Dear me, this is incredibly late - I'm sorry! I've had finals at school and have been out of town since last saturday, so there hasn't been much time or energy for creativity over here. But now that school is out for summer, I should hopefully be able to update more regularly. Please bear with me, everyone. I appreciate the time you are taking to read this, and your reviews make me very very happy! :-)

This chapter is for JScorpio and the other Bordon fans who are reading this :-)


Vivienne was too angry to cry as she followed her husband upstairs. She knew he would not hurt her if she refused his advances tonight - for the sake of the baby at least.

Never had Vivienne felt so desperately the need for revenge as she crawled beneath the covers. Shifting her body as far away from Tavington as possible, she waited in tense silence for him to fall asleep. Her whole body was still hot with rage fifteen minutes later when William's soft snores began.

Vivienne waited another half an hour, just in case, before slipping out of bed and down the stairs. She had to restrain herself from throwing open the door as she eased it open with only the softest creak. Then she was free, running into the night, her aching back and exhaustion forgotten as adrenaline pumped through her veins.

Vivienne was a woman on a dark mission as she sneaked past the dozing guards at the army camp like a shadow. There would only be one person who would know she was here tonight . . .

She had to peek into several tents in the officer's quadrant before finding Bordon's. Inside, he slept, blankets strewn around his bare chest.

No longer self-conscious of her pregnant belly, Vivienne strode forward, straddling Bordon's sleeping form. He stirred only slightly at the added weight. Vivienne leaned forward, her long hair falling to brush Bordon's face, as she pressed her lips to his, pleased at the way he responded to her even in his sleep, groaning softly.

All at once, his eyes popped open and he sat up, grasping her forearms. They just looked at each other for a moment, until Bordon's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Do not use me, Vivienne," he growled in a low voice.

"I want you," she replied fiercely, her fingers going for the catch on his breeches as she kissed him at the same time. As much as Bordon wanted to resist her, a part of him desired to give in to her. The latter won out as she yanked down his pants and slipped her nightgown up over her head.

Bordon took control then, gently flipping her beneath him. Her fingers wove into his auburn hair and she pulled him closer, his lips finding her neck. He let his hands caress her slowly and softly, well aware of her delicate condition.

As Bordon lowered his hips to hers, one hand on the sweet roundness of her belly, he found himself wishing that the child she carried was his. This thought sent a brief wave of melancholy washing over him, but Vivienne distracted him with a playful nip to his neck, grinding her hips up against his. Aroused once more, Bordon leaned in, pushing into her. Though he wanted to set the pace hard and fast, he forced himself to thrust into her slowly and fully, savoring the moment with Vivienne that would probably be his last.

The sound of her soft moans was music to Bordon's ears and he pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply.

When it was over, Vivienne lay tangled sweetly in Bordon's arms, her dark hair spread out over his chest. He sighed, not wanting to sleep, for he knew when he awoke, the moment would be over.

Even as his eyelids drooped, Bordon knew he had been nothing but a tool in Vivienne's vengeance. It hurt, knowing they would never be together, but at least, Bordon thought as he drifted off, he was able to pretend for those beautiful, wonderful minutes.


Vivienne woke before dawn. As she crept back to the house, she felt guiltier than she expected she would. But telling Tavington of what she had done would most certainly be suicide. It was easy to sneak in the door and up the stairs, but when Vivienne opened the bedroom door, her heart nearly stopped.

William leaned casually against one of the bedposts, giving her a look she couldn't quite decipher.

"Plan on telling me where you disappeared to for the past four hours, darling?" he asked, his tone mocking, masking the anger hiding beneath.

"I couldn't sleep. I'm sure you know why." Vivienne tried to look tired and upset, which wasn't hard to fake since she felt a fair amount of both. "I walked around outside for a while, then read downstairs. But I'm tired now, so I should sleep before I must be up for the day." With a brief nod, she walked past him and fell into bed, relaxing as she pulled the covers around her tightly.

Tavington did not reply. He knew she was lying to him, but it would be difficult to call her out on it until he knew more. Her hair had been tousled, her lips pink, and her skin glowing. Not to mention the wrinkled disarray of her nightgown . . .

The only other man Vivienne had associated with besides himself and Lord General Cornwallis was Captain Bordon. Tavington highly doubted Vivienne had any attraction to Cornwallis, but Bordon was a much higher possibility. Tavington felt his anger rise as he imagined his aide-de-camp and wife sharing a passionate moment together. Clenching his fists tightly to avoid howling with rage, Tavington vowed to confront Bordon before the meeting the next morning.


"Bordon!" Tavington waved the captain over just as he was about to enter Cornwallis' tent.

They were the only ones still outside. Perfect. When Bordon was close enough, Tavington dove forward, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket.

"I will only ask once, Bordon: Did you fuck my wife last night?" he snarled.

Bordon drove his knee into Tavington's stomach, watching his superior crumple to the ground.

"Not quite, sir. She fucked me. And before you blame me for seducing her, perhaps you should remember that blonde harlot you fucked yesterday without a thought of your pregnant wife." Tavington was too stunned at Bordon's boldness to retort right away.

"You are angry about Vivienne's betrayal, yes. But she surely felt all that and more when she learned of your own deceit. Not only can she not trust you now, but she is afraid of you and upset with herself. If I am not mistaken, sir, that is a very dangerous condition for a pregnant woman to be in."

Tavington would have stared at Bordon in disbelief for hours if General O'Hara had not walked up to them at just that moment.

"Late again, Tavington? Perhaps Cornwallis will finally do us all a favor and demote you."

Tavington was too stunned to even say something to wipe the smirk off O'Hara's face. Like a broken horse, lost and confused, he stood, following the other two men inside.


Vivienne awoke to a crash from below. She sat up at once, her heart pounding,. Like a rabbit, Vivienne froze, listening for any indication of what could be happening.

All at once the bedroom door swung open and a man came barreling toward Vivienne. She was knocked out cold only moments after his fist connected with the back of her head. The man carried Vivienne out, unable to pry her arms away from their protective position around her belly.