Married But Alone

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Mary wakes up as the warm sunlight touches her cheek; she was surprised that she wasn’t woken up by her son’s cry today. She reaches for her husband but was disappointed when she realized that he wasn’t there. He might have started his day early by meeting with his court advisers, he’s now King of France as Henry died because of a jousting accident nearly a month ago, a lot has happened since then and their family is busier than ever, they rarely get a morning that isn’t disturb by urgent matters of the state, her son James is now a year old and she is yet to tell Francis the great news. She lies on their bed for a few moments before getting up and putting on her robe.

Her servant entered a few seconds later “Your grace, may I be of service?”

“no thank you, but… have you seen my husband?” Mary asked the servant

“He went to the garden with James, your grace” she replied

“oh, thank you, you may leave” Mary said as the servant bowed her head before leaving

*castle grounds*

“There are my husband and son” Mary said while approaching Francis and her child

“Oh look James, your mother’s awake” Francis said as he passes his son to his wife

“did you sleep well, darling?” Francis added

“I did, but I was quite disappointed when I woke up and you weren’t by my side” Mary said as she touches Francis’ cheeks while holding James in her left hand

“I’m sorry, I just thought that it would be good for James to go outside, my mother said that early morning sunrays are good for our baby” Francis said caressing his son’s back. Mary leans to Francis and gives him a quick yet tender kiss on the lips, Francis can’t help but smile when they pull apart

“What was that for?” He said clearly delighted by his wife’s sweet gesture

“nothing… I’m just thankful that we get to share this morning together, with no one else present, just our little family” Mary said as James slowly tugs her long hair, his hands tangled with it

“I know darling, I’ve just been so busy lately and I don’t want to miss our son growing, I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since you gave birth to him—do you remember our sleepless nights when James was about a month old and he kept on crying all night long?” Francis said with a chuckle as he carefully removes his son’s hand that is tightly gripping Mary’s hair

Mary smiled as she relieved those memories, those were the times when being a parent was still a shock to both of them, they don’t just have to be responsible for their people but more importantly for their own child, but although they were both restless and stressed for the first few months, all their hardships were worth it when she looks at the child on her chest, his tiny brown curls now covers his forehead while his bright blue eyes stares at her playfully, he’s basically a little Francis except for the color of his hair, Mary adjusts him to her side as she slowly feels his weight, Catherine said he’s pretty heavy for a one year old baby and though he can now walk by himself, Mary still enjoys carrying him whenever they walk around the castle.