Chapter 47

One week later...

"Kenna!" Greer hugged her friend, after she had entered the Castle. "I'm glad to see you healthy again." She looked to Mary, who stood next to Kenna. "Mary told me what happened. I would have come sooner, but I couldn't leave my girls alone."

"It's all right. You're here now." Kenna said, smiling.

"Thank you for the invitation!" Greer turned to Mary.

"You're always a welcome guest at this place." Mary made a gesture that the women should follow her. "We go to my chamber. There is more peace and quiet to talk."

Greer followed Kenna and Mary, who mischievously grinned at each other. "To talk?" she asked confused. "Is there something to talk about?"

"Wait and see!" Mary had reached her chamber and pushed the door open. Emeline was waiting in it. "May I present? This is Greer, a good friend and former maid of mine. And this is Emeline, a friend of Kenna. She accompanied her on her journey."

"How nice to meet you!" Greer smiled. "Mary told me that you saved Kenna's life."

Emeline shook her head. "Oh, no. It was the other way round. She saved mine. Mine and that of my sons."

"I think we can agree that we both saved each other." Kenna smiled.

Emeline nodded shyly. "I can live with that." She looked at Greer. "Is it true that you are the owner of a brothel?"

"It seems you had a chat with Mary." Greer laughed. "Yes, it's true. And there is nothing indecent about it as many believe. Many gentlemen in good standing visit the establishment. Men have their needs."

Emeline chuckled. "How true. I can imagine how exciting it is to work there. I mean, not as a whore of course. But as a servant."

"If you want, you can visit and look for yourself." Greer suggested. "I've always been looking for a helping hand."

She was interrupted as the door opened and Lola entered.

"Greer! How nice you're also here!" She hugged her friend. "I'm sorry that I'm late! But I had to nurse my daughter."

"We're complete now." Mary turned to Kenna. "It was Kenna's request to summon you all, because she has something to tell you."

All eyes were on Kenna, who stepped forward, while she was nervously kneading her hands. "As you know, a wedding will take place in the next few weeks, and I..."

She was interrupted when Greer gave an exclamation of astonishment.

She looked at Greer. "Oh yes, I haven't told you, yet. Bash proposed and I accepted." To prove her words, she held her left hand to Greer, that she could see the wedding ring.

"Congratulations!" Greer spontaneously hugged her. "Not that I'm surprised. I have known for a long time that you two belong together." She looked at Kenna, apologetically. "But I didn't want to interrupt. Go on!"

Kenna cleared her throat. "As I said before, there will be a wedding, and I would be happy if you all would agree to become my bridesmaids." Expectantly, she looked around. "Would you agree...?"

"Of course, we want to be your bridesmaids!" Lola was the first who went to Kenna. The others followed her, and then they embraced each other.

Emeline took a step back. "I feel honored, that you want me to become your maid of honour." she said touched. "I mean, we only know each other a short time."

Kenna squeezed her hand. "But I feel, that we know each other forever."

"Thank you!" Emeline smiled. "You couldn't make me a better present."

"Have you already decided for a wedding dress?" Greer cut in.

Kenna shook her head. "I was hoping you would help me with the decision. I want this wedding to be perfect."

"Don't worry! This wedding will be the event of the year." Mary squeezed her hand. "And I will deal with the details, such as dinner, decoration, music... And I'll write the wedding invitations.

"She can't stop talking about it." Lola laughed. "I bet, Mary is more excited about this wedding than the bride and groom themselves." She winked at her.

"Have you got a date?" Greer asked.

Mary quickly exchanged a glance with Kenna and then turned to Greer. "Three weeks from now on. We cannot wait any longer, because then it will become obvious, that Kenna is pregnant."

Greer looked at her friend with wide eyes. "You are pregnant?" she called surprised.

Kenna felt herself blush. "I still cannot believe it myself. For Bash it was a shock at first. It took a few days for him to accept, that he will become a father again. However, we have spoken out, and now he loves the idea of having another baby."

"A girl." Lola cut in. "He is looking forward to have a daughter." She smiled. "I can't blame him. Girls are special."

"But I hope he will love a son, too." Kenna put her hand on her belly. "My gut feeling tells me it's another boy."

"Oh, I am so happy for you!" Greer hugged her again. "This is of course, a double reason for joy."

"I hope we have enough time, until the planned wedding date." Kenna said worried. "The dress has to be made."

"We shouldn't waste any time then." Mary grabbed a sheet of paper and a quill. "You tell me, how it should look like and I'm trying to make a sketch of it. Then I'll pass it to my Court dressmaker. It will probably take one or two weeks, until it is finished."

All sat down to Mary at the table and began to make suggestions how the dress should look like. Finally, the finished design was lying in front of them.

Kenna stared at her future wedding dress and then wiped a tear from her cheek. "It's beautiful and exactly how I imagined it!" she said with a quiet voice and looked at her friends. "Thank you! What should I do without you?"

Mary rose and took the others with her. "What are friends for?" she said and embraced them all.