No one has to know

Chapter 21

The next morning breakfast went very similar to dinner the previous night. Diane was becoming very suspicious due to Catherine's behavior. She decided to have her guard follow Catherine around to see what she was up to. Catherine went about her daily routine completely unaware of the guard trailing her.

Midway through the day, Catherine was walking down a corridor when a familiar arm reached out and yanked her out of the hall. It was Bash pulling her into his room.

"Bash! What on earth? I thought we discussed your not randomly kidnapping me." She scolded.

"I'm sorry. And I know we said we shouldn't be alone until my mother leaves, but I just had to show you something. It came this morning." He said. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. She unfolded it and began reading it.

"It's your annulment." She said.

"It's official. I'm free." He said smiling. She smiled back and he hugged her. "I feel this tremendous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I have to admit, I had been feeling a bit guilty, us being together while I was still wed. But now, I needn't feel guilt anymore, and I am yours fully and completely." He finished while stroking her cheek. She returned the gesture and they leaned in to kiss. It was only intended to be just that, but the heat between them began to grow as they deepened the kiss. Almost subconsciously, they began moving toward the bed. They fell onto it, hands roaming each others bodies.

Meanwhile, Diane was standing at Henry's tomb, when her guard barged in.

"I'm sorry to disturb you my lady, but there's something you should know." He said.

Back in Bash's room, he and Catherine were getting hot and heavy. He kissed her collarbone as his hand found its way to her breast. Catherine let slip a low moan and grabbed a fistful of Bash's hair. This in turn only made his kisses more feverish. He pulled her leg up to his hip and slid his hand up her leg under her skirts to her core. He ran his thumb across first and then let his fingers enter her. Catherine reached for his belt, and just as it came undone, Bash's door flew open. Bash clamored to close his pants back up and Catherine began yanking her dress down.

"Bash! Can you please explain why...!" She stopped, her hand flew to cover her mouth. "Bash. I didn't realize..." she then noticed just whom Bash had been on top of. Her eyes glazed over and she swallowed hard. "Wha...what in God's name...you can't be...what are you..." she started to breath difficultly and turned to walk out.

"Mother, wait. You can't..." Bash started to speak as he grabbed her arm to stop her, but mid sentence he let go of his belt and his pants opened back up, revealing himself. He let go of her arm to pull them closed again. Diane made a disgusted face and looked away.

"Just when I thought this was awkward." He said sarcastically as he buckled his belt. "I know this looks bad, but I can't let you leave until you promise you won't tell anyone." He whispered closing the door. Catherine had composed herself and was standing now.

"Pro...promise. I find you...indisposed...with her. And your demanding promises from me? Is this some sort of sick joke?" She said turning to Catherine. "And you, I suppose this is your revenge on me then?"

"I assure you Diane. This is neither joke nor revenge, although I'll admit, it is a nice bonus." Catherine hissed.

"I don't know what makes you think I'd help cover up this monstrosity, but I'm going to tell Francis at once." Diane said glaring at her.

"No, you wont." Catherine said as-a-matter-of-fact.

"And why wouldn't I?" She demanded.

"Because, by telling Francis you aim to hurt me, but if he were to get angry, whom do you think he will take the brunt of his anger out on? Me? Or Bash?. If you care about your son in the slightest, you wont say a word. If you do, then we'll be sure to know exactly what kind of person you really are." She warned. Diane looked back at Bash.

"So I'm just supposed to keep your sick, taudry affair a secret for you? She was your father's wife for god sakes." She started to raise her voice.

"I know how it looks, and we had our reservations at the beginning as well, but mother, I'm going to be honest with you..." he put an arm around Catherine "I love her. We are happy, and I've decided that's all that matters."

"Lo...love her. How could you possibly love that witch?" She could barely get the words out.

"Witch? You..." Catherine started to step forward but Bash held her back.

"Don't you dare speak to her that way. You have no right." He said.

"Bash." She began.

"No Mother, no more excuses, no more lies, no more trying to gloss over what you did. You stole her life and she didn't deserve any of it. She's not the bad one here, you are. Now your my mother and I love you, but I will not sit back and watch you try to ruin the rest of her life as well. You won't say anything to Francis and you aren't going to wait until morning to leave. Your going to leave now, and if you even think about coming back or interfering in our life ever again you will not only lose me but I will make sure you pay for it dearly." He said. Diane was taken aback and oddly so was Catherine, for different reasons of course.

"You can't be serious. You...your just doing this because you feel sorry for her. You feel some ridiculous obligation to right what you think are your father's wrongs." She said.

"You couldn't be more wrong. I am with her because she is the most amazing person I have ever met, and I have never been happier than when I'm with her." He said. Catherine squeezed his hand.

"I won't put you in danger by telling anyone, but I can't let you continue this madness...Bash..." Diane pleaded.

"There's nothing you can do to make me walk away from her." He said. "Go. Now. Before I have to throw you out."

"I...you..." she looked back and fourth between them and then landed her gaze back on Bash. "Will I ever see you again?"

"I don't know. But if you do...it won't be within these walls." He said. She looked at them both once more, but couldn't find any more words to fight back with. She turned on her heels and stormed out. Catherine looked up at Bash's now troubled face and cupped his cheek.

"Bash, I'm so sorry you had to..." she began.

"No. No. Never be sorry. It had to be done. Someone needed to put her in her place." He said placing his hands on her shoulders.

"I think you're the one whose amazing. All the things you have given up...for me." She said.

"Your worth every second of it." He said and kissed her.

"I should go before we end up caught a second time." She said. "I'll see you later I'm assuming?"

"Where else would I be?" He said. She squeezed his hand one more time before checking the hall and then leaving.