I'm pretty sure you're right on the money Cathern. I hadn't put together the whole being with child aspect yet, but it totally explains things, and make Chantilly not seem as crazy I had thought. She always seemed a fairly special lady, but lately she's gone all spineless and hysterical (note root, "hyster"). It was like a 180 degree tack. I had already decided that she was under some strange spell, explaining her fainting and hallucinations and such as just the mental stress of her brainwashing and the resulting condition as Marinus's kinky love slave. Yet, it seemed like she was in battle again, so who knows. Maybe Marinus needs to beat the fight right out of her, or else risk losing their child. And I'm sure he'd want it, the whole bastard thing won't be a problem, I'm guessing like father like son, it perfectly explains his sad reaching snobbery.
I should probably shut up now, but hey, this is supposedly why they keep me around!
Micum