five months pregnant Hayley
Hayley was sitting in the kitchen garden thinking about her and Klaus's love making last night not knowing that she was smiling when she heard Elizabeth say "my lady."
She looked towards her and asked "what is it Elizabeth?"
The smile slipped from her face at the look and hesitation on her face. She asked with racing heart "what is it Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth said "lord Niklaus was in an accident."
She started towards the castle and then started to run when Elizabeth said "my lady stop. You are with child" but she didnt stop.
When she reached outside his room she took a deep breath and after gaining composer she opened the door.
As she entered she stopped as she saw a few people gathered around his bed. She walked to his bed and gasped as she stared at him lying face down with his skinned back.
She looked around hastily as the door opened and Mikael, Camille and Elijah walked in. Her eyes met Elijah's but while his got excited hers remained worried. She asked "what happened?"
Jackson said "his highness fell from his horse which had gone wild. We had to put it down. His foot got stuck in the stirrup and he was dragged to a distance before the horse was stopped."
She turned to physician and asked "what are you doing to cure him?"
The physician said "we need to take care that his injuries so that they are not infected. Someone has to stay with him all night to make sure he does not lie on his back."
She at once said "I will take care not to see that happen."
There was silence and then Mikael turned to him and said "Lady Hayley, you need to remain silent."
Before she could stop herself she turned to him and said "he is my husband. I said I will take care of him" paused for a second and then continued saying "seeing that I will be taking care of him, is it permissible to share his room?"
Anger flashed through his eyes as he said "no. You are not to burden yourself. You are carrying an heir to the family" and was leaving when the physician said "his Grace he needs someone to stay with him all the time. He needs plenty of bed rest and restriction of activity."
She hastily said "I can do that. What about the change of bandage and washing his wounds every day?"
He asked curiously "you know how to do that?"
She said "yes my father was a scholar and he taught me a lot of things. We had a medical facility near the house where we used to live when I was a young and I used to volunteer."
The physician said "ahh if you have worked in a medical facility then you would know how to clean his wound to stop the infection from spreading. I have put herbs on his injuries. He is sleeping right now but he will be in pain when he gets up."
She looked towards Mikael and was taken back at the anger on his face but at least he nodded and left.
She said to everyone "he needs to rest. Everyone should rest too."
She could feel eyes on her especially Camille's and Elijah's but she turned to Jackson and Henrick "I don't need you. If I require your services then I will call you. Leave."
She looked at Elizabeth and said "get me my clothes Elizabeth" as the room started getting empty.
While he slept Elizabeth helped her change. She got under the blanket with him after pulling the curtains around them.
She turned to face him and saw him sleeping peacefully next to her. She couldn't help but gaze into his peaceful face and then on impulse she touched his curls. She then touched his forehead on the cut on his head and felt her heart contract. As she touched his bare back bandaged he startled and opened his eyes. Their eyes met for a second but then he closed them feeling really tired. He moved his hand on the pillow, grabbed her hand and asked "what are you doing?"
She said "nursing you back to health."
A smile appeared on his lips as he said "looks like tide has turned."
She said "yes it has" squeezing his hand and planting a kiss on it.
He didn't know when his eyes closed again and he fell asleep while she continued to look at him with worried expressions.
Next morning he was lying face down, while she was in her room to changing her clothes when the physician came in and started to apply herb on his back. He said "my lord, we need to do bloodletting to prevent the infection."
He said "when?"
He said "tomorrow my lord. Tonight you need to be bathe so that it will increase the movement tot blood and you are not to eat heavy."
She stayed with him most of the day while he slept under the influence of the potion monsieur Harmon had given him to help with pain.
Later that night when he was in the bathtub partially immersed so to not immerse his back in it, to try his mind to not think about pain in his back, he started thinking about Hayley and how far they had come. And then out of blue after many months he started to think about Elijah and her and his heart sank. He realized that even though he forgave her but that very thought still hurt him. After the bath Henrick helped him in his robes and was helping him in bed when she came in and said "that will be all Henrick."
After he retreated she asked him "what are you thinking?"
He asked still reeling with those thoughts "why are you doing this?"
Taken aback she said "what sort of question is that? You are my husband and it is my duty to take care of you. I might be rebellious at times but I still remember my basic duties as a woman."
Before he could stop himself he said "I wish you had listened to other things that monsieur Marshall taught you" making her feel as if he had slapped her. She gulped her tears but didnt say anything.
After fixing his blanket she said "I will be back" ignoring his "Hayley"
Klaus cursed himself and hoped that she will come back but for a long time when she didnt come back and cursed again that he couldnt go after her in his condition, he looking towards the door feeling drowsy from the herbs monsieur Harmon had given him drifted off to sleep.
After having a good cry in her room when she returned she stopped as she saw Camille sitting next to him dabbing his wounds and him already asleep. She stared at her face with her hands on her stomach. She came out of trance as she saw her hand went to his curls and she felt like snatching it away from there. She cleared her throat and asked "Camille what are you doing here?"
She startled saying "I was just…"
Hayley stared at her burning cheeks and said "thank you but I can take it from here."
Camille said "you must be tired Hayley. I can…"
but she said softly "Camille, go to Elijah. Ask him for your rights."
Camille felt as she had slapped her. She stood up saying "pardon me Hayley. I dont know what I was thinking."
Hayley felt bad for her knowing exactly what she was going through. She held her hand saying "this is what happens when husbands ignore their wives Camille."
She felt bad as she saw tears in her eyes and said holding her hands "Camille, he is your husband. You are carrying his child. You have a right to demand his attention."
After Camille left she fixed the blanket on his body, changed into her night dress that Elizabeth had left for her and laid next to him.
Next morning when he woke up it was bright and she was still in his arms. He said "Hayley, what are you still doing here? It is daytime. My father…"
She said sleepily "he knows that I am not leaving tho room until you get better. Now hush let me sleep" brining an amusing smile to his lips. He said "Hayley I…" but she stopped him by saying "it is alright Klaus."
He said "it is Niklaus" but at the same time felt relieved. He laid his arm over her waist and closed his eyes.
He was startled out of his sleep when his servant said "my lord, monsieur Harmon is here for you bloodletting."
He looked toward sleeping Hayley with his arm on her breast, feeling glad that it was not visible in the darkness caused by the drawn curtains. He said "that would be all Henrick. Leave us."
As Henrick retreated he caressed her face saying "Hayley, love. you need to get up. The physician is here."
She woke up and asked still feeling sleepy "are you sure you want to do this bloodletting?"
When he nodded she sat up saying "then I will stay with you when that happens."
She got out of the bed, put on her robes and went to her room but not before she saw the curtains around the bed being withdrawn. She said to Elizabeth "get my clothes ready and quickly. I need to go back soon."
He was lying on his stomach looking at the wall when he felt the mattress sink. He turned towards her and smiled.
Hayley looked towards the physician anxiously as he placed a tourniquet above his bicep and gave the stick to her to squeeze for the veins to swell. She saw the physician touching the protruding veins and then startled as Klaus hand landed on her lap. She grasped his hand impulsively whispering "if you hurt just squeeze it."
She looked up just in time to see monsieur Harmon putting a small puncture in his vein and the blood starting pooling in the container Henrick had put under his cut.
She continued to look at his face, their eye not wavering when she suddenly felt the grasp of his hand on her hand relaxing and said "can we stop it now? He is fainting."
The physician said "my lady, we have to continue until he faints if we want to prevent the infection."
She squeezed his hand and then leaned in and whispered "just think about our child and nothing else."
She kept on holding his hand until it totally relaxed and his eyes closed and then the physician stopped the bleeding, washed the area with water, bandaged it and said "he needs to rest now."
When his eyes opened the first thing he saw was her sleeping peacefully holding his arm. He felt really fatigued so he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her towards him and continued to sleep.
Next morning after making sure he was comfortable she left Henrick in charge and headed towards the court feeling nervous about taking his role in the court. She could feel eyes on her and that didnt help the nervousness. She listened to the peasants who worked on Klaus's land, reports from the estate, land and complaints like she has been doing for the past one year but today she felt a great sense of responsibility. She felt a mixture of relief and annoyance when Elijah, whom she tried her best to ignore, handled most of the complaints.
She was going towards his bedchamber after the court ended when Camille asked her "Hayley what are you doing?"
She asked confused "what Camille?"
Camille said "showing your affection for your husband publicly is not acceptable Hayley."
She looked at her in confusion and then said "Camille I am just taking care of him, providing him comfort. Is it not a wife's responsibility?"
And then walked away leaving Camille speechless.
For the next few days everything went round the clock. He started to heal and every time he opened his eyes she was there pampering him to his surprise. During the silent moments before falling to sleep he realized that he was getting short tempered but not once she showed her annoyance at his behavior. Often he would ask her to sit with him when he was bored out of his mind and she was supposed to go to the court but she would oblige after sending message to Elijah by Elizabeth or Henrick's hand that she will not be able to make it. She was washing his wounds twice a day, putting new bandages after cleaning them, making sure he was eating properly, making sure he was comfortable.
Five days after his bloodletting he suddenly woke up from the pain in wounds. From the evening light in the room he realized it was near evening. He tried to go back to sleep but couldnt so he turned his face towards the fireplace and and saw Grace sitting opposite Hayley near the fireplace. As he watched she said "women are not inferior to men and although they should be obedient to their fathers and brothers and husband but under no circumstances they should be allowed to be abused. If you want your husband to give you respect then you are not committing a sin. It is your right. God created this relations to have mutual respect between them. If you love him then you deserve his love too."
He continued to stare at them when his ten year old niece asked "do you love uncle Niklaus?"
She smiled, touched her cheek and said "more then you know and one day you will find someone too whom you will love to no bounds. Remember that day, dont let him treat you like his property. You have rights. You should demand for them…"paused for a moment and then continued "under the boundary of morals and respect. Asking for them in a loving way is not wrong Grace."
After a moment of silence she said "your mother told me that you are to be betrothed to lord Tyler in just over a month. Do you like him?"
Even from the distance Klaus could see red sneaking in his niece's cheeks and he wondered 'has she become that old to be betrothed?' but then he focused his attention to what she was saying "I dont know how I feel. Did you like uncle Niklaus when you were betrothed?"
Hayley smiled and said "I have known him since I was very young. My father used to teach him so we used to visit the castle a lot. I used to admire him. He was different then other boys. I dont remember how I got betrothed to him but I was about your age. I dont know how I fell in love with someone else but then I realized my mistake and I saw that Klaus was the one God selected for me and I vowed that day that I will give my whole heart to him and since then my heart belongs to him."
She asked "and his?"
She looked down at the book and said smiling "you should ask him that. It is time for you to go and rest. Go. We will continue from tomorrow. Remember Grace speak up your mind but in the sphere of respect. Shouting unnecessary does not take you anywhere. Use the wonderful brain God has given you and use it well. Now go, Sleep tight and think about what we have talked about."
As he watched Grace got up and was leaving when she stopped at the door and asked "why do you call him Klaus?"
He smiled waiting to find out why she called him that and not by his proper name.
But when Hayley said "I dont know, it is just something that make me feel that he is mine and I am the only one who can call him that" it warmed his heart.
Grace smiled and left the room closing the door behind her.
He closed his eyes thinking of what she was talking to Grace about. It was a startling information that she loved him. He wondered when did that happened and then the more he though about her the more he realized that she has been in love with him for a long time and that is why she felt betrayed when he ignored her. Soon he drifted off to sleep again not wanting her to know that he had overheard her conversations with Grace.
A few days later he had fully recovered so after Henrick helped him into his night clothes and retired he thought of telling her how he had been feeling about her latterly disregarding the traditions. He walked toward her room as she had not come to him yet, opened the door and stood there looking at Elizabeth tying her hair. He wondered 'has he ever seen her hair loose' and suddenly wished he could see them. He took a step when he heard her say "Elizabeth, if I die during the childbirth, will you be there to take care of my child."
His heart jumped to his throat as if someone was constraining his breathing. He started to retreat when he heard Elizabeth say "I will, my lady. I will."
He could hear the hurt in her voice when she said "you will stay with my child even if he gets married again. Give me your word."
He felt as someone was whipping him making him realize for the first time that these thoughts had never crossed his mind and just the possibility of it made his heart sink.
He stopped at the door but then turned and walked to them. He touched Elizabeth's shoulder startling her and then motioned her to leave while she said "I was so scared when he was hurt. I never realized how much I love him until he got hurt."
She wiped her tears and startled as she felt arms go around her chest and pulled her towards him. She asked "how long have you been here?"
He leaned in kissed her neck saying "a long time but your eyes were not looking for me."
He felt wetness on his arms startling him. He turned her towards her and asked "Hayley what is it?" lifting her chin.
She said in teary voice "how can you forgive me for…" but he cut her by kissing her. She couldn't help but return the kiss. He said after breaking the kiss "forget about the past Hayley. You have been loyal to me ever since and that is what I want to remember about our marriage. Since I made you my wife you have been loyal to me."
She said still in teary voice "Can we move from here? This castle will never make me or you forget what I did. I know I cannot break that connection with him because he is your brother. I don't want to end you ties with him but seeing him everyday reminds me of the sin I committed."
He said after looking into her tear filled eyes "yes we can. After our child is born we will. Let me get my manor ready and then we will move there. Happy."
She said "partly."
He asked "and the other part, which is sad. Why is that?"
She looked into his eyes and said "I want you."
Hayley felt her heart sink when he continued to look at her without making a move and then she felt his hand on her back and something being pulled from her hair making the bun open and the hair fall on her shoulder. She smiled when he lifted her chin saying "I want to see them open whenever I am doing this."
She asked smiling now "what?"
He scooped her up, carried her to he bed, pulled the curtains around them, leaned in and started making love to her.
Next day he went to the court for the first time in two weeks and from Elijah he found out that she had been covering courts in his absence which he knew but still made him wonder how come his father allowed it. That afternoon when his father called him in his chamber he had made up his mind so he listened to his father calmly when he said "you are healthy now so she needs to go back to her chamber."
He asked "why?"
Mikael looked at him in surprise but said "because she has done what she was supposed to do."
Klaus asked controlling his anger "and what was that?"
Mikael said "nurse you back to health."
Klaus said "hmm now it is time to remind her of her place."
Mikael said angrily "Niklaus!"
He said coldly "she is my wife and it is up to me when I require her."
He turned and left the room before Mikael had anything to say to him. When he entered his bedchamber later that night, the curtains around his bed were withdrawn. He cursed and barged into her room.
Hayley was lying on her bed thinking of whether she should to to his room or not when the door opened and he came in. She could see anger on her face from distance and wondered 'what had happened?'
He stared at her for a moment, then walked to her, removed the blanket angrily, scooped her up causing her to yelp and carried her back to his room saying "you will share my bed from this day onwards."
Hayley said "Klaus, His Grace…"
He snapped "you are my wife not his! I tell you what I need from you and you will oblige."
He gently dropped her on the bed and went to change his clothes leaving her bewildered. When he got under the blanket she asked "what happened?"
He said angrily "nothing."
He expected her to say something but when she didnt he turned to her and asked still angry "do you want to share this bed with me?"
Her eyes widened in shock and she hastily said "yes I do. Why would you even doubt that?"
He pulled her towards him aggressively and said "then never question it again."
He relaxed as he felt her arm go around him after a few silent moments and they both drifted off to sleep.
From that day onwards it became a common knowledge in the castle that lord Niklaus was sharing his bed with his pregnant wife but he was not concerned about anything and in a matter of days the news became old and died.
Hayley went to meet Camille after many days realizing that she had not been to visit Klaus since that day and they had not talked since they had talked after the court. To her relief their meeting went smoothy without anyone of them mentioning those two interactions or the fact that she was sharing the bed with her husband while she was pregnant.
She started to feel as if life couldn't get any better as she thought 'Elijah was way in her past. They had not crossed their paths for a long time. She was in love with her husband and he too cared about her. Camille and she were friends and she was growing her husband's child in her.'
Klaus was happy as he realized that he and Hayley were getting closer and closer to each other by the day. Even though he had not forgiven Elijah but he had forgiven Hayley and that incidence he had realized that he will never forget but he had learned to put it behind him and move on. Many evenings they spent together while she read books related to literature, poetry while Grace sat with her and then to his surprise one day he started to paint her and Grace as she was explaining Grace some poem.
She would watch him as he would do sword practice with Marcel hoping that he does not hurt. Once he had a fight with Elijah during which she was pretty tense but things turn out okay.
Twice a week he would go to hunting, hawking or inspecting the estate.
While he would be busy in his courts she would be listening to betrothals and attend parties with Camille talking about poetry, marriages and country love. She had started to spend a lot of time with Grace who was to be betrothed in a month teaching her to dance for the party in the honor of her engagement.
He was putting his coat on when he looked up as the door opened and she walked to him and said "can you tie me up?" causing him to raise his eyebrows.
She smiled and said "get used to it. I want you to be my husband in all sense and I want this to be done by my husband when he can."
He stepped behind her and asked "dear God Hayley, how do you breath in it?"
She sighed saying "with difficulty. That is why I would love you to take it off as soon as we are back in this room."
He said "I would rather tear this rather than wasting time on untying."
She smiled and said "a little tighter."
He said "Hayley you are with child."
She said "I know. Dont worry I am not wearing a corset."
She smiled as she felt a kiss land in the folds of her neck followed by "good. For a moment I got worried."
He turned her towards him after he was done, leaned in and kissed her saying "you look stunning but I cannot wait to take out out of this so that you can breathe."
She asked smiling "have you met him?"
He said "yes. Elijah introduced him to him. Seems like a good boy. He is son of one of Elijah's friends - Lord Lockwood."
She said "I hope she is happy. I asked her a few days ago but she does not know how she feels right now."
He stepped towards her saying "I know. I heard you."
She gasped turning red to his amusement as she recalled the conversation but he smiled saying "I am glad I heard because however modern you become I dont think you would have staid that to me."
She felt flustered and said "I would have."
He said rising his eyebrows "really?"
She said "I lov…" but stopped heat rising in her cheeks at the intensity in his eyes.
He laughed, kissed her and said "I love you too. Now lets go we are getting late."
She asked surprise "you want to enter with me?"
He said "yes" as he grabbed her hand and kissed it.
When they entered the big hall side by side a few minutes later a smile appeared on her face as she saw an orchestra playing and a couple of people dancing. As they walked towards their designated chairs, couple of eyes fixed on them bringing a smile to Klaus's face. He realized that making an entrance with Hayley was something he had been looking forward to since this morning.
A while later they both parted their ways as she went to talk to ladies and he continued to entertain gentlemen along with Elijah. She looked around wondering who lord Tyler was. There was only one young man who was talking to Klaus whom she suspected to be lord Tyler but she didnt want to ask Camille giving her a reason to comment on her curiosity. Hayley looked towards Grace after a while standing quietly next to her maid. As she watched her, she looked up and caught her eyes. She moved closer to Camille and asked "why aren't they dancing?"
Camille said "I don't know. Probably shy."
She asked a bit hesitantly "do you mind if I tell them to dance?"
Camille looked a little hesitant but then nodded. She walked towards Klaus talking to someone. After slight hesitation walked to him and stood there quietly as he continued to talk to the young man. When he was done talking Klaus turned towards her and said "Hayley meet Lord Tyler betrothal to Grace."
Hayley felt flustered but said "it is nice to meet to you Ty… lord Tyler."
She then added "may I borrow my husband for a minute?"
Klaus looked towards her curiously but walked with her to a side.
She said "why are you talking to him? Encourage him to dance with Grace."
He said "because it feels good to know him more. He looks confident but he is really nervous."
Hayley said "he looks more confident then you were when we got married. You didnt even dance with me" causing his eyebrows to raise. He stepped towards her saying "and I regret that to this day?"
He turned back towards Tyler and said "I will talk to him. Dont move from her. I want my dance" surprising Hayley.
Hayley looked towards him with a smile as he said something to Kenner who turned towards Grace and nodded.
Hayley startled as she heard Elijah ask "you look lovely today Hayley."
Hayley felt her heart skip a beat but smiled and said "such a happy occasion. Grace seems happy Elijah."
He said "yes. She and you."
She turned to him and with racing heart said "Elijah I have put that night behind me. I am carrying your nephew or niece. Respect that." She paused for a moment and then said "Klaus knows about us."
He said "I know and I am glad that he and you are making progress in your relationship."
She said "dont take his effort in getting our relationship to this place as his acceptance to what we did. We sinned Elijah. I am going to pray for forgiveness for the rest of my life and you should too. You have a wonderful wife who loves you. I vowed I will be loyal to him. Just like you should be for Camille. She needs you. She wants you."
She startled as she felt a hand on her waist biting into her waist followed by him saying icily "come, dance with me."
At one glance she saw anger on his face making her heart sink. She focused her attention to the dance floor and she noticed a few more couple standing in the dance floor, one of them to her amusement was Grace and Tyler. When the music started they started moving around the dance floor in a perfect rhythm, her not doing excessive movement while she was passed from one man to another gently twirled and at last to him. She wanted to tell him what had happened but he passed her to Tyler who to next man. When the music ended their curtsied and stepped back. She felt her heart sink as he stayed away from her during the rest of the ceremony.
In a few minutes Klaus got busy with talking to courtiers whereas Hayley and Camille entertained the company.
Later food was served. She was so distracted that she picked up a glass of wine which was immediately taken away from her hand followed by a hiss "are you out of your mind?" causing her to startle. She asked confused "what?"
He showed her the drink saying "this."
She said in shock looking around "God, was I going to…? Did anyone see?"
Klaus said "hopefully now."
She said on the verge of crying "Klaus, nothing happened. I told him…."
He cut her off by saying "we will talk later and it is Niklaus. Not now" gulping her drink.
She looked at him with sadness and then spotting Camille who went towards a room where she knew card were being played. After some while she looked up and spotted Klaus sitting on the opposite table playing cards. Their eyes met and from distance he could see tears brimmed eyes and his heart ached for her. He wanted to hug her but then he recalled how close she was standing with Elijah. He wanted to punch Elijah for even talking to her but considering the occasion he had restrained himself.
After retiring into her room as Elizabeth was helping her out of her dress she said to Elizabeth "that is enough Elizabeth. I can do the rest."
Elizabeth said "my lady, are you alright."
She turned all of a sudden and hugged her crying "Elizabeth, I have done the biggest sin in my life. I will never be forgiven for that. God will punish my child for my sin. He will never forgive me."
Elizabeth patted her back feeling bad for her and said "my child, He is capable of forgiveness you and I cannot even imagine."
Klaus hands were on the door when he heard her say "he thinks I am still with him. How can I make him believe that he is he only one in my heart?"
Elizabeth said "my lady, he hurts seeing you with anyone. Do you know why?"
When she nodded Elizabeth said "he loves you my lady."
She asked wiping her face "if he does then shouldn't he trust me."
Elizabeth looked at her young innocent face and said "no my lady. When you love someone and there is a bad incidence between them then the seeds of doubt are easy to start. You have to earn his trust."
He couldn't stand there anymore so he entered the room. As his eyes met Elizabeth's over her shoulder he nodded signaling her to leave. Hayley turned around as she saw Elizabeth curtsying and hastily wiped her tears. As the door closed he held her form her shoulders, turned her towards him and said "you know she is right. I do love you and that is why even seeing you with Elijah makes me angry. WE should move from her as soon as we can."
HE pulled her into his are as she said "Klaus please forgive me. I…."
but he said "I have forgiven you Hayley. I just need to get control of my temper when I see you with him which I am sure I will be able to manage with the passage of time. You have to be patient with me."
That night after making love to her he pulled her towards her, fixing the blanket over her naked body, sighed and closed his eyes not believing that he was so scared of his father about all of this. She was right- they are husband and wife and they have a right to do so and she is beautiful. They went to sleep not knowing that someone came in the room, parted the curtains and looked at them and retreated.
Next morning he was summoned by his father and was asked "do you want your child to die?" causing him to curse the servants in the castle wondering who could have told his father.
He said "father I told you that she is my wife. If she and I want to please each other then we can."
He said "no. you cannot. If anything happens to my grandson."
He said angrily "before becoming your grandson, he will be my son. And I can do whatever I want with my wife."
After saying that he dashed out of his room in anger.
Next morning after the court as they walked out Elijah said "why are you treating her like that?"
He looked toward him and asked "how?"
Elijah said "a prostitute. You should not display your love for her so openly."
Before he could stop himself he lost his temper and he punched Elijah on his face. He hissed "I love her Elijah. Get out of my way."
Elijah said massaging his jaw recovering from the shock "you are committing sin Niklaus. If you love her then keep it within the confines of your bedchamber. Not tell the whole world about it."
Klaus had hardly taken a few steps when he heard him say that. He turned to face him and asked in shock "I am committing sin? I am?!"
Seeing Elijah's face suddenly gone pale gave him some satisfaction. He continued saying "No Elijah, I have not and if I have kept my mouth shut then it is for this family, for Hayley, for Camille, for your children, my child and for myself. Not for you. Every time I see you I feel like doing something for what you have done but you have a wonderful wife and kids who unfortunately need you and for them I am letting you go. Go to her and never ever question my relationship with Hayley again."
He turned away from him in anger and walked away.
He was so angry that he couldn't even concentrate during hawking so he headed back earlier then usual. When he entered his room Henrick said "my lord lady Hayley is sick." He went to her room wondering what had happened this time and saw Camille and a few ladies along with his father there. He asked Camille "what happened?"
Camille said looking worried "she is bleeding."
He asked getting worried now "what? how?"
Camille said "nobody knows. Mary, the midwife is checking if the child is alright."
He darted to the drawn curtains ignoring Camille's "stop Niklaus."
and Mikael's "I told you."
Before he could say anything the midwife parted the curtains and said "the child is safe but from what Elizabeth told me it seems that someone tried to kill lady Hayley."
He turned towards Elizabeth in shock asking "what?"
Elizabeth said now crying "her food was poisoned my lord."
He asked in the same tone "how do you know?"
She said "lady Hayley wanted to sleep early so I brought her food early to her room. After eating a bit she asked me to take it away. A few minutes later when I was leaving the kitchen I saw the cat dead near her tray my lord."
He looked around asking "where is monsieur Harmon?"
He started pacing the room wondering 'where was the physician' while she laid there feeling worried for their child.
After what looked like eternity the physician came and after checking her he said "I will give her something to drink that will help her with this. She should be fine in a few days but if she does not feel better, we will have to perform bloodletting. She is to stop any excessive activities. Her maid told me that she digested a little food which might have saved her life."
He felt as if he could breath and not caring about the gathering he bend his head and planted a kiss on her forehead.
As Elizabeth helped her drink some water mixed with the herb, the room started to empty.
He said to Elizabeth "stay with her. I will be back" and went to his room.
After changing his clothes, when he came back he saw Elizabeth was gone but there was someone else whom he couldn't see because of curtains. He hurried towards her thinking of what had happened that evening and then stopped as he heard a very familiar voice say "I am sorry Hayley. I dont know what I was thinking. Ever since I found out you are having a boy I got jealous. Why do you get to have a boy and me a girl. Please forgive me Hayley. I pray that you get better. I am so happy your child is fine" followed by a sob.
He couldnt believe his ears but then he backed away and hid behind the curtain.
After Camille retreated from the room the realization started to dawn on him. He laid next to her holding her tight, putting his hand on her pregnant stomach wondering what should he do and then at last after a lot of thinking he decided if things took a turn for worse then he would take some action.
For the next few days she stayed in her bed as monsieur Harmon had advised her bed rest and she felt relieved that she started getting better and no bloodletting was performed. On one hand she was relieved that she was getting better but on the other hand she was getting bored out of her mind but the fear of what she was about to lose made her sit in that bed and rest. She felt relieved that everyday Grace and Camille visited her. She felt Camille a bit withdrawn but then she thought it was because of her last days of pregnancy. Klaus was wonderful with her. On the second day of her illness when she woke up she found herself in his bed. Later that night night as she was waiting for him she opened her ledger and wrote "I still cannot believe that he told me that I will be sharing his bedchamber with him from this day onwards. It feels wonderful. Wives should be allowed to share their husbands' bedchamber. Living in a close contact can only bring them together and flourish their love for each other."
She was so lost that she didnt notice the door open.
He walked to her, seeing her sitting on the bed looking down at something and then he realized that she was writing something. Now curious he walked to her and seeing her so lost wondered what she was doing but then he laid on her bed and asked "what are you doing?" startling her.
She looked up, smiled and said "writing. How are you?"
Klaus looked over at the ledger she was writing in and asked "I am good but what are you writing?"
Hayley said "my experience as a wife to a lord and how much I have learned from it. From what my father taught me. From what being with you has taught me."
he asked "and what about what you taught me?"
She smiled saying "I had no idea you learned something from me."
He said holding her hand "you taught me that it is okay for a wife to ask her husband to give her pleasure. It is oaky for them to live together, share a bed, not to treat her like a leaper" he smiled as he touched her stomach "when she is carrying his child."
She put the ledger down, smiled and said "I think I didn't have to work too hard. Your thinking was already different from an average person."
He scooted over, put his head on her lap and said "lets see if you can say it today."
She asked running her fingers through his hair having an idea what he was talking about "what?"
He said with a mischievous smile "I love you."
She smiled and said "I…" feeling flustered why she was getting shy about the simple three toward and then she snapped "stop looking at me like that."
He laughed and asked "like what?"
She said "like this" and then before Klaus could get up she put her hand on his eyes and said "I love you."
He removed his hand laughing now and pulled her towards him kissing him saying "all your modern approach to life ends here and I love it Hayley."
He sat up, pulled her towards him as they laid against each other comfortably. She had almost closed her eyes when she heard him say "the first time I realized I loved you was a month before your father agreed to give your hand in marriage to my hand" causing her to snap her eyes open.
She looked up shocked and asked "what?"
He said smiling now "I asked my father to ask monsieur Marshall to give your hand in marriage to mine."
She asked "but you never showed any interest in me."
He didnt say anything for a minute and then said "because you had already started showing interest in Elijah."
She said "Klaus…"
He smiled and said "it is Ni…" but then stopped and continued "I know Hayley. That was our past. We are going to make a wonderful happy future."
He heard her sigh of relief and her felt her hand on his chest and along with her drifted off to sleep.
4 months later
Hayley asked exhausted "Elizabeth where is Klaus?"
Elizabeth looked at her in shock and said "my lady, lord Niklaus cannot be with you."
She slumbered back on the bed feeling tired of all that pushing.
She said after a moment "I beg you. I want to see him. Just for a moment. I beg you" but then screamed so loud as the pain hit her
Elizabeth said "my lady, just a little while."
Klaus was pacing outside the room anxiously when he heard her scream. He looked towards the door and suddenly he remembered the conversation she was having with Elizabeth about taking care of his child if something happens to her. He shook to his core and impulsively headed to the door when he heard a reprimand from Elijah "Niklaus" but he ignored it and pushed the door open.
Hayley fell back on the bed, exhausted as someone Camille dabbed her forehead saying "hush. You are doing great. Just a little while longer."
She said pleading on the verge of crying "Camille I beg you to call him. I want him. I need him."
Camille said "Hayley…" when the curtain parted and he entered.
Camille gasped "Niklaus you cannot…" and hastily covered Hayley with the blanket.
Hayley had her eyes closed when she heard her say. Her eyes snapped open and she looked towards him sighing with relief and fatigue at the same time "Klaus."
Klaus said "I am here Hayley" as he knelt on the floor holding her hand. She opened her mouth to say something but a wave of pain hit her and she screamed.
Klaus didnt know what to do so he looked towards Camille panicking who said "Hayley push. Just push."
She braced herself and pushed hard squeezing his hand.
and then slummed on the bed again.
He looked towards the midwife who said "just a little more lady Hayley. Your child is almost there.
Klaus turned his attention to Hayley who had her eyes closed. He hastily said "Hayley."
She said tiredly without opening them "stay."
He got up, sat on the bed pulling her body towards him so that her back was resting against his chest missing the surprised look on Camille's face. Grabbed her hand, he planted a kiss on her hair saying "you have been so brave Hayley. Just a little more and we will become parents."
She sighed very tired to say anything when she felt a pain. She leaned forwards and started to push.
Klaus held her body tightly as she pushed and then they heard a cry and she slumbered back.
He removed the sweaty hair from her forehead saying "you did it Hayley" and then said to Elizabeth "call monsieur Harmon to assist Mary with rest."
Hayley asked confused now "what?"
He said "Hayley it is very important that it is taken out completely. He is a physician. He will assist Mary to remove it completely. Mary told me that if some part of it is left in her, you can die."
Mary handed the baby to Elizabeth to clean him and turn towards monsieur Harmon who had just entered the room.
Hayley started to feel really conscious having a male doctor doing something so private and said "Klaus."
Following her gaze to the physician he said "it is alright Hayley. He is a physician."
She looked towards Elizabeth as she walked towards her with the baby wrapped in a brown plush blanket in her arms. She said "my lady. You have given birth to a beautiful and healthy son."
She smiled saying "really?!" at the same time feeling a squeeze on her hand. She looked towards him and then towards Elizabeth who put the baby in her arms.
Klaus looked over her shoulder at his child she had just brought into this world and kissed her impulsively.
Elizabeth said "your son needs to be nursed, my lady."
She looked towards Camille questioningly who smiled, handed her a shawl and said "just try it. It is a natural instinct. You will know what to do. After they are done, I will tell Elijah and his Grace."
Hayley looked towards her as she withdrew the curtains from around the bed when the physician said "it is done" and got up. After the physician left Elizabeth brought some heating pans and slipped them under the blanket.
Mary said "lady Hayley you need to have healthy food to recover quickly but if you start to have fever then we will have to do blood-letting. Elizabeth, make sure that if she has fever immediately inform monsieur Harmon."
Camille felt a twinge in her heart as she saw her resting against Klaus's chest with a son on her breast but then she fixed her blanket and then turned towards the door. She paused as she reached the door, turned back and noticed Klaus's lips on the side of her temple, his hand on her arm and smile on her face.
She smiled and prayed 'O Lord please let Tyler be as good to my Grace as Niklaus is to Hayley', opened the door and then closed it behind.
She walked to Elijah, smiled and said "it is a boy."
Elijah smiled, walked to her saying "this is a wonderful news" and held her hand to her surprise. He said "let me go and tell father."
He looked around and seeing the corridor empty he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it shocking her and then left leaving a smile on her face.
As she nursed their child Mary told her what to expect that first night. After sometime she looked down and saw that he had gone to sleep which she thought was a good thing as she was really exhausted by now. She gave the baby to Elizabeth while Mary helped her lie in the bed and fixed her blankets. She said "you need to rest my lady."
After she left Klaus turned to Elizabeth who was putting the baby in the cradle next next to his bed and said "you sleep in lady Hayley's old room Elizabeth so that if we need you, you are close by."
She asked "my lord, I can take him with me…" but Hayley snapped her eyes open and said hastily cutting her off "no. I want him to stay here Elizabeth."
Elizabeth smiled and walked towards the adjoining room after drawing the curtains around the bed while Hayley closed her eyes again.
After she retreated, he laid next to her when she said opening her eyes in a very tired voice "are you certain that you want to sleep with me? Now that I am unclean" bringing a smile to his lips.
He said "more then you know" kissing her gently on her lips.
She asked wrapping an arm around his torso "what is his name?"
He smiled and said "Kaleb Mikaelson."
She smiled and said closing her eyes feeling really tired "I like it."
Immediately he felt her body relaxing and he knew that she had fallen asleep. He engulfed her body in his arms, heard her sigh of relief in her sleep and closed his eyes with a smile on his lips.
The end
A/N: I hope you liked it. I loved writing this one because many of the things really used to happen in that time and age. They still happen in some culture around the world unfortunately. My attempt was not even close to depicting the real problems faced by wives of that era but I tried to explain a couple of their issues. I imagine that is how the change started which started somewhere late in the 18th century, with one person (woman and man) and then to another and here we are today.
Do keep in mind that even though the traditions and practices were real, the setting and solution to them is my vision and should not be compared to realism. I am sure it was not easy for men and women who wanted to break tradition as it seems from this story.
td, last part is especially for you. In the original draft I had not written the birth scene and was just mentioning it in the A/N but after reading your last comment I decided to elaborate that scene LOL. Turned out good I think. For those who are confused why would Klaus's father agree to get him married to a woman from a lower social status he did it because of what the dowser had told him - that Hayley will be carrying the heir to the family. And if some of you are thinking that Klaus shouldnt have forgiven Hayley that quickly I want to say that people make mistakes. She made a huge mistake and she had been trying to repent for it ever since. It takes a man with big heart to forgive someone who would make a mistake like that and that is what Klaus did. Just to clarify he didnt forgive her just because he loved her. He did it for his family, for his sister-in-law, for their child and for himself too.
thanks for reading :)