She was sick for the fifth morning in a row. She knelt gasping over a chamber pot in violent spasms of nausea. Now exhausted and weak, she trembled standing to her feet and made her way back to bed then climbing in to rest on the cool sheets. Why on earth does she feel this way? Had she contracted some disease? She had never been this ill before. This sudden sickness was beginning to worry her.

A light sudden tap at her door pulled her away from her thoughts. The cheerful timid face of her maidservant appeared. "I bring you morning tea, mistress," she announced as she slowly entered.

Tempest smiled at her weakly; biting down on her trembling lips. She watched the maidservant carefully holding a tray as she entered with a piping hot cup of tea, crumpets, her favorite, and jam. Once more, nausea and fragility took her as she apologized then turned away trying to fight the bile slowly rising to her throat.

"Are you alright, mistress?" she asked, concern in soft brown eyes. Tempest sat up slowly against her pillows with a deep breath; still feeling a bit shaky.

"I'm fine, I've just been a little nauseous lately. It's nothing to worry about." Tempest reached tentatively for the cup of tea.

"But of course, mistress," she said shyly turning away to leave her in peace to drink her tea while she searched for a dress.

"A baby is nothing to worry about," she sighed smiling and placing Tempest's gown on the edge of the bed. "I am sure Lieutenant Haines will be delighted with the news," she said dreamily.

Tempest paused abruptly holding the delicate china in her now unsteady hands. "Baby?" Tempest whispered.

"Why yes," She smiled coming closer to gently pull away the cup from Tempest's now shaky hands and placing it on the tray. "Is that not why he is here? I overheard M'lady Fontaine and the Lieutenant going over the terms for your marriage."

"The Lieutenant?" Tempest paled. Her hand crept to her stomach, still firm and flat beneath her night rail. "Oh, forgive me mistress if I am out of bounds, I figured you knew. I came to bring you your breakfast and help you dress. They await you in the study." She barely heard the maids rambling as she thought back quickly and blanched. She had completely lost track of her monthly course.

"Mistress," she called to her holding up her dress. Tempest faces her with a look of dread and fear. Her emotions had dissolved rapidly from happiness, worry, and then fear. Her mother will be furious. Slowly the maid urged her off the bed and helped her dress. She turned Tempest around and shuffled her quickly towards her vanity where she sat mute and staring off into the distance while the maid talked with a majestic air of excitement about her marriage to the Lieutenant.

In no time, she was out of her room and making it down the steps towards her father's study. it seemed like the longest walk she has ever taken. As she reached the door, she knocked lightly with shaking hands.

"Come in," her mother ordered.

Pushing the door open, she stepped inside and quietly closes it behind her. She walks to stand in front of her mother sitting on a settee, but she looks up at the lieutenant who stood behind her mother with a victorious hungry gaze. Her mother sits emotionless, prim, and straight then offers for her to sit. Tempest hesitated. In truth, she wanted to run. But rigidly she lowers herself into the chair without protest. Her chest ached as her heart plummeted and thumped heavily in her chest.

When her mother lifts her gaze to hers, her skin prickles at the look in her eyes. She held that calm, calculating gaze she has come to know as her demise. Her mother sighs suddenly then stands. She begins to pace.

"I have called you here to discuss something of importance, Tempest," she stops before her.

"As you may know, Lieutenant Haines has asked for your hand. And I have accepted," she says without emotion, without reaction, without any feelings whatsoever.

Her blood drained from her face. It's true then. Her breathing becomes shallow and labored.

Tempest utters a quivering and hushed, "Why?"

Her mother takes a moment and exchanges a look with Haines. "I am aware," she pauses with a frown. "I am aware that you were held captive, against your will by that murdering brigand, The Black Scourge," she paused again placing her hands above her chest. feigning the image of a mother's hurt and concern. "And in that time your virtue has been compromised."

She gasps. Heat creeps up Tempest's cheeks and she lowers her gaze. What is the sense of denying it now? She is with Justin's child. She will not be able to hide that. Her mother began again.

"There is a time, Tempest, in a person's life where sacrifices must be made for the greater good." she fixed a level gaze with her daughter.

"The Lieutenant owes a great deal to your father which he can never repay. Therefore, this is his sacrifice. To save you from disgrace, he makes it without complaint," Her eyes raise to his. His lips curve in an attempt at a smug smile.

The first of her tears fell. Her throat thick with emotion, she whispers, "I don't want to marry him, I want to marry Justin."

Her mother turns to face her gazing at her with dead eyes.

"He will be sent to the gallows for what he has done. The Lieutenant has his men searching for him as we speak."

The words are a slap to her face. They echoed over and over in a gripping, crushing pain. She lifts her fingers to cover her face as her body violently jerks with her sobs. But rather than comfort her, her mother throws more salt into the crevices of her wounded heart.

"It is a privilege, Tempest, to be married to a man such as the Lieutenant."

"I will not marry him," she blurted out with a low level of blooming confidence.

"You will," her mother stepped closer.

"But I don't love him," she weeps loudly.

"But you will grow to love him."

"I will never. nor will I ever marry him. I carry Justin's child. He will not let you get away with this," no longer able to control her emotions, sobs tore from her throat as her mother stepped forward and furiously slaps her. The force of the blow topples her to the floor. Her life was falling apart around her as she lay there crying and holding her flaming cheek.

The Lieutenant appears at her side and helps her to her feet. She pulls away violently from his hold and faces her mother. "Force me to marry him, and I will tell everyone that I willingly gave myself to him and I now carry his child." Her eyes flashed with the determined threat. But it quickly dimmed and fell away as the Lieutenant held her in place for her mother's slow approach.

"If you know what is good for you...and that bastard child, you will do as I say," her cold and intense gaze held hers.

She drew in a shaky gasp and caressed her belly protectively. She shook her head and tried to pull away from his hold but he tightened his grip on her arm.

"Now," her mother stepped closer, she slowly raised her palm to Tempest's cheek and looked at her with a stern gaze. Tempest turned her head away and stepped back refusing to be touched.

"I have given my consent. So you say yes immediately when he offers for your hand with your father."

She shook her head. She opened her mouth but no words could come out. Suddenly, she was turned to face him. "Considering the slight surprise that you are with child. The wedding could take place within a week or so, with a special license of course."

Emotions welled up in Tempest's chest as tears and the urge to scream ached in her throat. Pulling away from his hold, she shouted in a disgusted rage her refusal to marry him then turned to face her mother with equal fury. "

Without another word, she fled the study. Her thoughts raced, spinning, twirling along with her pounding heart that thrummed in her chest and her ears like drums. Shaky and weak, she ran with what little steps she could towards her room; clutching her stomach.

This cannot be happening to her. she panted with a breathless sob. Oh, God! She needed to tell Justin.

She kept on climbing the stairs, her strength waning until she reached her room, finally collapsing on her bed in tears with a wave of despair and finally darkness passing over her.