Anger, resentment, and rage ate at Tempest like a disease during the weeks since Justin betrayed her and handed her back over to Haines.

Now, confined in the well-furnished home of the Lieutenant in Mayfair, Tempest had become restless and disconsolate.

Her apparent pregnancy and obvious disinterest for attending anything alongside Haines left her with sedate, lonely walks or carriage rides in the park with her servants in attendance: Colette and Sophie.

It was an enjoyment that quickly paled for someone who only months ago basked in the warm sun of the tropics.

For several weeks as her waistline thickened more and the arrival of her child was getting closer, she managed to forcefully amuse herself with selecting clothing for her unborn child.

On other days, she moped about the house in Haines's presence; vainly acknowledging the help and mainly keeping to herself. It was obvious to him that the lowest of her spirits was due to Justin and he had no patience with it.

He had made it clear on many occasions since he brought her to his home that they were husband and wife, and that she would act accordingly. Tempest on the other hand was indifferent to what Haines wanted and not once but twice had to fend for herself and fight off his advances.

He had realized too late that his threats of 'tracking down the pirate, then strapping him to a whipping post and beating him within an inch of his life,' did not move her. So, he furiously tried forcing himself on her.

But to no avail, he would lose.

With him, she would not hold her tongue or submit. She despised him and did not care who knew it.

At 5 months pregnant...

She would still find herself fighting off his advances. His obsessed cravings for her had become ridiculous. But, then finally one night, , she was readily prepared. As she lay still and motionless beneath him, in his drunken stupor he had mistaken her pale and listless appearance for surrender.

Eagerly, he kissed and caressed her while she inwardly recoiled with revulsion as he anxiously lifted her chemise then bared her flesh. With impatient need and desire, his erection prodded against her intimate spot.

But before he could get any further, the cold sharp blade of a dagger was pressed to his throat.

Carefully, he pulled away staring at the gleaming blade and murderous glint in her eyes.

Realization cleared his lustful, drunken haze immediately and the quaint stirring of fear in his gaze satisfied her greatly as she followed him off the bed with sure steps, despite her frailness.

"Get out!" She spat furiously.

With a curse, he angrily backed away towards the door and he stepped over the threshold then Tempest slammed it shut in his face. She turned away on shaky legs and climbed back into bed, sure and content that Haine's would not be back.

Suddenly, she realized that the flutterings of trapped butterflies in her womb were not due to nerves. But, in fact, they were the movements of her child. Dawning cleared that moment in her tired mind that in a couple of months, she will have her child in her arms.

She swore to herself that, despite Justin's betrayal, she would love their child with every ounce of her being.

She noticed that the days were becoming achingly slow with only weeks nearing to the arrival of her child.

Her father filled with concern, consulted with her mother endlessly on the matter and ordered that Tempest spend the remainder of her pregnancy in their home. He was becoming alarmed with the paleness, loss of weight, and her uncharacteristic quietness.

Her days there with them were no different.

In her father's absence during the day, while he was away on his daily work, she lay huddled in bed with her curtains drawn with the solace of her daydreams of Justin.

When she closed her eyes it was so easy to see him. Feet braced wide apart on the Floating Vengeance's quarterdeck; sailing the open sea to an unknown part.

It gave her great rage and hurt to think of him pillaging and plundering weaker ships and spending his gold in taverns where he would be in the bed of some willing island beauty.

He was a heartless rogue that took advantage of her and left her knowing she was with his child. She dashed away a tear and refused to shed anymore for him.

For a long time, she lay in bed quietly enjoying the persistent movements of her child. The somber dark room matched her mood and she had no intentions of leaving the quiet space of her bedroom until the formal knock at the door had proved otherwise.

Resigned to the inevitable she sighed and slowly sat up against her pillows.

"Come in," she said.

Collette, her maid entered with a warm smile that would brighten the lowest of spirits.

"Good Morning. I brought you some hot tea, mistress," she smiled placing the silver tray on the nightstand beside the bed.

Tempest reached for the teacup and took tentative sips of the warm brew as her maid gingerly went about her daily task of opening her curtains and laying out her day dresses to choose to wear. When Tempest expressed her wish to take her breakfast in her room the maid gave a faint smile and agreed.

Her mood lifted some as the day continued on and she noticed her mother had gone into town.

Tempest felt pleased and relieved.

Her mother as of late, in her father's presence, feigned concern and hovered near like a vulture; never straying from her side.

And in her father's absence, she barely mentions a word or looks at her.

After breakfast, she finally left her room and carefully made her way down the steps towards the rear entryway out into the garden.

She sat peacefully enjoying the bright day and colorful flowers around her.

Some time had passed before she began to feel the effects of her breakfast then the sleepy weight in her eyes and decided to retire to her room take a nap.

She stood with a sigh, rubbed her tight tingly legs, and walked back in the house towards the steps. Unfortunately, her retreat to her room was ill-timed.

Haines was standing in the entryway being helped out of his riding coat by Peterman her Butler.

Not wanting to deal with him, she quickly turned away and began to leave but she was unsuccessful.

"Good morning, wife," he drawled with a menacing tone, strolling towards her.

She watched as he paused before her and held her gaze with instigating interest before she curtly responded to his greeting then turned away to continue up the steps.

The roughness of his large hand curled around her upper arm and stopped her.

"Where are we going in such a hurry?" his voice grated warmly on her ear.

"For a nap." her haughty tight response only spurred him on.

"I see," he whispered.

"Maybe, I can accompany you?" he drawled caressing her arms.

His seductive plea was hardly lost on her.

"No thank you. I prefer to be alone," the flippant reply barely suppressed the bitterness in her tone.

He spun her around with his harsh grip. Anger flared in his eyes.

"Don't tell me you're still pining for that bastard pirate that abandoned you?"

"And if I am? What is it to you?"

He roughly held her close. He spoke fiercely. His breath was hot on her cheeks.

"I've been nothing but patient with your sulking. You can fool everyone else with your meekness. But I know that beneath this mouse-like façade lays something aching to be free."

He pulled her even closer.

"A depravity like none other and I will have it." He whispered.

She bit her lip so hard in her effort not to cry before him, that it bled.

"This estrangement and coldness is going to end and it is going to end now."

"Only if you force me," she retorted.

"Come now, wife," he looked at her, "It will only be a matter of time before you give into your whorish nature. I am sure of it." he smiled at her with daunting interest.

"Don't delude yourself. I will never," she spat furiously.

With fiendish delight, he chuckled.

"We will see. Once you welp you're bastard..."

Outrage sparked from her eyes with clenched fists and she whirled on him.

"My child is not a bastard." she seethed.

She was a spitfire and he was deliberate with his barbs; enjoying the wild dangerous look in her eyes.

"I'm beginning to see how you managed to attract the pirate," he hissed with a provocative grin.

"I like this savageness in you, wife," he quickly pulled her close and locked his lips onto hers with a ravenous possession.

His hot mouth and body crushed hers with raw hunger.

Horrified and infuriated, she pummeled his chest and fought in his hold then bit his lip. With a curse, he roughly shoved her away.

With breathless shock, she drew back her hand and slapped him hard.

Dizzy with the adrenaline rush and perversely pleased, she held the dangerous flash of rage in his eyes. He caught her around the neck and tightened his grip then drew her even closer. His mouth contorted furiously.

"Don't you ever..."

Savagely she shoved him away.

"What?.... you spawn of Satan," she blurted out with a sob as she clawed at his hands and out of his hold.

Suddenly, a sharp pain took her midsection. She doubled over and gasped. A gush of something wet and warm rushed down her legs.

She sagged against the banister and looked down.

"Mistress!" Collette cried out; racing to her side after standing there motionless and witnessing their heated argument.

Tempest moaned and Collette turned furiously on the Lieutenant.

"See what you have done," she wept frantically.

She struggled to hold up Tempest as another wave of pain shot through her.

"The babe is not due for another month, you fiend! Your cruel ways brought on her labor early."

Haines paled.

"I didn't know... I didn't mean to..." Another spasm wrenched a blood-curdling scream from Tempest.

"Help me!" Collette panicked furiously in tears.

Haines nodded. His face turning sheet white with another scream that pierced his ears.

"I'm going to lift you," he said.

"Go to bloody hell!" Tempest managed to scream before another wave of pain hit her.

"Mistress, please!" Collette begged nervously holding on to her.

By then the decision was out of Tempests' hands as she was weak and wiped out from the pain.

Despite his callousness and unforgiving attitude, Haines lifted her with infinite care. Then walked with her swiftly to her bedroom. He lowered her gently to the bed then at Collette's urgent request, he left to summon the physician.

******

It was a difficult delivery that Tempest endured in agony. The piercing screams were unbearable; that it had the staff breaking out in a cold sweat.

Her mother, in tense annoyance with Tempest's piteous moans, demanded that she be given something to shut her up.

The low moans were bad enough but she could not take it.

"This serves you right for your wanton ways," she hissed at Tempest's side.

Oblivious to her mother's venomous words, Tempest was bordering delirium in her pain.

Unfortunately, the doctor that was sent for, was hours away. So it was down to her mother, Collette, and an old midwife from town.

Tempest was in labor for almost twenty-three hours before her anguished cries finally quieted down to breathless whimper and moans.

Then finally, with the little strength and lucidity left within her, she gave her final push and she was able to expel her baby from her womb.

In the haziness of her eyes, she could see the Midwife holding a tiny blood-covered baby in her arms.

Weak and pale, Tempest managed to lift her hands.

"My baby," she breathed.

Then before darkness closed around her, she heard the wailing cry of her child.

Then her eyes fluttered shut.

Here we go finally got this out of my head and onto paper then straight to your eyes...

Well, ye landlubbers tell me what ye think!!!