Sapphire tenderly tickled under her husbands’ scruffy chin. “Oh Victor, you’re just as handsome as the day I met you! You’re such a darling letting Trent and I come in here and interrupt you! I know you’re so busy and important.”
Victor puffed his chest out with pride, his eyes sparkling despite the dark wrinkles surrounding them. “Nonsense. How could I not wish to see my beautiful wife and our son?”
“While I’m here Viccie… remember that beautiful fur coat we saw at the market the other day? I have to have it! It would suit me so perfectly, and you know it can get so cold here sometimes… please say I can get it!”
Victor struggled to offer resistance.
“Well we do have expenses… I don’t know… are you sure you really need it?”
“Oh Viccie, I do! Didn’t you see what Eliza was wearing at the Ball last month? She came in wearing the most splendid fur coat, but mine would be more handsome than hers! Oh it would just make me so happy! You do like to make me happy don’t you Viccie?”
Victor looked his wife up and down, as always overcome by her youth and beauty. How could he resist giving her anything she asked for?
“My darling, I suppose you are right. Tomorrow we shall go down to the market and buy you that fur coat. And if it’s gone, we’ll have the tailor make a new one just for you. You’re right, of course, I wouldn’t want you to be feeling cold in this drafty castle.”
Sapphire laughed with delight and pressed her body up against Victor, her mouth capturing his for one long exquisite moment that left him breathless and aching with want before she sprang away.
“Oh you are wonderful! Come now Trent, let’s leave your Father to his busy day!”
Trent climbed into his mother’s arms and smiled up at her. She cooed over his small handsome face before lifting one of his little hands to wave goodbye to Victor. Victor beamed at them, his heart filled with love for them both.
Later when Sapphire went for her afternoon beauty nap she smiled to herself remembering how easily she had talked her husband into her newest purchase desire. She really was fortunate to have such an easily pursuaded husband, perhaps she’d let him get another son on her yet!
~*~*~*~*~
Jacob stood before the fire, poking it to life as the flames struggled to take hold on the wood. Behind him Ruby shivered in the cold room but warmed it with her rich and well-trained voice. She struggled to make it warmer than she felt, even her heart was cold these days.
Her song drew to a close as the fire roared to life. Jacob granted her a slight smile, gesturing to the single seat before the fire.
“Well done my dear. Come sit in front of the fire for a few minutes.”
Ruby did so, offering a slight smile in return as Jacob briefly and dispassionately looked at her before returning to staring in the fire.
The silence went on for what felt like eternity. Ruby tried to keep her appearance calm, content, but as more time passed and Jacob did not even glance at her, she could not help the sadness that spread from within her to outside.
Finally she quietly cleared her throat and rose to her feet. She placed a hand lightly on Jacob’s arm.
“It’s late. Should I leave a candle lit for you Jacob?”
It was her polite way of asking if her would come to her bed that night.
Jacob turned to face her, his fingers brushing under her chin as he leaned forward to dryly press his lips to hers.
“I have things to do, dear.”
Ruby nodded and summoned a smile for him.
“Goodnight then.”
As she began to walk towards the door Jacob took the seat by the fire. Ruby paused then turned to face him.
“I’ve been thinking, perhaps now would be a good time for me to go visit my sister Amethyst. I haven’t seen her since she was married and-“
Jacob cut her off.
“That’s quite the journey, but I should be able to spare the men to escort you. Perhaps some time apart would be good… Yes, I’ll make the arrangements in the morning.”
Ruby nodded. She managed to make it to the door, open and quietly close it behind her before the tears escaped. Over ten years of marriage had yielded no children, and no love, despite their relative closeness in age. Ruby was convinced Jacob had a mistress somewhere, and each day she dreaded the moment he would bring a son, not of her womb, into their home.
Blindly Ruby stumbled her way to a corner of the balcony before she collapsed on the cold ground. The sliver of hope that she might actually escape from this place and travel to see Amethyst was almost too painful to bear.
* Victor (formerly known as Bob) was created by Capricorne, and Jacob (Jake) by DLMulsow, thank you both for your great sims!