Disclaimer - I, do not own the rights to the "Sparkling Diamond[s]" of a
movie, "Moulin Rouge" (If I did I would be a genius going by the name of
Baz Luhrmann). I am simply one of the "Children of the Revolution"
(Although one of "Elephant [Melody]" proportions) that writes fanfiction
"Because We Can". "Come What May", but please do not sue me or I will be a
"Sad Hindi Diamond". May this be "Your Song" and may you say "Some Day I'll
Fly Away"! (I do not own the songs used in this story or in the titles of
the chapters either.)
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part IX: Do You Wanna Dance ~
By Casidy
Dinner went by rather smoothly. It seemed whenever The Father was in the room Mrs. Wilesly was quite polite to everyone. What no one could explain was the woman's intense fondness for Satine, but Christian tried not to question it.
Everyone had not been seated long when The Father asked Emily to share what she had been learning in her lessons lately.
"I just finished a research project on how Kings' wives and mistresses effected how they governed England."
Mrs. Wilesly gasped, feigning shock that Emily's teacher would discuss a royal's private affairs.
"It was very interesting. I had to write a play where I acted out the women in different leaders' lives. It ended up being a musical, actually." Emily raised a humored eyebrow and cast a glance Christian's way.
He smiled at his little sister; she was a true bohemian to the core. "How are your music lessons going, Emmy?" Christian asked.
"Fine. Sam-er um…Samantha is making me write music for flute choir, now."
"A lady sits straighter than that, Emily." Mrs. Wilesly said not even glancing at her. "Look at myself or Satine if you need a visual aid."
Emily, not quite sure how it would even be possible for her not to sit straight with her corset laced as tight as it was, simply ignored the old woman.
"What is flute choir?" Satine asked curiously.
Thankful for the distraction Emily answered happily, "Every Thursday Samantha, my flute teacher, has all of her students, in my age group, play as an ensemble. It just gives us a chance to play in a large group."
Satine nodded, picking up her salad fork.
"What about your etiquette classes?" this question came from Mrs. Wilesly, slightly blue from holing in her biting remarks on Emily's ridiculous interest in an instrument she could barely even play.
Boring as ever, Emily wanted to say, but instead she said, "Splendid," flatly.
Christian feigned intense interest in his salad to hide his smile, remembering how before he left for Paris Emily had been quickly catching up to the record he had set for being thrown our of etiquette classes.
Mrs. Wilesly nodded agreeably then picked up her wineglass, "A lady keeps her elbows off the table, Emily."
*~*
As dessert was served Mrs. Wilesly brought up the subject Emily had been expecting.
"Emily's manners need…tweaking. I know this lovely finishing school if you're interested."
The Father looked up from his bread pudding, "Of course, she'll need further training after she finishes her present lessons. What school did you have in mind?"
"Well, it's in Switzerland."
Emily looked up from the ice cream Sarah had hidden under a thin layer of the disgusting bread pudding her father insisted on eating.
The Father was a hard man, and rarely showed love toward his two youngest children but he adored Emily. She had him wrapped around her little finger even if he hid the fact quite well. She was so much like her mother, he could not imagine sending her to a foreign country where she would not have her various teachers or friends. She had taken over the role of lady of the house gracefully, after her mother's death. How would he ever run a household?
"I don't know Mrs. Wilesly-" he started
"At least consider it. She needs training if she is going to have any hope of catching a husband. She needs to know how to run a home."
Christian interjected, planning to keep his promise to his little sister about talking his father out of sending her away. "I think she has run this house very smoothly without any training, Mrs. Wilesly. Father, you must agree. I don't see the need for Emmy to be sent out of the country simply for finishing school. There are numerous, respectable schools right her in London." He could see he had his father almost convinced. "And, you would be able to monitor whom she courts. If you send her to a boarding school you would have no say in whom she may marry."
That had done it. "Christian's right. Mrs. Wilesly, since you are so interested in Emily's continuation of her studies would you mind looking into some of the finishing schools right her in London? We should probably get her on a waiting list soon.
Mrs. Wilesly nodded dully to The Father and glared at Christian before returning to the sour bread pudding before her.
When The Father had finished his pudding and the maids had cleared the table the spoke, "I'm afraid I must excuse myself for the night. I have to wake early tomorrow and go to the bank. Christian, we will leave promptly at eight thirty sharp tomorrow morning."
"We, sir?" Christian choked, dreading the response.
"Yes, you will be joining me. You chose to go to France last time I told you it was time you took over part of the family business, now it is time for you to take on some responsibilities. You're engaged and will soon have a family to take care of. You need to think of your future. I refuse to allow you to simply live off your inheritance."
Christian tried not to look like a disappointed child. Failing miserably he nodded his head, "Yes, sir."
The Father excused himself and Emily led the remaining dinner attendants to the library. Everyone sat down and muddled through small talk until Mrs. Wilesly took it upon herself to bring up a topic. "Christian, I don't believe you've told me of how Satine and you met."
The quick glance between Satine and Christian did not escape Emily's notice. She made a note to ask Satine tomorrow what really happened in Paris.
Christian stumbled over his words for a moment before Satine took over quickly. "Christian was living in an apartment bellow a very good painter friend of mine. He introduced us. Right darling?"
Christian nodded, grateful for Satine's cool head. "That's right. Satine's um… father commissioned Toulouse to do a portrait of Satine."
Despite all of his brilliance Christian was the worst liar, and couldn't come up with a good excuse to save his life but Mrs. Wilesly seemed to believe his story.
Mrs. Wilesly smiled then asked out of the blue, "Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me one of the dances you have learned in etiquette classes Emily."
Emily glanced at Christian and under her breath said, "How about the can- can? Maybe then I could put my foot up her-"
Clearing his throat quickly Christian stood and bowed to his sister genteelly and said, "Mademoiselle Emily, may I have this dance?"
Smiling at the cute picture her brother made Emily stood, taking his hand and curtsied gracefully then said, "Bien sûr, monsieur, mais nous voudrais musique."*
Satine stood from her seat on the couch quickly, "I'll play something. I'm not that good but I'm sure I can come up with something." Walked past Christian and Emily she said, "Beautiful accent, Em." She walked over to the baby grand piano and sat down then began to play. She knew just the song to describe Christian's admiration for his little sister.
Christian took Emily's hand into his and put his other on the small of her back. Satine began to play and sing and Christian and Emily began to glide around the room.
Can this be true?
Tell me, can this be real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
My life was complete,
I thought I was whole.
Why do I feel like I'm losing control?
How can it be, that right here with me, There's an angel?
It's a miracle.
Your love is like a river,
peaceful and deep.
Your soul is like a secret,
that I never could keep.
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true,
God must have spent a little more time on you.
In all of creation, all things great and small,
you are the one that surpasses them all.
More precious then any diamond or pearl,
they broke the mold when you came in this world.
And I'm trying hard to figure out,
just how I ever did without,
The warmth of your smile,
the heart of a child, that's deep inside,
Leave me purified.
Your love is like a river,
peaceful and deep.
Your soul is like a secret,
that I never could keep.
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true,
God must have spent a little more time on you.
How can it be, that right here with me, There's an angel?
It's a miracle.
Your love is like a river,
peaceful and deep.
Your soul is like a secret,
that I never could keep.
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true,
God must have spent a little more time on you.
God must have spent a little more time on you.
A little more time on you...
Satine looked on at the couple with the thought that everything Christian and Emily did was with grace and perfection. The two hadn't missed a step and even having been a professional dancer, she didn't think she could have done any better.
Mrs. Wilesly did not move from her chair. "I see I'll need to find a finishing school that has great emphasis on dance. I find it hard to believe that your etiquette teacher didn't teach you better than that. It was as if your bother was dancing with some sort of monkey."
With that she stood up, "I really must be going. Satine, it was a pleasure to meet you. Christian, I'm glad to see that found a true lady amongst all of those bohemians and can-can dancers in Paris. And Emily, I will begin looking for a strict finishing school right away. The sooner you are enrolled the better. Please tell your father that I had a lovely evening and thank him again for inviting me." She was out the door before anyone could say his or her own goodbye.
"I hate that old hag!" Emily said kicking her heels off letting them fly half way across the room. She plopped down, unladylike, in a chair. Satine and Christian sat down on the sofa and snuggled up close to each other.
"Where does she get off saying all of those terrible things?" Satine asked, resting her head on Christian's shoulder
Christian put his arms around her and said, "She's always been like that. She kind of weaseled her way into our lives. Mother always kept us as far away from her as possible. Even before mother died Mrs. Wilesly was hounding after father like a bohemian chases the green fairy.
"Speaking of bohemians, I was planning on going to the bar tomorrow. I was wondering if the two of you wanted to go. It would make it a lot easier to get out of the house and I could be there much earlier if I had an 'escort'."
"I would love to go to the bar again." Satine said looking behind her at Christian.
Christian smiled, "I think that sounds like the perfect way to end a day that is bound be a very long one. Father will, of course, spend a late night at the bank. I'll just tell him that I'm taking the two of you out to a late dinner."
Emily nodded in agreement, "Cool. I think I'm going to go to bed. Holding in those rebukes I had in mind for Mrs. Wilesly is very exhausting. Good night Chris, Satine."
"Night Emmy." Said Christian.
"Bon soir Em." Satine said.
Emily left the room leaving Satine and Christian alone. "Maybe we should go to bed too, Christian. You have a long day at the bank tomorrow and Em and I are spending the entire day together."
Christian stood from his seat then offered his hands to help his fiancée stand. "Where are the two of you planning on going?"
"I'm not sure. I have a few errands to run but I think I'm just going to leave it up to Em to show me around town."
When the couple reached the end of the hall they stopped in front of Satine's bedroom door. Satine smiled up at Christian "Whose room will it be tonight? Yours or mine?"
"Yours. I'll have to leave early tomorrow and if we're in your room then you can stay asleep when I leave."
Satine stood on her toes to kiss Christian quickly before going into her room and leaving him in the hall. "He's so sweet." She thought as she moved to her dressing room to change.
* "God Must Have Spend A Little More Time On You" is performed by N*Sync
A/N: "Bien sûr, monsieur, mais nous voudrais musique." is French for "Of course, sir, but we need music" and "Bon soir" is French for goodnight.
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part IX: Do You Wanna Dance ~
By Casidy
Dinner went by rather smoothly. It seemed whenever The Father was in the room Mrs. Wilesly was quite polite to everyone. What no one could explain was the woman's intense fondness for Satine, but Christian tried not to question it.
Everyone had not been seated long when The Father asked Emily to share what she had been learning in her lessons lately.
"I just finished a research project on how Kings' wives and mistresses effected how they governed England."
Mrs. Wilesly gasped, feigning shock that Emily's teacher would discuss a royal's private affairs.
"It was very interesting. I had to write a play where I acted out the women in different leaders' lives. It ended up being a musical, actually." Emily raised a humored eyebrow and cast a glance Christian's way.
He smiled at his little sister; she was a true bohemian to the core. "How are your music lessons going, Emmy?" Christian asked.
"Fine. Sam-er um…Samantha is making me write music for flute choir, now."
"A lady sits straighter than that, Emily." Mrs. Wilesly said not even glancing at her. "Look at myself or Satine if you need a visual aid."
Emily, not quite sure how it would even be possible for her not to sit straight with her corset laced as tight as it was, simply ignored the old woman.
"What is flute choir?" Satine asked curiously.
Thankful for the distraction Emily answered happily, "Every Thursday Samantha, my flute teacher, has all of her students, in my age group, play as an ensemble. It just gives us a chance to play in a large group."
Satine nodded, picking up her salad fork.
"What about your etiquette classes?" this question came from Mrs. Wilesly, slightly blue from holing in her biting remarks on Emily's ridiculous interest in an instrument she could barely even play.
Boring as ever, Emily wanted to say, but instead she said, "Splendid," flatly.
Christian feigned intense interest in his salad to hide his smile, remembering how before he left for Paris Emily had been quickly catching up to the record he had set for being thrown our of etiquette classes.
Mrs. Wilesly nodded agreeably then picked up her wineglass, "A lady keeps her elbows off the table, Emily."
*~*
As dessert was served Mrs. Wilesly brought up the subject Emily had been expecting.
"Emily's manners need…tweaking. I know this lovely finishing school if you're interested."
The Father looked up from his bread pudding, "Of course, she'll need further training after she finishes her present lessons. What school did you have in mind?"
"Well, it's in Switzerland."
Emily looked up from the ice cream Sarah had hidden under a thin layer of the disgusting bread pudding her father insisted on eating.
The Father was a hard man, and rarely showed love toward his two youngest children but he adored Emily. She had him wrapped around her little finger even if he hid the fact quite well. She was so much like her mother, he could not imagine sending her to a foreign country where she would not have her various teachers or friends. She had taken over the role of lady of the house gracefully, after her mother's death. How would he ever run a household?
"I don't know Mrs. Wilesly-" he started
"At least consider it. She needs training if she is going to have any hope of catching a husband. She needs to know how to run a home."
Christian interjected, planning to keep his promise to his little sister about talking his father out of sending her away. "I think she has run this house very smoothly without any training, Mrs. Wilesly. Father, you must agree. I don't see the need for Emmy to be sent out of the country simply for finishing school. There are numerous, respectable schools right her in London." He could see he had his father almost convinced. "And, you would be able to monitor whom she courts. If you send her to a boarding school you would have no say in whom she may marry."
That had done it. "Christian's right. Mrs. Wilesly, since you are so interested in Emily's continuation of her studies would you mind looking into some of the finishing schools right her in London? We should probably get her on a waiting list soon.
Mrs. Wilesly nodded dully to The Father and glared at Christian before returning to the sour bread pudding before her.
When The Father had finished his pudding and the maids had cleared the table the spoke, "I'm afraid I must excuse myself for the night. I have to wake early tomorrow and go to the bank. Christian, we will leave promptly at eight thirty sharp tomorrow morning."
"We, sir?" Christian choked, dreading the response.
"Yes, you will be joining me. You chose to go to France last time I told you it was time you took over part of the family business, now it is time for you to take on some responsibilities. You're engaged and will soon have a family to take care of. You need to think of your future. I refuse to allow you to simply live off your inheritance."
Christian tried not to look like a disappointed child. Failing miserably he nodded his head, "Yes, sir."
The Father excused himself and Emily led the remaining dinner attendants to the library. Everyone sat down and muddled through small talk until Mrs. Wilesly took it upon herself to bring up a topic. "Christian, I don't believe you've told me of how Satine and you met."
The quick glance between Satine and Christian did not escape Emily's notice. She made a note to ask Satine tomorrow what really happened in Paris.
Christian stumbled over his words for a moment before Satine took over quickly. "Christian was living in an apartment bellow a very good painter friend of mine. He introduced us. Right darling?"
Christian nodded, grateful for Satine's cool head. "That's right. Satine's um… father commissioned Toulouse to do a portrait of Satine."
Despite all of his brilliance Christian was the worst liar, and couldn't come up with a good excuse to save his life but Mrs. Wilesly seemed to believe his story.
Mrs. Wilesly smiled then asked out of the blue, "Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me one of the dances you have learned in etiquette classes Emily."
Emily glanced at Christian and under her breath said, "How about the can- can? Maybe then I could put my foot up her-"
Clearing his throat quickly Christian stood and bowed to his sister genteelly and said, "Mademoiselle Emily, may I have this dance?"
Smiling at the cute picture her brother made Emily stood, taking his hand and curtsied gracefully then said, "Bien sûr, monsieur, mais nous voudrais musique."*
Satine stood from her seat on the couch quickly, "I'll play something. I'm not that good but I'm sure I can come up with something." Walked past Christian and Emily she said, "Beautiful accent, Em." She walked over to the baby grand piano and sat down then began to play. She knew just the song to describe Christian's admiration for his little sister.
Christian took Emily's hand into his and put his other on the small of her back. Satine began to play and sing and Christian and Emily began to glide around the room.
Can this be true?
Tell me, can this be real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
My life was complete,
I thought I was whole.
Why do I feel like I'm losing control?
How can it be, that right here with me, There's an angel?
It's a miracle.
Your love is like a river,
peaceful and deep.
Your soul is like a secret,
that I never could keep.
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true,
God must have spent a little more time on you.
In all of creation, all things great and small,
you are the one that surpasses them all.
More precious then any diamond or pearl,
they broke the mold when you came in this world.
And I'm trying hard to figure out,
just how I ever did without,
The warmth of your smile,
the heart of a child, that's deep inside,
Leave me purified.
Your love is like a river,
peaceful and deep.
Your soul is like a secret,
that I never could keep.
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true,
God must have spent a little more time on you.
How can it be, that right here with me, There's an angel?
It's a miracle.
Your love is like a river,
peaceful and deep.
Your soul is like a secret,
that I never could keep.
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true,
God must have spent a little more time on you.
God must have spent a little more time on you.
A little more time on you...
Satine looked on at the couple with the thought that everything Christian and Emily did was with grace and perfection. The two hadn't missed a step and even having been a professional dancer, she didn't think she could have done any better.
Mrs. Wilesly did not move from her chair. "I see I'll need to find a finishing school that has great emphasis on dance. I find it hard to believe that your etiquette teacher didn't teach you better than that. It was as if your bother was dancing with some sort of monkey."
With that she stood up, "I really must be going. Satine, it was a pleasure to meet you. Christian, I'm glad to see that found a true lady amongst all of those bohemians and can-can dancers in Paris. And Emily, I will begin looking for a strict finishing school right away. The sooner you are enrolled the better. Please tell your father that I had a lovely evening and thank him again for inviting me." She was out the door before anyone could say his or her own goodbye.
"I hate that old hag!" Emily said kicking her heels off letting them fly half way across the room. She plopped down, unladylike, in a chair. Satine and Christian sat down on the sofa and snuggled up close to each other.
"Where does she get off saying all of those terrible things?" Satine asked, resting her head on Christian's shoulder
Christian put his arms around her and said, "She's always been like that. She kind of weaseled her way into our lives. Mother always kept us as far away from her as possible. Even before mother died Mrs. Wilesly was hounding after father like a bohemian chases the green fairy.
"Speaking of bohemians, I was planning on going to the bar tomorrow. I was wondering if the two of you wanted to go. It would make it a lot easier to get out of the house and I could be there much earlier if I had an 'escort'."
"I would love to go to the bar again." Satine said looking behind her at Christian.
Christian smiled, "I think that sounds like the perfect way to end a day that is bound be a very long one. Father will, of course, spend a late night at the bank. I'll just tell him that I'm taking the two of you out to a late dinner."
Emily nodded in agreement, "Cool. I think I'm going to go to bed. Holding in those rebukes I had in mind for Mrs. Wilesly is very exhausting. Good night Chris, Satine."
"Night Emmy." Said Christian.
"Bon soir Em." Satine said.
Emily left the room leaving Satine and Christian alone. "Maybe we should go to bed too, Christian. You have a long day at the bank tomorrow and Em and I are spending the entire day together."
Christian stood from his seat then offered his hands to help his fiancée stand. "Where are the two of you planning on going?"
"I'm not sure. I have a few errands to run but I think I'm just going to leave it up to Em to show me around town."
When the couple reached the end of the hall they stopped in front of Satine's bedroom door. Satine smiled up at Christian "Whose room will it be tonight? Yours or mine?"
"Yours. I'll have to leave early tomorrow and if we're in your room then you can stay asleep when I leave."
Satine stood on her toes to kiss Christian quickly before going into her room and leaving him in the hall. "He's so sweet." She thought as she moved to her dressing room to change.
* "God Must Have Spend A Little More Time On You" is performed by N*Sync
A/N: "Bien sûr, monsieur, mais nous voudrais musique." is French for "Of course, sir, but we need music" and "Bon soir" is French for goodnight.