Chapter 13

The next morning, Mary opened the door to Bash's bedchamber and walked straight towards his bed. She didn't hesitate as she bent down to him and shook roughly his shoulder.

"Wake up and explain that to me!" She threw a letter carelessly on his blanket.

Rudely awakened from his dream, Bash sat up startled.

"What...?" he stammered, rubbing his eyes. "Mary? What are you doing here?"

It had been a while that they had shared a bed together. So it was a surprise that she had come to him again. But one look in her furious face made it clear, that there must be another reason for her invasion in his bedchamber than sexual needs.

"What's wrong?" he asked drowsily.

"It's from Kenna. Read it, and then I'm awaiting a clarification!"

Mary had her hands clasped over her chest and tapped impatiently with her foot on the ground.

"This is ... I don't understand..." He lowered the letter after he had read the lines and stared at Mary with an incredulous look.

"She left the Castle... why?"

"This is what I want to know from you." Indignantly, Mary rolled her eyes. "What happened yesterday, when the two of you met?"

Bash tried to remember. "Nothing." He shrugged. "I went to her and apologized, just like you had said. I promised her that I would take care of my son from now on. And I told her that I wanted to give him my name. "

Mary had put her hand on her chin and walked thoughtfully up and down.

"Hmmm... this is probably not the reason why she left." She made an impatient gesture. "Go on!"

"We went to Daniel together", Bash continued. "And I tried to reach an understanding ..."

He stopped in midsentence and groaned quietly.

"What?" Mary asked alarmed. "What can you remember?"

"We left her chamber and started kissing each other in the hall..." He trailed off as he saw Mary's shocking face.

"Don't look at me like I'm a rapist! I swear to you, that I didn't force her! She wanted it just the same as I did."

"My goodness, Bash! You've been waiting for her for three years. Couldn't you wait a little longer before you confess your glowing love to her!" Mary said indignantly. "I think she was embarrassed and didn't know what to do, so in last consequence, she left."

He raised an eyebrow. "You haven't seen how she responded to my kisses and touch..." He trailed off and lowered his head. "But probably you won't know anyway."

"You are right. I won't." Mary confirmed. "Rather than that, I would like to know, if you told her that you and I have a platonic relationship for months?"

"Why would I do that?" Bash asked puzzled. "It didn't come up."

Mary groaned. "Now everything is clear to me. At our first meeting, she had sworn that she wouldn't interfere in our relationship"

"... that no longer exists," added Bash.

Mary nodded. "Yes, but Kenna doesn't know that. I haven't told her and you either. For her, it is as if she would cheat on me with you. For Kenna honor and sincerity are everything. It is what had helped her not to give up hope. What do you think why she never remarried? She loved you too much and didn't want to start a marriage with a lie."

"I had no idea..." Bash muttered visibly affected. „And what can we do now? Do you have any idea where she could be?"

Mary shook her head. "I have no idea. I could ask the carriage driver, but he has disappeared without a trace since last night. At least, the servants have confirmed that she took the carriage."

Bash looked at Mary with pleading eyes. "I cannot lose her again!" he said in a low voice. „And I want my son back too. I need to find them!"

"If she doesn't want to be found it will be difficult. But I know enough people who I can ask. Maybe someone has seen them or knows where they are." She put a hand on his shoulder. "I can help you with the search. Basically, it's my fault. If I would have been honest from the start, this never would have happened."

Bash jumped out of his bed and grabbed his clothes. "I'm getting dressed and then we can go. Meet me in the stables."

Mary nodded. "I will change in something more comfortable. See you there."

When Mary was gone, Bash dressed quickly and took the letter. Once again, he read the lines and shook his head. How desperate she must have felt to make the decision to leave the Castle, he wondered. He had to find them soon. And when he had found her and his son he had to ensure that they would never leave him again.

An idea rushed into his mind and he creased his face into a smile. But at first, he had to find them. And he had still no idea where they could start with the search. He left the room and walked off to the stables.