Charlotte sat at the desk that was now in the corner of the playroom that had been converted into a study area. The new governess, Miss Samantha Middleton a lanky young woman of nineteen, sat next to the desk on a little stool. Charlotte tapped her pencil against the blank paper.
"So if you do not want to write, do you want to practice your reading?" The young woman asked. She looked around the room, noticing the dollhouse and dolls. "Do you want to set up your dolls and read them a story and then have a tea party?"
Charlotte's doe eyes lit up, "We can do that?"
"I do not see why not. Let's get them set up and I will ring Mrs. Ada for some tea."
"You're silly Miss Middleton!" Charlotte giggled. "Hannah gets the tea."
The young woman stood and smoothed her skirts, "I do believe your mother informed me Hannah was now in charge of your sister while she is at rehearsals."
Erik played the same three measures over and over hoping the next one would come but it didn't. He sighed, placed his hands on his hips and stretched as he stood up from the piano. He paced back and forth in the music room finally stopping and looking out the window. A gentle breeze blew around autumn leaves among the people walking through the neighborhood.
He heard a rattle beyond the door, so he opened it to see Ada carrying a tea tray.
"Oh how thoughtful of you Ada, to have a lunch ready for me!"
The woman frowned, "My apologies, Mr. Y. Miss Middleton requested a tea party for her and Charlotte after story time for Miss Mary and her friends. I can start you a lunch when I am finished."
"Yes, thank you." Erik pulled on his waistcoat and headed into the parlor where he found Hannah sitting on the couch sewing. Matilda was asleep on a blanket on the floor surrounded by pillows, her stuffed elephant and covered by another blanket. He cleared his throat and Hannah looked up.
She smiled at her boss, "She just fell asleep after eating all her lunch. If you want to walk with her after she wakes up…"
"Yes, yes. What are you working on there?"
"Altering some of Charlotte's old clothes to better fit Matilda at your wife's request," She held up a dress.
"I thought we sat up a sewing machine in your room."
"You did but it's rather noisy for a sleeping child."
"Touche," Erik returned to the music room. He looked down at his composition. He then looked out the window, "Oh Christine…"
The sound of the front door opening was enough to for Charlotte to push her chair away from the dining room table, "Mama! Mama!" She exclaimed running towards it.
"Charlotte!" Erik exclaimed.
"Mama! Mama!"
"Charlotte darling!" Portfolio still in hand, Christine lifted her daughter into her arms.
The girl covered her mother's face in kisses, "How was your singing? Are you the best yet? Miss Middleton let me read to my dolls and we had a tea party!"
Christine lowered the girl back down to the floor, "Slow down! Where is everyone else?"
"Dining room! We're having dinner!" The girl took her mother's free hand and led her to the room.
"Oh I do hope you saved some for me," She smiled at all the faces.
Matilda giggled and smacked her hands on the table of her highchair upon seeing her mother.
The Diva laughed in response. She sat her portfolio down and lifted the baby out of the high chair, "Mama is happy to see you too!" She kissed the chubby cheeks and rocked back and forth as she held the child tight.
"Do be careful she just finished eating," Erik spoke for the first time, his tone cool and matter of fact.
"I figured this was what all this commotion was about," Hannah came out of the kitchen, tray in hand with a plate of food, a tea pot and a cup. She sat the plate down in front of the empty chair, "Your supper, Madame. And your tea and honey as you always prefer after a day of rehearsal."
"You are a blessing, Hannah. I do not what I would do without you," Christine sat down, coat still on situating Matilda on her lap. Christine lifted the freshly poured tea with her hand not around the baby. She took a sip and sighed, "Ahhh! Just right."
"Mama! Mama! You didn't finish hearing about the tea party!" Charlotte kneeled in her chair so she could face her mother, "She said we could have the tea party if I read the whole book and I did! We had cookies and tea! And cookies!"
"I can tell," Christine turned and brushed Charlotte's stray hair behind her ear exposing her deformity. "I am so proud of you."
"Can I read to you tonight?!"
"Sit correctly and finish your dinner and we will see," The Diva looked over to her son who sat quietly eating but she caught his glances. She smiled at him, "And my dear son, who has been waiting so patiently."
"I got an A on my Mathematics quiz. And Adam and I flew our kites in the park after school."
"And what about your music lesson today?" Christine turned to her husband.
Gustave bit his lip and looked at his father.
"I was busy today, we didn't have time," Erik spoke firmly before taking a drink of his tea.
"Don't lie, father! You told me you uninspired and lacked the patience. I gave you some ideas for where you are stumped on that melody but you wouldn't listen!" Gustave sounded more like his father when he raised his voice.
"I am the composer, not you! And don't take that tone with me, young man!"
"I don't even want credit! You need to finish the piece! Spring will be here and we'll have to start rehearsals."
"Why do you care so much about the show suddenly?" Erik growled. "You'll still have your automaton show."
"That is enough!" Christine snapped. "You two work this out like the men you are." She stood taking the baby with her. "Come on, Charlotte. Let's get you ready for bed so you can read me your story."
The table now empty of all but the two men, Erik looked at his wife's portfolio. He opened it and skimmed through the music and notes. He scoffed before closing it.
"What was that about?" Gustave asked. "I thought you were nothing like Raoul. I thought you would love her singing again!"
"I do…I just…that is not the part for her."
"So says you. You're not the only one dictating her career anymore," Gustave sat his fork down and then looked up at his dad eyes wide, "That's why you cannot finish that melody! That's why you do not want me helping! You're writing that for mother!"
The Phantom pushed away from the table and stormed out of the dining room.
Christine awoke to go to the water closet only to find the other side of their bed empty. After she relieved herself, she sighed as put on her dressing robe and slippers before taking the lit gaslamp down the stairs to the music room.
He was hunched over the piano, his waistcoat, mask and wig gone, shirt rumpled as his fingers ghosted over the keys. He didn't even look up when she entered the room.
"Angel, come to bed. It's late and it's obvious you are tired."
"I am not tired. Inspiration finally hit."
"What is the matter, Erik? You have hardly spoke to me since I came home tonight. And you've been moody since I started rehearsal this week. I thought you were happy and okay with my decision to take the Met contract."
He stopped "playing" and looked up at his wife, "I am…I just…I didn't realize how much I still need you."
"What do you mean need me? She giggled. "I am still here," She tousled his thinning locks.
He sighed, "You're my muse, Christine. I have felt useless without you around. Gustave is in school; Charlotte has a governess now; I help with Matilda but Hannah seems to have everything under such control I feel more like a burden with my own daughter." He took her hand into his, "I sit here trying to will the music out of me to finish this new opera."
"So you miss my presence to inspire you?"
"Yes. You know have you have always inspired me. How I need your music…you haven't been here to sing for me." He caressed her hand, "I looked at your portfolio tonight. They have you playing The Queen of the Night. They are being cruel to you."
The Diva arched an eyebrow, "How so? She has beautiful arias and is a wonderful part."
"But it's not you!" Erik stomped his foot. "She is cold, artifice, a role for a mature…"
Christine smiled as she chuckled, "Oh my Angel, you are so sweet." She slid onto his lap, straddling him. "You still think I'm the young ingenue." She held both his cheeks as she leaned her forehead against his. "I am not that young girl anymore. This is a great role for a woman my age and it fits my voice beautifully. As far as the rest, it's just acting."
She unbuttoned his shirt and kissed down his neck. "How about you make me sing your favorite song? You know the one that only you get to hear?"
The Phantom untied the ribbon on her dressing gown and nightgown, "Right here, my Christine. Sing for me here, inspire me!"
The Soprano kissed back up his neck, gently onto his deformed cheek before whispering into ear, "Yes, my Angel of Music. I only have one request…withdrawal. We cannot risk a pregnancy now."
He chuckled as he pushed the nightgown aside exposing her breasts, "I think I can accommodate in exchange for some inspiration."