Capt. Sterling

Sterling tethered Noir and Chestnut securely and turned to watch as couple approached and went to speak with wife.

He was about to kiss his wife, her confirmation almost as if he were hearing the news for the first time. Sterling could not recall that Aurore had told him already and he had so wished to hear such joyful news from her lips in a more fulfilling manner, but her distraction at brother's movements, now robbed him of such. He released her, after slight peck upon forehead and went to collect the horses.

As brother-in-law made way to rear door, Sterling dismounted then helped Aurore down to earth. Rough hands came to gently brush long stray locks back from her face which he gently took into keeping. "Are ye certain?" he asked, looking deep into olive pools. "About being with child?"

Sabastian bit down on the anger which threatened to call reckoning for every injustice witnessed or experienced in his four and twenty years. Sterling's elbow was gripped with vice like qualities and direction was indicated further from Sister's earshot. "So that is the way of it, then? Where is the condemning proof?! Do you not have a vessel in which freedom might be gained. A craft to slip the night and into memory?" Normal good nature dissipated into something else, "And you thought it wise to choose the path you have?" He chuckled with disbelief, "Mon Dieu....and you call me Pratt?" Glance was stolen to where Sibling remained, "Tres vien, Monsieur..." Hand was extended palm up to receive document. Sterling jerked arm free. "Aye that I do, a ship that will take me far from here. A ship that is so well known that I will not be free in any port. A ship SHE will not set foot upon. So where does that leave us? As to condemning proof...," he faltered. "I only know what I have been told... " voice fell to whisper. "I cannot recall any of what has passed." He moved closer to Devareaux, eyes ready to shed tears. "My God, I love your sister and now I find she is carrying my child...the choice to deceive her was forced upon me. Do you truly think for one minute that she is the only one in pain?"

Sterling looked down at what was cautiously placed in hold. Eyes lowered. More words, formed with difficulty as a numbness spread within him. "It was no lie," he whispered. "She and the child are better off without the likes of me. She does not need to be shackled to a condemned man. Do you really think they will not find me out and come for me? What then? She does not deserve such a stain, nor does the child. I came today for one thing only... to see her one last time."

Broad grin at amusing notion, was quickly vanquished as he slowly stepped forward realizing the trouble he was now causing...yet again, hand still extended before him. "Take my hand Chere. Touch me. See that I am flesh and blood just as yerself. And even if I weren't do you think that I could ever truly harm you?" As words spoken, something shattered inside him. "It were a clumsy attempt gone amiss to try and protect a murdering fool from the gallows. I.. I," he stopped and straightened, hand dropping uselessly back to side. "I did not mean to frighten you." He looked to elder sibbling and with shake of head turned to leave for openness of road.

" Iesus Salvator Hominum!" Words escaped lips as fear gripped him at Aurore's strange turn. He leaned down to her, hand held outward in offering of help. "Devareaux! Come quickly yer sister is not well at all! I need a hand! Damnation man what are ye waiting for?!" He stepped forward but Aurore only retreated. "Chere what is wrong?"

"Here, Chere, let me help you," Sterling said gathering long curls and gently pulling them back beyond slender shoulder. Arm wrapped protectively about waist as he steadied her. "Let it go. Do not try to fight it. It will pass." His eyes closed as he held her, body only too content to feel the warmth of her once again. As she bent forward, other hand came to craddle forehead and give her a place to lean and balance. "It will pass," he whispered hoping to encourage her as best he could.

"Damnation!" Sterling exclaimed, finally giving Chestnut his head. Lunging forward, animal flew into gallop, easily closing the distance before Devareaux could so much as look up. Sterling flinging leg over horse's neck, dismounted. "Bloody useless Pratt," he growled, glaring at other man. "At least watch my horse!" He added making his way quickly into the field. "Aurore!"

Hearing too keen as to be a curse at times. Now was one of those times, as Sterling sat upon Chestnut unwilling to calm. He watched as brother and sister dismounted and Aurore made for the cover of the near field. It had not been the first time he had known the sound of morning sickness and he watched, waiting for brother-in-law to help poor unfortunate. Instead Sabastian only began helpless pacing back and forth, accomplishing nothing but kicking up dust and dirtying boots. "Go on ye great fool," Sterling muttered under breath. "Go and help her!"

Quickly reins were collected properly as brother-in-law flew passed like madman trying to escape demons from hell. Chestnut, now side stepping in attempt to give chase, was held back. For an instant, all that seemed needed was to sit and wait for Noir to dissappear around distant bend and then Chestnut could be coaxed back to tranquil ride. But then... Noir skidded to a stop and Rabbit found himself forced to reason which way was best suited for next bolt.

Chestnut head raised, ears twitching backward, as feet began anxious dance. Blond head raised, roused from catnap and curse was freely uttered. "DAMNATION but you are trying my patience!"

Chestnut continued along Port road, jogging along at easy pace. Sterling, seemingly, only along for the ride, paid no attention to mount or surroundings. Hand remained firmly affixed to left side and soon, tired from thinking, blond head began to nod.

Pace was soon slowed to walk as Sterling admitted he was only fooling himself into thinking he could manage a return run. Unconsciously hand remained firmly planted against pain in side. As he walked along he did not try to hide the fact that he was once again on Devareaux land. Let them put a ball between his eyes, he did not care. A child. Another boy. And what of daughter? Feet stopped as mind began to turn once more. And he hated it, wishing he could just turn it off. "Bu' it don matter, do it. You got no clue an' so busy wit yer own concern to be givin' anyone benefi' of de doubt." He knew all too well that he was selfish, but was it so wrong to be concerned for daughter as well as any other offspring? Next step progressed in halting manner. "He be jus' fine in'na fam'ly trade an' tha' Frenchie migh' jus' raise him right...." Temper began slow burn. He would be damned if Lambert would take claim and give name to his own even if wife did not truly care. And there was the rub that he would not accept. Was it wrong, selfish, to desire one to love him in return with more than just mere words? "You be makin' fool choices, boy" He stopped, hands coming up to press against tightly closed eyes. "You about to make a bigger mistake den de one you already have." Aye, he mumbled under his breath. He had made a mistake, one that had broken his heart. "Dat chil' do jus' fine wit'out you." Startled, he wheeled about and stepped back, looking to where loud crashing of undergrowth pulled him back from deep thought. Low nicker was offered as Chestnut happy to find companion, seemed to trot up from no where. Reins were quickly collected and velvet nose came up to nuzzle owner. "I shall name thee Judas, shall I?" Sterling grumbled. No further rebuke was given, instead forehead came to rest against soft jaw for a moment before stirrup was grasped and Sterling swung himself back up into saddle. "Dat chil' do jus' fine wit'out you." Gently, pat was applied to sleek neck. Then Chestnut all too eagerly obliged when urged forward back toward port. As mount's thoughts focused on comfortable stall and food, master's thoughts wondered if Nelly Greene would truly be waiting.

He halted, foot paused in step. Moment passed before he took another step forward, then suddenly rabbit turned, vaulted back over fence and raced back to cottage.

"You are right," he said, climbing to his feet. "Like the other, this one will be better off without me." He shook his head. "My God, she did not even tell me." He looked across at woman, unseeing. "Thank ye for ... for your help." And he began walking back to port.

Sterling remained prone in the grass only half listening to the woman prattle on. Half hearted laugh was offered. "Not wish to know my own son? I have made the best arrangements I can possibly make without taking him away from Mistress McKinney." His tone quieted. "I could not do that to Lilly, it would kill her. Besides what does my son have to do with...." he sat up suddenly. "She houses... you mean Aurore? She is with child? Mine?!"

Sterling propped himself up slightly on elbows. Eyeing woman he laughed. "Raise? Aurore? No one raises her, she's a mind of her own," voice faltered. "One that does not include me." He flopped back down in the cool grass. "Lambert is welcome to her. Let him give her his heart and see how she crushes it."

He looked at woman quizzically, a thousand questions passing rapidly through thought. He lay back against the grass and chose rather to ignore them. “Things say ye? What difference would any of it make?” He closed his eyes, hand pressed once again to side, and wished silently the woman would go away.

It would have been easy to lean into the comfort of her hand, like grateful dog that had just been spared a beating. And, although former words merely caused confusion, later and squeeze of hand settled upon him with ease. "I need to sit... rest a bit," he stammered. "I am grateful for your assistance."

"Then you shall let me pass? And quickly," Sterling said. "There is one still after me."

As fence was cleared, Sterling halted abruptly never expecting to find Her in his path. He looked a moment at the hand that was held out toward him and then to smiling face, then twisted as sharp pain lanced through innards. "This is not Devareaux land. Stand aside and let me pass," he whipsered. He knew not what else to say. All arguements that he had wished to press upon her were suddenly lost. Only heart ached more than lungs or side.

Each second held in stillness seemed an eternity in passing. Slowly turn was made and fence approached once again from different, and hopefully unexpected angle. Body froze as twig cracked from behind him, Frenchman was only as good as forest would permit. Soon fence was within easy reach and even more to benefit, foreign voices drew closer. Lungs had calmed a bit and were quickly given their fill and one last time prey bolted for freedom.

Sterling continued on, fence to others' land growing closer with each step and, he now reasoned all too visible to one in pursuit as well. He slowed, ducking under heavy cover for a moment. Knowing all too well he could not remain put for long, he removed waistcoat and cautiously hooked garment to nearest tree. From hunter's view just perhaps they would be mistaken for hunted. Slowly he inched back the way he had come before he could turn once more for fence, forcing himself every few feet to stop and be still. Hearing far keener than most, but blinded in one eye, caused him to listen to the surrounding area's sounds. And then he heard what he had hoped for. There were others beyond the fence. From sound of accents they were not Le Cour.

There was no time for backward glances though instict urged him to do so. Instead he kept to the thickest of the treeline, skirting obstacles in his path, hand pressed hard to side. In far off distance, fence appeared. Craving second wind, Sterling forced extra from himself and distance between prey and hunter was slightly increased.