Chapter 14: Family
"They arrived this morning," Patricia hold her hurriedly under her breath as she accompanied her from the end of the walkway to the front door. "I did not tell them you were out all night and I told your father you were out to breakfast with some women this morning. I don't know what has gotten into you recently, but I'd rather not have to lie to your parents again." Poor Patricia looked distressed and Nataly felt both grateful and guilty.
"I'm sorry, 'Tricia, I did not know they would be here so soon. Thank you—" She walked through the door and her father was standing in the hall with an orange in his hand. "Papa!" She kissed him on both cheeks. "How was your trip? How is mother?"
"She's in there." He gestured to the sitting room.
Nataly found her mother in their best chair, covered in blankets, with a table and tray of half-eaten lunch in front of her.
"How was your trip, maman?"
Madame Benoit waved her hand. "Mountains and trains and cities and forests and things. They say the fresh air was good for me. I say horsefeathers. These doctors—they do nothing with their ten fingers, they do nothing, and what is worse—they say nothing. They go to all their schools, and for what? To tell us nothing. To say they don't know. They must teach them how to say "I don't know" at these schools. That is all they teach—the best way to say "I don't know. They gaze at their navels and they make me insane with their silly suggestions and I don't knows. Do you know one of them suggested I take some sort of vegetable and snake venom paste that he had created, and we were in Portugal, par dieu, only Portugal, not even in some jungle!"
"I am glad you did not eat that, maman," Nataly told her blandly, taking a seat and stealing from her tray of food.
"So am I! By god, the day I drink snake venom is the day you can cart me off to a crazy house. Of all the idiotic ideas. I told Patricia about it. She shuddered to even think!"
"Your color is better than it was," Nataly told her.
"Well, I always feel better in the mornings. I have energy in the mornings." She watched Nataly scarf her food. "I thought you had breakfast, child."
"I did, maman, but it is lunchtime now, and I have not had that. I have been at the Populaire getting some things in order." She gestured to some papers and letters she had brought with her which she had tucked under her arm.
"You father likely wants to speak with you. He always does. Oh—Leon and Sabine will be here tomorrow or the next day—Leon has just come back from visiting with your father's family, and after hearing about you and your opera, Sabine had to come back with him and visit us in return. I know you will be glad to see her. She was your idol when you were a little one, I remember this. But I wish you would be different from her and not determine yourself to die a shriveled maid. You should marry, Nataly, before you get more wrinkles."
"I don't have wrinkles, maman," Nataly told her, smiling and standing.
"You do. You have two on your forehead and some at the corners of your eyes."
"Maman!" she chastised, chuckling. "Well, apparently I both worry and laugh too much. I shall go see father."
She shut the door behind her as she entered her father's study.
"She seems better. She is certainly talkative."
Her father took off his reading spectacles and placed them and the newsprints he had been reading on the desk. He reached for the orange he had been carrying around and dug his nail in to begin peeling it. "She is always talkative, even when she is in pain with barely any strength in her, you know that."
"Well, she is not so pale."
"No." He leaned back in his chair. His gaze saw through to her center, as always. Her father's gaze was kindly, but piercing. He cleared his throat. "We have never danced around things, ma petite… I could smell a man on you when you greeted me at the door."
When Nataly did not answer right away, he asked, "It is not that Durand boy, is it? I will only say it once if you do not wish to hear it, but he is no good. If you are—"
"It is not the Durand boy," she said firmly. "He tried, but he is selfish and snide and I very much dislike him."
"I'm glad of that… I asked who you had been spending time with this morning and Christian named him among others."
"He has been courting me. Aggressively. But I've put a stop to it."
"Who, then? Have you been out all night?"
Nataly took a breath in and out her nose. "Do you trust me?"
Monsieur Benoit shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Lead your life as you will. I cannot control you at the age you are now. But I wish to know who it is."
"He… I do not wish to present him to the public as my fiancé at this time."
"Is he one of the crew? If you don't wish to present him now, I doubt you'll want to later. What are you going to do?"
"That has not yet been decided between us, papa."
His face grew dark for a moment. "But you're certain of him? That he will decide and something will be done? Is he trustworthy? Or—is this a fling you do not wish to make public and will move on from?"
"It is not a fling, papa."
Her father took a breath through his nose, rather like she had done a moment or two ago. I must have gotten it from him.
"These things are true," she said. "I am in no danger, I am in love with a good man, I am doing all I can to keep the reputation of this family untarnished, and I will present this man to the family in due time. Perhaps I will take a trip and come back married."
"Come back married? …Your mother will be angry, Nat."
She sighed. "I do not know what else to do. I cannot marry here. Too many people would be slighted if they did not receive an invitation."
Her father's mouth twitched this way and that as he mulled things over. "Perhaps we could travel with you and attend the wedding there. Away from Paris. And it would seem less scandalous if everyone was with you. Less of a hurried-seeming thing."
She smiled, feeling more hopeful. "I would like that."
"Mm." He took a bite of his orange and chewed. "You always make things difficult, ma fille préférée."
"I am sorry, papa."
"But, I suppose I am glad you are not alone now. You seem happy."
"I am happy."
"Did your mother tell you we're expecting your brother and your cousin here in the next few days?"
"Yes." She smiled. He smiled a little as well. She knew he liked having a house full of family, as she did. "Was the trip alright?"
"A hassle, to hear your mother tell it. But I enjoyed it. We rented sea-side villas, bought art in Spain, and saw Utrecht and Haarlem in the Netherlands. While your mother was sleeping I explored. Such history!"
Nataly was smiling. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."
"From what I hear from Christian, you have been busy as well. How is the Populaire?"
"Wonderful!" Natal crowed. "We are doing wonderfully well. The cast and crew work well together, I have made friends with so many of them, and our operas are simply the best in Paris. You must come to our next, papa."
He laughed. "Of course, of course. I should like to see the place soon. I have heard you've done so much to it."
"When Leon and Sabine get here, I will take you all there. I will talk your ears off about it."
…
"They caught the Rouen post. They'll be here by three. I must get dressed."
Erik was trying his best to dissuade her from leaving. He lounged naked on her attic bed in the tinted lights of the stained glass window with an arm around her. The room smelled of their sweat and her perfume. He turned her to suck on her earlobe and heat blossomed inside her again. "No," she breathed, smiling. "I have to go." She snuggled down to hold him tightly around his waist. "I love you. I love you. But I have to go."
He traced her arms and jaw line with gentle fingers. There was so much in his eyes that he did not know how to say. "Have a good time."
"I will." She kissed him, and then got off the bed to begin to dress. "I'm so happy I get to see them both!"
He helped her lace up her bodice.
"I will not be able to come back tonight," she said, "but I will try my best to come again tomorrow."
He held her to him, still naked while she was dressed. He was tall enough that Nataly's head only came to the top of his chest and his neck. She laid it there and felt him breathe.
"I may bring them back here for a tour later."
"I'll stay out of sight," he told her. "Though I may watch and listen."
"You are welcome to." She pulled away and picked up her things. "I love you, Erik," she said before she kissed him goodbye.
At her house, she waited impatiently for her brother and cousin to arrive. Twenty past three, the carriage pulled up to the drive and she raced out to greet them.
Leon was perhaps even taller than she had last seen him; his hair was shorter, and he was just as stately-looking, yet at ease, as he ever was. Sabine was wearing practical traveling clothes instead of the finery she could wear, her dark, thick hair was slightly mussed from the long carriage rides, but her smile was warm and her dark eyes as sharp as ever.
She was the first to embrace Nataly, as Leon had taken the job from the manservant of opening the carriage door for her.
"Nat! Hello, lovely!" She hugged Nataly tightly. "You smell wonderful but a little too flowery—did you just put perfume on? Go easier on it, love." She put an arm around her and Nataly leaned against her affectionately as Leon helped unload their trunks from the back of the carriage. "How is your mother?" Sabine asked.
Leon looked up at the question and listened to the answer.
"She is decent in the mornings and very ill in the evenings. With headaches. The same." She turned to Sabine as Leon continued unloading. "What is new with you and yours?"
"Bah, I'm the only interesting one. They're all married to boring trolls or needy prisses with squalling brats. Your brother and I have been seeing the countryside and going to shows and things." She lowered her voice. "We even twice dressed in cotton and went to some pubs." She laughed. Nataly was envious. That sounded terribly fun.
"I want to go," she breathed back.
"Aye," Sabine laughed. "Oui. We'll get you to one. We'll beer you up." She laughed again, a free bark of a laugh. People stared when she laughed, but Nataly liked the way it sounded. She was grinning widely when her brother enveloped her in his own hug.
"Father wrote to say the Populaire is back to many times its old success with you its new owner," he told her, sounding proud. "I want to see it!"
"Oh, but are you sure that man Leon told me about that burned it down last time is dead?" Sabine asked as they walked inside. "What if he hurts someone now that you own the place?"
"He hasn't troubled the Populaire at all, even though I made changes when I renovated, hired the people I wanted to hire, and put on the shows I wanted to put on," Nataly told her, "so I don't think we need to worry."
"Good. He sounded like he could be trouble. Uncle!" Sabine greeted Nataly's father with smiles and warmth, kissing him twice on both cheeks. Nataly turned to Leon.
"Was the visit to father's family enjoyable?" she asked him. He nodded.
"Yes, of course. It was good to see Evé and Geoff again. And Sabine of course." Sabine was older than Leon, but she was the closest to his age of her father's sibling's children, the part of the family they were closest to, and they had played together as children.
They all walked into the parlor to visit with Nataly's mother. Leon spent a deal of time sitting close beside her and speaking with her. With Madame Benoit, that usually meant a great deal of listening, but Leon was patient. Nataly listened as Sabine told her father about Leon's visit and he told her about his travels with his wife. Nataly listened for the greater part of it. But when Leon turned toward them and demanded to know all about the Populaire, she claimed the attention of the room and told them of her efforts, from the remodeling to the latest show.
"Society can't get enough of her," her mother told them happily. "She's being courted by half the bachelors in Paris."
"Anyone interesting?" Leon asked, eyebrows raised. He knew how hard to please she was, but looked as though he might be expecting at least some partiality to someone.
"No," Nataly told them. "Worse than no. Most are amiable, but the Durand's son, Jean, has been as aggressive as a hound. He's arrogant and insincere and his parents are some of the shallowest people I have in my acquaintance. I had to be very firm with him the other night and now it's likely spreading about that I am a frosty shrew who doesn't wish to be wooed. Not that I have much problem with that." She crossed her legs and sat back in the cushions.
"A woman after my own heart," Sabine laughed.
Her mother looked much less pleased and even Leon looked a little disappointed.
"They aren't saying that about you, I'm sure," he told her. "You've treated the others with gentleness?"
Nataly shrugged. "Yes, I've been perfectly polite. But none of them particularly interest me, so obviously I haven't been particularly receptive. I don't want one getting the wrong idea and coming in here asking father's permission. I'd be mortified."
"There's no one in all of Paris you want?" her mother demanded, sounding exasperated. "There must be someone."
"Perhaps I need only leave Paris for a while to find him, maman," she replied. "I shall find someone to marry. I should like to. You know that. Or" —she smirked— "Sabine and I can live out our years together as wrinkled shrews."
"Amen!" Sabine exclaimed, smirking.
Madame Benoit made a noise of frustration. "Apparently it's you who should have gone traveling, not us."
"Next time it is my turn," Nataly agreed. "If I can stand to be away from my opera house for that long."
After supper, both her mother and father retired to their rooms for bed and Leon, Nataly, and Sabine sat close together at one end of the dining table, drinking after-dinner coffees.
"So, really?" Sabine asked her. "There's no one new in your life?"
She thinned her lips. "Listen, I don't want any questioning. What I tell you is going to be all you're going to know for a while. But, yes, there is someone."
Sabine smirked and Leon's eyebrows shot up into his forehead. "Who?" he demanded immediately.
"She's not going to tell us who—didn't your hear her?" said Sabine.
"Hush," Nataly quieted them. "I need to figure out how to make things work between him and me first. Societal reputation intact."
"Oh, so it is a him?" Sabine asked. "Huh. I thought maybe you were even more like me than I thought for a moment."
Nataly was confused. "What?"
Sabine and Leon exchanged a look. Leon shrugged. "You should tell her."
"Tell me what?"
"Lovely," Sabine said quietly, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "if I could, I would marry. But I would marry a woman."
Nataly blinked rapidly. "Oh… I…"
"Yes. Anyway, back to you. Is he dirt poor? Is he a madman? Is he one of your cast? I bet it is one of those. It must be. Why else hide it?"
"He is a good man and we will be married at some point in the future. That is all I'm telling you," said Nataly.
Leon looked unhappy. "I don't like this. What if he's… Nataly, you always make things difficult."
"That's exactly what father said."
Sabine chuckled and Leon made a face. "Father knows as well?" he asked, looking a bit surprised.
"Yes. He—well, you know how he is. Too damn observant. I had to tell him some. I told him basically what I've told you." It felt good, sharing at least some of her secret with her close family. "Mother can't be told, though. Father and I want to find a way to give her the wedding she wants. But it can't be in Paris." Nataly sipped at her coffee.
"No, not if you wanted it private," Leon agreed.
"Have it in Le Havre!" Sabine suggested. "With us!"
"Possibly," conceded Nataly. "I have also given some thought to the south."
"Ooh, cher! That would be fun."
Nataly smiled but told her, "It might be a while."
"Yes, yes." Sabine waved her hand. "You're so mysterious. Mon dieu, so scandalous." She chuckled.
"Do you know what you're doing?" Leon asked her gently. "Are you keeping your head?"
"It's sitting right here on my shoulders, Leon," she told him smartly. "I am not being rash. I have found my partner. He is rather unconventional, but if I cannot marry who I want, what is all the money we have for?"
Sabine sniggered. "It looks like it will fall on you, Leon, to keep your family's fortune increasing like a dutiful child should."
He rolled his eyes.
"He'll have no problem," Nataly commented. "He's been a solider and now is ever the perfect gentleman. He just needs to stop traveling a while and find some woman to pursue." It was much more acceptable for a man in his late twenties or thirties to be still unmarried, as it would still be easy for them to find wives.
"You're both your father's children," said Sabine. "Difficult to please. Half again too sharp and independent for your own good." She grinned. She had beautiful teeth. "That's why I like you."