A/N: THIS IS NOT EDITED. BETA READER NEEDED. The movie Moulin Rouge, along with the characters used in this fanfiction, is copyrighted (©) to its respected owners (Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Productions, Baz Luhrmann, etc.). I do not take any credit for the characters from the movie Moulin Rouge that I have used in this fanfiction. All of the characters not from the Moulin Rouge movie are my own creations (Josilan, Henry, and others). Please DO NOT USE THEM without my permission. Thank you.
Any chapters (including the prologue) PREVIOUS to chapter seven are the work of both Viral Impact and Kalah Exclamation. Chapter seven and any of the FOLLOWING chapters (including the epilogue) are solely the work of Viral Impact.
! BETA READER STILL NEEDED ! ! SUGGESTIONS APPRECIATED !
Chapter Nine: Diamonds and Tin – Part the Last
The Duke returned with a briefcase under his arm and his wife gingerly holding the other. The Moulin Rouge was being repainted in preparation for the first, hopefully annual, Montmartre street faire and the new paint was already beginning to peel from the much too old wood. As if she could hear the voices of previous Diamond Dogs, Camilla pressed her gloved hand against the wood and closed her eyes. Her whole body shuddered and when she opened her eyes, she immediately gazed up at the apartment with the dark drapes closed and the desolate red flowers and raggedy doll in the windowsill. She glanced up at the sky where dark clouds were gathering and a small raindrop fell on her nose. She wiped her face and entered the red windmill with a haunting feeling.
Henry knelt before the statue of Mary in the small church. His hands were pressed together and tears gushed down his cheeks. "I've never been in a church." He whispered, "I'm asking for forgiveness. I was crazy. I…never meant to do what I did." He was beginning to shake. "I love Adele and I wanted to do anything to have her." He bowed his head and closed his eyes tightly. "I never meant to harm Chance…I was just so angry. So angry with myself for what I did and said. I was angry because the things I didn't say and didn't do. All I ask is for forgiveness. All I ask is please let God, Chance, and Adele forgive me."
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and stood up. He placed his hat on his head and slinked out of the church.
Adele held Josilan in her arms as she failed her arms and shrieked for help. Adele listened to the incoherent sobs and she stroked Josilan's hair gently. The once strong woman had turned into a blubbering mass of depression and no one could settle her soul. The other girls were standing in the doorway and Adele caught Nini's eyes, which were as melancholy as Josilan's. Adele cradled Josilan until she finally wiped her eyes with her sleeve and her weak smile made her lips quiver.
Nini strode across the floor and she opened the drapes, exclaiming loudly to break the gloomy silence, "You know you can't see those flowers Henry brought you if you keep these drapes closed."
Josilan licked her dry and sticky lips, "Close them…"
"Then I'll just move them." The whole room gasped as Nini picked up the auburn flowers and Isabelle's doll fell to the floor.
Adele lunged to pick up the doll before Josilan could see but it was too late. The lean but big boned and robust Francis, better known as Fanny, stepped forward and took Josilan into her arms. Josilan buried her face into Fanny's chest and her body convulsed as she sobbed. Fanny joked, "I knew these ladies would be of use other than to attract men."
"Oh Fanny!" Josilan wheezed and as Fanny sat, she took Josilan into her lap and held her like Josilan held Isabelle.
Adele picked up the doll and she flipped it over to fix the tangled hair. The bead for its eye popped off and rolled across the floor and under the bed. Nini chewed her lower lip as she set the flowers down beside Josilan's bed.
"When Leroy isn't satisfied, The Duke isn't satisfied." Camilla said placidly as she paced in Henry's den. Henry and The Duke busily puffed away on their pipes as she fell silent for a moment to collect her thoughts.
The den was clouded with their smoke, which Camilla had become accustomed during her marriage to The Duke. He loved to have a good smoke with his pipe. She paused in front of Henry's desk and he smiled the best he could as he clenched the pipe in his teeth.
"Well," he pulled the pipe away and waved it around as he spoke, "I can arrange him with another one of the girls."
Camilla smiled and sat down in The Duke's lap, "Now we're discussing real business. How about that Josilan lady? She's pretty and Leroy's type." She winked at Henry and he melted.
"All right. You have convinced me Camilla!" Henry shook hands with The Duke and then kissed the top of Camilla's hand.
Camilla jumped to her feet and ripped the pipe away from The Duke's mouth. She kissed him lightly as she placed the pipe back onto Henry's desk and thanked him for their brief visit. Henry replied, "It was a pleasure. Will you be returning for the Street Faire? It should be quite the gala here! Merchants with their finest will line the streets, cafés will be opened, and new restaurants and we have a whole new routine. Montmartre is trying to put a good foot down for once. It's supposed to happen in a few months."
Camilla smiled and nodded, "They have cleaned Montmartre up quite nicely, no? In celebration, I love the idea of a Street Gala. We will attend." With that, Henry escorted them back to their carriage and wished them the best.
Henry noticed the Diamond Dogs outside and busily building a small memorial for Chance and Isabelle. He recounted the previous night where Isabelle's little heart couldn't fight the cold of the night any longer. Josilan was leaning against Fanny and all girls rose to watch Camilla and The Duke. Henry approached the girls and Adele carefully walked away.
Before climbing into her ride, Camilla paused to glance at Josilan. She was healthier looking than the last time she saw her walking the streets with James Bordeaux. She nodded to the driver and climbed into the carriage and they sped off soon after.
Henry spoke to the girls clearly, "I don't want to be the bad one but I really need you all to shape up. The gala is soon and we need to be on our best spirits." He paused and when no one moved, he felt the monster within emerge, "NOW."
The girls frantically sped off into the Moulin Rouge but Josilan and Adele lingered for a moment. Adele whispered, "Every year we'll make a memorial, would you like that Jos?"
Adele picked up the doll and gave it to Josilan, who held it dearly. Josilan wearily nodded and Adele threw an arm over her shoulder as they walked back to join the others.
Satine stood in front of the mirror and studied her aging face. She felt much older now that she was married and she even felt a bit of her shackled down to Christian. Christian had once again been accepted into the high social life and Satine spent much of her time observing the other wives. She yearned to fit in and play her role well. She pinned her hair up, no longer wanting to wear it down, and she placed a necklace with a golden cross around her neck. She fingered the cross for a moment before turning to see Christian rise from their bed. He was putting on his trousers when he noticed Satine; a more sophisticated looking Satine with her face in a bun and just enough make-up to hide the bruises from prying eyes. Her dress was classy with an appropriate neckline and color. She was a perfect image of the high society wife.
Christian caressed her face and he asked, "Dinner with the neighbors?"
"Yes." She whispered, "Do I look the part?"
He unhooked her necklace and set it back into her small jewelry box. He produced a delicate silver necklace with four diamonds lining it in the front. He placed it on her neck and replied, "Now you look a bit like yourself. I don't want to lose the Satine I love."
"Now let's see if I can pull this off." She chuckled and ruefully thought; "I never thought being an actress would mean I had to act out my own life. Even to Christian I am false."
Three families were to attend a quiet dinner at the Risotto's home. The Risotto family was a well to do family that consisted of the infamous father, loyal wife, and one devout child. Alexander Risotto was very loving to his wife, Mary, and took time to spoil her and their little girl Ruth. Mary was fair skinned with long black hair, dark eyes and furry eyebrows while her husband and daughter had unruly tresses of chocolate and eyes of a light hazel. Ruth was already matched with her future husband, The Holmes' last child.
The Holmes family had six boys, and their youngest child was thirteen and more disobedient than any of their other sons Jacqueline Holmes had brought into the world. Gregory Holmes inherited his money after his father passed away and he had inherited many homes in exotic places. Gregory, Jacqueline and their son, Peter, were alike in appearance. They had long legs, lean torsos, and black hair and beady eyes.
It was to be Satine's first dinner as Mrs. Christian Beaularie and her stomach was churning with anxiety. As they ate dinner, the men talked politics and the women disciplined their children while Satine, smiling and always nodding in agreement sat and played with her food. Inwardly she screamed but she thought to herself, "This is better than Henry."
By the end of the night, her jaw was sore and she was exhausted after the new experience. Christian crawled into bed with her and kissed her neck as he promised, "Nothing will change in the bed at least. I promise I will never let us die again Satine." She shifted uncomfortably from under his body, "I love you Satine." He paused as she played with the buttons of his shirt, "I love you so much."
With Satine's flavor gone from the Moulin Rouge, Chez Amèlie had gained popularity and Leroy noticed Amèlie was attracting different people with larger bank accounts. His hand slid down the banister of the staircase with his other hand gripped tightly around the rim of his hat. As he snaked through the crowded room, he caught a glimpse of Amèlie. His heart yearned to reach out for her but instead he firmly placed his hat on his head and he reached the door. The crowd parted as he wandered to the door and he placed his trembling hand on the doorknob. He glanced back and saw Amèlie kissing another man. Emptiness filled his heart and his grip on the doorknob increased. He pushed open the door and stepped out into the cold night.
The heels on his shoes clacked against the stones of the sidewalk. He saw The Duke, waiting, at the corner of the street in his carriage. He glanced back at Chez Amèlie for a last time. He saw the heavy wooden blue door illuminated by the light on the overhanging. The green letters that spelled out Chez Amèlie seemed to wink at him and try to beckon him to return inside where the music pounded and sweat dripped from the bodies.
He exhaled. He gasped for air. He hadn't realized he had been holding his breath. He blinked and tipped his hat before hopping into the carriage. The Duke ordered the driver to pull away and Leroy pulled his hat from his head. He begged himself not to look behind but his eyes traveled back only to see that the door, the letters, and the back street had already disappeared.
Leroy noticed The Duke had grown from a self-pitying man into almost a fatherly figure. He thanked The Duke's marriage for the sudden turn of maturity. The Duke murmured, "We need to get you home. You've had too much excitement."
"I loved her." Leroy's voice cracked and The Duke sighed heavily.
"I know." The Duke watched Leroy lean against the door and shade his eyes with his hand. "We just need you to come home, rest a little, and…Leroy? You fell in love? Is it Satine?"
"No." Leroy groaned. "Amèlie said she found someone else. I don't believe her."
"She's a whore. She falls in love with anyone with a large enough bank account."
"I…" Leroy shook his head and whimpered, "You loved Satine once too?"
"I didn't love her. I was infatuated with a much too younger woman." The Duke leaned back in his seat. He laughed, "But perfect age for a lad like you."
"And Camilla isn't a much younger woman?"
"Ah, yes. That's true but it's different. Camilla is a lady, Satine is a woman." The Duke picked at his mustache. "It's time we have you cleansed of all this sin. Taking you back to the country is just what you need…" The Duke's voice tapered off as Leroy closed his eyes and tried to block out all other sounds. He hoped the trip home would end soon as he nodded off into a deep slumber.
The afternoon sun splashed down upon the Moulin Rouge. Adele and Josilan sat in the windowsill of Adele's room. Smoke billowed from their mouths as they played cards and reminisced. Their glasses of wine were within an arm's reach and already two bottles lay strewn across the floor. They heard a rustle at the open door and saw Nini leaning in the doorframe. Her mascara left black trails down her makeup flaked skin. She mouthed, "Henry" and the girls sighed heavily.
Adele motioned for her to come in and Nini slowly ambled over. She took a glass and drank hungrily. Adele dealt cards to Nini and all three of the women shared a smile. Each lost something during the last year. Nini lost the last of her hope for love, Adele lost her only love, and Josilan lost her child.
"Amèlie? Do you regret it?"
"No."
"Leroy was good to you."
"I know."
"What happened?"
"He asked me to marry him."
"And you said no?"
"I had to. I didn't love him. I-I c-couldn't love him."
"I think you can and will. Think of the money."
"I can't love him the way he needs me to love him. My nightclub is the only thing I want to focus on. Think about it? Endless poker nights with the boys while the women knit or something, a child within a year, and more expected. If I married him, I would be needed to clean, cook, and please the eye all at once!"
"But think about the ring…"
"I know it's almost tempting."
"I'd take it."
"The street faire is within a few months. So I plan to start writing to him then. Tell him how much I want him back…of course, he'll fall for it, right away…it's perfect. Satine has left the Moulin Rouge and it is going to fall into ruins. Then, I'll accept his offer of marriage."
The clock struck midnight and the clinking of glasses and shuffling of cards could still be heard from Adele's room. Cigarette smoke still floated from the window. They basked in the presence of their friends who understood their feelings without needing to hear tearful stories. They sat in front of the small fireplace and talked about their first loves, their last loves, their families, their lives. Finally the lights were blown out, the windows were closed, the glasses left on the floor and they curled up on the floor with blankets. Together they murmured, "Good night and for once, sweet dreams."