Cruel Beauty

They Don't Deserve You

The Baroness leads the way but you see her looking at her reflection in everything she passes trying to suck in her stomach. 'Baroness.' she stops and turns looking at you with a raised eyebrow. 'Is something the matter, yn?' You walk up to her and gently take her wrist. 'Nothing, I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you look.' you give a supportive smile, she has no idea why, but a faint pink blush appears on her cheeks. 'Thank you my dear.' she gently squeezes your shoulder. Hearing the guests in the distance you both part, she walks to the top of the stairs and immediately all eyes are on her. 'Thank,' 'Thank you all, for coming!' Wilhelm arrives at her side and his voice-over takes hers. You however don't leave you remain at her heels, a silent aid. 'Your late.' he hisses through gritted teeth he rests a hand on her arse and grabs her making her flinch his grip is painfully tight, and she can feel his nails through the fabric. Victoria raises her chin and smiles at the guests portraying all to be well. You loudly clear your throat causing both the Baron and his wife to turn to you. It's the Baron you make eye contact with, your eyes then rest on his hand, then back to his eyes. Wilhelm sneers at you but lets go of her and turns back to the crowd as does Victoria who is too ashamed to meet your gaze.

'As, I was saying, thank you, for coming to celebrate an event we were all beginning to think would never happen. I have an heir! Although I imagine Victoria will be upset she can't climb on me morning, noon, and night, she is insatiable.' The crowd laughs Victoria is scarlet with embarrassment. She looks away and in her peripheral vision, she sees that you are not laughing, this comforts her. You reach out while keeping a distance your fingertips gingerly touching at hers. 'Now, now, in all seriousness my wife is greatly sorry for keeping everyone waiting tonight.' He rests a hand on her upper arm squeezing her, she jumps and turns back to face the crowd with a false smile plastered on her face. 'Say sorry Victoria, for being late, you are so stupid sometimes aren't you?' His fingers dig painfully into her arm and you want to rip his hand off and stuff it down his own throat. 'I am dreadfully sorry for keeping you all.' The Baron stops hurting her. 'She's such a good girl, so obedient isn't she?' he laughs and the crowd joins in believing him to be joking. Again Victoria is scarlet with embarrassment. 'Everyone, please join me, in raising your glasses, to my heir.' he raises his glass and the crowd follows suit, toasting "his" heir.

The Baron immediately leaves his wife after the toast at record speed to drink and mingle with the crowd who all fall into conversation no one is looking at her anymore, and only you are close enough to see the false smile break. Her hand rests on the banister as she overlooks the crowd, she looks down feeling the gentle touch of your hand on hers. You stare out at the crowd so no one knows you are speaking to her. 'Are you alright? If you want to leave I will make an excuse.' The Baroness stares out at the crowd her thumb running over the side of your finger appreciatively. 'It would be better for me to stay, he will only be more aggressive if I leave my dear.' she lets go of the banister and descends the stairs you remain dutifully at her side. Different people call her into conversation none of which you care about, but she chats and smiles and laughs and pretends it's a perfectly normal celebration. The Baroness finishes another conversation when her husband subtly and painfully grips her wrist pulling her to the side. 'You haven't greeted the Graysons yet you insufferable, incompetent whore.' he hisses. The Baroness's nostrils flare at the stench of alcohol on his breath. 'Perhaps I did, and you are too inebriated to remember.' she replies mockingly keeping her smile in place.

You had momentarily become distracted as the Baron approached because of a maid. 'Monique.' you walk over to her seeing her with a tray of champagne flutes. 'You still work here.' The shorter woman finds it difficult to meet your gaze. 'Oui.' You shake your head. 'I thought we were friends, I trusted you. How did you not get fired?' The maid looks uncomfortable. 'The Baron, he has had some special jobs for me.' her eyes dart over in the direction of the Baroness. 'What? What is it? What's that look?' Monique swallows. 'She was not supposed to fit into the dress, it is a size too small, the Baron had me replace the label.' she explains. At that, you turn and see he has taken his wife out of earshot. You try to make your way through the crowd to them to warn her that she is in danger, but you are too late as they are on the move again. John catches your arm. 'What is it? Something isn't right, you look anxious.' he sounds worried. 'John I have no time, I need to get to her, he's going to humiliate her.' you pull from his grip. 'Everyone if I could have your attention, I believe my wife has something to share with you all.' Victoria who had been politely conversing with the Graysons looks up looking confused, the Baron extends his hand for her to join him on the podium and the crowd goes silent. The Baroness looks around trying to show confidence but there is an expression of confusion she can't shake.

'You know, they say that the goddess Venus herself blushes in her garden shamed by the beauty my wife poses, she's an English rose, is she not? Look at her. I am honored to be the man who finally tamed her properly and put a seed inside of her.' The Baroness sees Yvette smirking up at her coldly from below, she quickly loses eye contact. 'It is why we feel that before my son destroys this perfect vessel, that you should all take a moment to bask in her glory.' You fight through the crowd elbowing a few overweight lords in the stomach and stepping on the toes of their elegant ladies. Victoria is still searching the crowd she spots you struggling to get to her and an eyebrow shoots up in confusion, she doesn't hear the Baron's speech. She feels a firm hand on her shoulder and then the bow is ripped from her back she falls forward on the little balcony, it must've been instinct but her hand immediately went to protect her stomach from harm. Looking up she gasps in surprise not even sure what happened she gets to her feet. The crowd begins whispering and talking, and Yvette is the first to start laughing. 'Aren't they glorious? Breasts like Freyja's aren't they just perfect?' The Baron comments, Victoria frowns then looks down her eyes widening in horror, she's standing half naked in front of the ballroom her breasts on display for all to see.

The Baroness feels sick the faces in the room are a blur, laughing, smirking, sneering, and she hears the comments. 'The poor Baron, his wife is such a whore I can't believe she wanted to show off like this. Slut. That's new money women for you. Whore. I wonder if the babe is even the baron's that valet of hers is always a little too close. Slag. Look at her she just loves the attention. Tart. I bet she sucks the Baron off every day, lucky bloke can't get my misses too more than once a month. Harlot. New money, no class, that's what I say. Slapper. Look at her acting all innocent like she didn't plan all this. Bitch. If I got her alone I'd ram my cock right in-' The Baroness has frozen in horror her fists clenched and silent tears start rolling down her face. The crowd gasps as the room suddenly goes into a blackout and panic ensues. Victoria yelps as her wrist is grabbed in terror she wonders what he will do to her now. 'Wilhelm, please, please.' she begs as she's dragged out of the room and into a lit passageway. The noblewoman has one hand over her breasts and the other raised to block assault on her face, she crouches on the floor her knees protecting her stomach. 'Victoria. Victoria. It's okay.' you hold her against your chest. 

Looking up the Baroness sees it's you and begins to cry harder she clings to you burying her face into your chest. You take your navy blazer off helping her into it to protect her modesty. 'Everyone is laughing at me.' she whimpers. 'Everyone is always laughing at me.' she sobs. You hold her tightly against your chest, your lips gently pressed against her forehead.

'They don't deserve you.'