Note: I'm really from Norway, so you have to forgive me if there are some mistakes here. Waiting for feedback!

William Tavington rode up the dusty road together with his men. It was dark, and the only thing that lit up the road was torches carried by some of the riders. They got closer and closer to a large brick house that was surrounded by a huge forest. Some of the Dragoons were already there, standing outside the house together with some people.

Tavington stopped next to them.

"Is this the owner?" he asked one of his men. The man nodded.

"Yes Sir"

Tavington stared at the crowd of terrified people in front of him. He pushed the horse closer to them, making his moves violently. The crowd backed away slightly.

"You have given aid to some of the rebels in this area" he began with his most chilling voice. "I want to know their whereabouts"

No one spoke.

"Very well. You had your chance," he said. Just as he was about to turn the horse he saw someone inside the house. A face appeared in one of the windows, but it quickly disappeared.

"Take them away," he said, not taking his eyes away from the window. The crowd started moving.

Tavington dismounted his horse and started walking towards the house. Three of his men followed him quietly.

The house was cold and dark. Tavington climbed the stairs as quiet as he could. He'd seen the face in one of the windows upstairs, and he was eager to find out who it was.

Victoria was death scared. The man who had just arrived had seen her. She was sure of it. And know he was on his way upstairs. Tiny drops of sweat trickled down her forehead. In a desperate attempt to hide she lay down on the floor and crawled under the bed. She lay still, listening to the footsteps downstairs. She'd forgotten to close the door to the room.

Tavington walked down the hall and saw that one of the doors was ajar. He smiled triumphantly and moved towards it, his men still behind him. They crossed the threshold.

"Doesn't seem like there's anyone her, Sir" said one of the men loudly.

Tavington grinned.

"I think you're right" he sighed.

Victoria's heart took a great leap upwards. Maybe he hadn't seen her after all. She saw the man's boots walk towards the door.

"Bordon" he said suddenly. "Shut the door"

Victoria's heart stopped for a brief moment. The door closed and she definitely heard the sound of a gun being cocked.

Tavington walked towards the bed, and knelt down. There, under the bed he saw two eyes, full of fear. Victoria tried to get away, but he was quicker. His strong hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her brutally out from her shelter. He still clutched the gun tightly.

They looked at each other for a few seconds. Victoria had lost her breath. She was unable to move or speak.

"Name" he demanded.

She stared at him. Even if it was dark, she could see his light blue eyes clearer than anything else. They blazed dangerously.

"Answer me!" his voice hardened.

"Victoria" she whispered.

"And why did you hide...Victoria?" he asked surveying her more closely. She was indeed very pretty. Her long dark brown hair, that reached her to her waist, hung loosely around her face. Her eyes were blue.

She didn't answer. She had no idea why she hid at all.

"Instinct?" she suggested in a hushed voice.

The Colonel laughed scornfully.

"Instinct, you say? Do you live here?"

She nodded.

The Colonel tightened his grip around her wrist.

"When I ask you a question I expect you to answer me"

"Yes Sir" she said at last.

"Good. Now.... a few questions. Where are the rebels?"

"I don't know Sir," she said quickly.

The rebels had passed by but she knew nothing else.

"I'm only a maid. I don't know anything about them"

"Only a maid, you say? Are you quite sure? Haven't you offered them some services besides bringing them their tea?" his taunting voice penetrated her head.

She looked at him for a while. Then she spat and hit him right by his left eye.

He laughed haughtily, turned away and wiped the spit off his face. When he turned he slapped her with an amazing force across her face. Victoria stumbled and fell to the floor. She put one hand up against her face. Blood came pouring out her nose. Tears appeared in her eyes.

"Why should you get offended by that...? Whore...?" he added maliciously.

"I'm not a whore," she said silently still holding a hand on her chin.

"Then I will make you one" Tavington spat.

Her put the gun away and grabbed a knife instead. Victoria gasped when she saw it.

"Don't fret, my dear," he said. "I could never hurt you"

A nasty grin spread across his face.

He knelt down and held her firmly by the wrists. Then he used the knife to slice her bodice open. The buttons landed one the floor. Her breasts were revealed. He hiked up her skirt and started slicing her undergarments.

"Lay still" he said warningly. "Or I might cut you"

Victoria had no other choice than to stay still. She was cold and she couldn't help it that her whole body shivered. Her lip trembled when her most private area was exposed to him.

He started tearing off his breeches. When he was done he lay down on top of her.

"If you're not a whore...." He whispered into her ear. "Then you must be a virgin?"

Victoria whimpered feebly. She felt his manhood on her thigh. She shivered.

Then, with massive force, he entered her. Victoria screamed piercingly. The pain was worse than any pain she'd ever experienced before. Tavington forced himself into her. He groaned deeply. Victoria cried noisily. She tried to fight him off.

He slapped her once more.

"Don't make it worse" he said menacingly.

It seemed to last for an eternity. Victoria cried silently, she came and Tavington did too. His warm seed was released.

Tavington stood up and used her skirt to clean himself.

"Bordon!" he called.

It took a few seconds and then Bordon rushed in. He looked at Victoria, lying still on the floor, crying whilst she tried to get the blood off from her face.

"Take her with you to the camp"

"How?" Bordon asked. "We haven't got a carriage"

The Colonel grinned sneeringly.

"Tie her to the horse, then" he put on his gloves, helmet and marched out of the room.

Bordon went over to Victoria and grabbed her by the arm. She didn't dare to do any resistance.

Outside she was tied to Bordon's horse. The rope dug painfully into her already bruised wrists. Then they started moving.

It took over an hour before they reached the camp. Victoria could barely walk. Her body ached, especially the soreness in her crotch. When they arrived at the camp it was nearly daylight. The men looked at her with both suspicious and cruel eyes. She tried to ignore them.

Bordon left her still tied to the horse, outside one of the tents.

"Stay here" he said.

Some of the men came over to her.

"Tavington's new toy" they told each other. One of them, a tall man walked nonchalantly towards her. "I'd like to try out this one" he went on, trying to touch her. Victoria's hands were bound, but she could still use her legs. She aimed and kicked the man right in his stomach. He used a couple of seconds to catch his breath before he stormed toward her. He slapped her across her face. She fell.

The man had a knife that he used to slice the bonds apart. Victoria couldn't find the strength to get up. The man started hiking up her skirt. She tried to kick him but missed. He slapped her once more. She screamed out loud.

Suddenly there were several men around her, cheering loudly. Out of the blue Tavington rushed into the crowd, he pulled the gun up and fired twice. Two of his men fell. They were dead. Silence followed. Victoria lay still on the ground, blood coming from her lip and nose now.

"If anyone as much as puts one finger on her" he said in a voice of deadly calm. "Then may god have mercy on you soul"

He walked towards her and put one arm around her neck and the other one under her knees. Then he lifted her up and carried her away from the crowd. She hung like a motionless doll in his arms.

Tavington carried her into a tiny house where he put her down on a bed. Then he went over to a table, picked up a towel, dipped it in water and made an attempt to wash away the blood on Victoria's face. She pushed him away. He made another attempt, but again she pushed him backwards. He stood in front of her fuming for a while. She didn't look up to meet his eyes. Suddenly he threw the towel in her face.

She picked it up with trembling hands and started cleaning her face.

Tavington went over to his desk and poured himself some wine.

"Why did you bring me here?" Victoria dared to ask. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Instinct" he replied stylishly. "I just couldn't leave you. Not after what we shared"

Victoria blushed with embarrassment.

Tavington had left her. Victoria sat on his bed holding her arms around her knees. Tears dripped down on her dress. Suddenly the door flung open, and the colonel came striding in.

"Still awake?" he asked.

She didn't answer. She was tired but didn't dare to go to sleep. Her eyes were sore and red.

"You look awful, I must say" he complained and turned a mirror so that she could she her reflection. She was not a pretty sight anymore that was true. Her face was swollen and red, even blue some places. Her dress was torn; it didn't look like a dress anymore. Her hair was a terrible mess. But the inside was worse.

"Come here" he said. She lingered. God knows what he had on his mind. He had already raped her, what could be worse than that? Reluctantly she got up and walked slowly towards him. Her body ached for every step she took. He guided her to stand in front of the mirror. He stood right behind her. Neither of them said anything. They just glared at each other for a while.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she asked quietly.

He sighed heavily and smiled.

"What -- exactly?" he asked.

"First you raped me, then you tied me to a horse and now..." her voice died and she started crying again. She lowered her head, not wanting to look at him. He reached out and put his hand under her chin. Then he lifted her head up so that their eyes met again. He put one hand on her stomach. She shivered.

"Why did you hide?" he asked restfully.

"Because I knew that you were coming. Sooner or later" she whispered. "People had told me about you. The Butcher" she added a bit more boldly.

"Scared?" he whispered with an ice-cold voice.

"Yes" she breathed.

He chuckled softly and stroked her chin.

"Are you tired?" he asked, quite unexpectedly.

Victoria nodded. He gave her a reproachful glare.

"Yes. Sir" she added and blushed.

"Then go to sleep," he said. He grabbed his jacket and marched out of the house.

Victoria woke up with a start. She had slept for a long time. But it was still dark.

"A bath, miss?"

She jumped in alarm. A servant stood by the door holding a towel.

Victoria was grateful to sink into the hot water. The aching stopped a bit and her muscles relaxed.

When she was done she walked to the bedroom and sat down in front of the mirror. Tavington's brush was neatly placed on the desk. She reached out and snatched it. She brushed her damp curly hair. Her face was less swollen today. She glanced around in the room. There was no one there. She let the towel drop and she sat, with her chest exposed by the mirror.

"That's better"

Tavington stepped out from nowhere. Victoria let out a terrified gasp. He came closer and surveyed the bruises he'd caused her. He put his left hand on her shoulder.

"Clean -- and perhaps in a better mood?" he asked. She found his voice scary. It was like he was trying to be nice, but there was something in his chilling tone of voice that made her doubt.

"Will you let me go?" she asked, fearing the answer.

"I think not" he replied.

There was a moment of silence. Victoria thought about something she'd been questioning herself for a while.

"Why did you save me?" she asked and looked at him. "From that man... outside"

"Don't flatter yourself," he said coldly. "I had no intension saving you" he turned away.

Was he telling her the truth?

"My men need to be treated with a hard hand. That's the only reason why I did it"

Victoria pulled up the towel and covered her chest. Tavington was still standing with his back at her.

"Then..." she began, but didn't dare to continue. He turned around to face her. His face was like a question mark.

"Well...?" he said in a low whisper.

"Why did you rape me?" she asked, not looking at him. "Haven't you got enough women around here?" she added a bit more loudly and bravely.

He laughed unemotionally

"I don't want to miss a thing," he whispered into her ear.

He went over to his desk and started unbuttoning his red jacket. Victoria surveyed his reflection in the mirror. She realized how neatly he did everything. So elegantly and directly. He untied the bond that was around his hair. The long dark hair hung loosely over his shoulders. All the stories people had told her the past months about him, were only about how horrible he was. Victoria couldn't help seeing the truth in those stories but she couldn't help finding him attractive at the same time. She could see his muscles under the white linen shirt.

"Colonel?" she said suddenly. He looked at her in the mirror. "What's going to happen to me?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you ask too many questions?" he remarked. His voice was actually a bit milder than usual.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Let us just say that I will finish what I started and then...." He stopped and took a dramatic pause. "I'll let my men do the rest"

The colonel went into the bathroom and left a terrified Victoria in front of the mirror.

She had to leave. There wasn't much time, but she had to go now, before he could hurt her more. He was most likely having a bath. She had about ten or twenty minutes to get the hell away from the camp.

Tavington sunk into the warm water. He thought about Victoria. Silly little girl.... She probably had the worst imaginations about him. "The Butcher" that was what she'd called him, as many people had done before. Though, he did his best to scare her, he knew that for sure. Why had he raped her? He didn't even know the answer to that. And he certainly had no idea what was going to happen to her.

It proved not to be an easy task getting out. There were servants all over the place. And there were guards patrolling the area.

Victoria had put on a dress that had been given to her by one of the servants. Fortunately it was dark outside and harder to see for the guards. Victoria ran as fast as she could away from the camp. When she'd reached a big field she stopped to catch her breath.

The Colonel came out from the bathroom and looked around. She was gone.

"Bordon!!" he bellowed harshly. Bordon came in after a few seconds.

"Where's the girl?" Tavington demanded. "Where did she go?"

Tavington got his clothes on and mounted the horse. Five of his men followed him when he rode away with in a terrifying speed. He used the whip on the horse, trying to make it run faster.

Victoria had almost crossed the field when she heard angry voices and the sound of galloping horses. The blood rushed to her head. There was only one way to get away, and that was over a river right in the end of the field. She pulled her skirt up a little trying to run away.

Bordon spotted her.

"Sir! Over there!" he called. Tavington whipped the horse again.

Victoria realized that she couldn't get away from them. But still she started walking out into the river. The water was ice-cold. She gasped.

Tavington and his men reached her when she was standing with the water up to her thighs. Her lips trembled when Tavington dismounted and walked towards her.

"Come here" he said frostily. She didn't move towards him, but tried to get away instead.

"Victoria" his voice was colder than it had ever been. "Come here"

He stretched out a hand.

"You'll only hurt me," she said in an undertone

Tavington sighed. "I won't hurt you. Come on"

Unwillingly she moved towards him. She couldn't feel her legs anymore. She grasped his hand. He held her firmly. His eyes were cold. They walked towards the horses. Victoria collapsed on the ground, not able to stand anymore.

"Get up!" he said coolly.

"I can't walk," she gasped. She started crying.

"Get up, I said!"

Even the horses jumped a bit. Tavington looked at her with disgust. Out of the blue he grabbed the leather whip and whipped her across her chin. Victoria forced herself up in a standing position.

Then he lifted her up on the horses' back and they moved towards the camp again.

No one said anything when they returned. No one laughed nor spoke. Tavington carried her into his room. Tears flooded down her face. He pulled her clothes off. She didn't complain. She thought that he was going to rape her again but instead he led her into the bathroom where she sank into hot water.

The room was dark, but warm. Victoria felt better already. She lay in bed, alone. Tavington sat by his desk, surveying her. She looked at him. Even though it was dark she could see him.

He walked towards her and started undressing. Jacket, shirt and breeches. He climbed into bed. Victoria felt how warm he was. She was only wearing a cotton nightgown, no underwear. He lay still beside her. She felt the scent of man.

"Why did you run?" he asked.

She thought it was pretty obvious, and didn't answer. She felt him breathe heavily beside her.

He lit a candle.

"I have no intensions handing you over to my men, I was only joking with you," he whispered.

Victoria felt a great relief.

"I don't know if I can trust you," she said. "I'm death scared of you. You took something from me that I can never get back"

"Your virginity?" he asked a bit disrespectfully.

"No. My dignity" she replied smartly. She'd gotten some of her confidence back.

Tavington lay still for a while, thinking. Then he moved closer to her, running a hand up her thigh. He slowly lifted her soft nightgown upwards, his hand moving towards her bare sex. They said nothing; the room was dead quiet. Victoria had no idea why she didn't object to this. Tavington touched her sex gently. She whimpered slightly. His hand moved up to her stomach where it rested for a while. He rolled a bit over to his side.

"Come here" he said softly.

Victoria lingered for a moment before she slowly moved towards him. She straddled him carefully. Her nightgown hung down covering her hips. She felt his erection against her warm, wet sex. He held his knees up, to support her back. His hands gradually lifted her nightgown, revealing her. She allowed herself to sink onto his manhood. They gasped at the same time. His hands were on her hips as she slowly started pushing herself up and down on his length. She held both of her hands on the mattress, right beside his head. Her hair fell right beside his ears.

Tavington couldn't help to notice how firm and soft her skin felt. He'd not realized that when he'd ravished her the night they first met. His hands simply rested on her round soft hips. Her breath quickened, and so did his. He lifted his head to meet her face, her lips. They kissed and their lips lingered on each other. He moved his hands onto her back, holding her firmly. Finally she came. The muscles inside her twitched and he climaxed too. He fell back onto the soft pillows. She sat on top of him for a while, just looking at him. He surveyed her with his sparkling blue eyes. Her expression was hard to figure out. Was she happy? Was she sad? He couldn't make it out.

Victoria rolled off him and lay down on her side.

"Now what? Will you pass me over to your men?" she dared to ask. It had been in the back of her mind for a while now.

Tavington chuckled.

"I was not serious about that," he explained one more time to reassure her.

Victoria felt both anger and relief at the same time.

"If you hadn't said that you would, then I wouldn't have run" she remarked.

"No?" he sounded unconvinced. "I think you would have. You still want to" he added sternly.

She avoided his cold stare. He, however, laid his hand on her face, forcing her to look at him. "What do you want?" he asked.

She hadn't prepared any answer for such an unexpected question. Was it up to her now suddenly?

They said nothing more but fell fast asleep.

"Victoria!" Tavington's voice called for her. "Get dressed," he commanded shortly.

She lingered. The room was cold and the bed was warm. She wanted to stay.

"Why?" she asked sleepily. "It's so cold"

"I don't care" he began in a chilly voice. "Now; get up"

Victoria looked at the horsewhip lying on the desk behind him. She remembered what had happened the last time she'd refused to get up.

It was now two weeks since they'd first met, but Tavington not been with her ever since the last time they'd slept together. And now he was back.

Victoria sighed and got up. The Colonel seemed angry about something. She didn't dare to ask what was wrong.

She was just about to pull of her nightgown when it happened. She ran out into the bathroom and threw up. Tavington stood, perplexed in the bedroom.

Victoria shuddered after throwing up. She sat down on the floor, slowly. Tavington came into the bathroom, looking at her. The expression on his face didn't seem much like compassion, but more like anger.

"Come on!" he urged. "The General has arranged some kind of ball for his men... and it would be rude not to come" he studied his hands.

Victoria had never seen such a glorious inside of a house. Everything was clean; everything that glittered was probably gold.

"Colonel Tavington" a man called. He was tall, had watery narrow eyes and looked in very posh. He introduced himself as O'Hara. Then Cornwallis appeared. He looked a bit more relaxed, but there was something dangerous glittering in the corner of his eyes. Victoria couldn't figure out if she liked him. But he smiled warmly.

They went through the house and out the balcony door. The backyard was full of people, dressed in their finest clothes. They all looked very noble.

Victoria eyed Tavington every now and then. He didn't seem very comfortable. Suddenly he glanced at her. He nodded his head shortly in the direction of the house. Then he started walking towards it.

Victoria excused herself and went after Tavington. She walked carefully into the house, looking around for him. He was standing at the top of the stairs, smiling a rather cold smile. Like usual. Victoria had gotten used to this smile.

"What are you doing?" she whispered when she started climbing the stairs. He put one finger up to his lips, and then he took her hand and led her down the hall.

They went into a room, apparently some type of living room, full of pretty expensive things.

Tavington closed the door and turned to Victoria.

"Bored?" he asked and started unbuttoning his jacket. He had a sly smile.

"A bit" she answered. "What are you doing?"

"I thought you would have guessed that by now" he said reproachfully and took of his boots.

Victoria blushed furiously.

"Come here"

She took a few steps towards him. He grabbed both of her hands and led her over to the couch.

"What if we get caught?" she whispered tensely as he carefully made her lay down on the couch.

He didn't answer her.

Suddenly he was on top of her, fumbling with his breeches. Victoria felt his erection against her body.

"Getting quite used to this, are we?" he asked mockingly and smiled at her. She blushed.

He lifted up her dress and removed her undergarments. She had placed her hands on his shoulders. Then he slipped into her and they both groaned with pleasure. Victoria moved her hands to his stomach, touching the tight muscles. They kissed passionately and Tavington pushed his manhood into her over and over again. He held one hand behind her head and the other was touching her all over her body. She arched her hips, catching his rhythm. They came almost at the same time; she was first. The orgasm made her put her legs tightly around his back. He spilt his seed inside her. Then they lay together, panting.

"Maybe we should go down now," she suggested carefully after a while.

They got dressed properly and left the room to join the others.

"Why did you bring me?"

Victoria looked at Tavington when they had dinner the next day. It was dark outside.

"No special reason" he replied. "I just wanted to show Cornwallis that there is something good in me. Or -- that's what I want him to believe" he added, smiling mysteriously.

"Why do you think he would believe that if you brought me?" she asked shrewdly.

Tavington had, for one times sake, no juicy counterattack at her question.

"But you had a good time, I believe?" he asked. "Cornwallis' couch is surely a magnificent piece of furniture, don't you think?"

Victoria went scarlet. Tavington smiled satisfied.

"Why aren't you eating?" he asked suddenly.

Victoria had hoped that he wouldn't notice. She was afraid to eat; everything made her throw up. But she didn't dare to tell him, he'd seemed so angry when she threw up the last time.

"I'm not hungry," she said unconvincingly. He arched an eyebrow at her.

"Suit yourself," he muttered. "By the way..." he began. "I'll be gone for a while, I have to leave tonight"

"How long?" Victoria asked.

"I now you'll miss me terribly" he answered playfully. "I'll be gone for maybe a month or two"

That night he left, leaving Victoria behind, very confused.

Two months later....

Victoria looked at herself in the mirror. Her stomach had started swelling. She was pregnant.

It wasn't so weird, after all, she'd slept with someone, but what would that someone say?

She'd painfully experienced Tavington's rage several times, and she couldn't think that a man like him could be a good father.

She studied herself for a while, half fearing, and half admiring the life that was growing inside her. On the other hand, she was death scared. A man had raped one of the maids she'd worked with before. When she found out that she was with child, the shame had been too much for her. She killed herself and unfortunately Victoria was the one who found her, hanging from the ceiling in the cellar.

Victoria had no idea what to do.

Tavington came back. It was dark and cold; winter was on its way. He handed the horse over to the stable boy and went inside. He opened the door carefully and lit a few candles. Victoria was fast asleep on the bed, covered in several blankets. Her long dark hair was spread out on the pillows. Tavington removed his gloves and helmet. Then he walked slowly towards her. He reached out a frosty hand, dug it under the blankets and placed it on Victoria's swelling stomach. She woke up, feeling his freezing hand. They looked at each other, both petrified. His hand was on her abdomen for a few more seconds, and then he withdrew it quickly.

"I..." she began. "I was going to tell you...."

She sat up, ignoring the fact that the room was icy.

Tavington's blue eyes were now nothing but to slits on his face. They were glowing with a mixture of rage and fear.

"I'm sorry" Victoria whispered and covered herself with a blanket. She looked down at her knees.

He stood there, looking at her for a while. Then he sat down on the bed. She started crying silently into the blanket.

"I'm so scared" she managed to say.

He put a hand on her shoulder.

The next morning he was gone.

"The Colonel had to leave," said one of the servants. "Awful business, apparently. I don't know when he'll be back. Not soon, that's all I know"

Victoria sat by the window, staring at the sky. One hand rested on her stomach. Maybe he'd left her for good? And did she care?

Of course, she was carrying his child. Surprisingly, she didn't feel ashamed, like the maid who killed herself. There was no one here who knew her very well, so she didn't bother.

Winter came, and Tavington returned. Victoria sat by the window, her hand resting on her stomach, which had grown a lot since he left.

She saw him riding up to the camp. She couldn't help smiling a bit. He looked stunning, with his red coat and everything. It was getting dark now.

Tavington opened the door and came in, taking off his helmet and gloves. Victoria surveyed him apprehensively. He looked a bit angry. Then he sat down in a chair by the desk and looked at her for the first time in many weeks.

"Come here" he said.

She was starting to get annoyed by that particular phrase. 'Come here' that was what he always said. And she always did what he told her to do.

She obeyed and walked towards him.

"What is it? Sir?" she asked worriedly.

"You know...." He said putting both hands on her belly. "I think it's time you start calling me by my first name"

She blushed.

"I don't know what your first name is" she muttered, embarrassed.

He sighed.

"To me you've always been Tavington, Sir or..." she hesitated. "The Butcher"

"William" he said. "That's my name"

Then he got up quickly. Victoria backed away a bit.

"How are you?" he asked putting his gun and sword on a table on the other side of the room.

"Fine" she replied, a bit taken aback by his question.

She wanted too avoid his gaze. It was like she felt that he looked right through her when he stared at her. He made her lose her breath.

Then he walked towards her, slowly.

"Take your clothes off," he demanded suddenly.

Victoria knew that she wasn't supposed to ask why. She did what she was told to do.

He sat down and opened his breeches. Victoria face reddened, as she was completely naked in front of him. But she saw that he was admiring her stomach. She went over to him and straddled him, sinking down on his length. This way was better, because she was pregnant. William held his hands on her back, touching her hair. They kissed each other passionately. She was ashamed to even admit it to herself, but she had definitely missed this when he was gone. William seemed to be thinking the same thing. After a few minutes they climaxed. She sat on his lap, resting her head on his left shoulder.

"Can you feel that?" she asked suddenly.

"Well, you are still sitting on top of me" he answered.

She hit him playfully.

"No -- give me your hand, William" she ordered. He arched an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking down. "Please?"

He stretched out a hand. She put it on her stomach, so that he could feel the baby kicking.

"Can you feel it?" she repeated.

He didn't answer, just held his hand on her abdomen.

She put her head on his shoulder, still feeling the kicking.

Winter wouldn't let go.

Victoria felt that the baby was almost ready to come. She feared giving birth more than anything else. She'd helped one woman give birth and even looking at it was painful. She remembered all the screaming, all the tears.

Victoria wondered about the sex. William probably wanted a boy, so that he could teach him horseback riding and how to handle a gun and a sword. Victoria didn't mind, but would William be pleased if it was a girl?

She didn't have the guts to ask him, but whenever he spoke about the bay, he always referred to it as "he". Fortunately, he didn't speak very often about their situation and the baby.

The house was they stayed bore no particular marks, indicating that a baby was going to live there. Everything was as it had always been.

"William!"

Victoria felt that something happened. It was in the middle of the night, and there was a terrible storm. It felt as though the whole house was shaking.

She felt a tiny contraction and tried to grasp William's arm. He wasn't there. Victoria screamed as another contraction came, this one a bit stronger.

One of the servants came in.

"Where's William?" Victoria asked in alarm.

"He had to leave" the servant replied. "Shall I call for a doctor, Miss?"

Victoria nodded, grasping the pillows firmly.

The doctor, however, never came. They had a doctor at the camp but he wasn't there at the moment. The servants did their best, fetching towels and warm water. One of the elderly maids was going to help her give birth.

Victoria's worst moment had arrived. She'd feared this for a long time now and it was far worse than what she'd expected. It felt as though she was going to be torn open by the contractions. Then it was time to start pushing.

She fell back on the pillows.

"I can't do this!" she cried.

The maid told her that she could see the head. Victoria pushed even harder, using all her strength. Finally, after at least two hours she heard the wonderful sound of a baby crying.

Victoria panted hard and lay back, putting a hand to her forehead. It was sweaty and warm.

"It's a girl," said the maid.

Victoria opened her eyes in terror.

The storm had settled when Victoria woke up the next morning. She lay in bed for a while. William had not yet returned. She pushed the blankets aside and walked towards the window. There was no sign of him outside either. Soft snow fell slowly towards the ground. Victoria turned around and went over to the cot where the baby was; fast asleep. She smiled silently. The baby opened her eyes and cried a bit.

"Shhhh...." Victoria cooed and picked her up, holding her close.

She sat down on the bed, fetched a blanket and pulled her nightgown up, revealing her breasts. The baby seemed to know what to do. She sucked the nipple and rested one hand on the breast.

Suddenly Victoria heard some voices. William's voice was definitely one of them; the other belonged to a servant. The door opened and William came in. He stopped abruptly and stared at Victoria and the baby. Victoria didn't know what to say. She smiled uncertainly as she fumbled with her daughter's hand.

"It's a girl," she said.

William's expression was hard to figure out. His eyes were cold, but then again, they were always that. She ignored it.

The baby finished.

"Do you want to hold her?"

William closed the door and put his helmet and gloves on the desk. Then he went into the bathroom, leaving Victoria and the baby alone.

She woke up with a start.

William was sitting, in semi darkness, holding his daughter. Victoria said nothing, just admired them together.

"She is beautiful," William said suddenly.

"I thought you wanted a boy," Victoria muttered apprehensively.

William said nothing.

"What do you want to call her?" she asked.

"Got any ideas?"

Victoria shrugged.

"Maybe something that starts with a V or a W"

"Weronica?" William suggested.

Victoria thought about it.

"All right. Weronica it is"

Three years later...

Victoria sat outside their house, holding a baby in her arms. His name was Victor.

William and Weronica were coming towards her up the road. Weronica sat on William's arm. She smiled happily as they came up the stairs.

They'd left the children in their maids' possession.

William and Victoria went for a walk. It was a cool, clear night. It was autumn. Suddenly they reached an old, brick house, surrounded by a large forest...

Victoria stopped dead. It was the house where she'd lived before. It was the house where William had....

She walked towards it, faster and faster. She opened the door. There was no one inside. William followed her.

Victoria climbed the stairs, walked down the hall and into the room where she'd hidden. She stood, petrified by the window, looking out. William entered the room. Victoria turned around to face him. Her eyes were full of tears.

"Come here Victoria," he said affectionately.

She walked slowly to him, trembling. He put his arms around her, allowing her to cry on his shoulder.

She could remember everything so vividly; the screams, the fear.

"I'm sorry"

The end.

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