Mary was pacing frantically. There was no way they could wait until Bash and Francis returned that night to act. She couldn't ride off to find them because of her pregnancy- she thought about Kenna's baby. Prayed that Kenna wouldn't be treated roughly and that the baby would remain safe. The guards were dead and of no use to them. Reinforcements from court wouldn't arrive in time. The staff here were caring but not helpful in this kind of situation. Emilie. Maybe she could help?

"Emilie!" Mary called for the young girl who had been explaining the situation to the rest of the staff.

"Yes, Your Grace?" Emile replied as she came over.

"How are you at riding?" Mary asked.

"It's been a while but I used to ride a lot," Emilie answered with a confused look on her face.

"Excellent, do you think you could ride out and get Francis and Bash? I know which direction they went in."

"I would be honored to help Your Grace. It's awful just waiting around here."

Bash turned at the sound of rapidly approaching hoof beats. He was confused to see Emilie, and the look on her face made him uneasy.

"It's Kenna, she's gone."

On the breakneck ride back to the estate a million thoughts surged through Bash's mind. He chastised himself for leaving her when there was a potential for danger. He was angry at the guards who had allowed the men who took her to slip through them. He feared for Kenna and their baby. He wished this was all a nightmare and he would wake up to find her lying with her head on his chest. When the estate was in sight he saw Mary come running towards them. The three of them dismounted their horses and passed them off to the stable hands who took them to get a much needed drink.

Mary ran to Francis and he pulled her in close, "It's okay, we're here now. We'll bring her back."

Mary turned to him, "Bash, I'm so sorry."

"You don't have to apologize for something that wasn't your fault. We need to focus on figuring out a plan," Bash replied, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

How would they even go about finding her? The person or persons who had taken her were obviously experts at their craft. They had managed to take down several members of the royal guard and leave without a trace. He remembered Kenna's fathers words then about leaving for Scotland at the end of the week.

"They're taking her to Scotland," he announced, "presumably by boat."

"Yes, there's a boat leaving for Scotland tomorrow, but it's completely booked sirs," the man explained to Francis and Bash.

They nodded at the man and walked out along the port.

"We're going to have to keep an eye on that outgoing ship. I have a feeling that's their plan for getting Kenna out," Francis said.

Bash agreed with him.

"We're going to bring her home safely Bash. No one can get away with kidnapping a member of the royal family," Francis reassured him.

The fact that Francis thought of Kenna as a part of the royal family despite his own questionable status as a member reminded Bash how grateful he was for his brother. He was truly sorry for the pain he had caused Francis and was glad that he had been willing to forgive him.

"Should we find somewhere to stay for the night?"

Bash and Francis were up long before the sun the next morning and set off to keep watch by the ship.

"What exactly are we going to do if we see her?" Bash asked.

"Dear brother, do not forget that I'm the Dauphin of France. I can make quite the scene if necessary," Francis answered with a smirk. "I know you probably just want to run in there and slice him to pieces but I think our best bet is to handle this as diplomatically as possible."

Bash sighed in frustration but knew his baby brother was right on this one. As the sun began to rise, the port grew busier and Bash worried Kenna might slip through their watch. After what seemed like forever he finally spotted a familiar silhouette in the crowd. She had her head bowed and was following her father through the crowd. Francis tensed beside him and Bash knew he must have spotted them too. Francis started to walk towards them and Bash followed.

"Do you have a plan?" Bash asked.

"Just get your wife, I'll handle father dearest."

When they were near enough, Francis called out, "Lady Kenna! We've been waiting eagerly for your arrival. Queen Mary will be pleased to see that you've had safe travels."

Kenna turned her head to them and once the original wave of relief and confusion passed over her face, went along with Francis story in stride, "Ahh yes Francis, my travels were a bit rocky but here I am, safe and in one piece."

People in the crowd had turned to look at the four of them gathered there. Bash understood what Francis was doing. Kenna's father couldn't make a move publicly against the Dauphin and someone associated with Queen Mary.

He strode forward to offer Kenna his arm and muttered softly to her father, "I never want to lay my eyes on you again unless you are being lowered into the grave. Understood?"

Rage coursed through Kenna's father's eyes but he knew he was defeated.

"Thank you for escorting Lady Kenna sir, have a good trip back to Scotland," Francis concluded and walked away, Bash and Kenna following behind.

"Kenna, my love, I'm so sorry," Bash apologized that night as his lips ghosted over the marks on her skin her father's hands had left.

"It's alright, you couldn't have known I would be snatched away. We had good protection, my father just knows the right people to get a job done well," Kenna reassured him.

He gently eased the tension out of her muscles that had been caused by her flight from the window, rough cart ride, and night spent on a cold hard floor; she could feel herself relaxing for the first time since she had first been grabbed from her bed.

"What amazes me was how little precautions he took to ensure you got on the boat. It was almost too easy to reclaim you," Bash said.

"I think he knew his plan was foiled at that point because I had informed him of Lord Davenport's visit. He probably wasn't willing to go through too much effort just to have me back in Scotland without someone to pawn me off to," Kenna explained, "Bash, I'm worried about the baby. I was thrown from a window. I don't think that's on Margaux's list of recommended activities for pregnant women."

He stroked her cheek and she looked into his eyes. Her own fears were reflected there. "You should see Margaux in the morning," Bash said with a frown.

"I will," Kenna replied solemnly.

"Kenna, you've been seen as a pawn, a bartering chip to too many people. You know that you're priceless to me, right?" Kenna's breath caught in her throat, he was the person who made her feel most valuable. She didn't know what to say so she just pulled him in for a kiss and hoped that that expressed her love and gratitude.

Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed! Sorry it's up a little later than I had originally planned, I had to go back and rewrite part of it. Next chapter will finally include Greer :)