The Captain of Kenswick Armies embraced his love as if it would be the last. He stared into her eyes and brushed his hand over her cheek. He had managed to sneak away from his camp to find her window once again. ?I would not miss this for all the gold in England,? he said. When he looked over her shoulder to the crib a lump grew in his throat. ?Is that...,? he trailed off as his eyes became misty.

?Yes,? she slipped her hand into his and led him towards the wooden basket filled with white linen. Slowly, over the rim of the crib, the baby girl came into view.

Davram took a deep awe struck breath. ?She is an angel,? he barely managed.

Cordealia slipped her hands beneath the swathed child and lifted her towards Davram. ?Here,? she carefully slipped the girl into his arms. ?Say hello to your daughter.? She laid a hand on his arm as she looked over the baby girl.

?She is perfect,? he whispered as he pushed the blanket around her down and away from her face. ?She looks like my father,? he chuckled.

?She looks like you my love,? she smiled up to him.

?What is her name??

?I have not picked one yet. I wanted to let you.?

He smiled down at the flexing lips as they frowned and smiled. ?Aubrianna?it was my mother?s name?Lynn?it is your middle name.?

?Oh it is beautiful. Aubrianna Lynn Kens-? She stopped immediately and gave him a pained look. ?I?m so sor-?

?Do not be sorry my love,? he carefully laid Aubrianna down in her crib. He turned and embraced Cordealia with all his being. ?She is ours no matter the name given to her. Just the knowledge of what we shared and what it has given us.?

Cordealia cried against his chest. She was so in love with this man and she knew he felt the same. Yet, they could never be together with the risk of being caught one of them if not both would be sentenced to death. Then who would insure Aubrianna?s proper up bringing? They would just have to sneak moments like these and make them last as long as possible.

Davram pulled Cordealia back and took her face into his hands. ?If I knew you were not sore from birthing our child I would take you here on the bed and love you like you so rightfully deserve.? He brushed the tears from her cheeks. ?Leave him,? he pleaded softly. ?Leave him and run away with me. We can hide in the village or?or leave these lands to find our own.?

Cordealia gave him a weary smile. ?Our daughter cannot be raised that way,? her voice was soft, yet strangely convincing. ?I cannot take the chance of us being found out and her suffer for it greatly.?

He sighed and turned her face up to his. ?As always you are right my love. How selfish of me to ask such a thing. I just want for us too.?

?I know but-?

Bashing on the door cut her short and made her heart drop to her stomach.

?Cordealia!? Howard shouted.

Cordealia cried out and scampered back as far as she could but her back came up fast against the door. She held her hands out to shield herself from another blow but Howard?s hand snaked around her wrist. He jerked her harshly to her feet and tossed to onto the bed.

Before Cordealia could react Howard was on top of her. He pinned her to the bed by sitting on her waist and clamping a hand around her neck. He hurriedly loosened his belt and pushed down his breeches. ?Your last memories will not be of him!? He growled and pushed her skirts up.

Cordealia thought nothing of what was happening. It was often that Howard angered and took her harshly in the bedroom, willingly or not, she just kept her eyes closed and pictured Davram. But when she heard ?last memories? her eyes flew open and she began pushing her feet into the bed. ?Ah,? she tried to speak but the grip he had around her neck was too much. Tears stung her eyes as she knew she was fighting for her life and possibly the life of her daughter.

?You have never bucked this much for me wife,? he laughed and forced open her legs. He enjoyed the fight; the rise of adrenaline gave his hormones a rush. He thrust his member into her wet sex and began roughly rocking his hips against hers. It did not take long, as it never did.

Cordealia watched, still fighting the man above her, never one she considered a true husband, as he pulled a knife from its sheath that was strapped to his chest. She heard him moan and felt his member enlarge as he began to reach his climax. Just as he growled with pleasure and she felt his warm seed spill within her the knife made a quick swipe just below the hand that held her down.

Cordealia closed her eyes and saw Davram holding Aubrianna as her body shook violently. Blood gushed from the gash across her throat, and she could hear the gurgles as she tried to speak. Her vision blurred but she could make out Howard, pulling himself from her and off the bed. Pulling on his clothes he left the room.

The jerking of the last bit of life in her stopped. And all was black.

Howard slammed the door and quickly stormed to the nursery. He flung it open and the nursemaid jumped, clutching the sleeping child closer.

?Her mother died in child birth! You are responsible for raising her properly. Do you understand?? He shouted harshly and without taking a breath.

Gloria nodded quickly. ?Aye m?lord.?

Howard stormed out.