No one has to know

Chapter 26

The next morning, Mary found Catherine in the hall and pulled her aside.

"I think I can get you back in to see Bash again, but as before you'll have to be quick about it." She said, entering the room.

"It's alright. I saw him. The damn fool decided to drag himself in here last night." She said with an irritated tone, but also trying to suppress a small smile at the thought.

"So you told him?" She asked.

"We didn't get a chance to say much. All he knows is that I'm pregnant and you're aware of the situation." she said.

"So you conveniently left out the part about you being sick."

"Not for the reason you think. I'm not trying to hide it from him. I just thought I should wait until he was healed. I didn't want to upset him in that condition. He looked awful as it was." She explained.

"I suppose that makes sense. How'd he take the news?"

"He was...he was happy. As happy as if we'd planned it. As if we were just any normal couple starting a life together." She said with her expression playing between blissfully pleased and scared to death.

The next few days were hell for both Bash and Catherine. Francis made sure Bash was looked after day and night, making it nearly impossible for Bash to see Catherine. They were able to communicate a small bit through Mary, but she was running out of reasons to be checking in on him.

Finally, Bash couldn't take it anymore and insisted Francis let him leave the infirmary. Francis didn't like the idea, but acquiesced knowing if didn't let him go he'd try to sneak out anyway. His first thought was to run straight to Catherine, but then he had another idea...

Meanwhile, Catherine was busy with the seamstress, getting some new dresses made. She thought it would be better than having the old ones tailored. That way she wouldn't have to try to explain why none of them fit all of the sudden. Just as she was finishing up Mary entered.

"Thank you Priscilla. That'll be all." She said waiving her off.

"I should have them done by the end of the week Majesty." She bowed her head as she left. Mary waited until the seamstress was out of the room before speaking.

"I was thinking, you've been couped up inside for weeks, perhaps you should get a little fresh air. What do you say you come take a walk with me. A slow leisurely walk of course. No trying to over do it." Mary suggested.

"I'm not much in the mood for walks Mary. I'm not much in the mood for anything. All this waiting for Bash to be allowed out of bed, has my stomach all twisted in knots." She explained.

"All the more reason to go clear your head. All that worrying can't be good for the baby." She urged "Oh, come on." Mary gave her a sort of pouty type face. Catherine sighed.

"Oh alright, I'll go. Just stop looking at me like that." She said in an irritated tone, while walking toward the door. Mary grinned mischievously as she turned to follow.

Mary and Catherine were walking arm and arm through the garden and had been talking for awhile. Mary had been filling her in on some of the things she'd missed because of her frequent absences at events as of late.

"...and then the Duke offered to give him a thousand ducats just to stop talking." Mary was just finishing a story when Catherine realized how far they'd walked. They'd moved far beyond the garden now. She pulled Mary to a halt.

"You've lured me out here under false pretenses, haven't you. Where on earth are you taking me?" She asked, suddenly extremely suspicious of her very sneaky daughter-in-law.