Chapter 37

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 Milady 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 will 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. "You. are. a. Monster." 

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.

*****

"Are you sure this is what you want, Tempest?"

She looked up from the floor and into her father’s searching gaze. She dared not hesitate. For Justin's and her child's sake. She had to hide the truth.

Her throat raw from crying at night, swallowed back the sob threatening to peel from her mouth.

The heat of her mother’s gaze could be felt at a distance, peering at her over her father’s shoulders.

"Yes, Papa," she braced herself and faced him feigning a happy confident smile; praying that her shattered heart and soul weren't evident her eyes.

It pained her deeply that she had to deceive him, but she had no choice.

"Very well then," His stern yet soft eyes lowered to their now joined hands.

"If that is what you wish," he smiled. But she saw no light in his eyes. She assured him with a tight smile of her own. He kept her face in his hands and slowly his eyes filled with tears.

"You are no longer my little girl running barefoot and wild. You are a woman now, finally to be wed." he chuckled with a sniffle.

Tempest gripped his wrist; her heart thundered, and tears welled up in her eyes. "I am still your little girl, Papa. That will never change."

He smiled through his watery gaze then pulled her close and suddenly all the pieces to Tempest heart shattered.

More tears spilled over as she wept in his embrace. He pulled away then and held her at arm's length, then gently lifted his palm to cup her cheek. He wiped away her tears then he lifted his head to place a leveled gaze on Haines.

Tempest followed his gaze and stepped aside to let her father approach him. 

"Lieutenant?" he breathed. His voice was gruff and low.

"Although I am not convinced that my daughter is ready for marriage, I do know it would be wrong of me to deny her and impede this union. Therefore, the both of you have my blessing."

And just as those words were said, her world fell apart as she knew it. If it weren't for her mother's now stronghold on her as she began to sway, she would have dropped to the floor.

"Now, now! My dear. We should be celebrating," her mother crooned loudly. 

Tempest stood mute to the spot as she heard her mother order one of the servants to serve them champagne for a toast.

Like a marionette, she smiled falsely and with a numbness went along with the farce of the celebration. Finally, when the Lieutenant and her father stepped away to speak more privately about the nuptials, she exhaled a deep breath.

"There. That wasn't so bad was it?" Her mother whispered at her side.

Tempest lowered her gaze. Her lips thinned and for a blinding moment filled with so much rage, she stepped away determined to tell her father. But then the painful grip of a hand and fingernails digging into her arm stopped her.

"You have everything to lose if you whisper a word of this to anyone," her mother warned.

Furiously she pulled away from her mother's unforgiving hold and turned to face her. 

Ruthless, cold eyes held her gaze.

"Why?" she began. "Why do you treat me so? What have I done to earn your hate?"

Her mother laughed.

"Hate you?" she took a sip of her champagne with careless grace.

" I don't hate you," she stepped closer. "I simply abhor you," she said.

Tempest couldn't believe her ears.

"My life was ruined the moment you came into it." Her mother said between clenched teeth.

Tempest remained mute and shocked by her mother's words.

"The only way to finally be rid of you was to see you married off," she added.

"But then you just had to get involved with that pirate and risk bringing scandal and shame to this family." she hissed with disdain.

Tempest shook her head unable to speak.

"Now, I have to clean up this mess you made and accept your marriage to this Lieutenant and with shame as well as he's accepting you with another man's child." she stepped closer. Tempest stepped back and the chair caught the back of her knees and she slumped down in the Velvet chair with a soft sob.

"You have no idea how much of an embarrassment this is to me, and I will be so glad that you and that pirate, along with this joke of a husband and that child, will finally be out of my life for good."

She lowered her head and dashed away her tears.

" I'm pregnant with Justin's child. Let me be with him. We will leave and never come back," she pleaded.

"You will never have to hear from me again," she whispered.

"No one has to know." Her hopeful gaze lifted to her mother's. But just as quickly disappeared as her mother scoffed.

"Of course they will know. Your name will be the talk of the day."

"Please mother, I am carrying your granddaughter or grandson," she wept softly.

She bent over her and roughly lifted Tempest's chin up. "I refuse to acknowledge that abomination in your womb, that Pirate's bastard child will be nothing to me." she squeezed her chin in tightly as Tempest tried to pull away.

"If you want a peaceful life with that... child growing in your womb, you will do as I say." she yanked Tempest up from the chair and roughly began wiping away her tears from her cheek.

"Now you are going to marry Haines. He is going to take you far away from here. You're going to have your child and live a life beside your husband," she chucked Tempest's chin up that trembled furiously.

Flashing blue-green eyes, filled with an equal amount of defiant heat and rage peered into hers.

"You will do this for the sake of your precious pirate and his child. Am I clear?" she finished with a sparkling smile all in time for Tempest to accept her words bitterly with defeat and turned to face the two men that had returned.

~~~~~

2 weeks later...

The marriage ceremony had been quaint and simple. Tears filled her eyes when her voice trembled with devastation as she whispered the sour lies of her vows. The stark truth that she would never see Justin again burned her mind and her chest ached deeply at the thought.

The moment the vicar announced them as man and wife, Lieutenant Haines ground his mouth down on hers with punishing force; it left her appalled and his blatant hunger for her sent liquid ice through her veins.

The whole ordeal took a toll on her that left her weak and distraught; that she could not escape it all and was helpless to fight. By the week's end to her utter horror after the bans had been posted. Word of her condition was mentioned to her father and after some hasty arrangements, a Vicar was paid heavily to perform the marriage vows after three weeks without question.