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"You are not to bed your husband during your stay with me, Mrs Beauchamp."
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Clo desperately needs money to pay off her last two years at Crawford Institute of Performing Arts. The best in the country. But after being cut off by get family, th...
Theo's ability – or lack thereof – to offer any explanation, show that he cared just a little replayed in her mind like a torture device as she lay in the guest bedroom, staring at the fresh tray of food the chef had left for her.
She felt boneless these days, unbothered about what anyone thought of her. Everyone, it seemed like, knew what had happened. What Alexander had done. Even her ballet mistress, who ruled with an iron fist, had sent Clo a batch of home made vanilla eclairs with a handwritten letter pardoning her from classes and then a list of exercises to help her keep in shape even if she couldn't dance anymore.
As it turned out, begging Wilhelm not to target her knees had gone to waste. Rose had called her on the way back to Alec's from Theo's home.
The tears in your knee ligament had been left untreated for too long, Clo. I'm so sorry–
She'd interrupted her then. Clo had enough experience to know what that meant.
It's okay. I've danced enough as it is. My goal was to have my own ballet company. I don't need fine knees for that.
While Rose sniffled, pretending she'd caught a cold, Clo couldn't really bring herself to break down. She just had to wait a bit longer. Just a little longer until she was within the confines of her room.
Tell me about the baby, she had asked Rose instead. Have you figured out what her first outfit would be?
Alec was waiting, just like he had been all these years, when she came home.
"Are you okay?" His voice was soft, cautious.
And that was all it took to bring her back to when she was fifteen, in the hospital with him, terrified and lost.
"No," she shook her head, finally letting the tears fall. "I'm hurt," she whispered.
He stood up, coming forward so he could gently guide her further into his home.
"I know," he said quietly, "you've been hurting a long time."
She nodded.
Yes. Yes.
Yes, I have.
"Can I hug you now, Alec?"
Upon his nod, she buried her face in the crevice of his collarbone, wrapping her arms around his tightly. They collapsed into each other. Her ability to breathe, the one she'd found to be so difficult these past years, became easier as she breathed in his scent, no longer terrified.
"It's going to be okay," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "You have me. You'll always have me."
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