Chapter 7

-Eltham Palace, midwinter, 1561-

The next day Mary and her ladies travelled to see Elizabeth and her young Anne. It was a surprise that she chose to honor her mother in that way, but Mary figured she no longer has a reputation to protect so a small scandal probably seemed a small price. The ladies had all began to grow quite close and while Mary could tell Elizabeth and Robert were still madly in love, there was a hint of loneliness in Elizabeth's eyes. Mary decided to talk to Francis about allowing her a freedom or two more. Her cousin has proven to be a trustworthy friend and while Mary was in no rush to test that too far, she did believe it was time to reward good behavior.

-Greenwich Palace, same day-

That night she went to her chambers intent to talk to him about Elizabeth when she walked in to find candles lit and rose petals spread all over. An unbreakable grin crossed her face.

"What is all this?" she inquired sauntering over to her smiling husband.

"I don't believe I let you know enough how much I adore you. I think it on a daily basis but our life is full of chaos and I can't show it enough. The way you settled things with my sister and the young king yesterday.. You are the essence of grace my darling and I figured you being out of the castle today gave me the perfect opportunity to plan a special night for us." he held his hand out and Mary took it. He lead her to their balcony. He had a table full of her favorite desserts and wines. The gardens outside had been lit by candles. They spent the night talking and laughing, being just a boy and just a girl for the night. Sometime early into the morning as they lay entangled in each others arms Mary finally decided to talk to Francis about Elizabeth.

"Francis I want to discuss something with you," she started firmly.

"What is it my sweet? If it's in my power it's yours." he replied pulling her closer.

"I want to start slowly allowing Elizabeth freedoms. She has proven loyal and while I don't fully trust her yet, I do think she should be allowed some reward. It would look good for us too."

"Hmmm it's risky. What did you have in mind?"

"I want to invite her to James's birthday. I know it would mean the world to her and it would show the world we are a family now. Even if we are a semi broken still."

"I don't think that would be too harmful. Especially with the year anniversary of our victory a month later. I will not object, just let me make sure we have enough security for both of you." He kissed her on the forehead and they slowly began to fall asleep.

James's birthday came in what seemed to be way too soon for Mary. She couldn't believe her baby was already a year, he was beginning to stand on his own two feet and was already beginning to speak. Mary couldn't wait to see the kind of man he would become. She spent the morning with him as they prepared for his festivities. This afternoon they would have a party for him and open presents with the children. That evening they would have a ball. The bells tolled all day and there was a party among the streets of London as they declared it a holiday in the Empire. She had news for them all but she was scared to share it. She was with child again, for the second time in a year, third if you count her giving birth to her son. Nostradamus had concerns. He believed being pregnant so soon after her pregnancy with James caused her to lose the last child. He assured her that she should be fine but wanted to keep a close eye on her; she was so scared she'd lose this one too. Holding her son gave her mind a sense of ease. She did it once, she could do it again.

That afternoon Francis and Mary opened presents for James surrounded by their loved ones and their young babies. Everyone was so happy it seemed unreal. Catherine couldn't make it but Claude did and so did Mary's brother James. Elizabeth sat next to Mary and seemed blessed to be there. After every present was opened Mary stood up. She had to get it out before she lost her courage.

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make," she looked down at Francis and grabbed his hand smiling at him and their son. She then looked up again, "I am with child again. It's still early but Nostradamus assures me that it's true and it's safe."

Everyone rushed to give the couple congratulations. That night Mary enjoyed what she knew would be one of her last night's dancing for awhile and made Francis stay with her early into the morning. She noticed her brother and Greer had seemed to be getting on well and that Lola has changed from mostly dancing with Darnley to only dancing with Darnley. Kenna danced with random people because Bash seemed to have been taken off somewhere. Mary knew Kenna had hoped he would be around more now that they were away from the darkness surrounding French court, but he seemed to have drifted even farther away, leaving Kenna lonelier than ever. Mary knew her brother in law was a good man but she wanted to slap some sense into him. He married way above his station, though it was a horror show, to a beautiful and kind woman. Kenna had her faults but she knew who say was and could accept that. Something told Mary Bash couldn't.

The next day Mary decided to seek to get Kenna alone and ask her about how she is doing. As she approached though she heard shouting. It got progressively worse until there was the sound of glass breaking. Bash burst through the door, he hung his head in shame when he saw Mary and walked past her without a word. Mary rushed in the room before the servants to see Kenna kneeling on the ground, picking up shatters of a broken vase, crying.

"Oh, Kenna!" Mary rushed in and pulled her up and away from the mess so servants could sweep it up swiftly. When they left the room Mary let Kenna go and they sat on one of the couches in their chambers. "What on Earth was that about?"

"Why won't he stay? Why? Why am I not good enough for him? He'd stay if it was you..."Kenna's voice trailed off as she sobbed.

Mary didn't know how to respond to that. There was no way to tell what kind of relationship Mary and Bash would've had and there was no point in reflecting on it. "What do you mean by stay?"

"I'm sorry Mary, I don't blame you. He just always has some mission he has to complete that is more important than spending time with me. He's gone for weeks will be home for a few days in which I barely see him because he's with Francis and then before I know it he's leaving again. I think he hates me. Or at least cheating on me, because I know if he asked to be put on less missions away from home Francis would gladly give them to him."

"I highly doubt Bash is cheating on you but I will have Francis talk with him. Has he made you feel unsafe in anyway?"

"No, I threw the vase. Not at him, just in anger, he was on the other side of the road. I know I shouldn't have but he just kept making me feel like I was this insecure little spoiled brat… I just want a husband who wants to be with me. I know how we started but we were doing so well, then the darkness and the war happened and it seems I'm not enough for him anymore."

"Kenna I'm so sorry. Why don't we go visit the children? Alban always cheers you up."

The ladies spent the rest of the day in the nursery.

That night Mary decided to confront Bash herself.

He was gone for a week but she made sure she was the first to greet him. "Welcome back Bash." she said giving her brother-in-law a friendly hug. "May I have a moment?"

"Of course Mary, you know I am always at service to my Queen." He said proudly.

Mary raised her eyebrow, "Do you think that means mistreating my lady, your wife?"

Of course this was coming. Bash knew there was no way he wasn't going to be confronted by Mary or Francis after he left Kenna in that state in front of her. "I'm sorry for what you saw but it was Kenna who threw the vase. We have been struggling lately and I apologize you had to see the extent of it."

If looks could kill. "Do you think I'm stupid Bash? I see the way you behave around each other and I see how sad my FRIEND looks. Did you honestly think I was going to drop this at that excuse. I don't know why you are avoiding her but I honestly don't care. Tell her the truth or I will dig it up and tell her myself."

"You think I'm having an affair?" he couldn't believe she thought that of him.

"No, I don't think that though I know it's a possibility. I don't know if it's a woman, if you're caught up in something, or if you have just grown tired of her. Either way she deserves the truth and she deserves it from you." Mary said frankly. Why did men have to be so dense? Women's intuition was not something to play around with.

"I...Mary I care deeply for her, but I can't bring myself to love her. Not in the way she deserves at least. Kenna is beautiful, loyal, funny, and kind. We are just very different people and I can't force myself to be who she wants. We don't care about the same things. We can't get an annulment. I would never disgrace her that way and we have a son together, I would never make him a bastard…." he had never said the words out loud. They sounded awful but it was the truth.

"You need to tell her. She will never have a chance to be happy if she keeps pining for a man who will never love her. She needs to hear it from you so you two can form an understanding and maybe a friendship, at least. Bash if your willing at some point you could both also find love in someone else, discreetly of course, but the course you're going now will only harm your family." She put a hand on his cheek then left him to ponder her words.

The next day he left for a mission in Scotland with Mary's brother James. James and her mother were sharing the regency while she was in England leaving James to handle delicate matters away from court. Mary had to be there with Francis to see them off but after she went to check on Kenna. She found her in her chambers crying, drinking wine with Lola and Greer. Francis came in and told Mary he would take care of the rest of her duties that day and told Kenna to let him know if he could help with anything to let him know. Mary was so thankful she had such a wonderful husband.

"So my love life is obviously a mess, and Mary and Francis are perfect as always, what is happening with you two? Lola you start, you and Lord Darnley seem pretty close." Kenna said clearly already tipsy.

Lola blushed, "He's charming and very handsome. I think he is going to ask me to marry him but there's just something about him… he's very ambitious and I wonder if he can truly be a good, faithful husband."

"Do you think he's cheating on you?" Greer asked.

"No, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't." Lola said skeptically.

"Lola, talk to him be honest. If you can't be sure don't marry him." Mary stated, "do you want me to have someone look into him?"

"No..actually yes that would be nice thank you." Lola said.

"Wellll that was dreary, I hope James left with more than a hug," Kenna said.

Greer really blushed, "we uhhh, let's just say it went farther than it should have."

"How was it? Was he..well you know?" Kenna insisted.

"Kenna! Gross, that's my brother!" Mary exclaimed.

Kenna chuckled a little, "I'm sorry."

Greer continued, "in a few months we will be leaving for Scottish progress, he agreed to wait until then and that he'd write, so we will see."

"I would love that, one of my best friends and my brother." Mary smiled.