Mary never thought that she would ever say this but, Catherine's tonics worked like magic. Of course Mary hadn't used the ones that would be obvious to Francis, she didn't want her husband knowing that she had lost all hope of having a child naturally and had turned to his mother's assortment of tonics and rubs and herbs to help aid her in conceiving. Surprisingly it had worked. She would slip an herb in Francis' wine to help him have more possibility in impregnating her, and she would take herbs and tonics to aid in her stand point.
Regardless of what she used and how she managed to get her husband to do it without his knowing, Mary was finally pregnant. Of course they had been pregnant earlier in the year but Mary was very frustrated at her friend having her stepson, don't get her wrong she loved John, and of course the fight with Lola and the christening and coronation was very stressful on her seeing as she had to watch her husband be happy with another even if he didn't care for Lola in that way.
So even though Mary was happy she was pregnant, she was worried of losing the child. She hadn't told anyone, but she suspected that Kenna and Greer knew by her actions. Francis was so oblivious that he wouldn't be able to spot a rat unless it bit him. Of course Mary had skipped breakfast so she knew that someone would come and check up on her to make sure she was okay, but she tried her hardest to not go and empty her stomach right away.
"Mary? Are you alright? You weren't at breakfast and we worried." Francis said as he entered their bedroom to find her sitting on the balcony wrapped in her cardigan over her nightgown. She usually was already dressed and ready for the day, not usually still in her nightgown after breakfast. Francis must have thought it weird as he walked over and touched her shoulder.
"Mary? Love whats wrong?" He asked in a soft voice as he kissed her hair. "Nothing. I wasn't feeling well this morning. A small headache and a stomach ache was all. I skipped breakfast." Mary said. Francis chuckled. "I noticed. In fact, Lola was asking about you." Mary tensed. She loved Lola, she did, but to hear her name made Mary feel second best to her in the eyes of Francis.
Lola gave Francis a son when Mary couldn't and for that Mary was suffering for it. Francis seemed to notice her tensing and gripped her hand tightly. "I know that you and Lola are not the best of friends at the moment, I don't expect you to, but you don't have to fear. She can never replace you and John can never replace whatever children we have. Our children will have the throne." Francis assured her. Mary sighed and grabbed his hand.
"I don't worry about the throne. I know that John will not be before our children. But I feel betrayed by her. She knew I still loved you and knew of my reasoning behind marrying Bash. And she still slept with you, took advantage of you feeling as though I had left because our love was not strong enough." Mary said. She had laid her head on Francis' shoulder as he stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"And I still feel guilty. But we will get past it. We will have children and we can live the life we were meant to live." Francis whispered. Mary nodded and kissed Francs before he left for his Dauphin duties. Mary finally dressed into a red straight dress and began the search for her friends to tell them the news. She found Greer with Lord Castleroy and asked if she could borrow the blonde.
"Mary. What is it?" Greer asked. Mary held her hands and then pressed them to her abdomen which was covered by her corset. Greer smiled and laughed. "Really?" Mary nodded and the girls laughed and hugged. Greer and Kenna were always the ones to know first, before Francis. "We have to find Kenna." Greer said and they girls began to run through the castle to find Kenna.
They found her outside, watching some of the young kids playing with balls. "Kenna!" Mary yelled and Kenna turned, her face turning into a smile as soon as she saw the smile on her friends faces. "Mary's pregnant." Greer said. Kenna smiled and hugged the girls. "Have you told Francis?" Mary shook her head. "I do want to tell him but what if this baby turns out like the last time?" Mary asked.
Kenna put both her hands on Mary's shoulders. "It wont. You have to stop worrying. Enjoy your life with your husband and child."
#
It was at dinner that the news of Mary's pregnancy came out to the family. Catherine had called a family dinner, which consisted of Catherine, Henry, Claude, Charles, Little Henry, Kenna, Bash, Francis, and Mary. Of course Mary had told her mother-in-law the news and that she had used some of her tonics and herbs she had recommended the last time they talked of conceiving a child.
Mary simply sat next to Francis, already fearing that Catherine would say something. Kenna looked at Mary with a happy look and the girls contained their giggles. Catherine finally stood and tapped her fork on the side of her glass. "I have an announcement." Mary rolled her eyes and looked at Kenna, both girls knowing where this was going.
Mary simply tried to forget the fact that Catherine was about to out her secret. "Something exciting happened today. I don't have the privilege of saying this event but Mary does." All heads turned to Mary and she looked at Kenna. Kenna shrugged and made a motion saying to just say it.
Mary grasped hands with Francis and looked at him. "Well I learned a few days ago that I am with child." A cheer broke out among the family and Francis held his wife so close to him she thought she might pop.
At last Mary was having a child.
