Cruel Beauty

Cruel Intentions

'What do you mean you are dying?' You repeat steadily. Victoria rubs her forehead stressfully. 'I never told you about my childhood.' She sits at her desk inhaling then, exhaling slowly. 'I was young when my mother contracted it. She was constantly sick, her mind lost its edge and in the end, she was bedridden. My mother was a great beauty if you were to see what she became in the end...' she cringes. 'My father had no interest in nursing a sick woman any more than he had in raising a child so I was sent to a ladies finishing school.' You walk over to her leaning against the desk. 'What was her illness?' You ask softly. 'I don't know, he never told me, the servants would take her meals forcing them down her throat and she was kept locked away, my father remarried after I was banished to that god-awful finishing school. I never spoke to him again, I didn't invite him to my wedding I told Wilhelm he was dead. Now it seems I will have the same fate. I can't bear it, losing my beauty, my mind, being locked in and force-fed. What are you doing?' she is surprised as you hug her. 'No one is locking you away whatever this is we will work through it together.' You pull back and kneel beside her legs holding her hand. 'I can't ask you to do that, I won't.' she says firmly. 'You aren't I'm offering.' Victoria shakes her head. 'You are much younger than me you don't deserve to be lumbered with some sick old woman.' You interlace your fingers with hers. 'I am not going anywhere, I will look after you always.'

Victoria looks into your eyes trying to sense a lie. 'We will work on a meal plan, try and see what is easier for you to keep down. I'll stay by your side and help more around here.' Victoria touches your cheek with her other hand. 'Had Wilhelm still been here he would have forced me into the room and removed the door without question.' You kiss the palm of her hand. 'Lucky he's gone then. The...delivery downstairs is being removed and you have a ball tonight.' Victoria remembers there is more than one problem. 'Cruella. If it's true no remains were found she will strike tonight I know it. I can feel it.' You nod. 'Then I'll be waiting for her. She won't harm you Victoria, I won't let her.' The Baroness gives a weak smile touched by your desire to protect her, but also the hesitation. 'You think she might be, don't you? Your daughter.' The older woman goes stiff. 'I....I don't know.' You look down. 'All those years ago, I was blinded by rage and...I wanted to protect you but...I should have given you more time, you had just given birth. I tried to get her back...but it was too late. Do you...Do you hate me for my part in it?' You have started to tear up. Victoria strokes your cheek. 'It was all such a car crash, but when John said the situation had been dealt with I felt calm, there were no worries.' You nod. 'When Catherine came here that night, I never bothered to find out if there was a child. Part of me hoped there was but I was ashamed.'

You stand still listening to her. 'You carried out my order. I didn't see a child I only saw him, I saw everything he had done to me.' She closes her eyes. 'John on the other hand lied, if I had known she lived... But we will save that for another day.' she wipes your tears with a soft smile. 'I actually designed a dress for you tonight as well.' You smile. 'Then I can't wait to wear it.' That night your hair is styled in braids twisted atop your head, and your gown is metallic silver with a silver collar and lined with fine chain mail. You watch as the Baroness goes gets ready in her Viking-styled gown that matches yours, you can't help but double-take how it highlights her arse. 'Yn.' she chastises watching you in the mirror. 'Sorry.' You blush but she smirks triumphantly as the maid's footer about with the hem of her gown. 'Come on. Stand to attention. Stand up straight. Good.' You hear Jeffrey outside ordering the servants. You go out to inspect them simply because you like to screw with Jeffrey.

The Baroness watches John, there has been something off with him the last few days, she didn't bring it up to you but it has niggled at her. 'When I said, all those years ago, "Take care of it," what did you think I meant?' Victoria draws him from his thoughts as he stands in wait, he leans in whispering against the shell of her ear. 'Well, I was a little confused. I hardly thought you meant you wanted me to kill your only child.' Victoria feels a shiver run down her spine at his words her stomach knots but she puts on a brave face. 'And I thought we knew each other.'