-Karen-The next two days passed by uneventfully which I was happy about. Conor had drills with the soldiers each morning, so Joanne and Bart kept me company. Bart was educating both of us on what to expect with babies. This is going to be a ton of work! Who knew babies needed so much looking after? Well, I guess it makes sense since they can’t do anything ‘cept sleep and cry… And get diaper changes… Bart gave me a cube each day around lunch and it was not the best tasting thing I had eaten but I ate it without causing a scene. Every time I ate one Joanne would laugh at the look on my face. Conor and I spent each night talking about what we wanted to teach this child of ours. This baby was now the focus of most of our conversations. We knew that once our little pumpkin arrived we wouldn’t be sleeping much. Conor said if I wanted, he would hire a wet nurse to help me with the baby so that I could rest as much as possible. I told him I would have to think about it since I did want a fu
-Karen-“I had Roger sedate him for a little bit. I wondered why his food bill went down a fair bit for the last few weeks. Everything adds up now that we have questioned the doctor that Bart has been consulting.” A cruel smile crept on to his face. This just gets worse by the second. “We can’t leave any bruises on her, Michael. Your brother will lose his mind if she gets hurt. Especially since she is carrying his child.” Zachary instructed as he walked over to us. They are going to use me… There’s no mistake about it.“Unfortunately, we don’t have any good mistresses here right now; but we have needs that need to be accommodated. So, if you value your life and that of the baby in your belly, you will submit without a qualm or I will stomp that life out of you with no more effort than it took to execute your former Queen.” He paused a moment and then continued. “However, I’m so pissed off at Conor; I just might have that done anyway.” What?! “He’s been crossing several lines with his
-Bart-“Do you think she and the baby will be alright Bart?” The woman asked casting a glance back to Conor who was asleep on his stomach. She was dressed like a soldier and a short sword hung at her side. She was fairly tall and muscular for a woman. She looked almost identical to Conor and Michael, but her eyes were green, and her dark brown hair was long and wavy down to the middle of her back. “I would hate to see Conor lose his mind over this girl.”“I haven’t been able to examine her yet, Elsie. They just let her go about five minutes ago.” Bart replied as he pressed his stethoscope to Karen’s chest for about a minute. He then moved it down to her belly for another minute. “Well, I can hear the baby’s heartbeat… She doesn’t appear to have any physical injuries that I can see. But I’m fairly certain that she was forced into pleasing your father and his lusty generals…” Bart started doing a limited pelvic exam on Karen to make sure there were no obvious injuries. “She has to have
-Conor-Conor slowly stirred, rubbing his face and shaking his head. Ugh! My head is throbbing… My back is sore too but that was a lot of lashings I got dealt. “Brother! Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Elsie snapped angrily. Shut up. You’re going to make my migraine worse!“I guess I am… You here to beat me too Elsie?” Conor asked looking over at Elsie rather annoyed. I’m starting to hate every single person in my family. “You might as well jump on that train since Michael already got to me today. At least if you do, Bart is here to fix me up again.” Ugh… My head!“No. I came because I wanted to make sure you were okay. Bart did a great job fixing you up. You can barely tell that you were flogged…” Elsie paused as Conor shook his head. Thank you Bart… But what about Karen? “What? What’s wrong?” Elsie asked as Conor set his head back down. Kay, where is my sweet flower? I hope she and the baby are okay! Conor looked really depressed and nervous. “What have you heard about Karen? I
-Conor-“Are you serious? How do you know she wasn’t lying?” Conor asked narrowing his eyes at his father. She’s… A noble? My flower is a noble?! I mean, I love her no matter what but that’s so unexpected!Zachary handed him a small folded up paper scroll. “I am. I put it on the Empire. The woman even brought me this birth certificate showing her noble lineage is on her father’s side. I had the doctor Bart consults validate it. As it turns out, the father of Karen is the woman’s father-in-law. And I thought half of our noblewomen were whores…” Zachary explained with an amused laugh. So… What does this mean? “I told you, you could keep her as a servant, Conor. And I will admit I’ve been extremely furious with you for the last few months when I found out you started having feelings for her and then heard a few days ago that you got her pregnant.” Conor opened the scroll and it showed that ‘Lady Karen Anne Elizabeth of Mazifik was born on the third day of Marama at the Bashten House in t
-Karen-I woke immediately as I felt a jolt of lightning surge through me. I screamed from the pain. “Why did you do that?!” Ouch! That really hurt! I looked over and saw a black-haired woman with violet eyes, about my height, weight and body build, wearing a black dress and cloak. “Who are you?!” I snapped angrily as I pulled my hand away from her. What the hell?! The resemblance was uncanny. She could have been my twin easily.The woman scoffed. “Really? You have no idea?” She asked with a mean grin, looking down her nose at me. “You can’t be that stupid.” Is she my mother? “I know they gave you a basic education but I never thought anyone would be that dumb.”“No, I don’t! And I certainly don’t like how you chose to wake me up! You’re quite rude, you know!” I snapped angrily. I rubbed my belly and decided to stand up and face this woman. “Get out right now! You aren’t welcome here.” Is it really her?She stepped up to me without a bit of fear in eyes. Is she about to challenge me?
-Karen-I felt someone pulling me away from the chaise. Conor hugged me tightly to him. “Don’t listen to those empty angry words. She’s just a hateful bitch.” I will admit it’s a bit hard not to let her words hurt me.“You’re going to be an amazing mother! I just know it!” Joanne added joining in on the hug.“Agreed! But she needs to rest you two. Joanne, you should be resting too.” Bart instructed, prodding us. “Conor too. But all three of you are stubborn so I doubt any of you will listen.” I hadn’t realized I was shaking from being so angry until Conor was trying to steady me. “Can I get something to eat please? I haven’t eaten yet today…” I grumbled crawling into the bed. I curled up to a pillow and faced away from them crying out of anger. I’m so angry I could kill someone! I just want to punch the hell out of a wall!“I’ll get something brought up for us.” Bart answered, leaving quickly. “Stay laying down Karen.” I rolled my eyes in reply.Joanne and Conor were talking about so
-Karen-He chuckled again and left me waiting until I sweetly nipped his neck. “You’re getting your wish.” Conor answered softly. “We are having a boy.” He murmured as I giggled excitedly. A boy! I held him tightly. Our pumpkin is a boy! I couldn’t help but be so overwhelming happy. “I’m so excited! I get my boy after all!”“I want a daughter next. I want my Elizabeth! You better give me one!” He reached over to the desk, grabbed the bowl and held up a strawberry to my lips. “I know you have to be starving now.” I nodded and ate the berry he placed on my tongue. “Bertha told me the week before you woke up. I just hope he is as vivacious as you are with your tenacity.” He gave me a piece of cheese next.“I hope he looks just like you. Handsome and strong. And so kind!” I rubbed my belly sitting there in my own world for a moment as I soaked up the happy feelings this left me with. Conor held another strawberry to my lips. “How did I get so lucky?” I whispered. I ate the berry slowly,