They reached Calais by evening. In the distance, they could already see the ship at port. Diana and Christian checked into a hotel for the night while Jack saw to seeing their luggage aboard the ship.
The next morning, it was time to board. Jack was waiting on the pier for his friends in hiding. As he watched everyone board, a particular first class couple caught his eye. He saw Diana and Christian; looking like the upper class they were, walk onto the ship. There was no more he could do now and he started back to Montmartre.
As Diana waked up the boarding ramp, she couldn't help but thinking she was going back to her guilded cage. It also hurt her that she felt she was uprooting Christian, but this was the only place she thought was safe.
The pair stood on the deck as the boat departed. As they held each other, the pain that they were feeling was quite obvious.
"Just think of this as the honeymoon we never had." Diana said. Christian just laughed softly.
Once the ship was at sea, reality set in. They were both now almost forced to live by the codes that they detested. They were expected to act like the upper class instead of the impoverished Bohemians.
"Whenever we are trapped in these first class gatherings, like meals, let me handle it. Hopefully my name still has some place left in society." Diana said as she and Christian were preparing for dinner, affectionately referred to as a bastion of hell.
Diana entered on Christian's arm and was instantly struck by the upper echelons of American High Society. Many recognized her but few inquired. Even though people surrounded them, Christian and Diana felt so alone. As they sat among some of the richest in Europe and America, they longed for the company of the Bohemians, looking over the Moulin Rouge. Diana kept thinking that in one week, they would be in New York and a whole other world.
Diana and Christian kept mainly to themselves as the crossed the Atlantic. Their days were spent strolling around the ship, while their nights belonged to passion's embrace, truly making it their honeymoon.
Diana still remained very self-conscious about her appearance. The Duke may not have broken her mentally but he took away her physical self-esteem. Diana still made conscious efforts to hide the bruises, even when she and Christian were alone. Seeing his wife like this hurt Christian immensely. He wanted to bring her back to the vibrant, shining woman she was known to be.
Every night, Christian would hold her close to him, as close as he could. She was even ashamed of her body in front of him. Diana still tried to cover herself with a robe instead of letting Christian see the healing injuries. One night he got an idea. As he held her, he started to massage her sore muscles. Almost instantly, Diana began to relax under his touch. With her guard slightly relaxed, Christian was able to take the robe off of her. He laid her down on the bed and continued his massage. He felt her almost dissolve under his hands. He lovingly worked out all the knots that had built up in her in her neck, her back, of course being extremely gentle around her ribs, her legs and her feet. When he finished, he laid down next to her and Diana completely melted into his arms. She snuggled right up next to him as he wrapped his arms around her.
Diana had missed this. She had missed the feel of his skin next to hers. After the beatings she suffered, Christian could barely hold her without causing her pain. Now it seemed that any pain that still lingered, Christian had taken away with the gentleness of his touch. She longed for the feel of him again; she wanted the passion that they shared before everything.
Christian softly kissed his wife as she lay in his arms. They both longed for the intimacy of each other's bodies again. Their soft kisses grew into a passionate flame. Diana and Christian gave into each other and made love until near dawn, and then fell asleep in each other's embrace.
Christian saw an enormous change in Diana after that one night. He saw how the simple massage did wonders for her; she seemed to be healing faster than before. He wanted to give her back her smile. He wanted her to be happy again. Every night he planned another romantic interlude. One night was a candlelit dinner alone; another was a romantic hot bath for the two of them. Besides for the massage, the night that Diana liked the best was simply listening to Christian's stories. Her singing relaxed him and his storytelling put her at peace. Every day, Diana improved; eventually gaining back the joy she had lost under the Duke's hand. Christian was thankful and overwhelmed with joy when he saw her smile return.
As their travel neared an end, Diana felt a strange sense of home sweep over her, especially when she saw the Statue of Liberty. She was an American and this was home. Now the real fun began. She had been out of the high-class lifestyle for two years but Christian had lived the Bohemian lifestyle for much longer. She now had to get her Penniless Writer used to American high society.
When they landed in Ellis Island, Diana had to begin the act again. She and Christian were immediately seen at immigration, going right past the hordes of poor immigrants. All that was needed was proof of her citizenship and their marriage and they were on their way.
As the carriage drove through the streets to Diana's home, Christian was trying to absorb everything around him.
"Nothing like London. Welcome to the crossroads of the world." Diana said to him.
"Why did you ever want to leave?"
"Be patient Christian. There's more."
Eventually the carriage pulled up to an enormous mansion, one that rivaled the likes of Vanderbilt and Rockefeller.
"Welcome to our new home, Christian." Diana said as the door opened and three servants appeared for the luggage.
"Mistress Barrister, we are so happy to see your return." The butler said as they walked in the door.
"It's Andrews now, William. May I present my husband, Christian."
"A Pleasure, sir." Christian nodded slightly, still trying to get used to the new surroundings.
Diana looked around her home and remembered the life she used to have and knew she didn't want to repeat it. She was not going to be trapped by her social class after breaking those bonds a few years earlier.
Diana walked over to Christian and wrapped her arms around him to try to put him at ease. "It's a whole new world now and it's ours for the taking." She then reached up to kiss him, sealing their new life.
