- continued -
Camille was getting her feet soaked in the warm water when the door opened. She looked up and saw Hayley standing there. She said to her servant "leave us alone."
She looked toward Hayley as she walked to her biting lips. As she approached Hayley said "how are you feeling lady Camille?"
Camille said "you shouldn't be calling me this Hayley. We are sisters by marriage."
She bit her lips and blustered "I am with child."
Camille said excitedly "this is a wonderful news Hayley. Niklaus must be thrilled to hear about this news? I had no idea you were ready for him."
She said "not yet lady Camille" feeling guilty that she never suspected that it could have been Elijah's if she had stupidly continued what she was doing with him.
Camille said "stop calling me lady."
She said "but you are older then me."
Camille said "Hayley call me by my name at least when we are alone."
When she kept quiet Camille said looking at her sad face "this is a good news Hayley. I pray that you are carrying a son for him."
Hayley scoffed saying "and I pray it is a girl."
Camille said at once "don't say that. I pray for both of us to have sons. Duke Mikael and his son deserve sons."
Hayley asked "and what do we deserve?"
Camille said "we get what we deserve. People respect us because we are lord wives. It is our job to take care of the castle, run this house, and most importantly to provide children."
Hayley snapped "and what about our personal desires Camille?"
Camille sighed saying "dont talk like that. Now that you are carrying his child you must know that he will not come to you anymore."
Hayley asked looking down at her flat stomach "what do you mean?"
Camille said with a sadness in her eyes "the moment Mikaleson women get pregnant, their men avoid conjugal visits. They dont touch them for until the baby is born and they are clean again. It is not just this family Hayley. It is norm."
She stared at her in shock but then said "as if we are not being through enough, Camille."
She said "Hayley, you are a lady and you should know your place…" and then she stopped talking and her eyes went to the door. Hayley looked around and spotted a young woman standing there.
Camille said "yes Maria come."
Hayley said "I should be going now. You rest."
Before Camille could say anything she got up and left the room.
When he entered his room that night after spending a long day at the lands dealing with peasants and their complaints where he had also managed to hear some random rumors about her and Elijah, he was feeling really annoyed. He realized that even though he was pretty sure that she never went to him after he told her not to, those rumors which were facts now proven by Hayley herself were challenging his ego every time he heard them. He stood in his room for a moment not wanting to go to her or to touch her but he groaned as he thought that he had not been to her for the past two nights and if he were to impregnate her with his child, he had to keep on trying so he sighed and went towards her room from the adjoining door. As he entered with anger in his heart, he stopped in his track as he saw her already asleep which he realized had never happened during the last one month. 'She knew he would come so how come she was sleeping', he wondered in anger but then he went towards her, drew the curtains around the bed which he had started to do after their first time and after shedding off his pants, he sneaked into the bed and pulled her towards him.
She was feeling really tired, exhausted and extremely guilty after her talk with Camille so when he pulled her towards him, she sighed in frustration and said without opening her eyes "not today Klaus. I am…"
He hissed in anger cutting her off "it is Niklaus and you cannot say no to me. I am your husband."
That made her open her eyes soon followed by a wave of anger. She said angrily "then treat me like a wife, not your property which when you want to use you come and when not you discard it, leave it" taking him in surprise.
He asked bringing her nightgown up "wives are husbands' properties. I am sure you were taught that but apparently you forgot it. If you had remembered that you wouldn't have done that sin with my brother?"
Hayley felt as if someone whipped her but the words were out before she could stop them "if you treated me half as nice as he treats me, may be I would never have gone to him."
He said angrily "are you blaming your sin on me?" as he pushed himself roughly in her when she hastily said "be gentle. I am with child."
The moment the words were out, she felt him getting still. There was surprise on his face and shock in his eyes. She suddenly felt very strange and vulnerable with him in her and their child in between them.
He felt a fear in his heart and he asked with trepidation "is it mine?"
She snapped "yes it is yours. I told you that night that it was a month ago, which is now more then two months and it only happened once in a moment of…"
But he stopped her by saying harshly "do you honestly think that I am interesting in knowing why that happened?"
Not knowing what to say she continued to look into his eyes where shock was replaced by something else- which her inexperience couldnt read and then to her shock he pulled himself out and fell on the bed next to her. She stared at him in shock as she recalled what Camille had told her. Suddenly she felt like a discarded piece of clothing and her throat choked up. Unable to say anything, trying to gain her composer she pulled her night gown down and said "so it is true then. Mikaelson husbands treat their wives as unclean utensil the moment they carry his child" causing his head to spin towards her but she had already turned away from him and was trying to sleep.
He stared at her back feeling rather uncomfortable and then he got up, pulled robes together. He stood there looking at her for a moment knowing fully well that she was still asleep and then he left her room.
A few moments later, Hayley looked around and seeing the room empty her eyes brimmed with tears making her wonder why was she upset with all this? Will Klaus ever forget about her and Elijah?
She stayed up all night thinking about how her life had changed since she had gotten married to Klaus. How when she was eleven years old she found out that her father - a great scholar who used to teach Klaus- had given her hand in marriage to Klaus. How they moved to the castle from the manor they used to live in after her mother's death a year after her engagement. How when she turned thirteen they were wed and for the next three years he treated her like a decoration piece. How her father continued to bestow in her his wisdom and knowledge. How now that Klaus was done with his education how she missed seeing him during those study sessions. How disappointed by his lack of interest in her, she had turned to one person who was kind to her, treated her like a human being like the way she wanted to be treated. How when she became woman six months ago she used to lay on that bed looking towards that door hours waiting for him to come to her and make her his wife. How she got disappointed from him and one night, two months ago when she was with Elijah who was consoling her at the death of her father, things happens and one thing led to another and they both ended up committing a sin, which she was unable to take back. How she stopped seeing him for the next few weeks but then they had to face each other and she realized that she was falling for the wrong brother.
She sighed wondering 'were her feelings for Elijah that of love or something else because what she has started to feel for Klaus is different. Much deeper.'
She drifted to sleep thinking about her changing feelings for Klaus.
For the next two days she drifted off to sleep looking towards the adjoining door expectantly wishing it to open but it didnt and when she would wake up in the next morning there was this pit in her stomach at the realization that he didnt come to her because she was carrying this child now. She felt cheap and used and her eyes brimmed up.
As the week progressed she kept herself occupied with teaching Grace, listening to the peasant wives problems in courts trying to catch his eyes but he never looked towards her but at night time she felt his absence strongly as he never came to her. She often wondered why was she so eager for him to come and make love to her knowing well that women are not supposed to have these desire but that is not right she would immediately tell herself. She has desires too. She is his wife. She should demand those rights. During these lonely nights she started to get angry at why do they have to sleep in separate beds. Why cant they share a bed? Her parents used to share beds she recalled but then she remembered the only commoners used to do that nobles had their own set of rules. Every day they had seen each other on the dinner table but even with sitting next to her he never looked towards her which was bringing her down so she decided to visit Camille one day after she was feeling lonely. After she entered the room she smiled at Grace sitting near the fire place reading a book. She asked "Grace, what are you reading?"
She looked up smiling and said "aunty Hayley, it is the poetry book that you recommended yesterday."
Hayley suddenly felt overwhelmed as she recalled she was about the same age as Grace when she was betrothed to Klaus. She shook her head to clear her head, walked to Camille and asked "what are you making now?"
Camille smiled saying "a bonnet for your child."
Grace said excitedly "aunty Hayley, you are having a child. O that is so wonderful. Isn't it mother?"
Camille said smiling "yes Grace. Why don't you go and check on your sister."
Grace got up saying "Emma is fine mother. She is playing with her dolls" but left the room.
Hayley looked at Camille's thoughtful face and asked "what are you thinking?"
Camille smiled, resuming her knitting and said "I was thinking that in just six years or perhaps less then that my Grace will be a mother too. I pray she has sons" causing Hayley's heart to contract.
Before Hayley could say anything she asked "how are you feeling Hayley?"
Hayley smiled, said "I am good Camille. How are you? You are starting to show now and you look beautiful."
Camille laughed and said "it is your kindness that you say that. I know how I look."
Hayley said "trust me, you look beautiful."
When Camille just smiled and picked up the knitting she was doing, she asked keeping her voice a bit low "do you ever feel …"
when she hesitated Camille asked looking confused "what?"
Hayley said "you want him to make love to you."
Camille said "Hayley women cannot have these desires especially when we are with child. It is sin."
Hayley asked surprised "you never wanted to make love to him while you are pregnant."
Camille said "even if I want to, I am not allowed to express my desires to him. I was raised taught that it is always a husbands privilege to enjoy sex not woman. They cannot enjoy it. It is a duty. How can you enjoy it? It is so …"
She said "I enjoy it. I think it is the most intimate thing between husband and his wife" shocking Camille.
Camille said "you are not meant to experience sexual pleasure Hayley. Only …."
Hayley asked starting to get annoyed "why not? We are human too. We have desires too."
Camille said "you shouldn't talk like that Hayley. You are young. You are new to this wedding. Your father had different thinking but you my dear have to live in this society. You should know that enjoying sex is what prostitutes do."
Hayley felt as if Camille had slapped her. She didnt know what to say so she kept quiet watching Camille knitting the bonnet. After some time she got up feeling depressed and left leaving a worried Camille behind.
After going to her room she asked Elizabeth "help me out of this suffocating dress Elizabeth."
When Elizabeth took off her corset and she was just in her shift, she breathed and said "I am not going to be wearing it from tomorrow. It is hard for me to breath."
When Elizabeth nodded she said "put more logs in the fireplace and I need some light so that I can write. After that you can retire. I will change myself for night."
After Elizabeth put the oil lamp on the table near her bed, she settled down and took out her the papers she had been writing for a week ever since she had told Klaus about their child. She wrote "why are wives of nobles not allowed to share their bed with their husbands? Why are they treated like their property? Mother and father used to share bed until the day she passed away. Are nobel men ashamed of their wives. Is that the reason she went to Elijah? No. That was her sin. Nothing to do with how he treated her. Is Camille right? Is my thinking this way because I am young - a woman of mere sixteen years old but women younger to her have kids. She herself is on the way to have a child with him. Then why is her thinking like this? Why is that she had been having this need for him to make love to her. Love to her? What does that even mean? Give me pleasure?! Is that what making love means?"
She sighed, pilled the papers together and closed the ledger. She got up, looked towards the adjoining door for a moment with sadness. She then picked up the nightgown that Elizabeth had laid on the bed for her, changed into it and curled up under the plush blanket. she continued so stare at the oil lamp and then she started thinking she will not be treated like a leaper and should demand her right as her husband. She thought about her father who had taught her so many wonderful things since the day she was born till the day he died two months ago and ever since she had started to forget all his teachings and was becoming like a commoner, losing her education and knowledge he bestowed on her. She closed her eyes tight as the reality of what she had done, now after doing that sacred act with Klaus that is only allowed between husband and wife, started to sink in as she recalled what she had done to betray that knowledge and values he so lovingly had given her and prayed "forgive me my father for I have sinned. Forgive me O lord in heaven…"
She drifted off to sleep after promising herself that she will be loyal to her wedding vows from this day onwards and fight for her right along the way and make him trust in her and fall in love with her.
Where Hayley was feeling miserable because of his treatment towards her and the guilt she herself was feeling, he was conflicted too. The very fact that she cheated on him with Elijah, was still haunting him so he felt relieved that he will not have to go to her considering there was no reason to go to her. She was already carrying his child but a small part of him still wanted to go, see her ask her how she was feeling. The desire to go to her would make him angry and he would intentionally remind himself of what she had done with Elijah. The thought of seeing his child grow in a woman who did such a sinful thing and whom he couldn't even divorce was a biggest betrayal to him. He had come to realize that his already strained relationship with Elijah had deteriorated further ever since he had found out about her and him. They hardly talked to each other and that was too when necessary- both of them knowing well what shame he brought on to Klaus and his family but by now Klaus had realized that he couldn't even do anything about it unless it mean ruining the family's reputation and Camille's life not to mention his own reputation.
A week after her telling him about their child, his father had summoned him to his chamber and said authoritatively "do not go to her anymore until she is carrying this child of yours."
He started at him in shock but left the room without saying anything.
He was so angry that he changed into his riding clothes and went for riding after telling Jackson his guard who normally accompanied him during riding not to accompany him. The whole afternoon he wondered why was he annoyed at his new order of his father's. He knew this tradition so what was it that was bothering him. He then realized that it was one thing to decide for himself but being ordered to not go to her was annoying. He questioned himself that he was ordered by his father to impregnate her too but that he didn't have a problem with that so why does he have problem with this one and it dawned on him as he stared into the fields that because he himself wanted to make her his wife. The new revelation just surprised him and his heart skipped a beat as he thought of her and he thought of past month and a half when he had been laying with her three, four times a week. He realized that even though most of their interactions lacked love making, filled with anger on his side, there was a connection that they were developing making him realize that she was his wife- a person who was depending on him to protect her, to take care of and what did she say "if you had taken half an interest in me maybe I would have gone to him" making him wonder was it his fault that he was ignoring her. The more he thought about it the more he realized that she was right- neglect from him caused her to seek someone who took notice of her and showed care. At last he headed back home. After handing his horse over to Jackson he headed towards his room confused about his changing relationship with Hayley wondering 'why is he so easily willing to forgive her?' and how he cannot break traditions just because he was feeling things for her.
When he entered his room, he stopped as he saw her sitting on the bed. He looked back at the Henrick saying "leave us."
Henrick, if surprised didn't show any signs of surprise and retreated.
He asked still surprised at her boldness to come to his room "what are you doing here?"
She stood up and said with courage "you will not treat me like a leaper as long as I am carrying this child. It was different when I was not carrying your child but now that I am, you cannot ignore me like you used to."
Klaus looked at her in shock, at her boldness and then laughed humorlessly saying "are you out of your mind? Husband and wife don't share a bed unless required Hayley."
She snapped "you mean when he wants to lay with her."
The smile slipped from his face as he glared at her serious face.
She felt flustered by the intensity of his glare but said calmly "you have to decide. Either you let me share your bed or I will make myself amiable to carry another child."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth she was surprised at what she had said, not knowing that her hand had gone to her stomach.
Klaus stared at her not able to believe what she had just said but she looked serious and composed.
She started walking towards the door as he gaped at her and then he grabbed her by her arm bringing her close to him saying angrily "you wouldn't!"
She felt terror at seeing anger in his eyes, the biting of his fingers in her skin caused her to wince but she didn't care and said boldly "try me. It is my body and my child."
He snapped "ours" surprising himself that he was considering this child theirs and not just his.
She laughed and said "ours? We don't even share one room. You have no right to call this child yours until he or she is born. I am growing this child in me. I am going to have all the pains and the risk of dying during birthing this child. Not you. I might be young but I know what a marriage means. I don't agree with these traditions that society had made. You need to decided, what kind of relationship you want with me."
He asked with frustration "why do you even want to stay with me. I remember you being in love with my brother."
He saw her face fell which to his surprise didnt provide him any satisfaction.
She looked at him in shock and then sighed said "I know I have sinned Klaus but you are not punishing me for that. If you had punished me for that I would have felt better but you are not. You are treating me this way because I am carrying this child and I will not be treated like a leaper because of that. You made sure that I become pregnant with your child so I can only conclude that a part of you is wiling to forget about what I did and for that I am grateful for you but I still will not let you treat me this way. And Klaus…" paused for a second and then continued "I dont care about what you or your father does to me" making his pupil expand in shock. In that shocked state of his, she yanked her arm away from him and walked away.
He laid on the bed thinking about what she had said wondering if she was right. Is he ready to put her sin behind them? If he is not then why have this child with her? The more he thought about it the more confused he got and then he started to wonder will she actually hurt his child? Is she capable of taking such a bold action? Thinking about her and his child he drifted off to sleep.
When next day he didnt come to her she felt betrayed and cried herself to sleep. The following day she tried to keep herself occupied with Grace and her books all day refusing to leave her room even though Elizabeth suggested to go for a walk in the garden behind the kitchen. In the evening when she was standing in front of the dresser with her hand on her stomach, Elizabeth came in and said "my lady, dinner is served."
She said "I am not hungry Elizabeth. I like to sleep early tonight."
Elizabeth nodded and helped her get ready for bed and after putting the lamp off and making sure the fire was well lit she left to tell lord Niklaus that lady Hayley was not hungry.
While he was wondering why she was not on the dinner table, she was thinking why he had not come to her even after her warning about hurting the baby then she as if light bulb switched o in her head and she realized that it was not just the traditions that were stopping him but that he was still angry with her about Elijah and had not forgiven him. The pit in her stomach just got bigger and she started to pray for her forgiveness. After a lot of tossing and turning she managed to go to sleep. Next day she was unable to help Grace with her studies so she excused herself and went to the roof of the castle and spend the day pondering on what should she do. By the evening she was really miserable and was not hungry so she skipped her meal again and went to bed. For the next two days her routine remained same and she continued to skip her meals or just eating a little bit and that too in her chamber.
When he didn't see her two days straight on the dinner table, he felt curious but he knew better to ask anyone. Later at night when he laid in his bed he half wished to go check on her but then he hesitated. Next morning after changing his clothes, he went to courts and spend most of the morning there. During the session for the first time in weeks he and Elijah caught each other's eyes and they came to a unanimous decision about a complaint filed by a peasant. After the court was closed, he went to riding with Jackson and Marcel.
Klaus got off his horse, gave the reins to Jackson and headed towards his room. As he entered his room Henrick said "lady Hayley is not feeling well my lord. Elizabeth tells me that she is asking for you."
He groaned but headed towards her room wondering what has happened. As he entered he saw Camille sitting next to her holding her hand while she had her eyes closed but he could see her chest rising and falling from a distance.
As he walked to her Camille said "Niklaus, you shouldn't be here" but he ignored her and sat next to her saying "Hayley" who snapped her eyes open and asked angrily "where were you?" causing him to raise his eyebrows.
He looked around and said "leave us alone."
But Camille didnt move and said "Niklaus it is his Grace's order. You cannot be with her right now."
Hayley said in a tired voice, grabbing his shirt front making him realize that she was burning up "I want you. I need you. For what I have done forgive me. Be angry, say something, hit me but you cannot treat me like this for carrying this child. I hate this child. I hope it dies…" but then stopped speaking as she drifted off to unconsciousness.
Seeing her rising and falling chest gave him some comfort. He looked up towards Camille who looked confused. She said "sometimes high fever makes people talk no sense."
His gaze went back to her as the grip on his shirt loosened and her hand fell on his lap with a soft thud. Looking from her lifeless hand in his lap towards Camille, he said in impulse "you wouldnt tell him ?"
Camille looked at him in confusion and then she understood and said "Niklaus. No. I cannot lie to Elijah."
He said "you have to. Look at her. She is sick. She is stubborn. I am afraid she might do something to my child" unconsciously putting his hand on her flat stomach.
Camille's eyes went to his hand on her stomach and she felt a twinge but said "alright. I will see what I can do but leave before the maids come on. I will tell the maids that she has gone to sleep and does not want to be disturbed."
Klaus nodded. After she left, he took off his riding boot and got in the bed with her in the same clothes, feeling weird as he kept a distance of couple of inches between their bodies, never ever having slept like that before. He drifted off to sleep thinking about what she had said before losing consciousness.
Next morning when he woke up she was still sleeping and during the night sometime, her arm had gone around his torso without him realizing it. He felt weird but it was short lived as a second later as he felt the heat radiating from her arm. He moved his hand on her forehead startling her awake. Their eyes met but then hers drooped again after a second. He removed her arm, got off the bed, walked to the door, opened it and said to the guard "send Elizabeth."
he walked back in and watched her lying in the same spot he had left her with her hand on the empty space he had just emptied. He walked to her and sat down next to her looking down at her tired face.
Flashback Klaus
13th May, 1767
He was reading the poetry with monsieur Marshall when he looked up and saw her playing with her hair with left had while writing something with her right hand. She suddenly smiled as if a thought occurred to her and then continued to write. As he watched monsieur Marshall turned to her and asked "Hayley, are you finished with that book?"
She said "yes father."
He said "bring me some water then."
As he watched she got up, smiled and skipped away.
He looked down and paid attention to his work. He was lost in his work when he heard her say "here father."
He looked up and saw her linking her arms around her father neck looking down at the book over his shoulder with that smile on his face. Looking at that smile, he had been noticing for the past two years which now had become more radiant as she had grown up, the way she was so lovingly hugging her father made his heart skipped a beat and he knew at that very instance that he had fallen in love with Hayley Marshall.
end flashback
After Elizabeth came in he got up and went to his chamber. He changed his clothes and went to deal with his daily court sessions. Later that day he was summoned by Mikael. As soon as he entered his chambers his father asked "I heard that you shared beds with your wife while she is carrying your child. It is not permissible. Have you forgotten the traditions?"
He said feeling annoyed "traditions can be broken father…."
he cut him off by saying "not in this castle. You are not to do that again. The purpose of sharing the bed with her has been fulfilled. She is carrying the heir to this family. Until she is ready to have another child you take care not to share beds with her."
Klaus recovered from the annoyance at his order and said "carrying the heir to his family? How do you know? It can be a girl."
Mikael said firmly "no, it is a boy. I asked Dowser Ansel to find it for me."
Klaus asked now getting angry "when?"
Miakel said "that shouldn't concern you. Now leave."
Klaus looked at him angrily but left the room.
He was pacing his room in anger thinking about what his father had forbidden him to do when he suddenly recalled what his father had told him about the child's gender and all the anger at him evaporated. He suddenly felt really happy that he was going to be having a son. He looked towards the door and suddenly wished to see her so he opened the door and walked in.
Seeing the bed empty he started to turn but stopped and looked towards the bath chamber when he heard her ask "where is lord Niklaus?"
He heard Elizabeth say "lady Hayley, you need to rest."
He stood there for a moment and then he walked towards the bath chamber and saw her immersed in water.
Elizabeth was moving the sponge on her back when her gaze fell on Klaus and she stood up. Klaus motioned her to sit down and asked "how …" her eyes snapped open but as he continued to say "is her fever?" they drooped again.
Elizabeth said "my lord, it is still the same. The midwife said she needs to rest. It is not good for the child if she continues to have fever."
Klaus asked when he noticed some hesitation "what is it?"
Elizabeth said "my lord, lady Hayley has not been eating properly for the past few days."
She groaned and opened her eyes just to hear his bark to her surprise "and isn't it your job to make sure she eats something."
Elizabeth said a bit afraid "I tried lord Niklaus."
He was about to say something when Hayley getting tired of them talking about her said "Elizabeth, give me my robes and after helping me in the bed, you are excused."
She stood up to Klaus's surprise. As his gaze went to her naked body for the first time Elizabeth hastily wrapped the robes around her. She helped Hayley out but her knees buckled.
Klaus saw her knees buckling and before he knew it he was cradling her slightly cooler body saying "I have got you love. I have got you."
He carried her to the bed with her head rest on his chest making the stomach in his muscles tight. He was lying her down when she whispered "I beg you to stay with me. Either tell me that you dont want to be with me because of what I did but if that is not the case then be with me. If you dont I will continue to be hungry."
He looked at her determined face and then asked "dont you care about your child?"
Hayley said "the other day you said this child was ours. Now it is mine. You need to decide, whose child is it?"
He felt flustered but then said "Hayley I cannot."
He saw disappointment on her face to his surprise but she didnt say anything else and after she slumbered on the bed he went to his room after saying to Elizabeth who was still standing there looking down and said "you stay with her tonight."
He was unable to sleep for next few hours. At last he got up and after pacing for a while he went towards the adjoining door. With hands on the knob he hesitated for a moment and then walked back to his bed.
He fell on the bed and drifted off to sleep only to be awaken by a scream followed by his name.
He pushed the covers back and ran towards the direction of the voice which he had immediately recognized as no one dared call him by that name.
As he entered her room, Elizabeth was holding her as she was sobbing. He rushed to her and asked holding her "Hayley what is it?"
And then said to Elizabeth "get me a wet cloth. She is burning up."
He impulsively pulled her towards him and pressed his lips on her hair as he noticed her body getting limp.
He turned around as he heard Elizabeth worried voice "my lord. Lady Hayley is suffering from very high fever. It is not good for the child. Maybe it will help if you give her what she wants from you."
Klaus looked flustered but seeing her limp body, he took the wet cloth from her hand and wiped her face.
He laid down bringing her down with him telling Elizabeth "turn the oil lamp down and draw the curtains"
Elizabeth nodded and left the room after turning the lamp down and drawing the curtains around the bed.
He laid there holding her and not knowing when he drifted off to sleep.
Hayley felt an arm around her startling her awake. She looked towards him but then a few tears fell from her eyes getting absorbed in his nightshirt where her head was resting. She closed her eyes and impulsively wrapped an arm around his body and drifted of to sleep again.
When his eyes opened she had her arm around him and although the fire was still burning in the fireplace, light was peeking from the curtains around the bed. He separated himself from her and sneaked out of bed not wanting to be spotted by any maid.
After being helped with his clothes, he decided to visit his tenants and see to the estate to keep his mind away from Hayley but he was unable to do so. Most of his day got spend at his estate. By the time he headed back with Marcel it was dark.
As he entered his room, he thought for a moment and then he headed towards her room but stopped at seeing what was happening. He darted to her and asked "what is happening?"
An elderly man whom he recognized as the castle physician said "my lord, His Grace wants her to have bloodletting."
He looked towards her and their eyes met. He walked around the bed and sat next to her surprising everyone especially Camille. The moment he sat down he felt her hand slip into his and he felt the squeeze. He saw her lips moving. He leaned towards her impulsively till his ears where near her lips and he heard her say "it hurts Klaus."
He felt warm breath against his ears and then looked towards her eyes as they drooped. He turned to the physician and said authoritatively "it is done. Take it off. She has fainted. Put the bandaged on."
As he watched the puncture on her arm was covered by the bandage as the physician said "now she needs to be fed properly so that her body can produce fresh and new blood curing her."
Klaus didn't know what to say so he kept quiet. He looked toward Camille and said "Camille you can go and rest. I am with her."
Camille looked at him curiously and the he saw her eyes dart to unconscious Hayley but she turned and left.
By morning he realized that he will be unable to keep his heart harden towards her- someone whom he loved deeply once and decided to succumb to her need for him killing his ego so he continued to come to her for the next few days while she was on the way to recovery not bothered about what the rumors that had started to spread in the castle about him spending nights in her bed. During the day time he would be busy with matters concerning his land, reports about estate crops, finances - rents, taxes, customs and dues listing to complaints and disputes regarding tenants would be settled, permission to marry and later at night he would visit her as she recovered from her illness. He would go to her but lay on the bed a few inches away from her not touching her but waking up every morning to find her hand in his. It frustrated him that they didn't talk at all making him realize that something was missing. It took him by surprise when one day she asked him as he was lying next to her staring at the ceiling "how was the court today?"
He turned toward her and after staring into her still tired face, to his own surprise he started telling her about his day in the court- the complained filed by the peasants the the report from the estate. She smiled when he was done and then closed her eyes hinting him that she was tired so he went to sleep too only to be awaken by her hand in his. And then it started happening that she would sometime ask him about his day and sometime give him to read a book to her having no energy to read on her own until she would fall asleep and to his surprise he obliged to all her requests finding them amusing but not weird for some reason.
As the days progressed he realized that his father not once asked him to not accompany her and then it hit him that he must have thought that she is sick and they couldn't perform sexual intercourse- his bigger fear.
At last four days after bloodletting she was able to leave her room so later that day after super they all gathered in the hall and listened to music, playing card while she talked to Grace about what has she been doing during her ill days. Suddenly she felt as if someone was watching her, causing her to look up and she smiled as she caught Klaus looking towards her from across the room where he was reading a book.
Klaus was having a really hard time concentrating in the book as he realized that now she was better he wouldnt be able to go to her anymore. The realization hit him hard and he looked up and saw her talking to Grace. As he watched she looked up and their eyes met and a smile appeared on her lips. She broke the contact and looked down whereas he caught Camille looking at her making him wonder 'what was she looking at?'
A few days later in the evening, Klaus was heading towards his chamber when he saw Camille with her maid and asked "what are you doing here Camille?"
She turned to her maid and nodded. As she moved away Camille walked to him and said "I need to talk to someone."
Klaus asked wondering what was going on "Camille what is it? You can tell me."
Camille wiped her tears and said "Niklaus I asked dowser Aiden to find out if I am having a boy."
Klaus cut her off by saying "Camille. Why are you worried? Boy or girl, your child will be loved. Elijah loves Emily and Grace. He will love his third child too."
Hayley smiled while walking towards her bedchamber as she thought about the baby she had just witnessed at one of Klaus's land tenant's house. She turned to Elizabeth said "Elizabeth Emma daughter is so pretty. It must feel great to be a mother."
Elizabeth said "you will find out in a few months my lady."
Hayley said smiling "yes I will be. Can you bring some boiled water for my feet? They are hurting."
Elizabeth nodded and went towards the corridor leading toward the kitchen while she headed toward her bedchamber when she heard a voice saying "Klaus what should I do? Tell me."
She paused as she listened to Klaus saying "Camille, you should tell him about it. You cannot hide this from him forever."
Camille asked "what will I do?"
Klaus said "come here."
Hayley couldn't bear to hear any more so she practically ran towards her chamber with sinking heart. She opened the door and fell on her bed and was shocked to realize that she had tears in her eyes. She asked herself "why is she crying?" and then she wondered "Camille? Camille wouldnt cheat on Elijah" but then a voice said to her "you cheated on your husband so why not her. She is pregnant and may be Elijah is not giving her attention and she turned to …" she was unable to finish the sentence as her heart sank with the realization that she hated the idea of seeing him with any other woman and then it hit her how hard must have it been for him to accept that she was with Elijah but he still came to her, made her carry his child, came to her every night during her illness not showing once that he resented her past actions which she had an idea that he did deep down. Reeling with guilt she turned towards Elizabeth as she entered the room carrying hot water.
She said "Elizabeth I feel very tired. I want to sleep."
Elizabeth nodded, put the pot down and helped her out of her dress into her night dress. Later she left the room after making sure that fireplace was still lit and turning off a few oil lamps. She laid late into night reeling in guilt and then she realized that she will never be able to wash that mark from her life. All she could do is put the past behind and move forward with honest heart. She once again vowed herself that she will keep her heart open for only his heart and on one else. Suddenly she realized that he had not come to her. She wondered is it because she is feeling better now or because he is busy somewhere else but then shook her head saying "no Klaus will never cheat on her with Camille. He was so angry with her for cheating on him with his brother. HE wouldnt cheat with her on his sister-in-law. But then why was he not here?"
Feeling disappointed she got lost in her past
Flashback Hayley
10th January 1773
She looked towards the musician playing the orchestra and although she was enjoying it she cursed herself for not bringing her shawl as she shivered. She looked towards Camille and saw her draped in a warm shawl enjoying the show She rubbed her arms when suddenly she felt a heavy weight on her shoulder startling her. She turned around and saw him walking away from her.
She smiled recognizing him and pulled her shawl tighter around her to cover herself. After a few moments she looked towards him and caught him looking at her but as soon as their eyes met he looked away to answer something Elijah had asked him.
She realized her heart was racing really fast and the realization that he was her husband hit her really hard and she felt so happy that he belonged to her and only her.
She wondered 'when will she become a woman and he will make her his wife?"
end flashback
She sighed and wondered feeling apprehensive if he will fall back into his previous routine of ignoring her she drifted off to sleep.
While she was unable to sleep Klaus was lying in his bed thinking about Camille and her fears. After seeing her breakdown about carrying another girl and afraid of how Elijah would react to that news he became more convinced that it would be best if she never finds out about Hayley and Elijah and for that he will have to forget about it to - at least treat Elijah as normal as he can. He looked toward the adjoining door, got up and went to her room. Seeing her fast asleep, he fixed her blanket and went back to his room even though the empty space next to her was tempting him to take that spot.
Next morning when she woke up the first thought that crossed her mind was 'she tried but it didnt work. She will just keep on trying hoping one day he will open his heart for her and break some nonsense traditions and be able to completely forgive her.'
As Elizabeth was tying her dress, she said "my lady, this color looks really nice on you."
She smiled touching her stomach saying "thank you Elizabeth" and then she turned to her and said "I want to go the church today."
Klaus had spend the day on the pasture land, mill and dealing with his peasant. In the afternoon he was heading back home with Marcel but as he approached the church he spotted the gathering. One look at the gathering and the man conducting it told him what was going on. He looked at the man, standing behind the woman, in disgust when his gaze went to Hayley with Elizabeth. He wondered what she was doing there and then her eyes spotted him. He couldnt read into her eyes what she was thinking but then she said in a loud and clear voice "I will buy her" looking towards him. He felt a wave of annoyance rise in him. He muttered "handle it" to Marcel and turned his horse and galloped towards the castle in anger.
The man looked towards Hayley and said "lady Hayley, you cannot buy her."
She asked "why?"
He stuttered but then said "where is my price?"
He said "my lady I…"
She looked towards Marcel who said "here is your price" handing him a pocket full of coins.
Hayley walked to the woman trembling in fear. She turned to the man who had taken the coins from Marcel, walked to him and spat at him to Hayley's surprise. Before Hayley reacted, the man's hand swung in air and landed on the woman's face. Hayley shook to her core, took a step towards him saying "you cannot…" but the man was so angry that he pushed Hayley away from her causing her to stumble. If it had not been for Marcel's quick reflexes she would have fallen. He stood her up and grabbed the man from his throat saying angrily "go and enjoy the coins you just got."
He turned to Hayley saying "my lady, you should go back to Castle."
He helped her on his horse, turned to the woman Hayley and just bought and said "you, come to the castle tomorrow." He grabbed the reins of the horse and walked her and Elizabeth to the castle.
When she entered her bedchamber her eyes were stinging at what she had witnessed. She stopped in her track when she saw him pacing in her room.
Klaus was feeling so angry that he felt like killing her when he sensed her. He turned towards her. Their eyes met and then he nodded to Elizabeth who curtsied and left the room closing the door behind her. He saw confusion on her face as she turned to look back at the closed door. He walked to her, grabbed her arm and hissed as he brought her close to him "what do you think you were doing?"
She asked, confused "what do you mean Klaus?"
He said in the same tone "it is Niklaus and I saw what you did at that…" he hesitated and then said "wife-selling event."
Realization dawned on her but she didnt say anything for a moment and then she said "you cannot even say that word and you dont like what I did. He was selling her because she wanted a divorce. She didnt want to live with him. What if I dont want to live with you anymore? Will you sell…" but was unable to finish her sentence as a slap landed on her face.
She said with tears flowing down the cheek "if you don't want to exercise your husbandly right which you have not since I have gotten pregnant with this child, you need to leave."
His anger started to melt at seeing those tear droplets on her eye lashes. He said feeling frustrated "Hayley, you are not to change the norms of society."
She looked up wiping her eyes and said "Klaus I cannot stand there and see cruelty on anyone. If it hurts me just watching that, imagine how humiliating must it be to go thought that. She cheated on him, that was sin but selling her because of that is not right. Men cheat their wives all the time, they are not sold. I cheated on you. Why dont you sell me too?"
The moment the words were out his already open mouth closed shut. He glared at her and then left the room while she fell on the bed crying.
Klaus was pacing his room in anger thinking about what had happened in the wife-selling event and what she had said to him in her chamber when there was knock on his door. He said "come in."
He looked at Marcel in surprise and asked "what is it Marcel?"
Marcel said "I wanted to tell you what happened after you left."
When Marcel was done telling him his anger was back again at the danger she had put herself in. He walked back to her room but stopped as he saw her in her bed and asleep while Elizabeth was tending to the fire. He walked to her, put the throw on her and retreated not meeting Elizabeth's eyes.
- continued-