenna uneasy.

She had a feeling this visitor had something to do with her father's scheming.

"Tell him I'll be down in a few moments," Kenna instructed. She reluctantly got out of bed and started to dress.

"You're not going down there alone," Bash said as he helped her tie her sash.

Kenna sighed, "Come down a quarter of an hour after me, unless I'm screaming. It might be best for just me to see whoever this is."

"What? No."

Kenna turned to face him, "I'm a big girl, I'll be fine. It's obviously not my father, Emilie knows what he looks like and would have told me and no one is going to kidnap me in broad daylight off of my front stoop. It's probably just someone from the church, inquiring about the annulment."

"Okay, a quarter of an hour," Bash consented and gave her a kiss before she walked out of the room, a determined look set on her face.

Kenna took a deep breath and walked down the stairs. The man standing in the entryway was certainly not from the church, he was dressed like a nobleman, and when he turned around Kenna observed that he was young and quite handsome.

"Lady Kenna?" He inquired and she nodded, "I apologize for arriving at such an early hour."

He must have read the confusion on her face because he quickly back tracked, "Sorry, you obviously have no idea who I am. My name is Stewart Davenport."

I told you I wouldn't leave you hanging for too long, yeah for 2 chapters in one day! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, tomorrow's chapter will reveal more about Lord Davenport and Kenna's father. As always thank you so much for your encouraging reviews, knowing that people are enjoying the story motivates me to keep writing :)