Marry for the land.
by LiltingBanshee
A/N: Thanks to ozzystormberry, Erik'sTrueAngel, Twinkle22 and unamumus for your kind reviews, I'm really glad you liked the first chapter. Here we go for the next…
5 months later…
"He must have the same defect as his brother, nothing useful comes out of a de Chagny" Claude roared with laughter as he slammed his empty glass down on the table. His friends joined him in laughing at the insult.
"Maybe he has taken to the drink, a wimp like him surely wouldn't be able to perform under the influence of alcohol!" Jean grinned.
"Do we even know if he's got something to perform with?" Albert chipped in.
"Ahh screw him!" Michel slurred through his drunken haze.
"Ha ha, we would definitely be the first to do so!" Claude laughed.
"Well, it has been 5 months and still no child. I'd say that's one failed marriage!" Jean concluded.
"10 months and she is still as thin as ever. Could it be she's as frigid as her mother? The woman did after all only produce one child" Celeste snickered to Amelie.
"Some women are known to be barren, or maybe the boy is the one to blame" Amelie suggested.
"Maybe he needs some help!" Celeste wiggled her eyebrows and the two women collapsed with laughter. Seconds later their attention was drawn to the noise coming from further down the street.
"Come on sweet little Christine, pull your shoulders back and look up, show us that pretty chest of yours" Claude and his friends had begun to pick on the blushing young girl as she hurried down the street.
"Give us a kiss love, we can give you what your husband can't!" Jean smirked.
"The poor girl needs a lover, anyone can see that! Get her a boyfriend to kiss and cuddle with" Michel chuckled
"Here, she can have Joseph" Albert said and grabbed hold of the young man who just happened to pass the crowd. Joseph Buquet was in his late twenties, but had the mind of a twelve year old. He was sweet and caring and did no harm to anyone, but due to his mental disabilities he was always picked on. Christine liked him and always felt sorry for him and when she saw the frightened look in his eyes as he was pushed towards her she felt anger rising in her.
"Will you leave the poor man alone, he has done nothing to you! And leave me be as well you imbeciles!" she cried and tried to run from them. She was stopped by Claude, who stepped out in front of her.
"Please Christine, don't mind these fools, they only have your best interest in mind. Please understand sweet Christine, Raoul de Chagny doesn't deserve you, he doesn't love you, but I do. Don't waste your time with him, please Christine would you not consider loving me instead?" he said and put his hands gently on her shoulders.
Christine looked at Claude with disgust. "I would rather die than put a second thought to loving you! Let go of me!" she hissed and pushed him away roughly.
"Fine, go back to your useless impotent husband!" Claude yelled after her as she ran away.
She slammed the door to their house and leaned her back against it as she allowed her tears to run freely. "Bastards!" she muttered through her sobs.
"Christine, what's the matter? Why are you crying?" Raoul asked as he came to see who had slammed the door.
"Raoul, you must deny their lies! Tell them that they are wrong! Show them that it's not true! We can have a child, soon. Please Raoul" she begged him.
"Christine, I can't… you know…" he tried.
"No I don't know! What is it that you can't? Have children? How do you know you haven't even tried! You won't touch me! Am I really that unattractive?" she screamed.
"No Christine! You're not unattractive! You're beautiful and sweet and…"
"Then deny the lies they are telling out there! Deny them, or are they true?" she cried.
"They are not true! But we are too young Christine, we are too young for children" he said gently.
"You're 25 Raoul, many other men of your age in this village have children, some more than one!" she said angrily.
"But I'm not ready yet! And you're only 17 Christine, I will not do this to you. We are too young!" he said sternly.
"Well, at least I try!" she said angrily and ran to their bedroom.