Author's Note: Hello and welcome to chapter thirteen of "Rubicon". I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read and review the last chapter, ElfLuver13, sudoku, OllieofFreeOxen, Astraeas Dreams, and NazgulQueen. Thanks a million! As always, I do not have a beta for this fic, so any mistakes that appear are my fault and my fault alone. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Pirates of the Caribbean.

May 4, 1731

Log,

Anne is sleeping again. Doctor Carey tells me she will need much rest and I am not to disturb her. The man is fortunate to be alive, after what he has done. Once more I am banished from the chamber and sent into the hall. The other guests have awakened by now and they question me.

"How is her ladyship?" they ask and then cluck their tongues.

"Dreadful, dreadful," I hear them mutter.

But I am alone now once more and have some time. Perhaps I may complete my account of the night before without interruption.

I left Port Royal immediately after receiving the message. My heart seemed to have stopped beating as I climbed into the coach and we cantered down the road. But during the afternoon hours, a great rain storm came and the horses could only move slowly. I was delayed and I could have wept for fear.

What if I arrived too late? What if my dear wife was dead?

The clouds broke at twilight and I ordered the coachmen to hurry along. He did not question me but whipped up the horses.

I came to the plantation that night. The curtains were drawn over the window of the guest chamber Anne occupied and the grounds were still. Lord Nesbitt came out to meet me and the look on his face suggested the worst.

"We sent for the very best doctor," he said. Lady Jane was standing by his elbow. Her face was white.

"What happened?" I demanded of them.

Lady Jane refused to meet my gaze. "A servant came to me some time last night," she said. "And, Lady Beckett…" Lady Jane broke off suddenly. "There was blood upon her shift and she would not rouse. She…she kept coughing up blood."

I wanted to hear no more. Instead, I strode past them and entered the house. Lord Nesbitt was at my heels.

"My lord," he said. "The doctor is with her now, there is little to be done."

I paused on the bottom step of the long staircase. Servants milled about in the foyer and hall and I hated their bold stares. Wretches, all of them.

"I will see her at once," I said and Lord Nesbitt tried to follow me upstairs.

"There is little to be done, my lord, please." I ignored him. The corridor leading to the guest room was hot and bright. I came to the chamber and paused with my hand upon the door knob.

I heard a voice inside, one I did not recognize. And then a groan, Anne's.

I threw upon the door. An younger man was bending over my wife. He had a lancet in hand and he dragged it across her arm. Blood spurted and spilled out over the coverlets of the bed. A basin was held beneath the wound to catch the crimson liquid.

My stomach threatened to revolt. Anne's face was white, her eyes sunken. She coughed suddenly and it seemed as though she could not catch her breath. The man said something. He lifted his lancet once more.

But I would not let him touch her. I hurried across the room and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him away.

"By God, I will kill you!" I cried.

"What is the meaning of this?" He struggled in my grasp and dropped the lancet. Anne began to cough again. I saw blood upon her lips.

"Anne?" I let the man go and moved to her side. The wound upon her arm still leaked. I undid my neckcloth and tied it about the thin cut. She did not move.

"Lord Beckett, I presume?" the man said. He was tall and young with red hair. I did not like the look of him.

"Are you the doctor?" I asked.

"Doctor Nathanial Carey," he said. "I assume you know your wife has consumption?"

He said it so calmly. I wanted to throttle him.

"So I feared," I replied. I took Anne's hand in mine and felt the chill upon it

"Then I suppose you also know that she is with child."

I stared at him "What mean you?"

"She is with child." He looked at me as though I were an idiot. "Do you believe she has made a cuckold out of you?"

"How dare you?" I turned away from the bedside. How could the man suggest such a thing?

Doctor Carey shrugged. "Your surprise suggested it."

"Not at all," I replied bitterly.

"I was sent for because your wife had fallen into a swoon after vomiting blood," he continued and turned his back to me. An old, beaten bag sat on a chair by the hearth. He had picked up his fallen lancet and was cleaning it with a stained rag. Then into the bag went the lancet.

"I have seen several sufferers of consumption, most vomit blood."

I wanted to lunge at him again, but Anne's desperate breathing kept me by her side.

"What can you do?" I asked.

"I have already bled her," he said. "Let her rest and I will take more in the morning."

"Is that all?" I glanced at my wife and she stirred, though her eyes remained closed. Suddenly, she coughed violently and the front of her shift was colored red. I was near panic.

Doctor Carey sighed. "Try to keep her still," he said. He picked up his bag and moved towards the door.

"Will you do nothing else?" I asked. He did not glance back at me.

"I will pray that she makes it through the night," Doctor Carey said. "If she does then perhaps she might recover…some."

And he left. I felt abandoned, lost. Trembling, I pulled a chair next to the bed and sat there for the night. Anne no longer coughed blood and she seemed to sleep.

I kept my eyes on her chest and watched it rise and fall.

She was ill…and with child.

What emotions could I possible feel?

Then heaven smiled and sometime around dawn she woke.

"Cutler?" She stared at me with round eyes and I found tears in my own. "I've had a dream and it frightened me."

"Worry not," I said and I pressed a kiss to her hand.

But she rolled onto her side and continued to speak. "A woman, she comes to me in my dreams often. Her skin is dark and she speaks in a strange voice."

I felt fear rise within me then. Could this be the same woman that had haunted me for so long? Could Anne have had the same dream?

But I did not want to trouble her so I told her of the child. She smiled at once and squeezed my hands.

"Are you pleased?" she asked. I nodded.

"Very."

Then suddenly, Anne frowned.

"Cutler, I have been keeping something from you," she said. "I am sure the doctor has spoken with you though. I…I am ill."

I did not know what to say at first, but somehow I found the words. "All will be well," I said. "I am sure of it."

Doctor Carey came in then and he was most pleased with Anne's condition. I pulled him aside, however and asked him not speak of her consumption.

I do not wish all of Port Royal to know of it, especially after Jones' spoke so chillingly.

I am most tired now. A servant has brought dinner up to me and Lord Nesbitt wishes to join me. Most of the hunting party has departed he says and we shall leave as soon as Anne is well to travel.

Another child. I am pleased, but terrified.

Lord Cutler Beckett