Good ol' Charles makes an appearance :)
Chapter 55
To put it frankly, Alex did not care for Charles one bit. His demeanor noticeably changed anytime he heard Meg's charming suitor in the foyer. If he was happily playing on the bedroom floor, the moment he heard Charles speak, my son would pause, ball his hands into fist and scowl, which was not becoming of a cherub-faced infant.
Naturally Meg found my son's jealousy somewhat amusing at first, however, after a week, Alex's pouting became more of an annoyance than charming as she could not leave the house without being followed by his pathetic screams.
"Who is this man?" I asked Madeline one afternoon following a particularly awful display by Alex. He had worn himself out and slept face-down across the settee with his fingers stuffed in his open mouth and his nose running. I had tucked a pillow beneath him in order to make certain he stayed wedged safely on the cushion and did not roll off onto the floor even though I remained within reach.
"He is wonderful," Madeline answered with a dreamy sigh.
That hardly answered my question.
"How do they know one another?"
Madeline thought a moment. "I honestly am not sure how they first met, but Mr. Lowry regularly came to see Meg perform at the theater when on leave from his tour. I think perhaps she met him back on a trip to London to see our family. He is in the British army, you know?"
I did not know. "I have no recollection of him whatsoever."
Madeline raised a brow. "Perhaps you did not recognize him in civilian clothes, although he's handsome both in his British uniform and in a suit."
Her fawning over the man was becoming highly irritating. I also doubted I would have missed a man in British military attire at the theater, but the crowds had never been of much interest to me. Perhaps I had seen him and simply did not give him a second thought.
"You would like him," Madeline said.
"Would I?" I asked incredulously. "Perhaps all three of us could court Charles Lowry."
Madeline snorted in response and eyed me from across the desk where we sat. With her daughter spending so much time out of the house, Madeline made a point of sitting in the parlor with me most afternoons. I wasn't sure who needed the company more, but I did not mind her presence for the most part. When I had first come to live in the Opera House, she had spent hours at my side detailing the latest opera rehearsal or telling me in a hushed voice about the latest rumors.
"You never tire of being combative, do you?"
"I am not being combative in the least. I merely asked a question which you still have not answered."
"Mr. Lowry has written many papers on everything from history to philosophy, he's taught several classes at university, and he is very well spoken and well traveled. He is a perfect gentleman and wonderful for Meg. What more do you need to know?"
"Will he ask her to marry him?"
Madeline sat back and eyed me curiously. "I certainly hope so."
Alex lifted his head as if alarmed by Madeline's words, but his eyes remained shut and he stretched out, hand falling from his mouth to dangle over the edge of the settee as he settled into sleep once more.
"They would move out of Paris then?" I asked as I kept my attention focused on Alex.
Madeline shrugged. "That has not been discussed, but I suppose that is a possibility."
I highly doubted Meg and her new husband would take up residence within my home, and given his military service I expected if they married, Meg would not only move out of my home but most likely out of France as well.
"You would not like being separated from your daughter," I commented.
From the corner of my eye I saw Madeline tilt her head to the side. "No, I would not," she said carefully. "But I suppose if they moved to London or elsewhere, I would not mind being closer to my brother and his family. As you already know I do not see them often."
My jaw involuntarily twitched at her words. The dynamic of our household, although not ideal, would change completely. Alex's afternoons spent with Meg had already been cut considerably and I could not imagine what would happen if he did not see her at all.
"This upsets you?" Madeline questioned.
"Why would your daughter's marriage upset me, Madame?"
Madeline sat back and thumbed through the newspaper for a moment in silence. I could tell by the way she ignored my words that she would not engage in a petty argument.
"Nothing has been decided yet," Madeline said without looking at me. She closed the paper and folded it in half. "You are worried over nothing."
"I did not say I was worried."
"You did not have to say a word."
My nostrils flared. "And what exactly does that mean?"
Madeline placed the newspaper on the desk and looked directly at me. "You are worried about being left alone to care for a small child."
Sometimes I truly despised how she gave me an answer I asked for but did not want to hear.
"That is utter nonsense," I grumbled.
"You have always worried about being alone," she continued.
"I have always been alone. Why would I fret over such a thing now?"
Madeline sat back and looked out the window for a moment. The windows had been kept open as there was a breeze for most of the morning, and the sun was bright and warm in the afternoon. I had jotted down a considerable amount of music earlier in the day and set my work aside to play in the evening after supper. Something about the way the leaves rustled and the liveliness of the city on a mundane afternoon inspired me to compose. Whether or not the melodies I heard in my head were worth keeping would be determined later in the day.
"You leave the house only after dark and always alone," Madeline said at last. "You have Meg to take Alex out for walks in the afternoon and I am responsible for all of the shopping, having your wigs cleaned, and the house maintained. Why would you not be concerned by the possibility of change when you are a man who relies on consistency and values privacy?"
She spoke in such a plain and matter of fact manner that there was no arguing. As much as I did not want to admit it, I was fully-painfully-aware that if Meg married this Charles Lowry, her life would vastly improve, Madeline would undoubtedly stay with her daughter and new son-in-law, and the level of comfort I was allowed by their presence within my home would no longer exist.
Worse than Christine taking Alex from me was being left alone in Paris to care for a small child. While the funds existed for me to hire a staff to take over household duties and Alex's care, I was not comfortable with the idea of strangers in my home.
"As I stated, nothing has been decided," Madeline assured me.
Perhaps the wheels were not yet in motion, but the plans were already laid out and once Charles asked for Meg's hand and she agreed, everything would change. Given our limited interactions, I could not imagine Meg sparing a second thought on me when the opportunity arose to have her own family. Already she had become somewhat of a doting surrogate mother to Alex. Undoubtedly she would pour every bit of herself into motherhood for her own children.
To put it frankly, I was becoming less and less fond of this Charles Lowry.
Madeline hit the newspaper against the desk and shot me a look. "Why must you do this?"
My eyes widened. "I beg your pardon?"
"You spend far too much time agonizing over the smallest details. I am positive you have already considered how many maids you would need to keep the house in order."
I had decided on two, but did not dare confirm her suspicions.
"Why don't you accompany Meg this evening at the Seuratti's home?"
"Who in theā¦" I glanced at Alex, who was still asleep, but still curbed my language.. "World are the Seurattis?"
"The new neighbors." She looked downright annoyed with my lack of knowledge in neighborhood affairs and tossed the newspaper onto the desk once more. "They have a daughter who is six months older than Alex."
"What of it?"
"Madame Seuratti invited Meg over after supper for dessert. You could bring Alex to meet their daughter Lisette. It would be good for Alex and you as well."
"So that I am familiar with someone when you, your daughter and her husband move to London?"
I had not meant to ask such a question, but Madeline did not seem the least bit surprised. I half-expected a look of satisfaction that I had proven her correct and that my worst fears were indeed being left behind to raise my son alone.
All too late I looked away from her and gathered up the newspaper, which I moved from one side of the desk to the other for no other reason than I needed a distraction from my thoughts.
"You would not need to stay here," Madeline pointed out. She kept her tone low and even and looked at me with sympathy. "You would be more than welcome to stay with me-if we were to leave Paris."
"Has a burden of twenty years not been enough for you?"
Another push on my part, I realized, another attempt to try her patience. I was hellbent on achieving the outcome I most feared.
"The only burden is the false one you clearly wish to maintain in your mind," Madeline replied. She scooted her chair back and crossed her arms as she glared at me. I thought she would walk out of the parlor, but she remained across from me and did nothing more than stare back in silence, daring me to say another word.
I assumed she would have scowled at me indefinitely, however, Meg and Charles returned to the house, as was evident by Meg's girlish giggles as they approached the front door.
The sound of her voice immediately woke Alex, who went from sound asleep to pushing himself upright so quickly that he almost fell to the side in his disoriented state.
"May," he yawned.
"Oh, for God's sake," I mumbled. "She is not even in the house yet."
"Charles, if you would excuse me for one moment I will ask his father after I find a new pair of gloves," Meg requested once they walked into the foyer.
"Shall I stay here?" Charles asked.
"If you don't mind," Meg said over her shoulder as she walked down the hall and presumably toward her bedroom.
Madeline stood and excused herself, mumbling something about keeping Charles company while he waited for Meg.
"Madame Giry," I heard Charles say.
"Call me Madeline, I insist. Madame Giry is far too formal."
I rolled my eyes as they exchanged pleasantries.
"You look wonderful."
"As do you, Monsieur Lowry."
"Ah, but you must call me Charles if I am to call you Madeline."
Madeline giggled, which was not unlike her daughter.
"Did you have a nice afternoon?"
"Beautiful weather in the company of your beautiful daughter. What is not to like about Paris this time of year?"
Again I rolled my eyes. The flow of their meaningless conversation came far too easily between them, like lines rehearsed in a play.
"How long are you staying in town? Permanently, I do hope?"
The man hesitated. "One more tour in Africa and then my service to the Queen and my country is complete. And then...it is time to settle down."
"Have you asked her?" Madeline inquired. She kept her voice low, however, if I could hear her from the parlor then her daughter most certainly could hear her from the bedroom down the hall.
"Soon," Charles promised.
"Mother, do you know where my blue gloves are?" Meg asked. Her footsteps were swift down the hallway.
"May!" Alex shouted.
"I will find them," Madeline promised. "Do not keep Charles waiting."
"A moment longer. I need to ask Alex's father a question."
"Alex's father indeed," I said under my breath. No matter how much time passed, I would never have a given name as far as she was concerned. I may as well have been a stranger on the street.
Meg strolled into the parlor and Alex smiled at the sight of her. He practically crawled over me in order to garner her attention.
"My love," she said to Alex as he clung to her.
"What do you intend to ask his father?" I questioned.
Meg kept her attention focused on my son. "Would you agree to Alex joining us at the park? There is a puppet show and Charles thought Alex might enjoy seeing it."
Internally I seethed at the audacity of this man to assume he knew what my son would enjoy seeing at the park.
"We would only be gone for an hour," she said as though this would determine my answer.
There was a knock on the open parlor door and both Meg and Alex whipped their heads around to see Charles Lowry standing in the hall. Despite my mask in place, I still turned from him immediately and placed my hand over the covered right side of my face.
"So this must be Alexandre, my worthy rival vying for Mademoiselle Giry's affection?" he said lightly.
From the corner of my eye I saw Charles extend his hand toward Alex, who immediately pushed him away.
Charles grunted as though he were hit with a mighty blow and staggered backward. Alex craned his neck for a better look and, seeing Charles splay his hands against the wall and brace himself, my son laughed and squealed in delight of the gentleman's antics. He planted his foot on Meg's hip and leaned over her shoulder, reaching out to his sworn enemy turned source of entertainment.
Charles reached out to Alex, who swatted him away a second time with the same result.
At last Charles turned his attention to me and cleared his throat. "Monsieur Kire? Forgive me for not addressing you sooner." He squeezed past Meg and came around to the side of the desk with his hand extended and no hint of reservation on his visage as he stood beside me.
I pulled my hand away from my face and saw Meg standing stock still, her eyes wide and lips parted as Alex placed his head on her shoulder and wrapped his hands around her sleeve, perfectly content in her arms.
Charles offered a firm handshake and a wide, genuine smile. He was considerably younger than I had first thought considering his vast accomplishments. He stood tall with thick, dark hair and soft eyes set on a square face with equally square shoulders and perfect posture, which I expected from someone serving in the military. He was the exceedingly handsome young man who, when in a uniform, would have sent every young woman in the ballet into a fit of giggles and blushes.
"Meg has spoken endlessly of your son." He glanced at Meg and winked. I mentally noted that Meg had not spoken endless of me, which came as no surprise. "It seems Meg and Alex have a very special bond."
I nodded in silence.
Charles was not deterred in the least by my lack of conversation. "I would be honored to walk Meg and your son to the park with your permission, of course. I will have them both home in time for supper."
I looked from Charles to Meg, who offered nothing more than a pleading look in her blue eyes as though she feared what I would do or say to her suitor.
Madeline quietly stepped into my line of sight in the hall and gave me a hardened, warning look.
"If Alex wishes to attend he may go," I replied, fully expecting Alex to cling to Meg for as long as possible and the three of them to be on their merry little way.
Charles turned back to Meg and Alex and leaned forward with his hand extended to my son. "What do you say, Alex? Would you like to see a puppet show with us this afternoon?"
Alex eyed Charles suspiciously. "No," he answered flatly.
No one said a word. Madeline's jaw fell open and Meg stared at Alex in disbelief. Charles seemed somewhat startled by Alex's answer, but he smiled nonetheless and dropped his hand to his side.
"Au revoir," Alex said with a wide grin and a wave of his hand before he buried his head against Meg's shoulder and ignored Charles completely. I had no doubt that in his mind he assumed he had won Meg's affection and Charles would see himself out and never return.
Clearly this was not the outcome anyone expected. Even I remained somewhat dumbfounded by my son's actions.
Charles placed his hands on his hips and widened his stance. "Do you think you will win her so easily, Monsieur?" he asked, his tone playful. "I have spent many years attempting to win Mademoiselle Giry's affection and you have crawled into her life and stolen her without a second thought. This is not over yet, my young friend."
Meg giggled, which made Alex lift his head and issue a disapproving look I could only assume he had picked up from me.
"I suppose we will go alone and see all of the toys in the park. I hear they have many, many trains," Charles said with an air of drama to his words.
Alex's eyes widened. He stared at Charles briefly, then looked at Meg. "Tata?" he questioned. "Tray?"
He had never called her auntie before, at least not that I had heard, though I assumed Meg had been teaching him to call her such. She had spent many hours in the dining room getting him to say simple words and each new sound Alex imitated was followed by a celebration between the two of them.
"Lots and lots of trains," Meg assured him. "Many different colors and types as well. I thought you would love to see all of the trains in the park."
Alex attempted to remain skeptical, but his love of toy trains was undeniable. He looked at Charles again with his lips pursed and fist still holding tight to Meg's sleeve. "No," he said with a sigh.
"Alex," I said as I held out my arms to him. "Let Meg and Charles leave. You have your old train here and absolutely do not need any more toys."
From the corner of my vision I saw Madeline smile. Alex turned his attention to the settee and his train, which was never far from him, then back at Meg.
"You do not need a new one, do you?" she asked.
He gave an exaggerated nod and Meg pulled her head back before Alex nearly cracked her in the skull.
"You do wish to join us?" Meg asked, her voice high and cheerful.
"Tata," he said with a smile. He pointed at Charles and frowned. "No."
It took all of my strength not to smile or chuckle at Alex's clear and completely unnecessary disapproval of Charles. Not even the prospect of a new toy would sway him.
"You either go with both of them or you stay here with me while I compose," I said firmly.
I knew well before the look of disdain on his face took hold that he had no desire to sit on the floor while I worked on my music before supper. While he enjoyed listening to me play to an extent, he was not fond of entertaining himself for more than a few minutes at a time while I composed.
"Tray," Alex said at last. He looked at Charles indifferently and placed his head on Meg's shoulder again, finally conceding to their wishes.
With a smile, Meg kissed Alex on the top of the head. "Thank you," she said. Her gaze flashed to me briefly and I nodded.
She could not have been more in love with Charles Lowry. The shy, unassuming little dancer who remained mostly unnoticed in the ballet lit up all because of an afternoon spent in his company at the park. Once he placed a ring on her finger, she would spend the rest of her life aglow, treated like the center of his world rather than one girl in a dozen at the corps de ballet.
"Your gloves," Madeline said once Meg turned to leave the room. Madeline took Alex while Meg pulled on her gloves, and together they walked down the hallway and toward the foyer.
Charles lingered a moment longer. He looked considerably more nervous now that we mother and daughter had exited, and his expression heightened my own anxiety as I feared what he would say to me once we were alone.
"I understand you are the head of the household, Monsieur," he said quietly as he shut the door behind him. "I admit I am not exactly certain of the relation between you and Madame Giry, but Meg tells me you are like a son to her mother."
I sat perfectly still, unsure of what he expected me to say. For the most part I was not certain where I stood as far Madeline and Meg were concerned. Out of all of the ways Meg could have explained my role in their relationship, referring to me as like a son to her mother was perhaps the most generous.
"I would like to ask for Meg's hand in marriage," he blurted out. "I do hope you will put in a good word for me so that her mother will agree. And as head of the household, I do hope sincerely that you approve of our courtship. I am very much in love with Mademoiselle Giry and would be honored if you would consider my proposal. Thank you for your time."
He did not wait for me to reply, which was probably for the best as I had no idea what to say to him. With a single nod, he backed out of the room and swiftly walked down the hall. Madeline told them not to rush back and to have a wonderful time before she returned to the parlor, her face aglow with a wistful smile.
"What was that about?" she asked.
"A private matter," I answered.
Madeline narrowed her eyes, clearly dissatisfied with my reply. "What did you say to him?"
"Not a word."
"What did he say to you?"
"He wanted my approval for their courtship and his imminent proposal."
Madeline wrung her hands and visibly swallowed. "May I ask what you said in return?"
I turned my attention away from Madeline and took up the newspaper. "He walked out before I could say a word."
In the bottom corner of the paper, the name de Chagny stood out. I stared at the print for a moment, my breath suddenly lodged in my throat and my heart like a stone in my chest.
No matter what, that aching would never quite leave me. I wondered if Christine would have felt the same way if she had seen my name in the paper, if she would have regretted her choice even for a heartbeat.
"What would you have said to Charles?" Madeline asked.
I thought for a moment, my attention still drawn to the article beneath my fingertips. Undoubtedly that was as close as I would ever be to Christine again, a distant spectator in her bustling life. If she ever returned to Paris, if she would ever agree to see me one more time...
"I would have said yes," I answered, and although I suppose I did not truly answer Madeline's question but the sole idea consuming my thoughts. She smiled all the same and took her seat across from me once more.
"Thank you," she said.
Author Note:
For those of you not familiar with the other stories, Charles Lowry becomes Alex's tutor later.
