Embracing Redemption

"You're sending her where?" Paul Burgess demanded, his eyes fixed with disbelief on Captain Jameson.

"She is returning to Portsmouth, Mr. Burgess. I have secured transport for her on the Arethusa, a first class warship under the command of Captain Harold MacBride. He is a trusted acquaintance of mine, and has agreed to take her there."

"She brought this to pass, didn't she?" he muttered through a dark scowl of admonition, his ire roused.

"No. It was my doing."

"She is my wife, sir," he argued. "I would hope to have a say in matters pertaining to her..."

"In matters pertaining to her?" he shouted. "Have you any idea when she took her last meal? Do you know where she disappears to each morning while you idle in slumber within your berth? Your wife is wasting away...drowning in a sea of self-reproach, yet you remain oblivious to her suffering, and even worse, you blame her for what happened!" He began to pace about the room in long, angry strides. "She mourns the loss of the child just as much as you, Mr. Burgess, if not more so, yet you continue to cast blame upon her for something she had no control over, while you withhold all manner of empathy and compassion!"

"I encouraged her to remain in England when we discovered she was with child, Captain."

"And you think things would have turned out differently if she hadn't been here, aboard the Redemption..."

"I know it to be true."

"You know it to be true," he scoffed, a grimace of scorn darkening his countenance. "Your beliefs are unfounded, Mr. Burgess, and your self-righteous pity is trying my patience."

"You'd feel differently if it were your child, sir," he grumbled.

Captain Jameson fixed a steely gaze upon the haughty lieutenant. "I'll let that pass, Paul, because I believe your anger has clouded your sound judgment, but let me forewarn you...you are walking a fine line of insubordination."

The young officer held his tongue, his eyes lingering on some obscure fleck of dust on the wall.

Captain Jameson continued to pace around him, his mounting frustration evident in the grim set of his features. "Tell me, do you fault Rebecca for wanting to remain here with you? For wanting your child to know you as her father? Six months at sea with less than two days leave would hardly allow for that..."

"Still, I would have a wife and child to return home to, sir."

"They would be strangers...mere acquaintances related to you by name only. Don't be foolish, man! She was willing to risk losing everything to remain here with you...even her own life!"

"And it would appear that she has, sir."

"Not if I can help it," the senior officer growled. "You are dismissed, Mr. Burgess. Rebecca is packing her dunnage as we speak. If you make this any more difficult for her than it already is, you will regret it, do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly, sir," he said.