A/N: Yay! No long waiting for the new chap this time. I really tried to update sooner. Hope you like it. And yeah, obviously this one is not a flashback. They have not finished though. There are still more to come. So please enjoy and tell me what you think. And yeah, I mean criticism as well ;)

Chapter 10: Pain

The moment she opened her eyes she felt the nausea climb up her throat and she pulled the covers away. She reached the night pot just in time. Her whole body was covered in cold sweat and her legs trembled. With her hands she tried to stabilize herself, but it worked only for a moment and she fell back onto the bed.

Then the pain came, sharper than ever, and she wrapped both arms around her body. Georgiana took deep breaths, but the pain would not leave her. On the contrary, it concentrated itself inside her abdomen.

But after a few minutes it disappeared, just as sudden as it had come. Her breath came hard and she stroked with her hand over her forehead. Then she carefully began to walk towards the water basin. The cool water felt so good on her skin.

She began to dress herself and moments later she was on the steps. Thankfully it was early and Christine was not yet awake. The servants on the other hand were, and When Marguerite offered to make her some tea she could not refuse the offer. A tea was exactly what she needed now.

She sat down on one of the chairs in the small parlor, a hand laid over her stomach. What was wrong with her? Well that was more a rhetoric question than anything else. There was no doubt what was going on.

Two months had passed since she had arrived in Marseille and rung at Christine's door. Two months during witch her constitution had changed for the worse. In those two months the pains had grown sharper, while her limbs seemed to become weaker. Her skin continued to be pale as snow, only that now it had a slightly grayish shade. Her appetite had left her and so had her monthly indisposition.

A few moths ago her life had been so different, so happy. How could all of this happen? She gasped as all of a sudden a new wave of pain rushed through her body. Georgiana clinched her teeth, fighting against the moan in her throat. Luckily there was no nausea this time. She would not know what to do then.

Soon the remaining members of the family came down and joined her in a light conversation before breakfast. That is they led a discussion while she either gave monosyllabic answers or did not talk at all. This behaviour was now nothing to dwell upon and nobody was surprised or offended by it. The only person who did not talk to her was Christine.

Both sisters had not exchanged a word with each other since their fight before Christine had left with the baby to see the family. But although words were not spoken between those two, glances kept being shared from time to time. Christine's eyes would always be filled with concern and disappointment at her sister's obvious lack of trust, while Georgiana's would carry hidden secrets. Secrets no one could read or understand.

It pained the auburn haired girl to see her sister being tormented by her silence. There had been a time when she could confide in the fair sister, but…it was not that she could not trust Christine. By all means, no, Christine was the best sister in the world and could keep a secret like nobody else.

No, but she could not talk to Christine that time. It was exactly like all those months ago, back at their childhood home, when Georgiana had returned from the château in a hurry. Their father, their dear Papa had been greatly injured…by no other than Cinàed himself. She had come back, had kept silent about her time at the castle. She had felt so ashamed of herself. Despite knowing better, she had fallen in love with the man who had not only taken the lives of dozens of innocent people in the area, but also nearly killed her brother and father.

She had fallen in love with a monster and Edmond had known it. Christine had only sensed that something had been wrong, but she had been oblivious to the real circumstances. Georgiana had not wanted to tell her, too great had been her shame at first.

But when Christine had learned the truth she had not left her in her misery. No, on the contrary, while she had feared for Cinàed's life Christine had been the one bringing a tray with food to her, she had been the one holding her hand when Cinàed had started screaming in agony, she had been the one reminding her sister to wash and dress and sleep.

Christine had been loyal, but Georgiana still could not tell her this time. Because this was not about falling in love.

How often they had heard of impoverished families in Marseille whose daughters and wives had to sell their own bodies, just to gain some money for bread. How often they had heard of young girls who had allowed their folly to guide them into the arms of a man. That man would not be their husband, no vows would be exchanged, but still these young women would give away their maidenhood, their most sacred property for nothing. For a life in shame.

They had felt little pity on hearing about these girls. After all they had known what they had been doing, right? But how would Christine react on hearing…on hearing that her own sister had become one of them.

Oh, how she wished she could tell somebody. At times she felt so alone, so…why had he done this to her? What had she done to him? What had she done to deserve this? And from him of all people?

His face was still on her mind, every single minute of a day. Saving promises, sacred to her like prayers. The curve of his neck, the black curls falling into his forehead. The shape of his nose, his lips, his skin, so soft and warm under her touch. His mercury eyes, piercing her soul with every glance, speaking to her without words. The way he ran his hand through his hair every time he was nervous, The way the corners of his mouth would turn slightly upwards and into a mischievous smirk. His voice, like black velvet, soft and comforting. His warm scent.

Yes, she missed him. She longed for him, she wanted him at her side, to take her into his strong embrace every time the pain would come, every time the nausea and the trembling would make it almost impossible for her to stand on her feet.

But how wrong it was of her to wish that, how stupid and weak. How could she wish that after everything that had happened? Perhaps she was not half as strong as she had hoped to be.

That was one reason she could not tell Christine. The other of course being the fact that she hated the idea of bringing shame upon her family.

What they would think of her. Maybe they would ask her to leave. To go into one of those orphanages or perhaps into a monastery. She dreaded the idea to be sent away.

She was so tired of it all. No matter what had happened, no matter where she was, the mere memory of him would not leave her alone, haunting her in her dreams and during the day. She wished it would go away, leave her alone. He still had hold of her.

She wondered how her life had been, had she never come to the château. She probably would have never met him, still be with her family and friends, leading a normal life like every other girl in the world. And she would probably have married someone from the area, but…that too was a good point. Before she had met him Edmond had been the man she had thought to be in love with. They had planned to marry and build up a life together. But if she had not gone to rescue him he would have died that night. Cinàed would have killed him had she not prevented him from doing so.

So basically it was one life for another. Edmond was alive and strong and hopefully happy, while she seemed to die away with every day that passed. She knew the expression might be a little rough, but really, there was no other way to explain it as well as that.