"Emilie! Have you seen my blue dress?" Kenna was trying to get things packed for their visit to court and a million things were going wrong. Andrew and Carolyn were screaming, she couldn't find any of the clothes she wanted to pack, and Bash was still going over things with Benjamin so he was no help. Sometimes she wished she had more servants and today was one of those days.
"I'm sorry m'lady I washed it for you yesterday, I'll bring it right up," Emilie called from downstairs.
Kenna took a deep breath and picked up Andrew and Carolyn.
"Shhh, it's alright. Mama's here. You're going to meet your cousin James tomorrow, and your Aunt Mary and Uncle Francis, oh and maybe Grandpa Henry, but probably not," Kenna shuddered at the thought of Henry touching her children.
Emilie walked in the door then, blue dress in hand, and started folding the things Kenna had laid out on her bed.
"Thanks for your help Emilie."
"Of course Lady Kenna. You've got more important things to tend too," Emilie replied, nodding at the babies in Kenna's arms.
Kenna smiled down at her children. They had grown so much in a month and she was grateful that they were both healthy and strong. Her and Emily chatted for a bit while Emilie added more of Kenna's things to her trunk. Emilie's husband, Benjamin, had returned home from war not long after the children were born and was assisting Bash with managing the estate.
"Do you and Benjamin hope to have children soon?" Kenna asked.
"We're certainly trying," Emilie replied, a blush rising in her cheeks.
After a few minutes Kenna heard heavy footsteps on the stairs, "Bash?"
Bash walked into the room and gave her a kiss. He scooped up Carolyn and asked how the packing was going.
"Well, seeing as you've been spending the morning with Benjamin instead of helping you might just be wearing that outfit the whole trip. And then you'll smell and you'll have to sleep out in the stables," Kenna joked.
"You would never!" Bash scoffed, "you would get lonely in that big bed all by yourself."
"Oh I don't know, so much room to stretch out..."
The sound of Emilie clearing her throat interrupted their banter, "I'm sorry, but do you mind if I go finish my own packing? I have all of your things and the children's packed Lady Kenna, you'll just have to add your things Sebastian."
Emilie was coming along with them on the trip to be an extra help with the children.
"Of course, thank you for all your help," Kenna replied, "Oh and Emilie, remember it's just Kenna."
"Sorry...Kenna," Emilie said with a smile as she exited the room.
The carriage rattled along and Kenna got more and more excited to be back at court. A few months ago the thought of being at court was terrifying but she couldn't wait to see little James and have Mary and Francis meet their niece and nephew for the first time. Mary had also written to tell her that Henry was confined to his bed now and wouldn't be a bother to her. She looked out the window to see Lola and Julien's carriage following close behind. Lola was newly pregnant again and with Greer's wedding to someone on the horizon, it wouldn't be too long before she might be having children. How far they had come since they were talking of first kisses and now they were passing around babies. She looked over at Bash holding Carolyn, who definitely looked most like him. While Andrew's eyes had started to darken, Carolyn's had stayed that intense color that reminded her so much of the clear, vibrant water of the lake. Nothing made Kenna smile wider than seeing Bash with their children. She often found herself daydreaming of him keeping a stern eye on suitors seeking Carolyn's hand, or of him taking Andrew on his first hunt. Any reservations that he had about whether or not he would be a good father, Kenna quickly dismissed. If he loved his children the same way he loved her, then she wasn't concerned.
Kenna, Lola, and Emilie walked into the courtyard and found Francis waiting for them.
"Mary sends her apologies that she couldn't be here to greet you. She's not feeling well today and the nurse instructed her to stay in bed."
"Oh no, is everything all right?" Lola asked.
"Nothing to worry about, she did just give birth a few weeks ago, the nurse thinks she's simply tired. She insists on caring for the baby herself, which is commendable, but it's hard when you're up several times a night and then have to put on your crown and be a Queen in the morning," Francis replied.
Kenna couldn't imagine being in Mary's position. She was exhausted enough taking care of Andrew and Carolyn and she didn't have a country to run as well. If she were Mary she'd probably be accepting whatever help she could... or not. She didn't think she could ever hand off her babies to be raised by a nurse or governess. Emilie and Margaux, and Bash of course, helped a lot but Kenna still liked to be the Mama in charge. Francis led them into the castle where they dispersed to their old rooms and Emilie was shown to a room nearby Kenna and Bash's.
"Wow, I never thought I would spend a night in French Court, let alone a week," Emilie mused as she ran her hands over the fine sheets.
"I'm glad Benjamin was willing to give you up for a week, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Oh you'd be fine, but I'm happy to get to help," Emilie replied with a smile.
Kenna was heading back to her own room when she heard footsteps running towards her.
She turned to see Greer calling her name, "Kenna! I didn't know you had already arrived. Ooh where are those babies? I haven't seen them in forever."
"Greer, it's only been a month since you left my house."
"A month is practically forever when it comes to babies!" Kenna laughed and led her into her room.
She handed Greer Carolyn and picked up Andrew. The ladies had spent a few minutes catching up when Lola walked in with Oliver on her hip, "Greer! It's lovely to see you again. Have you made any important decisions lately?..."
"Yes. I have in fact," she pulled a piece of paper out of her dress, "Lord Castleroy is coming back in three days and I'll be giving him this, our signed marriage contract."
Kenna noticed a bit of sadness in Greer's voice, "And you're happy with your choice?"
"I couldn't debate it any more. As much as I thought I couldn't be with anyone but Leith, I have to think of more than just myself. And honestly I think the fact that I've missed Lord Castleroy while he's been away must mean I've at least developed fondness for him. Love can come in time."
"Well we wish you all the happiness in your marriage. Who knows? Maybe it won't be long until we're fawning over your baby."
"How is Mary feeling?" Bash asked Francis.
"As best as can be expected for someone who is trying to be a mother and run a country. I'm doing a lot for her but she still insists on putting on the crown and doing her duty," Francis replied.
"We may have married the two most stubborn women in Scotland," Bash said which elicited a laugh from Francis.
"How's Kenna doing?"
"Wonderfully. I don't know why she had any worries about being a good mother. She's so nurturing and caring. Of course everyone is a bit tired, but Andrew and Carolyn are starting to actually sleep at night a lot more now," Bash answered.
Nothing made him happier than seeing Kenna with their children.
"You know, I never would have imagined us having this conversation when I stood at your wedding," Francis said.
"Believe me, neither did I. I thought I would at the very least come to tolerate her. The thought of starting a family with her never crossed my mind when we were first married." Bash was always amazed at how his relationship with Kenna had grown. They were not the same two people who had stood across from each other in the throne room that night that had sealed their future together. Francis went on to update him on their father's declining mental health before a servant crossed over to them and told Francis that Mary was requesting him.
"See you at tonight's feast brother!" Francis called out as he hurried after the servant.
Kenna looked up as Francis walked into Mary's chambers.
"Oh Francis he's perfect," she said looking down at James in her arms. James had his mother's chocolate eyes and a few wisps of fair hair that Mary told her she hoped grew into Francis' curls.
"But he's not a girl," she joked, remembering how the brothers had said that they were positive that they were both having daughters.
"Oh well, there's always next time," he replied with a smile, sitting on the edge of the bed and reaching for Mary's hand, "We can't all just have both at once. Where is my niece and nephew anyway?"
"Sleeping. Emilie is sitting with them while I came to see Mary and James. Don't worry, I'll make sure they get to meet their Aunt and Uncle once they're awake," Kenna answered. She could sense that Mary wanted some time alone with Francis so she stood up to leave, "Well I better go find Bash and then start getting ready for tonight's feast. See you later." She handed James to Francis and walked out of the room.
"Emilie? Why aren't you with the children," Kenna asked when she bumped into Emilie on her way back to her room.
"Sebastian is with them now," Emilie replied, "He told me to go back to my room and rest since I'll be watching them during the feast."
"Oh alright," Kenna said waking past her. She gently opened the door to their room and smiled at the sight before her. Bash was lying on the bed asleep with both children curled up on his chest. She went about picking a dress for the feast as quietly as possible so as not to disturb them. She then went and sat in the chair next to the bed and worked on her embroidery until Emilie's soft knock on the door signaled it was time to get ready for the feast. Bash stirred on the bed and Kenna got up to take Andrew and Carolyn, "Did you have a nice nap?"
"Uhuh," Bash replied groggily.
"It's time to get ready for the feast," Kenna said as she laid the children back down in their bassinets.
"Did you pick out what dress you'd like to wear Lad- Kenna?" Emilie asked.
"Yes, the green lace one. I'm going to need your help, the clasps are tricky and sleepyhead over there won't be any help," Kenna said, glancing over to where Bash had fallen back asleep. She walked over to the bed and started placing kisses all over his face, "You have to wake up or I'm going to have to enter the feast all by myself and men will think that I'm available."
That got Bash to sit up quickly and Kenna laughed as she walked over to Emilie to begin dressing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter, I hope you enjoyed! Sorry it's been so long since my last update, I took a break to work on my Frary oneshot while I figured out what direction I wanted to go with this story. The feast will be in the next chapter :) I'd also like to point out that I know almost nothing about how noble children were raised in this time period so that aspect might not be super historically accurate.