Drabbles Seven
After two weeks, it was incredibly obvious to Erik, Danielle and Bellamont that Danielle was indeed pregnant. She had started to show, so he advised them that now would be the time to tell their friends. Danielle's stomach was still small enough that she could hide it with clothing, but it wouldn't stay that way for long. It was probably best that she and Erik tell everyone before they suspected it themselves.
The Brazzis were definitely entitled to some forewarning. After all, they would probably be the most help throughout the pregnancy, birth, and the life of their child. It was only fair that they get some preference. Erik and Danielle gathered them all together in the music room the night after Bellamont declared her definitely pregnant.
The Brazzis were very pleased. It had been far too long since they had been able to care for a little child. Teresa was excited that her daughters would have some experience with a baby before they married, and Rossano was sure to be the grandfatherly type.
The girls, including Lucia, were all thrilled. They thought it the most romantic thing in the world. Erik noticed with some satisfaction that the two brothers were disappointed. Erik was sure that this would crush the infatuations they had harbored for his wife for some time. He was delighted. Erik was the jealous type, after all, and he didn't want anyone looking at Danielle the way they did. Anyway, it was good of Fabrizio to congratulate them. It seemed almost genuine.
That was the easy announcement. The next two wouldn't be so facile. Erik couldn't imagine the look on Nadir's face when he finally admitted that he had gotten a woman pregnant. It was sure to be smug. As for Marie, that one was a little harder to predict. One thing was sure, the atmosphere would be important. Maybe if Erik and Danielle got them drunk first… No, Danielle wouldn't approve of that. She'd want them to have complete use of their faculties.
They decided to have a good dinner for Marie and Nadir. Teresa made her fabulous spaghetti, and they ate off Danielle's best china. The conversation was pleasant, and Erik didn't make any snide remarks about anyone, or anything, the whole night. Naturally, both guests were suspicious.
"So," Marie began once dessert was finished, "what are you buttering us up for now?"
"What makes you think we're buttering you up," Danielle asked innocently.
"Well, you're normally this agreeable, but I can't say that for Erik," Marie answered shrewdly.
"What do you have to tell us," Nadir sighed, expecting something foolish.
Danielle looked at Erik with an inquisitive air. He knew exactly what was going through her head. She was nervous, wondering if they would approve, or think this was ill-conceived. Erik decided that he should do his part. After all, he had helped get the child. He should do more than just the fun part.
"First, I would like to say that we have discussed this many times, and we are very happy about what we have to tell you. Second, although I don't really care about your opinion, it would make our lives much easier if you were happy with our news. Third, there is nothing you can do to change our minds. It is far too late for that. So, here is our news." He paused, and he could tell that Marie and Nadir were very frightened of what they were about to hear. "We're going to have a baby," Erik said slowly. "Danielle is due in about five or six months."
Nadir's expression, once what Erik had just said had sunk in, was exactly as Erik had predicted. Nadir had always hoped Erik would settle down and start a family. Nadir was finally getting his wish.
Marie was not smug. Her expression was frozen in an emotion neither Erik, nor Danielle, could identify. She looked a little sick, to tell the truth. For a moment, everyone at the table was silent. Even Nadir was conscious of Marie's reticence. Erik and Danielle both stared at her, preparing for the worst tongue-lashing they had ever received.
Marie turned her eyes to the table and started crying.
Erik was shocked. It wasn't often that Marie was both speechless and reduced to tears. Danielle, however, wept, too, and ran from her seat to throw her arms around Marie.
"I can't believe it," Marie choked. "I was afraid this would never happen to him, and now he has you, and everything's changed. He's even happy that he's going to be a father. I was sure he would never want a baby."
"I know," Danielle said with watery eyes. "I was so nervous about telling him. I was sure he'd notice first, but you know Erik. He wouldn't have noticed until the baby came if I hadn't broken the truth."
Erik quirked an eyebrow. He was reasonably certain he would have noticed the weight gain and mood swings that were sure to come and recognize them for what they were. At any rate, he would have eventually wondered why her monthly condition didn't come.
Once Marie pulled herself together, she and Nadir rose from their chairs. He had been so kind as to escort her, and she had rehearsals first thing in the morning. No doubt, Nadir would have preferred to stay and make ribald jokes in the parlor while Danielle read in the library. However, Marie had to be attended to first.
Erik, on the other hand, was more than happy to be left alone. All in all, it had been a tiring night, and he was looking forward to rest.
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"Slower," Erik bellowed in Italian from the back of the carriage. "You're driving a pregnant woman.
"Don't be so hard on Fabrizio," Danielle admonished from the seat across from her husband. "He's doing his best."
"It's too bumpy," Erik grumbled. "I don't want him to hurt you or the baby.
"Don't worry," Danielle said with a laugh. "We'll be fine. The only thing I'm worried about is seeing the look on their faces when I tell Firmin and Andre that I have to take a season off."
"Just hand them the sample of the opera I'm writing, and they'll forget everything else," Erik assured her.
"Well, aren't we cocky," she huffed with a smirk. "Are you saying that your music is more popular than mine?"
"Yes, I am," Erik returned, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Oh, really," Danielle asked as the carriage came to a stop. Fabrizio handed Danielle out of the carriage, and Erik took advantage of the shadows to slip into an alleyway next to the Opera House. As Danielle strode through the main entrance, Erik navigated the secret passages to the same destination. In a few moments, Erik was stationed on the other side of the manager's office wall. The two were seated at desks, reading the paper. He heard a knock at the door, which indicated that his wife was waiting to be let in. Andre rose, opened the door, and bowed her in, fawning over their star.
He showed her to a seat, and asked, "To what do we owe this great pleasure, Madame?" Erik couldn't stand how oily he sounded.
"I must discuss something very important with you both, monsieur," Danielle began seriously. "You see, it affects you greatly."
"What do you have to tell us," Firmin inquired, obviously nervous. He was sweating already, and his mustache was twitching. Erik was highly familiar with those signs. It usually meant that Firmin was ready to give anything to put his business to rights.
"I'm afraid that I need to take a season's sabbatical," Danielle continued.
"What," Andre gasped. "But you have never been more successful. We have a wonderful season lined up for you. We simply can't get along without you."
"I'm afraid you'll have to," Danielle said reasonably. "I can't possibly go onstage with my condition."
"Your condition," Andre repeated, fearing the worse. "What sort of condition? Are you ill? Is there anything we can do?"
"It's nothing as horrible as what you're imagining," Danielle reassured them with a smile. "I'm going to have a baby."
"A baby, Madame," Firmin exclaimed. "That's wonderful." The fearful look in his eyes did something to belie the cheery tone of his voice. "Your husband must be very proud."
"Oh, he is," Danielle answered brightly. "We're both so excited!"
"Well, I suppose we can't insist that you return for the next season," Andre declared, "but we can certainly offer you our warmest congratulations. May we do the honor of informing the rest of the company?"
"Of course, monsieur," she affirmed. "Speaking of the company, my husband, Octavian, asked me to give you this," she said, taking the samples of Erik's sheet music out of her purse, and handing it to Andre. "It's part of an opera he's working on. The subject is Cupid and Psyche. It should be done by the time I return to the company."
The two managers paused in their inspection of the music. The implication was clear. Either she be allowed to return, or Gautier would take his opera elsewhere.
"Well, we are certainly thrilled to hear about this new work, Madame," Firmin said, rising from his seat. "If that is all, I'll show you to the door. And do be sure to say hello to your husband for us."
"Thank you, monsieur," Danielle muttered, grateful that the interview was over. "My carriage is waiting outside. I'll be sure to mention your warm reception of his masterpiece."
"Masterpiece," Andre asked, perking up.
"Yes," Danielle confirmed with a little, convincing giggle. "He says this is the best thing he's ever written."
A/N: Did ya see what I did with that ill-conceived thing? Did ya? I just kill myself.
A/N: There will probably be one more chapter. I've decided to put off work on my other stories until I get this finished. Hopefully, it won't take too long. The only thing that can hinder progress is that I started college recently, and I kinda have to do stuff for that.
