It had been three days since the revelation. Master Franklin stood by the window of his chamber staring at nothing in particular. His mind was lost in thought. Even after all he had done he still felt empty. Incomplete. He found he could not function a day without the thought of Evangeline or his father. Between the two, Evangeline triumphed. He missed her so, even though he had been upset with her. The anger he felt for her had however lasted for only a few hours into the following morning and he greatly regretted his decision.

Turning, he stared at his mistress's nakedness as she slept. She was a beautiful redhead with green eyes and sensual lips. Her body was delicate and pleasing to his eyes. His eyes lowered to bump growing at her belly, she was with child. His child.

When Lady Sylvia Corbin had come to him the morning after Valencia had left, to inform him of her condition, he was joyful. This surprised her because she had expected him to ask her to terminate it seeing that he was about to wed. But Master Franklin did the opposite of it, asking that she move in with him. He had not set eyes on her for six months since he left for London, but he had no doubt in his mind that the growing foetus in her belly was his.

He did not have any further decisions yet but he first the need to have his unborn child and the mother close to him to better take care of them. Sylvia was a good woman, Franklin would give her that no doubt. Amongst all his six mistress's she was the most sensible. He had no problem wedding her and making her his wife in order to give his child his name even though he did not love the mother. He felt he could live with her because she was pleasant to be with.

However, his dilemma was with Evangeline. He could not tell if the upsetting feeling in his gut was guilt or his need for her. Moving to pull the bed cover over Sylvia's naked body, his fingers brushed against her swollen belly and this caused her to stir in her sleep and wake.

"I apologize. I was only trying to keep you warm". Franklin said to her.

Sylvia smiled brilliantly at him, pushing herself to a sitting position. She had been on love with Franklin for two years now and when she found out about her pregnancy seven months ago, she was ecstatic but she feared to reveal it to him. Once she was ready to tell him, he was gone, to London in a bid to find a bride.

"I can tell something is amiss. Are you having second thoughts about giving our unborn child your name?". She asked.

"No. No. Tis not that at all". Master Franklin huffed.

"I promise you I had no intention of trapping you. When I found out I was with child, it took me a month to decide whether or not to let you know. I was afraid. But then when I finally decided to tell you, you were gone". She said truthfully.

"I understand but this has nothing to do with you or the child. My mind is plagued with other matters". He told her, standing to walk away from her when Sylvia took hold of his arm to stop him.

"I know we might not be best of friends but you and I have known each other for two years, I am most certainly not trying to prey into your private matters but a problem shared is half solved". She told him.

Master Franklin smiled at her, seeing truth and wisdom in what she had said. He wondered if he should tell her the truth about him. Sighing, he got into bed next to her and she snuggled closer to him as he began to tell her everything that had happened a few days ago.

"May I dare to say that you did wrong your grace". She said quietly pushing away from him. "From what you tell me and from what the rumours have been in the market place, this Evangeline girl seems to be enduring a lot at the hands of your father because of her brother's betrayal".

"He is not my father!". He hissed.

"For give me I...".

"Tis fine. I just can not stomach the fact that a vile man such as he could be my father". He run a hand over his face and pulled her close.

"You are more alike than you think if you sit back and do nothing while you allow the poor girl to suffer at his hands. I have heard of what your father- the duke did to his betroth' mother after he found out she had betrayed him. Do you think he would show mercy on the poor lass for this little lie you told?".

Master Franklin realised that taking in breaths had suddenly become painful for him. He could not imagine what Evangeline was going through. He shut his eyes and sighed.

"I shall write to him to correct my mistakes". He decided. Then opened his eyes again.

Sylvia smiled at him, placing her hand on his chest and patting him gently. "This is a good decision". She assured him. "I know how difficult it must be for you to let go of the pain anger, but I also think you should forgive your father". She added.

"He was never there for me". Master Franklin grunted.

"He had no knowledge of your existence, Franklin".

"If he did, he would not have cared anyway". He stated stubbornly.

"If I had kept this news of my pregnancy from you until our child was grown and he became upset with you in this manner, how then would you feel?". She questioned him.

Franklin hated that she was right. Sylvia could have decided not to inform him of the child and taken care of him or her on her own. That was exactly what his mother did. Yes the duke had killed a man he thought was his father but they were both alike. The late Earl had arranged for his mistress to be killed and his mistress's son too. Both men had been wicked in their lifetime and Franklin did not wish to be as them.

He turned at looked at Sylvia. Indeed she was a sensible woman. "Perhaps it is time I let go of the pain and hatred inorder to clear my heart to be able to love my unborn child".

Sylvia's eyes glittered with this news. She was happy that the earl was finally going to forget his revenge and focus completely on their unborn child.

"Tis a good decision your grace". She nodded, kissing his cheek.

"Sylvia". He said her name, swallowing a lump that was forming in his throat. "I shall not lie to you. I feel no love towards you but I admire you greatly for your beauty and wisdom. I also find our conversations pleasant and fruitful". He sighed. "What I am trying to say is that, I do not wish that our child is born out of wedlock. Had I been here six months ago, things would have been different".

Sylvia looked away from him. Fearing what he was going to say to her

"Sylvia". He gently touched her face. "I am not promising you anything but I wish that you become my wife before the child is born".

Sylvia gasped. "I am full with a baby and might put to bed anytime. How-?".

"You have a month or two. I can have the priest come over and we can have a small ceremony. Later, after the child is born, we can have a grand wedding to your liking". He suggested.

"A small wedding is perfect!". Sylvia assured him.

"So you agree then?". He felt his heart burst with joy.

"Yes. On one condition". She looked away, knowing that he might refuse this.

"Name it".

"That your father must be present here".

********

Her wails could be heard even from outside the duke's estate. Her agonising cries piercing the ears of everyone who heard it as they went about their duties. The sharpness of her nails tore at his flesh as she fought him off her, but he was relentless, furious and merciless, slamming into her with a force she could not withstand. She crushed to the ground, trying to crawl away from him in the dirt before he yanked her back to his side, pushing himself into her again.

His neck, his face, his arms all received the wrath of her fingernails clawing and digging into him as she tried to pry from him. He grabbed hold of hands, placing them above her head as he held it in a death grip and continued his assault on her.

He desired to do this with someone else, in a more gentle manner but he had foolishly given her the option of leaving or staying with him. Unfortunately, she had chosen to leave him, putting him in a state of continuous rage.

It had been three days since his return from Milford. Before arriving at the Castor estate, Lord Lancelot had given Evangeline her freedom and she took it, scurrying out of the carriage like her behind was on fire. What did he expect?. The poor lass was frightened of him and he could tell she was glad he had given her her freedom.

Three days. Three days felt like an eternity to him without her, knowing that she was within his reach. Her beautiful brown hair, mesmerising green eyes and succulent body. Oh how he missed touching her. He wished he could take her but he did not wish to go back on his word. He was never going to force her against her will again. He could not bring himself to harm her anymore.

Mrs Clarkson had been right, he had fallen in love with Evangeline, unfortunately she did not fancy him in that right, else she would not have left him.

Focusing on the lass he lay upon, his rage increased. She was a traitor. All this time she knew exactly where Evangeline was yet she had kept it a secret. He hated her. Perhaps if she had told him the truth earlier, Evangeline would not have laid with his son.

His son!!!. He slapped her, growling angrily. How was he supposed to be happy with Evangeline knowing that she had been with his son. His own blood. He pulled out of the lass, grabbing her jaw tightly and shoving his cock into her mouth.

"This is what you wanted was it not?. Why then are you screaming?!. Laying with Philip for a few gold coins was not enough?. You wanted me too so now you have me, you little whore!". He forced his cock deeper down her throat not caring that she was gagging.

Ira's eyes welded with tears. How could she have been so stupid to think that the duke would never find out of her knowledge in Evangeline's disappearance. Now that her cousin Wendy had been reduced to a slave in New Bridge, she wondered if her fate would remain this way or get worse.

Ever since his arrival, Lord Lancelot would drag her out into the fields at the break of dawn and have his way with her. His anger surpassing that of a beast. He was rage fucking her and she had not felt such pain in her life.

Feeling the warm, salty liquid of his seeds run down her throat, she was grateful that today's torture had ended as the duke retrieved his cock from her mouth, slapping her as he did.

He looked upon her with disgust. As if she was a vile being. Ira had always been used to being called beautiful. Men fell at her feet and this made her proud. However, Evangeline seemed like her only competition so when the opportunity presented itself for her to get rid of the lass, she did, giving out information to Sir Philip of whatever happened in Milford upon Evangeline's arrival there, from what her cousin had told her.

Sir Philip was now dead and she knew her death was inevitable too. If the duke did not crack her head open one of these days, she would take her own life. She could no longer endure the pain, shame and humiliation.

"Send her back!". Lord Lancelot commanded his guards, who moved to drag a screaming Ira into the pit hole which had been dugged purposely for her.

Lord Lancelot made his way back to his chamber where his butler Alfred had just finished getting the footmen to draw a bath for the duke. He took off his clothes and disposed of it on the floor before making his way to the bath chamber to take his bath. He hissed at the pain the maid had caused him by digging her fingers into his flesh.

"That damn wench!". He spat. He was going to kill her, but first she would suffer at his hands.

Thoroughly, he washed himself, ensuring that he ridded himself of Ira's obnoxious scent. Then he got dressed and went into his office to work. He needed a new assistant and a foreman to supervise the workers on the fields. He took to writing to the counsel to ask for a qualified assistant and a foreman and hoped they would send him one soon.