March 19th, 1894 — (Cassius) Lestrange Residence

Tuesday was the night that Cash consistently bedded his wife. Sometimes they would also sleep together a second night — these were usually passionate nights, when Cash really tried to ensure that Adrienne was enjoying things — but Tuesday was the routine night. Oh, her experience still mattered to him more than his did — but he felt routine about it on Tuesdays.

Apparently the staff had caught on, because after dinner, his valet informed him that his wife had been vomiting that morning. Cash went off to find her.

He knocked on the doorframe of the parlor, to let her know that he was here. Usually on Tuesdays they did not spend an abundance of time together between dinner and his nightly visits; he presumed they were both preparing. "Adrienne," Cash said. "The staff told me you were not feeling well — we don't have to, tonight."

(It was bad, wasn't it? That part of him felt relieved.)

Adrienne Lestrange Philomena Sprout

  

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MJ made this!

It was Tuesday. Which meant Cash would visit and they would perform their necessary duties, something that Adrienne more often than not looked forward to. The last few weeks she’d been able to drink a few potions that Olympe had brought to her in order to quell the nausea that gripped at her in the evenings, but tonight was not the case. Instead, she’d been unable to keep much down after dinner, even her potion. So she’d had the message sent to her husband that she had to forgo their nightly activities and settled back in bed with a book. Olympe had piled the bed high with cushions to support her as if she were a fragile Easter Egg. Adrienne felt a little ridiculous propped up in such a manner, but when it came to her lady’s maid concerning Adrienne’s health, Olympe won more often than not (never mind most of the time she had a fair point).

She’d managed to start sipping a teacup full of potion every few minutes when she heard the knock at her door followed by her husband’s voice. Putting down her book Adrienne nodded to Olympe who went to open the door for Cash. She bobbed a small curtsey to him before bustling back about the room, clearing it for the evening.

“Indeed, I’m not,” She replied, with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, usually Olympe gives me a potion and I’m fit as a fiddle, but it seems tonight is an exception.” She marked her spot in her book before closing it.

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Olympe had been giving her potions for this? Cash's eyebrows drew together in concern; he had not even been aware that it was a recurring problem. Cash took a few steps into the room and, feeling awkward, sat down in the chair at Adrienne's vanity — standing felt formal, and sitting on her bed felt too intimate when they were not having a rendezvous tonight.

"Does she have any idea what's causing it?" he asked, tone wary.

  

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MJ made this!

Adrienne suppressed a wince at the alarmed look on her husband’s face. She hadn’t meant to worry him unnecessarily, and now might be the time to stop any further thoughts before they took on a life of their own. Taking a bracing sip of the potion, she felt the temporary relief it was made for. She threw the covers back and slipped out of bed, steadying herself on one of the bed posts before making her way towards him.

Adrienne wasn’t an overly affectionate person by nature unless the situation warranted it. But this seemed to warrant it, didn’t it?

She reached out to him just as she heard the click of the side door opening. A whispered spell from Olympe coming through saw a second stool draw itself up to the vanity so she could sit down. “Yes.” She said quietly, her lips ticking up in a small smile as she hoped this was enough to delay any further alarm on his end. “And I must admit, so do I.”

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Cash had a warning on his lips — she ought to stay in bed, so she could not be hurt. But he tried to avoid telling his wife not to do things, and he waited, concern written over his face, until Adrienne sat on the stool someone had summoned for her. "Oh?" he asked.

  

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MJ made this!

It was best to just be out with it, she figured. Adrienne took a deep breath before stating: “I believe I'm expecting.” and then she immediately held her breath again as she steeled herself for his reaction.

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The concern vanished from Cash's face; it was as if his expression went blank. He raised his eyebrows. "A baby?" he asked — he had to confirm before he started reacting. She would be happy, Cash thought — he was going to have to be happy, too.

  

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MJ made this!

Adrienne blinked at her husband’s reaction - well, non-reaction. There was some anticipation of perhaps feeling his anticipation, but thus far she couldn’t gather much. Perhaps she just needed to confirm. Though, to be fair, Adrienne wasn’t entirely sure what she thought her reaction was supposed to be. She was excited to be sure, but having had that conversation at dinner all those months ago, it was still a sobering thought. Adrienne thought she might have had more time; more freedom, but this was certain to guarantee her quite the opposite from what she’d expected.

“Yes,” She confirmed, nodding as she felt herself smile at the news. This reaction surprised her a bit; to the point where she let out a soft laugh and nodded again.

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A baby. His father would be thrilled. Cash broke into a grin, and moved to take his wife's hands in his own. "That's excellent news," he said, tone genuine — he could not tell if this was genuinely how he felt. He would have to be a father. He would not be expected to be a particularly involved father, but he would be a father.

He would not have to sleep with her again until after the baby was born. People would suspect so much less about him, if anyone had ever suspected anything. But her life, Cash knew, would be harder for the next few months — pregnancy seemed incredibly difficult. He gave her hands a squeeze. "This makes me incredibly happy."

  

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MJ made this!

At his smile, Adrienne let out a sigh of relief and squeezed his hands back. They had done their duty, or at least half of it and conceived. Truth be told it did not seem real at this point, and she wasn’t sure when it would feel like it. Time would only tell, and she knew that she had to tell others sooner rather than later. Now that Cassius knew it was time to tell Aristide and her father. She wasn’t sure how Ari would react, and frankly she had been more worried about her brother than her husband.

“I feel the quite the same Cash,” She whispered, feeling the first pinpricks of tears well at her eyes. Releasing one hand she reached for her handkerchief to dab at her eyes. “We’re going to be parents.” Her, a mother. And though it was much sooner than she had wanted, this was an idea that Adrienne had grown fond of. She would be the mother to her child that she knew her own mother hadn’t had the chance to be.

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Cash gave her hand a squeeze. "I know that we were arranged," he said — (arranged, but he had asked his father to arrange it.) "But I would not want to parent with anyone but you." This was true — Adrienne was going to be an excellent mother, despite Cash's own shortcomings.

  

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MJ made this!

At her husband’s words, Adrienne glowed and leaned forward to give him an affectionate kiss on the cheek. “I feel quite the same, Cassius.” She said softly. “Quite the same!” And her eyes shone with tears of joy.

But now, it was time to tell her brother.

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