[reinhardt estate, cork] i'm no good without you | wolfgang

She could not believe the audacity of the man she had once considered a close friend and an almost lover. Could not phantom the gall that had possessed him to kiss her in that matter in front of so many onlookers as if her marriage to Wolfgang had not been common knowledge to everyone in Britain and possibly beyond. And yet, she loathed herself most of all for allowing it to happen, her lips slightly parted in surprise as she stared up at his smiling face, the lack of expression on her own surely leading their small audience to believe all sorts of things in regards to the nature of their relationship. Genevieve had sought him out to trump his advances once and for all, she was happily married to the love of her life and unbeknownst to everyone apart from her maid, was carrying his child. Why on earth would Genevieve ever want to risk such a beautiful thing for one night with some pretty face she had used for the sake of making her husband jealous? She had made her words clear, her tone evenly reminding Nicholas that not only was she married but had no intention of ever having an affair. Wolfgang had owned her heart since the very beginning, the ring on her finger and her new last name only further proved that they were one another’s and nothing could ever challenge that.

And yet why would Wolfgang believe her? Every time they encountered one another she flinched at the thought that it might be the very day that he would hear what had transpired at brunch at the Barcroft estate last weekend. Unable to sleep and feeling a little emotional, Genevieve had made her way over in the early hours of the morning to demand that Nicholas cease his advances once and for all. The flirting had been harmless, of that she was certain, but in her condition, things affected her differently than they did before and rather than enjoy the attention the young heiress had been overcome with guilt. By the time brunch was served, Genevieve had dried her eyes, composed herself and was intent on returning to her husband to tell him of all that had transpired. Of course, that had been before Nicholas had so brashly pressed his lips against her own upon opening the door to allow her out and much to her horror, the people standing about in the lawn preparing for a day filled with endless breakfast and mimosas looked upon them with curious eyes. The Prophet might not have caught sight of the illicit behavior but the aristocratic circles were much quicker when it came to rumors and by the time she had made it home, Effie had pulled her aside to demand an explanation.

“It isn’t like that,” Genevieve insisted in an angry whisper, fearing that her secret would penetrate the walls and somehow reach the ears of her husband. “But you better not say a word or I’ll have your head for it,” she threatened.

To make matters worse, Genevieve’s recent behavior towards her husband could only be used to add fuel to the ongoing fire of her possible infidelity. She had grown distant with him, insisting that the two sleep in different rooms and avoiding his displays of affection as she shrugged him off. But there was no lack of love for him but rather a fear that consumed her, the greatest secret of the household nestled safely within the comfort of her womb. She had realized of her pregnancy early in their marriage, the Healer who had attended to her after she had fainted ensuring her that it was a normal part of the first three months to which she shrieked in utter confusion. ”What do you mean three months?” she had demanded, but it had only made sense. It was not as if the two of them had not been intimate for months prior to their marriage, in fact, the two of them had often carelessly laid with each other for years. But for one reason or another, Genevieve could simply not push herself to tell him the truth. She was terrified, a part of her believing that he would find a reason to think the child was not his own, to question her faithfulness to him. And now, thanks to the idiot Nicholas he would have more reason to believe that she was not telling the truth.

“Effie I haven’t a clue what to do,” she lamented, dropping back onto the bed rather dramatically as she looked towards the ceiling of the Irish manor for answers that could simply not be found. “If he were to find out about Nicholas then--” she started, unwilling to finish the sentence as a hand lingered down to rest against her stomach. He would not be pleased, that much was certain, but how far would his pain take him? Would Genevieve be forced to endure the pain and embarrassment of an annulment? Would  Wolfie take out his anger on their child? What would become of the relationship they had painstakingly built thus far? Such thoughts were enough to drive her into a frenzy. “Maybe this isn’t the time--” she considered, then immediately shook the thought away. She would not dare formulate such thoughts. Though no one but the woman in front of her was aware of the secret she kept from everyone else, she had grown to love the baby as it was a part of the man she loved that she could keep forever.

A knock came to the door, startling her and the maid who looked upon her with concern, “Yes?” Genevieve called out albeit weakly, only to be met with the concerning stare of Taylor, the mute who had been in her husband’s service for some time. Sitting up on the bed she looked at him curiously, as he left the door open and beckoned her to follow him. “This better be important, I was in the middle of something,” she grumbled out, following the mute man closely, her stomach becoming knots she struggled to undo as she realized that their route had a very particular ending in mind, her husband’s private office.

Taylor did not dare accompany her all of the ways there, stopping right outside of the office door and looking at her with a lamentable expression on her face, one that made it clear that this visit would not be one for pleasure but rather one of heartbreak. Taking a deep breath, Genevieve smoothed out the wrinkles from her dress before making her way inside. It was odd how someone she loved so much could reduce her to the fear and anticipation of a child going before her father in fear of punishment. She could not remember feeling this vulnerable since childhood.

“You’ve asked to see me?” she started, her eyes meeting his blue eyes for a moment before she turned her attention to something else. It was difficult to read him, a part of him she still struggled to come to terms with, and the thought that he might have sensed or heard what had happened made her very afraid of how he would react. “I was not aware that you were back so soon,” she started, a small smile on her lips as she considered her words very carefully. “But of course, I am quite happy to have you back at home, you know I’m no good without you my darling,” she continued, moving over closer to him in order to press a chaste kiss against his cheek. “You haven’t visited my room in some time, I was hoping that maybe tonight you would?” she asked sweetly, hoping that the topic would interest him. Intimacy had been difficult for her as she felt rather nauseous and had been having trouble keeping all of her food down but knew that if she put her mind to it she could get through it and in the end, remind him and most importantly, herself, of just how much chemistry the two had, none of which could be found with Nicholas.

She would forever be Wolfie’s girl.