The Bastards
Ch. 2
"Maisie," Greer said as she gently shook her friend's shoulder. "Maisie, wake up." The urgency in her voice caused Maisie to finally wake and sit up in bed.
"What's wrong?" Maisie asked as she rubbed her eyes with the tips of her fingers.
"There's been an incident. Mary needs us." Greer answered as Maisie grabbed a plain white shawl and put it around her shoulders. They left Maisie's room and headed to Mary's.
"Is she okay?" Maisie asked, her bare feet slapping against the floor tiles as they rushed down the hallway.
"I don't know. Lola and Kenna woke me and I came for you. They should be with her now." Greer answered before they came to Mary's room and rushed inside.
Mary sat on her bed in her gown. She and Lola both had tear stained faces while Kenna and Aylee looked like they didn't know what to do. "Mary, Lola, are you alright?" Maisie asked as she sat down on the bed and grabbed Mary's hand as she looked at Lola.
"Yes, just…rattled." Mary answered.
"What happened?" Greer asked behind Maisie.
Kenna touched Maisie's shoulder and when she looked at her she motioned for her to follow her. She pulled Greer and Maisie aside then spoke in hushed tones. "Colin snuck into her room." Maisie's eyes went wide as they slipped over to Lola. "She said she was woken by the blankets getting jerked off of her. Collin was straddling her legs with his belt undone."
"Dear Lord." Greer gasped.
Maisie couldn't speak and simply placed her fingertips over her lips, unable to take her eyes off of Lola. Greer and Kenna went back to Mary. This was bad. Maisie had never met Colin. She didn't know what kind of person he was, but surely Lola wouldn't fall for the kind of boy, soon to be man, that would treat a woman like he had treated Mary. There had to be an explanation. Not knowing what else to do she went to her two distraught friends and grabbed Lola's hand as she set her hand on Mary's shoulder.
Soon, servants were sent to get Mary dressed and ready to speak to The King and Queen. With her gone, in a meeting her ladies weren't allowed to attend, they went back to their rooms to get dressed for the day. Once Maisie had dressed in a dark blue strapless dress, a matching lace shrug and had tamed her waves, weighing them down with a silver head chain, she met the others in Mary's room.
"How did this happen?" Maisie asked, racking her brain for a reasonable answer as to why Lola's love would betray her so deeply while also endangering himself.
"Where were her guards? Why didn't they stop him?" Aylee asked Maisie's unspoken question.
"I hope Mary did if they didn't." Greer added. They were just thinking out loud, but Maisie knew how it all must have sounded to Lola. "They'll question her virtue. If she's not a virgin then she'll never be the queen of France and our chances at court will be over."
"You don't know what happened. Any of you." Lola spoke up.
"Then tell me." Mary said as she stepped into the doorway.
"I've spoken to him. He's being held. I bribed a guard." Lola answered before she looked up at Mary with tears in her eyes. "Colin's a good man…a boy still."
"And what did he say?" Mary interrupted. "What possible defense could he have given you?"
"He said he was forced." Lola answered, clutching her shawl in her fist. "He wouldn't say by whom. He couldn't, he was so afraid. But he said there are people, powerful people, behind this and that he had no choice."
"What people?" Kenna asked, looking from Mary to Lola.
"Here, in the castle. He wouldn't risk saying more." Lola answered.
They were all quiet for a moment before Aylee asked, "Do you believe her, Mary?"
Mary thought about it as she took a step closer. "He looked so surprised that I would fight back…that I would even wake." Mary thought out loud.
"That you would wake? He attacked you." Kenna asked.
Mary looked to be in deep contemplation before her expression changed. "The wine." They all just looked at her, not understanding. "I was told not to drink the wine, I was warned."
"Warned by who?" Lola asked.
"It doesn't matter now." Mary said with a shake of her head. "I believe you. I believe Colin."
"Please help him." Lola pleaded, fresh tears brimming her eyes.
"I'll do what I can." Mary replied.
The ladies stayed with Lola in Mary's chambers until she returned and told them that Colin had been beheaded. "There was nothing I could do. I was too late." Mary said with unshed tears in her eyes.
"He wasn't a traitor. He wasn't a rapist." Lola said, now with tears pouring from her eyes.
"They said he was involved in an English plot. I don't know who to believe or to trust I…" Mary's voice broke as she shook her head. "I'm so sorry Lola."
"You're the reason he's dead!" Lola snapped as she stood up. "Anyone who's close to you lives in constant danger. We're disposable, all of us." She practically shouted as she looked around.
Mary shook her head. "No, you're not. I need you, you're my friends."
"Kenna's my friend." Lola replied. "Maisie, Greer and Aylee are my friends. You are my queen and we are your subjects. We're here in service to you. Whatever that means. Whatever it costs us."
"I will protect you." Mary tried.
"You can't even protect yourself!" Lola snapped.
"I'll do better." Mary's voice broke. "I promise."
Lola just sat down on the bench beside Aylee and Greer. As soon as she took her eyes off Mary her anger faded and she fell into Aylee's arms. Maisie's heart broke for both of her friends. If broke for Mary for not only almost getting raped, but because of the aftermath of the attack on her that she had no control over. And it broke for Lola because the target that's always going to be on Mary's back caused her to lose the man she loved. She wanted to go with Mary and assure her that she doesn't blame her like Lola does, but she couldn't help kneeling next to Lola and embracing her with the rest of her close friends.
When Maisie picked her head up from where it rested on Lola's shoulder she saw Bash standing outside the door with Mary. Her dog Sterling on a leash in Bash's hand that he held out to Mary. She took it before he bowed his head to Mary then turned, looking into the room just long enough to meet Maisie's eyes and give her a small, almost unnoticeable nod as well. Maisie managed to pull one side of her lips up into a pitiful excuse of a smile before Bash turned and walked away. After Mary had taken a moment to gather herself, aided by Sterling's relaxing presence, she returned and asked her ladies to give her a moment alone with Lola.
The others returned to their rooms, but Maisie wanted fresh air. So she decided to go for a walk in the gardens. They were very maze-like with tall flower bushes and offered both fresh air and privacy. She was about to walk through the arching entrance when Bash's voice called out. "Lady Maisie." She looked around and found him walking up the sidewalk a few feet away from her, coming from the opposite direction. "May I join you?"
She thought about it for a moment. "Sure." With that bright smile of his he offered his hand. So she placed her hand in his, but kept space between them as they started walking the garden pathway.
After a minute of walking in comfortable silence he broke it. "I heard about what happened. I'm sorry your friend had to go through that."
"I have two friends who've endured horrible things. To which are you referring?" She asked as she stopped to touch one of the beautiful white gardenia's.
"Mary." He answered. "Frances said a boy snuck into her bed and…attacked her. He was peeved that she had the audacity to want to talk to her assailant."
Maisie turned from the flowers to look at him with a deep crease between her auburn brows and he took a step back. "The audacity? Her assailant was an innocent boy whose hand was forced by others more powerful than him. He shouldn't have lost his head for it. I did not know him myself but I do know Lola and I know she would not place her heart in the hands of someone unworthy of it."
"I apologize." Bash said, holding his hands out defensively. "I didn't mean to offend. I only knew what my brother told me."
Her shoulders fell as she heaved out a breath. "No, I apologize. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that." Aggravated, she plucked a waxy leaf off the bush just to have something to do with her hands.
"So Mary was attacked and Lola lost her love to a beheading." He summed up as they started walking again. "You said his hand was forced by others more powerful than him?"
"Mary was told by the king and queen that Colin was part of an English plot. However Colin said he was forced by someone here, highly placed. He was too scared to say who." Maisie explained.
"The two explanations could be one and the same. The English are always present and hold high positions." Bash explained.
"I just…I don't understand why he was beheaded so quickly. Wouldn't they have wanted to question him, find out more about this supposed English plot?" Maisie asked. "It almost makes me think someone with the authority to make such calls wanted to silence him."
"The only people with authority like that are the king and queen." Bash replied. "I can't see why either of them would want him silenced."
When they came to a stone bench in the center of the garden Maisie walked over and sat down. When Bash sat down next to her she pulled her knee up onto the bench and faced him. "Pieces of this puzzle aren't fitting together."
"Then perhaps you should take a step back for a moment." Bash suggested. "Think about something else."
"Like what?" Maisie asked, putting her hands in her lap.
"Well, we could get to know one another again." He answered. "Do you still like horses?"
"I do. I actually tried to convince my uncle to let me bring my horse here with me, but he said once I was here I wouldn't have time for her." She answered with sadness in her eyes.
"Do you have any plans for the rest of your day?" Bash asked and she shook her head no. So he stood and held his hand out to her. "Come with me."
She took his hand and stood up. "Where are we going?" She asked as they made their way out of the garden.
"You'll see." He answered with a smirk and a sparkle in his eyes.
After walking in comfortable silence for a moment the stables came into view. "I should have guessed." She said with a smile on her face as he led her to a stall containing a buckskin Morgan horse. Maisie watched as Bash opened the stall, clasped a lead rope on its bridle and led it out. "Oh she's beautiful." Maisie complimented as she held her hand out for the horse to smell.
Bash watched with a smile on his face as Maisie started petting the horse's neck. "Would you like to ride her?"
"That depends." Maisie answered then moved to stand in front of the horse and looked it in the eye. "What do you think, Pretty Girl, wanna go for a ride, stretch your legs a bit?" The horse whinnied and twitched its ears. Maisie looked at Bash with a smile. "I think we'd both love to."
After riding for a while they stopped at a lake to let their horses rest and drink. While the horses grazed Maisie and Bash sat under a tree on an extra saddle blanket he had thought to bring with them, drinking their own water from a canteen. "So, what's her name?" Maisie asked as she watched the golden horse that roamed alongside Bash's dapple gray stallion.
"She doesn't have one." Bash answered, getting a curious frown from Maisie. "I believe a horse should be named by their owner."
"Are you not her owner?" Maisie asked with a confused shake of her head.
"I think you should name her." He replied not directly answering her question.
"But you just said that-" she cut herself off when he gave her a bright smile and she realized what he was telling her. "She's mine?" She asked with a lift of her brows.
"I bought her the day I learned you were returning." Bash answered. "So, what will you name her?"
Maisie stood and called the horse over with a few clicks of her tongue. She watched the bright, almost glittering gold horse, with its black mane, tail and legs, trot over to her. Thinking, Maisie petted the sweaty horse, Bash walked over to them. "Hemera." Maisie finally answered.
"The Greek goddess of the day." Bash said with an approving nod. "An appropriate choice."
Maisie turned from Hemera to Bash who was standing behind her. "Bash… She's perfect, but…what if I hadn't kept my promise? What if I came here as a married woman? Or if I no longer liked horses?"
"Then she would have been a late wedding present from your childhood friend." Bash answered. "And I watched you as a child, tending to the horses, how just being around them relaxed you. An affinity like that doesn't disappear with time."
Maisie blinked back tears as a smile formed on her lips and she grabbed his hand. "Thank you, Bash, truly."
"You're most welcome." He replied as he brushed a lock of hair out of her face then brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. Her eyes slipped closed at the intimate touch. As soon as they opened and met his, he leaned down and caught her top lip between his. The action sent tingles coursing through every inch of her, stealing her breath. Her hands took on a mind of their own and moved to hold the sides of his warm, soft neck.
Bash had her chasing him when he pulled back, retreating when he pressed in. She was completely lost to the world and anything that wasn't him…his lips…his hands…his warmth. Eventually he moved one hand back to her cheek as the kiss slowed then broke. They pressed their foreheads together as their eyes opened and met.
"I've wanted to do that since the moment I saw you yesterday." Maisie admitted.
"Me too." Bash replied and Maisie smiled as she lifted her head.
"What are the chances of us being seen out here?" She asked, knowing it wouldn't be good if they were caught.
"Unlikely." He answered so Maisie took his hand and led him back over to the blanket. "What would you say if I asked to officially court you?" He asked as they both sat down, their shoulders touching.
"Isn't that what you're doing now?" She asked as she picked up the canteen then took a drink.
He chuckled. "Yes, but I meant publicly. So everyone knows."
"Is there a reason I wouldn't want people to know?" She asked with a confused shake of her head.
"I can think of two." He answered. "You've only been at court for two days, it's a bit soon. The more glaringly obvious reason is you're titled. You should be counting men who-"
He was cut off by her hand over his mouth. "I don't care about titles or wealth. I never have." She uncovered his mouth and he gave her a sad blink.
"I'm a bastard, I-"
"So am I." She interrupted. "Not that anyone knows, not for sure anyway. If they did I'd lose everything. My dowry, my title." She dropped her eyes to her hands. "Not even my friends know."
"You're brothers always called you their bastard sister." Bash recalled. "Because you didn't look like them."
"I look like my uncle." She replied. "The one who raised my siblings and I. Everyone thinks that since he's my father's brother, red hair and brown eyes run in the family. That's not entirely true." She kept her eyes on her hands, not able to make herself look up. "Turns out there's a hidden history of bastards in my family. My uncle got his red hair from his father who was not my father's father."
"Your uncle is your biological father." Bash finished and she nodded. "How do you know for sure?"
"When I was thirteen my uncle found me hiding in the barn, crying after yet another bout of my brothers taunting me. He told me the truth." she looked up at Bash to see him listening intently. "He and my mother, in a moment of weakness, gave in to the feelings they'd tried for years to ignore. He said my father knew that I wasn't his child but claimed me as his own to shield me from the life I'd have if people knew."
"And what of your brothers? Did they ever learn the truth?" Bash asked with a frown, knowing how mean they were to her before.
"No, but I'm sure when my uncle had them flogged for pushing me to the point of tears it only furthered their suspicion. That along with the fact that, even though he tried not to, my uncle favored me. After the flogging they never called me a bastard again so it was probably a mixed blessing." She answered, then looked down, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
"Can't say they didn't deserve it." Bash replied and when she didn't look up he hooked his pointer finger under her chin and lifted it. "This doesn't change anything. You're still a titled woman."
"But it does." She argued as she grabbed his hand in both of hers. "Growing up, knowing everything could be taken from me at any moment changed how I view things…my needs when it comes to the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with."
"How so?" Bash asked with a curious cock of his head.
"I don't need a rich man who will plow me with gifts and shiny things for me to wave in the faces of other women and make them green with envy. That seems to be how other women find happiness, but I find it hollow and pointless." she explained with a shake of her head. "I don't need someone who's going to sit down and haggle with my uncle over what prizes my hand in marriage will win him. I just need someone who will love me. Not my dowry, not my title…but me. I need someone I know will stay by my side, no matter my station. And my uncle, because he favors me, has granted me permission to marry for love."
"Then it's a good thing I don't want you for your dowry." He replied, making a sad smile grace her face.
"So to answer your original question, I would say I'd love for you to publicly court me." She said as she looked down at his hand in hers. "To hell with what people think."
"Good." He answered and she looked up at him with a small smile. "You're dancing last night caught the attention of more than a few men. Understandably so. You're an exquisite beauty with a smile that would light up the darkest of rooms." His compliment made her cheeks warm with a blush. "I doubt me courting you will dissuade them, but it's worth a try."
"Eh, if they try anything I'll punch 'em." she said with a wrinkle of her nose as she held up her fist making Bash laugh as he grabbed her hand. "I only hope I'm enough of an exquisite beauty," she mimicked his compliment sarcastically, "to dissuade all the ladies at court who eye you like a tasty treat. Not that I blame them, you are mouth wateringly gorgeous." Bash laughed at her not so elegantly worded compliment with a slight blush of his own. She leaned into him, glancing down at his thin yet perfect lips before looking into his eyes. He took the hint and caught her top lip between his.
Just like before they got lost in one another. When she felt his tongue brush over her lip she instinctively let him in. The new sensation, his tongue slipping over hers pulled a sound she'd never made before, a higher pitched moan, from the back of her throat. Bash's lower pitched moan echoed hers, only intensifying the feeling pulsing within her.
The whinny of a horse sounded out right beside their heads. Maisie yelped and jumped away, breaking the kiss they'd been lost in.
Bash burst out laughing at the sight of Maisie holding her chest, shooting her horse a dirty look. His horse strode over and blew at them. "I think they're trying to tell us something."
"That we should slow down or that they're ready to head home?" She asked as she dropped her hand from her chest.
"Both probably." Bash answered as Hemera backed up.
Maisie reached up and rested her hand on Bash's thin brown shirt covered chest. "You know that no matter how easy it is to get lost in you that I can't go too far, right?"
"I know." Bash answered as he placed his hand over hers. "One of these days, if all goes accordingly, you will be my wife. Until then I will be perfectly satisfied with kisses that lead nowhere."
"You're too good to me." She said with a smile.
"I want to be good because of you." He pointed out as he stood then held his hand out to her. She took it and let him help her to her feet. She picked up the canteen then stepped off of the blanket so Bash could roll it back up.
By the time he'd strapped the blanket back onto his horse Maisie had already mounted hers. She took a drink from the canteen then capped it and handed it to him. He tucked it into his saddle bag then mounted his horse. As they rode back to the castle he observed her, the way her auburn hair flew behind her, the content look on her face, how she moved perfectly in time with Hemera as if she'd been riding her all her life. When the castle came into sight they slowed their horses to a walk. Maisie patted Hemera on the neck. "Bash, I can't thank you enough for this."
"It's nothing, truly. I bought her from a friend, he made me a good deal." He brushed it off.
"I wasn't just talking about Hemera." She told him. "You got me away, cleared my head."
"You can thank me by saving a dance for me at the party that's going to be thrown for Prince Charles and his future bride tomorrow night." He told her as they rode into the stables.
"Where did you disappear to?" Kenna, who was leaving her chambers as Maisie walked past on the way to hers, asked. "And why do you stink?" She asked as she covered her nose with the backs of her fingers.
"I went for a ride." Maisie answered nonchalantly. Kenna narrowed her eyes at her suspiciously. "With Sebastian."
"What?" Kenna's eyes went wide as she smiled. "The king's bastard Sebastian?"
"Yes and can't you just call him the king's son?" Maisie asked with a frown.
"Sorry, I forget you despise the word." Kenna apologized. "But why were you with Bash? What happened to finding the boy you promised your heart to?" Maisie just smiled then bit her bottom lip. After a second Maisie saw the bell go off in Kenna's head as her eyes grew big. "That boy was Bash?"
"Yes." Maisie answered.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Kenna asked in a scolding tone.
"I didn't think it mattered." Maisie shrugged.
"Well it does. Does he still have feelings for you?" Kenna asked excitedly.
"He bought me a horse, so I'd say so." Maisie answered with a blush.
"A horse?" Kenna asked, unamused. "Oh, yes, I forget you strangely like the smelly creatures." Maisie just smiled. "Seriously, get the servants to draw you a bath you reek." Kenna told her pointedly as she walked away.
"Lady Aylee, Lady Maisie, Lady Kenna and Greer of Kinross, Your Grace." Mary's servant announced the ladies with a bow as they walked into her chambers.
"Thank you, Sara." Mary replied then looked at them.
"You slept there while Lola slept in your bed?" Kenna asked.
"We were talking about what happened with Colin. She fell asleep crying." Mary answered. "I feel for her and for Colin." Mary looked over her shoulder at Lola sleeping soundly. "Let's let her sleep." The ladies followed Mary out onto the private balcony where several tables held food. Maisie grabbed an apple and a piece of cheese. "The French king and queen said that Colin's attack on me was an English plot, but Colin told Lola it was someone here, highly placed at French court. All I know is it had to be someone opposed to Scotland's alliance with France or my engagement to Francis…" Mary stared out of the open windows of the balcony in thought for a moment. "England wants my country and my crown. I need the alliance with France to protect Scotland from the English and I need time. Before there is any chance of Francis marrying me." They all just looked at her in thought. "I won't have time if I don't figure out who's against me."
Lola walked in, joining them for breakfast. "Someone please tell me what's on the agenda for today. I need a distraction." she said as she took fresh fruit from the table.
"Today we are to accompany Mary to the throne room. Little Charles will be meeting his future bride. Much like Mary and Francis when they were children." Maisie answered.
"Isn't there supposed to be a party for them tonight?" Kenna asked.
"Yes and it sounds like a good distraction to me." Maisie told Lola. "Maybe some spirits will lift your spirits."
"That was cheesy." Lola told her with a little smirk and roll of her eyes while the others laughed at them.
"Yes, but it made you smile all the same." Maisie argued.
After they finished their breakfast they all got dressed and headed down to the throne room where the king and queen, little Charles, Francis, Bash and a few other advisers and such stood. "Let's agree it's a brilliant match. Madiline's french so there's no question of her family's loyalty and they're very wealthy."
"But not royal. So they're hungry for power." The king argued.
"They'll pay for it." The queen argued back and Maisie noticed Mary and Francis exchanging a look, making her smirk to herself.
"It's only right to accept the support of one's loyal subjects." the king agreed.
Catherine gasped as she looked down at her son. "And she has a giraffe! Madeline is widely traveled. She's come from far away, by ship."
"Do I get a giraffe too?" Charles asked in his polite little voice.
"The moment she becomes your bride." Catherine answered.
"Francis." the king started, "To show our respect, I want you to accompany your little brother to the landing."
Charles turned and looked at his father. "Can Bash come as well?"
Maisie noticed that Bash gave his little half brother a small smile. "Charly!" Catherine snapped, making him look at her. "You know that Bash isn't really your brother. He's just your fathers son. His presence is disrespectful." Bash gave Francis a 'wow, really?' look while Maisie shot Catherine a dirty look then remembered her place and turned her eyes to the floor.
"The girl's parents were enjoying Morocco so they sent her on alone." The king added, shutting Catherine up.
"Apparently she was more afraid of meeting her future husband than of pirates." Catherine laughed as she pulled Charles in for a hug. "Well, that's to be expected at age seven. She'll get in line." She turned her eyes to Mary. "We all do."
"Perhaps I can go with Francis." Mary spoke up. "I came here too when I was a child. Perhaps I can reassure her."
"It's several hours journey." the king warned.
"Well, we'll take food and treats. I don't mind, really." Mary said with a shrug.
"On second thought, why don't we greet the girl here?" Catherine spoke up, making Maisie frown a little. "We don't know, the journey might not be safe." Why didn't she want Mary to go?
"They'll stay on the king's road. A dozen well armed guards will keep any bandits away." The king argued then took a deep breath. "Prepare a carriage for Mary, the queen of Scotland." he told one of his people as he turned and walked away, officially dismissing everyone. As Bash walked out with Francis he glanced at Maisie with a small smile.
"What happened?" Maisie asked Mary as she walked over to her ladies who stood outside to greet them when they returned from the landing. Along with Madeline and her attendants came many Englishman.
"Madeline's ship was in distress, the English saw and helped, so they will be staying here for a time, to recover before they head back out." she answered, sounding strong, but fear could be seen in her eyes.
Later that night Maisie noticed that many of the men at the party were English and it made Mary and her ladies feel very intimidated, though Mary did a good job of hiding it.
"You look rather pretty this evening." Kenna said, looking Maisie up and down from where she stood next to her along with Aylee, Lola and Greer. "Are you trying to impress someone special?"
"Possibly." Maisie answered.
"Who?" Aylee asked curiously.
"Sebastian." Kenna sing songed.
"The king's bastard?" Lola asked, making Maisie cringe.
"He has a terrible reputation with women." Aylee added. "They say he knows no bounds. You can't possibly think he wants anything more than to ruin you."
Maisie glared at Aylee. Greer knew by the flare of her nostrils that when Maisie opened her mouth something she might possibly regret was about to come out. So she interrupted, "I think what Aylee means to say is you need to tread lightly."
"We don't want you to get hurt." Lola added.
A server walked by with a tray of wine and offered them all one. Maisie took one while the others waved him off.
"Who is Mary talking to?" Greer asked, making them all look at Mary talking to a tall dark haired man in a black collared jacket with fancy embroidery around the collar and down the front.
"That's the English envoy, Simon." Lola answered.
They could tell something was off by the way Mary's body stiffened, but before one of them could intervene, Francis did. After a short conversation Francis stepped back and held his hand out to Mary. The musicians, seeing them walking out on the floor, started playing music. Not long after, Bash walked over and held his hand out to Maisie. "May I have this dance?"
Deciding to play with him Maisie looked down at his hand, pretending to really think about it, biting her lips closed with a squint of her eyes before she looked up at his face that was starting to look like he thought she was going to say no. But she placed her hand in his, "You may."
"Was it really such a hard decision to make?" he asked, looking a little concerned as they danced.
She let a smile pull at her lips. "No." he looked relieved by her answer.
"I-" he twirled her, causing her to crash into his chest, "am going to make you pay for that." He said with a playful look in his eyes.
"Really? When?" She asked with a look up at him through her lashes.
"How about tonight?" He asked. "Since the guests of honor are children the party will end soon. After Mary retires, meet me in the center of the garden."
"I'll be there." They shared a smile as the song came to an end. She and Bash bowed to one another then he walked away and she headed back to her friends.
Eventually the two children went to bed and not much later Mary and Aylee followed telling them to stay and enjoy the rest of the party. While her friends scattered and started mingling Maisie hung back, pretending to people watch when really she was keeping a discreet eye on Bash. When she saw him leave she waited a while, made sure no one was paying her any attention then left the party herself.
When she found Bash he was sitting on a blanket he'd spread out on the ground right next to some gardenia bushes. The nice jacket he'd worn at the party along with his sword laid on the bench. A lantern sat on the corner of the blanket along with a bottle of wine and two cups. Neither of them said a word as she walked over and sat down beside him. He poured a cup and handed it to her then poured himself one. After a moment she unsnapped the broach holding her moss green lace wrap in place and took it off. It got set aside as she took a drink, set the cup aside, leaned her head back and took in a deep breath.
"You still like gardenias I see." He said with a smile in his voice.
"And I still hate lavender. The blue of your eyes is still my favorite color. Light moss green was yours. Is it still?" She asked as she dropped her head to look at him.
"It is." He answered, taking in the strapless, moss green bodice of her dress. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Bash spoke. "You looked upset earlier. Is everything okay?"
"Aylee was just being her usual judgmental self." Maisie shrugged.
"How so?" Bash asked.
"She said you couldn't possibly want anything more than to ruin me." Maisie answered. "They don't know you like I do…or, did. I have to keep reminding myself that even though it somehow doesn't feel like it, we have spent nine years apart."
"Which is why I don't mind taking our time, getting to know one another again." He replied as he slipped his hand over hers.
"That seems so hard to do when all I can think about is kissing you again." She admitted with a blush.
"Then perhaps you should kiss me." He told her with a smile in his eyes. "That is, after all, one form of getting to know one another."
"Honestly I'm afraid I won't be able to stop." She replied with a look down at the cup in her hand. "It's so easy to get caught up you."
"I won't let you go too far." He argued.
Maisie looked up at him with a slight frown, "Are you not as easily caught up in me?"
"That's not what I meant." He answered with a small smile as he flipped her hand over and started lightly running his fingertips over her palm. The light touches sent tingles up her arm that clouded her mind. "Of course I get caught up in you. Your kiss, your touch…"
"You have got to stop that." Maisie said with a blink at him.
"Stop what?" He asked.
Her hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, stopping his fingers from brushing her palm. "That. It's…titillating." She answered then let go of his wrist. His eyes grew dark as he placed his fingertips on the side of her wrist and slid them up her arm, over her shoulder. A sigh left her parted lips as her eyes slipped closed. "Must you tempt me so?" She asked quietly.
"I told you I'd make you pay." Bash replied, making her open her eyes and meet his.
"I see the currency has changed since we were children." She said with a smile and a look at him through her lashes as he threaded his fingers into her hair behind her ear.
"If you'd prefer I tickle you-" he was cut off when she caught his bottom lip between hers. He chuckled into the kiss before her hands slipped up his chest to hold the sides of his neck, pulling a sigh from him. After a long while he laid her back on the blanket hovering over her from the side as his hand slipped from her hair, over her chest and side to hold her hip.
A shaky breath left her lips as he trailed kisses down her neck to the cleavage exposed by the deep sweetheart neckline of her corseted bodice. Her hands held his sides over the gold tunic he wore. He kissed his way back to her lips before the kisses slowed and he pulled back to look into her eyes.
She took one of her hands from his side to fruitlessly brush his hair back before resting her hand on his cheek. His eyes grew dark right before he wiggled his thumb over her hip bone pulling a yelp, followed by a giggle from her. "Bash." She laughed as he kept up his attack on her most ticklish spot.
She grabbed his sides and tried to tickle him back, but two layers of clothing protected him. He chuckled at her attempt. "Nice try." He stopped tickling her and moved to lay on his side beside her.
She took his hand in hers and pressed their palms together. "I could easily stay out here with you until sunrise."
"But you must turn in for the night." Bash said, sounding disappointed.
"Unfortunately." She answered in a sigh.
"Then I guess," Bash sat up then stood and held his hand out to her. She took it and let him pull her to her feet, "I must bid you goodnight."
She picked up her shawl and put it back around her shoulders then moved the lantern off the blanket and picked it up. She started to fold it but he took it from her.
"I'll tend to this." He tossed the blanket back on the ground then wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Her hands rested on each side of his neck as he dipped his head and captured her lips with his. She pulled a quiet hum from him when she grazed his bottom lip with her tongue. He broke the kiss before it got too heated. "Now who's tempting whom?" She just bit her smiling lips closed as she gazed up at him. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Bash." She replied then tried to step back, but his arm was locked around her waist. She laughed, "You know you actually have to let go, for me to leave, right?"
He heaved out a heavy sigh. "If I must." She just smiled and shook her head as he dropped his arm and she took a few steps back before she turned and walked away.
"Colin's alive?" Mary asked where she stood in her chambers, talking to the king and queen while her ladies sat on a padded bench seat behind her. Maisie saw the hopeful look in Lola's eyes, but even though he was alive she had no hope that the two of them would ever be able to be together. Colin was guilty of trying to destroy Mary's virtue. If he didn't lose his head he'd probably end up somewhere that made him wish he had.
"Alive and escaped, I'm afraid." King Henry answered Mary.
"He had help." Queen Catherine added.
"Who?" Mary asked.
"Perhaps the English." King Henry replied.
"But the attack, the execution, it all happened before they arrived." Mary pointed out.
"They're always here, my dear." Catherine replied. "Spies and treachery are constant in our world, but you have our protection. The guards are out looking for Colin and he will be found." That offered the young women little reassurance, Mary was supposed to be under their protection when Colin somehow managed to sneak into her room. "There's a picnic this afternoon, for Madeline and Charles. But the perimeter will be guarded." Catherine told them in an upbeat voice as if everything was supposed to be okay since there was a special event happening.
"Perhaps this is a mixed blessing. I'll have a chance to speak with Colin, once he's found, to learn how deep the plot against my person runs. You said it yourself, Colin was a mere pawn." Mary said ignoring Queen Catherine's mention of the picnic.
"The informants who pointed at the English fled fearing retribution." Queen Catherine rebutted.
"Have they?" King Henry asked as if this was news to him. He was the king, shouldn't he be the first to know these things?
"All I ask of you is that you bring him back alive. I need answers and you did regret that he was executed so quickly not knowing my request." Mary said. The whole time Mary was talking to the king and queen it felt as if Mary was begging, King Henry was being sympathetic and Queen Catherine was just pointing out cold facts.
"Colin is a dangerous fugitive. I cannot, we cannot possibly guarantee that he won't attack the guards and be harmed or killed" Catherine said, once again stating a fact that offered little reassurance.
"We can promise to try." King Henry told Mary before they dismissed themselves.
"Mary, may I have a moment?" Maisie asked. Mary gave her a nod so the other ladies left. "Have you ever thought that maybe Catherine was behind Colin's attack on you?"
"Why do you suspect Catherine?" Mary asked with a frown.
"I can't pinpoint why I suspect her. It's more of a feeling than anything." Maisie answered and Mary's shoulders dropped. "Colin was supposedly beheaded before you even had a chance to question him. That gives me the feeling he had information she didn't want you to hear. And Bash said the king and queen are the only people who can make that call. Not only that but you said someone who didn't approve of your engagement to Francis could be behind it. Catherine didn't want you spending time alone with Francis yesterday when you offered to go with them to the landing. Then, just now, we saw her speaking as if she and King Henry were on completely different pages when it comes to Colin. She said the informants fled, and king Henry acted as if he had no knowledge. He offered to do their best to bring Colin back alive and she stresses the fact that she can't promise he'll make it back alive. The pieces of this puzzle don't fit until you take into consideration that Catherine could be the highly placed person that had Colin so scared."
Mary sighed. "I have considered Catherine. Though like you I have no proof. Only a feeling."
"If there is anything I can do, anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask. It's what I'm here for." Maisie told her as she reached out and grabbed Mary's hand.
Mary placed her other hand over Maisie's. "Thank you. Your loyalty means more than you know."
At the picnic Mary and Francis stood off to themselves watching Charles try to find Madeline. The little boy was blindfolded and standing in the middle of a circle of little girls all calling his name. Aylee, Greer, Lola, Kenna and Maisie stood together watching the amusing sight. "How is Charles supposed to recognize the voice of his true love when she's so quiet?"
"Well, that's the lesson." Maisie spoke up. "It teaches the girl that if you want to be heard you have to make them listen. And the boy, that if he wants to make and keep her happy he'll have to ignore all other tempting voices."
"Is that so?" Bash's voice came from behind her and she looked over her shoulder at him, watching him walk around to stand in front of her.
"Mhmm." She hummed, her cheeks burning red, Kenna and Lola giggled.
"Good afternoon Ladies." Bash greeted all of Mary's ladies then picked Greer to focus on. "Would you all mind if I stole Lady Maisie for a while?"
"Yes." "No." "Of course not." "Be our guest." Aylee, Lola, Greer and Kenna answered all at once.
Bash looked at Aylee. "You don't much like me do you?"
"Not particularly." Aylee answered.
"You don't even know me." He argued.
"I know of you." Aylee rebutted. "And I think you should move on. My friend can do better than a man of your stature."
"Ah, well," he started, his tone cheerful and unphased, "fortunately Lady Maisie has a mind of her own and a strong willed one at that. If you were truly her friend you'd know that about her." Bash looked at Maisie and held out his hand. "Shall we?"
Maisie took his hand and started walking with him, not bothering to look back to see her friend's faces. "I'm sorry about Aylee."
"I know she's your friend, but I won't stand for anyone judging you or me for that matter." He told her and she looked up at him with a closed lipped smile of thanks. "So," Bash started as they walked over to a table of food, "did you mean what you said about that little game?"
Maisie grabbed a crescent off the table. "Yes." She answered, keeping her eyes on the bread in her hand as she plucked off a piece.
"You think you have to make me listen and ignore the voices of other women?" He asked as they started walking.
"No, you've always been an amazing listener." She rebutted then popped the piece of bread into her mouth.
"So it's the voices of other women you worry about?" He asked as they came to a stop beside the wall of the walkway above them.
"Not the voices, but the glances. You seem to be doing a good job of ignoring them, but I'm finding it difficult to ignore her." Maisie explained with a subtle nod to a woman and when Bash followed her nod he saw a pretty brunette. She gave him a smile, looked down as she brushed her hair behind her ear then looked back up at him through her lashes. He just looked back at Maisie. "And her and her and-"
"Where? I don't see them." Bash said cutting her off and she just looked up at him and bit her lips closed. "Have you noticed the men looking at you?" She shook her head no. "My point exactly." She let a small smile pull at one side of her lips. "My eyes and ears see and hear only you."
She couldn't help reaching up and resting her hand over his heart. "How did I get so lucky?"
"I find myself asking the same question." He admitted.
They were still standing by the wall chatting when Mary walked over to them. "Maisie, may I have a moment with Bash?"
Under the impression that it wasn't really a question, Maisey gave her a nod. She was on her way over to her friends when King Henry intercepted. "Your Majesty.'' She greeted with a curtsy.
"I see you and Bash are still fast friends." he observed with a smile and a light hearted look in his eyes. Her blush betrayed her. "Or perhaps, now that you're older, you're more than friends."
"Yes, your grace, we're courting." she answered shyly.
"You don't have to be so polite just because I'm king." He held his hand out to her and she took it. "If bash has it his way you'll be my daughter-in-law." She couldn't help the nervous sounding laugh that escaped her as he walked her around one of the tents where flowers and flower crowns were being sold. "Did you think I didn't know?"
"Honestly I've been so focused on getting to know him again and all this madness with Mary that I hadn't thought about it." Maisie answered. "I knew Diane knew that we were close when we were children."
"I knew as well." He replied, happy that she was talking openly with him. "Believe it or not, I care about more than politics. I pay attention to and love all of my children." he told her as he started looking at the flowers in vases of water. "I wish them all the happiness in the world and now that you're back, Bash is undeniably so."
"Does this mean you approve of our courtship?" Maisie asked as she watched the king pluck a pink rose from a vase.
"It means I look forward to the day you become family." he told her as he held the rose out to her with a good natured smile.
"As do I." Maisie replied as she took the rose from him with a nod of thanks. He gave her a nod back before he walked away. Seeing that Mary was done talking to Bash she headed back over to him. "What was that about?" she asked curiously.
"Where'd the rose come from?" Bash countered with a look down at the long stemmed rose in her hand.
"You're father." she answered nonchalantly.
"Right, well, we'll talk about that later." he said looking off put by the idea of his father giving his love a rose. "Mary has asked me to help find Colin." Maisie gave him a small frown. "Because I know how much you care for your friends and their loved ones, I agreed, but...I fear he's gone into the blood wood."
"Are they as dangerous as they were when we were children?" Maisie asked, concerned for both Colin and Bash.
"Even more so." Bash answered.
"And are you comfortable with going into them?" She asked and he nodded. "Then time is of the essence." She told him then placed her hand on his chest. "Be careful."
"For you, always." He pecked a kiss to the top of her head before he rushed off.
"Somebody's in love." Lola sing songed at Maisie light heartedly making Maisie smile.
"Bash is so rude. Why do you continue to accept his flirtations?" Aylee asked.
Maisie glared at her judgmental friend. "I accept his flirtations because he is still as kind and selfless as I remember him being. And I want to know if more pieces of the boy I loved still remain in the man he has grown into." Maisie's eyes softened as she looked at Lola. "Bash is a very skilled tracker. Mary has asked him to help look for Colin and he's agreed. I'm just sorry I didn't think to ask him myself." Lola reached out and rested her hand on Maisie's.
"Bash is the boy you said you'd promised your heart to." Greer said in realization and Maisie nodded.
After a while the girls split up, mingling with the other ladies at the picnic. Kenna walked over to her, a hard look on her face. "Why were you talking to the king?"
"Because he's Bash's father and I'm the woman interested in his son." Maisie answered skeptically, wondering why Kenna was concerned with who the king chose to talk to.
"Then why did he give you a rose?" she asked, still angry.
"He was just being nice. He told me he looks forward to the day I become his family." she explained. "Besides, why does it matter? Why are you so angry with me?"
"It's nothing." Kenna said looking deflated. "I just thought…well, it doesn't matter what I thought."
"Did you think he was flirting with me?" Maisie asked.
"You blushed and he gave you that rose…it just didn't look good is all." Kenna said with a shrug.
"He's handsome, but he's also the king and the father of the man who's courting me. I have no interest in him, truly." Maisie told her with a laugh.
The ladies all met back up and were trying to enjoy the picnic when Mary found them, looking scared. "What's wrong?" Lola asked.
"There's been an incident. I returned to my chambers earlier and found a servant, a woman trying on my dress. Before I could even react she started crying, saying that her skin was burning and that the dress had been poisoned. I ran for the guards but by the time we got back the girl and the dress were gone." Mary replied, her brow creased in worry.
"We'll see what we can find out." Kenna offered. Mary grabbed her arm with a thankful look and gave her a nod.
By the time the ladies had finished questioning everyone they could, the sun was close to setting. They found Mary in the main hall talking to Francis and waited for her to get done talking to him. Eventually Mary joined her ladies. "We've talked to the last of the servants and the guards." Aylee started.
"No one posted outside any of our doors or in that corridor saw someone leave your room with a body or a dying girl." Lola finished.
"And they would have." Kenna added.
"They must have used the passageway." Mary thought out loud.
"On an even more troubling note, where were your guards?" Maisie asked with a worried look. "This is the second time they have failed to give you the protection the king and queen promised."
"I don't know." Mary answered with a shake of her head. "Thank you for your help." she told them then headed to her chambers with Aylee at her side.
"I'm going to turn in for the night." Greer told her friends.
"Me too." Lola added, following Greer up the stairs.
"I'm going to let some noblemen best me at chess." Kenna told Maisie. "Would you like to join me?"
"No, thank you. I think I'll wait for Bash." Maisie replied so she and Kenna went their separate ways.
After grabbing a book to read Maisie took a seat in the main hall and awaited Bash's return. It was getting late and she was about to turn in for the night when Bash came into the main hallway along with two guards who carried a sheet covered body on a plank of wood. As Maisie walked over she noticed the sheet was soaked with blood where his neck would be under the thin cloth. "Oh no…" she gasped and placed her hand on her chest as she tore her eyes off Colin to look up at Bash.
He placed his hand on the small of her back in an attempt to comfort her. "I'm sorry I didn't get to him in time."
Maisie gave him a look that told him she appreciated what he's done all the same. "I think it was a given that he would have died either way. Maybe this was a mixed blessing." Maisie sighed, making Bash give her a curious look. "Lola's been hurt and is going to be hurt again. Now she won't have to sit and wait another moment wondering what his fate will be. At least this way it's done quickly with a sharp blade."
"Perhaps you're right." Bash agreed, understanding what she meant. "You might want to alert Lola and Mary to the news now to make sure Lola has time to say her goodbyes before morning comes and Colin is sent back to Scotland."
Maisie gave him a nod then went to her friends as Bash suggested.
Able to see Colin's body, Lola found the closure she was missing the first time she was told he was dead. But while Colin's quick death saved Lola some pain, it cost Mary useful information that would fill in some blanks as to who was truly behind his attack on her.