A/N: td Elijah and Camille's marriage is like an average marriage of 18th century where wives in general didnt have a right to interfere what their husbands are doing. I am taking that route that Cami had no idea. She is a very traditional wife but maybe seeing Hayley will encourage her to take steps too. As for Elijah, it might take him longer to adjust to new change. I am not focusing on their marriage but yes they will remain married. He has two daughters and a third one on the way.
Rest of the guest thank you fro reading and liking this story. I personally am had great fun writing this one. Next chapter will be last. The combined chapters were becoming too long so I divided them into two. I hope you like this one too. Thanks for reading.
— continued —
Next morning when he woke up, to his dismay the first thought that crossed his mind was "how could they both do this to him? Such a big betrayal." He wondered 'what happened to his determination to put everything behind for everyone's sake.' He got up feeling frustrated and seeing it was Sunday with no court he after changing his clothes locked himself in his art studio and spend the major part of the morning there giving the finishing touches to his painting. By the time Marcel came to accompany him for hawking he had made up his mind that for his own mental peace and for his child that she was carrying, he needed to become a better person. At least try to forgive her.
After he came back from hawking in the afternoon, Marcel left whereas he stayed with his horse for sometime. He turned around in impulse and groaned as he saw her walking towards the stable. As she approached a horse he asked her "where are you going and where is Elizabeth?"
Hayley said "to the lake and I asked her not to come."
He said "carriage cannot go there Hayley."
She said "I know that. I am taking a horse."
He stared at her in confusion and then said firmly "no, you are not."
She sighed and said "yes I am. I used to love riding if you remember."
He said softly "I remember Hayley but it is getting late and you are…." pausing for a second and then continuing "you are carrying my child. You cannot go alone."
Hayley looked at him and then as said "then you come with me" surprising both of them.
He continued to look into her eyes for a moment and then remembering what he had decided in the morning he said "right. Lets go" as he motioned Jackson who had been standing quietly there to walk her horse.
He mounted on his horse and looked towards her as she put her foot on the stirrup, pulled herself up and sat on the sidesaddle. He noticed then that even though she was wearing an everyday dress but she was wearing riding boots.
As she settled down on the horse, she started to feel nervous as the doubt if she should be riding in her condition took root in her heart. She wondered what if something happens to the baby when suddenly the horse startled causing her to startle and a soft scream erupted from her mouth.
He could see fear on her face and waited for her to change her mind but then realized that she will not do so. When Jackson walked the horse a couple of steps a scream erupted her throat and a spontaneous smile appeared on his lips.
He said "that is enough Jackson, I will take it from here."
As Jackson halted the horse, he leaned towards her and with both hands on her waist lifted her making her scream again and pulled her on his horse seating her right ahead of him with both legs dangling on left side of the saddle. As soon as he had put her there, he felt really weird with her body touching his.
She had hardly recovered from the surprise when his arms went around her to hold the reins making her a bit nervous.
She said to cover up her nervousness "why Klaus? I am impressed. Seen with me in this close contact in public!"
He said "it is Niklaus and you are carrying someone really precious to me. I have to take care of my investments" causing her eyes to sting for a moment and her hand without her knowledge went to her stomach. His gaze followed the motion and suddenly felt like touching her stomach but he felt hesitant thinking whether she would like it or not.
Hayley asked him after a couple of minutes "how long are you going to treat me like this?"
When he didnt answer she continued saying "Klaus, I am talking to you. I will not be treated like this. I … was not raised to be treated like a property."
He said softly "I remember."
Flashback Klaus
December 1770
Monsieur Marshall said "lord Niklaus, society demands that husbands should treat their wives as their property but they are not. They are human being, not your property. They are doing a very important job for us. Raising our kids for us."
Klaus said "they are her children too."
He smiled and said "yes they are. They are both of our kids. As much as hers as ours so why the burden of raising them properly goes to her?"
Klaus said "because it is their job."
He shook his head slightly and said "no it is both of ours. Why is it her job to raise the kids when both man and woman were responsible for bringing that child in this world. Because as men we are responsible for providing income for our family, we tend to forget some important things in our lives like giving time to our children and our women. They deserve our attention and respect for what they do for us and our kids. While we have at most one thing to be concerned about and that is source of income and honor of the family, they have their hands in everything. taking care of our food, educating children, bringing children in this world, some die in the process, help us do our chores too so what if they want some attention and some respect from us. Think of it this way if they are happy by the little attention we give them, the better they can do their job and their most important job is to raise our child with good value system."
He continued to listen to him and then his eyes fell on Hayley whose head was resting on her folded arms on the table.
As he watched Monsieur Marshall turned towards her and patted her on the back gently. He wondered 'will he be able to give his daughter the kind of respect that he is teaching him?'
End flashback
He looked around at the calm water of the lake and then turned towards her direction as she kicked the grass in her riding book. He couldnt help but wonder 'will he ever be able to have a real relationship with her? Will she ever love him? why does she not love him? She wants me to treat her like a wife. She feels remorseful for what she did. Does that mean that she has opened up her heart for him? If she has, should he give her the chance to occupy it with his as his was being occupied by her these days. If she has opened her heart to him then why did she let Elijah…' He stopped his thought process shaking his head when he noticed her lips moving.
He asked "what?"
Hayley said "I asked, what is it?' breaking the grass tendril in her hand.
He said confused now "what?"
She asked "you have been staring at me for a while."
He said "nothing."
When she continued to stare at him he said "I was wondering why did you go to Elijah?"
He saw tension appear on her face and regretted asking the question when she looked so relaxed and apparently wants to forget about that too. He immediately said "forget it. Forget I ever asked."
He looked away towards the lake when he heard her say softly "he was kind to me."
He who had forgotten that she would even answering his question turn to look at her in shock. Not wanting to stay with her anymore he got up and said "lets go."
Hayley stared at him miserably but walked to the horse. She started to get up but he grabbed her from her waist and put her on the horse and started walking with the horse.
Hayley stared at his back feeling depressed but didnt know what to do so she kept quiet and kept on staring him.
Later that night when Elizabeth was helping her in the bathtub, Elizabeth said "lady Hayley, His Grace told me to tell you not to leave the castle alone again."
She asked "why?"
Elizabeth said "I dont know my lady. Perhaps you are with child."
She nodded and then her mind went to the child she was carrying when she heard her ask "what are you thinking my lady?"
She said "what if I have a girl? Will he be angry at me?"
Elizabeth smiled and continued to finger her hair and said "you are carrying a son to His majesty lord Niklaus."
She asked "how do you know Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth said "the dowser is an old acquaintance of mine my lady."
She asked surprised now "what dowser?"
Elizabeth said "His Grace asked Dowser Ansel before you were betrothed to lord Niklaus, my lady."
Hayley asked "why?"
She said "I don't know my lady. I just know that you are carrying an heir to this family."
When she kept quiet Elizabeth asked "are you not happy my lady?"
Hayley asked keeping her eyes closed "about what Elizabeth?"
She said "my lady, you are carrying a son, an heir to this family."
Klaus was walking towards his room thinking about their afternoon, what Monseiur Marshall had taught him, what she had told him about Elijah being kind to her. He suddenly decided to go see her so he entered her chamber. The chamber was empty. As he started to leave he heard her say "even if it were a girl, I would have loved her equally. What is it that makes sons more important then daughters? I have cared for my parents more then His Grace's son ever did."
He looked towards her in surprise and then he sat on the chair in front of the dresser out of line of bath chamber. He heard Elizabeth say "my lady, daughters leave their home one day. Their parents have to give them huge dowry. If their husbands are not happy with them, they bring shame to them and they are not source of income for the house."
Hayley said feeling a bit annoyed "but that is wrong. We are human too. Why are we treated like a property to husbands? I was lucky enough to have a father who didnt treat me like that but there are women who were property of our fathers and brothers even before they got married. Now that I am married, I am my husband's property and then will be my son's. When will we have rights, property and homes and what dowry Elizabeth. Ever since I have gotten married, I have lost right to everything that my father once gave me."
Klaus stared at the painting on the wall remembering what her father had once told him a long time ago when he heard Elizabeth say "my lady, what can I say? You are the literate one but I beg you not to voice your inner thoughts within the walls of this castle. His Grace is traditionalist and like him his sons follow his path. If you want to have a satisfied marriage you should accept your role in his life."
What she said next he was not ready to hear "what about happiness Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth said "happiness comes with satisfaction. If you are able to satisfy your man's needs you will be happy."
There was quiet for a while so he decided to leave her room.
After a few moments Hayley asked after slight hesitation "and what about love?"
Elizabeth smiled and said "you can love him. He can love you. But dont voice it openly and publicly and to prevent your heartache dont expect too much from him."
After Elizabeth helped her in the bed she told her "leave the lamp on. I want to read for a while." She opened the book but she was unable to concentrate as her eyes kept on wandering towards the adjoining door willing it to open at any time and see him in her room. She sighed and after sometime closed the book and relaxed in the bed managing to fall asleep at last.
Next morning when she woke up she stayed in the bed relaxing and then she looked towards the door when it opened and Elizabeth came in. She said feeling lazy "I want to stay in."
Elizabeth said "my lady, Lady Camille had arranged a small gathering with her friends and she wants your presence."
Hayley groaned but got up and said "alright. What do I wear for that?"
She suddenly looked up as a young woman entered the room and starting straightening her room. She hastily took out her clothes as Elizabeth took out her dress.
She asked "who are you?"
The young woman said "my name is Emma, my lady. His Grace asked me to help you along with Elizabeth if you need anything."
Hayley's eyes went from Emma to Elizabeth who was helping her get in her dress.
After she was dressed, she went towards Camille's chamber with Elizabeth and to her surprise with Emma. She had a great time in conversation with Camille's friends. Later she had to give Grace her lesson and then she went to the roof and sat there reading a book. In the afternoon she retired to her room hoping to have some alone time but she noticed that new maid Emma was still standing there. And then it hit her that throughout the day that she constantly had someone with her. And then she remembered what Elizabeth had told her about His Grace's order about her not leaving the castle alone. Every time she tried to do something, it was taken away from her and Emma would do it for her making her annoyed. At night time Elizabeth helped her in the bed and retreated whereas she notice that Emma stayed there. She said to Emma "I want to be alone Emma".
Emma said "my lady, his Grace …"
She said "I am ordering you to leave Emma."
Emma said "my lady."
She said "I am going to sleep Emma. I dont need you. I will ask for you in the morning."
There was hesitation on Emma's face but then she left to her relief.
She stayed there for a moment and then she got up feeling pretty annoyed and marched into his room.
Klaus was getting ready for bed when the door burst open and she entered saying "what is the meaning of this?"
He looked towards her, suddenly remembering the conversation he had overheard and said "I don't understand."
She said "your father cannot do this. I can take care of myself and this child. I dont need people waiting on me all the time."
He said "if you don't want them to wait on you then tell them not to do so. You dont have a problem telling people what to do or not."
She said through her teeth "they wouldn't dare go behind his Grace's order."
Klaus laughed to both of their surprise saying "then suffer it."
He laid in the bed and closed his eyes when he felt a warm body against his startling him. His eyes snapped open and he asked, shocked "what are you doing?" as her hands went around his torso.
she said "from this day onwards I am sharing this bed with you. Enough with this treatment. I am your wife. Your life partner. Treat me like that."
He tried to detangle himself but she said "you dont like it fine but I like it and as my husband and person who is supposed to take care of me, from this day onwards you will give me what I like too."
He stared at her head on his shoulder and succumbed to the desires that had started to wake in him and stopped struggling.
Hayley smiled and drifted off to sleep thinking about how to make his father see logic in it.
Next morning when he woke up she was still next to him sleeping peacefully and during sometime in the night his arm had gone around him and he was holding her. He continued to hold her and started to think what he was going to do about this situation? Has he forgiven her seeing that he had started to have these desires to make love to her but in this pregnant state' he wondered. 'How did it happen that after all she did she was lying in his arms and he was letting her lay there and in fact wants to make love to her?'
He sighed and then gently shook her waking her up.
When she asked groggily and a bit annoyed "what?" he couldn't help but smile and said "Hayley you need to go before someone sees us. And Hayley, don't come tonight."
He saw disappointment on her face but to his relief she didn't say anything and left the room.
While he was busy with his responsibilities Hayley while making sure that kitchen was running smoothly managed to convey to Emma that she does not need her and if His Grace has a problem with it, he can summon her.
By the time he came back to castle at nightfall, he was so tired that as soon as his head hit the pillow he fell asleep. Suddenly he woke up as he felt her arm around him. He sighed and went back to sleep but not before noticing that she had drawn curtain around the bed. When he woke up next time, it was still dark. The curtains were withdrawn and she was not with him and then he started noticing that she would come to him very late in night and leave before dawn and before he knew it a two months went by but he noticed that with each passing day he was starting to expect her with him and if for some reason she didn't come to him, he would lay in the bed later into night thinking 'where she was. It felt good to have another warm body close to him all those night.'
Three months into her pregnancy:
Klaus looked towards the young woman sitting on the chair, reading a book posing for his portrait, smiled and continued to do so. He was so lost in his work that he didnt feel her presence.
She said to Elizabeth "you can leave."
Elizabeth said "lady Hayley. You should not cross your boundaries."
Hayley smiled and said "I am not Elizabeth."
Elizabeth curtsied and left.
She walked towards him standing behind his easel with a paint pallet in his hand and absorbed in painting the woman sitting on the chair looking down reading a book. She noticed her dress was partially open from the front revealing a part of the swell of her breast more then what was norm. All of a sudden she felt annoyed but she quietly walked to him and stood beside him.
Klaus felt something touch his leg making him turn towards her. He looked at her dressed in the blue dress with a huge skirt which was now flirting with leg as she stood there looking at his painting. Looking at the tight fitted bodice which showed her beautiful curves making his heart race he like always wondered 'how does she breath in or walk in?' As he gazed at her she leaned towards him and whispered "I could have posed for you" surprising him.
He asked after recovering from initial surprise "you want to pose for me?"
She asked smiling as well as looking slightly confused "yes. why not?"
He felt flustered but then said as he turned his attention back to the canvas "you know that husband and wife cannot display their affection for each other publicly."
Hayley said "but this is just painting."
He said without looking at her "which I always paint with love."
He half wished for her to say something but when she didnt, he looked towards her now looking at the girl he was painting with a slight smile on her lips.
As he watched she started to leave. He impulsively held her arm asking "where are you going?"
She said looking into his eyes "you are busy so I thought I might leave you to it."
Before he could stop himself he said "stay."
She asked giving him a teasing smile making his stomach muscles tight "are you certain?"
He nodded letting go of her arm not realizing that he had transferred some paint on her beautiful dress.
She went to the bookshelf, picked out a book after going through the book and settled down near the fireplace. He continued to paint occasionally looking towards her reading a book feeling this knot in his stomach which he had no clue where they were coming from.
Later that evening when he was getting ready for bed Henrick said "my lord, your father requires you presence."
Klaus said "I will be there."
He put his coat back and went towards his father's chamber having an idea what he was going to talk to him about.
When he opened the door, room was empty except for him.
He walked to him and said "father you called for me."
Mikael said "I heard that lady Hayley was with you while you were in your studio."
KLaus cursed the lack of privacy in this castle but said "yes father."
Mikael turned to him and asked "does she not know that it is not wife's place to interrupt her husband?"
Klaus said "father she was not interrupting my work. She was there. She is young and still learning norms and tradition. I will take care to tell her to be mindful in the future."
Mikael nodded and said "this is all."
He turned and left for his room feeling angry and annoyed at the boundaries and traditions he had to be mindful of while interacting with his wife.
That night he was fast asleep when suddenly he felt a hand on his chest. He didnt even open his eyes knowing well it was her. Even though he had gotten used to her coming to him but still sometimes it still made him flustered. His body tensed for a moment but then he relaxed. He was trying to go back to sleep when she said "I know you are awake. I want to talk to you about something."
He asked curiously "what?"
When he didnt hear anything for a minute he opened his eyes, looked towards her and asked again "what Hayley?"
He could see hesitation on her face but then she said "I want you to forgive me for the sin I have committed."
He abruptly pushed himself on his elbows and turned to face her in shock.
She continued saying "I know you still have not forgiven me. Forgive me thinking of that as a stupid mistake I made while growing up. I know it is the biggest sin I have committed but believe me not a day has gone by ever since I have not regretted it but I cannot undo it. The only thing I can hope is that we will be able to put it behind us."
When he continued to remain quiet she said "if you dont then I will know that you dont want me in your life."
To his surprise tears roll down her temple and got absorbed into the pillow. He said "believe me Hayley, I too want to forget about it."
She said with tears flowing down her eyes "then please forgive me."
He didnt know what to say so he kept quiet.
Seeing him quiet she said "before I found out about this pregnancy, I used to think that you have forgiven me considering you used to come and have … you know with me but after you discarded me I realized I was wrong. You just wanted an heir from me. You still have not forgiven me."
When he continued to remain quiet not confirming or denying her assumptions she continued saying pursing her lips "from your silence and the way you have been letting me in your life, I am going to assume that you dont want to forgive me but we are in a situation where you are conflicted and I understand but please Klaus take a few more steps and lets put that horrible thing I did in our past."
He didnt know what to say so he continued to look into her pleading, tear brimmed eyes and then slowly nodded saying "it is Niklaus" bringing a teary smile to her face.
She wiped her eyes and snuggled close to him as he laid back. She felt a warmth wash over her body as his arm wound around her.
He was lost in thought about what they had just decided when his thought were interrupted by her saying "if you can bring yourself to do that then if I ask you something else, will you give it to me?"
He asked, surprised wondering 'what could she want now' but said "if I can."
She said "but that will stay between us."
He asked now curious "what do you mean?"
She said "something should stay between the sanctity of marriage. Do you not agree?"
When he didnt say anything she said "make love to me."
He thought he didn't hear her properly so he asked "what?"
She said "I know it is untraditional but I want you to make love to me. I am your wife and I deserve to get some pleasure."
He said dismissively "I will not treat you like a prostitute" reminding her of what Camille had once told her about wives who desire pleasure from their husband.
She looked towards him saying "I thought my father taught you better" and started to turn away from him but he pulled her towards him saying "what are you doing Hayley? Breaking traditions."
She smiled this time saying "it is always time to make new traditions Klaus" as she ideally brushed his lips with her thumb arousing him.
He said looking into her eyes "if my father finds out…"
she said "we are not committing a sin. We are just doing what is our right that God gave us."
He leaned her back on the bed until her back touched the mattress, keeping the eye contact when she grabbed his hand and took it to his stomach to his surprise and said "I am carrying your child. I am not unclean."
His heart jumped as the desire that he has been feeling all those nights when she would sneak into his bed, woke up in him again. And he gave in. He leaned in and kissed her lips softly - softly for the first time making her heart skip a beat and before he knew it she was cupping his face and kissing him surprising herself that she knew what she was doing. His hand went to her slip and started pulling up when she broke the kiss and said "I want you to make love to me, not lay with me."
He looked into her eyes, nodded and continued to take her slip off of her. His gaze shifted to her stomach in the dim light of the fire from the fireplace and he hesitantly pressed his hand over her bear stomach sending a chill through her body and he felt her arm around his neck tighten and suddenly he became convinced that is what he wanted too so he continued to pull her shift up now a bit eagerly until it reached her breast and then she raised her arms to help him take it out without breaking the eye contact. He was staring at her small firm naked breast for the first time ever, her stomach when he felt her taking off his shirt taking him by surprise but soon replaced by something she interpreted as good surprise.
When her hands went to his pants, he grabbed them. Both of them realized that thoughts and ideas that had been instilled in him couldn't be forgotten in one night. Seeing apprehension on his face, reading the reluctance, understanding where it was coming from she nodded. When he took it off, she looked at him for the first time and felt her cheeks burning. He smiled seeing the reddening on her cheek, pleasing him for some reason but when he hesitated she asked "what is it?"
He asked "will it hurt the child?"
She said touching his cheek "no, it will not. If it were to then God would never have allowed this to happen."
When he continued to stare into her eyes she grabbed his hand and put them on her naked breast sending a chill through his body. She whispered "make me feel special. Please."
His eyes went to her breast rising up and down. He then leaned in and kissed it gently making her grab the pillow and moan. Listening to the that sound encouraged him and he started to please her with what he had read in that guide book which he had done to her before but this time with her unclothed and the difference was visible. When she said "Klaus, please do it now" he was shocked but he obliged as he was ready by then too and slipped in her muttering "it is Niklaus."
A moan escaped her mouth making him harder. When he moved in her, she felt she was losing energy in her legs and was coming to climax sooner then she had realized. Klaus could feel a difference in this love making then the times when they managed to conceive their child. She bit into her lips to stop the out of control moans that were trying to escape her mouth as she climaxed and pulled him towards her.
Klaus felt her lips on his shoulder taking him by surprise and as he climaxed he collapsed on her painting with his face buried into her neck and impulsively pressed his lips in her neck. he lifted himself up after what seemed liked an everlasting moment, and looked into her face, with eyes closed and smile on her lips.
She could feel his eyes on her so she opened them. She smiled as his arm went around her head cradling her head and leaned in touched her forehead and kissed her gently on her lips. She whispered "thanks."
He couldn't help but smile. He rolled off of her and in impulsive brought her close to him. As he laid there with her catching his breath he wondered what was happening to him. Why was he holding her? he realized that he had done many things impulsively that night and he liked it and he was looking forward to it next time if he ever happened again he wondered. He pulled the blanket over her as he realized that she had already slept in his arms. He wrapped the other arm around her too and heard her sigh and closed his eyes too.
Next morning when he woke up she was gone. He cursed himself for not feeling her sneaking out of his bed. He realized that after last night discussion and what followed that and now her disappearance made him feel discarded and used. He suddenly felt connected to her as it dawned on him that must have been how she felt when he didnt go to her after she got pregnant.
To his relief she was back again and slept peacefully in his arms. For the next few days they just slept with each other unwinding themselves after having long and tiring day dealing with his court dealigns, trips to estate, her making sure everything was running smoothly, her staying on top of Grace's studies.
Two weeks later he was lying next to her staring at her peaceful face as she slept next to him. Suddenly he wanted to make love to her thinking she is his wife. She is right. They are not committed a sin but she was sleeping so he continued to look towards her and drifted off to sleep.
He suddenly felt something soft in his hand. He opened his eyes and realized that he was squeezing her breast. He was about to retreat his hand when he heard her moan in her sleep causing him to stop and he impulsively squeezed it harder feeling weird yet pleased at the same time. Seeing her expressions suddenly hardened him and then she opened her eyes and they looked at each other.
She said a bit groggy "I like this way of waking me up."
He smiled and said "that is interesting because I like seeing you like this."
He leaned in to kiss her surprising himself how comfortable he was feeling this time. He slowly took off her shift and after kissing each part of her body when he was about to take her she said "I want to…." but stopped.
He asked "what?" as he lifted himself on one arm
She hesitated and turned red as she said "I want to be on top tonight."
He looked at her in surprise and then he laughed seeing the redness that sneaked in her cheeks. He asked "really? How?"
She smiled and then touched his chest saying "may I?"
He looked at her for a moment wondering should he let her do what had been characterized as sin as per those guide books but seeing her expressions he touched her cheek gently and nodded.
She smiled broadly and pushed him back on the bed and got on him straddling him.
He wondered looking at her face, her naked body, her small exposed breast, her hands on his stomach as she positioned herself on him 'this is a wonderful sight why shouldnt men be allowed to see their wives like this' and then his mind became hazy as she slowly started to move on him rubbing herself against him and before he knew it his hands were on her breast and he sat up, adjusting her, slipping into her, engulfing her body and started moving along with her. When he released himself his lips were on her cleavage and her fingers were in his hair. He whispered looking into her eyes "that was …"
she whispered back "I know" kissing him gently on his lips and smiled as he rolled them on the bed and laid her down. His fingers traced her body and then he stopped thinking what he was doing but she said "don't stop."
He leaned in and kissed her as his hand grabbed her breast and squeezed it and before he knew it for his shock he was on her and making love to her again.
Later he covered her naked body as she wrapped her leg around one of his legs and went to sleep only to be awaken by when she tried to detangle himself form her. He whispered "don't go."
She said touching his lips with her thumb "you know I want to stay with you but if your father finds out he will not let us spend another night together and I would rather leave now then not spend another night with you."
He kissed her saying "me too. I wish we didn't have to sneak around. We are husband wife. You were right we are not committing a sin."
She kissed him once again, put on her shift and left.
For the next two months things went smoothing with them sneaking around at night and no one finding out about their secret. During the day time Klaus had started asking for her presence in his chamber a lot. He loved it when she would sit near the fireplace lost in her book often accompanied by Grace while he read his. When alone in his chamber, he would often ask her about his decisions that he had made during the court and loved her input which sometimes were radical but gave him a new perspective and they would end up discussing and meet half way. During the court session too sometimes while a decision to a complaint filed by a peasant made by him or Elijah he would see her struggling with herself not to interrupt which always amused him. At last one day she blustered in the court about a decision Elijah passed bringing a smile to his face but he knew traditions so he nodded her to sit down.
When later that evening Elijah said to him "you should control her Niklaus. She cannot speak up so openly about what she thinks while her husband is there to make a decision. A wife cannot speak in the court unless her husband is not there to do that job" he felt really annoyed and all the resentment towards him made him want to punch him but then he remembered his promise to Hayley that he will put their indiscretion behind him. But to get back at him, the following day he made it a point to tell Hayley in front of the whole court to resolve one of the complaints a peasant's wife had filed enjoying the look of disgust Elijah gave him. He even started to go to her bedchamber casually to ask her how her day was going taking her and Elizabeth by surprise. He was surprised that he didnt care about the talk about them in the castle. He was even prepared for his father's next lecture but it never came. The feelings he once had for her had woken in him again- the feelings which had prompted him to suggest his proposal to her to his father were starting to emerge. It annoyed him to no bound that they were not allowed to spend any time alone during the day time but both of them would make it up at night time when they shared the bed unknown to anyone and occasionally made love to each other knowing well that they were not committing a sin.
- continued -